All of these recent events have brought to mind a poem of mine that I wanted to include in the novel. I lost the original drafts of it, but have just recovered them. I never titled it. Here it is:
Thick foliage providing shade for already darkened skies
The facade of mankind providing shade for already darkened eyes.
I guess that's why they hate the dark guy.
These days, people ask why not more than they ask why.
What I'd like to hear more of is talk of defeat.
I'll explain.
So often, you hear the debauched criticizing the principled as thoughtless.
Yet, visibly to all, they walk in anguish.
You don't believe in the way you act.
You've conceded to it.
If understanding something makes you fall out of love with it,
You really never loved it in the first place.
If I tell my oppressor his actions are deliberate, he smiles and calls me crazy.
If I use my fists and blow him away, he never smiles again.
Just when it seems unfair, look -
The beauty of balance.
But why must it always come to this?
Why must it always come down to the lingerie of a murderer -
Gloves
Covering the identity of madness.
Sunday, December 28, 2014
Follow Up to the Therapy Session
I wasn't exactly sure what to name this post. It's somewhat of a carry over of the end of my last blog post. And I do this simply because it is such a loaded subject, and is vital in various ways to everyone.
A lot of people that you approach with the truth, generally tend to have a very similar response. That is to base their acceptance on their view of the speaker. One thing I have stressed in my writings over the years is that Jason, nor anybody else, invented the truth. When I speak something true, hating me is not going to do a single productive thing. And if you think I've erred, you have to accept the basis on which I came to the conclusion. Sometimes, I as well anyone, can arrive at a wrong conclusion. It can happen as long as you're imperfect. But yet still, sometimes this is due to very real base facts. For instance, in my last blog post I mentioned an associate who I communicated with on a comfortable level with for some time, and considered a friend. I spoke of him being moreso of an associate at this point due to the behavioral stance he has taken towards me in recent times. After that, I specifically reiterated that I consider him a friend, and am confused as to his sudden switch in stance. The perspective of associate is changed and controlled by his attitude. Now, if he would read that, the all too common juvenile reaction is to see me as a cancer who has ill will towards him. Then he would do what the vast majority of today's psychologically challenged society does- brush off all that he heard, despise the person who said it, put up a wall, and go off his way in a rage. That would be childish, yet it's behavior I have witnessed often over the years. If I were the person myself, I would stop and break down what was said. The first thing I would conclude if anything, is that something about my recent behavior towards them, has them believing I no longer trust or like them. Then I would go from there. At no point would I insert malice on their part, because nothing about that statement said anything of the sort. The fact is that when there is an issue, the easiest thing for people to do is make themselves the victim.
And at the end of the day, what is true is just plain true. The fact that there is no getting around that leads to a lot of lazy people just shutting their brains off to all sense. The truth is like a weight, that over time has become heavy to lift, in an out-of-shape world. People like it less and less, and more and more people have put it down altogether. But truth, just like a real metal weight, is matter that cannot be destroyed. So it's pointless and stupid to try to ignore its existence. Not only my last blog, but the last few years, I have annoyed and disgusted a lot of possessed individuals simply by uttering the truth. I'm not perfect, or an angel at all. I make mistakes, and am capable of malice. However, I'm not blind. A lot of people lazily put so much faith in numbers. Simply due to the fact that there are a number of people who are at odds with one person, the principle has become that the majority must be right. However, I disagree with that enormously. What about the Messiah. If you used that same principle, that would mean that the clear and evident truth he bore was wrong. When I was a kid, I remember sitting in class as my math teacher was introducing a new formula. The entire class, including myself, believed he was making some mistake in his teaching, because it didn't make sense to us yet. In fact, some of us did formulas ourselves and showed it to him in an argument that he was wrong. In time, however, once he quieted the class, he showed the truth. Proof of my observations is the fact that most people reading this paragraph will be stuck in the middle, thinking that I'm comparing myself to the Messiah. Why? Because their brains have become trained by today's world to think in word association, and clusters. I know this because I've used that example before. The minute they hear an argument, and then hear that name, they compare the subjects, when if you read it again, you'll see that it isn't comparing the subjects at all. It's comparing the environments of the subjects. Truth is not subjective. You have to embrace that.
Going back to what I said, I have gained the ire of many individuals, and if you analyze every word and action of mine, you won't find perfection, but you will find a constant of truth. Because I speak the truth, I've become many people's reflection, even unknowingly. That's one explanation for certain individuals who associated with me and then suddenly stopped cold without any contact or incident. Of course, deeper, and even more sinister reasons can exist I'm sure. It's just that, even giving them the benefit of the doubt, that would be the best explanation of their behavior. The explanation, regardless of how many of them there is, can't be me. That's the point. I didn't invent the truth. I also can't bear the world's demons. Because if I disappear tomorrow, whatever issues lie within those people I mentioned, will still be there. That's just what I wanted to finish bringing out- we have to all own our own reflections. We have to face our decisions. I mentioned earlier, the possible reactions of those individuals, should they read the blog. It doesn't matter to me. Even if it did, that would be pointless, because I can't save them. I know, they know, God knows, and whomever else spawns and inspires their behavior knows, that they all made conscious decisions to walk their paths. Using me as an excuse, or smokescreen only does what self-destructive fools have been doing for ages- put a bandaid on a mortal wound. And no, numbers do not mean everything. Sometimes a bitter change in someone's behavior isn't brought about because of what they suddenly see in another, but what they suddenly see in themselves. Regardless, the battle lies in all of us personally, and no other way. Thank you
A lot of people that you approach with the truth, generally tend to have a very similar response. That is to base their acceptance on their view of the speaker. One thing I have stressed in my writings over the years is that Jason, nor anybody else, invented the truth. When I speak something true, hating me is not going to do a single productive thing. And if you think I've erred, you have to accept the basis on which I came to the conclusion. Sometimes, I as well anyone, can arrive at a wrong conclusion. It can happen as long as you're imperfect. But yet still, sometimes this is due to very real base facts. For instance, in my last blog post I mentioned an associate who I communicated with on a comfortable level with for some time, and considered a friend. I spoke of him being moreso of an associate at this point due to the behavioral stance he has taken towards me in recent times. After that, I specifically reiterated that I consider him a friend, and am confused as to his sudden switch in stance. The perspective of associate is changed and controlled by his attitude. Now, if he would read that, the all too common juvenile reaction is to see me as a cancer who has ill will towards him. Then he would do what the vast majority of today's psychologically challenged society does- brush off all that he heard, despise the person who said it, put up a wall, and go off his way in a rage. That would be childish, yet it's behavior I have witnessed often over the years. If I were the person myself, I would stop and break down what was said. The first thing I would conclude if anything, is that something about my recent behavior towards them, has them believing I no longer trust or like them. Then I would go from there. At no point would I insert malice on their part, because nothing about that statement said anything of the sort. The fact is that when there is an issue, the easiest thing for people to do is make themselves the victim.
And at the end of the day, what is true is just plain true. The fact that there is no getting around that leads to a lot of lazy people just shutting their brains off to all sense. The truth is like a weight, that over time has become heavy to lift, in an out-of-shape world. People like it less and less, and more and more people have put it down altogether. But truth, just like a real metal weight, is matter that cannot be destroyed. So it's pointless and stupid to try to ignore its existence. Not only my last blog, but the last few years, I have annoyed and disgusted a lot of possessed individuals simply by uttering the truth. I'm not perfect, or an angel at all. I make mistakes, and am capable of malice. However, I'm not blind. A lot of people lazily put so much faith in numbers. Simply due to the fact that there are a number of people who are at odds with one person, the principle has become that the majority must be right. However, I disagree with that enormously. What about the Messiah. If you used that same principle, that would mean that the clear and evident truth he bore was wrong. When I was a kid, I remember sitting in class as my math teacher was introducing a new formula. The entire class, including myself, believed he was making some mistake in his teaching, because it didn't make sense to us yet. In fact, some of us did formulas ourselves and showed it to him in an argument that he was wrong. In time, however, once he quieted the class, he showed the truth. Proof of my observations is the fact that most people reading this paragraph will be stuck in the middle, thinking that I'm comparing myself to the Messiah. Why? Because their brains have become trained by today's world to think in word association, and clusters. I know this because I've used that example before. The minute they hear an argument, and then hear that name, they compare the subjects, when if you read it again, you'll see that it isn't comparing the subjects at all. It's comparing the environments of the subjects. Truth is not subjective. You have to embrace that.
Going back to what I said, I have gained the ire of many individuals, and if you analyze every word and action of mine, you won't find perfection, but you will find a constant of truth. Because I speak the truth, I've become many people's reflection, even unknowingly. That's one explanation for certain individuals who associated with me and then suddenly stopped cold without any contact or incident. Of course, deeper, and even more sinister reasons can exist I'm sure. It's just that, even giving them the benefit of the doubt, that would be the best explanation of their behavior. The explanation, regardless of how many of them there is, can't be me. That's the point. I didn't invent the truth. I also can't bear the world's demons. Because if I disappear tomorrow, whatever issues lie within those people I mentioned, will still be there. That's just what I wanted to finish bringing out- we have to all own our own reflections. We have to face our decisions. I mentioned earlier, the possible reactions of those individuals, should they read the blog. It doesn't matter to me. Even if it did, that would be pointless, because I can't save them. I know, they know, God knows, and whomever else spawns and inspires their behavior knows, that they all made conscious decisions to walk their paths. Using me as an excuse, or smokescreen only does what self-destructive fools have been doing for ages- put a bandaid on a mortal wound. And no, numbers do not mean everything. Sometimes a bitter change in someone's behavior isn't brought about because of what they suddenly see in another, but what they suddenly see in themselves. Regardless, the battle lies in all of us personally, and no other way. Thank you
Saturday, December 27, 2014
The Season Finale of The Beast
This is the 3rd and Final chapter of my MMA Series
I had I nice time attempting and completing my title run in UFC 3. I've finished the footage and the lead up fights and they are in this final episode. I tried to make the video more involved and fluid. Hopefully it's enjoyable. I miss involving other gamers in the episodes, because it gives a more hilarious and raw vibe. Hopefully, I can do stuff like that in the future.
I had I nice time attempting and completing my title run in UFC 3. I've finished the footage and the lead up fights and they are in this final episode. I tried to make the video more involved and fluid. Hopefully it's enjoyable. I miss involving other gamers in the episodes, because it gives a more hilarious and raw vibe. Hopefully, I can do stuff like that in the future.
Wednesday, December 24, 2014
Nostalgia
- just as a side note, I have to comment on how I get traffic here. Not to put people on the spot, but come one. There is no need to be afraid of bookmarking, or following the site. I see there are no followers, but seemingly regular visitors who are a bit scared of joining the site, but rather pull it up on google. Guys, nothing is going to happen to you if you click the follow/join button. LOL. just saying
Yesterday, I had a very profound moment of nostalgia that carried over into today. I might sound like Johnny Millenium when I go into this story, and to be honest, I almost want to do a video on my youtube, only it's weird to do those kind of videos if you don't have a huge following. You just can't pull it off the same, even if you do a great job.
I went to visit an associate's house. I'm cool with his youngest son, who's just 12, and often play games with him and keep him company. He seems to enjoy it, and calls me over very regularly- to the point of excess. He is very good at games, and a pretty broad minded young kid, even if a bit too direct at times, but that's just his nature. I like teaching him things about the generation that I came from, and seeing the surprise. Like talking about Pokemon. I'm not a fan of Pokemon, but I remember when it came out, the original theme song, and the buzz surrounding it with the first games. It's also sick to see that it's still at large. I appreciate carry over series like that to a degree, because they give a nice depiction of how far we've come over time. On youtube, I was watching some young kids argue over how dumb the old Pokemon was, and I was laughing to myself at the cycle that persists of the current generation always undermining and trashing the founders of what they love today. Most of today's entertainment has taken a complete step backwards, but you would be hard-pressed to convince a youth of this generation of that, because it's all they ever knew.
When I came over, he implored me to bring over Smash Brothers Melee. I put it in the box, as well as Metroid Prime, and went over. Before we started, he had to ask his father if we could play. You know when you get that feeling that someone's impression of you has taken some sudden, yet permanent turn for the worse? That's the reason I mention his father as an associate, not necessarily a friend. It isn't because I don't get along with him. Anyone who knows me, knows that I always find a way to like people- even the people that no one else likes. It's just at a somewhat awkward point, where it feels like, while he doesn't verbalize it, he doesn't trust me the same, or feel as cool with me. I don't know why exactly, but we still have good conversations nonetheless. To be clear, I personally see him as a friend, as I do everyone, but that's something that has to go both ways. It's clearly visible that we have gone from first meeting, and talking freely, to having a communication gap of sorts. Anyhow, I chill with his son primarily and it's pretty fun. The son came back down, and said he was allowed to play it. I was somewhat expecting a no, but I told him to put it in the system.
We started the game up at first, I realized that the characters weren't unlocked. I wanted to get Falco at least, so I told him to go online and look up how to unlock the characters, because it's been so long since I did that. To get Falco, as many of you old-timers may know, you have to complete the 100 man melee. So I started it and used Link to make quick work of the cpu bots. Towards the end, I started losing, and he starts laughing and saying that I'm going to get knocked out. Then I said something that made me pause, "No. Sorry, but I've been playing this game longer than you've been alive." At first, I just said it mindlessly, and then I picked up the box after a few seconds to remind myself, that it came out in December I believe, of 2001. He was born in 2002. I sat back, after realizing that, and just stared dreamily at the screen, remembering the days that me and my friends would meet at either my house or my friends' houses to play that game almost every day. And it never got old. When it came out, I remember us talking about the first Smash Brothers game being 5 years old. Then after playing the game for 5 years, we looked back and talked about how we started playing it when the original was 5 years old, and now it's 5 years old. We also said that years down the line, we would look back and play this game after 20 years or so, and we laughed. We took it lightly, but we also knew it to hold some truth, because the game really is that good. It is one of the rare gems to come out in gaming history, that can carry a console by itself. I remember when it was the only game I had on Gamecube, and I would never be bored because of all the game has to offer. Not many games can do that. And I sat and thought about how it's actually been 13 years. I repeated that out loud several times, just floored with amazement. Amazement at how long it's been, and amazement at how good it still is. The graphics are just as crisp and the gameplay, amazing and timeless.
