We be taking them chances while we search for the answers

But yet we always romance the street
And fall in love with the hood 'til somebody come blast the heat
Always up to no good, so all of my fam could eat
See in the hood we hungry ... we playing for keeps

since this spot is called Pops' Thoughts, I figured I'd get back into the swing of things by letting you know what's on my mind as of late. in no specific order...

I don't even watch TV or even check for any alternative comedy, but I think I'm going to try and peep the Aqua Teen Hunger Force movie. I think the urban legend has rendered it a cult classic already. I'll be sure to bump my MF Doom mixtape on the way there.

Speaking of brouhaha, the Duke case is in the news but very under the radar compared to its media heyday. All charges got dropped and the dust has settled. So was justice served or not? Will we ever know if homegirl cried wolf or if those dudes really ill out on her? We'll never know, but it just goes to show you that no matter the new season, the legacy of Jim Crow still remains. That case - and many other recent ones like it - were indicative of the pervasive history of discrimination, bias, and inequity in this country. The same type of behavior and sentiment that Don Imus has shared with us all for many years, yet for which he is only now getting in hot water.

Imus is a douchebag. I'd be a bit more descriptive and demeaning, but why waste my breath. MSNBC dropped the simulcast. CBS is suspending him (but only after he does some fundraising). Mad sponsors are bouncing. Next! However, I did pose a question on a message board today whether Lil Wayne should get a pass for saying just about the same thing. Food for thought. When will people realize the power of their words?

Mitt Romney is a moron and Mayor earned a big-up from me for sticking it to him. I understand you gotta do what you gotta do to drum up support, but don't sell your soul, fam. Just because the guy had an NRA hat on, you mean to tell me you're going to all-of-a-sudden switch up your story and claim to be a lifelong hunter and avid gun proponent? Especially in light of the plain and painful reality that the capitol city of the state you used to "govern" (from afar) is awash in bloodshed? And has been so for the past three years! And on top of it all, you actually bragged that you used a fucking semiautomatic gun to shoot a muthafuqing rabbit?! Get a life, duke.

My man A sent along this article entitled, Abandoned Homefront, to the crew yesterday and it struck a chord. On one hand, it appears that more and more people are catching on to Chuck Turner's reasoning behind the impact the Iraq occupation has had on municipal budgets. It did make Menino out to be more of a patron saint than I think he deserves, but it does spell out some interesting facts and figures regarding comparative dollar values. Talk about stretch your money. But I'm going to need homeboy to write about walking in these neighborhoods without the mayor. Just sounds like a written photo-op to me.

I see the way we rep the hood, gotta love me
You can take me out the ghetto, but you can't take it from me
-Busta Rhymes, "In The Ghetto"