expandedmind

Holy land?

2009-01-04T01:23:00.000-08:00

Back on the screen and that can only mean the injustice-o-meter is on tilt. Folks, on the subject of Israel adopting genocide as a way to bargain with Palestinians, I'll simply say this: killing them won't change their minds, just ours. I don't agree with Mormon philosophy, but it doesn't mean they should die; it just means don't invite me to your wedding(s), Brigham. Live and let live, not eye for an eye, or else we all end up blind. Peace. Hi-Lo.

Tim Russert and George Carlin, R.I.P.

2008-07-01T18:30:00.001-07:00

What's up blogiens? I've been offline for a spell, but I've been busy. I'm probably the last blogger to write something about the two giants we lost recently, but I've been in denial about them for a while. I wouldn't be doing my part if I didn't say something about them so here goes.

First, we lost the great Tim Russert to a sudden heart attack. This hit me and my wife like a silent freight train in the darkness. Every Sunday morning, we looked forward to hearing the truth from a man who gave it to us unfiltered. My wife was especially devastated because it was the way she started every Sunday, watching Russert interview politicians, hanging them with their own words and deeds, yet doing it in a way that they had to respect him for doing his job.

With Tim Russert, you always got it straight, always the truth, and always for the benefit of all Americans. If you said one thing and changed your opinion to pander to what's in this week, Russert would call you out. He was the guy on our side, our voices sang from him in the questions he asked and the statements he made. Now, when we need him at this most important time, he's gone; we'll have to do it on our own. Mr. Russert, if your still watching out for us, know that we will do our best to reach the end and we'll have your fair and unyielding example to guide us.

How ironic that we lost another giant in his field a few days later, who shared something in common with Tim Russert; truth. George Carlin, how I wish I could have met you and thanked you for what you did for us. You showed the world that comedy could be beautifully anarchistic, shockingly candid, and challenge the drone of what is common. We saw you morph from suit-and-tie to long hair and beard, reaching your comfort zone.

From George Carlin, I learned that I could be myself and it was alright. I didn't have to walk in step, go with the flow, just because they said so. He showed us our reflections, in the best and worst times, and we saw what we really were. For all the trouble he might have caused to the conservative types, Carlin helped us grow up. We realized that we shouldn't be afraid of where we came from by trying to hide behind some silicone mask.

We aren't always proper beings and we needed someone to check us when we did step over the line; Carlin called us on those occasions, too. His comedy grew from a world where we hack the language up to fit our needs, not always careful of how we use it. I'll miss how he commented on everything from politics to business. Those of us who were and are fans will miss thinking of how he would let us know how we could fix our self-imposed problems. We'll miss you forever, George.

Obama wins again!

2008-03-09T01:27:00.000-08:00

Another day and another win for Barack Obama! I checked out the numbers here and it appears that Obama had a 59% to 40% advantage over Clinton in a state with roughly ten registered voters. I guess we can thank six of them for pushing him to victory and hope the other four will vote Obama when he gets the nomination. Hi-Lo.

Obama and Hillary, what round is it Mic?

2008-03-07T23:35:00.000-08:00

What's up y'all? I haven't been scribbling online for a while because I've been doing a lot of reading. See, I gave up videogames for Lent and I've had nothing to do except read and write and keep an eye on the happenings of the World.

So, what haven't I plastered words about online in the past few weeks? Well, for one, Obama's win streak came to an end with Hillary taking Ohio and Texas. Congratulations, you're not drowning anymore. Hey, we all knew this wasn't going to be the Lakers vs. the Clippers. We're not blind to how much they both want it and how much their campaign-folk are willing to do to deliver that job. This one won't be quick and it's already gotten nasty, but we'll hang in there 'til the end.

At this point, the Hillary camp has gone from moderate, to defensive, to wicked, and back to moderate after the blood transfusions this past Tuesday. The question is how much more bleeding will occur and who's got the pints left to take it? Hi-Lo.

Lookin' for dirt by playin' in it

2008-02-19T00:51:00.000-08:00

Here comes more crap. The niceties come easy when we're face to face, but the mud gets tossed from a distance, doesn't it? Now, the Clinton campaign, having nothing to dig up on Obama, are clinging to some words that Obama borrowed from a colleague for a rally. Has it really become this desperate for Hillary?

In you're usual campaign for office, the object is to get the dirt on the other guy and show it to the voters, even if it's only alleged. This time, we have Obama, who's the cleanest candidate we've ever seen. So what's a professional crap-slinger to do when faced with this challenge? Search for an invisible needle in an imaginary haystack I guess.

This reminds me of Don Quixote and the Windmills; there are no dragons to slay because they're not there! Good luck trying to find a dust particle here, Hillary! Hi-Lo.

School shooting

2008-02-16T23:17:00.000-08:00

I've been away for a couple of days due to illness. These days, it's always something I guess. Watching the news hasn't made me feel any better.

First off, I have to say something about this tragic event at NIU. I can't fathom what was going through that young man's head before he did what he did and it doesn't matter now. We get caught up in the plight of the shooter every time one of these shootings happens, but we need to focus on the victims. It's human nature to try to understand why such a tragedy occurs and the questions follow a connect-the-dots method to the time of the event, but does all of this back-tracking do us any good?

Yes, there's always a sign or two about the mental instability of one of these guys before they go on a rampage, but dissecting it afterwards is of little concern to the families of the loved ones lost. Maybe someday, all of this detective work will lead to one out of a dozen tragedies being averted and maybe it won't.

The thing to remember is this; it's also human nature to pick on the weak, or the perceived weak, either to gain dominion over them, to prop ourselves up, or just because we can.Until you eliminate that human trait, you will always have an individual who seemingly flips and commits an act of violence against other people to prove he or she isn't weak. Hi-Lo.

STRIKE OVER!! YAYYY!!! OBAMA!! YAYYYYY!!!!

2008-02-14T02:08:00.000-08:00

YIPPEEEE!!! I've been waiting a long time to type those first two words and do so guilt-free! After over three months of getting nowhere, the Writer's Strike is finally over. It looks like the Oscars will be a Red Carpet event after all. The best news about the new deal is that the Writers will get a share of the New Media and they will get to go back to work doing what they were born to do.

Barack Obama had a big day again, shutting Hillary down and making it eight states in a row. YES WE CAN!!

I wouldn't be a real Laker fan if I didn't say how glad I am that the road trip is over. They went 7-2 during that time, plus they added a 7-footer who actually can play. GO LAKERS!! Hi-Lo.

Ohhh-bama, McCain Mc-DOH, Writers mulling it over, Lakers win again

2008-02-10T23:38:00.000-08:00

Man, what a weekend! If things go the way I hope they do in November, this weekend may come to be known as "Obama Shutout Weekend". Obama won all of the state primaries, roaring into another Tuesday of primaries coming up, prompting Hillary to dismiss her Campaign Manager. Meanwhile, McCain might be up on the judge's cards, but he can't get the knockout on Huckabee. Pundits be damned!

The WGA Leaders held a Press Conference addressing the new offer from the Producers, saying that it is a "good deal" and that the Writers should approve it. They also pointed out that they didn't get everything they deserved, leaving a few things on the table, but that it was the best deal they've had in over thirty years. So, in the next few days, we'll see if the Writers lift their pencils or break them in half.

And finally, LAKERS WIN AGAIN! Was that Pau Gasol trade like getting free money or what? Still, I would've liked to see the Heat with Shaq one more time. Oh well, a win's a win. Hi-Lo.

Obama Clocks Clinton, Writer's Strike ending?

2008-02-10T01:18:00.000-08:00

I just checked the results from today's primaries and do y'all smell that? That's Hillary getting barbecued! Obama won handily in all of the primaries and it wasn't even close in the Virgin Islands. The margin between them is only twenty-five delegates, that includes Super-Delegates. We still got a ways to go but it sure feels good to see those numbers.

Also, the Writer's Strike may be closing out this weekend depending on whether the Members vote to accept the new deal. I don't have too many specifics, but I did read that there is language that provides for compensation to Writers for "new media" usage. It works out to about $600 for the first two minutes of programming viewed and a smaller rate for the rest of the time viewed, not to be less than the total of the first two minute total... I know, it seems confusing, but that's actually the easy part of the formulas mentioned! Anyway, it is progress and a damn sight better than nothing.

Could they get more if they held out longer? That's the hardest question to answer. It does make you wonder just how much money the Producers are pocketing if $600 is them being stingy. We'll see what happens. GO OBAMA and GO WRITERS! Hi-Lo

Lakers Win, Hillary and Obama separated by a whisker

2008-02-08T22:37:00.000-08:00

Whew! Whenever I watch a Lakers game, I have a few moments when I feel like jumping out of a window and tonight's game was one of those times. They were able to dodge a loss with the help of Pau Gasol and Kobe each scoring over 30 points, the first time that's happened since the glory days of Caron Butler.

Now, all we have to do is win a few more before we come back home and cash in the frequent flyer miles.

Also, I checked the latest delegate count and Hillary and Obama are separated by two delegates, not counting the Super Delegates. I hope y'all are ready to lose a few hairs in the coming weeks because this will be like a good movie 'til the end. Hi-Lo.

Mitt, get gone!

2008-02-07T19:30:00.000-08:00

What's up y'all? If you don't know by now, when I predict something big, carve it in stone! Mitt Romney officially threw in the towel, saving his family's inheritance and himself further embarrassment.

It couldn't have happened any other way. As bad as it is these days, no one's ready to hand the country over to a member of a cult. So, who's gonna be the next one to fall? I don't think Ron Paul will be next; he's sticking around to get every last dollar to stash in that retirement nest egg. Hi-Lo.

News Overload

2008-02-07T01:32:00.000-08:00

Wow, folks, what a day! SO much happened today my mind is in over-expansion mode, so let me unload for a minute. First off, pray for all the folks down South who were affected by the group of tornadoes that hit. I got family there and I'm praying already, but they sure wouldn't mind your prayers, too. I saw the pictures of Lafayette and Jackson, Tennessee, and they were heartbreaking.

Second, or actually 1A, Obama and Hillary are in a virtual tie in the race for delegates. If you thought this race was almost over, grab some popcorn and get a comfortable chair.

Third, the coroner released the results of the Heath Ledger autopsy and, as expected, they found that he died from an accidental overdose. The proof is there, now let him rest.

Fourth, Shaq passed the physical and the Suns now have a 20-million-a-year Diesel, cab-minus-the-trailer, in purple and orange. This was an expensive, dangerous deal for Phoenix and it won't put them over the top, on the court anyhow. Sorry Suns, but we had Shaq during his glory years. Sad as it will be to watch him Barney up and down the floor, I won't feel sorry for him or his new team. All parties signed off on this trade, yes Marion too, so they'll have to live with it. Speaking of The Matrix, if he was miserable on a high-powered team, I don't want to see him when he heads off the court after a tenth loss in ten games!

Fifth, though it could move to second in the coming months, McCain took command of the GOP race yesterday by gangster-slapping Romney in the primaries. At this point, Romney needs to freshen up that resume because he's not gettin' this job. Huckabee is sitting pretty since McCain will most likely draft him as his running mate. Yes my people, if that happens, the rich get dinner and we all get plenty of desert.

One last thing... GO OBAMA!! YES WE CAN!! Hi-Lo.

Heath Ledger, politics, burning in the Brain

2008-01-25T02:12:00.000-08:00

First up, can we all agree that the death of Heath Ledger is a tragedy on infinite levels? A two-year-old daughter left behind, an atmospheric career cut short, and an emerging talent we'll never see reach maturity. Everyone wants to focus on how he died, what was his state of mind so that he can be judged, but does anyone want to focus on how he lived? Let's celebrate a life that brought entertainment and awe for millions. Let's revisit the performances to be remembered throughout his career. People will believe what they want to believe about his death, but let's all be bigger than that; spin it as the media might, it won't change that he's gone. Do not judge this young man, not for his death, not for his life, not at all. Just marvel at another miracle we were witness to.
Speaking of not judging, can people not belittle his existence by saying things they wouldn't have said to his face? I mean, this guy for Fox News, who I won't give the courtesy to name in my space, makes fun of him on the air to start some controversy and boost his ratings? Well done, sir, way to show how much we've grown as a species. Should this guy even be on the news? Should his stunt have even made the news, rewarding a heinous act of disrespect? Let Mr. Ledger rest in peace and let his family know that he meant more than gutter-quality headlines and cheap-shot antics.
As for the politics of the day, do the Democrats really need to follow the Repugnantcans plan of stabbing each other in the back with attack ads? Come on y'all, are you going to let us be taken again because you don't want to rise above the B.S.? Barack, Hillary, y'all are bigger than that. No hitting below the belt, costing America points and pull the race-gender-family cards out of the deck along with the Joker in the Crack House. We need a hero y'all and heroes don't play in the pigpen. We're all hurting and you can't build a solid new foundation out of shit. Hi-Lo.

Common Enemy

2008-01-20T23:58:00.000-08:00

I've wandered this Earth,
A million years,
Before my birth,
To the no colors,
I have no worth,
I built the chair that,
Holds your girth!

We embraced you,
"Welcome brother",
Stole our land,
Attacked the Mother,
You caged us,
And bruised our soul,
Liquored our bodies,
BUT WE WON'T FOLD!

Your words mean nothing,
A promise, a lie,
Noise to my ears
My people still die,
Seconds are years,
The metal sears,
Mind overturned,
My village is burned,
Home is no more,
Now it's Our turn!

Thoughts

2007-10-20T02:18:00.000-07:00

An anomaly,
I see before me,
the riddle,
not in the middle,
apocalypse and tragedy,
melt before my eyes,
it's not a disguise,
dehumanized.

Protruding limbs,
sins and skeletons,
cloud my vision,
canteen full of oil,
blood soup boils,
not enough elitists,
doesn't taste right yet,

Set, guide us,
unsettling isn't working,
brain-damaged monkey,
spoiled child,
what can he do?

Our night is their day,
the shells, the words,
the flesh tears away.

Hey!
Please wake up,
you've been asleep too long,
Time is passing,
even the weeds won't grow,
it's all dying,
the monkey's lying,
shooter's pulling the strings,
taking us all hunting,
I don't want to wear antlers.

Blink...home is gone,
don't know this land,
the heat, the sand,
they need a hand.

Promises broken,
brought fire instead,
Death in tow,
they know it well,
showed us Hell!

The Sun, our Son's, setting,
Daughters by their sides,
Children are lost,
God killing God,
No one wins.

