Friends. How many of us have them? / Online Gaming

I copped a PlayStation 4 earlier this year after not owning a system since the early days of the PS2 and the Xbox.  It's been roughly 8 years since I had played video games and a lot has changed.

Online gaming is the main thing.  I never did it before owning a PS4.  As much as I love meeting new people online, that's not really the case when it comes to online gaming.  I'm more interested in playing with people that I know to some degree or another.  It's the only way I'm used to playing.  It's funny enough not sitting next to someone.

It's been a long time / My #8Essentials

I know it’s been pretty dormant over here recently, but I have never been quite sure what I was going to do with this space.  I loved posting mixtapes, but I'm seeing far fewer mixtapes worth downloading, let alone posting.  I also thought about opening up more about myself, but I don't think this is the place for that, if I ever decide to do it.

I got the idea for a new segment for the blog when I fell down an internet rabbit hole and ended up on GQ’s website.  They have an interesting feature where they ask people what are some of the things that are essential for getting them through life.  Since it’s GQ and they are often talking to celebrities, most of the things that they mention are expensive as hell.  I figured, why not try to see what gets people like you and I through life.  If I'm going to do this I might as well start with myself.  So here goes nothing.

8 Essentials:

1. The Daily Show with Jon Stewart
The only bad thing about Fridays is that there’s no Jon Stewart on my television.  I really wish they would have episodes on Fridays.  The Daily Show is the only thing on television I can always depend on to make me laugh on a weekly basis..

2. A Tribe Called Quest - Midnight Marauders
This album is the most influential piece of media on my life, ever.  It’s the only album I remember the exact place I first heard it.  I didn’t really care about music at all until I heard this.  Midnight Marauders and Illmatic are still the only two perfect Hip-Hop albums, I've ever heard.  There's not a single bad or skippable song on either.    Also, you can click on the pic to enlarge the album cover to get a better look at the faces on the cover.  You should checkout Egotrip's oral history for the making of the iconic cover.

Random Thoughts: It's free for everyone, but YOU.

I love it when I'm reading an article or blog and come across someone expressing my thoughts to a t.  Demetria Lucas has been writing an advice column on dating and relationships featured on The Root for sometime.  Recently a woman wrote in about finding a man that is husband material, although she's currently dating a guy that she describes as not being marriage material and "a 'street guy' who has kids but doesn't seem passionate about them."  Demetria's answer focused on the obvious question of, why is she with him.  But towards the end of the piece she hit on something that ate away at me like crazy when I was "actively" trying to date when I was younger.

Men complain that women will waste time with men who are of little value, giving them relationship benefits with no titles, and then suddenly decide they want a good guy and want him to put a ring on it. And the guys are rightly thinking, "For what? You want me, a man of substance, to step up to the plate, but for a man of less quality you have no requirements? Please."

This is one of those things that it seems like women can say to other women, but if a man were to say it he would be seen as a misogynist.


Thanks for stopping by,

8

The Li'l Depressed Boy & Me

It all started on Comixology, that’s where I found the first issue of The Li’l Depressed Boy for free.  Being a fan of Image Comics as a company I took a look at a few panels of the book and like what I saw in regards to the art and downloaded it to check out later since I didn’t know how long it would be available for free.

Days turned into weeks and weeks turned into months before I finally took the time to read the ONE issue that I downloaded and it blew me away.  Although the book was great, it didn’t blow me away purely due to it’s quality, it was how close the story hit to home.  The first few panels alone were scary in how much it mirrored my time in college.  I’m not saying that my experience was incredibly unique, but I literally felt like someone had discovered a long lost journal of mine.

Time For A Change

I’m not making any drastic changes to the blog.  Nothing that you are used to seeing will be going away.  I’m still going to be posting things that I love and wish for you to as well regarding music, podcasts, comics and anything else that crosses my mind.

I have just decided that I will try and share my thoughts a little more often than I have in the past.  When I first started this blog I wanted to keep my thoughts and opinions to a minimum because I find that my opinions are often seen as unusual or even unpopular and I feared scaring away visitors, but at this point I’ve decided that I really shouldn't worry about that and I should focus on finding out if there are others out there that feel similar about certain topics or if others feel differently, why?

It’s a very small change, but a change nonetheless.

Thanks for stopping by,

8

Ads Can Be Good For You

The earbuds I use for for my daily commute were originally for my 80 gig Zune.  Yes, I know.  Insert your Zune joke here.  They were, and still are, really great.  They have quality sound with a customizable fit for my ears.  The earbuds are still in fine working order, but the cord itself is frayed so I began to Google earbuds because I can't imagine a day without my podcasts or music.

Web Series To Watch: Black & Sexy TV's The Number

When it comes to portrayals of Blacks on television and in movies great images are harder and harder to find, especially when it comes to Black men.  So, I'm always looking for quality entertainment and with it's stories, acting & production, writer/director Dennis Dortch's Black & Sexy TV provides just what I’ve been looking for.

As a fan of Issa Rae's Awkward Black Girl web series, I happened to stumble upon Dortch's series, The Number in which we take a look at the relationship of Jason & Melissa, played by Chasen Allen & Jessica Shelby. Jason is coming to terms with a fiancé's apparently far more extensive sexual history than his own.

Is Amazon Changing Digital Music Again?

Last year I mentioned how Amazon launched a digital music service & cloud player.  I was definitely excited to see a true competitor to itunes.  Originally Amazon's cloud player only utilized songs that you already had to upload yourself or song that you bought through Amazon MP3.  You can find out more details about that here.

The City Of Chino, California Vs. @NatesVlogs

I'm a huge fan of NatesVlogs.  I find his videos hilarious.  If they pop up in any of my feeds I'm usually in front of my computer and watching it within 10 minutes.  I have literally never watched a video of his without laughing out loud.  The same goes for his latest uploads. 

Sadly, the topic is neither funny or cool, but leave it to Nate to make light of a bad situation.  Whether you're Black or brown "fitting the description" is a real problem even on the 4th of July.

Just Listen: @SiDEBARPodcast - 20 Years Of Image Comics

I can't believe it's been 20 years since the start of Image. This discussion really hit home for me. Image Comics are responsible for me actively buying comics in high school. I was a fan of comics before, but the desire to be at the ground floor of something really fueled my love of Image at first, along with dope art.

An Open Letter To Questlove From A Fan

When I initially heard about the concept behind Undun, I was really excited.  It sounded like I was about to get some of that grit that I have been begging for from The Roots.  With such a grim subject, I figured that I would get more than one or two songs with the heart of a Lost Desire, 75 Bars, Here I Come or Water.  Tracks like these are when Black Thought gets to shine most.

Quick Question: How Do You Listen To Music?

Do you listen on your mp3 player?

Do you listen on your phone?

Do you listen on your computer?

Do you listen in your car?

Do you listen on the bus or train?

Do you listen on the radio?

Do you make playlists?

Do you just let an album ride?

Do you just find a song you love and leave it on repeat?

Do you use headphones or ear buds?

Talk to me about your listening habits . . .

Jay-Z & Kanye West - Watch The Throne

When you decide to name your release: Watch The Throne, and have your cover art designed by Riccardo Tisci of Givenchy, your album is already swimming in pretension.  Hubris of this level comes with incredibly high expectations that can definitely suffocate average artists and certain athletic royalty.  So, with that being said I will admit that my standards are definitely sky high when evaluating Jay-Z & Kanye West's newest offering.

Here are a few of my thoughts:

I Wish The News Covered MY Pittsburgh

It's funny, I used to often talk to friends that aren't from this area about my city and my less than positive opinion of it.  Most of those I talk to a pretty smart and know there way around the internet.  I would tell them about how much I dislike my city and why, while they would see different articles online about how livable or affordable it is.  I would always tell them that its great if you're white, but as a Black person . . . not so much.  The images of Pittsburgh and Pittsburghers are pretty much whitewashed on a nationally.  The successful Blacks in the city are primarily athletes that play for local teams (read: STEELERS) and are just passing through.

Jay Smooth On LeBron James & Me On Both Of Them

Jay Smooth just maybe my favorite person that I have never actually met or spoken to.  Scratch that, he is my favorite person that I have never met or spoken to.  He routinely manages to express my feelings better than me.  The following video discusses the exact same thought that I had the moment I heard LeBron's woefully reckless post-game press conference after losing the NBA Finals.

My Life As One Of The Most Hated Men In America

A friend of mine recently sent me this blog entry titled, The Short End Of The Stick: Women, Height Preferences, and Hypocrisy.  When I originally saw the title, I was definitely suspicious for two reasons.  One, the friend who sent it has playfully chided me about my height along with her love of Vince Vaughn's height.  She's also thrown around the term, Napoleon complex, once or twice.  Secondly, considering the subject I assumed that me along with my vertically challenged brethren would be the butt of yet another joke at the expense of women and taller men.  I must say that I was pleasantly surprised.  Not only did the blog not ridicule, but it actually read like a blog entry that I have kicked around in my head many times.

Quick Question: How do you use Twitter?

She's No Longer My "Girlfriend"?

Today I was in the middle of my usual online travels when I happened to come across a fairly popular blog post.  The author apparently confused or conflicted with what to call his girlfriend or for that matter, what anyone in a straight and exclusive relationship should call the person that they are dating.  Now, I must admit that throughout my years on this earth I have been called many things, but normal or average guy haven't been one of them.  I'm not saying that's a good thing or a bad thing, but I am far from garden variety.   So when I ask this question it's partly due to the fact that I genuinely don't understand what is wrong.  But, since when, and for that matter why, have the terms "boyfriend" and "girlfriend" been considered bad things?

Music You May Have Missed (Mini Rant + Music)

It always irks me when so-called hip-hop fans say that there's nothing to listen to.  The percentages of good to bad music may be down, but the overall amount of good music might be up.  The curse of the internet age is that everyone and their mother can put out music whether they have an ounce of talent or not.  The gift is that it's easier for artists to get music into the hands of their fans.  Here are some of my favorite free releases since the start of 2010.  There's definitely something for everyone:

The Whitewashing Of Mixed (Black) Women In Hollywood

I must confess that it's something that has always irked me to a degree.  I've discussed this in the past in regards to Maya Rudolph and her movie, Away We Go.  Lately, we seem to routinely be given the pairing of a white man with a racially ambiguous woman with no family of her own or friends that aren't white.  Recently I went to the movies and was once again slapped in the face with this recurring theme when I saw the poster for her latest project, Bridesmaids.  As dismayed as I was and currently am my feelings for Maya haven't changed from my original blog entry.  So, due to my feelings for her and the fact that the trailer is hilarious, I will more than likely be at my local theater dealing with my ambivalence as best I can.

The inspiration for this entry came from an article on Rashida Jones "passing" through Hollywood.  In the piece the writer cites a quote from Ms. Jones in Racialicious: