Pump, pump, pump it up

Pay at the Pump

How much money do you want?  This seems like a simply question because the most common answer would be some version of “a lot”.  However, “a lot” isn’t a number and because items actually cost numbers you need to know how much you need in order to afford the things that you want.  There’s another reason why you need to have a better answer to that question – depending on your answer, you may have to make a lot of major life changes.  For example, if you want to make $10,000,000 a year then you better get really good at basketball, singing or computer programming.  If only $7.15/hour is your goal, well then your options are far more plentiful (but not nearly as attractive). We as a society get so caught up in chasing the money that we never really take the time out to figure what to do when we finally catch some.  My answer to this question lies at the gas station.

Fresh line up for the Fall

The Lineup: September ‘12

What I can’t live without: Experiences.  Material things come and go but experiences provide memories that last far longer.  Earlier this year I wrote a post inspired by Jay-Z’s historic announcement that he was curating a two-day music festival in Philly and thanks to a surprise by my fiancée, I had the opportunity to experience it.  I’m too young to have gone to the 2^nd iteration of Woodstock and probably too old to go to Coachella, but this was perfect.  I saw some great live performances including the return of Run DMC,  hometown heroine Jill Scott (with a guest spot from Eve), Janelle Monae and many more.  I even got hip to some new artists from different genres including Miike Snow and Passion Pit.  They created a whole community for two days on the Ben Franklin Parkway and with an epic peformance from Jay-Z which included a G.O.O.D. music performance and a “B” sighting, I’ll never forget the experience.

Is Tyler Perry a Coon?

King Coon

The concept of coons and “cooning” has been an issue that I have tried to tackle for the past two years; first analyzing the possible motivations for someone who can be considered a coon and then assessing whether being a coon was exclusive to the black community.  This time, I would like to discuss what actions can lead to the accusation that one is “cooning” and there is no better place to start than with the current "World Coon Champion" – Tyler Perry.  Walk into most rooms and start bashing Tyler Perry and you’ll get a lot of head nods and possibly a round of applause.  He’s been the target of many - from comedic satire on “The Boondocks” to famed director, Spike Lee, telling Tyler that he can, “go to hell.”  In response to such harsh criticism, the question begs to be asked, “What did Tyler do so wrong?”

I don't want to help you die...

Almost Non-Hypocritical

It’s been two years since I made my pledge not to text and drive and I can safely say I have not sent one single text while driving in the past 12 months and no more than a couple of times did I pick up the phone to read something – only to instantly notice it and drop it in my lap.  I’ve conditioned myself to only text when the car isn’t in motion (technically, by law, its considered texting and driving but as long as the car isn’t moving, I don’t see the harm.) and if I am driving, I pull over to the side if I need to send or read a crucial text or email.  It makes me happy to know that I've set a goal and have managed to stick to it; especially when I know I could possibly be saving my life or someone else’s.  Having said that, I still have one major flaw…

End of the month. You know what time it is... #Lineup

The Lineup: August ‘12

What I can’t live without: Olympics.  I realistically watched anywhere from 80-100 hours of Olympic coverage.  I was into every sport possible: Judo, Water Polo, Handball, Foil, Beach Volleyball you name it, I was into it (except for Equestrian, I still don’t get that).  Watching Michael Phelps become the most decorated athlete ever, Usain Bolt doing Usain both things and of course Gabby Douglas left me with lifelong memories.  There are few things more exciting than watching someone be the best in the world at something.  Even when they aren’t the best, as in the case of Oscar Pistorius who qualified for two Olympic events despite having no legs, you can still fuel your inspiration.  And if the events don’t peak your interest, there’s always this. 

Scout's Honor...

Boys will be Boys

When the Boy Scouts of America released a statement that they will continue their policy to deny access to homosexual boys, to no surprise, their continued stance angered millions who are sick and tired of dealing with intolerance towards the gay community.  It upset me as well because it’s disheartening to live in a country where we can still be so cruel to our own.  While I will never agree with discrimination against anyone based on their sexual orientation, after some thought, I now wonder if the people who run the Boy Scouts have a point.

