DUMB ISH: Wait, it's a Car?

First General Motors invests all types of money into the SUV with rising gas costs now they are teaming up with Segway for what is called the PUMA, The Personal Urban Mobility and Accessibility.

GM and Segway hope that the vehicle will allow people to travel around cities more quickly, safely, quietly and cleanly. The vehicle will run 35 miles on a single charge and use wireless technology to avoid traffic backups and navigate cities.

The two-wheeled 300 pound prototype that runs on a lithium ion battery was debuted on Tuesday. The two seat electric vehicle is designed to be fast and inexpensive. Fast being a max speed of 35 miles per hour. Inexpensive being a weird math puzzle - according to the companies the purchase price, insurance and maintenance and fuel would total between one-forth and one-third of the average traditional vehicle.

Remember when the Segway was launched with great hype years ago? Then they ran into a lot of issues that prevented it from becoming a mass-market product, including it's high costs and some use restrictions in many areas. Currently you see some tourist groups using them in major cities and police officers too.

I don't have an MBA but this product doesn't make the most sense to me.

Above all else, my biggest question is - where do I put the speakers for my my sound system?! I guess cars won't drive by with the booming system in the current design of the PUMA. I guess this car ain't hip hop! So, basically they just revamped the golf cart model? I'm so confused.

According to Segways CEO, they are very excited about the joint venture and the PUMA, which will be "less emissions, less dependability on foreign oil and less space."

Alright, good luck. The vehicle is aimed to be out 2012.

TELL 'EM WHY YOU MAD: We're not deadbeats

Social networking is a cool medium to communicate. We connect with old friends and make new ones through MySpace, Facebook and Twitter. We follow updates, picture posts and enjoy link sharing. What I dig the most is when someone has a status message on Facebook that creates an overwhelming response from friends checking out the status. A friend of mine Damian, who is a father, updated his status on Facebook earlier with one of the realest things I've read in a while. As a father myself, I understood the dilemma.

With his permission, here's a glimpse...

FB Status: so I was in the Mall earlier with my son strolling him around and this older cat walks by me and says, "You're doing a good job young man". I said thank you, but I was a little frustrated. I wanted to tell him, "Thanks, but I'm doing what is supposed to be done, I'm supposed to take care of my child". Brothers need to get it together..

Comment 1: is that a true story??

Status addition: its crazy cause women were looking at me as if they saw a celebrity...there were alot of smiles, head nods and all type of displays of approval..I felt like Marvin Gaye, waiting for the panties to get thrown at a negro!

Comment 2: U keep doin ur thing!!!! From what I see ur doin a hell of alot more then70% of the dad out here!!!!! Kids#1

Comment 3: If only there were more men like u u shouldn't be commended but u are u are truly a man

Comment 4: Ur right on !!! Ur doing what your suppose to do! Its not an option a real father is going to be there and raise his child ( I was about to preach whew) But keep doing you and raise your son he is a beautiful lil man ;)

Status addition: the new trend now is DEADBEAT MOTHERS....

I joined the conversation with: I like your style. Heads act like we aren't here. What's that Chris Rock joke talking about how heads are always looking for credit for things they're suppose to be doing... Good fathers are here.

Why is it so hard to believe that fathers, minority ones in general, actually take care of their kids? When I came up, my father wasn't around but my grandfather and step father provided good examples and it's very important for me to remain in my children lives.

President Obama, while campaigning gave a speech last year on Father's day that touched on fathers in families today.

"Of all the rocks upon which we build our lives, we are reminded today that family is the most important. And we are called to recognize and honor how critical every father is to that foundation. They are teachers and coaches. They are mentors and role models. They are examples of success and the men who constantly push us toward it.

But if we are honest with ourselves, we'll admit that what too many fathers also are is missing - missing from too many lives and too many homes. They have abandoned their responsibilities, acting like boys instead of men. And the foundations of our families are weaker because of it."

I think that there are a lot of guys before and definitely after this call to action that are stepping up to the plate to take care of their children. We're here. There's a lot of us that are here for our children both financially and emotionally. There definitely need to be more manning up to the responsibility, but don't play the dudes that are here and have been here.

TELL 'EM WHY YOU MAD: Sheets in the window

What's good with heads that don't have real curtains or blinds in their window? I have a few pet peeves, and heads that hang sheets or blankets in their windows is one of them. It's not a good look. It's lazy. It's ghetto. It's annoying. Really, how hard is it to run down to Target, Walmart ... hell even KMart and grab some cheap curtains. I understand everyone lives in difference circumstances and money is tight for some, but it's really, really, really not a good look. Get some curtains, please.

DUMB ISH: Crazy Air Chase

I'm use to watching high speed pursuits when someone takes off in a car while police are chasing closely behind. But a plane chase? What's that even called? A high air pursuit?

Apparently the pilot hoped he would be shot down by the F-16 fighter jets that followed the pilot and tried to establish communication over the six hour chase that crossed from Canada into the US and then through several states and ended in Missouri, 783-miles later.

As if the air chase wasn't gangster enough, when it was all said and done he went to a close-by store, used the bathroom, bought a Gatorade and waited for police. Damn dude, tell 'em why you mad?! Haha.

He was charged with transportation of stolen property and with illegally entering the country. Authorities say the whole incident was pretty bizarre. You're right about that.

Can't wait to see this on one of those "greatest chase" specials.

Too Far with Arab Money?

The Mad Bloggers are fans of Busta Rhymes. O is actually a huge fan. That "Arab Money" track has an amazing beat and me and my kids sometimes do the dance from the video.

Yassin Alsalman aka "The Narcicyst" was apparently offended and he says that many of Busta's Arab fans are as well. It's not really hard to see why many may be offended. From movies to music to television shows, it seems like everything has something in it that will offend some group of people. But does Busta go too far on this track? The following is a story from Marketplace on public radio. What do you think?

Funny Pic... Sometimes There are Treasures in Forwarded Emails

Does this bed make me look fat?: Barbie at 50

I really don't like forwarded email. You know, the "send this to 20 people" type of emails. I really hate it more when heads don't "bcc" and your email gets out there for others to send you forwards too. Great, just what I need in my inbox. Most of the time I just delete forwards outright, especially if it's from someone notorious for just sending forwards. You know the person I'm talking about. The one that hasn't sent you a personal email in years and won't respond to your "hey, how are things going" inquiries but shoot, if they need to send an email to 20 people real quick before their love life goes into the crapper from some curse associated with the chain email, you're number one of the list. Nope, delete.

Anyway, the picture above came from a forward that I almost didn't open but I'm happy I did. Thought it was a ridiculous rendering of what Barbie would look like if she hadn't kept herself in shape over the last 50 years. Good thing Barbie has handlers that won't allow the most important part of the toy doll market to gain that type of weight. Her weight has actually been part of numerous controversies, saying that she didn't give off the image of a real woman. If you can recall, she gained some weight a few years back but when the Bratz hit the scene, she quickly lost it (I have a daughter who plays with dolls, damn it's not like I'm really following it).

Maybe I got too deep on this quick post of a funny picture. Anyway, thought I would forward it to the blog.

A Second Listen

I hit folks with a post yesterday about Melissa Czarnik (check it here). She's a dope female emcee out of Milwaukee. Came across this track earlier today. I thought I would share it too. Enjoy.

What I'm Listening to Right Now... Ray LaMontagne

I already said that I'm a fan of all types of music, so you shouldn't be surprised by what I'm listening to right now. Ray LaMontagne is a true storyteller and incredibly talented. "You Are the Best Thing" (click to check it out) is a chill track, infused with soul and blazing horns and LaMontagne's raspy and powerful voice. "You Are the Best Thing" is off his Gossip in the Grain album. Sure he looks like a cross between Joaquin Phoenix (in his current state) and comedian Zach Galifianakis but this is a quality track and it's what I'm listening to right now.

Poke Her Face

I Poke Her Face - KiD CuDi feat. Kanye West, Common, Lady Gaga

"I poke her face"... woooooow! Kid Cudi ft. Kanye West, Common and A-Trak take Lady Gaga's "Poker Face" track to a different place. Thoughts?

TELL 'EM WHY YOU MAD: They'll Never Grow Up to Me

Nick Cannon and Ray J are two dudes that I will never respect as adults stars, ever. I don't know where this comes from but it's the way I've felt for a long while.

They've tried so hard over the years to claim adult fame but I just can't accept them as adult stars. It's like a mental block of some sort. For whatever reason I think they're both wack and are well pass their youth prime.

I first saw Nick Cannon on Nickelodeon's All That. He was straight on the show. Then came the movies and the rapping. Sorry, I can't co-sign on those moves. He's not a good actor, not really funny and the rapping is way off. But as a youth star he was suppose to be kind of corny considering he was on Nickelodeon. The only reason Wild 'N Out was half funny was the supporting cast Cannon rocked with, including De Ray and Katt Williams. Some make the argument, look at his wife. Well, marrying Mariah Carey doesn't make him more of a grown man to me.

Now, Ray J no matter what will always be Brandy's brother to me. He even had a roll on her show Moesha. Then in an effort to step out of his sisters shadow, he launched his own career. Remember that song One Wish, when he actually asked for like 15 wishes? Then to really attempt to give himself more of an edge he made a pornographic home video with then girlfriend Kim Kardashian, the so conveniently was leaked. Then there's the For the Love of Ray J show on VH1 where he tries to give himself even more of an edge. I guess Ray tried to tap into that "pump life into your career by claiming you are looking for love but you just need the spotlight and love will never be found in just one season" reality television formula. Sorry, an attempt at being an adult star is just not working for me Ray.

Close friends have heard me say all of this before and I know O (co-author of The Mad Bloggers) is laughing somewhere about this but it's how I feel.

Sexy Can I is a cool song and Drumline is a decent movie but both would have probably been better products if Ray and Nick weren't a part of them. I just think both of these guys are trying really hard to be something they are not. Perhaps it's working on some and you've forgotten that Nick Cannon started on Nickelodeon and Ray J is Brandy's little brother.

I can't and maybe that's the problem.

What I'm Listening to Right Now... Melissa Czarnik

Surfing the internet, doing that YouTube thing as per usual, and came across Melissa Czarnik and felt the need to share. Czarnik is a poet and emcee hailing from Milwaukee, WI. Her vibe is pretty dope (yeah, I used the word "dope" to describe her music). Apparently she's working on a project now due out this summer. Her last full project, Strawberry Cadilliac is available on iTunes or you can check her myspace page (www.myspace.com/melissaczarnik). Sit back and mellow out.

Rue Lafayette (Click to Listen)
Rain (Click to Listen)

TELL 'EM WHY YOU MAD: Wearing Pajamas Pants in Public is Stupid

Wearing pajamas in public is stupid. You know like more than on your porch, in your backyard or to take out the trash.

You know the folks I'm talking about walking around the mall or department store in pajama pants, tims and a hoody. You know, like it's an outfit or something. I'm not talking about pajamas in the sense of like sweatpants or gym shorts that you've turned into pajamas. I'm talking spongebob square pants, a sports team or checkers joints. Anything along those lines. Put it this way, the joints purchased in the pajama section of the store should not be worn out, ever. You know there are folks that go out intentionally and buy pajama pants to rock like a for real outfit.

Hey, I hear sometimes there are circumstances that you may need to run out quick in pajama pants, like to go grab some milk quick from the grocery store, pick up some pampers or maybe to drop off your son or daughter that missed the school bus. Something like that. Usually requires limited contact with people and may not even require you to get out of the car. This is quick in and out type stuff, not chill out and go shopping and grab some lunch in the food court type of deal.

Pajama pants is not a real part of an outfit and never will be. Stop it, it's dumb.