Read This Shit!

December 31st, Monday... I went online and read about all of the coach firings in the NFL (National Football League). I guess I was not surprised that so many coaches got canned (7) but one particular story got my attention. I read an article about Andy Reid (former head coach of the Philadelphia Eagles) and the article stated that Reid coached 14 years for that team. He has had success in 13 of those 14 years (the list is too long to write!). He did this and that and the other... This season he went 4 for 12. But, the article never talked about how bad of a coach he is. (Probably because he is NOT a bad coach!) So, what's my point?
I'm glad you asked! I'm thinking that if Andy Reid was fired, why would you not talk about how lousy he was as a coach? Why not talk about what a sorry job he's done? The article talked about how great his legacy is (w/ that team) and how he won this and that! Screw that! Why not talk abot what a sorry coach he's been and how the players shut down because of his bad coaching! It (the article) never mentioned anything about how bas his players were this season. I'm thinking that maybe the players should have been fired! (Sadly, you cannot fire the players! SHIT!)
I don't get pro sports! Those boys do the most assinine stuff most of the time. Imagine firing a coach because he has been successful? (I wonder what Philly would have done to Reid if He really screwed up? Wait a minute... I just had a vision: I see the Rocky statue... Next to it is Reid, swinging in the breeze w/ a noose around his neck!) Ahh... The city of Brotherly Love!

Some More BS!

December 21st, Friday... I am sitting at the computer and I am flipping channels on the TV... I ran across the movie Dead Poets Society, which is a story about a teacher who inspires his studends to "seize the day" and later gets fired for because of his mantra. Then I flip the channel and find the Wendy Williams Show, which is a talk show hosted by a woman who is a freakin' busy body. So I am watching this and the camera pans the audience... Mrs. Williams is preaching (subliminally) to her captive audience to live their lives, vicariously, through celebrities. Then she tells a story about a past affection she had for a boy who dumped her and the moral to the story is she ended up being on TV, with a talk show, and where is he?
Okay, there is an argument that television is a tool for entertainment purposes. There is also an argument that television can be educational. I don't knowwhat to believe to be honest but I do know this: I am smart enough to be able to watch television because I am smart enough to know what BULLSHIT is. (I was trained!)
To Whom It May Concern: Please train your children so that they can watch television with some semblance of intelligence. Do not allow them to absorb BULLSHIT! Don't waste your money on a 63" screen television only to watch mindless shows that will suck the moral fiber out of them quicker than a case of diarrhea! You have been warned!

More Bullshit!

December 20th, Thursday... Long before the invention of ESPN, sports news was, well sports news. The talking heads told you the teams, the games, the scores and sometimes a little fluff piece about a player. Now-a-days, with the addition of ESPN, news about sports is damn near all fluff! The "talking heads" are the celebrities and the it's all about them. Mike and Mike, who come on (my) radio at 6 a.m. weekdays are like Abbott and Costello. They do schtick! Steven A. Smith, the cool, "I have a way with words" brother from New York can (and will) take you on a roller coaster ride with words when he starts talking... WHEW! (Does anybody have a barf bag?) And then there is Rob Parker, the part-time co-host of the ESPN show, Fast Break, who's commentary does not necessarily grab you until he says something stupid... Well, the other day he said something real stupid! RGIII (Robert Griffin the 3rd), the phenom quarterback for the Washington Redskins in the NFL was labeled a "Cornball Brother" by Parker. It seems that these days with the advent of Hip-Hop and bling and "booty-clappers," it's not cool to be Black and educated, and speak well during interviews and act civilized, according to Parker, i.e. "cornball brother!"
What? Can Black folk have any dignity? Can we (yes, I'm Black!) behave with some decency when out in public without having to endure someone, who has a handle on a media outlet, designate us as "corny," or "nerdy," or not hip enough to merit favorable commentary?
I don't know... My thinking is news is news and entertainment is entertainment and "never the twain (should) meet!" Opinions about people mean nothing to me because opinions are like assholes. Everybody has one and they all stink!

What The...?

December 15, Saturday... It's that time of year again people! It's Christmas! Time for Santa Clause and Christmas cards! Time for decorating the house with trees and ornaments and lights! Time for presents! You know, peace on Earth, goodwill towards men! It's time to recognize the birthday of Christ, every Christian's Lord and Savior! It's also time to protect your belongings and and keeping your head on a swivel! It's time to be careful out there. Yeah, right...
But, here is what I cannot seem to get into my head! I DO NOT UNDERSTAND how some mixed up, unattended psycho can go into a school and KILL 20 children! And, his mother, has guns stockpiled in her crib, giving access to someone so unstable... It boggles my mind! I mean, is this recognized as some sort of variation of attrition? Should nothing be done, by way of the law as it relates to having one who is unstable to not be committed? And, in an elementary school? A place where babies dwell? Killed his mother... And here is the ass kicker: He killed himself!!!
I don't know. Maybe I'm stupid. My thinking is that if I had a problem and I wanted it all to end, I'd just take myself out! But, I guess it's true that misery DOES love company!Fuckin' weird!

Shit Happens

12/12/12, Wednesday... When I was growing up in Brooklyn, my mother was a big influence in my life. Whatever she said, I did! I would not say that I was a "momma's boy" but I was obedient and respectful. I was also fearful! My mother was a big voiced, strong willed and take action kind of woman. If I wanted to do something, and she did not want me to do it, it was not done! I remember begging my mother to let go into a bar because my friend's family was going there for a party. I went to the bar but I dared not to go in... (I could have gone in. She wasn't there to see if I did it or not!)
In retrospect, I have to laugh because I used to ask my mother for permission to do EVERYTHING! It did not matter what it was, I asked her for her permission. Here are some of the things I asked her to do: I asked her if I could join a gang!  I asked her if I could use drugs and be more like my friends. I asked her if I could join the BLACK PANTHERS and carry a gun. I asked her if I could join the Black Muslims and change my name. I asked her if I could date white women. I remember asking her if I could get a girl preggers and become a "dead beat" dad. Needless to say, she wouldn't let me do any of those things!
Now that I am where I am in my life, I realize that my mother was very restrictive and stunted my growth. I have no real memories of my past and I draw a blank when I try to reminiscence about how I grew up. Damn! Sometimes mothers can be so mean!