Gabby, Michelle & Jay

#Progress

I finally decided to sit down and give Mad Men and Boardwalk Empire a shot.  Being a television junkie, it was weird for people to hear that I didn’t watch two of the most popular shows.  It wasn’t for a lack of trying.  I watched a few episodes of both when they originally aired.  A few reasons made me stop watching each show but only one was shared between the two…  My Blackness.  Watching the period pieces of Mad Men and Boardwalk, which took place in the 1920’s and 1960’s respectively, once again exposed me to images of stark and unapologetic racism.  Racism has and unfortunately will always be an emotional subject for me and I chose not to volunteer to put myself in a bad mood when I wanted to watch some television.  Since binging on my Netflix and DVR, I’m still trying to get into Don (a bit slow) and I got a bit hooked on Nucky (now waiting for Season 3) but both required a concerted effort to ignore the pain and simply enjoy it as entertainment.

Daddy, why don't I have good hair?

The Natural

It’s not everyday that you expect a movie to completely change how you view the world but Chris Rock made that happen for me a few years ago.  When I sat down on the couch to watch Good Hair, I got up off that couch a different person.  I knew that “black hair” was complex but I didn’t realize that my knowledge to that point was essentially the tip of an iceberg the size of Mt. Everest.  Chris made the movie in response to his 5-year-old daughter asking why she didn’t have “good hair”.  He wanted to make a film that not only educated but also made his little girl feel good about herself.  I was asked if I were to have a daughter, would I let her have a perm?  My answer was and still is a resounding “no”.

Line up like you 'bout to run the 100

The Lineup: July ‘12

What I can’t live without: And of course N-A-S are the letters that spell.  Nas has created his best and most complete album in over a decade.  With production that manages to simultaneously capture the essence of the classic “boom-bap” without sounding dated, Nas was able to comfortably weave in his signature rhymes.  In the past Nas struggled trying to make “current” songs that didn’t fit his style.  It’s one of those albums that remind me why I fell in love with Hip-Hop in the first place.  This is truly a classic and a must have in the collection.

(Related: Cargo shorts.  Pretty much wore them every day of the month.)

Asinine, as-a-ten, as-eleven...

Needle Mover

In 2003, while trying to remain ahead of the curve, ESPN launched Cold Pizza – a two-hour morning television show to give sports fans an alternative to Good Morning America.  It was essentially Sportscenter with couches and coffee.  They recapped the biggest storylines, interviewed athletes and celebrities and featured skits and other comedic segments.  In 2007, ESPN gave Cold Pizza a total makeover.  They moved production to Bristol, CT, started broadcasting in high-definition and changed the name to First Take.  Shortly after, First Take added a debate-style segment called 1^st & 10”.  Throughout the two-hour program, Skip Bayless would debate someone on four separate issues.  These hotly contested debates quickly became the most popular segments on the show; so much that the ESPN created a 30-minute spin off that aired in the afternoon.  Slowly but surely the ratings spike during the 1^st & 10 segments could no longer be ignored.  In 2011, the show's entire format was altered to resemble a two-hour version of 1^st & 10.  There's only one reason for this – people couldn't get enough of Skip.

Lineup... 2012 is halfway over.

The Lineup: June ‘12

What I can’t live without: I don’t like repeating myself but I would be lying to everyone if I said that anything meant more to me in June than the NBA Finals matchup between the Miami Heat and the Oklahoma City Thunder.  Although it was only 5 games, every minute had me glued to the TV and I got to “witness” the “King” win his first ring.  The media hype surrounding this series was almost as entertaining as the games themselves.  I hope my boy is right when he proclaimed that Miami and OKC will be the new Lakers/Celtics...  If we could be so lucky.

Getting ready to lineup for the Summer

The Lineup: May ‘12

What I can’t live without:  The Sixers?  Anyone that knows me, knows that I love basketball.  I’ve been lucky enough to grab a few tickets to some Sixers games since I moved to Philadelphia and unlike last season, I decided to buy some playoff tickets.  I had never been to a playoff game before but being able to see basketball played on the highest level when the stakes are highest, was an experience that I’ll never forget.  Game 6 of the Bulls series was undoubtedly the best basketball game that I ever saw live.  They’ve been eliminated but I’m still glued to the TV waiting to see who’s going to win the NBA Championship.

(Related: Inside the NBA is still king of NBA coverage despite having Shaq)

Huey Freeman would be proud...

Take a Stand.

Life is complex.  This isn’t breaking news but worth mentioning because we as human beings, try to do everything possible to combat that.  We use technology to do things faster, we automate anything that doesn’t require our immediate attention, and we come up with clichés and mantras to help simplify what takes place in our lives.  If you really think about it, the entire study of philosophy only exists because life can be difficult to comprehend.  The following statement has always been one of my favorites and explains exactly why I made a particular decision.

I don't wear jerseys, I'm 30 plus...

Growth.

On May 14^th, Jay-Z made a huge announcement that he is headlining and curating a two-day concert Labor Day weekend in Philadelphia.  Essentially, Jay-Z is shutting down one of the busiest sections of one of the most populous cities in America.  These types of announcements were typically reserved for guys named Bono and Springsteen but somehow a former drug dealer from the Marcy projects is making it happen.  Despite the magnitude of this announcement and what it means for Hip-Hop culture, the Internet was also buzzing about another rapper in Philly.

April showers bring, more Lineups baby.

The Lineup: April ‘12

What I can’t live without: AMC Television. Seriously this is getting a bit ridiculous.  I try not to talk about the same things every month but every time I check out a new AMC show, I get instantly hooked.  This time it’s a show that I came in late on… The Killing.  It’s a unique spin on the cop-style crime drama (think 24 meets Law & Order).  The way that they lay out the clues and the suspects, you feel like you’re trying to solve the crime along with the detectives.  It's an amazing show.

(Related: Game of Thrones)

Can't we all just get along?

Gray Areas (Pt. 2)

If you haven’t read part 1 of this Trayvon Martin discussion, click here.

Let’s talk about the fact that George Zimmerman wasn’t arrested for nearly a month and a half after, admittedly, shooting and killing someone.  Let’s talk about the fact that the Sanford Police Department took George at his word and had no intention to question him any further after his initial report.  If you’re paying attention, this is exactly why black people rioted after the Rodney King verdict and jumped for joy after OJ was set free.  More truth:  Black people couldn’t care less about Rodney King or Orenthal J. Simpson.  To quote Chris Rock, “I ain’t get my OJ prize in the mail”.  The riots were an angry response to those officers being set free despite having their brutality against a black man caught on videotape.  The jubilation after OJ was found “not guilty” was about vindication because white people finally got to feel what its like to be on the short end of the legal stick.  I don’t care how you word a “stand your ground” law, if you kill someone and there are no clear witnesses or video, it must go through the courts.  George Zimmerman claimed self-defense. To which I ask, what other explanation did the cops expect him to give?  Did they think he would say, “hey look, I was racially profiling, got scared and things got out of hand?” 

Squeeze first, ask questions last...

Gray Areas (Pt. 1)

Rodney.

OJ.

Trayvon.

What do these three individuals have in common?  All three of these individuals took the nation by storm with highly publicized cases.  All three of these individuals have or will have (in Trayvon’s case) their entire trials play out on television like some poorly written reality show.  And the facts all three of these cases took a back seat to emotions because this country still can’t talk about race.

They screaming Tupac's back, Tupac's back.

Blown Away.

My parents just got themselves a Mac and are taking classes to learn how to operate it.  Over the past 10 years, it wasn’t uncommon for me to get a random phone call to help with a computer issue. I quickly realized that skills that I take for granted are major tasks for them.   My mother has admitted to me several times that she’s intimidated by technology and that she’s awestruck by what you are able to do with a computer. It just shows how the times have changed.  Put my dad under a car and he will handle his business; put me there and I might as well take a nap.  Since the mid-90’s, my generation has experienced such technological growth, that we’ve become desensitized to it.  I can recall the early days of the Internet, my 1^st MP3 player and playing with a touch screen capabilities for the 1^st time.  These adaptations came so quickly that I never had time to be amazed… 

Late Lineup, don't judge me.

The Lineup: March ‘12

Editor’s note: This lineup is a bit shorter and (ahem) late because my birthday got in the way.

What I can’t live without: The Walking Dead.  Spartacus. I actually wanted to write about the best TV show, but I realized that I talk about my Zombies all the time. So here’s my #2 show.  Season 3 of Spartacus, in my opinion, was the best yet.  Excellent combination of sex, violence and backstabbing to keep you entertained.

Cuz I am, whatever you say I am?

Creative writing has been a passion of mine for as long as I can remember.  Back in the 5^th grade, I was in a rap group and wrote lyrics that ranged from the dance floor to letting the world know that I was “sharper than a razor blade”.  In middle school, I wrote a few short stories.  I found my love for poetry in High School.  There were times I would be on a bus and an idea would hit me and I would have to write a poem on a receipt until I got home to transcribe it to my notebook.  In college, I still wrote poetry but my piece de resistance was a book that I wrote detailing a public protest that I staged on campus – one of my proudest moments.  Since college, I have written album reviews for a Hip-Hop website, co-founded a Hip-Hop blog, Past The Margin, kept a journal of my journey as an entrepreneur and of course, Straight from the Pen.  Despite all of that, I hesitate to refer to myself as a writer. 