I started to show him how to play the game, and explain all of the controls and mechanics to him. I couldn't help but get excited all over again, like I was finding the game again through his eyes. It was just as fun as it was all of those years ago. Just holding the box, and looking at it, I felt like I was right back in highschool going over to play it at my friend's house all over again. I'm proud to still have Smash Brothers Melee. And it was good to have this stretch of time to build myself up, and be a kid again for a change. I got to beat a couple of games, such as Assassin's Creed: Revelations, and Fight Night: Champion. I always love the AC series, and have been following it since the beginning, as well as the spin off games and videos online that cover deeper aspects of it. It was good to be frustrated as well, in it's own way. Fight Night Champion started off very simple, and had a last boss that was absolutely legendarily hard. It was kind of cool to be frustrated trying to beat him, as I sat and retried for hours. Honestly, I almost broke the game at one point. I took it out of the console, and after holding it in my hands, contemplating snapping it, I threw it like a shuriken across my apartment. It smacked a wall, and shot into another room. I thought it was broken, especially when I saw the scratches on it, but I was able to restore it with my CD Doctor. I kept playing, and almost losing it again. I went online, and looked up forums on how impossible he can be. Finally, I beat him. It was great to be able to sit and work through a game like that again, and I only get time to do stuff like that on a vacation. That's why it's so important to me to take 2 weeks off every year in the winter time.
Then, that night, I had a very surreal dream. I was walking through a park I used to live by and describing the times of youth there to a person. As I was doing so, kids were on the fringes of the park, walking along the path. At one point, we reached a huge rock that used to sit in the middle, and you could look down the narrow path to the other entrance, that runs through thick foliage. I described how we would run through there, and in mid sentence I fell to my knees and began sobbing in nostalgia. I don't know why the emotion was so strong, but apparently it was audible and forced my wife to shake me awake. She told me I was having a nightmare, but I couldn't bring myself to tell her that it was a very powerful and nostalgic dream, and those were cries of joy and longing at the same time. I just kept that to myself, and thought about how this vacation of mine has given me a chance to step back in time in various ways and remember what got me to today. First, it was a long overdue visit to my parents, where we got to voice meaningful words to one another for the first time in ages, and grow from it. And then, it was, of all things, a game - Smash Brothers Melee, that brought up all of these emotions towards a time that was truly beautiful. I'm fulfilled at this point, and invigorated for whatever it is that I'll do next.
I don't want to end this with a sour patch, but if I leave out what this brings to mind, I feel like I'm being dishonest. You see, over the last few years, there have been a number of individuals that have turned heel so to speak for reasons they don't say. People I know by the names of Todd, Daniel, his brother Luke, Khalil and some others, are among these. I don't say this to bash anyone, but rather just to make a point. I'm at an age, or point in life, if you will, where I like to get to the heart of matters, and say what needs to be said. I think that as you get older and older, the politics start to disappear in your mind. I actually love that about older people. These people I'm speaking of, have completely begun to despise me, and the sad thing is that it has nothing to do with anything negative that I've done, but apparently demons that they face. I've associated with all of these people at various points in the past, and it was a positive experience at the time. With one of them, they were actually the best man in my wedding, and an associate, when suddenly, around the time that my wife got gravely ill and was in the hospital, there was some reason in that, to suddenly despise me and never speak to me again, even when we moved into his area. With another of them, they were like a best friend who I hung out with for years, even as recently as this year, doing an art gallery in Brooklyn together, when suddenly, after a good event, completely cut me off and refused to ever speak with me again. Then there was another, who I collaborated with on a couple of my jazz albums and associated and encouraged for years, who meets and stops me in Models one day to tell me that he's ordered my new book, and looking forward to reading it, and then following that up with telling me to contact him on Facebook. Somewhere in all of that, he chose to actually lie about purchasing the book, and then cut me off when I simply asked if his order went through. All I was doing was trying to see if I could get him a discount, and make sure his order process properly. Yet something in himself caused him to project self hatred onto me.
What inspires all of this behavior you ask? I have absolutely no idea, although in my novel, I briefly touch on a theory. But regardless, I'm not saying this to air out my business or dirty laundry, because that isn't what I even consider it to be. Years ago, in younger days, I vented about things like this and pointlessly confronted people over their strange behavior, as if forcing an agreement. Now, at my age, I simply say that I pity these people, because whatever reasons they chose to embark on these senseless paths of hatred, they just aren't worth life, and it's sad that people can't see that. When I look back and also look forward to a new year, I see the final years of my current job nearing, and new plans for where I'll live in the future, as well what I'll do. I honestly pray for all of the people out there who have dedicated their lives to a complete, and stupid dead end. Hopefully this blog reaches some of them, and they are mature enough to see what it's really saying. To be clear once again, I have love for these ones, as I do everyone. I'm not bound by sad and obligatory hatred. If they tense up and hate me further after reading this, I really don't care obviously. Just think about this- it was stupid to create the rift out of nowhere in the first place, and that all lies on YOU. We all have to assess dead weight in our lives and clean it out. If they honestly think that their behavior has accomplished something, they are sadly mistaken. I'm not saying this to insult them, but to, if possible, move them to get on track.
Yesterday, I had a very profound moment of nostalgia that carried over into today. I might sound like Johnny Millenium when I go into this story, and to be honest, I almost want to do a video on my youtube, only it's weird to do those kind of videos if you don't have a huge following. You just can't pull it off the same, even if you do a great job.
I went to visit an associate's house. I'm cool with his youngest son, who's just 12, and often play games with him and keep him company. He seems to enjoy it, and calls me over very regularly- to the point of excess. He is very good at games, and a pretty broad minded young kid, even if a bit too direct at times, but that's just his nature. I like teaching him things about the generation that I came from, and seeing the surprise. Like talking about Pokemon. I'm not a fan of Pokemon, but I remember when it came out, the original theme song, and the buzz surrounding it with the first games. It's also sick to see that it's still at large. I appreciate carry over series like that to a degree, because they give a nice depiction of how far we've come over time. On youtube, I was watching some young kids argue over how dumb the old Pokemon was, and I was laughing to myself at the cycle that persists of the current generation always undermining and trashing the founders of what they love today. Most of today's entertainment has taken a complete step backwards, but you would be hard-pressed to convince a youth of this generation of that, because it's all they ever knew.
When I came over, he implored me to bring over Smash Brothers Melee. I put it in the box, as well as Metroid Prime, and went over. Before we started, he had to ask his father if we could play. You know when you get that feeling that someone's impression of you has taken some sudden, yet permanent turn for the worse? That's the reason I mention his father as an associate, not necessarily a friend. It isn't because I don't get along with him. Anyone who knows me, knows that I always find a way to like people- even the people that no one else likes. It's just at a somewhat awkward point, where it feels like, while he doesn't verbalize it, he doesn't trust me the same, or feel as cool with me. I don't know why exactly, but we still have good conversations nonetheless. To be clear, I personally see him as a friend, as I do everyone, but that's something that has to go both ways. It's clearly visible that we have gone from first meeting, and talking freely, to having a communication gap of sorts. Anyhow, I chill with his son primarily and it's pretty fun. The son came back down, and said he was allowed to play it. I was somewhat expecting a no, but I told him to put it in the system.
We started the game up at first, I realized that the characters weren't unlocked. I wanted to get Falco at least, so I told him to go online and look up how to unlock the characters, because it's been so long since I did that. To get Falco, as many of you old-timers may know, you have to complete the 100 man melee. So I started it and used Link to make quick work of the cpu bots. Towards the end, I started losing, and he starts laughing and saying that I'm going to get knocked out. Then I said something that made me pause, "No. Sorry, but I've been playing this game longer than you've been alive." At first, I just said it mindlessly, and then I picked up the box after a few seconds to remind myself, that it came out in December I believe, of 2001. He was born in 2002. I sat back, after realizing that, and just stared dreamily at the screen, remembering the days that me and my friends would meet at either my house or my friends' houses to play that game almost every day. And it never got old. When it came out, I remember us talking about the first Smash Brothers game being 5 years old. Then after playing the game for 5 years, we looked back and talked about how we started playing it when the original was 5 years old, and now it's 5 years old. We also said that years down the line, we would look back and play this game after 20 years or so, and we laughed. We took it lightly, but we also knew it to hold some truth, because the game really is that good. It is one of the rare gems to come out in gaming history, that can carry a console by itself. I remember when it was the only game I had on Gamecube, and I would never be bored because of all the game has to offer. Not many games can do that. And I sat and thought about how it's actually been 13 years. I repeated that out loud several times, just floored with amazement. Amazement at how long it's been, and amazement at how good it still is. The graphics are just as crisp and the gameplay, amazing and timeless.
I started to show him how to play the game, and explain all of the controls and mechanics to him. I couldn't help but get excited all over again, like I was finding the game again through his eyes. It was just as fun as it was all of those years ago. Just holding the box, and looking at it, I felt like I was right back in highschool going over to play it at my friend's house all over again. I'm proud to still have Smash Brothers Melee. And it was good to have this stretch of time to build myself up, and be a kid again for a change. I got to beat a couple of games, such as Assassin's Creed: Revelations, and Fight Night: Champion. I always love the AC series, and have been following it since the beginning, as well as the spin off games and videos online that cover deeper aspects of it. It was good to be frustrated as well, in it's own way. Fight Night Champion started off very simple, and had a last boss that was absolutely legendarily hard. It was kind of cool to be frustrated trying to beat him, as I sat and retried for hours. Honestly, I almost broke the game at one point. I took it out of the console, and after holding it in my hands, contemplating snapping it, I threw it like a shuriken across my apartment. It smacked a wall, and shot into another room. I thought it was broken, especially when I saw the scratches on it, but I was able to restore it with my CD Doctor. I kept playing, and almost losing it again. I went online, and looked up forums on how impossible he can be. Finally, I beat him. It was great to be able to sit and work through a game like that again, and I only get time to do stuff like that on a vacation. That's why it's so important to me to take 2 weeks off every year in the winter time.
Then, that night, I had a very surreal dream. I was walking through a park I used to live by and describing the times of youth there to a person. As I was doing so, kids were on the fringes of the park, walking along the path. At one point, we reached a huge rock that used to sit in the middle, and you could look down the narrow path to the other entrance, that runs through thick foliage. I described how we would run through there, and in mid sentence I fell to my knees and began sobbing in nostalgia. I don't know why the emotion was so strong, but apparently it was audible and forced my wife to shake me awake. She told me I was having a nightmare, but I couldn't bring myself to tell her that it was a very powerful and nostalgic dream, and those were cries of joy and longing at the same time. I just kept that to myself, and thought about how this vacation of mine has given me a chance to step back in time in various ways and remember what got me to today. First, it was a long overdue visit to my parents, where we got to voice meaningful words to one another for the first time in ages, and grow from it. And then, it was, of all things, a game - Smash Brothers Melee, that brought up all of these emotions towards a time that was truly beautiful. I'm fulfilled at this point, and invigorated for whatever it is that I'll do next.
I don't want to end this with a sour patch, but if I leave out what this brings to mind, I feel like I'm being dishonest. You see, over the last few years, there have been a number of individuals that have turned heel so to speak for reasons they don't say. People I know by the names of Todd, Daniel, his brother Luke, Khalil and some others, are among these. I don't say this to bash anyone, but rather just to make a point. I'm at an age, or point in life, if you will, where I like to get to the heart of matters, and say what needs to be said. I think that as you get older and older, the politics start to disappear in your mind. I actually love that about older people. These people I'm speaking of, have completely begun to despise me, and the sad thing is that it has nothing to do with anything negative that I've done, but apparently demons that they face. I've associated with all of these people at various points in the past, and it was a positive experience at the time. With one of them, they were actually the best man in my wedding, and an associate, when suddenly, around the time that my wife got gravely ill and was in the hospital, there was some reason in that, to suddenly despise me and never speak to me again, even when we moved into his area. With another of them, they were like a best friend who I hung out with for years, even as recently as this year, doing an art gallery in Brooklyn together, when suddenly, after a good event, completely cut me off and refused to ever speak with me again. Then there was another, who I collaborated with on a couple of my jazz albums and associated and encouraged for years, who meets and stops me in Models one day to tell me that he's ordered my new book, and looking forward to reading it, and then following that up with telling me to contact him on Facebook. Somewhere in all of that, he chose to actually lie about purchasing the book, and then cut me off when I simply asked if his order went through. All I was doing was trying to see if I could get him a discount, and make sure his order process properly. Yet something in himself caused him to project self hatred onto me.
What inspires all of this behavior you ask? I have absolutely no idea, although in my novel, I briefly touch on a theory. But regardless, I'm not saying this to air out my business or dirty laundry, because that isn't what I even consider it to be. Years ago, in younger days, I vented about things like this and pointlessly confronted people over their strange behavior, as if forcing an agreement. Now, at my age, I simply say that I pity these people, because whatever reasons they chose to embark on these senseless paths of hatred, they just aren't worth life, and it's sad that people can't see that. When I look back and also look forward to a new year, I see the final years of my current job nearing, and new plans for where I'll live in the future, as well what I'll do. I honestly pray for all of the people out there who have dedicated their lives to a complete, and stupid dead end. Hopefully this blog reaches some of them, and they are mature enough to see what it's really saying. To be clear once again, I have love for these ones, as I do everyone. I'm not bound by sad and obligatory hatred. If they tense up and hate me further after reading this, I really don't care obviously. Just think about this- it was stupid to create the rift out of nowhere in the first place, and that all lies on YOU. We all have to assess dead weight in our lives and clean it out. If they honestly think that their behavior has accomplished something, they are sadly mistaken. I'm not saying this to insult them, but to, if possible, move them to get on track.
Wednesday, December 17, 2014
The Beast Series Covers UFC 3
I have wanted to, but haven't been that inspired to do a gaming series again. I recently got back into playing UFC Undisputed 3, and have been reminded how dedicated you have to be to play this game. Right now, I'm working my way to a title shot with Jon Jones, and I'll be chronicling my development along the way on my series - The Beast. This is the first of those episodes. I'm working on the follow up right now. I plan on improving the camera angle and zoom. I apologize for how unclear it may be. You should get a laugh from it at times.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oihaAgky2oU
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oihaAgky2oU
Sports Update
Well, here we are. So much has transpired recently. I'm enjoying a well needed vacation right now, which I kicked off by visiting my parents down south this past week. It was a nice time spent there, that also revealed certain issues that sadly still exist in my family. I look forward to a future where some of that is rectified. However, all in all, I enjoyed seeing them again, and also seeing old antiques that they've held onto over the years including pictures- some of which I haven't seen in ages.
I'm back home readjusting now, and putting things in perspective. This week, in fantasy football, I engineered a playoff win that has me once again, for the second straight season, in the championship game. I'm the second seed, and my opponent is the first seed. It's the ideal championship game, where the 2 best teams meet. We both dominated this season, losing 7 games total between us. That's enough losses to still make the playoffs in some instances.
