Pols & Diapers

I just had a revelation. Politicians are like infants, they're always spitting out crap and somebody has to come and clean up.

Back In The Saddle Again

After a long hiatus, and a actually finding my login info i forgot, i'm back online in the blogosphere.

Rappers vs. Record Labels

In recent months, i've taken notice on how influential rap/hip-hop has become around the world. The front page of my local newspaper had a picture of a rapper in Isreal, and another one from Jerusalem. I thought those pics to be pretty poignant in the fact that the rap/hip-hip culture has direct roots in black american culture that has literally reached to every metro area around the world. But over the years rap has been tarnished by the artists who don't bring any value to the genre. Artists who spit out garbage basically. These artists have become what the conservative set has targeted as being the definition of rap/hip hop culture which to them means guns, violent black men, drugs and degredation of women.

So this issue has made me wonder, why are rappers being villified and held accountable for their behaviors and language, but not the record label executives who hire and keep these villified rappers under contract to represent their record label? Shouldn't the record labels also be responsible for the words that come out of their artists mouths? Should they be held accountable for the violence that sometimes stem from this kind of music?

What are your thoughts?

The Most Important Things

This year for me personally has been one of many low points and realizations about the fragility of life. Four individuals close to me have passed away, all unexpectedly, with no warning signs, 3 under the age of 35, one in their early 50's. Attending four funerals and seeing so much grief of everyone affected by these passings has shown me that we spend much of our time being distant from one another and letting life pass us by.

As we rant and rave about political ideologies, how we think we're smarter than the next person, and so on, we forget the things that are most important and what really matter, and those important things are our close friends and family. So in reflection, take a few minutes to call one of your friends you haven't spoken to in awhile to touch base, do something helpful for someone in your family. It might unknowingly be your last chance.

The Success of Failure

Local residents have been very quick at highlighting the failing of our town Racine, Wisconsin. They point out, unbelievably high crime, a sorry public school system, high taxes, the failings of certian racial groups and so on and so forth. They make a strong case for moving to another community. But on the flip side, most of these same fervent complainers have had successful professional lives in the very city they despise so much, the same city that appears to be riddled with scum and blight. These individuals have seen much opportunity and success in a city that they would claim is on the brink of destruction and offers little to no opporunity at all for businesses or individuals.

So i am wondering which side of their mouths should we be listening to?