I hope you've seen this entire stand-up. I hope you even own the DVD! Kevin Hart is hilarious!
Thursday, April 09, 2009
The Reason I'm Laughing Right Now
I hope you've seen this entire stand-up. I hope you even own the DVD! Kevin Hart is hilarious!
THE BRIEFING: Thanks but How About Telling us Ten Years Ago
I'm watching the Colbert Report and Colbert made a pretty funny comment about newspapers and how they are dying. He said, "if newspapers die, who will publish the obituaries."
I'm a newspaper guy. I've spent the greater part of the last fourteen years involved in the industry in some capacity. I started when I was in high school as a youth reporter for a local paper and grew from there. I've even run a few publications as both editor and publisher, as well as being a graphic designer. It pains me to see the industry struggling but really through no fault of their own. They never quite jumped onto the technology bandwagon, even some of the huge publications missed the boat on that one. And when they finally did they made the decision that they wouldn't charge for the content. It's probably a decision they are kicking themselves for now. Many consumers just gobble up their online content and keep their print product on the shelves, causing many newspapers to scramble for revenue.
Many folks have come to expect the newspaper daily. It's just something about being able to hold a newspaper in your hand with a cup of coffee nearby reading the news.
But so many more just reach out to the internet for all of the endless content provided online. With a few clicks of a button you have the stocks, the weather, the sports and just about anything else you need. Ironically enough, I read about the newspaper industry falling apart online on my iphone.
The only way for newspapers to survive is to revamp themselves. To pull themselves out of bankruptcy they need to cut circulation, redevelop the product and go high tech in the process. In order for local newspapers to survive, they need to cover just local news that you can't get on any of the major news media sites. No one wants to read about a story that was covered the day before on television, especially with the 24 hour news cycle that has been created by television media. By the time it's printed, it's old news. The thing that many folks don't know is that the newspaper industry is run by a bunch of old heads for the most part, and they are reluctant to change. Who knows if there is anyway to really save the industry.
I thought the following story was interesting about how Google is offering advice to the industry but how the advice may be a little too late. (Google Offers Advice to Newspapers).
"Here lies the newspaper industry..."
I'm a newspaper guy. I've spent the greater part of the last fourteen years involved in the industry in some capacity. I started when I was in high school as a youth reporter for a local paper and grew from there. I've even run a few publications as both editor and publisher, as well as being a graphic designer. It pains me to see the industry struggling but really through no fault of their own. They never quite jumped onto the technology bandwagon, even some of the huge publications missed the boat on that one. And when they finally did they made the decision that they wouldn't charge for the content. It's probably a decision they are kicking themselves for now. Many consumers just gobble up their online content and keep their print product on the shelves, causing many newspapers to scramble for revenue.
Many folks have come to expect the newspaper daily. It's just something about being able to hold a newspaper in your hand with a cup of coffee nearby reading the news.
But so many more just reach out to the internet for all of the endless content provided online. With a few clicks of a button you have the stocks, the weather, the sports and just about anything else you need. Ironically enough, I read about the newspaper industry falling apart online on my iphone.
The only way for newspapers to survive is to revamp themselves. To pull themselves out of bankruptcy they need to cut circulation, redevelop the product and go high tech in the process. In order for local newspapers to survive, they need to cover just local news that you can't get on any of the major news media sites. No one wants to read about a story that was covered the day before on television, especially with the 24 hour news cycle that has been created by television media. By the time it's printed, it's old news. The thing that many folks don't know is that the newspaper industry is run by a bunch of old heads for the most part, and they are reluctant to change. Who knows if there is anyway to really save the industry.
I thought the following story was interesting about how Google is offering advice to the industry but how the advice may be a little too late. (Google Offers Advice to Newspapers).
"Here lies the newspaper industry..."
Wednesday, April 08, 2009
TELL 'EM WHY YOU MAD: Punch Him through the Phone
It pains me that Soulja Boy gets so much radio play. I feel like by allowing his music on the radio and his videos on television we are telling our youth that it's okay to be untalented and ignorant, because ultimately you'll be rewarded for it - well if it's catchy.
Oh, how I enjoyed Crank Dat Soulja Boy dance... or not at all! Guess he was trying to tap into that "Electric Slide guaranteed to be played at weddings, proms and dances" market. By the way, when did hip hop become instructional dance music?
How is this creative?
"Baby I kno that u like me
U my future wifey
Souljaboytellem
Yeah u can be my boonie
I can be ya clyde
U can be my wife
Text me, call me
I need u in my life
Yea all day
Everyday I need ya
And eveytime I see ya
My feelings gets deeper
I miss ya, I miss ya
I really wanna kiss ya
But I can't
678 triple 9 8212"
Don't you feel like you're short a few brain cells after reading that verse?! If I ever read an article in which Soulja Boy said he didn't write his lyrics down, I would say "no shit". If he does write them down, what a waste of paper.
So, does anyone have Soulja Boy's phone number so that I can punch him through the phone?
THE BRIEFING: Make your Money Boo Boo
The one price fits all approach has ended on Apple's iTunes. They've introduced a three-tier pricing structure, offering individual songs at 69 cent, 99 cent and $1.29. Many of the full albums will remain at $9.99.
Apparently the record companies will be allowed to pick the prices. More popular songs quickly jumped to $1.29. If I could pick the price, "Kiss me through the phone" would be a $1000 just to make it unreachable for the youth that constantly download it to keep it Top 10 Songs category (I'm just trying to help the kids and save brain cells).
When Apple first introduced iTunes it was a new way of buying music, and the less complex it was made it better for Apple and the music labels. But things have evolved, Apple has decided to let go of control over pricing in order to keep its service in line with competitors.
Heads looking for the lowest price definitely have other alternatives out there. Can't hate on Apple though. Make your money boo boo.
Apparently the record companies will be allowed to pick the prices. More popular songs quickly jumped to $1.29. If I could pick the price, "Kiss me through the phone" would be a $1000 just to make it unreachable for the youth that constantly download it to keep it Top 10 Songs category (I'm just trying to help the kids and save brain cells).
When Apple first introduced iTunes it was a new way of buying music, and the less complex it was made it better for Apple and the music labels. But things have evolved, Apple has decided to let go of control over pricing in order to keep its service in line with competitors.
Heads looking for the lowest price definitely have other alternatives out there. Can't hate on Apple though. Make your money boo boo.
The Black Kids...
Saw them at the Webster Hall on Saturday in NYC. They performed after a group called the SUNBEARS! and before Mates of State. Told you guys I'm diverse. I can dig it!I'm Not Gonna Teach Your Boyfriend How To Dance With You
http://www.myspace.com/sunbearsmusic
http://www.myspace.com/blackkidsrock
http://www.myspace.com/matesofstate
I'm Edumacated!
So I have a pet peeve. OK, I have about four handfuls of them. Spelling. Grammar. Basic English intelligence. Specifically, the lack of knowledge on performing those correctly. I'm in my 30s and I'm no scholar by any means. But......I did graduate high school. Also, I have this thing called self respect. I get emails, read bulletins and statuses and even texts all day, everyday and I can't seem to figure out why people make it seem so difficult. It's not Rocket Science. It's English. Literally. Irritates me to see people display ignorance so proudly. "Gurl/Gerl" for "Girl". "To" instead of "Too". "Your" in place of "You're". Zs for Ss. Numbers in place of letters. Etc. A paragraph of 1000 characters and only but 3 periods and 2 commas and in the wrong place as well. Really? I mean, really, people? You want to look stupid? I can't pinpoint the day it was cool to be ignorant. No one's talking about abbreviations either. U instead of you in passable. BRB. LOL. TTYL. CUL8R, even. Those are all acceptable. I'm talking about using the same amount of letters or MORE to misspell. ON PURPOSE!!! No one's asking you to type like a professor with a doctorate. Just spell. Doesn't have to be super formal. Damn. Grown a** folks. And they have the nerve to get mad at me for treating them like they should have some intelligence and some sense. Hey, my bad. Go on and keep writing that way and I'll keep hitting the delete button. Because I don't have kids so I don't feel like reading mess that looks like they'd write it. "Hey bois and gerls your cool so don let nobodi tell u ha 2 type! P3@ce 0ut"
P.S. DiS sH*T iS oNe Uv Da DuMiSt TrEnDz EvA!!!!
Maybe if they get a kick in the a** with these, they'd do a better job.
TELL 'EM WHY YOU MAD: Acting Lessons May Not Work
Rough when you can't even act in a Nintendo DS commercial. It makes me want to switch the channel. You think I'm being too harsh? I saw Carmen: A Hip Hopera, Fighting Temptations, Cadillac Records and Dream Girls. Those performances were harsh to watch. Sorry. She does her thing in that Single Ladies video however. Ha!
What I'm Listening To Right Now...Rapper Big Pooh
Rapper Big Pooh of Little Brother’s “Delightful Bars -The Candy Apple Version”.
What I'm Listening to Right Now... Emily King
Someone mentioned it, now it's stuck in my head. Emily King is a beast! Kind of an old video but you can't lie ... she kills it!Remake of "Ain't no Sunshine" (Click to check it out)
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.
Tuesday, April 07, 2009
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.
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.
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