PARRISH: The Thoughts

And...that's a wrap.

2007-12-31T18:04:00.000-06:00

That's right folks, another year down the tubes.

2008 beckons, a year so big it warranted an extra day (LEAP YEAR BABIES STAND UP)

As for me...this year has, in fact, been better than last year.

Not blogging wise, but trust me, it hasn't been a bad year at all.

I am positioning myself, slowly but surely, for my break out year.

2007 wasn't it.

Not that I thought it would be. But I am making a few changes.

Including with this here blog.

I am resolving to be a better blogger, just not on this particular blog.

Follow the yellow brick road

Comics

2007-11-14T10:07:00.001-06:00

Since I'm laid up at home with the flu today (and DP's on a bit of a hiatus), here's some comics:

Solidarity By Line
Branding
Rage Against The Machine
Support The Troops
Baby Boom
QxR
Alienable Rights
Homeland Security
Vlad The Impaler
Jenna Deep 6
Jena 666
Die Bold
GOP Lockstep
Democrat or Republican
Quintessentially American
Enhanced Techniques
Plenary Indulgence
Bush-League...
...Clinton-Fatigue
ADM Windfall

And my favorite for today: Kuku

A Tale of Two ATLiens

2007-10-15T09:19:00.000-05:00

It was the best of times; It was the worst of times

For two Atlanta residents, this weekend was a time of highs and lows.

Clifford Harris (known as T.I outside of this blog) caught a most unfortunate case on Saturday. One invlolving Machine guns, silencers, and a mouthy bodyguard who clearly doesnt adhere to the mantras of his employer's music. This hours before he was supposed to be the headliner on the BET HipHop Awards.

Tyler Perry has done it again. You can say what you want about the quality of his movies, but film is an acquired taste. People are allowed to like what they like. But as that noted urban philospopher Shawn Carter said:

Men lie, Women lie, Numbers don't.

Three days into release and Mr. Perry has already broken even. Now, if only I can stop this dude from whining and bitching about the Wins he is piling up.

Now back to Clifford.

Naw, I can't even do it. It's not worth it.

There is no point in me mourning a man's life when clearly HE would rather throw it away in a pile of ammunition and guns. So...more on that as that situation becomes gradually more and more pathetic.

Give a cracka a rope, or An ode to Jameil

2007-10-10T22:45:00.001-05:00

Jameil has hit a homer this time.

I don't know that I have ever linked to a post from my favorite Pittsburgh News Diva/Hampton Graduate/Panthers' Fan/most consistent commenter on this blog, but she did the fool this time.

I don't tell her this, cause her head is quite big enough, but I will always be indebted to her for choosing my hometown to ply her craft.

Pittsburgh is NOT an easy place to be young, Black, female, and fabulous but she does it, and does it without talking too bad about my hometown.

I could speak on this in detail, but I would rather let her words speak instead.

allow me to examine the history of nooses a bit further. Back when
black people were forced into subservience, i.e. slavery and it's by
product, Jim Crow, nooses were as symbolic as burning crosses and
confederate flags. When you saw these, often coupled with a band of
sheet-covered men and boys, you knew they were a warning of what you
could face should you choose to continue to get out of line; doing
crazy things like trying to register people to vote or de-segregate
schools. Grown men were yanked from their beds or off of their porches
and strung up from trees in front of their families to hang until their
deaths. And this is the time you'd like to hearken? I'll pass.

Allow me to add on, though...

Some folk have suggested that this calls for a return to the civil rights movement.

Um...this is the FALLOUT from even the perception to a return to the civil rights movement.

White folk have been OFF THE CHAIN this year.

From "Nappy Headed Hoes", to "MFer, I want more Iced Tea", White folk have shown their ass, the nooses are only the ongoing cheers from the peanut gallery.

This is going to get worse before it gets better...button your chinstraps.

And if you STILL think it's funny:

I give you this:

Without Sanctuary
Powered by ScribeFire.

Tip: never let a man's head get between you and your desire to eat

2007-10-08T08:56:00.000-05:00

Everyone has an angle. Travis Johnson's angle revolves around his livelihood. I really hope this story doesn't extend too far.

And someone teach Mr. Green how to block, please?

Fred Barnes says Just because you are Right...you can still be stupid

2007-10-08T08:51:00.001-05:00

Media Matters - Barnes: Obama not "strong on national security" because he opposed war "when the entire world believed" Saddam had WMD

What part of the game is it when you can be right and still be stupid?

The Bizarro World is REAL, boys and girls

You know, I've thought for a long time that Obama's not in quite as strong a position on the war in Iraq as he really thinks he is. Remember, when he famously came out against the war, it was back in a time when the entire world believed that Saddam Hussein in Iraq had weapons of mass destruction, that he would probably be willing to use them himself at some time or pass them along to terrorists who would use them. And yet, Barack Obama was against going to the war at that point. I don't think that shows that he is very strong on national security, which he needs to be.

FINALLY...

2007-10-01T21:02:00.000-05:00

Ladies and gentlemen, Set your Tivos and DVR's and for the love of GOD, PUT YOUR BABIES TO BED!

Monday, October 8, 11:30pm ET/10:30 CT.

The Boondocks SEASON TWO!

Oh don't front. In case you need reminding:

----------------

Columbia University President Lee Bollinger, Hater of the Millenium

2007-09-25T08:46:00.000-05:00

Stuff like this is what makes it so embarrassing to be an American. We blather ON and ON about Freedom of speech and the Land of the free and the home of the brave.

We have a president hell-bent (almost literally) on bringing democracy (his kind, not yours) to the world.

But if you are GOING to have a shmuck like this dude speaking at your school. You give him the respect you afford a Head of state and then let HIM make a fool of himself.

someone wise once said you don't argue with a fool, because at a distance no one can tell who is who.

Yeah, I wore Black...but why does it feel like I've been here before?

2007-09-20T14:45:00.000-05:00

About every 9-12 years we go through this moment where we act like we really wanna pull together and bring back the movement. We get sick and tired of being sick and tired. We will trudge through a regime that doesnt feel especially engaged to our issues so we get out in the streets and handle business for ourselves. We will accomplish something significant and a head or two will roll and the winds of change blow enough to make us feel more comfortable about our overall situation.

Then we Gloat.

We'll kick around some medallions and kente cloth...
or some new saying...
or some new fashion statement...

and ride that until the novelty wears off;

This all takes about 3-4 years. and Then we'll go back to our regularly scheduled programming.

We skip an election or two...get especially materialistic and self-absorbed...and the Ls start to pile up. Before you know it...We angry again.

Lather
Rinse
Repeat

follow the trend.

1968 marks the defacto end of the movement with King's death and the undoing of the Black Panthers.

1977 you have Roots and The re-rise of Black folk claiming their African Roots

1985 marks the quest for the King Holiday

1995 marks the Million-Man March

2007 you have the Jena 6

With each movement, you'll have this underlying sentiment/hope that the movement is BACK and that we will rise and return to being the activist engaged people we once were.

Then we kinda go back to what we were doing and life goes on, such as it is.

Sigh...My black doesnt feel so...Black anymore.

NFL Week Two Fearless Predictions

2007-09-14T09:49:00.000-05:00

Buffalo at Pittsburgh 1:00 PM

Kevin Everett is getting better everyday. The Buffalo Bills aren't improving as dramatically, though. The Steelers are. Beware of the ugly jerseys the Steelers are wearing on Sunday, though. They are HORRIBLE.

Buffalo 13
Pittsburgh 27

Houston at Carolina 1:00 PM

We will see how good Matt Schaub is this week. My sense is that he will wish he was still holding the ClipBoard in Atlanta. The Panthers may be tired of underachieving.

Houston 10
Carolina 27

Atlanta at Jacksonville 1:00 PM

Maybe Arthur Blank will bump into Byron Leftwich down in Jacksonville. That is about the best that can be hoped for this week.

Atlanta 3
Jacksonville 20

New Orleans at Tampa Bay 1:00 PM

New Orleans had plenty of time to marinate on the thrashing they received at the hands of the Colts. That can't bode well for the Bucs.

New Orleans 31
Tampa Bay 17

Green Bay at NY Giants 1:00 PM

Brett Favre must be licking his chops. I figure Favre will find a way to look just good enough to give Cheeseheads irrational expectations.

Green Bay 24
NY Giants 17

San Francisco at St. Louis 1:00 PM

This is the Niners' big chance to make the next step. Considering I was deep in REM by the time that game was over, I can't say for sure if they are ready. I'll guess not.

San Francisco 17
St Louis 20

Cincinnati at Cleveland 1:00 PM

Cleveland will play better than they did on Sunday. Cincinnati will not. But they will still win, because, well, its Cleveland.

Cincinnati 28
Cleveland 20

Indianapolis at Tennessee 1:00 PM

Vince Young will find a way to keep this close. I cannot imagine they will win, but it wouldn't surprise me. No, it would. I just need fewer Peyton Manning commercials, though.

Indianapolis 31
Tennessee 20

Minnesota at Detroit 4:05 PM

Detroit's annual claim for respectability reaches a pivotal game already. If the Lions have ANY intentions on being something other than wack, they have to win home division games. And I think they won't, because they are the Lions.

Minnesota 17
Detroit 13

Dallas at Miami 4:05 PM

Dallas has Super Bowl aspirations. I recommend a reality check for any team that gives up 35 points to the Giants. Miami is much better than the Giants, which isnt saying a whole lot. This is Trent Green's chance to show us that he doesn't still think he is in Kansas City.

Dallas 24
Miami 20

Seattle at Arizona 4:05 PM

Arizona cannot afford to lose another division game if they want to continue to be the sexy pick for the NFC West. Charlie Frye is just glad to be out of Cleveland.

Seattle 30
Arizona 27

NY Jets at Baltimore 4:15 PM

Kellen Clemens picked the WRONG week to make his first NFL start. Mr. Lewis, Mr. Scott, please be gentle.

NY Jets 6
Baltimore 23

Oakland at Denver 4:15 PM

The JaMarcus Russell era begins with Daunte Culpepper making his first start as a Raider. Jay Cutler isn't ready, especially on the road. But it's hard to imagine Oakland beating Denver in Denver.

Oakland 16
Denver 24

Kansas City at Chicago 4:15 PM

I smell a shutout.

Kansas City 0
Chicago 20

San Diego at New England 8:15 PM
The Patriots have a WHOLE lot on their plate this week. And that has nothing to do with the fact that the Chargers are coming to Foxboro bent on revenge.

San Diego 20
New England 24

MON, SEP 17 TIME (ET)
Washington at Philadelphia 8:30 PM

Is it me, or are the plush environs of Lincoln Financial Field making the Eagles fans soft? I don't think they would even boo Santa Claus now. If the Eagles can avoid dropping punts, they should handle this game ok.

Washington 17
Philadelphia 27

Govern yourselves accordingly.

Real Talk

2007-09-13T10:32:00.000-05:00

Seven Days.

That's how long it has been since the last time I posted on this blog. I would like to say I am embarrassed about it, But alas...*shrug*

I woke up this morning and realized I forgot how to blog. Worse than that...I forgot how to write.

I have made this way too hard.

Standing here Strangling the bat like an angry abusive husband with more vodka than sense, but too busy looking around the stadium to actually swing the bat.

Its not like I started this yesterday.

I have been blogging off and on since November of 2000.

I am going to send myself back to the minors and start over. Clearly, what I thought came naturally doesn't all of a sudden. Sooooo....y'all have a good day while I let this bizarre feeling marinate.

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Now playing: Robin Thicke - Everything I Can't Have
via FoxyTunes

NFL Week One Fearless Predictions

2007-09-06T12:29:00.001-05:00

NFL Week One Fearless Predictions

for the first two weeks I will be cross posting this post here and over at Three Yards

The football blog has suffered from ignorance and stupidity on the field and off...its FOOTBALL time now, though.

So...With all that foolishness out of the way, We NOW begin FOOTBALL season.

THU, SEP 6
New Orleans at Indianapolis 8:30 PM
This will be a shootout. Expect lots of effusive praise from John Madden for both Quarterbacks and one wow moment from Reggie Bush. Viniateri wins it at the end, though

New Orleans 35
Indianapolis 38

SUN, SEP 9
Philadelphia at Green Bay 1:00 PM
Donovan McNabb has been better than Brett Favre for almost 5 years now. The Eagles have been better than the Packers for about that longas well.

Philadelphia 27
Green Bay 17

Kansas City at Houston 1:00 PM
Chiefs GM Carl Peterson should have the Agent for Byron Leftwich on the phone by Monday.

Kansas City 10
Houston 20

Denver at Buffalo 1:00 PM
You heard it here first. Denver isn't NEARLY as good as people think, especially outside of the Mountain Time Zone. Buffalo will be much harder to beat at home than they will be on the road.

Denver 17
Buffalo 24

Pittsburgh at Cleveland 1:00 PM
Cleveland Browns fans THINK they want Brady Quinn out there. Of course if they REALLY knew football, they wouldn't still be Browns fans. The Browns are better, but not better enough to save Romeo Crennel's Job. Boy, are they going to miss that top 10 pick they gave Dallas next year.

Pittsburgh 30
Cleveland 17

Carolina at St. Louis 1:00 PM
The Countdown until David Carr/Bill Cowher PLEASE save us begins.

Carolina 16
St. Louis 31

Atlanta at Minnesota 1:00 PM

The real question...Will Minnesota score more points or will there be more Michael Vick references by the Play by Play commentary.

Atlanta 17
Minnesota 10
Michael Vick References 35

PS: Someone alert the Miami Dolphins...Michael Vick references WILL go undefeated this season.

New England at NY Jets 1:00 PM
America's favorite baby daddy has been given better receivers for a baby shower present. NY Jets fans will recieve another bag of rocks. It will be close and ugly...and no matter what happens, it wont be Bill Belichick's fault.

New England 27
NY Jets 24

Miami at Washington 1:00 PM
Miami will WISH they still had Daunte Culpepper long before Daunte wishes he was still in Miami. Washington will beat up on Miami and then the fans will be CONVINCED this year is the year. Nope, not this year either, folks.

Miami 7
Washington 23

Tennessee at Jacksonville 1:00 PM
Is Vince Young going to be better this year? Yes
Will Jacksonville wish they had kept Byron Leftwich? Yes
Next year, Quinn Gray will be the starting QB for the Jacksonville Jaguars...and there will be a white rookie for Jag fans to clamor for.

Tennessee 20
Jacksonville 13

Chicago at San Diego 4:15 PM
Nope, Rex Grossman STILL isn't very good against good teams.
Yup, LT is the most dominant offensive player in the league.

Chicago 21
San Diego 27

Tampa Bay at Seattle 4:15 PM
Jon Gruden isn't nearly the genius we thought now that Tony Dungy's Super Bowl team has crumbled around him. Jeff Garcia is going to wish he was still waiting for Donovan McNabb to get hurt in Philadelphia by the end of September. I wonder if people who gamble are familiar with how difficult it is for Eastern teams to win in Seattle?

Tampa Bay 10
Seattle 30

Detroit at Oakland 4:15 PM

If Daunte Culpepper plays a lot, the Raiders will win. Apparently he won't. But the Raiders will find a way. The Lions are FINALLY better...just not better enough.

Detroit 13
Oakland 17

NY Giants at Dallas 8:15 PM

OHHHHH are the Giants bad. But they can keep themselves warm burning copies of Tiki Barber's book while pondering what to do with that sure top 10 draft pick. Dallas will be firing up their bandwagon about halftime. With the price of gas being what it is, and the fact that Troy Aikman was in his PRIME the last time the Cowboys won a playoff game, you would think that Cowboy fans would want to wait a lil while before jingling the keys to the Super Bowl Express.

Dallas 35
NY Giants 10

MON, SEP 10 TIME (ET)
Baltimore at Cincinnati 7:00 PM

This is it...This year has GOT to be the year for Baltimore. Time is running out. A good performance by the Ravens in Cincinnati will not be a good sign for Steeler and Bengal fans. It is a near certainty that no Bengal player will be arrested DURING the game on Monday Night.

Baltimore 27
Cincinnati 23

Arizona at San Francisco 10:15 PM

If you live on the East Coast, you'll be asleep by the time this game is over so I will tell you how it ends.

Arizona is still Arizona, they just have better players. San Francisco is crawling out of the doldrums one step at a time. how far they get out of the doldrums this year is not immediately certain.

Arizona 20
San Francisco 31

everytime you see a sports fan wave a towel in the air...remember where it all started.

FOR ONCE...i agree with BET

2007-09-05T13:13:00.000-05:00

part 2

Tony Harris is completely clueless.
I would fire any man who went into a piece on Live Television THIS ill prepared. How can you do a piece on this and NOT know what is played on BET at 4 and 5 in the afternoon???

Paul Porter is slightly less clueless.

Satire is defined holding up human vices to ridicule and scorn. This is a textbook definition of that.

12 year olds are FULLY capable of deciphering satire, and if they cannot, their parents HOPEFULLY can.

Although judging from the parents in the piece, that may be too optimistic on my part.

Ill be the first to suggest that the animation was a tad bit hamfisted, but then again, its hard to satire something that comes off as almost satirical.

Tony Harris should be ashamed. He clearly doesn't know how out of touch he is right now.

and in case you haven't seen this...here ya go:

In All Things Moderation?

2007-09-02T08:15:00.000-05:00

If any of you lacks wisdom, he should ask God, who gives generously to all without finding fault, and it will be given to him. But when he asks, he must believe and not doubt, because he who doubts is like a wave of the sea, blown and tossed by the wind. That man should not think he will receive anything from the Lord; he is a double-minded man, unstable in all he does.

James 1:5-8

One thing that I find to be utterly amazing is the phenomenon known as "the bandwagon" - whatever's hot or happening right now is what masses of people flock to, be it the newest trend or the hottest sports team. Whoever's on top at that moment gets all of the accolades - from Lena Horne to Jayne Kennedy to Vanessa Williams to Halle Berry - even though they're the same person at 60 that they were at 50 or 40 or 30. This year everyone is riding for the Indianapolis Colts when last year it was the Steelers and the year before that it was the Patriots - whoever is the dominant team or figure of the day gets all of the props, yet the Pittsburgh Steelers are always the Steelers, the Colts are always the Indianapolis Colts, the Patriots are always the New England Patriots, and the Lions, unfortunately, are always the Detroit Lions. There is no loyalty anymore, no conviction that I will ride or die with my team, that I am a fan of this or that actor or actress, or that I am a child of the living King. Too often we who are called by the name of Christ are as double-minded as the most fickle sports fan or trend-following entertainment junkie. We like Jesus and all, but if the party's over there then all too often we can be found right where the party's at, Jesus or no Jesus. We're sometimey with our relationship with our Savior, the One who bled and died for us, the One who made himself nothing, taking the very nature of a servant, being made in human likeness. We try to get full-time blessings out of a part-time relationship with the Creator of the universe - as if God could be pimped.

It's because we're scared.

Within American culture one of the worst things that you can be called is an "extremist." Think about it - when is the last time that you've heard the term "extremist" used to compliment someone? Yet anyone who takes an uncompromising stand on any issue is, by definition, an extremist. Most of us are extremists when it comes to breathing - we are extremely Pro Breathing. That seems silly, of course, because you have to breathe in order to remain in the land of the living, as Lavel Crawford reminded the world on Last Comic Standing. Is it not just as silly that we would waver in our commitment to the Way, the Truth, and the Life - the only way to the Father and eternal life? Certainly there are those who will say that they can only take religion in small doses - indeed, in moderation - and with that I can agree: religion will send you straight to Hell. I'm talking about a personal relationship with the Savior, Jesus Christ. In that day religious folk will hear Jesus say, "I never knew you" while the redeemed of the Lord will hear Him say, "Well done, good and faithful servant! You have been faithful with a few things; I will put you in charge of many things. Come and share your master's happiness!"

It's time for us to grow up, dining on the meatier matters instead of constantly having to be fed spiritual Similac. We need to be so solid in our walk with Jesus Christ that we can feed others, helping them to stand firm in their walk with Jesus Christ, but too often we find ourselves siding with the world against the cause of Christ - the jokes we laugh at, the gossip we call up, the mess that we deal in betrays our distance from the One who truly loves us, the One who is faithful even when we are faithless. We may not say the words "Forget Jesus!" but we nonetheless deny Him before men through our actions. "Would a child of the King say that?" "Would a child of the King do that?" "Would a child of the King act like that?" We need the courage to stand upon our convictions. We need wisdom to stick with God in each and every environment that we find ourselves in. We need to let our light so shine that people will see our good works and give God the glory, acknowledging Him as creator and accepting His Son as savior.

Who you with?

May the LORD bless you and keep you;
May the LORD make his face shine upon you and be gracious to you;
And may the LORD,
Who calls us to be extreme in our faithfulness,
May He turn His face toward you and give you peace.

In Praise of college football chaos: Appalachian St 34, Michigan 32

2007-09-01T18:30:00.000-05:00

Long ago, I gave up on sanity in college football. I don't have a real team that I root for, so I root for chaos.

I root for EVERYONE to lose at least once.

If there is an underdog, I am rooting for them.

This was the biggest upset since David caught Goliath between the eyes.

And I LOVED it.

Even though I know how it is going to end...I cannot wait to watch this game from beginning to end.

Big Blue Fans...stay off the bridge, it's just a game.

Things White folk say: The Police version.

2007-08-30T23:41:00.000-05:00

Lost in the unintentional comedy that is the Larry Craig Transcript is a troubling piece of dialogue.

Not from Larry Craig...but from the Police officer.

DK: I know you're not going to fight me. But that's not the point. I would respect you and I still respect you. I don't disrespect you but I'm disrespected right now and I'm not tying to act like I have all kinds of power or anything, but you're sitting here lying to a police officer.

DK: It's not a (inaudible) I'm getting from somebody else. I'm (inaudible)

LC: (inaudible) (Talking over each other)

DK: I am trained in this and I know what I am doing. And I say you put your hand under there and you're going to sit there and...

LC: I admit I put my hand down.

DK: You put your hand and rubbed it on the bottom of the stall with your left hand.

LC: No. Wait a moment.

DK: And I, I'm not dumb, you can say I don't recall...

LC: If I had turned sideways, that was the only way I could get my left hand over there.

DK: it's not that hard for me to reach. (inaudible) it's not that hard. I see it happen everyday out here now.

LC: (inaudible) you do. All right.

DK: I just, I just, I guess, I guess I'm gonna say I'm just disappointed in you sir. I'm just really am. I expect this from the guy that we get out of the hood. I mean, people vote for you.

LC: Yes, they do. (inaudible)

DK: unbelievable, unbelievable.

WTF is THAT about?????

The link between Larry Craig and Mark Foley...stronger than you think

2007-08-29T13:03:00.000-05:00

Say it with me....slowly and with feeling...

WoooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooW.

What Michael Vick did to you is exactly what you deserve

2007-08-21T22:47:00.000-05:00

This ain't funny so don't ya dare laugh,
just another case 'bout the wrong path,
Straight 'n narrow or yo' soul gets cast
-Richard Walters

Just when I thought it couldn't get any worse, the bottom fell out.

After a morning of listening to random sports radio hosts shoveling dirt on the casket that may or may not contain the career of Michael Vick, something struck me.

How much of this is really OUR fault?

Whether it's Sports, entertainment, or politics, we invest our hopes and dreams in OTHER people.

Not family, or friends, but complete strangers.

I heard a sports columnist tell me that Michael Vick doesn't deserve to entertain us.

Mike Vick should not play another game in the NFL. Ever.

It is not that I do not believe in second chances. I do. Everybody deserves a mulligan or two or four in life. What Vick and apparently a lot of other people need to learn is do-overs do not necessarily mean you escape unscathed.

Mike Vick should not play another game in the NFL. Ever.

There have to be consequences.

There has to be a message sent to every athlete , in every sport, everywhere, to every team, to every owner, that enough is enough. Our patience is gone.

We are sick of rooting for convicted felons. For wife beaters. For drug pushers. For drunk drivers. For steroid cheats. For rain makers. For thugs. For hooligans. For those who obstruct justice. For athletes who make our kids cry and us blush.

We are sick of athletes who can not seem to grasp that a $117 million paycheck comes with a little bit of responsibility to those fans who pay to turn on the lights in the buildings.

What you mean WE Kimosabe? (c) Tonto

Sports is was and always will be a BUSINESS. A sports journalist, of ALL people cannot possibly be as detached from reality.

A cruel game is being played, yall. And I have never been too sure of who to blame.

Until NOW.

Its OUR fault.

For centuries, since the dawn of time, people of prodigious talent have been elevated to staggering heights in the eyes of the public at large, only to ultimately fall under the weight of the unrealistic expectations.

Once upon a time, Michael Vick was the future of the NFL. Occasionally, he was every bit the jaw dropping physical talent Football fans hoped for.

Mostly he was a Young Black man staggering through life under the weight of city desperate to achieve some sort of football legacy.

Michael Vick came along at a time when The NFL was just now ready to be crowned the undisputed KING of the sporting landscape.

It took Heroic, if scientifically enabled, acts never seen before to bring baseball back from the brink of relative obscurity despite the previous century of being hailed as being MORE than sports, being hailed as the American Pastime.

Basketball was in the afterglow of the Jordan era, smoking a cigarette and watching him get dressed, playing it cool, but knowing that he wasn't coming back and wondering how it would be able to make it without the arm candy it had enjoyed for the past 12-15 years.

But this is all irrelevant now. Vick is but a passing memory, football wise.

He has crossed over from Human being to poster child, stripped of that suddenly elusive third dimension that separates object lessons and poster children from Human Beings.

What has transpired is probably16 years in the making, and the responsibility for it falls squarely on your own shoulders.

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Now playing: Kanye West - Barry Bonds feat. Lil Wayne (CLEAN)
via FoxyTunes

Already, But Not Yet

2007-08-19T09:26:00.000-05:00

Jesus returned to Galilee in the power of the Spirit, and news about him spread through the whole countryside. He taught in their synagogues, and everyone praised him.

He went to Nazareth, where he had been brought up, and on the Sabbath day he went into the synagogue, as was his custom. And he stood up to read. The scroll of the prophet Isaiah was handed to him. Unrolling it, he found the place where it is written:

The Spirit of the Lord is on me,
because he has anointed me
to preach good news to the poor.
He has sent me to proclaim freedom for the prisoners
and recovery of sight for the blind,
to release the oppressed,
to proclaim the year of the Lord's favor.

Then he rolled up the scroll, gave it back to the attendant and sat down. The eyes of everyone in the synagogue were fastened on him, and he began by saying to them, "Today this scripture is fulfilled in your hearing."

Luke 4:14-21

Sometimes, the most important thing is that which is missing. When you tell your significant other that you love them and all that you hear in reply is abject silence, that which is missing is more telling than anything that they could possibly say. Jesus, in reading this passage from Isaiah 61, read a messianic prophesy about Himself, but the telling thing about the reading is where He stopped - He stopped mid-sentence, in the middle of verse 2. Why would Jesus stop in the middle of a sentence like that? The answer is simple, yet profound in its implications for our Christian journey - the Kingdom of God was manifest with Jesus' entry into the world, but it will not be fully consummated until His return. His Kingdom is already here, but it is not yet fulfilled.

There is tension between the Already and the Not Yet, and we see this tension in many ways, every day. We witness the movement and power of the Holy Spirit on a regular basis, but we also see gross injustices going unpunished. We see God saving, healing, and delivering people from certain destruction, but we also see people cursing God and living well. We readily see the Already but we also understand the Not Yet, and this is why we earnestly yearn for Jesus' return - we want His Kingdom to come into effect in full. It is like beginning a race when all of your opponents have been disqualified - you are already assured of victory but you have not yet completed the race. It is much like the prototypical engagement period - you have the assurance of a life-long commitment but you have not yet consummated the relationship (n.b. failure to achieve the former often being connected to a failure to live up to the latter). We already have the assurance of our salvation through the in-dwelling presence of the Holy Spirit, but we have not yet been glorified in the fullness of the Kingdom of God. We praise God for the Already but we sit on tiptoe anticipation for the Not Yet.

Patience is a virtue.

I don't know about you, but I hate to wait for that which is already mine - nothing irritates me more than waiting for my food in a restaurant, waiting in rush hour traffic to get home, or waiting for a certain Texan to leave office - but Jesus said that no man knows the day nor the hour of His return, so we have no choice but to wait for Him to return and establish His kingdom in full here on Earth. It is already established, but it is not yet completed.

Are you ready for the Not Yet to become the Already?

May the LORD bless you and keep you;
May the LORD make his face shine upon you and be gracious to you;
And may the LORD,
Who has already prepared a place for us,
May He turn His face toward you and give you peace.

The first step

2007-08-17T00:57:00.000-05:00

Yes I know...the whole world is acting a complete fool and I am not here to hold your hand and wax eloquently and pontificate upon it.

IT is a tragedy.

But I do submit to you that for the bargain price of 80K per year, plus Health, I will camp out in the office and put out 25,000 well written and thoroughly researched words a week.

Until then, I gotta walk these dogs and represent Boo (c) Raekwon the Chef.

But in the meantime....Hug your babies and love your mommas...cause its finna get WILD in these here streets.

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Now playing: Lupe Fiasco - Bottom Top
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Ain't No Future In Yo' Frontin'

2007-08-12T08:35:00.000-05:00

Some Jews who went around driving out evil spirits tried to invoke the name of the Lord Jesus over those who were demon-possessed. They would say, "In the name of Jesus, whom Paul preaches, I command you to come out." Seven sons of Sceva, a Jewish chief priest, were doing this. One day the evil spirit answered them, "Jesus I know, and I know about Paul, but who are you?" Then the man who had the evil spirit jumped on them and overpowered them all. He gave them such a beating that they ran out of the house naked and bleeding.

When this became known to the Jews and Greeks living in Ephesus, they were all seized with fear, and the name of the Lord Jesus was held in high honor.

Acts 19:13-17

It is amazing to me just how many people try to fake it 'til they make it. As I was watching the Democratic Debate that was sponsored by the AFL-CIO this week, John Edwards consistently talked about how many picket lines he had marched during the last two years. It got to the point where Joe Biden had to call him out on the carpet, asking him indirectly where John Edwards was when he was a senator from a Right-To-Work-For-Less state - where was John Edwards when publicly and vocally supporting Labor would have cost him dearly? There are a lot of people who talk a good game, and some who can walk well when there's no pressure on them, but where do we stand when it really matters? Where do we stand when our own money is on the line? Where do we stand when it's time to put up or shut up?

The seven sons of Sceva got caught faking the funk. They thought that their little side show - a profitable show in their day and ours - could ride into town and get paid, but as Steve Martin's character noted in the movie Leap of Faith, the biggest threat to a hustle is the genuine article, and the seven sons of Sceva ran into a genuine demon. One of the most telling statements that one can make is, "I almost lost my religion!" Religious people tend to get beat down by demons, but those of us who have a personal relationship with our Savior can walk in power, we can speak with authority, and we can make a difference for the Kingdom of God. Too often church folk try to put on a show for people to see just how righteous they are, but when we come face-to-face with a demon we will quickly learn that whatever is in us will truly come out of us. If we are walking with the Savior then He will stand up within us and exude His power on our behalf, but if we have nothing but religious pretense then we will find ourselves running bloodied and spiritually naked from a fight that we couldn't win.

Ain't no half-steppin'.

It is not enough to know about Jesus, you have to know Him for yourself and you have to submit the totality of your being to His sovereign will. People can fake it til they make it but that road inevitably leads to a sons of Sceva-scale beat-down. All power and authority is in Jesus Christ, and if we expect to be successful in this Christian journey then we have to center ourselves in the middle of His will because it's all about Him - He's the headliner, we're just the hype-men. Jesus doesn't employ His power on behalf of those who contribute to His kingdom, He shows Himself to be mighty on behalf of those who are committed to Him and His kingdom.

Where will you stand when it really matters?

May the LORD bless you and keep you;
May the LORD make his face shine upon you and be gracious to you;
And may the LORD,
Who wants us to stand up when it matters,
May He turn His face toward you and give you peace.

Common Debuts at NUMBER one....thanks his fans

2007-08-10T17:09:00.000-05:00

How can you NOT support a cat like this.

Finding Forever IS the best album of 2007 thus far. If you don't have it...Buy it.

500 for A-Rod, 755 and 756 for Bonds, 1 for Tomlin, 500 for me

2007-08-09T00:09:00.000-05:00

And so, here we are, 2 year+ on this blog...and Im finally at Five hundred Posts. It has been a weekend of milestones.

A-Rod hits his HR 500 and suddenly he's the last hope to save baseball from Barry Bonds. Don't get too excited Alex, they were chasing you from Scrip Club to Scrip club and photographing cuss words off the back of your wife's wife-beater not 45 days ago.

Barry Bonds hits 755 and 756, much to the chagrin of all those who despise him. my feelings are well substantiated on this topic, I am not in the mood to even link you to what I said before.

Suffice it to say, Numbers don't lie (Shawn Carter)

Mike Tomlin is the real deal. The Tony Dungy Coaching tree grows a new branch. There is something about Tomlin, I could sense it. Any man whose first pregame sideline interview was the following

Adam Scheffter: DO you feel any pressure on your first game?
Coach Tomlin: Man, Pressure is trying to feed your family.

It doesn't MATTER what he said after that. That is the kind of truth America needs from a sports figure.

And finally, I would like to thank a few people for the ride from post 1 to Post 500.

Jameil- probably my most faithful reader who doesn't actually live in the house with me.

My favorite married to each other Bloggers, Mr. and Mrs. Scribe

My best friend in the whole wide world - my Blog Chaplain, who NEEDS to be getting his blog on SOMEWHERE...

Ms. Write-Now - you don't always leave your mark like I would want you to, but you've been around a long time and thats all that matters.

To My Favorite Librarian, my favorite Urban Planner, and my favorite Wedding Planner, all friends whose friendship goes WELL before Post #1; heck Ive known all three of you longer than Ive known my wife.

RPM, Wise, and Nikki - if we NEVER do the do, I still appreciate the moment. BlaqueScribe is STILL the movement.

The Starting Five - If you don't know, you NEED to ask somebody.

and FINALLY... To the First Lady of this joint, who has read every post, from 1-500 but doesn't even talk to ME about it in person...I appreciate YOU....I just wish you would share with the world what you share with me. I love you.

and to the nameless faceless souls who come and go...for seconds or minutes...Thank you for at least making me feel like I am not doing this in vain.

Here is to 500 more.

Mucho Thank you.

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Now playing: Real Late With Peter Rosenberg on Hot 97 - RLWPR 08052007 pt 1
via FoxyTunes

Once again, (again) it's on

2007-08-02T23:17:00.000-05:00

So, after several weeks of spamming Human Resources people all over the metroplex, Once again I have decided to don the apron and carve out a living slinging fried shellfish at people craving the unique confluence of seafood and hypertension.

You might ask yourself: Yo, What IS it with you and waiting tables? You clearly have a fairly impressive arsenal of skills, so what are you doing waiting tables.

For almost TWENTY years, no less?

Firstly...I would LOVE to do something else. I spent several weeks spamming HR folk and harassing placement agencies. Apparently either this is all I am good for, or God is trying to tell me something.

Or....I suck at Job hunting. (if you answered C, you probably actually know me, so no gift for you.)

All that be as it may, the bottom line is, Once again i don the apron for a living. My better half suggested that, since clearly I excel in this field, that maybe, just MAYBE, THIS is what I should be going to school for.

After a little reasearch, lo and behold, a Bachelor's program right up the highway.

And off we go.

Stay tuned for the Hypertensive Scrimp chronicles.

Im older, wiser, and just a WEEE bit desperate to make something happen. And I am working with a bunch of young impressionable Caucasians.

Pray for them, please.

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Now playing: internationalswagger
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Back from Vacation: More Shameless Shilling for Three Yards

2007-08-01T00:28:00.000-05:00

I am home now.

There is nothing like a good 4 day vacation to clear your head and get you back into the swing of things.

Except for that whole Post Vacation drag thing.

Well Here we go...I think im back in the Swing of things.

http://threeyards.blogspot.com/2007/07/field-general-studies.html