What's impressive about this season is the way that me and my opponent dominated this season respectively. We won in similar ways. We both have 2 of the lesser stacked teams in the league. Our runs were a showcase of what coaching means in fantasy football, and in general. It isn't about getting the biggest and strongest players and letting them loose on the field. It's about managing a roster, and knowing when to digress, and when to attack. People tend to overlook that, and brand it, "Over Thinking." It feels good to see it have us at the top. There were teams with insane rosters that I made a mark dominating this season, as did the first seed- whose team is "band camps" by the way. I didn't win a trophy all season. My first trophy was this past week in the first round of the playoffs, for Odell Beckam who I picked up off of waivers. All season, we both faced opponents with high powered offenses, but no regard for balance. We both had dangerous matchups in week 13- the week before we faced each other the first time. I was impressed how we both took on tough teams and coached to great games. He won decisively, but I lost a very close game. That was the week my running back issues hit a head. I started the season with a fairly healthy roster, only to have my first and second string RB go down. I struggled with that, as well as finding back up, but I showed a talent for finding talent. I managed to weather that storm and mask that weakness. I was infuriated that Steve Smith and Branden Oliver couldn't deliver even 1 point between them. I learned from that.
When we faced each, I was 9-4. I made a personal goal of getting double digit wins this season, and it all came down to the last game of the season, against, of all people, the number 1 player. I had envisioned going 12-2 or something, especially with the way I started the season, but I took some hard losses that made me have to revamp my team. Our game was a highly charged event, in which I came out on top, giving him only his third loss of the season. We both coasted into the playoffs, and won. Now we face each other.
Well, onto other discussions- particularly with boxing. I didn't catch this past weekend's fights live, as I was away, but I did catch replays when I came back. The only fight I have yet to see in full is the main event between Timothy Bradley and Diego Chaves. I hear that it was very controversial, and a draw that should have been a UD for Bradley. I believe that, and from what I've seen so far, and know of Chaves, I think he should be ignored by any top level fighters from here on out. He is not a respectable or honorable fighter. He doesn't come to box or fight. He takes pleasure in frustrating his opponents by sneaking foul after foul past the ref. He's sick, and you can even see the grinning pleasure he gets from it. Just like when he fought Brandon Rios, he applied several head butts to Bradley, swelling his jaw in the process, only to grin and look around. He even tells on himself by stating that he is happy with the draw decision. Of course he is. All he wants to do and frustrate whatever he can. And I get sick of the commentators who try to compare that fight to the one Bradley had verses Pacquiao. At this point, it's clear to see that you may as well gouge out the public's eyes, because it's clear they can't use them anyway. They claim to see whatever it is they were told to expect. Because Pacquiao was a huge name at the time and Bradley was an upset, it was the worst time to get a decision win over Pacman. I'm not saying he beat Pacquiao decisively, or definitely won, but if you have eyes and can watch the fight, it's clear as day that it was nothing like the fight Bradley had with Chaves. Bradley boxed Pacman, and was even busier than him at several times in that first fight. It was a closer fight than it seemed at first. It's just good that it wasn't a loss for Bradley. I'm sure he's learned his lesson though- don't give dirty journeymen opportunities at your belts.
In the Devon Alexander vs. Khan fight, I was very surprised with Khan's dominance. He showed good defense, and sharp offense against a game, but confused Alexander. Now, the pieces are in place to push the fight with Mayweather. And I will go on record again in stating that the fight is beyond stupid, and the public will fall right into the trap. Mayweather did well to remain relatively quiet lately after Pacquiao made yet another clear statement that their fight needs to happen. Putting together any other fight now, is nothing short of retardation. But the problem is that it's very easy to expose the retardation of the public. All he had to do was wait and pray for a dominant Khan win, to take wind out of Pacman's dominance of Algieri. Now, he can take the fight with Khan over to England, and with the help of the media hyping the Khan win, and a little bit of campaigning, before you know it, he'll be fighting Khan, and making money doing it, even alongside a potential Cotto vs. Canelo event on May 2nd. That's how easy it is to fool people. In fact, it only takes a bit of fodder to confuse them, because you also have the media suddenly doing boxing specials showcasing Keith Thurman. He's been a good boxer for a while, but I have never seen the media pushing like this ever before. The other day, I go onto Yahoo sports to look at the boxing column, and I see a video that is supposed to be a preview of his fight with Bundu. However, the entire video deviates to a campaign for a Mayweather fight. And this isn't just from Thurman's mouth- he's been wanting that fight forever. What surprised me is that it was the media pushing it as a legitimate fight that needs to happen now. Since when the heck does a contender with no top 10 wins deserve an immediate fight with a HOF fighter who has 2 fights on his final contract? That's especially stupid considering the fact that the Pacquiao fight still hasn't happened. But this all serves to Mayweather's benefit. He watches the confusion, and now he can step in and pick Thurman or Khan and avoid the Pacman fight. And it won't be nearly as noticed as it would have been a month ago, simply because there are more players involved now. It sound stupid, but it's really that simple to fool people.
To Thurman's credit, he showed he can box, doing what Lomachenko was cheered for a couple of weeks ago, being booed in the process. It was so funny watching Brian Kenny try to find a way to respectfully explain the retarded behavior of the boxing fans at the event. With their Russian hero, it was fine that he boxed and moved the entire night though. Thurman's opponent- Leonard Bundu, was a joke. I keep hearing about his undefeated record, which he maintained in Europe. Retired fighters go to Europe to have successful runs. Bundu has some ability, but was gun shy the entire night. I don't want to hear about counter punching opportunities. It looked like Bundu was already set up to ease off of the trigger. Not saying he would have won either way. However, I still noticed some holes in Thurman's game. I never got a chance to really give him a look until this fight. I saw bits and pieces and heard the media and his mouth, but it's always good to go to the source. Thurman fights with very low hands, and like the old Khan, has a tendency to drop his right hand when turning out, and be a sitting duck for left hooks to the head and body. He also, while never hurt in that fight, showed that he can be, when Bundu stunned him with a hook at one point, but didn't follow up. In fact, Keith froze in that instance as if not knowing what to do. There were little moments, where I felt that Bundu could turn up the pressure and hurt Thurman. He throws wide punches at times, which leave him open for counters inside and down the middle. Overall he boxed well and won every round, against a short, old, and gun-shy journeyman. How people see a mega-fight potential in him is ridiculous at this point. Khan would beat him, and even he knows that to a degree, and even stated it in an interview. He knows that he isn't ready. I saw an video on youtube that quotes Thurman as saying Bundu is the closest to Mayweather. I sincerely hope that was a joke. Khan looked good, but I still think Pacquiao beats him, and Mayweather beat him, possibly both by stoppage. He did show good defense, and I liked the snap on his punches early in the fight. However, his aggression is probably the main thing he needs to work on at this point. He needs to develop finishing combinations more. There is no reason he shouldn't have stopped Alexander. He couldn't see himself doing it, and if you've been around this sport long enough you can tell that's why by just looking at him and his body language. Once it wasn't an early KO, it wasn't going to happen. I liked his footwork alot. He looks polished, smooth, and in incredible shape. He just isn't ready for Mayweather yet. He's more ready than Thurman though. I just say he should fight Mayweather after Pacman.
I'm back home readjusting now, and putting things in perspective. This week, in fantasy football, I engineered a playoff win that has me once again, for the second straight season, in the championship game. I'm the second seed, and my opponent is the first seed. It's the ideal championship game, where the 2 best teams meet. We both dominated this season, losing 7 games total between us. That's enough losses to still make the playoffs in some instances.
What's impressive about this season is the way that me and my opponent dominated this season respectively. We won in similar ways. We both have 2 of the lesser stacked teams in the league. Our runs were a showcase of what coaching means in fantasy football, and in general. It isn't about getting the biggest and strongest players and letting them loose on the field. It's about managing a roster, and knowing when to digress, and when to attack. People tend to overlook that, and brand it, "Over Thinking." It feels good to see it have us at the top. There were teams with insane rosters that I made a mark dominating this season, as did the first seed- whose team is "band camps" by the way. I didn't win a trophy all season. My first trophy was this past week in the first round of the playoffs, for Odell Beckam who I picked up off of waivers. All season, we both faced opponents with high powered offenses, but no regard for balance. We both had dangerous matchups in week 13- the week before we faced each other the first time. I was impressed how we both took on tough teams and coached to great games. He won decisively, but I lost a very close game. That was the week my running back issues hit a head. I started the season with a fairly healthy roster, only to have my first and second string RB go down. I struggled with that, as well as finding back up, but I showed a talent for finding talent. I managed to weather that storm and mask that weakness. I was infuriated that Steve Smith and Branden Oliver couldn't deliver even 1 point between them. I learned from that.
When we faced each, I was 9-4. I made a personal goal of getting double digit wins this season, and it all came down to the last game of the season, against, of all people, the number 1 player. I had envisioned going 12-2 or something, especially with the way I started the season, but I took some hard losses that made me have to revamp my team. Our game was a highly charged event, in which I came out on top, giving him only his third loss of the season. We both coasted into the playoffs, and won. Now we face each other.
Well, onto other discussions- particularly with boxing. I didn't catch this past weekend's fights live, as I was away, but I did catch replays when I came back. The only fight I have yet to see in full is the main event between Timothy Bradley and Diego Chaves. I hear that it was very controversial, and a draw that should have been a UD for Bradley. I believe that, and from what I've seen so far, and know of Chaves, I think he should be ignored by any top level fighters from here on out. He is not a respectable or honorable fighter. He doesn't come to box or fight. He takes pleasure in frustrating his opponents by sneaking foul after foul past the ref. He's sick, and you can even see the grinning pleasure he gets from it. Just like when he fought Brandon Rios, he applied several head butts to Bradley, swelling his jaw in the process, only to grin and look around. He even tells on himself by stating that he is happy with the draw decision. Of course he is. All he wants to do and frustrate whatever he can. And I get sick of the commentators who try to compare that fight to the one Bradley had verses Pacquiao. At this point, it's clear to see that you may as well gouge out the public's eyes, because it's clear they can't use them anyway. They claim to see whatever it is they were told to expect. Because Pacquiao was a huge name at the time and Bradley was an upset, it was the worst time to get a decision win over Pacman. I'm not saying he beat Pacquiao decisively, or definitely won, but if you have eyes and can watch the fight, it's clear as day that it was nothing like the fight Bradley had with Chaves. Bradley boxed Pacman, and was even busier than him at several times in that first fight. It was a closer fight than it seemed at first. It's just good that it wasn't a loss for Bradley. I'm sure he's learned his lesson though- don't give dirty journeymen opportunities at your belts.
In the Devon Alexander vs. Khan fight, I was very surprised with Khan's dominance. He showed good defense, and sharp offense against a game, but confused Alexander. Now, the pieces are in place to push the fight with Mayweather. And I will go on record again in stating that the fight is beyond stupid, and the public will fall right into the trap. Mayweather did well to remain relatively quiet lately after Pacquiao made yet another clear statement that their fight needs to happen. Putting together any other fight now, is nothing short of retardation. But the problem is that it's very easy to expose the retardation of the public. All he had to do was wait and pray for a dominant Khan win, to take wind out of Pacman's dominance of Algieri. Now, he can take the fight with Khan over to England, and with the help of the media hyping the Khan win, and a little bit of campaigning, before you know it, he'll be fighting Khan, and making money doing it, even alongside a potential Cotto vs. Canelo event on May 2nd. That's how easy it is to fool people. In fact, it only takes a bit of fodder to confuse them, because you also have the media suddenly doing boxing specials showcasing Keith Thurman. He's been a good boxer for a while, but I have never seen the media pushing like this ever before. The other day, I go onto Yahoo sports to look at the boxing column, and I see a video that is supposed to be a preview of his fight with Bundu. However, the entire video deviates to a campaign for a Mayweather fight. And this isn't just from Thurman's mouth- he's been wanting that fight forever. What surprised me is that it was the media pushing it as a legitimate fight that needs to happen now. Since when the heck does a contender with no top 10 wins deserve an immediate fight with a HOF fighter who has 2 fights on his final contract? That's especially stupid considering the fact that the Pacquiao fight still hasn't happened. But this all serves to Mayweather's benefit. He watches the confusion, and now he can step in and pick Thurman or Khan and avoid the Pacman fight. And it won't be nearly as noticed as it would have been a month ago, simply because there are more players involved now. It sound stupid, but it's really that simple to fool people.
To Thurman's credit, he showed he can box, doing what Lomachenko was cheered for a couple of weeks ago, being booed in the process. It was so funny watching Brian Kenny try to find a way to respectfully explain the retarded behavior of the boxing fans at the event. With their Russian hero, it was fine that he boxed and moved the entire night though. Thurman's opponent- Leonard Bundu, was a joke. I keep hearing about his undefeated record, which he maintained in Europe. Retired fighters go to Europe to have successful runs. Bundu has some ability, but was gun shy the entire night. I don't want to hear about counter punching opportunities. It looked like Bundu was already set up to ease off of the trigger. Not saying he would have won either way. However, I still noticed some holes in Thurman's game. I never got a chance to really give him a look until this fight. I saw bits and pieces and heard the media and his mouth, but it's always good to go to the source. Thurman fights with very low hands, and like the old Khan, has a tendency to drop his right hand when turning out, and be a sitting duck for left hooks to the head and body. He also, while never hurt in that fight, showed that he can be, when Bundu stunned him with a hook at one point, but didn't follow up. In fact, Keith froze in that instance as if not knowing what to do. There were little moments, where I felt that Bundu could turn up the pressure and hurt Thurman. He throws wide punches at times, which leave him open for counters inside and down the middle. Overall he boxed well and won every round, against a short, old, and gun-shy journeyman. How people see a mega-fight potential in him is ridiculous at this point. Khan would beat him, and even he knows that to a degree, and even stated it in an interview. He knows that he isn't ready. I saw an video on youtube that quotes Thurman as saying Bundu is the closest to Mayweather. I sincerely hope that was a joke. Khan looked good, but I still think Pacquiao beats him, and Mayweather beat him, possibly both by stoppage. He did show good defense, and I liked the snap on his punches early in the fight. However, his aggression is probably the main thing he needs to work on at this point. He needs to develop finishing combinations more. There is no reason he shouldn't have stopped Alexander. He couldn't see himself doing it, and if you've been around this sport long enough you can tell that's why by just looking at him and his body language. Once it wasn't an early KO, it wasn't going to happen. I liked his footwork alot. He looks polished, smooth, and in incredible shape. He just isn't ready for Mayweather yet. He's more ready than Thurman though. I just say he should fight Mayweather after Pacman.
