This blog is ever-evolving. I plan to use this space to explore whatever topic I desire. You will find a mix of my personal thoughts and experiences, entertainment, politics and anything else I find interesting.
10.22.2008
The Office
I was talking to my boy R-West last week and the topic of my work ordeal came up. The First Lady of the R-West household had been reading the blog (specifically, the work-related posts) and thought that she was reading a fictionary short story. Upon hearing this, I laughed.
Make no mistake people, all of those stories are true! I wish I could make them up. I would have moved to LA or NY with a script in hand. To an even greater degree, I wish the stories were recounts of episodes of The Office and not events taken from my life. But that's why I share them. I don't think people would believe me if I didn't. Hell, sometimes I forget just how crazy the situations were until I go back and read them. But there has been a silver lining.
The best thing about going through that situation is that it made me wake up and realize that I needed to get focused on my career. I had become too comfortable and was in need of a shake up. And one of the biggest things I had been struggling with was my expectation that my company and boss(es) would create an environment that helped me to help them. I was obviously wrong, but I learned that my career will only be what I make it. Waiting on someone else to make it or even contribute to it, is like waiting for Giuliani to start off a sentence with something other than, "On 9/11...."
Sidebar: When searching for a pic of Rudy, I came across some really questionable stuff. On two different occassions, this dude was photographed in drag. I just found that down right interesting.
The next best thing is that it helped bring me back to blogging. During the time that I neglected this space, I had numerous things I wanted to comment on, but never took the time to actually think them out and start typing. Then, time would pass and it wouldn't even matter anymore. Although I still do not believe I have gotten in stride, it's nice to know that I am at least back in the race. My tenure at my current company has really stifled my creative streak. I think this blog is a nice way to get my mojo back. Whether or not anyone finds humor in the things I write, is not really my concern. I laugh, and that's good enough for me.
Lastly, the one other major thing I learned was just how important life is. Once I got over the initial shock of the desire to fire me, I felt relieved. From that relief I got clarity. At the end of the day, this particular job is just something I do. It's not who I am and it doesn't define me.
In many ways, I get my Stanley on. I don't go as hard he does and I still get ticked from time to time, but I am focused on my development and am taking advantage of some new opportunities that have recently been presented to me.
Then in 2004, P. Diddy, in an effort to encourage youth participation in the presedential election, launched his Vote or Die campaign through his Citizen Change organization. As evidenced by the wiki link, there was some opposition to the statement the campaign was making.
But lets take a few seconds to review some of the issues the country was facing in such a crtical time:
- Images released of the abuses taking place at Abu Gharib (04/04)
These are just a few of the issues facing the country on the cusp of the 2004 presedential election. Depending on who you asked, voting may have been the opposite of dying.
Four years later, one could easily argue that this year's vote is even more important, and the most important vote in history since 1776. So while Vote or Die may be dead, I introduce:
Insprired by the world famous Nike slogan Just Do It, the Must Do It t-shirt does everything that Diddy wanted to do without going overboard.
About Everyday Pple
Everyday Pple is the brainchild of a friend of mine that I met a couple years ago through our shared love of tennis shoes and the culture built around them. It's basically a one man operation, where ideas are created and printed for the world to see. What you currently see on the site is the second collection
I got my Must Do It shirt a couple weeks ago (I paid for it) and will be rocking it November 1-4. Everyday. The same shirt.
This year's election is extremely important to me and this tee captures the essence of that importance. Hopefully, you agree! If not, be sure to visit the site regularly, you never know when you will see something that speaks to you.
If you watch a lot of TV like I do, then you might understand my dilema.
Tonight at 9PM there will be four things I want to watch.
On Fox:
Thus far, this season has been just okay. This show has always been about suspending the notion of reality, but this season there seems to be a pushing of that envelope even further.
Here's what I've liked thus far (potential spoiler alert):
Sarah coming back Scooter from Living Single playing a Company agent Everyone being free again Mahone- He brings an edge to the team
On NBC:
Season 3 is all about the villians. I just finished watching the third episode of this season and the best way to describe this season is: confused. There are a million plots and subplots going on right now, but it has me in full beast mode when an episode ends. And the more they seem to answer questions, the more they create.
How does Ando get powers? Will Mohinder turn into The Fly? What year are we in? The past future or present? What the hell is up with Angela Petrelli? When did Marlo get powers?
On VH1:
Say what you want about Diddy and his seemingly endless cycle of reality shows. This joint is the best by far. I've learned things from this show and have already put one idea I got from this show into play at work.
He may get on your nerves and be one of the worst people to ever rap a verse, but the dude is successful. When he speaks, there may be something you can learn from him.
On ESPN:
Adrian Peterson vs. Drew Brees and Reggie Bush! Need I say more?
Perhaps one thing: In one of my fantasy football leagues, I am down three points with both AP and D. Brees playing tonight. In another league, I am up by one point going against AP. I have Robert Meachem, but have pretty much accepted the fact that I am going to lose.
Then at 10PM, while the game is still on, I will still find myself in a small conundrum.
On VH1:
The Honorees:
Slick Rick- Simply put, the best story telling MC ever. Nas, Hov, Biggie and Lupe all tell some great stories, but MC Rickey D holds the title. Try as you may to persuade me, but Children's Story is the best story joint ever. No matter where you hear it, you are inclined to do the wop and act the entire joint out. Rick also took being fly to a whole new level, while making eye patches look extra cool.
Too Short- I won't claim to be the biggest Too Short fan, but I won't deny his legacy. Short Dawg is a pioneer that did everything from put a whole region on the map to selling tapes out the back of his trunk. And there is no small coincidence that Master P was in Richmond, CA before blowing up when he returned to the N.O. Short also introduced the pimp game to HipHop.
Naughty By Nature- They stormed onto the scene with O.P.P., but what really caught my attention was their joint Every Things Gonna Be Alright . That joint was hard and I'll never forget the scene with Treach holding the machete and the words, "If you aint from the ghetto, don't never come to the ghetto, so stay the F outta the ghetto!" And who can forget the anthem HipHop Hooray.
One other thing about Naughty that some people may not remember- they took the Kid N Play/ Hammer blueprint and made merchandising a big part of their operation.
Cypress Hill- They were like the first group that I liked to merge HipHop and rock, but even that was the result of growth. They entered the game with joints like How I Could Just Kill a Man and Hand on the Pump, both of which were hardcore.
De La Soul- I owe these dude some props! I have always known how talented they are, but I was more of a Tribe fan growing up. De La was always second fiddle when it came to the Native Tongue collective. Last year I saw them in concert and walked away blown away. I had forgotten just how many bangers they had delivered over the years.
They also get major props for always staying true to themelves. They ushered in the Daisy Age when everything else was gold ropes and velour tracksuits. When the next album was ready to drop, we found out that De La Soul was dead. Rather than be what everyone expected, they switched gears again.
While I loved joints like Me Myself & I; Buddy; Breakdawn; Saturday, Ego Trippin' and Ring, Ring Ring; it wasn't until they dropped Stakes is High that I made my first purchase. During this time, HipHop was obsessed with the mafioso lifestyle, but De La kept things De La by taking rappers ot task with the lead single of the same name. The album also featured The Bizness featuring Common and Itsoweezee, which had one of the best videos of all time. Take a few minutes to watch it. Look at all the people that came through to show support. From this side of the screen it looks like they were all hanging out and just happened to be filming a video.
I could go on about Plugs one, 2 and three, but I will end it with this. You know how every HipHop album has a skit on it? Thank De La Soul. They were the first to do it! Just don't blame them for the wack ones. De La's skits are hilarious.
On NBC:
Life is one of my favorite new shows from last season. I am on a plot/ major conspiracy subplot kick with shows lately. I absolutely enjoyed every episode last season and was nervous when word started to surface that the show might be removed from the line-up because of last year's writer's strike. Luckily, NBC gave it a second chance, even if it was the kiss of death Friday night.
One thing they have done to increase viewers is to run an episode after Heroes on Monday. i hope it works, because I would like to get at least two more seasons out of this.
The Point
The point of all of this linking and embedding is, I love my DVR. Whoever invented it should be given a Nobel Peace Prize or something. The DVR, along with watching shows on the net, are really changing the game. Don't think so, ask the writer's what played a part in the strike? Or ask advertisers how well they are doing. If not for the nimble and creative idea to build commercials with a respective show's content, who knows where TV would be.
Most people refer to me as "crazy." To some it's a nod to my sense of humor and willingness to say anything at any given time. Others really think I am. I figure, I can't really be crazy until I'm diagnosed.
t events taken from my life. But that's why I share them. I don't think people would believe me if I didn't. Hell, sometimes I forget just how crazy the situations were until I go back and read them. But there has been a silver lining.
Lastly, the one other major thing I learned was just how important life is. Once I got over the initial shock of the desire to fire me, I felt relieved. From that relief I got clarity. At the end of the day, this particular job is just something I do. It's not who I am and it doesn't define me.