Skid Row, the movie

2007-08-27T00:49:00.000-07:00

What it is people? I know I haven't posted here since, like, Dollar Bill was serving interns manwiches and gas was a dollar a tank, but I had to get on the rooftop to shout about something that affected me this evening. My wife and I just saw a movie called Skid Row, starring Pras of The Fugees. This is a documentary about Pras living as a homeless person on L.A.'s Skid Row for nine days, with nothing but a camera crew covertly filming in a van and a camera person tagging along, doing the same. I can only sum up the feeling from deep within my soul in this way; when the film was over, I felt a pain in my heart, a pain I've only felt when I lost a loved one. In truth, something in me died tonight, and that was the way I think about the homeless of this country, of this world! I've always had a soft spot for those less fortunate than myself, but I always found a way to keep the sadness of their situation at a distance; never again. Through his experience, you see the helplessness of people who are just trying to stay alive. Pras learns quickly that he has to have a hustle, such as panhandling, to get money for food or go hungry. He takes you on a ride where panhandling all day might not get you enough to eat and definitely won't provide you with enough to have shelter for the night. This point is hammered home when he tries to find shelter only to discover that the nighttime bus to the shelter won't let you on if you didn't get a ticket for the bus that morning. How ridiculous is that? His tent gets stolen and he can't go to the shelter, so he has to sleep on the ground because the shelter has no more room for the homeless due to the rain.The numbers of it will disturb you; 200,000+ millionaires in L.A., 5,000 of which are worth twenty-five million dollars, 80,000 homeless in L.A., 11,000 on Skid Row, not one reason good enough to explain why. We have a catastrophic problem here and it's not being addressed. More people like Pras are needed to bring this to the foreground where it can't be ignored. Why spend billions expanding the Dubya Empire, making enemies of the World, when we should spend that money helping our brothers and sisters in need? This movie is in limited release right now, but I urge everyone to go see it when it reaches a venue in your area. It will move you to take action and never again take for granted what you have. Later. Hi-Lo.

Call me Nostradamus

2006-07-25T01:12:00.000-07:00

Hello folks. Well, I've let it marinate for a while, but yes, that was me that said the Miami Heat would win the NBA Finals. To any of ya'll who doubted my basketball knowledge, I have to say nyyyaaaahhhh! Did anyone really think Dallas had the frontcourt to handle Shaq and stop Wade too? Yes, I am a Lakers fan, but I'm a basketball fan above all. I'm also a fan of Shaq, but I would rather have seen him win another one in a Laker uniform. If only I owned the team... oh well. So, should I take on fortune-telling full-time? I don't think so. Besides, if anyone saw my predictions for the near future with Dumbya at the helm, they'd lock themselves in the basement. Don't you wish we could bring back the Old Days when leaders had to lead their armies into battle from the front? They wouldn't be so quick to start something if they had to fight. By the way, where's Dubya during all this fighting going on between Israel and Lebanon? I guess there's no money in it. Here's to peace in the Middle East and hoping people get their heads right before it's too late. Hi-Lo

B-ball and Candidates for Governor

2006-05-31T21:35:00.000-07:00

Hello ya'll. I haven't been keeping up with the news the last couple of days but I have been keeping up with the NBA Playoffs. Shaq and The Heat are just a game away from the NBA Finals, but Detroit isn't ready to go home yet. So who wins the NBA Title this year? If Miami finishes off the Pistons, I believe they have the best chance of winning it all. Phoenix and Dallas can run and Dallas is much better on defense, but the Heat are a more balanced team and their players know their roles. In my beloved West, I think Dallas has the will to beat the Suns and go to the Finals. I think the Suns have a good running team, but their defense has lapses during games and it takes more than offense to win it all. For anyone keeping up with the mud-slinging Democratic campaigns here in CA, who do you think will challenge Screwzafella? I'm pulling for Angelides because I like what he's talking about and his campaign is slightly cleaner than the Westly outfit at this point. I also believe he's got a good chance of beating Ahnold in the Election. Hopefully, we still have a state by the time Election Day rolls around. So can anyone do a thing about our soon-to-be $5.00 a gallon gas? Nope, not as long as Dubya is runnin' things and lining his pockets. Too bad we can't power cars on B.S. because we'd always have a full tank! Hi-Lo.

Poof! Deficit gone!

2006-05-27T00:24:00.000-07:00

Hey ya'll. So have you heard what Gubna Screwzafella is shoveling now? Apparently, our mighty California deficit has disappeared and we now have a five billion dollar surplus. Wow, just in time for the upcoming elections! Where did this miraculous surplus come from and how did it remain undiscovered until now? I think this guy's got the wrong idea about running a mud-slinging campaign; you see, Gubna, you're supposed to shovel shit at opposing candidates not the voters and your bowel movements don't pay down the deficit. If you say it, they'll believe... I don't think so. I can't wait to hear the other fairy tales Screwzafella's got for us in the coming months. Maybe he'll tell us all the illegal aliens parted the border fences and went back to Mexico yesterday. Yep, all those landscapers, cooks and housekeepers you see aren't Mexicans, they're dark-skinned white folks who've reclaimed the jobs the illegals were stealing from them all these years. You know, I really hate that term "illegal aliens" because it makes the people sound as if they come from another planet and they're criminals. They better hope the Mexicans and Salvadorians don't listen because the state would starve without food, the houses and businesses would collapse under the dirt, the cars would fall apart, the lawns would die and the parents would have to take care of their own kids! Let's be real folks, we still have a deficit of ten bajillion dollars and the immigrants aren't going anywhere because rich folks aren't going to pay a decent wage for work they feel is menial. If you want to get rid of all the problems with California you don't need to get rid of a few million immigrants, you just need to get rid of ONE! Hi-Lo.

Gnarls Barkley

2006-05-26T00:38:00.000-07:00

Hey ya'll. Did you see that performance by Gnarls Barkley on Conan last night? Was that not the shiznit? I hope that slow version of "Crazy" becomes available soon. If it wasn't for this kind of music, how would I get through life nowadays? I've GOT to get that CD! Later. Hi-Lo.

New music

2006-05-23T23:31:00.000-07:00

What's up cats? I've been gone for a minute, thinking and working. Lately, I've been listening to a lot of new music and spending time with my girl. Still, the writing offline has continued. As most of you know, my disgust with the state of the world, specifically our country, is always the central theme of my posts. I do have to share my impressions of the new music my wife and I have experienced of late. First of all, if you haven't listened to the radio in a bit, there's a new group out there called Gnarls Barkley that you MUST hear. The group consists of Cee-Lo and Danger Mouse and they are the shiznit. Check them out on MySpace and peep the tracks. All the tracks are hittin' and Just a Thought is on my MySpace. Also, you gotta check out my homie, the Tennessee Hustler, LaronQ on MySpace. He's got some other level type stuff that you have to hear. Music is one of the biggest reasons I make it through these times, the biggest being the love of my girl. If you feel the same, check out these Artists and enjoy. Hi-Lo.

I'm back...for now

2006-03-08T23:51:00.000-08:00

Hey everyone. I know I've neglected my own little world of late, but I've been busy trying to sort out life for a while. I'm about to start the whole two-job thing, again, so I'm looking for another car for my wife. It's not easy finding a car to buy when all you have to spend is pocket lint. After I start working sixteen hours a day, again, I don't know how much time I'll have to actually write. Heck, I haven't even started and I can't make time to update my blog now. So, I hope to squeeze out enough time to make money, get a couple of winks and drop ya'll a line soon. Until next time, peace. Hi-Lo.

Another job

2006-03-01T17:43:00.000-08:00

Hello all. Well, I've been real busy looking for a job that pays more green so I can still afford to cruise the Net and I finally found one last Friday. They want to pay me more money than my current job and they're willing to start me out part-time so I can work both jobs and save some money. They told me that their goal is to have me work for them only and they will pay me handsomely in the long run. I think I can deal with that. Well, I got a lot of catching up to do online so I'll holla later. Hi-Lo

blog vacation

2006-02-24T19:52:00.000-08:00

Hey ya'll. It's been a while since I've gone off on this blog, but I do have more ammo today courtesy of our Idiot-in-Chief. Can you believe this guy is gonna let our ports open to Arab-controlled business? Does he really think his excuse of letting them have that much access to us is better than insulting them is going to fly? All you have to do is follow the trail of dollars to find out why he really blessed this deal. It's clear that Dubya worships at the churches of coke and cash. Why is this guy still at the controls?! It's like everything he does is forgiven immediately after he does it. If Dollar Bill had had this kind of forgiveness, he might have bagged a dozen more interns before he stopped.

Fire Away!!

2006-02-13T07:48:00.000-08:00

It's been a week since I went off but, thanks to the Old VP, I have something to go off about. So, by now, most of the free world has seen the news that Tricky Dick Chaney shot someone while on a hunting trip over the weekend and no, it wasn't Dubya. This brings a good question to mind; WHO THE HECK IS RUNNING THE COUNTRY?! We all know that Dubya couldn't run a lemonade stand without incident so who's at the controls? If Chaney's so eager to shoot at something, I know of a great spot where he can discharge all the ammo he wants, but he better wear some sunblock 5000 and bulletproof draws! The only trouble is he won't be the hunter. Why don't you take Dubya on that hunting trip? You could pay off the National Debt with the money folks would pay to take him out on safari. Heck, you could end world hunger, build a new White House out of solid gold and give everyone in the world an H2 with the money leftover. I'm broke as hell and I'd fork over $49.99 just to watch it on Pay-Per-View! Hi-Lo.

A few days, but the anger's still here

2006-02-05T07:30:00.000-08:00

Well, let's try this again. I tried to post yesterday, but there were modifications being done during my usual creative time, so I lost the post I had saved. I guess the powers that be didn't like the words I wrote. Luckily, I remember what I was ranting about well enough. I wasn't too happy with the news that our Plunderer-In-Chief asked for more money to fund the BS overseas. I don't personally want to see my hard-earned money going into the trust fund for GW the 25th! Screwing the people seems to be the agenda of this Administration and there's too many bumpkins in this country to band together and boot their asses out of D.C.. I'm real tired of the gross underreporting of our military dead being splattered all over the air. Apparently, Dubya is misplacing the decimals and no one in power is checking the math! How 'bout multiplying by ten there and adding a few hundred; pretend your adding up the rubles you're hauling in at the pumps ( I guarantee the numbers will come out right then). He actually had the nerve to act like he wants us to stop buying from his gas station? How dumb does he think we are? He's never gonna give up that free money. Well, it isn't free, but it didn't cost him anything. Can we get rid of this idiot already?!

Writing and more writing

2006-01-31T07:23:00.000-08:00

Once again, I'm back to pollute your minds. Since I've already posted to my other blog, you don't have to worry about another long post today. I know I've been straining your attention spans with my recent entries, but not today. Like I said, I have another blog now, so I'll be splitting time between the two. I figured it was time to expand my writing a bit and go beyond what I normally consider to be enough writing for a day. It's my way of sticking with my New Year's Resolution to write everyday. I know there aren't a lot of people hanging on my every word, but I don't want to cheat those who do expect me to produce something worth reading. I came to this realization while visiting a few of my favorite blogs and noticing the lack of new material. It's not the end of my world, but I only read blogs by people whose writing styles almost speak to me through the screen. You can imagine the letdown when I click on these blogs and don't see a new post for a while. I vow not to put what readers I do have by doing what I did before the New Year. Well, I gotta run. See ya'll tomorrow. Hi-Lo.

People

2006-01-30T07:18:00.000-08:00

Good morning all. This time slot is fast becoming the best time for me to write. I guess it's because I'm wound up right after getting off work. As the title of this post suggests, today I'm going to ramble about getting along with people. In my younger days, when people agitated me it usually meant fists were gonna fly. I had the worst temper in the world. Thanks to a lot of work on my part, and my wife's patience, I'm no longer a serious physical threat to people. One thing I had to learn was to accept people with all their traits. Having said that, it is my belief that everyone has something wrong with them. Think about it. How many times in your life have you met someone and thought,"She's a cool person, except she complains too much", or "She would be a model if she lost two pounds". Even the people you think the world of have something wrong with them; you just don't know what it is or you don't want to know. It's just easier not looking for it and getting on with life. Some of my friends have been singled out as having a character or physical flaw at some point, heck we all have. As it is, I'm known to get along with almost anybody nowadays. Since I'm also a good listener, I also hear a lot of people's deepest thoughts and desires. I'm not saying go out and make friends with the rudest person you know, I'm just saying you shouldn't be so quick to write someone off because they don't fit your exact specifications. The most important thing I did to be better around people was to shelve the perfectionist in me. It wasn't easy, but I managed to do it by 1) not setting these ridiculously high expectations of people, 2) NOT listening to someone's judgement of a person before getting to know them, 3) treating everyone with common respect, 4) listening to a person, I mean really listening to them talk, and 5) observing their actions in different situations ( how they treat people, how they act in good and bad times, etc.). This isn't in any order and some of you will find one more important than another. These aren't even all the ways I use to get along with folks, but they are certainly some big ones. Some things go without saying, like not going around telling someone's business after they just told you. If you can't be trusted with even the most mundane information, you'll be the person no one wants to be around. One final note on getting along with people; STOP BEING PETTY. I can't count how many times someone has complained to me about someone else they have a problem with because thay have a wort on their hand or they have a high voice or some other nonsense. There are more important things to worry about. Hi-Lo.

Advice

2006-01-29T07:17:00.000-08:00

Hey ya'll. Ever notice how people give you advice whether you want it or not? I'm a person who constantly gets bombarded with this. Most of the time it's obvious stuff that any person with a functioning brain would know, but sometimes there's a golden nugget in the dirt. Since I look a lot younger than my age, anyone over two years older than me has to tell me some tidbit they think is need-to-know. I'll admit, I'm guilty of dispensing some knowledge of my own but only if a youngster asks me for it. I find that many of the youths out there are wandering the Earth with a serious deficit in the useful knowledge department(notice I said useful). I am not one of these poor souls who have trouble with something as simple as telling time on anything that isn't digital. Yes, kids, there was a time when people looked at the clock, saw two hands and a bunch of numbers and knew what time it was. Anyway, getting back to the subject, I was given some advice today by a co-worker about what women really want from us men before anything else. He said that a woman wants to know she can be safe in your company and be your friend before she considers anything else. This is something my wife told me a while back so I'm inclined to believe there's truth in it. Good advice or bad advice? Although I already know this, and the subject came up while discussing someone else, I'd have to say this is good advice for the brothers out there reading. It does seem elementary, but there are many young and old cats in this world who don't get it. I'm not a pimp, or even an assistant pimp, but I am comfortable around women and my experience tells me that they are more receptive when they don't feel like they're in the company of a stalker. Translation; don't approach a woman like you're a pimp and she owes you money. That goes double for brothers with a few nickels in their pocket and a car note! Another thing; if it's too easy, you don't want it! Matter of fact, RUN IN THE OTHER DIRECTION!! If not, you too could be the winner of a baby's momma. You'll be standing at freeway offramps with a cardboard sign asking for change. And remember, 18-to-life doesn't just apply to prison. You could even win a psycho, hiding in the bushes just waiting for you to come home every night! Also, there is a difference between ghetto girls and the dreaded hoodrats. If you know what they are, you know the difference and the last time I checked, D-Con and Raid don't do a thing to hoodrats. Hi-Lo.

