The Dating BCS: Strength of Schedule

  As flawed and subjective as the system is, the college football Bowl Championship Series (BCS) and the dating game have a few similarities. Teams are ranked based on program strength, quality wins, and strength of Schedule amongst others. similarly, people in the dating game are evaluated on similar tenants of perceived quality, dating accomplishments, and strength of those dated in the past. As we want to be seen as a highly valued bachelor/bachelorette, we should understand that it is very qualitative in nature. With that said, its funny to me how some people seem to spend a lot of time hurting their rank by diminishing their strength of schedule.

Lauren, Pre-Weezy F's Baby

  For those that do it naturally by dating people that add little value to their line up of accomplishments or quality of ex's, they are getting what they deserve when their perceived quality goes down (Prime examples; Hoops' value plummeted when she kissed Flavor Flav.  Lauren London's did as well when she let Lil' Wayne knock her up).  This is the market correcting itself, as these people who make bad decisions are being devalued.  Not saying that they are no longer desirable...just tarnished. To keep with the BCS example, a team will drop in the rankings if they have a cupcake schedule and don't destroy the weaker teams.  It shows that they aren't what we thought they were.

Extra Thought: Back-Stabbers

  I've become a fan of Fabolous over the past few years. He's grown as an artist and has started putting out a lot of music that I can get behind.  This growth is shown on his Soul Tape mixtape, as he took a page out of Joe Budden's book and added a lot of real life into the songs.  There were many stand out lines on that mixtape, however, one in particular stood out the most:

"...to know a back-stabber, gotta turn your back to em'"

Support Quality

New Sound: Ripple Cut 1: Assorted Indulgence

Ripple Cut 1: Assorted Indulgence by Steve.Be.

  Well, well, well...If it isn't my boy Steve Be., dropping his first solo mixtape, Ripple Cut 1: Assorted Indulgence.  Steve & I go way back to rapping in the dorms at VT together.  I always put pen to paper, but Steve was the motivation to verbalize the analogies, and that's something I will always appreciate him for.  Fast forward a few years, I revisit the mic as a hobby when (rarely) inspired and Steve Be. is continuing his dream of making a living out of it. He's currently doing the local circuit in the 757 (Va Beach to be specific), but it's only a matter of time before his reach broadens.

5 Tips To Go From Good To Great

*Disclaimer: My advice is to be applied at your own risk. Upon the conclusion of you reading this sentence, I will assume credit for all of your life's successes & accomplishments only, both past and future.*

  Good is cool, but great is better.  Why not be great?  Well, some people just can't without a little help from their friendly neighborhood ass hole (that's me).  So, I'd like to give you some general advice to help improve things in your meager, down-trodden life...ok, that's probably more the exception than the rule, but I know somebody fits that description.  I do, however, see those that patronize this blog being the social elite in their collective circles, not following random trends because it's popular, looking for more substance than relying on style, drinking their red flavored Kool Aid from a champagne flute...you know, as I am & do.  Still, a word to the wise never hurt anybody, since the wise know what to ignore.

New Sound: Shady 2.0 Cypher

No explanation needed

New Sound: A Sucker For Pumps

  If you're looking for some new music to kick off the fall, here's a new option for you:  TiRon & Ayomari.  I was introduced to this album by an eclectic, brutiful, Brazillian bombshell. Give it a spin below and see what you think

Debate: I'm Just Saying, You Can Do Better

  This year has seen a lot of relationship milestones for my friends. 3 weddings, anniversaries, new relationships, exiting old relationships, etc. My close friends & I sometimes discuss our relationships (or casual situations) and give opinions/advice/motivation where applicable.  One thing that I will not do, however, is say that someone can do better based on my opinion of their significant other.  That lead me to ask the question:

Is it ever truly appropriate to tell someone they can do better?

How Long Before TI Returns to Jail? **Updated: 9/6/11**

***Update: I'd like to congratulate the winner, Royce Anthony (@Tree_Phiddy)! When asked how he knew when TI would return to jail (within 24 hours) he replied "the key was to not underestimate a hood nigga's stupidity."***


  Call me negative...but I don't think this is the last time TI will be in jail.  Listening to the things he says (usually after being arrested) sound like he knows right from wrong...but will do what he feels is necessary.  So, without touching on the morality/legality of his personal choices, let's skip to the fun part and predict when he'll be arrested again!

Courtesy of TMZ

One Carry-On Only Please: Too Much Baggage Will Cost You My Attention

courtesy of http://www.expats-moving-and-relocation-guide.com

  Baggage.  For those that don't know, emotional baggage is the term used for the idiosyncrasies we develop from our past relationships.  Everybody has them, but everybody carries them differently.  A show-stopper with one person could be a minor annoyance with another.  So I'm thinking that the airlines have the right idea on how much baggage to allow in your 757 of love jet-fueled relationShip mile-high club of monogamy ...relationships (Puns aren't easy, get off my back).

 

This blog does not condone or endorse inexplicably large head wraps. Via YouTube

Do You Know What Today Is??? It's Our Anniversary

*Throws confetti*

  It's been 1 year since I began this collection of randomness and ideological babble.  Whether you've been reading from day 1 or just stumbled across this recently, I'd like to thank you for reading and hope you have and will continue to enjoy my madness.

