For everybody who STILL doesn't get why T.I. was given the chance he was..Stuff like this.

Now let me preface it by saying that he is not the ONLY ONE who gives back to his community. By no means. He is not the only ONE WITH A CRIMINAL RECORD, giving back to his community. Not in his hood, county, state or country. What I am SAYING is that he can give like this twenty times over, NOT HAVE IT FILMED (as he has done), STILL KEEP GIVING and bring back more positive things back to not only HIS COMMUNITY BUT WORLDWIDE. Over and over and over again. I guess if he was only doing this 'after' the sentencing/conviction, there would be some validity to the 'backlash'. He has been doing it the WHOLE TIME. From Nu Finish on back....Giving mortgage free homes AWAY to needing family. Not just turkeys on Thanksgiving Day. Whole houses. Not just Toys for Tots on Christmas Day. So I don't buy the whole 'he is only doing it because of that sentencing' logic.

What I am hoping is that some of you that I know will get even HALFWAY to where he is at staturewise so that some of the things in the past can be overshadowed by what you have done. I truly do. Some of you I am even helping so that it can HAPPEN. Then if (Hopefully it doesn't...) something DOES HAPPEN, you will be able to say what you have done. What you have given back. What you DO BRING TO THE TABLE IN A POSITIVE WAY. Not on some excuse shit either. More like on some 'I may not have always been 'right' but I always cared about XYZ so this is what I have done to support that...' Never know when that kind of good thinking may come back to help YOU.

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For my Tennessee people (Nashville area) Sole4Souls sponsoring help...

Prayers still going out to those in the area suffering and recovering....Thank you cousin for the link. You can donate help on their site..






Link:

Soles4Souls to Donate 85,000 Pairs of New Shoes to Help Neighbors in Nashville Recover from Flood

Shoe charity shares plans for long-term support of Middle Tennessee in regional relief project

Soles4Souls Inc. usually responds to natural disasters around the world. Today, however, the charity is working overtime to provide free shoes, water and other items to people in its hometown of Nashville. Heavy rains and floodwaters caused 30 deaths and destroyed thousands of homes in Middle Tennessee......



Soles4Souls unveiled a three-stage relief plan, beginning with a massive distribution of 85,000 new pairs of shoes at the Tennessee State Fairgrounds. On Monday, May 10, from 3pm - 7pm, staff and volunteers from Soles4Souls will be at the Fairgrounds providing free shoes to anyone in need. On Tuesday, May 11, the Fairgrounds will be open from 10am - 2pm. On both days, the distribution will be held under the Show Arena Pavilion and will feature men's, women's and children's shoes.

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The more you learn not to live your life seeking the approval of others that don't matter or care about you, the easier life gets....

I put that as my Facebook status this morning (as some of you who are friends with me there know) but I thought I would elaborate on it a little more. I am probably gonna piss at least one of you off. I don't care. I'mma let you know that right now. There is a 99% chance that neither one of us are doing ANYTHING for each other so if you stop fooling with me behind this little blog post, you should already know what you can do. Yes, it is like that. For real.

Let me first address the cynics, as you guys need to be cut off at the pass. Of course in certain situations, 'approval' is a MUST. On the job. While growing up in some one's household. In certain relationships. I am NOT TALKING ABOUT THOSE THINGS. You know I am not talking about those things too but since the 'truth' always gets questioned, let me just head you off at the pass.

You know DAMM WELL what I am talking about. I am talking about this 'need' that we have to be accepted and the UNHEALTHY habits it causes us to pick up as we go along. Obviously, NO ONE wants to be disliked. I get that. You can't be out there on some 'nut shit' but the lengths I see people go through to be 'accepted' are just plain fucking silly. Cats acting tough for NO REASON. Running to be like those that who like to fight, like to 'slang', or some other criminal activity JUST TO BE DOWN. Idiotic. Acting poorer than they really are so that they can be accepted. Acting richer than they really are, SO THEY CAN BE ACCEPTED. What the hell? Nigga we are 30 SOME (AND OLDER) YEARS OLD! Why are you getting into pissing contests with people who don't give a shit about you??? I am not even talking about just 'strangers' either. I am talking about those people you are 'running with'. Yes, THEM. They don't give a shit about you. You see how they treat your other 'friends' when they aren't around don't you? Well don't you? Run their name in the ground. Tell their business. Mock them. Entice them to do more fucked up shit so that they can MAKE FUN OF THEM SOME MORE. All the while not improving themselves. You never noticed that?

Here you are TRYING TO IMPRESS THEM THOUGH. Sacrificing relationships with the people that actually do give a shit about you for some people that don't have your best interest at heart and never did. Hell, selling YOURSELF short all in the name of acceptance. Soon as you don't have 'XYZ' or you don't 'stroke their ego' THOSE FOLKS DISAPPEAR. I don't have to name names or give examples. I KNOW you have seen it happen. Some of you have had it happen TO YOU. It was just that nobody had the nuts to tell you. I had someone who had the nuts to tell me though. Actually a couple of people. They helped me stop struggling with letting people go, not caring what people thought about 'xyz' decision I made, how I choose to live my live and more importantly who I chose to associate with as I have lived my life. It was hard though due to the overall popular belief that one is measured by how they are 'accepted' by others. That whole thought process is a sham though as we can see. Just look at what happens to people in the public eye the minute someone finds out you are 'human'. Cats drop 'em like a hot potato even though they are just as 'human'. So obviously, being 'accepted' isn't all it is cracked up to be. I am happy just being me thank you. Accept me if you want, diss me if you don't and don't worry if you do the latter 'cause I am not even concerned with what it is you do over there.

I am sure some of you will will say 'Well, it seems like you have pretty much always been like that." Maybe. There were some areas that I needed to improve on and let me tell ya. Shit got SO MUCH EASIER after I made these improvements. I promise it did. I just realized one day who cared and who didn't. I don't miss nary one of those people that didn't. Sure, I SEE 'EM. We speak. Cordial. But I don't miss them. At all. Don't miss the drama that always ensued. Don't miss the bullshit and I damm sure don't miss having to worry about 'looking silly in front of them' over shit that they were failing miserably at too! That last one was big. Instead of helping each other, they would clown each other and try to bring each other down. I didn't want to be a party to that anymore. We weren't doing each other any good by hanging around each other. I didn't particularly care about them (although I like to think my surface 'caring' is more than some people's actual caring but I digress.) and I KNOW THEY DIDN'T CARE ABOUT ME. So why fake it? Fuck that.

Girls, ya'll have 'em too. Don't think this is a 'guy' thing. It isn't. Most of yours are disguised as 'Lets go out and drink/get dudes/be diva partners'.....Another post..another time perhaps. lol I know I gave some things up top that were 'male' related so I just wanted to be clear here.

I am telling YOU..Let that shit go fam. Every last one of those that are passing judgment on you, only like you for the whip you pushing, the gals around you, or that 'star' quality you bring are only there for themselves and they all have shit with them. Hence the reason why they try to shine the light ON YOU and your fortunes AND MISGIVINGS and OFF OF THEMSELVES. Never thought about it like that huh? Now is the time.....

I was moved to write this on this morning so don't shoot the messenger. I just bought the message to you. It was meant for you to see so if I were you, I wouldn't just sit on the information. I would do something about it. No, this isn't the movies so I don't suggest that you go off and start telling people off or anything. Just do what you have to do. Those that are doing these things I spoke about will know why you are doing what you are doing. They won't say much. They can't. They will know the jig is up. You will feel better for it. Trust me. All they are going to do is what they HAVE BEEN DOING. Talk about you to others that don't care about you and not keep your best interest at heart. . As my Mother says, "Well, people talked about Jesus too....so you know that they will talk about you. Pay 'em no mind.."

Again, if it bothers you that I speak 'broadly' about how I feel, you know what you can do...I don't have to feed into the 'ways of the World' and say shit your way. I say it mine. You got the fucking point didn't you? Okay then...

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I don't even want to call it a poem...

It rhymes and whatnot but I am not sure what 'form' of poetry it even falls under. If it does at all.




Since life is short and at times hard to bear, I make it a point to try and put my feelings in the air.
Simply put, one has no real clue of just how long we will be there.
Some think 'Well Mark, some things need not be said or that sounds almost suicidal.'
To that I say 'Over the years many things I have heard in passing that seemed unimportant turned out to be vital'.
It was like God has been speaking to me even through people I whom I don't even deal with too tough.
It may not make sense at the time but those thoughts, those experiences ALWAYS SEEM TO COME BACK WHEN THINGS GET ROUGH.
I am just putting back into this thing called Life the only way I know how to get it done.
I may not go to church, the Hall, or have become Ordained like the boy Rev Run.
But I KNOW THAT I WAS PUT HERE TO HELP THOSE in their struggle and their fight.
I know it 'cause even in times that I have been wrong, when I have shared it, I have helped others make their situation right.
Does that make me praiseworthy? Make me some one to look up to? Special? Someone to revere?
Not all. It just makes me the person around you who through good, bad and indifferent, whose opinions you will hear.
You too may brush it off. The sayings, the stories, the opinions, the experiences and such.
Dismiss them as just 'What he/she went through..I am me...What he/she has done does not matter much'
I am here to tell you that I thought that too. I said myself "I am different...That won't be me..."Oh yes it is true.
I can hear me saying it clear as day. Probably with the same face. Same dismissive attitude. Just like you.
The thing I learned though was that while the slangs changed. The names did as well. The situations all stayed even keel.
I learned that while I was younger, thought I was fresher than the ones before, I wasn't reinventing the wheel.
The things that I was going through or 'thought I was doing' had been done hundreds of times over.
From Lenoir NC. From that lil 'hollar' in West Virginia. Down in DC. And yes, even at DSU down in Dover.
People had BEEN ran from the law. Been having babies. Been busting shots.
Lied, cheated, had it all, fell from grace. Got BACK UP. Went and saw the world. Parked their cars in the finest lots.
The only differences between them and I was that THEY MADE IT and I wasn't taking advantage of the gems being dropped.
Oh yeah I heard them. Repeated them to others. Maybe halfway listened. But that is where it stopped.
I look back and laugh now at those times. Those situations that some of you HERE have shared.
I remember even being asked to speak to 'you' by the ones who loved you and took the time to care.
I chuckle at that memory that your 'people' sought me to speak to you & instilled a trust..
That look from you of "I don't know what the (beep) they thought? He is foul just like us..." (Hov)
Yeah, I was once the person that I am trying to reach now but still not done growing and learning.
Now responsible for three whom I can't leave wondering. Still yearning.
So I put it all in the air. Maybe one day they can come back and read what they old man thought.
Maybe one day this too will help them. Just like all those people did for me. Just look at all the wisdom that bought.
It is not just for them though. Since I take information as well I do it for you too.
I do it subtly. Some of ya'll are too sensitive so I try to do it so that even you 'have no clue'.

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Something else I wrote somewhere else..

Only this time the unedited version. (For those of you who have seen this, IT REALLY WAS AIMED AT SOME PEOPLE and I was trying to be nice. I probably won't be here.)

I love helping people. I really really really do. If I have info to give , I share it with everyone. I even do it sometimes to a fault. What I don't do ,on purpose anyway, is over step my bounds. I put the info out there and allow people to do with it what they will. You can't force information on people and sometimes, you are not telling someone something that they don't already know. Now if they ask you, BY ALL MEANS, give it to with both barrels. But if they don't and it is causing a problem, it is best to just let it be.

All you can do is put the information out there. The rest is up to the people you put it to do with it what they please.

Kinda like I am doing with this note.

Let's see what is done with the information I have put in this note. 'Cause there is a MESSAGE in it for someone. Several someones actually. But it isn't my place 'to come to you and say it' straight out and I am going to FOLLOW MY OWN RULES. That is someone else's job to do. I am only in it 'cause I heard about it. Understand this isn't the first time I heard this shit either or had to come at you about this personally. Remember?

Let me tell you what the hell it is YOU CAN'T DO though. You can't go running around like a pack of wolves, trying to reform the opposite sex with your 'truths'. This ain't no Tyler Perry movie. Some damm Zane book. Fuck you think this is? Furthermore, what KINDA REACTION DO YOU THINK YOU ARE GONNA GET running up on people in the streets about their relationship? Huh? A good one? A "Oh yeah you are rightt!"? Yeah okay. Your whole approach is wrong. Period. More flies with honey people. More flies with honey. Fucks you keep setting the vinegar out for? You see it ain't working don't you? Come on man.

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I suck at doing this everyday..My apologies ya'll

The last couple of days have been a lil hectic so I haven't been able to get on here like that. They are putting Fios (sp) in our neighborhood though so hopefully, that will help things. I have trouble even getting on the Net. lol

Anyhow, the lil bit of time that I was able to log on, I have been seeing a lot of posts, articles and such on cheating. I have been quite intrigued by the comments that I have seen in regards to the events. I have also been quite amused by Geraldine's comments on Barrack. So I guess I have a ton of stuff to get into huh? The cheating thing will probably be a recurring theme as it is always a topic on the message boards that I frequent. I will be speaking on it and relationships OFTEN on here.* Usually, I will swipe a particular topic from a place and elaborate on it. Occasionally I will speak on sports and sometimes on some random things.

**I think I am going to start by talking about people being human and just how "accepting" people are of this. Much like that gal from the Real World (Kameelah) people have a compiled this list of stuff that is just "unacceptable" for them to have to put up with from another person. Mind you, about 50% of the list is compiled of things that they do themselves! With reckless pride too might I add. So I am not sure that many people are even starting out with the right attitude. Sure we all would like to find that perfect person. But any idiot who has been outside of their house knows that people aren't perfect. I think the list thing (and those that are still holding fast to their list) is the silliest thing. It is no wonder these people can't find anyone to stick around. The sooner people realize.....You know what? Fuck all that. I am going to stop being "diplomatic" about this one. Look, your ass is fucked up seven ways to Sunday so how in THE WORLD DO YOU HAVE THE AUDACITY to fall through expecting perfection? Yes you! I am talking to you and your funky ass. You with the gut hanging over demanding that every girl you mess with should look like your favorite video model/actress/girl in the media. You with the elephant arms demanding that your man needs to look like Tyson Beckford or whom ever it is you admire. You who will hollar at anything that moves while in a relationship but doesn't want anyone who has done a third of the grimy things that you have done. You that doesn't want a dude with kids yet you are three abortions short of having a third of a basketball team yourself. I am talking to you. You who got the "clap" or crabs yourself several times giving the rounds of applause when someone talks about any of the millions of people out here who have had the unfortunate experience of having an STD. You who secretly keeps male friends to get that attention you think you deserve thinking that the dudes don't know that is why you keep them around and then you wonder why people are suspect when you come around. Yes you! The person who flirts shamelessly with married people yet can't figure out why married people are always "coming at you" 'cause flirting isn't a bad thing. Yes you Miss Independent. The one that doesn't "need" a man but wants one to follow her around so she can dismiss him whenever she doesn't "need" him and expects him to still bend over backwards at a moments notice. Ole mind reading wanting ass. Yes you Mr. She Needs To Keep Her Ass In the Kitchen. The dude that can't stand that Miss Independent has her own money, her own mind and that you might actually have to listen to her like (gasp) your father had to listen to your mother anyway. (Which is what really happened. Let's be real. A great woman knows how to make a man feel like a man and still have a WHOLE LOT OF INPUT IN THE DECISIONS THAT ARE MADE. Ask somebody if you don't know..) Man, I could go on for days (I will don't worry. One day I will cover some shit YOU DID.) So miss me with the list people. You are human. You do shit. Daily. You can want what you want but you are living in fantasy land if you think that you keep up the shit you are doing and you are alone. You are not.

Well shit, I guess that means no one can be with each other huh? No, Mr./Mrs. Cynic. That's not what I am saying. What I am saying is that if you want to be with another "human" expect "human" things. You do know that humans error right? You need to leave room for that. Especially if you aren't TRULY bringing all you need to be bringing to the table too. Some of you are so stuck on yourself that you REALLY THINK THAT YOUR SHIT DOESN'T STINK. It is pathetic. I watch people put things up everyday about their foul ass attitudes, foul ass ways, and such and REALLY WONDER WHY THEY CAN'T KEEP SOMEONE AROUND. Did you not get the memo?

I am sorry, am I supposed to feel bad for Geraldine? I am fresh out of sympathy for her seeing as though she has a history of making these sort of comments in the past.




The Governor of New York has dragged some people into his mess that I feel a little sympathy for though. His kids, his wife and the call girl. What was he thinking? (c) Willie from College Hill Virgin Islands. Using the governments tab to do his dirty work? C'mon fam. Do better. Why he drug her up there to be embarrassed with him on the podium is beyond me. The call girl? My sympathy stems not from the fact that she was poor or whatever but more from the standpoint that she is doing what MILLIONS OF GIRLS are doing and she is getting ready to be "spokesperson" for it. The media is bullshit for publishing her myspace page and whatnot. Showing up outside her door to try to speak to her. For what? Her speaking out is going to do what? Make us understand? Yeah okay......

Anyway, that is it for today's "Tear you a new asshole" rant. lol.

I see the Suns are finally getting it together. @ win over Golden State. That is important 'cause they play small ball even better than Phoenix did before the trade for Shaq.

I can't believe that the kid that plays down the street at the Bob is actually being talked about as an NFL QB. I mean, Flacco is no scrub but I just don't see it. Then again, I have been wrong before. So have those damm scouts though..lol***


I am going to pick one thing (a hard thing for me to do 'cause I love to talk about any and everything.) and try to stick to it.

And as soon as I learn how to make this open to "comments" I will. Bare with me...



*Updated 7/13/12 You can find those topics under Grown Folks Talk...

**I consider this post to be the first 'true Grown Folks Talk' post although I didn't originally tag it as that.

*** He starts. I was wrong. Still not what they 'said' he was gonna be though. You see how he plays against us right? @ the Steelers

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