Wednesday, December 3, 2014
New Workout tip
I just put together a pretty effective indoor workout that should be effective for staying in peak condition through the winter months. I had been agonizing over this for quite a while, until Crossfit gave me a few ideas. My crossfit team is still trying to put together outdoor workouts, but inevitably the months will come when there is no going outdoors, even to work. Me and my coach talked about the horrors of coming out of hibernation and having to start from scratch on the intense Crossfit workout regimens. That could be brutal, or even dangerous. That's why I've been preparing.
I call this workout- Supreme Self
At first, I wanted to put together a challenging circuit that hits all of the major muscle groups. You could then do reps of it until wasted. Then, half-way through the workout, I noticed that it would be crazy to mix it up. So it goes like this:
First Set:
Perfect Push ups - 30
Pull ups - 15
Kettle Bell snatches (20lbs)- 10 x each arm
Ab Wheel- 20
Plank - 1 minute
(1 minute of rest maximum- exceeding this restarts the set)
Second Set: Multiply everything by 2
Perfect Push ups - 60
Pull ups - 30
Kettle Bell snatches (20lbs) - 20x each arm * i like to do alternating reps on this*
Ab wheel - 40
Plank - 2 minutes
(when you are winded, take no more than 30 seconds to rest. Exceeding this restarts the set)
It's a very quick and effective way to hit muscles and cardio. Routines like this will have you stepping out of the cave in the spring, ready for crossfit again. Remember to have a recovery shake loaded with protein to repair your muscles.
I call this workout- Supreme Self
At first, I wanted to put together a challenging circuit that hits all of the major muscle groups. You could then do reps of it until wasted. Then, half-way through the workout, I noticed that it would be crazy to mix it up. So it goes like this:
First Set:
Perfect Push ups - 30
Pull ups - 15
Kettle Bell snatches (20lbs)- 10 x each arm
Ab Wheel- 20
Plank - 1 minute
(1 minute of rest maximum- exceeding this restarts the set)
Second Set: Multiply everything by 2
Perfect Push ups - 60
Pull ups - 30
Kettle Bell snatches (20lbs) - 20x each arm * i like to do alternating reps on this*
Ab wheel - 40
Plank - 2 minutes
(when you are winded, take no more than 30 seconds to rest. Exceeding this restarts the set)
It's a very quick and effective way to hit muscles and cardio. Routines like this will have you stepping out of the cave in the spring, ready for crossfit again. Remember to have a recovery shake loaded with protein to repair your muscles.
Tuesday, December 2, 2014
An Essay on Race Relations
An Essay on Race Relations
This is an essay that I’ve felt very compelled to write in recent times due to the amassed ignorance, bigotry, historical leniency, and hatred that runs all too rampant in today’s society. For years, you hear racial slurs used to deride other races, screaming above the din of reason, and you see wall erected daily to further separate people, even beyond the point of perception. In my novel, “Magnum Opus: Reminiscer,” I made mention of the race riots that occurred in Chicago and other American cities since the dawn of the countries inception. Going back to the 1960‘s, you have had cities that underwent racial reform, go completely full circle. Here we stand today, with laughable court cases such as the murders of Trayvon Martin, and Michael Brown. I’ll briefly go into the cases so as to lay a groundwork for this discussion.
First, we have the case of Trayvon Martin. This is a teenager in Florida who, as most children of this era, can be tied to loose behavior if analyzed enough. He’s visiting his father and his father’s girlfriend, for what couldn’t have been the first time. They live in a community with a neighborhood watch, much like many neighborhoods in this country, including the ones that I’ve lived in. The problem, is that there are undertones that lay in the hearts of the residents that will surface from time to time. A neighborhood watch advocate named George Zimmerman utilizes Florida’s free carrying laws, and holds weapons. He also happens to be on the neighborhood watch panel. He follows Trayvon home and confronts him, following him through walkways and down streets after calling emergency services and being told not to pursue. Let’s pause for a moment at this juncture. What do you make of the order to not pursue? That’s a key point that many people overlook as arbitrary, when in fact there is a reason for that command. Regardless of Florida laws, a citizen who carries, and takes on the role of a neigborhood watch person at the same time, has to realized that they are now assuming a role that is not legal for a citizen. It’s the reason cops and other governmental officers are sworn in. That right has to be earned. You don’t get to mix and match at your choosing. He disobeys, starts a confrontation, and kills Trayvon. Common sense is left to put the pieces together as far as motive, but that is usually asking to much of the public. Even the jurors realized that clearing Zimmerman of murder was wrong. Yet, they speak of their hands being tied, which leaves so many questions in itself.
Now, we also have the murder of a Missouri teen, Michael Brown. Another so-called troubled teen who is this time, accosted by an officer. The officer’s story is beyond ridiculous, and makes Zimmerman look noble if anything. He claimed a number of different scenarios from what I recall, including that Mike controlled and assaulted him while in the vehicle, also batting him around like a bear with unbelievable power, to walking through gunshots to get to him. I felt such disgust for the people of this country while listening to that interview, being that people are somewhat skeptical, but overall do not see how outright ridiculous and fabricated the entire tale is. He sits there shivering, and making up the story as he goes along, talking to the reporter. He knows that, bottom line, he has to show no remorse for the mission he completed. He knows it, and all of racist America watching and cheering him on knows it. Even to the point of death, that must be obeyed. Even the interviewer looks on in amazement. In the end, he’s a sodier.
I won’t get too in depth on those cases, because they paint a bigger picture. We live in a country that was pretty much built on fear and hatred. Slavers and descendents alike love to point to the bible as having slavery, as well as other countries. Yet, they fail to realize the nature is completely different as well as the motive. Racism was at the heart of American slavery. And prior to that, as well as superceding it, is self-hatred. That’s an aspect that racists in the world are scared to accept, but the fact is that it is unavoidable. To be fair, there is a large amount of ignorance on both sides, with the supremacists being the most ignorant and animalistic.
This all surrounds the sad fact that people don’t know their origins. From secular records and biblical records, down to what is evident to the competent today, there is evidence of common first parents. Scientists have found greater variances within races than without. Anomalies occur daily, such as traits of other races being found in one another. People brush this off as stupid coincidences and continue to hate what they are ignorant of. I’ve met a lot of historians and supremacists from different cultures and races, and what I’ve noticed is that they all miss huge facts in their blind hatred of one another. There is a dispute over the race of bible characters when the evidence is still there today. This shows you how stupid people are capable of becoming.
Before I tangent off, I want to touch on one of the main things I want to discuss. Being blunt, I have to say there has been a conscious effort for ages to quarantine and minimize the black race. This writing isn’t to fist-pump a revolution. That is just one of the many aspects of mankind and evil’s constant attack on any unity in this world. Today we now sit in a world in the year 2015, that is as close to being segregated as it was decades ago. They talk about progress, but we seem to take one step forward, and three backwards. I was watching a documentary that my father-in-law showed me the other day. I had see some of the footage before. In it, they showed documentation and evidence of how widespread individuals with African roots spread. The bottom line is that all races cam from the Mediterranean region originally. That is where Eden was. That is where Noah was. That is where several landmarks from mankind’s beginnings were, and still are today. Yet, people shun that, and are more willing to run to tales of evolution, that are at most, crap. Looking at races in Indonesia, Italy, and several other countries, including in South Africa, there are many mixtures of races and ethnicities. I’ve known this for a long time, and I’m 29 years old. Somehow, I have become surrounded by a sea of idiots who don’t even know anything but the words black and white. My father is a descendent of Africans, Mediterraneans, and Asians. That doesn’t just blow the mind of the common fool, but even those supposedly related to me by blood. I’ve mentioned that fact before. We live in a society that has a very difficult time specifying. To make things easier, everything is sectored to an A-side, or a B-side. Heads or tails. There can be no variations. And what we see, is based off of what we socially expect.
When I look at society today, I see an effort to isolate, in America, the black race. Now, some of my ancestors were Sicilians who migrated to Africa. When I mentioned that to a coworker of mine, guess what his response was? He said, “Yeah, I know. There are some blacks in Sicily and other countries.” And the sad thing is that his stupid response would be the response of 999 out of 1,000 people. Stupidity like that is no longer rare. It’s the commodity today. He totally misses the point. I never said my family today is Sicilian. I said ancestors- meaning natural Sicilians. I even stated plainly that they migrated TOO Africa. The thing is that society paints blacks as a simple, monkey race, that stayed caged in Africa with no variance or ingenuity, while the rest of the world advanced, mixed, and mingled. That is one of the most insulting, yet covert ideas I’ve ever seen. The sad thing, is that I’m one of the only people who sees that. And it stems, once again, from insecurity. The supremacists that built this country are afraid of their reflection. The had slaves for that very purpose, and leeched off of blacks from the beginning. Then they pretend to believe they’re superior and hate blacks, when evidence shows that they are enamored by them, and envious of them.
My coworker is part of the sea of ignorance. I was looking at an article today about the woman who is going to review the Grand Jury ruling of the policeman who murdered Mike Brown. She’s an Indian woman who experienced racism in Europe as a child. She will apparently take a judicial position soon. In this country, that’s about all that would be allowed. If she isn’t careful, she will draw heavy fired. She has worked with similar cases in the past, and is very keen. You better believe that she won’t be allowed to make any major changes. I look at so called intellects like Hawking and I laugh a bit. Society, including the oppressed, are so brain washed. Ask yourself if you could ever see a black or brown person ever be revered as the intellect that society looks to for advice and guidance. Ask yourself if you could ever see yourself respecting a black person to that degree. If you’re honest, most of you will say no. Society has brainwashed you into looking to whites as a superior breed. I say this not to be a bigot or to speak against any race. This is just how subtle the devil is with his division tactics. When militant blacks see this, they end up becoming their enemy and behaving just as ruthlessly. We have poets like Langston Hughes as forerunners. You will never see them go beyond being anything but an interesting jester. Never will they stand at the forefront. We’ve been conditioned to accept that a black can never lead.
The idiocy of my coworker is conditioned in him. See, we have a rule. You have those who are socially seen as blacks, and those who play the game and are given the asylum of being white, or what I call off-white. Those two groups operate on a safety net that keeps them from ever being put under the pressures of a biased society. And like I said earlier, socially seen has almost nothing to do with physical vision. If society looks at your image, and gets an overall perception of negro, you are nothing but a useless black who comes from nothing. It’s that simple. I don’t talk about my roots, even with family, because I’ve become aware of how ignorant the world has become. It’s pointless conversation. It’s the same reason I no longer discuss art. This is an artless world. To discuss it would be to fake a dance with a parter who feigns interest, and lacks any real knowledge of the steps. It would serve only to infuriate the artist. Italians are Mediterranean. Any real Jew, is Middle Eastern in origin. Yet, why do you see these two groups turn on blacks and play the Aryan card when convenient? Like I said, the perception has been instilled quite well by the early founding white racist bigots of the overhead society, that being at least associated with whites, is to be at the very top of humanity. And to be associated anywhere near blacks, is to be at the depths of it. Therefore, the black versus white and off-white war began. My coworker who I mentioned, is Italian. If you look at them, they clearly look olive skinned, showing their middle easter roots. In fact, you will find that most of their ancestors passed though and shared the middle east throughout history. Jews also, unless the European derivatives, are olive skinned, and show middle eastern features. This is the same region that some of my ancestors come from. Yet, there is this fear of seeing that for what it is. Do you know how many Italians I’ve watched be mistaken for Mexican or Puerto Rican? And the funny thing is that right after the mistake is corrected, they’ll go right back to calling the person white. I’m like, “Am I in the twilight zone? What just happened? How do you accidentally look like another race?” Apparently, that’s a new trick. But you try to tell me that my theory about social sight is wrong!
When I look at the reception I’ve received over my career, it all aligns. If I was white, there is no doubt my work would be revered. Unfortunately, as I mentioned in my novel, I came along in a time where skill can’t get over. I know that what I’ve said and done over the years has had meaning. I’m not saying that my every crap was made of gold. I’m calling it as it is. When I look around and see a world where they don’t even hail depth, what does that tell me? The won’t see reason either. Nothing I’ve ever said has gotten past that front gate. That gate is a mandate that everything I say must be hated and discarded. No questions are asked. That simple and stupid mandate is just obediently obeyed. And it just may have a lot to do with race. Of course, I’m aware there are other factors, but there is also a reason you see somewhat of a contrast with the supremacists that run this country, and those who share their race in other parts of the world. That wall of insecurity isn’t as prevalent. If you go to Germany or Denmark, you will meet caucasians who will talk about art, and talk in a straight forward conversation. That entire aura of discomfort is gone. They aren’t scrambling for their identity like the racists that ran to, and claim to have built America.
This essay isn’t to preach reform, even though it’s needed. That is something that won’t come about in this time. However, this is to awaken the reader to what is around them. I want you to think about this writing the next time you interact in society, with a family member, or a stranger. Think about how you see them, and realize how much control the sick society heads have seized over you, and the need to get it back. Hatred is not freedom. Destruction is not freedom. That is a lie that the trapped tell themselves to continue to sleep. The other day I spoke about how many, who choose a sick and destructive lifestyle, are like drug attics chasing a moment. It’s very real. No matter how you try to bat away reason and principles, you are only, in the end, doing it for a blissful moment of rebellion. How much is that worth? Where does that stand in the stream of forever? It’s not about your will. You didn’t make the universe. The truth is like the sunrise. It’s coming no matter what. It’s sick not to embrace that beauty for what it is, and see the promise that will be.
Normally, that line would end it, and finish like a poet or something- which I am. I’m also going to add to it that it’s sad that this most likely will be glossed over and once again stopped at the front gate of modern reason. Like most other things I’ve said, it’s subconsciously labeled nonsense and ignored. And part of the reason was discussed in this little article. And it’s really sad, you know? Because, I don’t always go into human relation topics, but I did here, and what was said is true. Sometimes, when I finish a project, depending on how big it is in scope, I almost sit back, biting nails, on pins and needles, anxious to see the public take it in- at least I used to be that way. And each time, I’m met with disappointment, at strangers, and so-called family and friends. None seem to have the guts to attack my ideas head on and draw a conclusion, as if entertaining it bring forth some kind of deadly ostracism. I often wonder if people really do share my blood. I just don’t see it. I haven’t seen a trace of where I’m coming from. It’s always just Pariah talk. To be honest, if you read my novel, after reading this, some of the topics will become clearer. I was pleased with the finished product. Man, I was just looking at the articles about Usher’s concert the other day, and I was thinking about how mine would be. I really have respect for the few artists left who are in love with music and art. I read about how he got on the drums and took the energy through the roof, just having fun. And you people are so blown away by that, when that’s the only way the true artist knows. He wasn’t trying or tensing a muscle. He was relaxed. I would love to do something like that. I think mine would be on another level, especially since I have so much to tell. Just like him, I’d go on with no breaks probably. I think he played too many love ballads in that session. I’d like to take it everywhere. I wish more people were like me. I know that sounds vain, and it is. When I see a new and glowing artist, I love to see what he has in store. I don’t look at his name, or feel a certain way about him that I’m told. I take it in, more readily than from an established artist, because I know that, in some ways I’m getting so much more. People just can’t see that. It has to be by the rules. I’m happy not to be in chains like that. If it’s freedom, keep it. I went to a couple of concerts downtown by “nobodies,” and they were amazing.