A reason to write

2006-01-28T06:53:00.000-08:00

I know some of you probably think I'm crazy since I went off for what looks like no reason yesterday, but we've all had days when we had to get something out of our systems. I find that when I get these things out of my head and onto some form of written communication, I feel better all around. Like I said, not all things I write are fit to be read by the world so I put the stuff here that doesn't sound like the ramblings of a madman. Yes, I do get more enigmatic than the words you see here lead you to believe. I did speak to one of my co-workers today and I found out that I'm not the only one in the workplace who spills out thoughts on paper just because. It always amazes me when I find out someone, who I never expected, is a closet writer. All I could do is encourage him to keep writing down his thoughts everyday, as he's been doing for years, and something good will come of it. It doesn't matter if it's ever published. Just the practice of doing it is enough because you find out so much about who you are and what kind of person you were at one time, sometimes in disbelief of what you wrote so long ago. That's what he conveyed to me and it reaffirmed what I have known for some time about why I write. It's the biggest reason to write; for yourself before anyone else. Hi-Lo.

Red eyes

2006-01-27T08:12:00.000-08:00

Well, I'm sitting here emptying my thoughts on the screen at this hour because I got off work two hours ago and I can't sleep guilt-free unless I've fed my blog. It's part of my New Year's Resolutions, in case ya'll are wondering. I swore I would write everyday, as a writer should, on paper or screen. I didn't specify what I'd write, just that I'd write something everyday. If you don't see a post from me for a day, chances are I did my daily writing in one of my notebooks instead. You know, not everything you write should be seen by everyone. Some stuff I write shouldn't be read by anyone but me. I tend to go off about things that mean nothing to ya'll and everything to me. I don't want to waste your time because I know that when we surf the Net, our attention spans are microscopic. Most of you who read my thoughts here are probably frustrated by the same issues that bother me. As a writer living on the broke side, I force myself to find the good in my everyday life since I see so much ugly in the world. True, I'd be a lot happier with a bigger bank account, but until I get there, I'm going to continue this daily writing therapy to get me through. If pride wasn't such a big deal to me, I would sell that fluffy writing to pay my way. I just can't do it! I'm not the Blue Eyed Sellouts. I want my writing to mean something; to make people think, to inspire, to touch lives, to be remembered for more than the money I made off it. So, if you're looking for me to write and put a blonde out in front of me to help me blow up, think again. I don't hate white, I'm just down for the brown, in all of it's beautiful shades, because that's what I am and that's what I know. Anyone who questions that definitely isn't feeling me. Yeah, I'm a funny person most of the time, but I can be real serious when necessary. I have a lot of thoughts streaming in my head all of the time and writing is what keeps me from overloading. I believe if more of us picked up a pen instead of a gun, we would deal with people better and our situations would improve. As you read my words this year, you will see my life change for the positive. That's the reason I do this. If you're feeling my words, holla. Hi-Lo.

Watching TV

2006-01-25T20:46:00.000-08:00

What's goin on everyone? I'm just sitting here watching the Jamie Foxx special on the tube in between surfing the Net. It's really good . For all of you who have missed most of it to this point, it's supposed to come on again Friday. I won't give away any of the highlights so you'll just have to watch then. I didn't see anything too interesting online today, but it's hard too concentrate when there's something good on TV. The only thing I did see was the article about the Ron Artest trade. Great, now the Kings have a viable defender who can score! I don't think Artest is going to be too happy in the capitol city. You have to deal with the locals sure, but it's not them he has to worry about. The chance exists that he might run into that so-called Governor up there. I hope he's got a shovel. Hi-Lo.

Who said what about Kobe Bryant?

2006-01-24T22:02:00.000-08:00

Once again, I'm here. The good news is that I'm blogging at a later hour because I have the night off. The bad news is that I'm not feeling very well today. I haven't eaten much all day since my stomach is bothering me. I went to the farmer's market in town and was surrounded by food that smelled so good even the barbecue smelled like dessert! Don't you just hate it when there's all this great food nearby and you can't eat because you're sick? And , of course, that's when the food commercials come on every thirty seconds. Right about now a cracker sounds like filet mignon. Still, despite my ill condition, it's nice to have a day off. I was checking my e-mail today and one of the sports headlines said that Vince Carter thinks that Kobe Bryant's 81 point game the other day set a bad example. What kinda crap is this? Is someone jealous that he hasn't scored that many points in a game? I saw the highlights and if Kobe hadn't carried his team, they wouldn't have won. Considering Vince Carter admitted to giving less than his best effort while "playing" for the Raptors, I didn't give the article a read beyond the headline. Say what you want about Kobe, when he plays, he brings it all EVERY NIGHT. When you're team is shooting with no ammo what are you supposed to do? Fake an injury and watch them suffer? Oops, I guess that's been done. Call us when you got a ring or three Err Canada! I would respect it if it would have came out of Allen Iverson's mouth. Why? Because rain or shine, blizzard or earthquake, sprained ankle or broken ass, AI shows up, all 165 ounces of him. Yeah, I'm a disappointed Laker fan since Shaq left town, but I'm going down with this ship and if Kobe has to score 80 for us to win, I say drink your Gatorade and fire away young fella! Hi-Lo.

Surfing and writing

2006-01-23T20:29:00.000-08:00

Hello again. As you may have noticed, I put Google ads on my blog the other day. I pondered about it for the last six months and came to the conclusion that since I have already have a Google link on my blog, I might as well put a few Google ads here as well. The good thing is that the only stuff that should show up here is stuff that directly relates to the content I write in my blog. I know, I know, the other day I went off about flogging, but this is different in that I am not personally vouching for any of the ads that appear on my blog. Besides, I figure the stuff I write shouldn't bring too much related-content ads. I'm kind of curious to see what would be stimulated by these musings of mine. Still, it is an experiment of minute proportions in my little world. I don't think or expect to become a millionaire from this, but I do expect to see some funny things to pop up on my blog since I write about a variety of topics. I didn't find anything really interesting during this session of surfing. I did the usual e-mail check, the craigslist scan and, of course, updating the blog. You can really waste some time being on the Net and get a lot done all the same. Today was one of those waste-time days. As long as I, as a writer, have put some thoughts down, it's never a waste. Well, I have somewhere unimportant to be to bring home a couple of pieces of bread so until tomorrow. Hi-Lo.

Cool writing sites.

2006-01-21T21:32:00.000-08:00

Hello all. I said I'd be back to let y'all know about those cool websites I looked at yesterday and here I am. If you're already a writer and surf the Web regularly, you probably know about these sites. Although there are a million sites about writing, I'd say these are some of the most helpful that I've seen to date. They also link up to other helpful sites so there's no need to tell you about the other dozen sites I feel should have your attention. They are writersdigest.com and absolutewrite.com and they are freakin' great. Remember, I wouldn't waste my time tellin' you about them if I didn't try them and if they weren't good. Any question you have about writing could most likely be answered by these sites and, if they can't, they link up to other sites that can. Well, it's back to the wonderful world of wage slave for now. Peace. Hi-Lo.

Doing some research

2006-01-20T20:20:00.000-08:00

Hi everybody! Once again I've been neglecting my little blog for a few weeks, but one of my unwritten resolutions for this year is to keep spilling my thoughts here daily. As for today, I've been around the Web doing some reading about improving my writing skills and getting paid to be a scribe in '06. One thing I don't like is the idea of flogging. For those who don't know, that's when a blog is nothing more than an advertisement for a product or products for money. I simply won't put anything on this here blog hawking products simply to get paid. I don't think that's what this is all about and there are other outlets for that kind of activity. Yes, I do have bills to pay, but there are more honorable ways to go about meeting those ends. Hell, I'd rather write cookie-cutter romance novels than push stuff I don't believe in on my blog. To me this is my own little ranting board and I like to provoke thought, not a mindless buying spree. It's all about expanding your minds. That being said, if I do tell you about something I find helpful, you can be sure of three things; 1) I have tried that product, service or website, 2) I truly believe in that product, service or website and 3) I didn't get paid anything, not a piece of lint, to tell you how good it is. Also, I won't bash any products on this blog. If it's useless, I won't waste energy on it and it will eventually be discovered by all that it's useless. Don't get nervous everyone. If ever I tell you about anything worth mentioning, it will be rare. Just know this about me; my writing comes first here and with that comes my opinions of the world. Don't ya'll just love the Internet? I did find some very helpful resources today. I won't go on about them here right now because I've already been running off at the keys for a minute, but I'll tell all about it tomorrow. Later. Hi-Lo.

Livin' in L.A.

2005-12-16T16:53:00.000-08:00

Hey Y'all. Yes your boy is living in the City of the "Angels". At least I get to watch Laker games more often. Sorry for not writing for so long, but you know how it is when you work 16 hours a day and move to what seems like a different world. I can't write a whole lot more since I'm at the library and I have to keep my savage beast of an opinion to PG-13 levels so until I get my broadband hooked up at my new digs, the powers that be will be pleased; but never fear, I SHALL RETURN!

L.A. update

2005-10-15T19:09:00.000-07:00

What's up people? Well, this is fast becoming a weekly thing so I'll get you caught up on our situation. When last I wrote, my wife had gotten the job in L.A. offered to her and we were awaiting the negotiations to take place. The money they offered wasn't nearly what we were expecting so it looked as if it wasn't going to happen. Alas, we talked it over and we are making plans to leave our beloved Bay Area and move to the City of Angels. She accepted the part and we are looking for a place out in L.A.. I figured we're not making much here and her career isn't moving at light speed so we might as well go where her opportunities are better. Following a dream and turning it into a reality isn't easy otherwise everyone would do it. I haven't been keeping up with the news much except that I did hear about the massive quake over in the Pakistan area and the high death tolls. I can't help but wonder about the state of the world considering all of the recent disasters and loss of life. People keep telling me it's the "end times" and folks need to get right before it's too late. Maybe it is and maybe it isn't, but I choose not to live in constant fear of what lies ahead or what judgement might be coming. I feel that if you've been doing wrong for a lifetime and you suddenly find the right path at the last moment, it's not going to make a difference in the eyes of our Creator. It wouldn't work with your mom so how do you think it would work with The Lord? Hi-Lo

What? I have a blog?!

2005-10-09T14:12:00.000-07:00

What's up ya'll. Well, as you can see from my lack of recent activity, the whole sixteen-hour-a-day thing is siphoning my energy to the point of neglecting my blog, but there is good news. My wife put in for a musical theatre review in L.A. and they offered her the part. YAY!! That means more money in the bank and I won't have to kill myself working all these hours much longer. Of course, this means I will have to move to L.A. soon to accommodate her job, but it's a step I'm willing to take. It also appears that she might have found me a job there already! Sweet! Now all I have to do is get used to living in L.A. as opposed to the Bay Area. Before I start making plans for the U-Haul though, they have to offer her the right amount of money or it's a no-go so wish us luck. I'm so proud of her and I'll let you know how the negotiations turn out. Hi-Lo.

Busy little bee

2005-09-25T20:52:00.000-07:00

Hey ya'll. Thought you'd gotten rid of me, huh? I'm still kicking, just not as spry since I've been pulling sixteen hours a day between both jobs. That's not the reason I've been missing in action though. As many of you might know, I have a dinosaur of a computer and, on occasion, it has a problem or two with the hardware. It happened again and I didn't have ample time to address the issue 'til today. So I'm back and pissed as ever with the state of the world around me. Did you notice how quick Dubya raced to the scene when Rita was bearing down on his home turf? Didn't take five days to make a decision on that one did it? Wait 'til you see how fast the aid gets there. Won't be any massive red tape getting in the way now. When do we impeach this clown already? The government doesn't help it's own people because of what? Be it color or social class or laziness, this can't fly anymore! We need to bounce that ass out of office because we can't survive another three years of this Bushit. What do we do when the next big disaster hits? I don't know about ya'll but I don't want to tell one of these survivors that we can't help them because we're still making payments on our desert-front property in Iraq. Think about it. Hi-Lo.

On my damn nerves

2005-09-06T21:08:00.000-07:00

Hey ya'll. So, a couple of posts ago, I shared the fact that I'm going to work two jobs very soon. Well, if the clowns in control keep pushing my buttons, one of those jobs will be replaced. My longstanding gig is run by a few morons who think they can talk to people like they ain't got no damn brain. Yesterday, I got into it with the laziest person I've ever met. Apparently, a diet high in Krispy Kreme doughnuts makes you lose your senses, because this tub o'shit started talking to me like I was his sorry bitch. So what did I do? C'mon, ya'll, you know your boy had to check that ass. Why is it that some of the sorriest sombitches get ahead while the hard working, weight-of-the-world-carrying folks get jacked? In the case of the clown I'm talking about, I know he got them knees dirty to get where he is. Yep, he can't move if it ain't beer or doughnuts, but Humpty can sure suck-up with the best of 'em. I'll probably get a write-up for lettin' loose on that clown, but damnit I got my moneys worth. That's allright 'cause there's only so far you can go being a low-level scavenger. The real crime is that pet rock actually got Labor Day off! I keep it all in perspective, though. Many more people have it much worse than I. Besides, I take comfort in knowing that my future is unlimited and his is unchanging and without honor. I also know that his racist ass already has a ticket on the Helltanic and all the money he supposedly makes in this life won't save him in the next. He'll be sitting right next to Dubya and Condosellout. Hi-Lo.

Hey Dubya, what's that on your face?

2005-09-03T20:33:00.000-07:00

First things first. Ha Haaaaa!! I got to give it up to Kanye for verbally pimp-slapping Dubya on almost nationwide TV (those of us out West got the edited version which I didn't get to see). That handprint will be there for a while. I couldn't have done it better myself. The only way it would've been better is if when they cut over to Chris Tucker, he screamed," Yeah!" So where's the aid, Dubya. All you got to say is you agree that the response has been bad? Would you like another so the other cheek matches? Folks, I could make a career out of busting that grill like EV-ERY-DAY, but it won't make a bit of difference on my end. Now, if we all do it, you got something to work with. The mainstream media has already acknowledged us bloggers for digging in that ass this past week so keep it up ya'll. The more noise we make, the more aid they send down south and I'll holla from the rooftops if it does the victims any good. I gotta say what's up to Waset at The Power Journal for being the first blog I read to have the Kanye surprise on it. Much respect to all my fellow bloggers for keeping up the pressure on those in a position to send help. Keep doing what you're doing. And to my brothers and sisters in the Military, I'm not on the bash the Armed Forces bandwagon because I know ya'll don't go unless you're ordered to go. Same with FEMA and the other Federal agencies. The people up top need to make the call if the help is going to come and that's real! Hi-Lo