Shit Happens

November 11th, Sunday... "Homeboy in da house!" President Obama is back in the White House and there are some pissed off people in the country! I mean, what's the big deal? If  G. W. Bush can do eight years, why be pissed off about Obama? If the racial component is supposed to be "non existent" why be so upset? I mean, Mitt Romney? Are you serious? It seems like every time he opened his mouth, his foot fit perfectly in it!
Look, he is a rich man and he will live very comfortably for the rest of his life but... Truth be told, the Republican Party needs to get their "sh!t" together. Their track record is butt ugly! Besides, the way the world is going, no one man may be able to "fix it!" It's a GOD thing. The job market is a mess. The housing market is a mess... The Economy is a mess and those things did not just fall apart four years ago!
Hearts have to soften and mindsets have to change before some real results surface. This has all been prophesized! It's about people and how they conduct their business. If corruption and profit is prevelant, nothing will get done. Obama may not be the best, but he damn sure ain't the worst!
Okay, I'll start... I don't have a house or a job and I'm not "bitchin'" about a damn thing! I'm breathing and that is all I can ask for. It could be worse... I could be a woman and get pregnant due to a rape and Romney could be President. GOD has a plan!

Stupid Shit

October 30th, Tuesday... I am not a football fan. I do not care who plays whom from week to week in the NFL and I do not get all jacked up about the Super Bowl when that time rolls around./ I live in Redskin country but it means nothing to me when the Redskins play the Cowboys. That being said, I did raise an eyebrow when the 'Skins drafted Robert Griffin III with the overall second pick in the draft.
As far as I am concerned, he is as good as advertised. He is fast, mobile, accurate and fun to watch. His offensive line is doing their damnest to protect him and his stat line(s) are real cool... Which leads me to his sadistic coaching staff. What the hell were they thinking about when they implimented a trick play and sent RGIII on a route, which set him up to get the shit knocked out of him by the Steelers free safety? I mean, they made a big deal about RGIII taking off, out of the pocket and into a concussion! Yet you send him on a pass route!
I am not feeling the Shanahans. The head coach and his son seem better suited to coach a football team that has already established a winning culture. Those two putting a team together...Please. They cannot even spell DISIPLINE! (Ask DeAngelo Hall!)They would be better off in a "perfect world!" And speaking of Mr. Hall, how does the (cover?) corner allow himself to be baited into losing his mind on the field when he has been in the league for a few years and knows how the Steelers play? Sure, blame the refs! They did not throw the flag on the play he wanted, but they sure did throw (several) flags when he loosened his chinstrap and and released the (verbal) hounds! However, the Redskins can be fun to watch win or lose. Unfortunately they will lose more than they win for awhile.

Shit Happens

October 17th, Wednesday... I attended my college's homecoming this past weekend and I have to say that I had a good time. Of course I saw all the usual suspects and they told the same lies they told last year but... All in all, it was cool to be there. Some people got fatter, some were drunker, and some were just plain boring.
My problem with attending stuff like that is I cannot remember anyone's name. I have forgotten so much about college, I think I have College Alztheimers! I look at people with a blank stare on my face until they say something or just flat out say their name in order for me to get it. Of course I am embarrassed but, when I think about it, some people were just plain dull when we were in school.
I always saw college as a place where you needed to stand out without the use of a fraternity or sorority, or social club. Who the hell are you? I did not want to share my name with anyone or anything that would take away my shine. I was loud, obvious and crazy when I was in college. I dared to do stuff others shunned away from. I liked being out there!
The problem with that is now that we are in real time, I am labeled as a loon! I had no girlfriend, I did not marry my college sweetheart, and I have no children to show. Yeah, college was great... Back then! Now I am someone they remember as the guy who had no problem using the women's bathroom when all the stalls were full! Go figure...

Shit Happens

September 25th, Tuesday... I just read an interesting article about a University of Tennessee frat boy who had to go to the emergency room at a hospital because he did something called "Butt Chugging!" He consumed alcohal through a tube stuck up his arse! Are you kidding me?
What the hell is wrong with our Society where our young people have become so stupid? I used to buy into the notion that our younguns are smarter but that "perceived" intelligence seems to be relative because of how easy it is to access information now-a-days. I'm not feeling like I have confidence in our youth, and I know it's not "everybody," but I don't understand why all the asshole(pun intended) commentary is reported and positive accomplishments have to take a back seat. Does stupidity sell that much better? Is it even healthy to be exposed to said stupidity at every turn? I was watching OWN (Oprah's channel) and saw the Basketball Wives ("non factor") woman (Evelyn) bear her soul to the Iyanla woman. I mean, as something as personal as trying to get your life in order, have to be televised? She probably needs to take her ass to a private office somewhere and heal in secrecy. Why would you want EVERYONE to share in your personal drama?
What am I saying? This woman had no problem throwing wine bottles on camera, or cussing other people out in full effect. Why would she rehab in private?
World gone mad!

Shit Happens

September 6th, Thursday... I have been trying to keep up with the conventions and hone in on what has been said and I started thinking, maybe the whole damn thing should be revamped? Why not elect a president for eight years instead of four years? Cost would definitely be cut down significantly from campaigning. Cost would also be cut from putting on the dog and pony show the conventions seem to display. The elected president would have a significant amount of time to clean up the mess created by the previous president and a decent amount of time to do his/her thing! It would also place a higher value on the vote itself. What's the downside? Well, if the wrong cat is picked, your ass will suffer for eight years!
We, as Americans, should be used to long term suffering. Between Reagan, Bush, and Bush, Americans have endured more BS than a field of bulls can produce after taking massive amounts of a laxative!
The other piece is, stop fucking the president's name! I mean, what the fuck is a "MITT? What's his history? Was he a leather baseball glove when he was born?

Shit Happens

September 3rd, Monday/Labor Day... Okay... maybe it's me. I have a leather shoulder bag that has a latch that slides under a bar (strip of metal) to hold the flap closed. The latch is broken so I went to a luggage store to ask if they could fix the latch. The guy I talked to (from India) could not do the work but he referred me to the shoe repair store... Wait a minute... The shoe repair store? So I asked him if they did that kind of work and he said, "I DON'T KNOW! WHENEVER I GET SOMETHING I CAN'T DO, I REFER CUSTOMER TO THEM!") What the ...?
I get it. Fuck customer service! Look, step up your game when you come to this country and own a business! And, cavete vendor! If you are going to fleece AMERICA, at the very least be slick about it. And, if you are going to play the role of the "stupid" consumer, learn to develop some "BALLS" to challenge who is doing the selling! "I'm just sayin'"

Shit Happens

September 2nd, Sunday... Question: If I have faith and wait for GOD to move in HIS time, and I die of "natural causes,"  in the process, did GOD kill me? I want to ask my Pastor that question but he is too busy insulting me when we talk. What is it about men who have (perceived) power and their egos? I have observed that my pastor is passive-aggressive so he slips these little "zingers" in when we talk. Today he insinuated that I was "gay" because I carried a (his term) "man bag" to church with me today. What I have is not a "man bag!" What I carry is the size of a briefcase! I understand that a "man bag" is considerably smaller in size compared to my bag.
Of course I took what he said as a joke but I wonder if I said to him what he said to me, he would take as a joke? Would he be offended? Should I care? Should I respect him as a pastor or disrespect him as a man? Should I change churches?
Wait a minute, I know what I will do... I will peruse the Bible and find the scripture that will allow me to insult him biblically in context! I'll look in Proverbs and Revelations.  Maybe I can find out whether he is using "real" wine for Holy Communion as opposed to drinking the fruit punch the congregation drinks. (We took the body and blood today. He might have been drunk!)

Shit Happens

August 27th, Monday... I just watched a video of a woman demonstrating how to put a condom on a man's penis with her mouth! C'mon...
My question is how come I don't personally know ANY women like that? The love and care she took in explaining the process and actually doing it (on a dildo) proved to me that she would be an excellent girlfriend!
I have come to understand something as an older man. I realize why older men like younger women. Older women seem to just take on more BS than is required to live life. It's like the older they get, the more shit they have to do. I was married once and it did not work. Some years passed and I started thinking that I wanted to get married again. Then I got re-aquainted with a woman I dated a long time ago! We talked about getting married and living this beautiful life together... What a crock of shit that was! I do not know what prompted me to even think that way. But I'll tell you this: I'm not thinking that way anymore!With the agenda she presented to me... Oh hell no!
I am sure that there might be someone who will disagree with what I just wrote, if read at all, but this is my experience. For those who like to rock, I salute you! And, if I ever get so desparate where sex becomes a problem, I do have a porno collection! Oh yeah...

Shit Happens

August 13th, Monday... Far be it for me to judge but what is wrong w/ the Black Church leadership? Why are the parishoners so angry? The church I attend has me all confused. I'm thinking that the people would be more cheerful and friendly but all I'm getting is attitude.
If I had the relationship w/ GOD the way some of them claim to have, I'd be happy all the time! I mean, what would I have to be angry about? My future is secure (you know, I'm going to Heaven!). Whatever I'm gonna get has already been promised to me! I don't have to worry about dating or marriage (I'm already dating Jesus!). What is the problem?
I mean, I like it there and all but... Sure I can leave but what guarantee do I have that the atmosphere is any better than where I am? I guess my alternative would be to not go to church at all! What good would that do me? I could go to a "white" church but I don't like being stared at. I'm confused... Lord have mercy!

Shit Happens/ The Resurrection

July 26th, Thursday... In Christianity there is talk of the Resurrection of Jesus. He will rise from the dead and reappear to the believers. I'm thinking that it is a test of faith and belief in the principles of said religion of which I have no problem with.
That being said, I feel like I am witnessing a resurrection of sorts in Society. I call it the resurrection of stupidity! I keep hearing about how easy it is to access information via the Internet. The "social media" is easily accessed through one's cell phone and the system is on fire with communication. It's so fast no FaceBook seems outdated now. And, with all of that, people seem to be so fucking stupid!
Just the other day, James Holmes, allegedly, a brilliant student, shot up a theatre full of movie goers posing as the character "The Joker" at the Batman movie premiere in Colorado. Why? Okay, you can say he is sick. That, however, does not that he is not also stupid.
The world seems to be getting smaller, but the hatred is looming larger amongst people. The economy is now global but there is a divide between races and creeds. Global warming is evident and yet people are still polluting the planet! How stupid is that? In the Black community, the brothas are wearing their pants hanging off their ass, as a fashion statement, with the knowledge of the history of the move. How stupid is that?
I'm puzzled with the world right now. I cannot make heads or tails out of what I am witnessing. The question is, why do I even want to? Maybe I am just as stupid? D'UH!

Shit Happens

July 24th, Tuesday... I've been listening to sports talk radio go on and on about the Penn State situation involving their former assistant football coach Jerry Sandusky, who took it upon himself to violate young boys in the shower. Now the NCAA has stepped in to punish Penn State with a 60 million dollar fine over five years, loss of scholarships and vacating Joe Paterno's wins record.
Well, Coach Paterno is dead, Sandusky is in jail, the school has been punished and yet there is no talk about the future lives of the victims! Why is that?
It's strange to me that there is no mention of what compensation lies ahead for them. They were sacrificed and it seems like they are being punished, again for said sacrifice that they, unknowingly, were sacrificed! Even if the money goes to charity, do they have to join said charity to gain compensation? Sure, they can sue.
Sue who? Sandusky? (Good luck with that lawsuit!) As I think about it, what is in it for the victims? Sandusky?

Shit Happens

July, 22nd, Sunday... DAMN! How long has it been? I know, I've been negligent but I have also been busy. I traveled, I did nome basketball coaching... Hell, I almost got a job coaching overseas! I was right there! Right there. I met a guy who was looking to hire a basketball in the Far East. He interviewed me, twice... Watched me coach some games and got real excited about the possibilities of me working in his organization... And then IT happened!
We went our separate ways and... BOOM! The bottom fell out! We emailed a couple a couple of times and then, nothing! He said he would contact me within a certain time frame. He did not. I emailed him to get the deal and, whoa... He wrote me back to say that he wanted to call me and talk. Oh, ohhhhhh...
So he called the next day and we talked... After the conversation, I was no longer interesting enough to be hired. Oh there were promises made about the future. What f#$kin' future? Last I heard, the future was not promised. Only guarantee I have about the future is that I will die!
Yeah, I get it. I will be a basketball coach in the Kingdom! I wonder if I will win a championship in that league?