And even as a crack fiend, mama...

Sins of the Mother

You know that feeling you get when you drop a bowl in the kitchen?  That instant shock and anxiety as you imagine the bowl shattering on the floor in a million pieces.  How quickly does that feeling disappear when you realize that it didn’t break and all you are left with is a loud noise?  That’s how the death of Whitney Houston hit me.

This Lineup can be used for Black History Month.

The Lineup: February ‘12

What I can’t live without: L.A. Noire.  I can’t stop thinking about how awesome my trip to Barbados was this game was.  L.A. Noire was one of the most unique gaming experiences that I’ve ever had – and I’ve played A LOT of video games.  Think about the movie L.A. Confidential and imagine if you could control the characters – that’s what this game feels like.  The interrogation mode – where you interview criminals and have to decide if they are telling the truth – is worth the price alone.  Add graphics, GTA-style gameplay, a great story and you have a hit.

Linsanity!

(L)inspiration.

Jeremy. Bleeping. Lin.

One month ago the 7 people that follow Harvard Basketball and his mom were the only people who knew him.  Today, he is the starting point guard for the New York Knicks and the most talked about player in the NBA.  He has lead the Knicks to an 8-2 record and scored more points in his first five starts than anyone has in the last thirty years.  For the record, that includes Jordan, Lebron and Kobe.  Speaking of Kobe Bryant – arguably the best player alive – he was recently outplayed by one Jeremy Lin in MSG.  He’s even come through in the clutch with a game winning 3-pointer against Toronto.  Show me someone who predicted that and I’ll show you that weird kid from Jack Bauer’s new TV show. Despite all of the media attention, I believe that people are missing the real reason why this kid is so special.

Why do we have Black History Month?

Blah History Month

This is going to sound wrong.

I’m sick of Black History Month.  I really am.  This isn’t a petition for its banishment because I still grasp its significance; but after nearly 30 years, I’m just tired of it. 

Don’t worry… I have my reasons.

The First Lineup of the year... enjoy

The Lineup: January ‘12

What I can’t live without: Candid interviews.  This month was pretty much bland in terms of things to write about.  Nothing really stood out until I went to Facebook one day and saw a video of a Bow Wow interview with the Breakfast Club in NYC.  One link lead to another and it was 3am and I watched over 6 hours of interviews.  Envy, Angela and Charlamagne are really good at their jobs.  Not everyone knows how to give a good interview and they are incredible at getting people to step outside of their comfort zone and talk candidly about sensitive issues.  Despite being incredibly disrespectful, Charlamagne manages to get honest responses from guests and the result is pure comedy.  A great watch.

Are you Watching The Throne?

iLive

Go to YouTube and search for any recent concert and you’ll notice two things: the awful sound quality and how the crowd looks like a heard of lighting bugs.  Cell phones light up the arena not in your typical fashion (think Woodstock), but to record everything on stage.  Last Summer I tried to do this at a 4^th of July concert in Philly.  The Roots were playing one of my favorite songs from the Things Fall Apart album and I wanted to get a video of it.  I grabbed the phone, held it up and pressed record.  After only 10 seconds, things fell apart.

Kim Kardashian... marriage counselor.

Lessons Learned

I am looking forward to becoming a parent one day.  I plan on being a good father that’s engaged in my children’s lives.  I have my father to thank for this.  The irony is, I haven’t seen my father in nearly 25 years.  His absence and mistakes taught me what not to do when I become a dad.  When Kim Kardashian divorced Kris Humphries after only 72 days, I’ll admit, I laughed along with everyone else.  Its no coincidence that this season of Kourtney and Kim take New York have record high ratings but while most want to see a sinking ship, I’m trying to get educated.  A marriage that ends faster than a season of Dexter will provide you with enough “do not’s” to fill up a notepad.

The Beginning...

Resolutions

It’s a new year and you know what that means, resolution time!  I’ve never been a fan of New Year’s Resolutions because they end up being a series of empty promises.  Add that to the fact that most resolutions are boring (eat less, exercise more, blah, blah), and they just don’t excite me.  But this year will be different.  This year my resolution will be to create a list of resolutions.  Instead of the predictable - often selfish goals - let’s look outward and see what we can do in 2012 to change someone else’s life.  If you have $100, I have some ideas: