Conservative Mind Invasion

The blogosphere is heated up with much rhetoric about the political climate that exists currently in the country. Having a debate over a mosque, community center or whatever it truly is has taken over the discourse when we should be focusing our energy on getting citizens back to work, finding ways to ensure that all can afford homes and get a good education. Those things among many others I hope and am sure we can agree on, whether Democratic, Republican, Moderate or Conservative. Did you know that the United States is now ranked 13^th in the world in the number of it’s citizens who earn college degrees? The cost of what we get is high and higher still if we are not educated. All of these daily conversations and new so-called controversies named by the media don’t help anyone achieve their version of the American Dream. If I had to start my own version of a “Tea Party”, I would want the Government to work on real solutions to real problems such as joblessness, lacking resources for education and improving the public health infrastructure. These are the REAL issues facing REAL Americans Gov. Palin, not where a religious building should go, thus terrorizing a group due to the horrendous actions of a small segment. Remember, this is a War on Terror, not Islam!

I don’t envy President Obama not one bit, he has a hard job and despite all of the ups and downs I think he has done an average job. I say that not because of what he has done but because of what he should have not done or stayed out of an example, the Beer Summit. The question that was posed to him about it I think was a bit of a setup but it was asked during a nationally televised press conference. In retrospect, he is probably thinking he should have gracefully answered but not answered and left it at that. Racially charged issues have been a bit of an Achilles heel for this White House and for good reason. If you answer, the Right says your being too sensitive. If you don’t the “black leaders” accuse you of being too laid back on issues of race. Sometimes, the best answer especially for someone in his position is not to answer at all and let the chips fall where they may.

I know that come November, the landscape in Washington will change but will it be a small change or a drastic one? That depends on who you ask. Ultraconservatives and Tea partiers (maybe they are one in the same) are screaming from the rooftops and to anyone who will listen will tell you that the day of reckoning is coming for the President and the Democrats. On the flip, Liberals will tell you that all is well, there is nothing to see here and we will keep on a steady course. I am not sure I can agree with either side but if I had to pick a side that had a modicum of sense, I would go with the liberals. Common sense and inclusion seems to be a weakness of Conservatives, it feels like on a weekly basis there is some new story about how someone on the Right has made some ridiculous statement to offend Muslims, Blacks, Native Americans and Hispanics. As of right now, it appears that a favorite target of the Right, the Gay Community isn’t getting too much flak but with the Prop 8 activity ongoing in California, the Hatefest will continue to have more momentum.

With all of that said, I want to get into the head of a Conservative. I really want to know, seriously, What the FUCK??!! I said that with some jest but one among them has to know that some of this stuff that comes out of the mouth of Michelle Bachmann, Sarah Palin, Louie Gohmert and the cast of other stellar GOPers is some of the most ridiculous shit ever said. How can anyone take Newt Gingrich seriously? On one had he talks about conservative values and has cheated on all his wives to date? That’s like taking ethics classes from Charles Keating, the shit don’t match. Michelle Bachmann is absolutely BAT SHIT and I have talked so badly about Sarah Palin on this blog, there is nothing else that can be said! All of that to ask this question: Conservatives, what do you TRULY believe in and how can that be achieved without belittling an ethnic or religious group?

Tales from the Barber Chair

HOLY SHIT…

I have been in Maryland for three months now and I finally decided (after looking at my tore up head in the mirror) to look for a barber. Where I live, dare I say it is “lacking in color” and thus the barbers of color are non-existant. I went online and found a place in downtown Silver Spring and ventured out to get my misshapen hairline fixed. Going to the barber’s is an interesting experience for a black man. Where one goes for a haircut has a lot of activity, different characters and lots of conversations ongoing about everything under the sun from politics, sports and who not to trust in the neighborhood. I really didn’t know what to expect but I had to get this hair off my head and I needed to find a place and fast.

I pulled up, parked and walked to the door and before I could walk in I was greeted by one of the barbers standing outside. He asked if I had any particular person in mind for a cut. I simply said no, I need a cut. So I went in and sat down in his chair.