A Warped POV by A.Dacosta Brathway April 24th, Tuesday... I have noticed there are a lot of posts of kids fighting and being recorded by cell phones. What the hell is going on? Has the world really gone mad? Is "conflict resolution" a lost art? Are young people so angry that they have to commence to flying fisticuffs? My thinking is this: If I were so angry to the point of wanting to fight, I would join the MMA or whatever they call it and make some money? The economy is bad, there are no jobs and the educational system seems to be failing so why not make a little cheese? Who knows? There might be a championship belt involved? But, I think that that's too much like right! So I guess beating the crap out of someone is the soup dejour huh? I used to think that our civilization was making huge strides in preserving the planet and getting along in that process but there is global warming, the world is falling apart, people are frustrated and God is just some cat who lives upstairs! So, carry on... I'll be perched on some mountain somewhere, with my laptop tuned into Facebook, watching the news while the world falls apart. Holla when you're finished!

A Warped POV by A. Dacosta Brathway

April 19th, Thursday... Jarrod Uthoff, a 6'8" basketball player at the University of Wisconsin, is being restricted of his choices to transfer to another university by head coach Bo Ryan, and the question is: What's the point? FYI: The NCAA has restrictions for transfers. They are to sit out a year and maintain a 2.5 GPA if I am not mistaken but they do not restrict a player's choice of schools. The school in question will usually restrict a player from transferring to a school in the same conference. Bo handed in a list that had so many restricted schools on it, the kid might as well quit school and go to work for a fast food restaurant! What's the point?
Why are the athletes the ones who receive the harshest punishment when an action takes place contrary to the opinion of the school and the coach barring a criminal act? Is it the scholarship money? Four year scholarships are no longer offered to basketball players. They are now on a year to year basis. Uthoff did not play a game. He was on the bench the whole season. Why would he not want to transfer after he was Mr. Basketball in the state of Iowa and recruited by Bo Ryan and only God knows what he was told by coach when they sat in the kid's living room and discussed the "bottom line"(?). Is coach "pissed off?" Or, is he shallow to the point of wanting the kid to suffer?
And, what about the good ole NCAA? When are they going to step in and stop the madness?Probably never because they are, usually, the perpetrators of said madness! Truth be told, big time college basketball coaches are gods. Most are arrogant and full of shit! They are rich and walk around with autonomy! They are also superstitious. Bo's fear is that Uthoff will transfer to a school Wisconsin will have on their schedule, the kid will score 30 and Bo will lose the game! Shit! There goes the legacy!

A Warped POV by A. Dacosta Brathway

April 14th, Saturday... Okay... I know it's just me but I just read/heard a report of the Secret Service soliciting prostitutes to a hotel in South America. Of course this is under the watch of President Obama, our first BLACK president! Now, I know I am naive but am I to believe that this is absolutely the first time this EVER happened in the history of the Secret Service?
The President goes to Russia and none of the dignitaries would shake his hand. A Congressman addresses the First Lady's ass as being very large... Now this! I guess my question is: Why is all of this "public knowledge" now that we have a black president? Is this some kind of presidential character assassination thing, does it, by chance, have something to do with covert racism, or is it just a coincidence of some sort? What it is, is some BULL! To compromise the safety of the man and the position speaks to how fucked up the paradigm really is. The whole idea of running an "I don't know how many millions of dollars" campaign to put whomever in office to serve the agenda of whatever is a fallacy!
And... To expose this foolishness to the eyes of the world compromises the position even more./ Keep your head down Sir!

A Warped POV by A. Dacosta Brathway

April 8th, Sunday...I'm sitting here messing with the computer and the TV is on. I'm not watching it per se but I am listening to the movie that is on.It's one of those Transformer films... I don't know. The second one or the third one... [Maybe it's the fifteenth one? (Did they go that far with the sequels?)] Anyway, during a commercial break, the network (FX) has two hosts explaining some technical aspect while they were filming and I hear one of the actors say (paraphrasing here) that the special effects people were up on a hill underneath umbrellas and tents while she stood two feet from where they planted the explosives. When signaled, she had to run while the explosives went of. Mind you, she had no shelter and was, literally, running for her life! E-X-C-U-S-E M-E? Running for her life? The possibility that she could be hurt, maimed, or killed?
Ok, I am all for authenticity but damn... What happened to the stunt people? Were they too smart to do the scene because they feared for their lives? Are filmmakers too insensitive because they want to secure their investment when shooting a block buster movie?
I wanted to be an actor but my fear was that I would be type cast as a dope dealer or a pimp and a scene would call for me getting shot... And wouldn't you know it, the gun would have real bullets in it and I would be shot all up to be damned!

A Warped POV by A. Dacosta Brathway

April 5th, Thursday... How stupid is pro basketball? I just read a story on Yahoo Sports about Dwight Howard, the talented center for the Orlando Magic, being instrumental in getting Stan Van Gundy, the coach, fired at the end of the season. Van Gundy found out about it and confronted Howard and Howard flinched! First of all, the idea of a player getting the coach fired is absurd (but so real in pro basketball. Ask Magic Johnson... Yes the pun is intended!) and secondly, Don't turn "bitch" and start babbling when caught. Stand up!
Truth be told, management is the "punk" in this case. They do not seem to have the balls to stand up and be accountable. Management is allowing this to happen. Look at the irony in this B.S! Management is managing not to manage! Go figure...
So, what about the team? What about the mission? What now?
Luckily, Van Gundy probably has money! Be gone! He will work again in the league. Howard has some moola! Stay with the Magic or move on. To the rest of the team and management, stay together ans suffer!You would think that a city that has Disney World and Universal Studios could act professionally and keep up the fantasy that they are a real pro basketball team! (Amway!!! And to think that I always thought the detergent was cool!)

A Warped POV by A. Dacosta Brathway

April 1st, Sunday... I got fooled today! I'm not interested in the April Fools Day thing but I got got today. I clicked on a Facebook post today and saw a bunch of people on a New York City subway taking off their pants and drawers while riding! I guess it was an April fools joke or something. Anyway, it got me to thinking...
The cost of freedom is high (higher than gas!). Men and women are losing their lives fighting and patrolling in foreign lands while there are some who come up with idiotic ideas to pass the time. Now, I admit to not thinking about the troops during most of my day. But, I do think about the troops when I read about people abusing the privilege! C'mon, stripping in a subway car, exposing one's ass (and whatever else) and for what? Because they can?
And, what if...what if someone decides to cop a feel or poke a puss or get all worked up at the sight of someone's ass being exposed and reek havoc while in the close quarters of that subway car? What if one of the exposed has a rash and, by accident or on purpose, rub on someone and the rash is deadly and the train pulls into the 42nd St. (Times Square) station and everyone in the car is dead? Okay, what if one or some of the naked people is funky beyond belief and the odor is like a deadly gas and kills everyone in the car as it pulls into the 42nd St. (Times Square) station? Or worse, the train pulls into the Franklin Ave. station and endangers the life of those who live in Bedford-Stuyvesant, Brooklyn? That would be a BIG ASS problem because the Mayor doesn't give a rat's ass about Brooklyn! Imagine that 911 call... "Hello, 911? We have a serious emergency?" "Where are you calling from?" "Brooklyn...! Hello... hello!" (Dial tone!)

A Warped POV by A. Dacosta Brathway

March 26th, Monday... So I'm flipping channels on my TV and I happen upon the Atlanta Housewives on BRAVO. Sheree' is in a jewelry store with her future son-in-law and they are looking at engagement rings. The jeweler announces that the (particular) ring they are looking at costs $40,000.00! The brother is taken aback by the price and comments on it (To the effect of that's a steep price for an engagement ring!), to which Sheree' responds with "blah, blah, blah, you can work overtime!") No, she did not blink or stutter! I have to hand it to the casting people for the 'Housewives' Franchise! They know how to find despicable people!
Don't get your drawers in a bunch. I know it's TV and it's entertainment and man, I AM ENTERTAINED! I see why people are frustrated and disillusioned with the rules of Society. No wonder people are flocking to Religion for guidance. It's just too bad Kingdom principles do not work in the secular setting. You're going to have to die to experience that stuff (if you're conscious to know what you're feeling! Good luck with that!). I was thinking about getting married (again). I no longer harbor those thoughts!

A Warped POV by A. Dacosta Brathway

March 24th, Saturday...I hate Facebook! I've said that before but, now that I think about it, maybe it is not Facebook that I hate but the people on it... And, maybe I don't hate them but... Whatever!
Anyway, I commented on something someone posted and I got a rebuttal on my comment. A rebuttal on an opinion? Why? Are people so frustrated that no one else can have an opinion on something of their own free will? I'm wrong? So what if I am wrong? It's just my opinion! In my opinion, an opinion is like an asshole. Everybody has one and they all stink!
All of that being said, the guy told me that he wanted to debate me on my opinion. debate me? Why? Is it because you think your opinion is better than mine and I should, maybe, adopt your point of view? Or, do you want to debate me because you think you will the debate and become the master of the debate?
Well, I have a suggestion, if you want to be the master of the debate, why don't you just... (Wait for it...) MASTURBATE! BOOM! YEAH I SAID IT!

A Warped POV by A. Dacosta Brathway

March 21st, Wednesday... One step forward, two steps back! The New Orleans Saints have become the "'Aints" (again). The NFL (National Football League) has come down on the New Orleans franchise with suspensions, fines, and draft pick for their findings in "Bounty Gate!" Gregg Williams, former defensive coordinator for the Saints, devised a "bounty" system for his defensive charge to "motivate" them to win football games, which, by the way, is against NFL rules. Look at the irony in this: The most violent (legal) professional sport in America needs a scheme to "motivate" the players to play harder to win games! Comparatively speaking, the money was not much... A couple of thousand dollars compared to the hundreds of thousands of dollars in contract money, which, comparatively speaking to the big pro sports (baseball and basketball), is chicken feed so why not implement a bounty? IRONY.
So, here's the deal: The team is fined $500,000.00 in fines, two second round draft picks,an eight game suspension for the general manager, an indefinite suspension for the former defensive coordinator (Gregg Williams) and a season suspension (without pay) for the head coach Sean Payton for the season! Damn!
Also, remember Hurricane Katrina and how the Saints were credited with revitalizing the city after devastating losses. (Which, if you think about it is bullshit because there are parts of the city that have never recovered. Do I have to remind you that it's mostly the Black parts of the city that still have not benefited from the Saints, whatever they did? Needless to say that this is a mess and a bad joke! And...and, how will the Saints winning their Super Bowl Championship a few years ago be treated? How will it be perceived now? How should it be perceived now? Should we care? I don't give a rat's ass about it simply because professional sports people function as an elitist group and would not give a shit about me and/or my condition. Besides, I do not live in New Orleans and I cannot afford a ticket to a Saints game. Plus, I cannot see myself eating alligator and fries with a side order snake rings and sipping a Coke while the Saints go head hunting and decapitate somebody while I'm eating!

A Warped POV by A. Dacosta Brathway

March 21st, Wednesday... I was just reading an online Yahoo article about Newt Gingrich's faltering campaign for the Republican nomination for President, and Gingrich remains adamant about running in spite of losing numbers and no money! I started thinking, how could I support a man who criticizes the existing president about the economy while his financial arrogance has run amuck? How can I trust him to do the right thing with money?
I guess having rich friends is a nice thing to have but is it feasible to be so irresponsible with someone else's money? (Even when they are stupid enough to allow you to be?) Right now, 3 drones (spy planes) are grounded and they cost 3.8 billion dollars to build! I mean, so as to not give the appearance of wasting money, could those planes be loaned out (rented out) to be used at an amusement park or something? You know, let the kids fly them around the park. Or maybe small children can be seat belted in and flown around? What?
I don't know... Maybe it is me? What am I thinking? Red flags are flapping in my head like gale force winds are blowing! Would someone please lock the asylum's front door and check all the exits? Somebody call "Crazy Joe!" (Lean On Me!)

A Warped POV by A. Dacosta Brathway

March 19th, Monday... So I'm flipping channels and I stumble on a show called the Shahs of Sunset. What the...? How do Iranians flee their country, come to America and get their own show? I'm just saying... Bravo has cornered the market on stupidity!
What kills me is how an ethnic group can come here and NOT live in a ghetto! The promo said that great riches were left behind and I'm watching these people flying in private jets and drinking Chrystal! (That's expensive shit!) And how does a 2 bit Persian Princess with the hip-hop mouth get a stylist?
But, I have to admit to getting stuck to the show. Bad behavior and disrespect is an attraction for me. Throw in sex and we're talking Emmy nomination!
I'm also digging the tattoo shows! Body art... It is not me (If I liked needles I would have aspired to be a junkie!) but I love looking at it. I'm into art and artists... So what if the canvas is a human being? ( How cool would it have been if Dali did the Persistence of Memory on Gala's ass?)
I have an idea for a reality show for radio but I won't reveal the context or title for fear that someone might steal it. I'm gonna do it myself and revolutionize radio! "Look Ma, I'm on top of the world!"