Rant: Infatuation

*** This following was tweeted at 1:30am outside of a strip club ***

Physical infatuation is only as deep as the pretty brown skin that creates it
Teasing and tempting me to touch & taste the tips of the tempest temptress until she trembles
When I'm in the moment, it feels like forever. I have no past, no future...she's my present and I'm trying to maximize my time in it

Rant: The Honesty in Infamy

***Disclaimer***

This rant was written at 12:30pm in a hotel room. As always, take it for what it's worth

  In college, I was known but I never considered myself to be popular. I feel like this is still the case today, and I'm happy about that.

  I remember saying to my friends at the beginning of our sophomore year that I didn't want to make any new friends this year. That may sound weird, but I had a reason for that.  Freshman year was all about "New" (Aside from my friends from high school, shout out to Stan & Maurice). New place, new classes, new routine, new people, new friends, & new enemies (Naturally, I found my fair share of those).  It was like a challenge to see how broad and large you could grow your network. It didn't really matter how many of these connections were meaningful, it was just a part of learning the lay of the land.  I got tired of that process. 

Duplicity & When Keeping it Real Goes Wrong

  Who you are should be a source of confidence and pride. You should be able to accept yourself for who you are, short comings and all, and unflinchingly present yourself to the world (not in the 'Janet Jackson at the Superbowl' way...all though I never complain about seeing a nice pair of milk glands). That's not to say you shouldn't try and improve on what you perceive as a personal flaw (All though some theorize that your weaknesses will always be your weaknesses and rather than waste time focusing on them, you should just continue to improve on your strengths...food for thought, but I digress), rather that you should be conscious & comfortable enough with them to continue to live as you see fit.  Be that as it may, presenting your full personality is not beneficial all the time

  The most obvious of these moments when you may curb your nature is at the office.  Political correctness and modern corporate culture aims to take the more inflammatory parts of ourselves out of the office.  All though it may seem like a good idea to slap your female coworker on the ass the same way you do your female friends (as I do), this isn't the 50's and you'd have some tough conversations in your future (if it were the 50's, I'd be lucky to even be in that situation, as most janitors didn't have female coworkers...if I did & it happened to be a white woman...let's just say I'd get a view to die for at the next lynching).  Cursing, crude jokes, politics, and personal beliefs are all things that have been removed from the office environment so that it can be more palatable by a larger group of people.  This makes sense to me, as I also limit the extent of the insanity that I show while at work or around coworkers. 

Rant: Natural Hair & The Token Black Actor

As an African-Canadian/American, I feel like it's patronizing whenever I see a black person in an ad with a natural hairstyle

What do you mean "Natural Hair"?
  Natural hair is gaining popularity amongst black women and lazy black men.  Looking to return to their more Afro-centric roots (No pun intended...no matter how nappy they are) or just to keep healthier hair by not using chemicals to straighten it, more and more women are jumping on the natural band-wagon...and I'm fine with that.  Black men usually don't have processed hair anymore (Think Jheri-curls, s-curls, & Al Sharpton), outside of Luster's Pink Lotion & Murray's hair grease (Which could probably stop a bullet if shot into the can).  Growing out one's hair has become popular for many through their teenage and twenty-something years.  I have no issue with having healthier hair and/or wanting to be more true to your ethnic roots with your hairstyle choice...But with that said, a messy natural hairstyle looks sloppy & dirty to me (Exhibit A).

 I'm very happy this is in the past

Extra Thought: Petty Girl Rock & Petty Boy Swag

  @jUst_donNi called @MrrobErts3 petty this past weekend as a joke. For some reason, that stood out to me. Has being petty become the norm?

Petty: 
b) Having little or no importance or significance. 
c) Marked by or reflective of narrow interests and sympathies, small minded
Originating from Middle English 'pety', small, minor, alteration of 'petit' 
                                                                                                 - Websters Dictionary

Wise Words From a Decent Addict

Beware of Expectations

Beware of expectations! 

  Your expectations can skew reality.  They can drive you to feel entitled if they aren't realistic.  If you expect to be insulted, you will be defensive and consider harmless statements to be slander.  Expectations are necessary tools to attaining your goals. Setting expectations, seeing the results, and reconciling the difference is key. With understanding, you can learn from your inaccurate expectations.  With wisdom, you can set accurate expectations.  With humility, you will set realistic expectations for yourself. With self esteem, you won't settle for less then your expectations.

Beware of expectations!

Movie Review: Black Swan

Natalie Portman would probably never do a traditional porno...but last night, I watched her get mind-fucked for 2 hours in Black Swan.

Black Swan...no racist

Rant: Intricate Evolution & Necessary Understanding

   The exercise of understanding somebody is never ending...unless, of course, the need to understand them goes away.  People evolve day to day...some leaps are larger than others, but what motivates me today can bore me tomorrow.  We consider a lot of character traits to be constant without the evidence to support the assumed consistency. Even after a large sampling, something can happen that will cause a person to alter what others might consider to be a pillar of their personality.  Without proper communication and attention, you can easily find yourself trying to talk to an outdated version of a person you thought you knew.

   Personally, I ask a lot of questions, that's my way of understanding motivations, and ultimately, people.  Often my questions double as insults or are said in jest but, most of the time, they are sincere and not meant to demean. This dichotomy can be confusing and only through understanding who I am will people be able to accept it.  However, if you don't like your decisions/actions being questioned, you're telling me that you don't want me to understand you, thus stunting whatever progress that was being made.