New millenium, same old game

2005-09-02T19:55:00.000-07:00

Hey everyone. If ya'll are like me, the central thing on your minds is the Katrina aftermath. My mind is scattering all over the place all day long thinking/hoping/praying for the folks down south. One thing I do have to get off my chest right now. I was reading The Power Journal blog and Waset brought up a very valid point; why is it that media choppers can fly overhead and zoom in on the panties at a celebrity wedding and they can't do anything for the refugees? You mean we can film the tragedy but we can't save those affected by it? The world has hit rock bottom when the color of people's skin and money determines the level of response in a disaster. Like the people in Mississippi said, they don't want the President to come there, they want the FEMA trucks to come there. Hot air don't do a damn thing to save anyone, but food and water sure does. And, by the way, have you noticed how they keep talking about the lawlessness in New Orleans and nowhere else? My wife knows folks around the area and they made it clear; it's not anarchy!! The media is trying to scare rescuers into not going there and letting the people suffer. Why? So they can plummet into armageddon and do themselves in. Have you also noticed how they've said the French Quarter is a loss just like everywhere else, but have you seen it on TV? No, because it's not lost and the white folks there are still on Bourbon Street partying like it's 1999! In fact, I read a Miami Herald article that said they were back at it the day after the hurricane. Oh, don't get me wrong, they took a hit, but the locals said it was nothing compared to Mardi Gras. Like my Mom always said," If the milk stinks, it's bad." Same old story. Hi-Lo

Exploring blogs

2005-09-01T22:00:00.000-07:00

I'm back for more. I've been blog-hopping for a little bit and it appears the message is clear; people are pretty ticked off about the aftermath of Katrina, everything from the governmental response (or lack of it) to the subhumans on the prowl in New Orleans. We've seen amazing feats of heroism and unimagineable new lows of human nature. Listen, now is not the time to get that new TV at a 100% discount, clowns! Or take some new pants off the rack of someone's once prosperous store. Don't any of these idiots know the consequences awaiting them in the afterlife? Just because Officer Jones isn't there to catch you doing wrong doesn't mean that God's blind. Ya'll are headed to the hot place, on a rocket ship, wearing unleaded draws, standing on a lit match! Also, I'd like to acknowledge that thirteen year old M-A-N that saved his family from their flooded house. Not many grown folks could've done that. Much, Much Love young brother! For now, I'm saying prayers for the victims of Katrina, wishing I was in Dubya's place so I could make their pain go away. Peace. Hi-Lo

Pondering...

2005-08-31T20:41:00.000-07:00

Hello again. I was talking to a fellow today about the disaster that is Katrina and he brought up a few nuggets I thought I should share with ya'll. First of all, where's the U.N. aid? Second, why aren't all the nations we call friends calling us to lend support? Seems all our friends of the world aren't that friendly when we're in a bind. Maybe we should divert some of that rebuilding money from New Texas, uh, I mean Iraq, and use it for the benefit of the victims at home. Or, maybe we could take a few of those gold doubloons from the gas pumps and put it in the pockets of those who really need it. Just trying to suggest some solutions since our leaders are too busy serving the rich and screwing the poor. Come on folks, New Orleans is UNDER WATER!! Where's the telethon man?!! Let's not forget about Alabama and Mississippi either. These are our brothers and sisters and they need help like yesterday. How is it that we can ride to the rescue of every island with a flag over there and we can't take care of our own people? This is a wake up call. God don't like ugly and we, as a country, have turned our backs on our impoverished citizens way too long. I bet if Louisiana was a foreign country sittin' on a gang of oil we'd send all the help they could stand and the government would slice up that pie amongst themselves. Karma will not be kind to those crooked clowns, I guarantee it. Hi-Lo

Killing time

2005-08-30T19:21:00.000-07:00

Hey ya'll. I'm not doing much since my better half is out at rehearsal and I'm bored out of my brain. I read the paper today and the news is really depressing. That bitch of a hurricane caused a lot of damage down south. I saw the pictures of the Big Easy and I still can't believe that 80% of it is underwater. That can't be right. I read that the "resident" President is keeping an eye on the relief efforts already underway. The other eye is on the profits he's making on the recent oil price increases. Yesterday, gas right by my job was 2.70/gallon. This morning, it was 2.78/gallon and by this afternoon, it reached 2.83/gallon at the same station!! Are these gas prices or the Stock Exchange updates? Of course not, because the Stock Market moves up and down (mostly flat nowadays) while the gas prices only go up. Remember the good old days when Dollar Bill was running the show and gas prices were at an average of 1.15/gallon nationwide? I don't care if he had a line of interns waiting to "serve there country" outside of his office, at least there were jobs and I could afford to drive my gas-guzzling, four-wheeling, deer-stomping SUV without taking out a loan. Not that I would ever hit a deer or that I ever went four-wheeling, but at least I could afford it back then. Now, Jack in the Box is considered fine dining in my household! Let's make an Ammendment to nix the whole two term limit thing on Presidents and re-elect Dollar Bill to another term. Hell, make it two 'cause we've got a lot of Bushit to undo and one term might not be enough to reverse the damage. All blue-collar folks would definitely be happier. Think of the strippers, people! Nickels and dimes hurt you know. Hi-Lo

Bangin' on the keys

2005-08-28T20:29:00.000-07:00

What's up out there? Well, I finally found a new job after years of searching. Funny thing is that I can't quit the old job because I need more money than either one alone could provide. Figures! So, I'll be working both jobs, full time, and I wont have much time for the blogging lifestyle for a while. I may actually be posting more often since I'll need something to keep me sane through all this. No sense in wasting valuable time sleeping when I could be making money anyway. I hear working eighty hours a week isn't so bad once you see those paychecks roll in. I guess this is life in the 21st century economy. Too bad I don't own an oil well or run a whole country so I can invade some poor little Middle Eastern country and make millions by taking over there oil supply and... oh wait, that's already been done. Or maybe I could parlay my movie career into winning public office and screwing the citizens of the state I run and... damn, too late for that one too. Well, it seems I have no other choice but to work these two gigs and keep playing the lottery. Stay tuned. Hi-Lo

2005-08-23T21:19:00.000-07:00

Hey ya'll. Nothing much to say today except:
Being broke is
no joke,
How do you cope,when you don't
drink, smoke or toke?
I wake up everyday without
a penny in hand,
I wonder how much more of this
I can stand,
The rent is barely paid and
my stomach is never full,
If I only had some money,
life would be wonderful,
'til that day comes,
I'll continue losing weight,
And doing a job that
I really, really hate,
I guess when I'm old
I'll laugh about these times,
When I was so hungry,
I scrimped all my nickels and dimes,
For now, I'm working one job
and looking for two more,
So I can pay the bills
and get some food from the store,
Well this is the life
in a good economy,
No time, little food
and no money.

Don't be alarmed out there. Yeah, I don't get three squares a day, but it takes a lot more than a little calorie reduction and a bad job market to silence this mind. Stay up... Hi-Lo.