This is an essay that I’ve felt very compelled to write in recent times due to the amassed ignorance, bigotry, historical leniency, and hatred that runs all too rampant in today’s society. For years, you hear racial slurs used to deride other races, screaming above the din of reason, and you see wall erected daily to further separate people, even beyond the point of perception. In my novel, “Magnum Opus: Reminiscer,” I made mention of the race riots that occurred in Chicago and other American cities since the dawn of the countries inception. Going back to the 1960‘s, you have had cities that underwent racial reform, go completely full circle. Here we stand today, with laughable court cases such as the murders of Trayvon Martin, and Michael Brown. I’ll briefly go into the cases so as to lay a groundwork for this discussion.
First, we have the case of Trayvon Martin. This is a teenager in Florida who, as most children of this era, can be tied to loose behavior if analyzed enough. He’s visiting his father and his father’s girlfriend, for what couldn’t have been the first time. They live in a community with a neighborhood watch, much like many neighborhoods in this country, including the ones that I’ve lived in. The problem, is that there are undertones that lay in the hearts of the residents that will surface from time to time. A neighborhood watch advocate named George Zimmerman utilizes Florida’s free carrying laws, and holds weapons. He also happens to be on the neighborhood watch panel. He follows Trayvon home and confronts him, following him through walkways and down streets after calling emergency services and being told not to pursue. Let’s pause for a moment at this juncture. What do you make of the order to not pursue? That’s a key point that many people overlook as arbitrary, when in fact there is a reason for that command. Regardless of Florida laws, a citizen who carries, and takes on the role of a neigborhood watch person at the same time, has to realized that they are now assuming a role that is not legal for a citizen. It’s the reason cops and other governmental officers are sworn in. That right has to be earned. You don’t get to mix and match at your choosing. He disobeys, starts a confrontation, and kills Trayvon. Common sense is left to put the pieces together as far as motive, but that is usually asking to much of the public. Even the jurors realized that clearing Zimmerman of murder was wrong. Yet, they speak of their hands being tied, which leaves so many questions in itself.
Now, we also have the murder of a Missouri teen, Michael Brown. Another so-called troubled teen who is this time, accosted by an officer. The officer’s story is beyond ridiculous, and makes Zimmerman look noble if anything. He claimed a number of different scenarios from what I recall, including that Mike controlled and assaulted him while in the vehicle, also batting him around like a bear with unbelievable power, to walking through gunshots to get to him. I felt such disgust for the people of this country while listening to that interview, being that people are somewhat skeptical, but overall do not see how outright ridiculous and fabricated the entire tale is. He sits there shivering, and making up the story as he goes along, talking to the reporter. He knows that, bottom line, he has to show no remorse for the mission he completed. He knows it, and all of racist America watching and cheering him on knows it. Even to the point of death, that must be obeyed. Even the interviewer looks on in amazement. In the end, he’s a sodier.
I won’t get too in depth on those cases, because they paint a bigger picture. We live in a country that was pretty much built on fear and hatred. Slavers and descendents alike love to point to the bible as having slavery, as well as other countries. Yet, they fail to realize the nature is completely different as well as the motive. Racism was at the heart of American slavery. And prior to that, as well as superceding it, is self-hatred. That’s an aspect that racists in the world are scared to accept, but the fact is that it is unavoidable. To be fair, there is a large amount of ignorance on both sides, with the supremacists being the most ignorant and animalistic.
This all surrounds the sad fact that people don’t know their origins. From secular records and biblical records, down to what is evident to the competent today, there is evidence of common first parents. Scientists have found greater variances within races than without. Anomalies occur daily, such as traits of other races being found in one another. People brush this off as stupid coincidences and continue to hate what they are ignorant of. I’ve met a lot of historians and supremacists from different cultures and races, and what I’ve noticed is that they all miss huge facts in their blind hatred of one another. There is a dispute over the race of bible characters when the evidence is still there today. This shows you how stupid people are capable of becoming.
Before I tangent off, I want to touch on one of the main things I want to discuss. Being blunt, I have to say there has been a conscious effort for ages to quarantine and minimize the black race. This writing isn’t to fist-pump a revolution. That is just one of the many aspects of mankind and evil’s constant attack on any unity in this world. Today we now sit in a world in the year 2015, that is as close to being segregated as it was decades ago. They talk about progress, but we seem to take one step forward, and three backwards. I was watching a documentary that my father-in-law showed me the other day. I had see some of the footage before. In it, they showed documentation and evidence of how widespread individuals with African roots spread. The bottom line is that all races cam from the Mediterranean region originally. That is where Eden was. That is where Noah was. That is where several landmarks from mankind’s beginnings were, and still are today. Yet, people shun that, and are more willing to run to tales of evolution, that are at most, crap. Looking at races in Indonesia, Italy, and several other countries, including in South Africa, there are many mixtures of races and ethnicities. I’ve known this for a long time, and I’m 29 years old. Somehow, I have become surrounded by a sea of idiots who don’t even know anything but the words black and white. My father is a descendent of Africans, Mediterraneans, and Asians. That doesn’t just blow the mind of the common fool, but even those supposedly related to me by blood. I’ve mentioned that fact before. We live in a society that has a very difficult time specifying. To make things easier, everything is sectored to an A-side, or a B-side. Heads or tails. There can be no variations. And what we see, is based off of what we socially expect.
When I look at society today, I see an effort to isolate, in America, the black race. Now, some of my ancestors were Sicilians who migrated to Africa. When I mentioned that to a coworker of mine, guess what his response was? He said, “Yeah, I know. There are some blacks in Sicily and other countries.” And the sad thing is that his stupid response would be the response of 999 out of 1,000 people. Stupidity like that is no longer rare. It’s the commodity today. He totally misses the point. I never said my family today is Sicilian. I said ancestors- meaning natural Sicilians. I even stated plainly that they migrated TOO Africa. The thing is that society paints blacks as a simple, monkey race, that stayed caged in Africa with no variance or ingenuity, while the rest of the world advanced, mixed, and mingled. That is one of the most insulting, yet covert ideas I’ve ever seen. The sad thing, is that I’m one of the only people who sees that. And it stems, once again, from insecurity. The supremacists that built this country are afraid of their reflection. The had slaves for that very purpose, and leeched off of blacks from the beginning. Then they pretend to believe they’re superior and hate blacks, when evidence shows that they are enamored by them, and envious of them.
My coworker is part of the sea of ignorance. I was looking at an article today about the woman who is going to review the Grand Jury ruling of the policeman who murdered Mike Brown. She’s an Indian woman who experienced racism in Europe as a child. She will apparently take a judicial position soon. In this country, that’s about all that would be allowed. If she isn’t careful, she will draw heavy fired. She has worked with similar cases in the past, and is very keen. You better believe that she won’t be allowed to make any major changes. I look at so called intellects like Hawking and I laugh a bit. Society, including the oppressed, are so brain washed. Ask yourself if you could ever see a black or brown person ever be revered as the intellect that society looks to for advice and guidance. Ask yourself if you could ever see yourself respecting a black person to that degree. If you’re honest, most of you will say no. Society has brainwashed you into looking to whites as a superior breed. I say this not to be a bigot or to speak against any race. This is just how subtle the devil is with his division tactics. When militant blacks see this, they end up becoming their enemy and behaving just as ruthlessly. We have poets like Langston Hughes as forerunners. You will never see them go beyond being anything but an interesting jester. Never will they stand at the forefront. We’ve been conditioned to accept that a black can never lead.
The idiocy of my coworker is conditioned in him. See, we have a rule. You have those who are socially seen as blacks, and those who play the game and are given the asylum of being white, or what I call off-white. Those two groups operate on a safety net that keeps them from ever being put under the pressures of a biased society. And like I said earlier, socially seen has almost nothing to do with physical vision. If society looks at your image, and gets an overall perception of negro, you are nothing but a useless black who comes from nothing. It’s that simple. I don’t talk about my roots, even with family, because I’ve become aware of how ignorant the world has become. It’s pointless conversation. It’s the same reason I no longer discuss art. This is an artless world. To discuss it would be to fake a dance with a parter who feigns interest, and lacks any real knowledge of the steps. It would serve only to infuriate the artist. Italians are Mediterranean. Any real Jew, is Middle Eastern in origin. Yet, why do you see these two groups turn on blacks and play the Aryan card when convenient? Like I said, the perception has been instilled quite well by the early founding white racist bigots of the overhead society, that being at least associated with whites, is to be at the very top of humanity. And to be associated anywhere near blacks, is to be at the depths of it. Therefore, the black versus white and off-white war began. My coworker who I mentioned, is Italian. If you look at them, they clearly look olive skinned, showing their middle easter roots. In fact, you will find that most of their ancestors passed though and shared the middle east throughout history. Jews also, unless the European derivatives, are olive skinned, and show middle eastern features. This is the same region that some of my ancestors come from. Yet, there is this fear of seeing that for what it is. Do you know how many Italians I’ve watched be mistaken for Mexican or Puerto Rican? And the funny thing is that right after the mistake is corrected, they’ll go right back to calling the person white. I’m like, “Am I in the twilight zone? What just happened? How do you accidentally look like another race?” Apparently, that’s a new trick. But you try to tell me that my theory about social sight is wrong!
When I look at the reception I’ve received over my career, it all aligns. If I was white, there is no doubt my work would be revered. Unfortunately, as I mentioned in my novel, I came along in a time where skill can’t get over. I know that what I’ve said and done over the years has had meaning. I’m not saying that my every crap was made of gold. I’m calling it as it is. When I look around and see a world where they don’t even hail depth, what does that tell me? The won’t see reason either. Nothing I’ve ever said has gotten past that front gate. That gate is a mandate that everything I say must be hated and discarded. No questions are asked. That simple and stupid mandate is just obediently obeyed. And it just may have a lot to do with race. Of course, I’m aware there are other factors, but there is also a reason you see somewhat of a contrast with the supremacists that run this country, and those who share their race in other parts of the world. That wall of insecurity isn’t as prevalent. If you go to Germany or Denmark, you will meet caucasians who will talk about art, and talk in a straight forward conversation. That entire aura of discomfort is gone. They aren’t scrambling for their identity like the racists that ran to, and claim to have built America.
This essay isn’t to preach reform, even though it’s needed. That is something that won’t come about in this time. However, this is to awaken the reader to what is around them. I want you to think about this writing the next time you interact in society, with a family member, or a stranger. Think about how you see them, and realize how much control the sick society heads have seized over you, and the need to get it back. Hatred is not freedom. Destruction is not freedom. That is a lie that the trapped tell themselves to continue to sleep. The other day I spoke about how many, who choose a sick and destructive lifestyle, are like drug attics chasing a moment. It’s very real. No matter how you try to bat away reason and principles, you are only, in the end, doing it for a blissful moment of rebellion. How much is that worth? Where does that stand in the stream of forever? It’s not about your will. You didn’t make the universe. The truth is like the sunrise. It’s coming no matter what. It’s sick not to embrace that beauty for what it is, and see the promise that will be.
Normally, that line would end it, and finish like a poet or something- which I am. I’m also going to add to it that it’s sad that this most likely will be glossed over and once again stopped at the front gate of modern reason. Like most other things I’ve said, it’s subconsciously labeled nonsense and ignored. And part of the reason was discussed in this little article. And it’s really sad, you know? Because, I don’t always go into human relation topics, but I did here, and what was said is true. Sometimes, when I finish a project, depending on how big it is in scope, I almost sit back, biting nails, on pins and needles, anxious to see the public take it in- at least I used to be that way. And each time, I’m met with disappointment, at strangers, and so-called family and friends. None seem to have the guts to attack my ideas head on and draw a conclusion, as if entertaining it bring forth some kind of deadly ostracism. I often wonder if people really do share my blood. I just don’t see it. I haven’t seen a trace of where I’m coming from. It’s always just Pariah talk. To be honest, if you read my novel, after reading this, some of the topics will become clearer. I was pleased with the finished product. Man, I was just looking at the articles about Usher’s concert the other day, and I was thinking about how mine would be. I really have respect for the few artists left who are in love with music and art. I read about how he got on the drums and took the energy through the roof, just having fun. And you people are so blown away by that, when that’s the only way the true artist knows. He wasn’t trying or tensing a muscle. He was relaxed. I would love to do something like that. I think mine would be on another level, especially since I have so much to tell. Just like him, I’d go on with no breaks probably. I think he played too many love ballads in that session. I’d like to take it everywhere. I wish more people were like me. I know that sounds vain, and it is. When I see a new and glowing artist, I love to see what he has in store. I don’t look at his name, or feel a certain way about him that I’m told. I take it in, more readily than from an established artist, because I know that, in some ways I’m getting so much more. People just can’t see that. It has to be by the rules. I’m happy not to be in chains like that. If it’s freedom, keep it. I went to a couple of concerts downtown by “nobodies,” and they were amazing.
Wednesday, November 19, 2014
Monday, November 10, 2014
My Album Review on Music Emissions!!!!!!!
Hey everyone! My album review is up on Music Emission! Here is the link.
http://www.musicemissions.com/artists/albums/index.php?album_id=18040
http://www.musicemissions.com/artists/albums/index.php?album_id=18040
Sunday, November 9, 2014
Man of Honour- Hopkins vs. Kovalev
Okay. I have to make this early morning post, simply because I'm a man of honor. Hopkins lost the fight with Sergey Kovalev last night, and it was a very lopsided victory that came very close to a KO several times. However, there are a lot of factors involved that I did mention in the outset would be key in the fight.
I never said Kovalev couldn't hope to win. I said he had the tools to win, but did well to approach the fight like Glen Johnson did to Jones. And that's exactly what he did. He kept his hands moving and kept cutting off the ring along with Hopkins' angles for counter attacks. Hopkins worried me from the last videos of his training camp. He did not seem to and in fact did not come into this fight with a gameplan at all, or to show a new wrinkle in his game. That's something that Floyd would always do. On top of having top notch defense, you have to know when and how to modify it for a particular opponent. Sergey was without doubt dangerous. Hopkins should have respected that and worked on speed, power, and moving combinations. Sergey doesn't like when you angle off on him. He also likes to walk you to your right. Hopkins never really moved left with Sergey. That is what you have to do, and let off lead right hands down the pipe. No uppercuts thrown. Fighters like Sergey use what I call a quick plant. They know that they're a power puncher, so they begin to sit on their punches in midstep, so that everything they throw is devastating. You can't focus on that, like Nasim was telling Bernard. If you keep moving, and let your hands go inside, walking him around, he won't be able let off power shots. I'm sure to Hopkins it looked like Sergey was throwing power shots will moving. But it was only in a straight line. He's awkward, and throws over the top and underneath in combos like Maidana. Floyd showed what any technician should know- you have to circle onslaughts like that. It's too dangerous to try to change levels and counter those kind of shots in a direct line. When Hopkins did circle and step in, he had success tapping Kovalev's jaw. Kovalev is an ogre. Yes, you're going to have to hit him substantially before he recognizes it and backs off. But, you also have to give an opponent something to think about. The bread and butter of fighters like him and GGG are that they enter fights not worrying about their opponent's punches. It's a problem if your opponent is a rock fisted beast and doesn't slow down with your counter punches. Even if that is the case though, that's when you double up and triple up, finishing the combo with a spin. Hopkins was scared at times, because he would counter Sergey, expecting him to stop, only to see him turn like a machine and begin to hook off. Something interesting happened in the later rounds. When Sergey was trying to finish Hopkins, Hopkins feinted to his left and threw, I believe a double jab, and Sergey launched back. You have to give a moving target and something for them to think about.
On Kovalev's part, he was trained very well by Jackson, who clearly had some kind of psychotic vendetta in for Hopkins this whole time. He did exactly what he had to. He threw combinations, and kept the pressure consistently. That Maidana approach is very hard for a fighter to handle. That's how Johnson knocked Roy Jones out cold. He kept coming in with head movement and quick, heavy shots from above and below. I can see that becoming a staple for this new generation of talentless fighters. And also, I wouldn't be surprised if Kovalev has to move up to HW to be tested. Fighters like him and GGG won't really be known for who they are, until they're in the ring with someone they can't mindlessly stalk and pound. I look forward to that. As for Hopkins, I can thank him for an entertaining career, and ask that he just hangs it up. He didn't back off from any challenge. He was a fearless man of honor himself. I'm hanging it up along with the legends. As Manny, Floyd, and the last few greats finish up their careers, I will be leaving the sport myself, as an observer. I have no interest in the next generation. It won't produce greatness like before, so will substitute it instead. Also, I think it's a sign that I need to reprioritize things anyway. The only exception would be Canelo. He is a fighter I put in the middle ground. He has years in front of him, but he also represents, skill-wise, the previous generation. Hopefully, he can finish up in a timely manner. Anyway, that's my piece for this fight coverage. Tune in for more updates on my projects.
I never said Kovalev couldn't hope to win. I said he had the tools to win, but did well to approach the fight like Glen Johnson did to Jones. And that's exactly what he did. He kept his hands moving and kept cutting off the ring along with Hopkins' angles for counter attacks. Hopkins worried me from the last videos of his training camp. He did not seem to and in fact did not come into this fight with a gameplan at all, or to show a new wrinkle in his game. That's something that Floyd would always do. On top of having top notch defense, you have to know when and how to modify it for a particular opponent. Sergey was without doubt dangerous. Hopkins should have respected that and worked on speed, power, and moving combinations. Sergey doesn't like when you angle off on him. He also likes to walk you to your right. Hopkins never really moved left with Sergey. That is what you have to do, and let off lead right hands down the pipe. No uppercuts thrown. Fighters like Sergey use what I call a quick plant. They know that they're a power puncher, so they begin to sit on their punches in midstep, so that everything they throw is devastating. You can't focus on that, like Nasim was telling Bernard. If you keep moving, and let your hands go inside, walking him around, he won't be able let off power shots. I'm sure to Hopkins it looked like Sergey was throwing power shots will moving. But it was only in a straight line. He's awkward, and throws over the top and underneath in combos like Maidana. Floyd showed what any technician should know- you have to circle onslaughts like that. It's too dangerous to try to change levels and counter those kind of shots in a direct line. When Hopkins did circle and step in, he had success tapping Kovalev's jaw. Kovalev is an ogre. Yes, you're going to have to hit him substantially before he recognizes it and backs off. But, you also have to give an opponent something to think about. The bread and butter of fighters like him and GGG are that they enter fights not worrying about their opponent's punches. It's a problem if your opponent is a rock fisted beast and doesn't slow down with your counter punches. Even if that is the case though, that's when you double up and triple up, finishing the combo with a spin. Hopkins was scared at times, because he would counter Sergey, expecting him to stop, only to see him turn like a machine and begin to hook off. Something interesting happened in the later rounds. When Sergey was trying to finish Hopkins, Hopkins feinted to his left and threw, I believe a double jab, and Sergey launched back. You have to give a moving target and something for them to think about.
On Kovalev's part, he was trained very well by Jackson, who clearly had some kind of psychotic vendetta in for Hopkins this whole time. He did exactly what he had to. He threw combinations, and kept the pressure consistently. That Maidana approach is very hard for a fighter to handle. That's how Johnson knocked Roy Jones out cold. He kept coming in with head movement and quick, heavy shots from above and below. I can see that becoming a staple for this new generation of talentless fighters. And also, I wouldn't be surprised if Kovalev has to move up to HW to be tested. Fighters like him and GGG won't really be known for who they are, until they're in the ring with someone they can't mindlessly stalk and pound. I look forward to that. As for Hopkins, I can thank him for an entertaining career, and ask that he just hangs it up. He didn't back off from any challenge. He was a fearless man of honor himself. I'm hanging it up along with the legends. As Manny, Floyd, and the last few greats finish up their careers, I will be leaving the sport myself, as an observer. I have no interest in the next generation. It won't produce greatness like before, so will substitute it instead. Also, I think it's a sign that I need to reprioritize things anyway. The only exception would be Canelo. He is a fighter I put in the middle ground. He has years in front of him, but he also represents, skill-wise, the previous generation. Hopefully, he can finish up in a timely manner. Anyway, that's my piece for this fight coverage. Tune in for more updates on my projects.
Saturday, November 8, 2014
Hopkins vs. Kovalev Tonight - Celebration Weekend!!
Hi again. This is another update. I passed my exam!!!! Hence the new title to my page. I put my first initials so that the credentials all fit on one line. LOL. I am now a certified CT Technologist. I didn't want to celebrate until I recieved my certificate in the mail and my updated credential card, but since I'm talking about the fight, I may as well put that out there. The test was extremely difficult, and rightly comparable to a physician's test. It's a test that many are clamoring to take and pass now, since the New National laws will require this certification come January. It's also a test that many have been failing left and right. I was hyperventilating and palpitating throughout the exam. When I got my score- which appears onscreen after it's over, I was in disbelief at first, and then in ecstasy.
To celebrate, me and my wife went to Longhorn Steakhouse, where after looking at the menu, I ended up getting a chicken meal. Next time, I'll get a steak. I don't really eat red meat actually. The drink was good too. I had a Petrone Margarita which gave just enough buzz to accent the evening.
Now, onto the reason I came to give this update. I still don't like Hopkins being the underdog in this fight by a 7 to 1 margin. I do want to clarify that Kovalev is equipped to win fights. I just don't see a resume that gives him a nod over Hopkins. Watching the workout footage yesterday, I saw a few things that stood out. Not to sound funny, but being serious, Kovalev reminds me alot of myself when he hits the mitts and the bag. He makes the same snap and sounds I used to make when I was with my coach. And he throws very similar combinations, and moves similar. But just like my coach told me, it's just one good thing to have that physicality. Watching a guy like myself or Kovalev hit the mitts and drop journeymen boxers, a layman will think that it's the entire package. The mental aspect to boxing is much bigger. That's why even with talent, you can remain relatively obscure in boxing, as you try to move up the ranks. Kovalev has never had to adjust his chin after getting it turned around. He's never had to adjust to smoother boxing tactics or tighter defense, when a conditioned opponent is walking him down; or when a defensive opponent isn't giving him the looks that he wants. All of that is what boxing is. And the truth is, that no matter how talented you are, there is no substitute for those experiences.
I believe in myself quite a bit. I know that I have a boxing mind and good conditioning and skills, just like I know Kovalev does. But I'm realistic enough to know that, unless I can reinvent myself in the middle of a fight, or my training camp leading up to a fight with Hopkins, my physical presence isn't going to keep me from being at a disadvantage. I'm not saying that Kovalev can't win. People keep putting those words in my mouth. I'm saying that boxing is what boxing is about. Gameplan wise, if Kovalev can keep changing distance and angles and work his jab, always keeping his right hand buried in combinations, he has a good chance. If Hopkins can establish a stiff jab, and hard check hook, to keep Sergey honest, he stands a good chance. This should be a good one. All of the fans, I know want Kovalev to come out like Glen Johnson did against Roy Jones. Because they know that deep down, that's his only chance.
To celebrate, me and my wife went to Longhorn Steakhouse, where after looking at the menu, I ended up getting a chicken meal. Next time, I'll get a steak. I don't really eat red meat actually. The drink was good too. I had a Petrone Margarita which gave just enough buzz to accent the evening.
Now, onto the reason I came to give this update. I still don't like Hopkins being the underdog in this fight by a 7 to 1 margin. I do want to clarify that Kovalev is equipped to win fights. I just don't see a resume that gives him a nod over Hopkins. Watching the workout footage yesterday, I saw a few things that stood out. Not to sound funny, but being serious, Kovalev reminds me alot of myself when he hits the mitts and the bag. He makes the same snap and sounds I used to make when I was with my coach. And he throws very similar combinations, and moves similar. But just like my coach told me, it's just one good thing to have that physicality. Watching a guy like myself or Kovalev hit the mitts and drop journeymen boxers, a layman will think that it's the entire package. The mental aspect to boxing is much bigger. That's why even with talent, you can remain relatively obscure in boxing, as you try to move up the ranks. Kovalev has never had to adjust his chin after getting it turned around. He's never had to adjust to smoother boxing tactics or tighter defense, when a conditioned opponent is walking him down; or when a defensive opponent isn't giving him the looks that he wants. All of that is what boxing is. And the truth is, that no matter how talented you are, there is no substitute for those experiences.
I believe in myself quite a bit. I know that I have a boxing mind and good conditioning and skills, just like I know Kovalev does. But I'm realistic enough to know that, unless I can reinvent myself in the middle of a fight, or my training camp leading up to a fight with Hopkins, my physical presence isn't going to keep me from being at a disadvantage. I'm not saying that Kovalev can't win. People keep putting those words in my mouth. I'm saying that boxing is what boxing is about. Gameplan wise, if Kovalev can keep changing distance and angles and work his jab, always keeping his right hand buried in combinations, he has a good chance. If Hopkins can establish a stiff jab, and hard check hook, to keep Sergey honest, he stands a good chance. This should be a good one. All of the fans, I know want Kovalev to come out like Glen Johnson did against Roy Jones. Because they know that deep down, that's his only chance.
Wednesday, November 5, 2014
Latest Events and Rants!!
Hey now!!
I just have to stop in and deliver some updates as to what's going on. I'll talk about a few things, since I have alot going on. First, it's to drop a hint, that can't be too descriptive- Something big may have happened, or may be going down project wise. I'll have more definite answers several weeks from now.
On another note, a channel I follow on youtube- I forget which one, has me looking into Mech games now. I'm trying to get my hands on the Bangai- Oh Series and a few other Japanese Mech action games that never made it over here. There are some that are like huge action RPG's. I can't believe how good they are. The graphics for some of them on that video were unbelievable. Some of them were NES titles, but you would swear that you're looking at an SNES game. I'm still working on Armored Core: Raven. With all of this studying, I haven't had a second to pick up my PSP at all, except to play Brain Challenge in the mornings. This Friday, it's time to sink or swim with this state exam. I take the CT Boards. I'm trying not to focus afterwards, but a lot of opportunities will open up if I get through this. That's why I'm so focused. When opportunities like this surface, things always go south. Hopefully, that isn't the case this time. I'm overpreparing just in case.
On top of that, I'm looking forward to this Weekend. There is a lot going on, that I can't even get to in this one post, but one thing in particular is the Hopkins vs. Kovalev fight. Now, I haven't been invested in a boxing match like this in a long time. This fight is one that my coworker is inviting me over to watch at his house if I'm in the area, and with all of the trash that he's talking, I really want to oblige. Unfortunately, living far upstate, it is unlikely that I'll be able to. This is a big deal to me because it touches on a lot of what I've been saying incessantly for the past year or so- today's connoisseur has changed. I laugh, because he's one of the people I had in mind when I put that statement on the album. He's a self-assumed boxing connoisseur. I respect the fact that he does approach the game with a scientific mindset to a degree, but he is lacking in looking at the big picture. People don't even see, not only the history that Hopkins is making with this fight, but the statement about today's view of the sport and deplorable analysis of science, This is boxing versus brawling. I'm not saying that to imply that Kovalev is a brawler. Look, Kovalev is a slick and talented boxer from Russia, with a good personality, and nice worker's ethic. What really bothers me is that fighters like himself, GGG, and Martinez, have completely changed the face of the sport for the worse, or just opened up more stupidity in people. All three of them are considered top elite fighters who are dodged by all other opponents. Yet, little by little, we see them exposed. Since when did fighting guys like Danny Geale, Nathan Cleverly, Martin Murray, and Darren Barker make you a killer? All of a sudden, every middleweight and light heavyweight who starts to KO cab drivers is the best, thanks to those men. Don't get me wrong. They can fight to a degree, but it is a travesty for me to see the day appear, when Bernard Hopkins- legend that he is, at 49, is considered not just a heavy underdog, but a walking corpse, going into Saturday's fight. He himself laughs at all of the criticism, but it angers me. People like my coworker will say that they base that assessment off of Kovalev's all around game. But you know what I asked him: "Knowing that Hopkins is the superior boxer, would you say the same, if Kovalev didn't have the power you think he does?" He couldn't answer. He knew that he was being hypocritical. You call yourself lovers of the sweet science, but most of you fans have become totally estranged from it. When you see masters of their craft, you call them overmatched or cowards. Fights that should never happen, do happen because of stupid fans, only to be complained about later. Maidana should never have fought Mayweather- definitely not twice. But what happened? The fans went back to thinking just like they are now, "Oh, Maidana is a monster, and powerful. He'll be the one to stalk Mayweather and walk him down. When he catches him, he'll kill him." You would think that we haven't seen it tried for 17 years! Then they reason the same thing again, and pay for a rematch! How obtuse to you get?!
Hopkins is going to once again shock the boxing world, and have these clowns wondering again how they guessed wrong. The sad thing is that they'll fall right back asleep after it's over, or just change their stories. I'm not saying that he is automatically going to win. He's not a shoe-in. What bothers me is that he is the large 7-to-1 underdog for the upteen millionth time- and not just for him. See, going back to Jack Johnson, the older fighter is always the public underdog. Rarely is it based off of skill, in a sport where skill is the main key. And the media hasn't learned yet. In fact, I almost expect Kovalev to be the A-side of this fight card- and that's with a zero fanbase, who won what I consider to be a paper belt at this point, from a bum, and defended against three other bums. He has potential, but for once, I would like to see people look at where things stand from top to bottom. Stop giving the nod to a fighter based off of something as archaic as a power advantage. That's like saying the taller basketball team is a shoe-in. Have more respect for yourselves if possible. Make it look like you follow the sweet science. That's why Hopkins won't be on the cover of SI like Kevin Iole said- People are too dumb to even realize what he accomplished with a win, in this ignorant era. Intellect just keeps getting watered down each generation. I'm afraid, in 10 years there really won't be anything left.
And for all this riding on Kovalev, I told my coworker not be surprised if Hopkins comes into the weigh-in looking more physically imposing. Then of course, he doubles back, and says being big will work against him. Watching Kovalev during training camp, I can see that he looks big in some of his previous fights, but actually, I see more efficient puncher's muscle on Hopkin's physique. I also see a speed and stamina edge in favor of Hopkins. Whatever chance Kovalev has, he may be blowing it now by listening to media. He's made comments such as, "Hopkins is a streetfighter," and, "Hopkins is a clown." Yeah, he's a clown alright- one who's going to laugh at you for 12 rounds. He doesn't even respect Hopkins as the superior boxer, because the media has told him that he is better in every way. I've seen 1 person- and 1 person only who sees what I see- Look for a possible UD or stoppage for Hopkins.
I just have to stop in and deliver some updates as to what's going on. I'll talk about a few things, since I have alot going on. First, it's to drop a hint, that can't be too descriptive- Something big may have happened, or may be going down project wise. I'll have more definite answers several weeks from now.
On another note, a channel I follow on youtube- I forget which one, has me looking into Mech games now. I'm trying to get my hands on the Bangai- Oh Series and a few other Japanese Mech action games that never made it over here. There are some that are like huge action RPG's. I can't believe how good they are. The graphics for some of them on that video were unbelievable. Some of them were NES titles, but you would swear that you're looking at an SNES game. I'm still working on Armored Core: Raven. With all of this studying, I haven't had a second to pick up my PSP at all, except to play Brain Challenge in the mornings. This Friday, it's time to sink or swim with this state exam. I take the CT Boards. I'm trying not to focus afterwards, but a lot of opportunities will open up if I get through this. That's why I'm so focused. When opportunities like this surface, things always go south. Hopefully, that isn't the case this time. I'm overpreparing just in case.
On top of that, I'm looking forward to this Weekend. There is a lot going on, that I can't even get to in this one post, but one thing in particular is the Hopkins vs. Kovalev fight. Now, I haven't been invested in a boxing match like this in a long time. This fight is one that my coworker is inviting me over to watch at his house if I'm in the area, and with all of the trash that he's talking, I really want to oblige. Unfortunately, living far upstate, it is unlikely that I'll be able to. This is a big deal to me because it touches on a lot of what I've been saying incessantly for the past year or so- today's connoisseur has changed. I laugh, because he's one of the people I had in mind when I put that statement on the album. He's a self-assumed boxing connoisseur. I respect the fact that he does approach the game with a scientific mindset to a degree, but he is lacking in looking at the big picture. People don't even see, not only the history that Hopkins is making with this fight, but the statement about today's view of the sport and deplorable analysis of science, This is boxing versus brawling. I'm not saying that to imply that Kovalev is a brawler. Look, Kovalev is a slick and talented boxer from Russia, with a good personality, and nice worker's ethic. What really bothers me is that fighters like himself, GGG, and Martinez, have completely changed the face of the sport for the worse, or just opened up more stupidity in people. All three of them are considered top elite fighters who are dodged by all other opponents. Yet, little by little, we see them exposed. Since when did fighting guys like Danny Geale, Nathan Cleverly, Martin Murray, and Darren Barker make you a killer? All of a sudden, every middleweight and light heavyweight who starts to KO cab drivers is the best, thanks to those men. Don't get me wrong. They can fight to a degree, but it is a travesty for me to see the day appear, when Bernard Hopkins- legend that he is, at 49, is considered not just a heavy underdog, but a walking corpse, going into Saturday's fight. He himself laughs at all of the criticism, but it angers me. People like my coworker will say that they base that assessment off of Kovalev's all around game. But you know what I asked him: "Knowing that Hopkins is the superior boxer, would you say the same, if Kovalev didn't have the power you think he does?" He couldn't answer. He knew that he was being hypocritical. You call yourself lovers of the sweet science, but most of you fans have become totally estranged from it. When you see masters of their craft, you call them overmatched or cowards. Fights that should never happen, do happen because of stupid fans, only to be complained about later. Maidana should never have fought Mayweather- definitely not twice. But what happened? The fans went back to thinking just like they are now, "Oh, Maidana is a monster, and powerful. He'll be the one to stalk Mayweather and walk him down. When he catches him, he'll kill him." You would think that we haven't seen it tried for 17 years! Then they reason the same thing again, and pay for a rematch! How obtuse to you get?!
Hopkins is going to once again shock the boxing world, and have these clowns wondering again how they guessed wrong. The sad thing is that they'll fall right back asleep after it's over, or just change their stories. I'm not saying that he is automatically going to win. He's not a shoe-in. What bothers me is that he is the large 7-to-1 underdog for the upteen millionth time- and not just for him. See, going back to Jack Johnson, the older fighter is always the public underdog. Rarely is it based off of skill, in a sport where skill is the main key. And the media hasn't learned yet. In fact, I almost expect Kovalev to be the A-side of this fight card- and that's with a zero fanbase, who won what I consider to be a paper belt at this point, from a bum, and defended against three other bums. He has potential, but for once, I would like to see people look at where things stand from top to bottom. Stop giving the nod to a fighter based off of something as archaic as a power advantage. That's like saying the taller basketball team is a shoe-in. Have more respect for yourselves if possible. Make it look like you follow the sweet science. That's why Hopkins won't be on the cover of SI like Kevin Iole said- People are too dumb to even realize what he accomplished with a win, in this ignorant era. Intellect just keeps getting watered down each generation. I'm afraid, in 10 years there really won't be anything left.
And for all this riding on Kovalev, I told my coworker not be surprised if Hopkins comes into the weigh-in looking more physically imposing. Then of course, he doubles back, and says being big will work against him. Watching Kovalev during training camp, I can see that he looks big in some of his previous fights, but actually, I see more efficient puncher's muscle on Hopkin's physique. I also see a speed and stamina edge in favor of Hopkins. Whatever chance Kovalev has, he may be blowing it now by listening to media. He's made comments such as, "Hopkins is a streetfighter," and, "Hopkins is a clown." Yeah, he's a clown alright- one who's going to laugh at you for 12 rounds. He doesn't even respect Hopkins as the superior boxer, because the media has told him that he is better in every way. I've seen 1 person- and 1 person only who sees what I see- Look for a possible UD or stoppage for Hopkins.
Wednesday, October 22, 2014
Update for Friends/Fans
Hey everyone. I'm still alive. I'm sorry I've been MIA lately. I'm very hard at work. Just to give an update- I am roughly finished with 6 chapters of the novel. It is coming along very well, and I'm working on Chapter 7 now. I anticipate that the book will be somewhere between 24- 30 chapters. I'm studying now to get my certification in Computed Tomography as well as working hard on 3 jobs as an X-ray and MRI technologist to pay for my car repairs and plane tickets to see my parent later this year. I'm also working on getting a magazine review on the album Magnum Opus. I'll post it, along with the interview that I do along with it. It should be interesting. I haven't been interviewed in a long time, and there is a lot to say about the project and what led up to it.
At first, I was a bit disappointed that it took me being a veteran of over 10 years, before I got the approach to doing a project right, but now I think the timing is just right. I sat down thinking the other day about the possibility of being offered a record contract with at major label at this stage of the game, and at first I thought I could be too washed up to handle an opportunity like that. But on further review, I think that my long career has been an asset and has prepared me to better handle something like that if it comes, with professionalism and poise. It's like that college athlete who stays until graduation like Eli Manning, or until his junior or senior year, while the media tells him he's wasting precious years in school. But down the line, his life and career are so much better for it in the long run. I don't look at my other 10+ albums as wasted ammo, I look at it now, as extensive practice. And being that this album is the one that really means something grand to me, and was meticulously done, it's actually the one of my albums that I feel comfortable getting reviewed. I know I didn't short change the creation process like I did when I was younger and rash.
Anyway, when I saw the page views, I felt bad that I haven't updated all who have been checking in. I wanted to give a quick update, and say that the novel is coming along well. In fact, it's going according to plan. I want to make a book that isn't just a good read, but also makes your jaw drop at times, makes you cry, makes you think, and most importantly- makes you grow. I'm not mincing words on it, or playing politics. I have to shock myself to shock you, so this will be one to remember. And a key thing is that it draws off of reality and potentiality, so I don't know how many of you are a fan of historical and realistic fiction, but this is a book that will question how you view both, because it isn't just dabbling with ideas, it's exploring new theories as well. I like books like that, and that's what I felt would make the most impact. Thanks for visiting, and stay tuned.
At first, I was a bit disappointed that it took me being a veteran of over 10 years, before I got the approach to doing a project right, but now I think the timing is just right. I sat down thinking the other day about the possibility of being offered a record contract with at major label at this stage of the game, and at first I thought I could be too washed up to handle an opportunity like that. But on further review, I think that my long career has been an asset and has prepared me to better handle something like that if it comes, with professionalism and poise. It's like that college athlete who stays until graduation like Eli Manning, or until his junior or senior year, while the media tells him he's wasting precious years in school. But down the line, his life and career are so much better for it in the long run. I don't look at my other 10+ albums as wasted ammo, I look at it now, as extensive practice. And being that this album is the one that really means something grand to me, and was meticulously done, it's actually the one of my albums that I feel comfortable getting reviewed. I know I didn't short change the creation process like I did when I was younger and rash.
Anyway, when I saw the page views, I felt bad that I haven't updated all who have been checking in. I wanted to give a quick update, and say that the novel is coming along well. In fact, it's going according to plan. I want to make a book that isn't just a good read, but also makes your jaw drop at times, makes you cry, makes you think, and most importantly- makes you grow. I'm not mincing words on it, or playing politics. I have to shock myself to shock you, so this will be one to remember. And a key thing is that it draws off of reality and potentiality, so I don't know how many of you are a fan of historical and realistic fiction, but this is a book that will question how you view both, because it isn't just dabbling with ideas, it's exploring new theories as well. I like books like that, and that's what I felt would make the most impact. Thanks for visiting, and stay tuned.
Tuesday, September 30, 2014
Announcements!!
Hello all. I'm announcing that there will be a novel to follow up my final album- Magnum Opus. It will be under the exact same title. It will carry off where the album left off. This will be informative to those of you who have purchased, or heard the album. As it has just been released to me from my publishers, I'm hoping to get to distributing and reaching as many people as I can with the album. To those who are a fan of the movie "Inception," as I am, this book, along with the album, will bring you a similar experience. I've actually never written a book before,It's going to be a cross between a conventional novel and a play. I'm really excited and overwhelmed by this undertaking.
I encourage you also to subscribe to my blog here, or contact me on facebook, or both, so I can reach out with more information and announcement to you directly. If you're interested in this project, contact me for a copy of the album. It can be sampled on Soundcloud. Just put in my name- either one will work. Thank you all for your time. Take care.
I encourage you also to subscribe to my blog here, or contact me on facebook, or both, so I can reach out with more information and announcement to you directly. If you're interested in this project, contact me for a copy of the album. It can be sampled on Soundcloud. Just put in my name- either one will work. Thank you all for your time. Take care.
Saturday, September 27, 2014
Jokatech Podcast- Episode 5: Booker Little Tribute
Jokatech Podcast Episode 5- Booker Little
I hope this link works. I just uploaded this weeks episode. A tribute to the great jazz trumpet player Booker Little, whose life story is very under-chronicled. Starting out in music about the same age as myself, he went on to do mountains of great work in a career that only spanned a couple of years. He died very young at 23 years of age with so much ahead of him, yet also, so much behind him. He had the horn and voice of a sage. Listen, and, to quote my song "Just a Fan,"- you will hear a young man's wisdom
I hope this link works. I just uploaded this weeks episode. A tribute to the great jazz trumpet player Booker Little, whose life story is very under-chronicled. Starting out in music about the same age as myself, he went on to do mountains of great work in a career that only spanned a couple of years. He died very young at 23 years of age with so much ahead of him, yet also, so much behind him. He had the horn and voice of a sage. Listen, and, to quote my song "Just a Fan,"- you will hear a young man's wisdom
Reminiscer- (pilot) - Working Project
I've always loved writing, but for the most part, I can only write seriously or when inspired. It's up to you to decide if you think I am insane. This is an excerpt of my working project- Reminiscer.
Reminiscer: pilot
Oh my goodness. I just had a dream that I'm
almost scared to tell, because it was so real. I actually almost believe it.
Possibly it could be used for a movie script one day, although I'm sure I won't
be paid. I may just write a book on it in the coming years.
I, Jason K. Addae, was working with a group
of scientists, who specialized in reanimation and time warping technology that
was newly developed. Apparently, we discovered a way to travel, through a sleep
induced state, through a person's consciousness, back into their body at a
younger state, at various points in time. The entire time, you would remain in
remote contact, somehow, with the team, but would require some kind of wireless
connection and television on the other end where you were, in order to complete
the transfer project. Even as I write this, people are suddenly stirred from their
sleep and walking about as if sent as secret agents to discover me.
Anyway, I, as a member of the team decided to
go in and experiment with the technology personally. I went to one point
successfully as a young child, was able to communicate with the team and walk
around comfortably. I performed tasks, and made sure not to reveal anything on
the other side, which could jeopardize the entire process and state of things.
One subtlety of the technology is that the longer you stayed in, the more
"attached" so to speak you became, and even felt to the former self,
and the harder you would be to extract. Oh my goodness, if you could see the
chaos suddenly going on in my surroundings as I write this. It's as if I must
be kept from revealing this at all costs. As I was saying, as I embarked upon
the experiment, I could feel over lengths of time, a small gap between myself
and the host’s sensory system tightening until it felt as if I was almost
completely in the body. Imagine it this way: It's like going from being an
observer to, over time, being completely one with the person you were watching.
The scientist team didn't quite understand the dangers that could result from
this, but aired on the side of caution with it. During the first extraction
there were no issues. I was in my body as a very young boy of no more than 6. I
began to replay a secluded memory of some valuable life lesson which I can’t
recall. It’s almost as if the scientific method is reliant on pivotal
historical points. In that experience, I was comfortably within my younger body
and able to feed off of that reticent intuition of that time to feel out what I
needed to do next to keep the arc of events intact. It went well, and almost
felt like a very enjoyable movie of childhood times. I saw old teachers and
relatives, in a way I haven’t seen them for ages. I almost wanted to capture
that time. That couldn’t have been a mere dream. As I write this, the
surreality of it all floors me. I was extracted.
However, on the next extraction, I was in the
company of a difficult group of people, including my brother, or at least his
younger self, from the years we were teenagers, and a very energetic kid who
was a friend of mine. The thing is that the process takes a bit of time, and
requires a window of exclusion on the subject's part. I made the mistake of
staying in too long. I was curious, and the team warned me several times
through the radio link.
I
started to feel, after extended contact with the host body- my former self,
that I was completely syncing. Partly, it was beyond my control. Contact with
immediate family, especially my brother, runs the high risk of discovery and
extreme time consumption. When he finally did leave me alone, the kid began to
harass me. He continued to want to play, so I had to feign fatigue and illness
to have his mother pull him away. I finally seemed to have a window to extract,
and as I was becoming fearful, I eagerly wanted to do so. However, during the
extraction, I got a radio from the team that on their surveillance they saw an
approaching disruption and I needed to shut down immediately. The problem with
me being in so long, and having so nearly synced, is that I almost couldn't
hear the message from the team. When I did, I was panicking, thinking that I
was surely going to be caught and bring tragedy on us all. I dove out of the
couch and franticly pushed the power button on the wireless connection there
and the television, turning it back on once by mistake. Luckily, it ultimately
turned off as I dove back into the couch and the child re-entered the room. I
was able to play sleeping again as his mother came to collect him. I was in cold
sweats at this point, as I felt I would never be extracted. I eventually dozed
off, after never hearing contact from the team after that point. I had hoped
that the amount of time we had during attempting the last transfer would have
gleaned them some information to assist me in time. My hopes were possibly
realized, as I woke up. Now, I'm sitting here writing this and wondering if the
team saved me, or if that was in fact only just a dream.
I am
committed to discovering this technology and expounding on it one day. I don’t
know if I’ll ever find that team of brilliant scientists and cohorts, but I
will find the like. Technology like this is too amazing to not be experienced
and unraveled. I’ve even had more insane experiences related to that technology
that I dare say now. I believe I’ve gotten younger at various point since the
inception of this work. Hear me out. I know I sound mad, but I can explain.
Since I’ve experienced this technology, when I dream, I dream different. At
times, I replay fragmented scenarios, similar to the warping device. They are
almost every bit as real as the machine itself. When I awake, I find myself
almost waking up into the exact setting and situation, only in the current
world. My mind and body feel as they did in that time. I mean exactly. And it
feels unreal, as I walk away and expect it to fade. Only it doesn’t. Almost
like my mind and body have been reset. I have only left to prove this finding
on a genetic level, but I will.
I
have often wonder if I was just the perfect subject all along. You see, my dear
friend, I suffer from a long standing condition defined as sleep-paralysis. It’s
a condition that isn’t very well understood by scientists still today. It is
known to be chronic, and an unending condition. I’ll explain it to you briefly,
as it isn’t very well known. In sleep paralysis, the subject has a habitual
condition of waking half-way up during predominantly mid-day rests, only to be
unable to move, yet aware completely of their surroundings. The added twist is
that visions, sometimes distracting, sometimes holding some type of symbolism
or importance, can, and often do, infiltrate these half-dreams. The physical
reason for the paralysis is actually a protective one. When the body goes to
sleep, it emits chemicals into the brain that prevent you from acting on your
dreams or sleep-walking. In fact, people who sleep-walk, suffer from not
producing that chemical reaction, and can get into all kinds of trouble and
danger. Over the years, suffering with this condition, my dreams were haunted
at times by evil, perhaps in part due to experiences I regret. Often, I would
be assaulted in these dreams, and suffocated. There were several instances
where I nearly died within these experiences. I can’t get others to understand
that, because of the very few who suffer from this ailment, I know of none who
have it as severely as I do.
I
was in mortal fear that this condition would kill me, drive me mad, or both. I
really did lose my mind to a degree dealing with it and the lack of ability to
convey belief in it. In time, I began to embrace the potentialities it held,
whatever they may be. I then, when calm, was able to resolve myself to get
mastery over the condition, and use it as a benefit. “Just imagine,” I thought,
“the ability to control your dreams and interact with the surrounding
environment as well, at the same time.” The thing about sleep paralysis, is
that it is not patterned in how it attacks. It comes at random times, sometimes
even months, or years apart. That’s what makes it do daunting. So I began to
brace myself through meditation, for the next attack. At first, I would revert
into a shriveling coward when it happened. But then, I soon gained confidence
and was eventually able to audibly speak, fight back, and even move my body
during the attacks. I was quite proud of that accomplishment, and it’s only now
that I realize its significance. This could be a precursor, or a key to the
technology that I and the scientists developed.
Years ago, seeing the movie “Inception,”
brought encouragement and hope to me with both my condition and the science.
The movie was very similar to what my experience feels like. It gets so much
deeper.
In
the normal dream world, people have either a fantastical or a realistic plot
line that plays out briefly and ends. In my dreams, I’ve had condensed full
days play out in minutes, second for second. That in itself is a marvel I aim
to unravel. I’ve also had the layered dreams depicted in the movie countless
times. These are dreams within dreams, within dreams. Some people will think
that they recall something similar, but the truth is that it is rare to unheard
of to have more than 2 layers. I’ve had over 3 several times. All of this makes
clear the truth of my suspicions - there is more to this process and its
potential.
If
you recall, in the movie, they were able to unlock and imbed things into deep
recesses of a human mind, sometimes even rewriting memories, using that
technology. Imagine if you could unlock your own potential. Let me delve deeper
into this. I’m a writer and thinker by nature. I’ve written many pieces over
the years. Some of them, I wonder how I wrote, in that I don’t fully understand
them at the time, only to come back many years later, and discover troves of
ideas and knowledge in those many lines that I didn’t realize I was revealing.
I know, to you this must sound far- fetched, but I tell you it is only a
testament to my connection to the science at hand. In my layered dreams, I have
at times figured out, and put together solutions that I had been aching over
while awake. Suddenly, as if in a transcient state, I will effortlessly put
together the inner workings of some problem without even meaning to, and awake
with the answer. This science could unlock the ability to control this
phenomenon and reach a higher level. Just imagine the possibilities. I must go
now, my dear friend. Look for me soon. I will continue my pursuit.
Sunday, September 21, 2014
Podcast 4- Yellowjackets Tribute
Podcast Episode 4- Yellowjackets Tribute
This band really inspired me and my work for many years. There's such versatility in their music and involvement. I tried to emulate that over the years. I remember the last album I bought of theirs was Timeline. I loved the album and actually shed over the entire thing. What really speaks of their lasting power, is that years after getting Timeline, I popped it in the other day and listened to it, and it sounded like a completely new album. I got so much more out of it. The sound pulls you in. Bob Minzter's solos evoke every emotion of the song upon you, and before long you can almost hear the message in words.
One thing I was taught at an early stage in music education is that improvisation has to be like story telling. My teacher used to say it's your chance during improvisation to tell your perspective on things, so make the most of it. Unfortunately, over the years, in the music industry, it's become very watered down and more of an academic exercise. If you ever listen to Wynton Marsalis, you hear how storytelling is supposed to sound in solos. I appreciate that he spreads that education to today's youth. That's what I tried to do in my career.
This band really inspired me and my work for many years. There's such versatility in their music and involvement. I tried to emulate that over the years. I remember the last album I bought of theirs was Timeline. I loved the album and actually shed over the entire thing. What really speaks of their lasting power, is that years after getting Timeline, I popped it in the other day and listened to it, and it sounded like a completely new album. I got so much more out of it. The sound pulls you in. Bob Minzter's solos evoke every emotion of the song upon you, and before long you can almost hear the message in words.
One thing I was taught at an early stage in music education is that improvisation has to be like story telling. My teacher used to say it's your chance during improvisation to tell your perspective on things, so make the most of it. Unfortunately, over the years, in the music industry, it's become very watered down and more of an academic exercise. If you ever listen to Wynton Marsalis, you hear how storytelling is supposed to sound in solos. I appreciate that he spreads that education to today's youth. That's what I tried to do in my career.
Saturday, September 13, 2014
Mayweather Legacy Continued
I must say that with the boxing event this evening, I was a bit disappointed. I saw, for really the first time, a diminished Mayweather inside the ring in a rematch with Marcos Maidana. The first fight was touted as a closely contested matchup with twists and turns that made for a compelling second encounter. I only saw a Mayweather that was pulling back on his offense and allowing a rough fight to validate filling in Marcos on another fight slot. I still feel correct in that assessment. However, in this rematch, all talk was supposed to be silenced and questions answered. If anything, I feel there are even more than there were to begin with.
Mayweather looked very old and slow by his standards to me. Many non-fighters and casual fans won't notice, but it was very reminiscent to Anderson Silva's slow decline. In elite fighters of that level, the deterioration is in milliseconds and stages. He looked very slow footed, and lazy in his offense at numerous times in the fight. I admire that he was able to clean it up a bit against a hungry, homerun seeking opponent, but all I could think of were future matches. He effectively countered Maidana late in the fight and on rare occasion opened up brief offensive combinations to the body and head. 1 or 2 body shots from Floyd the entire fight seemed to bother Maidana. Floyd cruised to an easy decision, but not at all in the way he promised.
2 things stand out to me. He had no power, and his offense was not consistent. This is a legendary guy who imposes whatever he wants in his fights. He specifically promised a domination or a knockout, and mid way into the fight, you knew it wasn't coming no matter what. He could not hurt Maidana to save his life. That worries me alot. He looked fat and out of shape compared to yesterday's weigh in's. I don't know what he ate that night, but he should never eat it again. Stamina wise, he didn't open distance between him and his opponent. If anything, for the first time, Mayweather looked more tired up until the very end. That's always been one of his supposed weapons. His foot work was good, but his defense opened up at times to where you could see him being caught by a faster opponent. In the end, he struggled to survive in a fight he promised to dominate. He was even hurt a few times which the media fails to acknowledge.
All I could think about at the end of this fight is the fight with Pacquiao and the fight with Amir Khan, that he as put off time and again. I always said that Mayweather's tactics may come back to get him in the long run, and I may be right. Those very 2 people he avoided, look like the very ones who could stop him right now. I've never said this before, but with tonight's performance, I could see the speed of Khan, and the overall ability of Pacman giving Mayweather worlds of trouble right now. And these fights with Marcos have taken a toll on an old fighter. These aren't the fights you take at the end of a career. Don't be surprised if Mayweather loses his next fight, and dramatically. I hope it doesn't happen, but he has pretty much set himself up. He promised a surprise in May. He lost money on the last fight and money along with fans on this rematch. He will be pressured into a big fight with Khan, Pacman, or Hopkins. All of those guys are capable of beating him now. He may have blew it by not fighting Pacman earlier. I look forward to seeing what happens next.
Mayweather looked very old and slow by his standards to me. Many non-fighters and casual fans won't notice, but it was very reminiscent to Anderson Silva's slow decline. In elite fighters of that level, the deterioration is in milliseconds and stages. He looked very slow footed, and lazy in his offense at numerous times in the fight. I admire that he was able to clean it up a bit against a hungry, homerun seeking opponent, but all I could think of were future matches. He effectively countered Maidana late in the fight and on rare occasion opened up brief offensive combinations to the body and head. 1 or 2 body shots from Floyd the entire fight seemed to bother Maidana. Floyd cruised to an easy decision, but not at all in the way he promised.
2 things stand out to me. He had no power, and his offense was not consistent. This is a legendary guy who imposes whatever he wants in his fights. He specifically promised a domination or a knockout, and mid way into the fight, you knew it wasn't coming no matter what. He could not hurt Maidana to save his life. That worries me alot. He looked fat and out of shape compared to yesterday's weigh in's. I don't know what he ate that night, but he should never eat it again. Stamina wise, he didn't open distance between him and his opponent. If anything, for the first time, Mayweather looked more tired up until the very end. That's always been one of his supposed weapons. His foot work was good, but his defense opened up at times to where you could see him being caught by a faster opponent. In the end, he struggled to survive in a fight he promised to dominate. He was even hurt a few times which the media fails to acknowledge.
All I could think about at the end of this fight is the fight with Pacquiao and the fight with Amir Khan, that he as put off time and again. I always said that Mayweather's tactics may come back to get him in the long run, and I may be right. Those very 2 people he avoided, look like the very ones who could stop him right now. I've never said this before, but with tonight's performance, I could see the speed of Khan, and the overall ability of Pacman giving Mayweather worlds of trouble right now. And these fights with Marcos have taken a toll on an old fighter. These aren't the fights you take at the end of a career. Don't be surprised if Mayweather loses his next fight, and dramatically. I hope it doesn't happen, but he has pretty much set himself up. He promised a surprise in May. He lost money on the last fight and money along with fans on this rematch. He will be pressured into a big fight with Khan, Pacman, or Hopkins. All of those guys are capable of beating him now. He may have blew it by not fighting Pacman earlier. I look forward to seeing what happens next.
Friday, September 12, 2014
Podcast - Psychology 101
Podcast 3- Psychology 101
Not at all happy with this podcast, but I did it anyway to fill the slot. Next week it will be more refined. I promise.
Not at all happy with this podcast, but I did it anyway to fill the slot. Next week it will be more refined. I promise.
Monday, September 8, 2014
Podcast Episode 2: The State of Sports -Check out my new Podcast Episode
Podcast 2: The State of Sports
This is the next episode of my Podcast series. I'm getting more used to it. I know I'm sending these out rather quickly. I'm going to take more time. Just want to get familiar with the process. Enjoy.
This is the next episode of my Podcast series. I'm getting more used to it. I know I'm sending these out rather quickly. I'm going to take more time. Just want to get familiar with the process. Enjoy.
Sunday, September 7, 2014
New Stuff
Wednesday, September 3, 2014
New Podcast.
This is Episode 1 of my Podcast show. I really think I'm going to stick with this for a while.
Jokatech Podcast 1
Jokatech Podcast 1
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