Hunger Games Stays True & Racists Rage

  We (mostly minorities and some whites) know that racism still exists.  Granted, it's been a few years since I've been called a nigger in the streets, it's still around below the surface.  Hollywood has been aware of this for decades and has continued to market movies towards the white majority in order to maximize profits (racist motivations take a slight back seat to profit).

  The Hunger Games has a huge fan base around the country stemming from the success of the novel.  Safe to say the majority of the fans that went to see the movie adaptation read or have some familiarity with the book.  Funny thing is, they don't all remember some of the characters the same way the book described them. 

  Check out this blog for some examples of how seeing black actors representing beloved characters made some fans angry. 

http://jezebel.com/5896408/racist-hunger-games-fans-dont-care-how-much-money-the-movie-made

Extra Thought: How is Culture Created?

  **Ok, I'm going to address the fact that it has felt like an eternity since my last post...because it has been.  Yeah, I didn't post anything, big whoop, wanna fight about it?!?!  I've been focusing on some other aspects of life lately, not that I couldn't have updated the blog...I just didn't.  So, that's my unapologetic way of apologizing, you're welcome** 

  Culture is not something that is as black and white as we make it seem.  If we look at a certain country, we'll say from a high level that 'this' is their culture, when in actuality, that's just what we know of it.  Depending on what region of the country the source was in to make those claims, the perceived culture could be drastically different.  Let's look at good ole Uh'Merica for a second. At a high level, our culture is that of excess, selfishness, blind nationalism, and ignorance of other parts of the world.  In general, most of this is accurate.  However, region by region the culture will shift and feel completely different.  From southern hospitality to the "get out of my way" aspect of the north east, cultures become unique as they are adapted & interpreted by those living it. 

  I'm curious about how these shared traits and values started though.  I'm not going to touch any of the actual sociology behind this (because I haven't studied it) but the way I see it, people will emulate others if they respect them.  Why do people follow & emulate celebrities?  Why does all it take for a new product to succeed is having the right spokesmen?  People see a lifestyle that they want and will do what they think it takes to emulate it so they can have that lifestyle themselves.  

Diddy Told Me To Drink Ciroc...So, I Drink Ciroc

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.

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

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.