Rough going

2005-08-06T19:47:00.000-07:00

Hello everyone. I know it's been a minute since I last posted anything, but I've been going through a lot of things of late. The worst of which is that I lost a very good friend of mine. He was the nicest person I'd ever met. It didn't really sink in 'til I went to his funeral yesterday. He had fallen ill a while back and all my energies went into visiting him in the hospital and checking in on his son to see how he was doing. People consider me pretty funny, but as most people find out, the most humorous of people tend to have gone through a lot of things. I don't think of myself as one of the funniest people on Earth, but I have gone through a lot of tragedy in my life and I've coped with it by having a good sense of humor. For example, as I began to write this posting, I thought of how life has been hitting me so hard that I feel like a pinata. I also had an image of being stuck in a pinball machine. Guess which part I was? I know there will be times when life treats me like a punching bag, but I also know that if all you focus on is the bad times then you're going to have a bad time. That came out kinda Yogi Berra, but I think you get the idea. The other day, I imagined that it was twenty years from now and my friends and I were old men on a porch drinking lemonade and laughing about the good old days. One of us didn't make it that far, but I guess we'll have to wait 'til we all get to that porch up there. You know, I was thinking about how even though I'd always believed we go to a better place when we die, I've had that voice in the back of my head that said,"what if you're wrong?" The greatest gift my friend gave me was that he left this world with a smile on his face and now that voice is gone. Thanks Robert, for all the laughs and all the good times. Save me some lemonade. Hi-Lo

Around the world

2005-07-05T20:58:00.000-07:00

What's up ya'll? Tomorrow's the big G8 Summit and there's no sign that anything is going to get done. They're dealing with riots over there now and the outlook in the news leading up to the event has been bleak. Let's just hope Dubya doesn't make fools of us on the world stage yet again. Locally, BART is set to strike tonight at midnight and there still isn't a deal. You think Ahnold has low ratings now, see what happens if BART closes down for even one day. Can you say Black Wednesday? Have you seen Being Bobby Brown? Apparently, crack isn't that whack after all. All I can say is I better never hear or see another disparaging thing about Mariah Carey again. Dave Chappelle PLEASE COME BACK. The world is outta control and we need someone to check these folks before it's too late. Neal, dial the cell, send a hundred e-mails, use a carrier pigeon, just get Dave back. For now, avoid the sublililiminal, hasta la vista, crack is still whack and I will be back. Hi-Lo.

just ramblin'

2005-07-01T20:12:00.000-07:00

Hello again. I don't have a lot of time today so I'm just going to remind everyone about the Live 8 concert tomorrow at 9A.M. and to pass on the sad news of the passing of Luther Vandross. I wasn't a huge fan of his, but I did like some of his songs and some of you were born because of them. You know who you are...Hi-Lo.

Been away

2005-06-29T20:03:00.000-07:00

What's up out there? It's been a little bit since I last posted because my wireless keyboard checked out, but I'm back to ramble on. Any other Laker fans out there? I saw who they drafted and I can't say I'm excited or let down. I've never heard of Andrew Bynum, but I have seen Turriaf in action and he's a load inside. Funny thing, the other day I was thinking what would happen if they drafted Turriaf. It makes me wonder who's gonna be on the floor most of the time at the 4 and 5 next season. Turriaf can help us now, but I'm not sure about Bynum since I've only seen the five second clip of him in action yesterday. Well, the media did a six month update and found that the ten billion in aid to the Tsunami victims is, of course, being handed out a few grains at a time. Big surprise! It's a pretty sad world we live in when people need help, have ample funds and get shafted. That's why I suggest you visit one.org. It's not about money, it's about letting the world know we're not going to stand by and watch the impoverished people of the world suffer when we can do something. Well I gotta get ready for broke, I mean work. Stay up and don't believe all the fake news in plain sight. Look deeper, expand the mind. Hi-Lo.

On the Hunt

2005-06-19T17:49:00.000-07:00

Hello again. It's been a few days since I last posted but I've been pretty busy. My wife's out in New York auditioning for the movie version of "Dreamgirls" so I've been trying to get my act together while she's away. If I didn't mention it before, my wife is really into musical theatre. She is also a very talented singer and she's appearing in three productions this summer (Jesus Christ Superstar, Hello Dolly and Oklahoma). I'm not sure, but I believe she will also be in The Full Monty soon. Needless to say, her singing career is beginning to take off. In the meantime, I'm still striving to make sure she is always in good spirits throughout her adventures. Yes, I'm proud of my wife's accomplishments and no, I'm not biased about her talent. If you don't believe me, check out dietcoke.com and click on the "Bounce" commercial. Better yet, give your ears a real treat and listen to Lyrics Born's two cd's, "Later That Day" and "Same !@#$ Different Day" to really hear her sing and experience some real hip hop. While you're at it, buy anything from the Quannum Projects label because they only put out the best and it's money well spent. Well, since it's Sunday, I have to begin another week of searching for higher employment now. Catch ya'll later. Hi-Lo.

Random ramblings

2005-06-14T20:55:00.000-07:00

Hello again. I just had a few things rattling around the old noggin. I've been keeping up with the news of late and there's just a couple of things I have to say. One, for all the youngstas, not-so-fast and furious, wannabee street racers, O.G. street racers, soccer moms, cell phone drivers and anyone else out there, PLEASE DRIVE CAREFULLY. There's been a rash of young folks causing fatal accidents around my neck of the woods and it's not just the young who are suffering. You can't put in fifty cents and start over when you make a mistake in the really-real world so take a second before you roll the dice. Second, I read that all of the billions of dollars sent in to help the Tsunami victims is being mismanaged and only a select few have seen any money or aid, none of it sufficient. Obviously, the mainstream media has better things to do so this isn't front page or top story news. Speaking of which, my wife just called and there was a 7.0 earthquake off the coast of CA. We were issued a tsunami warning and they just called it off. Whew! As I was saying, don't let them get away with making billions of dollars meant for those in need disappear. Keep this issue alive in the blogosphere. Hi-Lo

Jackson andJackson

2005-06-14T12:57:00.000-07:00

Hey Everyone. I just woke up and found out the latest news. No , Ahnold wasn't thrown out on his ear. From the music world , we have Michael Jackson was aquitted of the child molestation charges. I don't believe he did that mess anyway. Yes , he is a little strange and he lives in an amusement park , but that doesn't make him a child molester. These folks are just trying to win the Lottery and going after Michael has better odds than picking all six numbers. Now , can everybody just leave him alone for a minute? In the sports world , Phil Jackson (no relation) agreed to come back and coach the Los Angeles Lakers. Since I'm a Laker fan of almost three decades , the news is a mixed blessing. I'll be thankful to Mr. Jackson for getting us over the hump and leading us to three titles after 12 years of futility forever , but I'm realistic about the situation. As good as Phil Jackson is , I know it's going to take more than that to get back to even half the level the Lakers were at. Unless Shaq comes back to L.A., I'm not holding my breath. If the Lakers were serious about returing to the top of the mountain , they would have made the deal to get Baron Davis from New Orleans. The best thing they could do to get better would be to get rid of the mouth and ego of Kobe Bryant. While they're at it , they could teach Kobe how to pass the ball instead of take on quadruple teams and they could get rid of their G.M.. I wish Shaq all the best in Miami , but there is no way I'll ever be O.K. with Doh!-of-the-century trade. It's like trading a mansion for three storage sheds. What would you do? Hi-Lo

5..4..3..2..1...

2005-06-12T20:15:00.000-07:00

Hello out there. I'm new to the blogging game. My name is Hi-Lo. Those of you who know me will see the humor in the name. Speaking of humor , I've been known to use mine with wreckless abandon , so please be careful not to eat or drink in front of your screens. Basically , I'll be sharing my thoughts and scribblings inspired by the world around you and I; everything from entertainment to politics. If laughing is hazardous to your health , remember , you've been warned. Well , since I'm like most of you , I'm a paycheck slave , so I'll have to get going to my wonderful J.O.B. For now , aloha from the Divided Republic of Gubnah Ahhnold. Power to the not-so Little People (nurses,teachers,etc.) Hi-Lo.