A Warped POV by A. Dacosta Brathway

March 16th, Friday... Now that thye New York Knicks of the NBA has changed coaches, "Linsanity" may be over and insanity will take its place! Such is the life in New York City. City lights, provocative life styles, traffic, crime, noise, D'Antoni getting fired... (Opps, I mean resigning!) So what happens now? Does Jeremy Lin take Baron Davis' seat on the bench now that Mike Woodson takes the helm? And, how in hell did he get the interim piece ahead of Herb Williams anyway? He just got there after being fired by the Atlanta Hawks! (No, he did not resign!)
If Jeremy's money is guaranteed, I don't feel sorry for him. I wrote before that he should be with another team but who listens to me? (By the way, who IS reading me anyway?) I'm talking "big boys" here! So what if a flowing offense slows down for isolation plays? (Yo, Carmelo... You're up!)Play some damn defense already! This is pro basketball, not rec league basketball! Big money is involved! Fans are paying a "mturd" load of cash to watch the action.If the Knicks are only going to play half the game, can the fans pay half price for the ticket?
I worked for the Knicks back in the day and I was told by an executive, (and I quote...) "If you are looking for warm and fuzzy, this is NOT the place!"
One day the Knicks will get it right again. Red Holzman will come back from the dead... Willis Reed and Walt Frazier will suit up, Phil Jackson will come off the bench and the Knicks will win another NBA championship! (Now that I am finished laughing, I will end it here!)

A Warped POV by A. Dacosta Brathway

March 15th, Thursday... It seems as though "March Madness" has not only affected the college community of basketball, it also has a profound affect on the NBA as well! There are two (count them) situations that are looming over the head of the NBA. One of them has been taken care of but the reverberation of it will have a similar result like a tsunami after an earthquake. That situation is the firing/resignation of Mike D'Antoni, the (former) head coach of the New York Knicks. In the wake of "Linsanity" and the return of Carmelo ("Coach Killer") Anthony, D'Antoni's applauded freelance system on offense has dissolved into a mess and the Knicks are as dysfunctional as ever! The Knicks are as Mr. Gecko (character of the movie Wall Street) says they are wrecked because they are "wreckable!" Why does this happen in New York? (Maybe it says something about New York?)
The other situation is the trade/non trade of Dwight Howard, the love able/hate able center of the Orlando Magic. He wants to go... No, wait a minute, he wants to stay... No, he has power over the Magic's decision making... Wait. He wants to relinquish his power back to the Magic! WHAT?
Okay, lets let cooler heads prevail right now. Who is to blame for all of this? Is it something in the air? Is it in the food? No... None of that. The problem is in Charlotte, North Carolina. Michael Jordon is the problem!/ LOL! He created all of this foolishness by being so damn good when he played! If he did not do what he did, all of this crap would not be happening now! (That's all I got!)

A Warped POV by A. Dacosta Brathway

March 12th, Monday... Okay, here we are! March Madness at its finest. The brackets are out for the NCAA Tournament. The teams are picked, some deserving teams got snubbed and all is right with the world! Outside of the competition, I like to listen to the so called "experts" who sell, sell, sell, this tournament like no other! (Poor NIT! And what the hell is the College Basketball Invitational?)
I was watching ESPN and witnessed a pissing contest between basketball pundits Digger Phelps and Fran Frashilla over a charge/block call in the University of North Carolina vs Florida State ACC conference semi final game. They got real heated about who thought he was right. It ended when they agreed to disagree but still... An argument on air? I guess it speaks to the passion that is displayed this time of year for college basketball. The sad part is that they act like it is the only basketball going on.
There are other divisions besides Division I. There is DII, DIII, and NAIA basketball tournaments going on simultaneously. Of course these divisions are not mentioned because the reports are all about the elite by elitists reporting it, who are ordered by elitist programmers! Is it fair? Hell no! Is it fair that people in hell want ice water and cannot get it?
I guess it boils down to parents not letting their babies grow up to be non elitists! Hey, it's not foreign to be that there are different levels of talent. I get that some players are better than others, but still..."Give the drummer some!" There is so much nonsensical programming on TV, cut some of that shit off. I mean, Kim Kardashian cannot post up anybody. She tried and failed! (Basketball reference... Pun intended!)
Four weeks of madness! Time to stock on the beer, chips, and whatever and hit the man cave!

A Warped POV by A. Dacosta Brathway

March 10th, Saturday... I was flipping channels on my TV the other day and I stumbled on the reality show Basketball Wives. (I hate reality shows! They are so fake! Ha!)Okay, maybe I'm out of touch but what is it with the big hair and those BIG (ASS) earrings? DAMN! I mean, why would a woman want to wear chandeliers? (Vanity?) Is her head balanced because of the weight of the hair coupled with those BIG ASS earrings? Is it a physics thing? Has women's fashion run a-muck?
What happened to a nice set of diamond or pearl earrings? Or, a nice set of rings maybe? No! Women are now wearing weights on their ears!What? Are they strengthening their neck muscles while they walk? Is this the "new exercise?" And, are jewelers charging for these things by the pound? (What is the price of precious metals these days?) On top of that, are high heels higher now? I don't get it. I am thinking that the weight of a women's head, with the big hair and chandeliers, would cause a weight distribution imbalance and create a hazardous condition! Imagine a woman going out to dinner to a fancy restaurant... She gets to the place, with her date (boyfriend, husband, sucker, whatever!), trips... The weight of the hair and apparatus she is wearing in her ears causes her head to ,violently, tilt forward, she falls, busts her head wide open... There is blood everywhere! The sidewalk is cracked all to pieces and she has a rip in her stocking. SHIT! You KNOW she hates when that happens!

A Warped POV by A. Dacosta Brathway

March 9th, Friday... I attended the Maryland State Basketball Championship games for high school team yesterday at the University of Maryland and an interesting dynamic took place. Now, it was not an isolated occurrence but I was a bit taken aback when I eyeballed it for myself. Apparently there is a high school phenom that attends a school (Patterson High School I think the name is) in Baltimore known as the "Crime Stopper!" His momma named him Shiquille Carr, a 5'3" speedster who is like a blur if you watch him very closely. But, he is not the object of my post, per se... When got my attention was his following! People were filing into the arena like they were going to a family reunion picnic by the bus load(s)! Watching the people barge in, I got to thinking, what is it about "hero worship" and black folks? I mean, if not the "Crime Stopper" it's Deion Sanders! If not Deion, it's Earl Monroe (Black Jesus!) If not Earl, it's Jesus himself! What?
I was raised to not be a follower. My mother told me that if I became a "follower" I could end up falling in love with a boy named Skip!
My point is this: Aspire to be a damn leader and leave the following to the weak minded! If you are weak-minded, strengthen your brain! I realize that everyone cannot be a leader but remember the plight of the second sled dog and the lemming. (If you do not know what I am talking about, use Wikipedia please!)

