I seen your mom at her prom, she was the bomb

I seen my friends turn to enemies
I seen peeps turn to memories
I even seen who shot Kennedy

when pigs fly...

an even number, yet it's been an odd year

we never knowing when it's our time to go

i definitely have neither seen it all nor been through it all

although...

i seen a funeral spill out into the streets like never before and people there just because

i seen causes commodified

i seen a good dude get killed on the job

i seen a father make amends and redress past deeds, only to leave this world after spending time with those he always loved

i seen a youth worker get surprised and honored for the extra miles she goes to try and make a difference

i seen an already overworked principal asked to do more BS

i seen a star born in due time

i seen mutual acquaintances become best friends

i seen verizon playing me from afar

i seen the numbers when they were looking right

i seen good intentions become a lullaby of lies

i seen it coming (ok, not really)

i seen the day turn to night

i seen the sun set and rise right before my eyes

Seen 13 year olds split phillies
And spit nine millies
-AG, "All Eyes Seeing"

Look me in my eyes cuz ya handshake don't fool thee

shoulders up. eyes alert. head horizontal. to remember a name, repeat it after meeting someone for the first time. or just use it in a sentence. or a question. kinda like a prefix or suffix. stay grounded. take your own advice.

You was just frontin, now it ain't nuttin

be aware of your surroudings. always be prepared. keep some of your business cards on you at all times. come correct on stuff you say you're gonna do. follow-through on action items and assigned tasks. keep your composure. think before you speak. the only stupid question was the one you didn't ask. you cannot fail if you don't try. live life to the fullest.

If you got somethin to say, then cough it out
-Shyheim & Big L, "Furious Anger"

I just so happened to hear both the above song and the following bible passage twice (each) on wed. figured it probably wasn't a fluke. samuel jackson "popularized" it with his pulp fiction character, yet it is powerful by itself, although the movie version is not completely accurate. but it's mostly the voice...chills...

The path of the righteous man is beset on all sides by the iniquities of the selfish and the tyranny of evil men. Blessed is he, who in the name of charity and good will, shepherds the weak through the valley of darkness, for he is truly his brother's keeper and the finder of lost children. And I will strike down upon thee with great vengeance and furious anger those who would attempt to poison and destroy my brothers. And you will know my name is the Lord when I lay my vengeance upon thee.

mad explosive spontaneity

who'll be the shareholder of my kinda thoughts

Bahamadia was WAY ahead of her time. It just needs to be said. I'm a fan of giving props to those ill people doing their thing while they are still here with us instead of celebrating and honoring them posthumously. And what really sucks is that the people who were already kinda famous are the ones who get more "publicity" when they die. I'm not saying it's a conspiracy or nothing, but it just strikes me as odd that some folks will never get their just due. So this is my way of recognizing those who've impacted me in some way. This just came to me, so now I gotta do some thinking. More to come.

Technology for the sake of technology

I used to really like that one skit on the Chappelle Show called, "When Keeping It Real Goes Wrong." It brought to the surface the absurdity of doing some things "just because" it seemed like the "sensible" thing to do. Not.

There are plenty of times where I like to consider myself an early adopter. I'm usually pretty quick to pick up on some new technology. I like testing somehitng out to see how it works and if it enhances my life in any way.

Let me think back; I had a beeper (or sky pager for Tribe fans) about a decade ago in high school. Oh the times. I remeber having a cell phone in 1998 and using it call home most of the time because everybody and their moms didn't have one at the time. Back in 1999 and 2000, I had this digital camera that used to get mad laughs for its enormity, yet heads was still hitting up the drug store or ritz camera for processing. Sheeeettttt, I even had one of the APS fils cameras right before the digital joints broke loose. About two years ago, I had a PDA phone that was a little on the boxy side, yet the buttons were perfect for my thumb.

You see, I was playing Quake using virtual reality back when all these current Halo and Gears of War cats were sucking their thumbs rocking out to the first PlayStation. So whatever. Technology is dope. Being an early adopter has its excitement. But don't get it twisted. Some technology really just kills brain cells.

For instance, this new electronic CharlieCard bullshT the MBTA has going on. I'm saying, son...you mean I have to pay more for the T if I need to ride it once a month if I don't have a card? And I have to keep the card for three years? What is this ridiculousness?! You're telling me I need to "tap" it to put money on it and "tap out" or whatever the hell to get through the turnstile? Or will the turnstile now become a magnetic forcefiled that "gently buzzes" me if I don't pay my fare?

I recall the many nights I used to spend in Kinko's back in the day during the design times and how simple life was. You need to make a copy. Put a dime in the machine. Copies? Gimme two quarters. That was; until the did the dumb shT and got all techie on me. All of a sudden, I had to add a step to the process by getting a card, then putting money on it, and then using it to handle my business. Yeah, it might sound simple. But really though. It'd make sense for it to be a one-time inconvenience if it were really that simple and I actually returned witht the card the next time I came. Yeah; aiight. Same shT every time. After a while, it was time to find a new spot.

Same with this techie hype. Some folks are out here with all the acronym gadgets not knowing nothing 'bout nothing. Just straight blind geeking it. Making us nerds look bad and shT. That's just completely uncalled for. Lemme stick to doing my techie thing and when the joint is ready for you to walk it out, I'll holla.

Or maybe i'm just acting simple because I got a newer phone today and being in that store made me realize how much they are jacking up prices nowadays for some straight bullshT. But hey, all those brand-new early adopters are willing to pay the price to be early. All this buzz over iPod minis, HD TVs, DVRs; I'm all set, dunny.

So here's a toast to the ill new technology that makes me go, niiice in my part-time patois, chucktown twang. MP3 PLayers. Serato. USB Drives. Pandora's Box. YouTube. Dual processors. Word.