That’s where it got kind of weird…

He did a good job cutting my hair although it took him an hour. I kept wondering why does he keep running the clippers across my head? I said close, not bald. He did get it close, real close. So I had to give him the benefit of the doubt that since this is the first time he is working with my head, it would take him a bit longer. What was weird was the conversation that we had. It started out rather innocently (these dudes had the Tyra show on the TV…huh?) and a comment made about one of the guests set my barber off on the most tangential conversation I have ever had in a barber chair. First he talked about how there are obvious differences in white and black people but then started giving “data” which supported what he was speaking on. There was only so much I could say without sounding like I was giving him the thumbs up on this BS. From biology, we talked about obscure books which lead him into talking about the occult (and asked me what it meant…WTF!!) and finally the longest part of the diatribe was on religion. In the midst of all this, he got loud and then started asking everyone else what the hell they thought. At this point, I was praying he would finish so I could throw some money at him and run like hell out there!

Whatever happened to having a regular conversation only to find out in passing that your barber did time? Not that would be a major shock, at least the conversation would work back to sports or how wack politics are in the age of Obama. I would have much rather everyone in the barber shop had a screaming match about football than to have witnessed the rant I had the dishonor to sit through over 24 hours ago.

After paying for that haircut, I have one more shop to check out. It can’t get much worse than this right? Well if it does I may have to buy some clippers and DIY or pay my future mother-in-law for a cut…

The Cult of Fox News

I’m a big fan of the Simpsons and the other night, I watched the episode where the townspeople joined a cult where “the leader” was in charge. Everyone gave up their wordly goods, moved onto a commune, harvested lima beans and awaited the building of a spaceship that would take them all to a new life on “blisstonia.” As hilarious as that episode sounds, cults like this exist in the world and they promise everything from getting on a spaceship, creating a utopia on earth or worst (as we have seen in historical references) freedome through loss of life at the hands of a “leader.” The Tea Party movement has used anger over the Obama administration to bring out the worst in human nature. I will be the first person to say that I have no problem with anyone having conservative viewpoints. Where I have a problem is when a conservative viewpoint is used to advance hatred in any form against any person or group. Fox News Network in my opinion has been a fertile breeding ground for planting the seeds of “Cult Think” where conservative beliefs and viewpoints have turned into beliefs which drive a larger agenda of hate.

Merriam-Webster defines Cult in several different ways. The most appropriate definition for what I have defined as Cult Think is: “great devotion to a person, idea, object, movement, or work (as a film or book);especially : such devotion regarded as a literary or intellectual fad b : the object of such devotion c : a usually small group of people characterized by such devotion.”

My observations of Conservatives is one of a group who hold their beliefs strongly and in many cases, wear those beliefs on their sleeve. The ideas of limited government, tough positions of crime and punishment, low taxes and self responsibility are noble ideas. When these beliefs are twisted into loaded statements that suggest that only certain groups of people are responsible citizens, or disagreeing with the government (respectfully) makes you a terrorist, to me that is brainwashing. In addition, each argument based on these points takes the issues down to the lowest common denominator and the “talking points” become predictable and insulting. Why now that we have a black president is everything he does is “dangerous” and now it has been the call for every good citizen (read: white) to rise up and reclaim the country? What are we reclaiming it from? I think what scares me more is what do these folks want to do when they “take the country back.” The cult thinking has these Americans scared and wrapping themselves in the flag, the Constitution and around their so called God given right to arm themselves. These folks are so scared, the line has been blurred between conservative thought and action and outright fear mongering from their cult leaders at Fox. When will the brainwashing end? At this rate, the Tea Party which has done nothing to counter the hateful aspects of it’s organization will become the GOP. Frankly, I don’t see the line, hate is hate now matter how you slice it.

Cathy Hughes: Kill Ya Self!

When Rick James said, "They never should have gave you n*ggas money" he must have been talking about Cathy Hughes. How in the hell do you have money and the opportunity through media to promote positivity and just fuck it up completely? Why does it seem that every black capitalist wants to put their boot on the neck of the rest of us? She hates artists getting their just due in the form of being paid for their work and she hates her radio talent even more by recently cleaning house at a number of her stations in the DC area. She has been in a verbal war with Dionne Warwick over radio stations paying artists. It does make me chuckle that the person going to bat for artists these days is an artist who hasn't released an album in 3 decades but right is right. Musical acts aren't in the business for free, someone needs to pony up and right now radio (strangely enough) is generating crazy ass revenues where they could break someone off a slice.

Honestly, I haven't listened to the radio since 2006 and if you read my blog or my tweets you know why. I get my music from iTunes and travel with my iPod just about everywhere I go. Listening to my iPod reminds me what radio used to be like and should be like: variety. Every one of Ms. Hughes' stations plays the same 5 songs by the same 5 shitty artists over and over. As much as I hate music these days and as weird as it is that their interests are being lobbied for by an artist who can't relate to the problems of today's artists, but there has to be a . Ms. Hughes on the other hand wants to protect her position by stating that she is broke and she doesn't owe anything to the artists whom she makes money off of on a daily basis. That makes her as bad as Bob Johnson selling off BET to make large profits and create the modern day minstrel show on cable. Ms. Hughes is the worst kind of black capitalist, I think slave owner would be a better title.

Cathy Hughes....KILL YA SELF!!!

Cleveland just got posterized...highlights on Sports Center

Let's face it, Lebron James is like any other employee. Well, maybe not quite any other employee. That brotha makes WAY more money than I do, but he has people to answer to as well as a whole city. Last night, he broke a lot of hearts and may now be the most unwelcomed man in the state of Ohio. Should anyone be surprised that he left? No, there is no loyalty in any line of employment. Whether you make 10 million or $10/hr, you can either quit or get fired (usually without explanation). The only difference is when I left my job in May, I didn't have it televised. Frankly most folks outside my own organization (or within it for that matter) wouldn't have given a shit. Which leads me to a question, what was he trying to prove by having a one hour special to make an announcement that needed 15 minutes in a secret location somewhere? I like Lebron but he lost some cool points and gained some douchebag points for that move. I would have to give him a 3 on the Kobe Bryant douchebag scale for that crazy ass stunt.

As for the future, it can be really bright or it can be another 7 year title drought for the King. With D Wade and Chris Bosh it is possible to bring the Larry O'Brien trophy back to South Beach but a couple of things have to happen.

1. Wade and Bosh need to stay healthy

2. Past the "new big 3", they need a good bench or it's like having a uzi filled with BBs

Will they win right away? Probably not. But it better be within 7 years or Lebron will be having another special to go play in __________

2010 Beef????

Cruising YouTube is like going to the supermarket. Your intent is to go to the store for 5 minutes to pick up one or two things and you end up leaving an hour later with a cart of crap you would never use in life. So I took a YouTube trip one night late looking for who knows what and ended up finding my intended video and everything else in between. This was interesting though, I ran across a chick from Baltimore named Keys who decided to lyrically take a swipe at Nicki Minaj and taped it. If you haven't seen it, let's look at the video tape shall we?

I saw this and I was like ok, you got skills and yeah you can rhyme but the comments were interesting to me. I would say from just glancing at what folks had to say, it was about 50/50 Keys/Minaj. In essence you had folks saying that Keys has skills and Nicki is garbage and vice versa. One of the other prevailing comments was Why is this chick going after her? She won't get discovered doing videos and dissing someone who is already famous. Some even went as far to use the H-word. Yep, our favorite black person word, hater. Once again, I don't in any way, shape or form see this as Keys hating on Nicki. What I do see is a gritty MC who is challenging the current state of the genre and showing that she doesn't like what is going on and that there is diversity of styles in the rap game. I see Hip-Hop becoming more and more divided among lines of those who can spit and the more commercialized type hip-hop of Nicki Minaj.

I will say it again for the record, I REALLY tried to like Nicki. I listened to one of her mixtapes and she had maybe one halfway decent track but for the most part, it was the most disjointed album I have ever heard by ANY artist. However, she has appeal to alot of folks for reasons I can't understand but that is why she is a star. But why when someone comes hard like Keys or keeps it real like Talib Kweli, it is classified as "alternative" or "underground" hip-hop. Hip-hop represents a wide variety of musical and lyrical styles. You can classify a particular hip-hop style by say the origin of the group or artist but to me it appears that we are denigrating some artists because they choose to remain true to the origins of hip-hop.

Not too long after this came out, Nicki responded. Initially I tried to watch this at work but damn this video is PAINFUL to watch. I finally watched it a couple of nights ago at 3am...I knew I had no place to go and at worse I would just fall asleep watching her form a sentence. If you have to go to the bathroom, choose any part of this video. Her sentences are so choppy, you can probably see 30 seconds and get the idea of what she is saying (or not saying).

A mind is a terrible thing to develop without help. I say it over and over and over again!!! Watching this video you can't help but think that. There are really no words, I have nothing to say about this train wreck. And so the back and forth continues as Keys pops up in response:

I shared this with my partner and crime Uniqpoet and we had a very interesting discussion about all of this. He did make a good point, what do folks want to hear these days: Another rapper from the streets talking about stacking chips and doing dirt or a rapper who delivers lighhearted, party-themed lyrics? Why, he adds does every "hungry" emcee have to be gutter and hood? I think this shows the wide divide in hip-hop as emcees from both sides battle for the soul of hip-hop.

At this point I am thinking, is this the next rap beef? Fat chance on that but it sure makes things very, very interesting! I wonder if Keys is going to get in the black trucks and ride on Nicki? Ha, ha...Stay Tuned!

Do you mind if I hang a Confederate Flag? VA's Gov strikes again!

I am getting really tired about writing about the mistake it was to elect Bob McDonnell Governor of Virginia. What's sad about that statement is that he and his administration have done more to reverse the achievements of Gun Control advocates and Homosexuals in 3 whole months in office. Just when you thought it was safe to think maybe it would be clear for a while and he would focus on roads, economy or even crime, this jackass creates Confederate History Month. Somehow, I kind of wish that this was a Ashton Kutcher "you got Punk'd moment" but it isn't, this guy is serious. Where do I go with this? Two points:

1. If Gov. McDonnell wants to advance the idea that the GOP is a compassionate party in the light of all of the bulls*it with health care, stop now. You are not helping your party garner any new favor among minorities or moderates whose voices are being drowned out by the right wing nut jobs in the GOP. Although I think if anything, this move was self-serving and outright insensitive. What do we gain by reliving the history of one of the most ugly periods in our nations' history? Also, who is telling the REAL history of not just the Civil War but of out nation? Texas has already decided that the history being taught in their schools wasn't diluted enough and opted to tell more lies to our kids who need to understand that the true source of the angst in our nation is the inability to tell the true story of our history and confront the pain that resulted from it.

2. I am a student of history and ok I acknowledge there are groups who live their life relishing in the Civil War and the roles their ancestors played. These folks wave the Confederate flag as often and as vigorously as the American flag but when confronted and ask why do they display a symbol of hate their reply is "It's heritage not hate." So your heritage is one of starting a war over enslaving a race of people and believing said race is inferior to your own? I don't know about you, but that is not a heritage I would want to be proud of. And if that argument wasn't complicated enough, then hate groups wave that damn flag and then a few Civil War ancestor groups quietly dispute that but not loud enough to make them look a little repentant for their "heritage."

Maybe the Virginia GOP wants to appear as though they don't give a rat's ass about anyone's beliefs, well-being or safety. Now that I think about it, that's the platform of the National GOP. What's next Mr. Governor, State endorsed lynchings???

Where in the World is Shabba Ranks?

Note: This is a repost with an update (Some old and new here). Read, laugh, whatever. Be easy.

Yeah, I know the picture probably scared the shit out of you but as I was flipping through my iTunes I was thinking where the hell is Shabba Ranks? (aka Mr. Ugly Man) I must admit, he had a few of the hot jams back in the day (Mr. Loverman, Ting a Ling, Housecall with Maxi Priest) but then there area few songs which make me think he definetly had to work to get it (Bedroom Bully, Pay Down Pon it, Muscle Grip and Telephone Love). Has there been any Shabba sightings? Are there still people with eyes after that sighting?

