it's an honor and a privelege

The world cup is soon upon us. I absolutely love soccer and the world cup in particular. The Olympics are cheesy, over produced, and mostly composed of sports and people you've never heard of. Unless I'm in the Olympic Village, partaking in the true "Games" I really have no interest in most of what goes on. There are just two teensie, tiny, little, problems that exists for me here.

1) I have no one to root for.

2) Soccer doesn't love me back.

My soccer career was short lived to say the least but the sport captured my imagination and every time I would pick up a new game I'd still look back on soccer with reverence. The reason I have no one to root for is because American soccer is by and large shitty. "100% Rat Ass" as they say. The ODP program in the states is meant to glean the best talent we have and turn it into the future of soccer here. Like most national programs in any country this one is by all accounts corrupt and largely useless. What we need is for all of our best talent to FIRST stop playing baseballbasketballfootballhockeyortrack and then we can talk about soccer. Right now simple market forces draw any talented young man into team sports like football and basketball because they have proven to be great ways for some kids to get to go to college for free. Soccer is the opposite. It takes a lot of time and money to support a burgeoning soccer star and even with success the payoff is minimal in comparison. I'm shocked even $250 million was enough to lure David Beckham stateside. If I was the British Michael Jordan of soccer I'd be DAMNED if I was going to sully my good name for less than a Billie.

Anyway American soccer in my eyes is cool except the star player is Landon fucking Donovan, the poster boy for entitled, boring, $50,000 a year HIGHSCHOOL soccer. I can't root for that. Clint I-Grew-Up-In-A-Trashcan Dempsey I can root for but Landon Timothy Donovan...? Naw man, cain't do it..that's right I caIn't.

The other issue, is one I can never seem to get away from. It is after all Happy Black Girl day and though I haven't even scratched the surface of my thoughts on race, this story works out perfectly for the occasion. There have been oodles of new posts popping up across the Net talking about the World Cup and trying to sell it. This one in particular caught my eye for obvious reasons, but it wasn't until I was done reading all the way through it that I realized why it was so eye catching. Now the title DOES say 7 women, 7 titles. But when there is that much pootie-tang staring me in the face I am even less want to read than I already am. So I perused the pages of the post linked above and finally got to the last page.

Perhaps the most gorgeous woman I've seen ever let alone the most gorgeous of the 7 was there staring me in the face alone...all by herself. Now I understand that there are those who could contend they were saving the best for last or that this was simply a matter of mathematics but I've seen plenty of ad campaigns and this is clear.

EVERYTHING in an ad campaign is planned out. You'll notice in the group shots Charlene is the only one who doesn't really overlap. (Read: crops out easily) She also happens to be one of only 4 women that represents a country whose won the cup in the last 50 years. So how is it she is a perfect pair for contemporary champs but gets left out of the greater display? I mentioned to start that this was a well thought out ad campaign and maybe now you're thinking it's simple matching. "She happens to be the only dark skinned women and so to match her up with a girl who looked so different might have thrown of the look of the shoot." Yea thats possible but why is that important? These girls are just eye candy we can drape jerseys and socks over. How they look should really be secondary and to be honest I'd be more concerned with the jerseys clashing than their hair or skin. Calling out racism is hard because it is so ingrained in the way we do things here on Earth that people can look right at it and not see it for what it is. It's sad really and the malice here is of the most benign sort. I'm sure the models were all treated equally well and they all had fun supporting their men and countries. What does suck is that someone at the back end of the process thought it to be more profitable to downplay the appearance of this one girl in particular because for some reason seeing an unimaginably beautiful woman who is a bit darker than your average European apparently might turn people away.

Extra! Extra! Read all about it!!

I don't know if it's because I've been studying all day for the first time in weeks or because I'm following up an 8 month drought (medically induced) with a 6+ month drought (attitude induced) but Ladies...I am feeling alive tonight.

Te Extrano

Technically this doesn't count as a post because I didn't make this video but I miss this and I miss you so I'm just going to throw this up so I can get a small dose of whatever it is I get from running the WB&C. There's no subliminal tonight, just straight up good music. Enjoy.

Took my whole flavor, I call her Coke Zero

Another post that rips off a Jay-Z lyric for a title is well underway and I'm happy to be back at the keys. The blatant product placement in his lyrics though disturbing is still effective. The man is a wordsmith, thats for certain, and it is my hope that I amount to be the same at some point. As of yet I don't feel quite that way but I found a story on the net that I think accurately shows some pretty great story telling. There is a big problem in this story and I want you to see if you can spot it. It goes as follows:

"My wife and I are watching “Who Wants To Be A Millionaire” while we were in bed. I turned to her and said, “Do you want to have sex?” “No,” she answered. I then said, “Is that your final answer?” She didn’t even look at me this time, simply saying, “Yes.” So I said, “Then I’d like to phone a friend.” And then the fight started…"

I'm not an expert or anything, but what I do know is that this is one of those moments when the perfect joke will get you in trouble. You had better have been extra good THAT DAY, if you think you're gonna pull this off. I don't mean you let her pick what you watched earlier that night, or you told her she looked skinnier than usual last week. You had damn well better have saved her from a burning building that afternoon then not gotten mad while she flirted with the fireman who showed up. I know this because this is EXACTLY the type of thing I would say. I absolutely would. I have no filter and it's been proven time and time again that I value laughs over consistent sex. Though in hindsight I do value loyalty and devotion. Those two however are finite resources.

Orbit

Now about this problem...can anyone spot what it is? Any guesses? Here's a clue, it has nothing to do with what he said...Give up? It's simple. What in the world is he doing with a girl who would say no to that question?!? Genophobic as I may be EVEN I know that there is no way that a relationship can work if she is saying no to that question. For disclosures sake I will admit that I usually date women whose libido exceeds my own and it's spoiled me but really..? W..T..F..? I am not sure I've ever even heard no so trust me this conversation would never happen for me anyway, because the day I do hear no I'm going to burst into laughter then say, "That's cute, I'm going to write that in my diary...You ARE joking aren't you?"

This is one of many things I've come to appreciate in my single days. I think being single has made me a better boyfriend. I finally learned to pick battles and I definitely learned to appreciate the good FAR more than I worry about the bad. I feel bad that there are some guys who will settle for this kind of behavior. It's like telling me there are 2 feet wide spiders or something, I believe they exist somewhere but I NEVER wanna meet one...NEVER.

I don't really have any advice on the subject of this argument because it is as I would call it, "A hypothetical Impossibility". But what I do know is that what I've had has been good when I had it. And I've certainly never been told no. I do know someone however who does have some good advice and I've posted her before so I'll do it again because Resha "gets it". She in my mind has the perfect sensibilities a GF should have. She says lots of outlandish things all the time yet often she speaks like she knows what it is like to be a man. For instance...

Guys who don't fully appreciate stuff like this are just as bad as girls who say no.

She is freaky but she also understands simple sanitation. I'm not against anything (anymore) but it is simple math if you ask me. *kanyeshrug goes here*

We agree on the important issues...like Kimberly K.

And of course she is no fool. Nothing is getting past this one.

All that said, the following is the only truth that anyone need be concerned with. It is a lesson I had to learn the hardest way and have been working hard to spread to the masses.

I've got nothing to say

God Bless the Lakers.

I can't believe someone would ever lay a hand on this Angel and it is now my life's goal to find this man, then strike down upon thee with great VENGEANCE and FURIOUS anger so that he shall know his sins are not forgotten.

lol jk =)

Kid Sis' Yall. HousTalantaVegas in the house!

I'd move to cougar town if she were the Mayor.

It's funny, get it?

I haven't written in a long while

But I really want too. I have a lot to say, and more importantly questions to ask. I've been far to lazy of late and I will do better. For tonight I will leave you with these words from a favorite band of mine. Ella quiere Venganza. They above all else have taught me, I really should pay more attention in the future.

She smelled like 2am

Took him back to her place

Where all the saints adorn the walls

Delivering her from grace

He knew he should leave

That this could only turn cold

She was a bad bad girl

So he told her so

Under the shadows of doubt

He had the whisper of lust

He said no touching tonight

She closed her eyes in his trust

She said tuck me in

He knew his judgement was sound

Still he pulled back the sheets

And said you better lie down cause the angels are watching

She closed her eyes and said quit the talking

You can hurt me do whatever you like

Her every word was in italics

As it would fall from her lips

The walls made of broken promises

He hoped this wouldn't be his

She said tell me what to do

He knew right then he was done

Feeling lonely and confused

He said you better lie down cause the angels are watching

She closed her eyes and said quit the talking

You can hurt me do whatever you like

So he said shut your mouth girl the angels are listening

You better lie down cause the angels are watching

She closed her eyes and said quit the talking

You can hurt me do whatever you like

She crossed herself now the moments are missing

You can hurt me do whatever you like

Glancing through the curtains

Questions on her tongue

She spoke in third person

And he had seen every one

Awkward and admitted

Said shut the door when you go

Perhaps he should have reconsidered (oh no)

When he said you better lie down cause the angels are watching

She closed her eyes and said quit the talking

You can hurt me do whatever you like

So he said shut your mouth girl the angels are listening

She crossed herself now the moments are missing

You can hurt me do whatever you like

Green Means Go!

This video is extremely dumb but also extremely funny. At this time of day/night it is blogworthy, lets hope I still feel that way when I wake up.

Please just shave it.

Well Pregnancy brought at least two good things for Britney.

"I don't care if it's A la, Hundred dollar bill, Im not eating it"

Wait, what do they sell at American Apparel again?

Fun for all ages.

Murder Mysteries

The New Year is upon us. I have much to look forward to in 2010 as I’m sure do you! I’m excited that the year-end reviews are over and I can stop being reminded of events I hardly recall and return to largely glazing over almost anything that isn’t directly affecting me. I find those things to be unimportant in my life as I think do most people. By the way it's been proclaimed by the National Association of Good Grammar that this year and henceforth we shall refer to the years properly, by their centurian order. So this being the 21st century, the year is Twenty Ten, not 2,010.

N.A.G.G

I saw one good idea, which was making a list of Un-resolutions if you will. Things which one person will strive not to do. Consequently I feel I’m qualified to propose a list that the country at large might strive to accomplish:

5 Things to Make 2010 Better than 2009

1) I’d hope to see no murders this year (too late you say?)

Apparently the cities of Denver, New York, and San Francisco all experienced multiple murders within the first three days of the year.

http://tinyurl.com/yz42dso

2) No more epidemics please- Swine, Bird, and Seasonal Flu’s all have run rampant and with sanitizers becoming more prevalent, more virulent strains are appearing.

3) Lets keep it zipped up fellas- Can we go twelve months without a political scandal revolving around which man isn’t being faithful to his wife. At this point the only people we can hold accountable publicly are those who we elect to be accountable so for twelve months lets try and not embarrass ourselves shall we? And I Know it won’t stop happening so lets just not talk about it for 12 months.

4) Amber alerts are so last decade- I hate to hear that a child has gone missing. I truly feel that a parent whose child is abducted needs to be forced to watch "Taken", then be publicly shamed for insufficient parenting. And the way the media only covers young, blonde, females just makes the whole thing shameful anyway. If my child was snatched I can guaran-DAMN-tee you I wouldn’t sleep until I found her. Shouts to my man Liam Neeson and his family BTW.

5) Technologic- We can Tweet it, text it, blog it, vlog it, app it, droid it, trend it, and #hash it. Life is becoming one big Daft Punk song, and even for me that’s getting annoying. I need us to return to full syllabic annunciation. I enjoy hearing languages even If I don’t understand them, because slang in the U.S. is so prevalent.

Alternately I tweet now! I find it to be a LOT like sex. Everyone was doing it, I heard it was fun/cool but had no clue as to how true that was and therefore was apprehensive to try. If you don’t like it, you’re not doing it right I’ve found in both cases. There are some people you’ll watch do it, and others you wont. Sex is supposed to last hours in myth but the best stuff is concise and to the point. We use twitter to say the things we wish we could say in public. I have a great love of twitter and it all makes sense now as to why. The two don’t mix by the way. I’ll spare you the obligatory joke about tweets and twats here.

A photo a day is my new project. If I had one wish it would be to see where all the things I’ve lost have gone. That being impossible I will now preemptively record what I can and at least have that record to look at. Dan Cronin says it best in his tweet last week, “How is the battle between my face and the ravages of time going? Well, the ravages of time is sitting its starters.”

I think I finished 2009 in a rather unexpected way, I had a lot of momentum with this project and others but because I ran into some unforeseen news, I kind of listed into 2010. I didn’t even make my goal of getting to bed by 10:30 PM on the 31^st. Though I did see a good friend of mine while also getting a good nights sleep, so in the end I’m not unhappy with the way things turned out. The topic I tried to wrestle in my last couple posts I feel is left half done but can be distilled into basically two camps; those that support revenge and those that do not.

I’ve found some quotes by minds that I respect to help end this argument and though my gut feeling about the matter may be swayed somewhat based on these I think in the moment, I’m always going to crave the natural reaction. Any moment that calls for true revenge is a moment in which I fully embrace the animalistic nature of being and have no urge to deny it. I literally salivated at the thought of revenge. Read on and choose for yourself. I don’t think any of this is bad advice.

“I consider it a mark of great prudence in a man to abstain from threats or any contemptuous expressions, for neither of these weaken the enemy, but threats make him more cautious, and the other excites his hatred, and a desire to revenge himself - Niccolo Machiavelli

Revenge is Sweet and Not fattening. - Alfred Hitchcock

Men should be either treated generously or destroyed, because they take revenge for slight injuries - for heavy ones they cannot” - Niccolo Machiavelli

“A man need never revenge himself, the body of his enemy will be brought to his own door” - Chinese Proverb

“Before you embark on the journey of revenge, dig two graves.” - Confucious

“If you prick us, do we not bleed? if you tickle us, do we not laugh? if you poison us, do we not die? and if you wrong us, shall we not revenge? If we are like you in the rest, we will resemble you in that - Bill Shakespeare

"The Avenger fears his actions like the Ash fears the flame" - JT-Rex

I’ve spoken before about including things regularly but I’ve realized there is no way I can do that as often as I’d like. So I apologize. I never know what I am going to write until it’s written. (That very last sentence was redone four times.) Today I’m writing an entry just to update you, when I have a sufficient topic I’ll post an essay, and In a last ditch effort to entertain I may post just photo’s. But a formulaic system isn’t appealing to me so I hope this works for everyone. I have been so busy with the real world I haven’t even had time to escape it, except for the two to three hours I spent wishing I was an Avatar. James Cameron made every woman in America wish she had been on a sinking ship and now has made me wish I was twice as tall and Blueish. He is a miracle worker indeed.

And to all those who say revenge is a dish best left un-served I offer only this list. Those who knew their actions, defined themselves by them, and were ultimately willing to stand up for what they were about to do because to them, in the moment, and for the future, it was the only right choice. The absence of action isn’t always a statement of indifference.

Beatrix Kiddo, Clyde Shelton, Aldo Raine, Bruce Wayne, Lorena Bobbitt, Harry S. Truman, Hamlet, William Tell, Shylock, and of course my brother…Oedipus.

If you disagree, be sure that I am not talking to you, and I’m quite sure they aren’t either.

The Patrick Bateman School of Nonchalance

In my haste I forgot to engage in even minor formalities during the first post. The only people reading this blog so far are people I've actually spoken to and know. Should this ever change, then for the uninitiated, this is where you should become familiar with me and what this is all about. First off, I like rules. Not in a pedantic, "the world depends on order" sort of way, but in a "this party is more fun if we're all dancing to the same song" way. This blog will not be a single subject affair. I hope to touch on everything and offer my opinion to matters big and small. I'm not anonymous and I don't intend to be mysterious but who I am and the functional adult person you may know overlap quite a bit, but not completely. So many people ask me about JT-Rex and what it means. I have so many names to so many people. Some see me as 1844, some see me as Mr. Roberts' son, and others see me and say, "bad news is headed this way", (sometimes I mean for that to happen). Regardless of that, JT-Rex writes these works; it's from that P.O.V. I focus my ideas.
I’m toying with the idea of including things like running gags that I do. For instance I kind of want to do a "Things I'd tweet" segment, but I could also just tweet them. So that seems dumb at the moment. I also stole an idea from Philip DeFranco and thought to have a sponsor or mascot for the week. Something funny or interesting that I use as a theme for posts during that time period i.e.: Patrick Bateman and his school. It's an irony but he fits in here I think...are my ideas are actually getting worse as I say them or is it just me? As you can see these ideas are not well formed but I will be toying with format, color, and layout for a while until I get it to the point where I am the LEAST upset by it.
I may be the first person to devote TWO posts to administrative matters but if I didn't I wouldn't be happy or comfortable going forward.
All the great things in life have some oral history, set of rules, or tradition that precedes you; and it is through those the story of any institution is told. So what you have in this is my voice. It is not a daily blog. I’d be lying to us both if I said I would update this daily. Little of what I do is interesting to me so why should I think it would be interesting to you? Consider this a first person trip through my life.
My first post was a bit over done. However it was more me reassuring myself than anything else. I suppose just the fact that I used blogspot and not some, from scratch website proves that I don’t really care about making THE most indelible mark possible, not to mention I have neither the urge nor the incentive to make mine the GREATEST blog ever. Besides who would want that? How embarrassing...


In conclusion be on the lookout for my first official post in the coming days. 2009 has 19 days left in it and to be honest a year that started with such high hopes is coming to an end I couldn't have predicted given a thousand tries. I tend to be adversarial in my writing, daring the subject or audience to prove my point wrong. And I suspect that in my next post your stance may differ from my own, which is fine...because we both know whom I'm talking to.