Update: I was in Maryland this past summer and Shabba was in DC making a club appearance. His radio inteview was very interesting simply because I still couldn't understand a damn word he was saying. Shabba is still making the rounds it appears, glistnin' with baby oil, singin and scaring the s*it out of folks. Thanks for all you do Shabba!

College Basketball: Tell em' why you mad Prof...

This is the time of year where all is fresh, renewed and all of the male species disappear for hours at a time to live in March Madness. I always feel so rejuvenated at this time of year as warm weather returns and the thrill of sport is at it's apex. Even when I am not my best, March Madness always manages to bring a smile to my face and some comfort and solace from what is happening in the other aspects of my life. With all of that said, it feels a bit weird to write a blog expressing my disappointment in college basketball at the beginning of the major conferences crowning champions and awaiting the Christmas Day of the season, Selection Sunday. Is it me or is going to college for one year now the norm for these phenoms?

Don't get me wrong, as an ex-athlete and a basketball fan, I can appreciate someone who has extraordinary talent and can play a sport extremely well. I look at it as a gift from God that one has the gifts, talents and the physical tools to play a sport very well. Through sport, many have gone to college and achieved at a high level. So I ask the question, if you aren't trying to stay at least 2-3 years, then why are you "jerking off" the fans and then stopping before they get it in? In essence, that is what is occuring in my opinion. These players who play at the High School level like a man amongst boys get to the college level and make it seem easy. But it is bad that EVERYONE knows that "so and so is going pro next year." WHAT!??? You came long enough to give a team a great season and then off you go to further dilute the NBA talent base. There are great players in the NBA, I can agree on that. But what I see is a dilution of the civility of the league, just guys who are "professional" as it is implied that they are all professional basketball players. Nowadays, if you are in your 30's, you are considered over the hill and put out to pasture because you have guys coming into the league younger and younger.

There is however a much larger issue at play here, I am concerned about the difference between players who have phenominal skill and those who are good players but their head is soooo pumped that they believe all the hype associated with them. The former players are typicall y those who do the 1-2 years of college, grow some and get a bit of education and move on. These players typically have done well. The latter guys are the ones who come out of High School, some unknown and untested and others who are well known and tested. I see a mixed bag of success in this group and I think success here is based on the support group that you have. If a player has level headed, honest input from family and business folks, then the sky is the limit. But there have been too many who go this route and end up with nothing, far short of the dream of NBA riches and success. Couple all of that with should I go for the money or should I go because I can play also complicates things. If money is the issue, I can fully understand. Playing in college for 1-2 years as I mentioned can be a big help in achieving the goal and after hopefully making it in the league, finishing a college degree can be done. Going because you can play well is a recipe for disaster in my opinion and has been the downfall of many.

Overall, I blame both the NBA and the College Game. Colleges are supposed to be showing young men the way in education while the NBA should be looking out a bit for it's image and self-interests. From the way things are shaping up, neither cares about education or image.

Let me get the steak, medium well and hold the gun shots!

Well, well, well, my beloved home state has "fired"off the first volleys toward a new safe haven for the NRA! Today the Virginia Senate approved a bill that would allow guns to be carried into establishments that serve alcohol (bar or restaurant) provided that the person with the gun does not drink. Do you think this will work? I will wager no since the Virginia ABC has a hard time curbing underage admissions into clubs and illegal alcohol possession by minors. Now they get yet another tough task to police, making sure that gun toters are sober WHILE CARRYING A GUN IN THE BAR!!!

I would like to take this opportunity to thank all of you scared, idiots who, after Obama got elected went out and bought guns like World War 7 was about to start! (This gun shit is so stupid, it skipped WW's 3-6!) As I may have asked before, did you skip high school the day they taught government? I know Obama is a constitutional lawyer but he would have to do some REAL ILLEGAL shit to actually take all of your guns!!! And far be it from me to question your intelligence, I mean I know a lot of plumbers, construction workers and white collar workers who know sooo much more than the President, a HARVARD trained lawyer! Excuse me for doubting YOUR knowledge of the law and yes US Government. Let me break this down to you: Obama can't do SHIT with out Congress rubber stamping it! I think I remember my history teacher (and Schoolhouse Rock) defining that as "Balance of Powers." (Remember writing that on your hand for the government exam since you skipped that day?) Which means that no one branch of the government (Bonus point: Name the branches of the government? I hoped you didn't skip that day, that was day 1) can have absolute power! So while you want to believe that Obama is a socialist, wanna be dictator...it won't happen! Hell, he can barely get anything passed in Congress now, I think your guns and your daughters are safe!

That rant was important to my overall point, the GOP backlash in my opinion is significant. However, a lot of the arguments are faulty. I can agree that the president could be doing a better job in some areas and his focus on some areas (economy, terror and health care) could be readjusted but all of this fear is greatly misplaced. Obama can do no more that what the other branches will allow him to do. But of course, keeping it real the first black president isn't getting much of a chance to do anything! If the GOP gets it in during the next election, they will revel in stonewalling him out of office. Well Virginia, now we have to live with 4 years of more guns while you eat and drink, arguments about choice vs. pro-life and how the GOP has more "values" than everyone else. Thanks to my VA peeps, will we be better off in four years? God only knows.

Where in the World is Queen Pen?

You know a party ain't a party till it's run all through! Queen Pen brought us this jam back in 1997 after doing a hook on BlackStreet's "No Diggity" and the signing to Teddy Riley's Lil Man label. She had a few songs, dare I call them hits and she fades into oblivion until last year when she confronted Rocsi over her alleged affair with the husband of best friend LisaRaye. What I am trying to understand is why is Queen Pen fighting on behalf of her girl? I could understand if they were in a fight together but fighting a battle on behalf of her friend? That has got to be a woman thing cause i'll be damned if i beef with another dude on behalf of my friend! So now other than coming out of pure obscurity to have beef with another chick (which I am sure Rocsi had a chuckle about, probably looking at Queen Pen like "and you are?") Queen Pen is also a novelist. Yeah...look for her book: "Tales of a one-time Grammy Winner Has-Been" at a Barnes and Noble near you.

Where in the world is Gerardo?

A new feature from the Prof digging up and getting all in the business of all those whose 5 minutes of fame expired about 20 years ago or more. While watching VH1 and reminiscing over classic R&B videos, I jokingly asked my fiance what the hell happened to Gerardo? I got up and did his dance and had a great laugh! The only difference between my dance and his is that I wasn't wearing ultra tight jeans and pointy toe cowboy boots. I guess there was a reason he danced like he did, he couldn't move in his jeans and his feet hurt! You remember the song and the dance! If not, get you ass up and move with Gerardo, you know you want to! LOL!!

Where is he now? According to WikiPedia he is still in the business as an A&R man for Interscope. Some of his more notable signings include Enrique Inglesias and Bubba Sparxx. Wow, still contributing to the industry after all these years? I wonder where the tight jeans are? Probably in a trophy case in his den! Today I salute Gerardo, the man once known as the Latin Frank Sinatra. Good to see you are doing well after leaving us such timeless music during your short run in the spotlight!

Reality TV: Not my reality!

I was engaged in deep thought at the gym about reality TV and the current wave which we as a society have been sucked whole into. I admit, when this current wave started I watched one or two shows religiously and then the dam broke and soon I couldn't keep track nor watch the ever growing line up of shows from successful people trying to become ultra successful (The Apprentice) to has been celebrities getting another shot in the spotlight while making complete asses of themselves. (The Surreal Life) Now the latter category that I just mentioned has become the norm and the formula for the most current crop of shows and I must say that although it may be entertaining (albeit disturbing) to watch famous folks (or formerly famous folks) to hash out their problems, complain about how hard their life is having so many choices, so much money and not having the time to vacation, I really don't give a shit nor subscribe to this current reality.

Some of the best examples of this are Keeping up with the Kardashians. When the show premiered, I sat down and watched a few episodes and found myself a bit intrigued and even laughed at some of the silly moments. But I couldn't relate (as is the case with most viewers) to rich, spoiled, complainers who bitch about what they can't do and what they won't do. Well hey, it's nice to have a choice! If you got money and decide to open a store because you ain't got shit better to do, where do I sign up for that!!! Sounds like a nice life to me but what do I know? I have to pack a lunch, punch a clock and take someone else's crap 8 hrs a day. Would be nice to not have to do that. In saying all of that, why are we so drawn to celebrity and their lives knowing that their reality does not in any way, shape or form matches ours?

Reality TV in it's most pure form should make legitimate celebrities. Those who can offer us some positivity, give us a model or an example to follow. My favorite show on the air now is Top Chef. Now you more than likely won't see the winners of this show on a lot of TV shows nor on Food Network (God forbid!), these chefs will leave and open restaurants and other culinary business which reflect the true meaning of success this country was founded on. I am always saying or asking who someone is and why are they relevant. Now that Jersey Shore has ended, Snooki is getting a show, "The Situation" is now a household name and a whole new cycle of false celebrity is born. If all it takes is getting punched in the mouth and inventing an idiotic dance is how one becomes famous these days, I guess I need to get in a bar fight or bring back the running man for 2010.

Why are we so sensitive?

During the election, candidate Barack Obama was constantly confronted with the simple question: "What do you intend to do for the black community?" I am sure that had to be a tough balancing act considering the pressure he was under from all sides. Appealing to voters of all races, creeds and beliefs, his own party, undecided voters and many interest groups who threw their weight behind him while running a historical race had to make him look unsympathetic to black voters. This question came up so much that in a conversation with a friend she pointed out that he is "running to be president of the United States, not of black America!" I agreed with this point and we all know the outcome of that candidacy.

Now it appears that President Obama is losing steam in his popularity while his politics have been a major point of division only an year into his presidency. Where are the dividing points? Well they appear to be kind of obvious, you have the Tea Baggers, birthers, right-wing nut jobs oh and Fox News at the most extreme, other Republicans who disagree with him "strictly" on political matters and then those who are on his side and may or may not disagree with him. After the loss of the Massachusetts Senate seat held by the late Ted Kennedy, the backlash on Twitter was highly palpable. AverageBro, who I follow made some comments concerning the affect of this loss which I could agree with although I supported Obama and voted for him. Some of these comments actually LOST him followers on Twitter. REALLY? Now I don't know (and if you read this AB let me know) if these particular folks were black but I thought they may have been based in AB's reaction to their unfollow.

If that is the case, then why are we so sensitive as a people to criticizing one of our own? While the right conducts a witch hunt against him everyday based on conjecture, fear and hearsay we fail to stand up to unwarranted criticism. On the other hand, when there is legitimate room for debate on the issues of the day and how the president may or may not be coming up to par, we get offended and think that we are rising up against him. This is scarily reminiscent of how happy we were one year ago today during the inauguration, wearing our Obama clothes, dancing happily in the streets and packing DC to celebrate. Did Obama have a positive influence on us as a people? Well some of us I am afraid to say. How can we be so proud of one of our own becoming president but then return home and still do the negative things that shed such an ugly light on our community. Why can't we come together? Every other minority group, no matter what rallies around each other in good and bad, however we rallied, prayed and did all we could to get Obama in office and we STILL look like BET on some levels. Maybe I just figured out why Obama stayed neutral on What do you intend to do for the black community?" He can only do so much for us as a people, we have to come together and do the rest. Class dismissed...

A Professor Quick Hit: Another edition of That's my Dude

You roooted against him hard during the Wacky Races because you knew he was going to cheat with no success. But when it was all said and done and him and Dick Dastardly had failed, you waited and finally that magic moment happened. Muttley hits you with THAT laugh! Tell me you did not get a kick out of that wheezy, evil, underhanded laugh! If you didn't, you have no soul!! That laugh has gotten me through some tough days! I tried to upload the laugh but the videos wont upload for some reason. I found them on YouTube. Go there and get a giggle or two. Thanks for the memories and that great laugh Muttley! After all these years, you still got me trippin!

The NBA: Kill ya Selves!!!

Good gracious, could this be the most embarrassing day for one sports league in recent memory? So let me see if I have these facts correct:

1. On a flight back from Phoenix to Washington D.C., Gilbert Arenas and Javarris Crittenden played a game of cards. Said card game got a little testy (something about money being bet on said game.)

2. The betting made things a bit "tense" and the two "professionals" had a bit of a squabble but squashed the beef. This occurred on or around December 19th.

3. The Wizards had the day off on Dec 20th so there was no more squabbling over card game betting.

4. However, a full 2 days after the initial beef the squabble began again with Arenas placing three guns next to Crittenden and as a "joke" he told him to select his weapon.

5. Crittenden told Arenas that he had a gun. (Read: I'm gonna pop one smooth off in you!)

And now Gilbert Arenas is suspended indefinitely by the NBA, he looks ridiculous for bringing unloaded handguns to the Verizon Center (still in DC correct, where mofos get shot on the regular) to hide them away from his kids. I guess Arenas didn't read up on the 2005 NBA collective barganing agreement which states: NBA players are subject to discipline if they bring guns to the arena or practice facility, or even an offsite promotional appearance.

What???? How did you miss that?? Let me refresh my memory, you went to Arizona correct? They stopped teaching reading and interpretation skills when you got there. Damn, I am tired of grown, so called professional athletes resorting to the thug mentality to deal with their problems. I remain a basketball fan but sometimes the NBA pisses me off. Arenas is a veteran and that may not be a valid excuse (See Allen Iverson) YOU SHOULD KNOW BETTER. Unfortunately, I would expect that thug BS from these younger players who go to college for a year or hell come right from HS to the NBA to act like they are working a drive-by after the game but Arenas? Maybe I should not be surprised at all, I guess this is the new NBA. Maybe the commish needs more in the collective bargaining agreement to deal with the increased buffoonery.

While we are on the subject of buffoonery, a former NBA player who escaped major trouble is back in the news. Jayson Williams was booked on a DWI as he laid in Bellevue Hospital in New York. Williams ran off the road and hit a tree and suffered minor injuries. Why can't these dudes stay out of the negative limelight when they are already under major scrutiny? I don't know what else could have gone wrong for the NBA today? Dennis Rodman gets a dating show? Allen Iverson has another "practice"rant, Latrell Sprewell comes out of retirement? AHHHHHH!!!!

The NBA needs to get additional standards in place to go along with the ones that obviously no one is reading. (Delonte West) The list continues to grow!!!! NBA...KILL YA SELVES!!!!!

Inspired by Gilbert Arenas and submitted for your disapproval...

From ThroatChopU: http://www.throatchopuniversity.com/ and ThroatChopU on Twitter: Gun violence, not good or funny. But there are a list of pro sports teams that should bring guns to the locker room to solve problems. So here is my list:

10. Denver Broncos: For f*ckin up a perfectly good season!

9. Pittsburgh Steelers: 2 words: Self Implosion

8. Chicago Bears: Jay Cutler should invest in body armor

7. Philadelphia 76ers: Hey, AI's back!! We need a shootout in celebration!!

6. Buffalo Bills: Nothing went right, starting with the fact you're in Buffalo!

5. Washington Nationals: What else can be said that hasn't been said about Afganistan...bombed out and depleted...

4. Washington Redskins: This one hurts me the most but it had to be said.

3. St. Louis Rams: It can only help...

2. Washington Wizards: They weren't #1? Ha ha, nope!!!!

And the #1 team that should bring guns to the locker room to solve problems:

1. The New York Knicks: They should bring some grenades and C4 as well...

Unfortunately every Washington team except the Capitals made the list. Maybe DC is now a hockey town again??

A Professor Quick Hit

It's rather ironic that I thought about doing a Rush Limbaugh "Kill yo Self" blog and the dude almost dropped dead. Hmmm, I wonder what would have happened if I HAD written that blog? Oh well...