A Warped POV by A. Dacosta Brathway

March 7th, Wednesday... I was on Fakebook this morning and saw some interesting posts. I scrolled through the vanity patrol and the religious zealots to come across an article of a woman, 81 years old, who won a crap load of money playing Powerball! She said she bought the ticket and put it in her Bible and slept on it every night. My mind started working...
I heard my pastor talk about how people need to get their finances together, without the thought of winning a lottery. It's not GOD's plan to win games of chance because GOD does not deal by chance. So, what should the woman do with the tainted money she won? (Tainted by Christian standards.) Should she tithe? Would the church accept it? Should she contribute to the building fund? (I'm sure her contribution would make getting that building a lot faster! Can you say "mega church!") How fast do you think the church members would allow her to be in any of the many "clicks" that exist in the church? (Did I say "clicks?" I meant ministries! Oops.) And, will the whispering behind her back stop once she is revealed as the "anonymous" donor and is admired for her new finery?
Excuse me... I digress. These types of situations may not exist in your church but they sure do exist in mine. Luckily, that lucky (I mean "blessed") Powerball winner does not attend my church so I hope she can enjoy her millions without persecution! Amen!

A Warped POV by A. Dacosta Brathway

March 6th, Tuesday... I listen to sports talk radio every morning and there are certain times during a season when the news becomes monotonous, boring, and overstated! This latest thing is odd to me because it is news that is out of season but the discovery reared it (ugly) head now so... (Is there a "snitch" in the mist?) Somehow it has been revealed that "bounties" have been placed on certain players on certain NFL teams! "SHOCKER!" Greg Williams, a defensive coordinator, by trade, initiated this "bounty" thing as a motivation for his minions to play harder so that, probably, there would be a desired effect on the game!
How bored can you be to need extra incentive to knock the shit out of someone on a field? To be fair, I don't blame the players! I'm looking at the diabolical "mad scientist" defensive coordinator who sits in the film "lab" and concocts a plan to alter the fabric of the game, rubbing his hands and laughs hysterically while rearing back in his chair!
The game is violent enough without a "bounty" having to be in place. Should there be a punishment? Probably, as if pro football is not punishment enough. Think about it... Here is a game where men can go to work and beat the shit out of other men! It's built in therapy on the job! (Now if they can only find a solution for drunk driving and club shootings?)

A Warped POV by A. Dacosta Brathway

February 26th, Sunday... I just saw something that confirmed that I am some sort of sports racist? Bigot? What? I was flipping channels today, looking for something to watch and I happened upon ESPN showing a bowling tournament. I NEVER watch bowling! N-E-V-E-R! My mind snapped. My inner voice said,"Just stay here for a minute and watch this!" So, I stayed on the channel to watch some guy named Pete Weber try to get a strike to win the tournament. He stood there... He was focused. He took a deep breath. He raised the ball, looked down the lane, made his approach and released a spinning masterpiece that started going one way down the lane and ended up curving back to strike the center pin just off of its left side. All of the pins fell... Well, all except one. It was the last pin on the left side. Pete Weber blew air out of his system like a surfacing whale! He bowled again to get the spare. He succeeded! Now he had to bowl again to get a strike to win the tournament. He repeated his movements exactly as before! He released the ball the same way as before. The ball spun as before. It took the same direction as before... Except, this time he got the coveted strike he was looking for! Victory was his! Then he did something I would have expected more from a football player than a bowler. He went into a tirade as if he were in a room by himself, talking to himself in a full length mirror!
I was so taken by surprise that I cannot remember what he said verbatim but I can say this: I will N-E-V-E-R watch bowling again!

A Warped POV by A. Dacosta Brathway

February 24th, Friday... "Don't believe the hype!" Especially if it's about you!/ Now that Jeremy Lin has met the Miami Heat and had a sub-par game, maybe the media will stop creating the "super hero" they want Lin to be. Lin got the chance to be in the NBA... That's all! He can hang out but he is not going to dominate the thing. What has been proven so far is that there are a lot of bad defenders in the league or, for the sake of entertainment no defense is played to keep the game moving. Miami did not get that memo!
No fault of Lin's. He did not create the hype. He just went into the game, when told, and did what he does! ("Does what he do!" for you Ebonics readers!) He is a basketball player and he strengths and weaknesses like all players. It's the "ding-dang" media that is responsible for the (created) hysteria that surrounds Jeremy Lin.
What I like about the (personified) media is when they create something, then back off of it when called on the carpet. What is proves, to me, is that the media believes that everything that happens is a story and when it is not all that of a great story, they will hash it out until they think it is! Please!
Lin is an innocent bystander in all of this and now he may have to bear some pain because the Miami Heat exposed him. Hopefully he is of sound mind. But, no worries... The Knicks are corporate owned. They have plenty of cheese! They can hire a personal psychiatrist if Lin needs one. They can put him/her on a retainer and fly him/her out when needed!
Keep the faith Lin. You are in the city (Manhattan) where the fantasy becomes the reality! (If you lived in Brooklyn, reality would smack the shit out of you everyday!)

A Warped POV by A. Dacosta Brathway

February 19th, Sunday... Lately I have been hearing criticism about the "social media" phenom that has swept the world by storm. What I heard (criticism) is that there is no filter on what's being written or said and it poses a problem for the (more) established media outlets. So, I'm reading all of the accounts I get eyeball on Jeremy Lin (the Asian-American N.Y. Knick) because... well, he can ball! For whatever reason, there are those who were waiting for Lin to fail because he got off to a great start! His numbers were (are) great, save the turnovers. (Actually they are great also. He is leading the league in that category!/ LOL!).
Anyway, almighty ESPN, the omnipotent sports network stuck their athletic foot in their mouth by reporting that there is a "Chink In The Armor" after the Knicks loss to the New Orleans Hornets. Even with the loss, Lin had 26 points and 5 assists!
Institutionalized racism is like a venomous snake... The snake can live with the poison. When we get bitten, uhhh... antidote please!
Should ESPN go off the air? Probably not. Should someone lose their job? Probably! Why should they be allowed to hang around as it were. Shouldn't the person who said or wrote such a derogatory comment be held to a higher standard than that of some unfiltered, "social media" hack?

A Warped POV by A. Dacosta Brathway

February 14th, Tuesday... Okay, now I AM CONFUSED! I read a disturbing article about the embattled Bishop Eddie Long, who pastor's a huge church in Atlanta. Apparantly he participated in some unsavory sexual behavior and got caught and exposed. I already knew about this so it was not the incident(s) that shocked me. What bothered me was the response from a man that I wanted to believe in. I'm talking about TD Jakes, the big time preacher out of Texas who runs a mega church. I watch him on The Word Network, at the request of someome I am starting not to believe in as well. Jakes did not condemn Eddie Long for his behavior. He condemned the "consenting" participants! What the...?
Hey, don't get me wrong> I understand the concept of sticking up for your "crony!" I get it... That's your colleague, your homie, your road dog... You two break bread at the big tables, at the religious retreats at those exotic places! Collars art loosed and there's no telling what's said out of ear shot of the common folk.
But, should I follow a man who speaks (loudly) with a forked tongue? I (now) have a problem with watching and listening to a man who prances across the stage, screaming at the top of his voice about what is righteous behavior and what is not and how I should conduct my life according to the word. If men of such conviction cannot live up to the word of the highest order, why am I listening to them? Oh, what is good for you isn't good for me? I'm not down with that line of thinking at all!
Wait a minute... Maybe my expectations are too high? Just because a man can preach, that does not make him what I think he should be in that position. Maybe I misread the calling. I thought those who are chosen, lived by a standard much higher than the one I live by. I'm the fool. I thought that I am listening to men (and women) who are governed by the laws of Kingdom living! What the hell was I thinking? (Yes the pun is intended!!!)

A Warped POV by A. Dacosta Brathway

February 13th, Monday... The New York Knicks should get rid of their new Asian sensation Jeremy Lin!I know, I know... It sounds cruel but it's not as cruel as it would be if they keep him.Ok, it's New York! Bright lights and fanfare and hoopla! (Pun intended!) It's Madison Avenue and Broadway and, well... Harlem! It's also Carmelo Anthony and Amar'e Stoudemire! They are stop gaps... Flow stoppers! They dominate the ball. Stoudemire is a basketball abyss and Anthony is the proverbial "black hole!" (Yes the pun is intended again.) Those two would make D'Antonie's offense look just like the traffic on Seventh Avenue and 34th Street. (That's way too much traffic in that area!LOL!) That being said, Jeremy Lin would be rendered ineffective and "Linsanity" would die a horrible death! The Knicks should release him so that he can be the man! "No man is an island" in Manhattan! Manhattan is an island unto itself and there will be no island before it! (Biblical humor! I dared to go there!) Lin is good enough to lead a team but it has to be a team that recognizes that! The Knicks can see that but New York is a weird place. Often things that should be, aren't. Does an undrafted Asian kid lead the big, bad Knicks? Sure he can. He's proved it already but the two basketball bullies aren't playing with him-yet!
This will all play itself out sooner or later but Lin should go. He is a legitimate NBA player and he has an upside! He will get better and stronger and smarter... That is if he can play with a team that will be "his team!" The Knicks will never be his team. There are too many who have claims on it now.

A Warped POV by A. Dacosta Brathway

February 13th, Monday... Yeah, I went to church yesterday and I'm glad I did! The Pastor was talking about getting your house in order... You know, things like finances, relationships, changing bad habits...Stuff like that. While listening to him, I noticed that when he hit on certain things there were real loud responses from the pulpit and I got to thinking... Is GOD in you or on you?
My thinking is that if GOD is in you, you live right. You are kind to people. Your disposition is cool. You are even keeled. You don't lose your mind in pressure situations. You just conduct yourself in a manner of self-control and respectfully.
When GOD is on you, you are a lunatic! You are evil, you live in deception. You will lie and cheat. You are self-absorbed and you don't care about anyone or anything!
So, I'm sitting there, listening to pastor deliver the word and people are screaming out when he said certain things and I'm thinking... What the...?
How much better would it be if we just treated ourselves better? If we just gave ourselves a chance, how would that translate to how we treat others? And, if that happened, how much better would our lives be?
I mean "what if" as opposed to "what the...?"

A Warped POV by A. Dacosta Brathway

February 9th, Thursday... Okay, how cool is this? The Giants won the Superbowl by beating the Patriots. Eli Manning is the victor quarterback and Tom Brady is the goat! Gisele Bundchen, Tom's wife, has weighed in the "shady aftermath" by throwing some of Tom's teammates under the bus. Brandon Jacobs of the Giants chimed in that Gisele should shut her yap and stay pretty. Rob Gronkowski, the Patriots all everything tight end got caught tripping the night fantastic at a party on a high ankle sprain and no shirt! This is post Superbowl fodder that has nothing to do with nothing. Who cares???
You would think that grown folks would act grown up after an athletic event. May the best team win. After the game, let the losers lick their wounds however they want to do it. Let the winners bask in the glow of ticker tape and victory. That is unless you are in the entourage of one of the losers and your rent won't get paid because your rent was predicated on your boy's Superbowl check, why be angry?
Maybe it's because of the fact that big boys are playing a little boy's game but are expected to ACT like big boys throughout the process!
Know this about pro sports... Whatever the game, it's a game! The $ is relative! Somebody is going to win and, rest assured, there will be a loser! Prepare yourself for both scenerios because both will happen! Lick your wounds or someone's ass, it doesn't matter. Back biting after a competition is for babies, baby!

A Warped POV by A. Dacosta Brathway

February 7th, Tuesday... Now that the Super Bowl is over and the Giants beat the almighty NE Patriots, I'm gonna dis-spell a myth. Eli Manning did not beat Tom Brady! Every time I hear a comment about how the quarterbacks compete against each other, I wonder about how many rabid football fans swallow that bull...? In football, offenses play against defenses. Offensive lines have to prevent the defense from getting to the quarterback so that he can operate. Tom Brady never blocked anyone in his professional football life! Eli Manning never had to evade a quarterback's advance to be effective!
The only comparison(s) that can be made between quarterbacks is through statistics and statistics are for freaks who get off on that stuff! I mean, who really cares about which quarterback is going into the Hall of Fame? They're both going in! (Just maybe not at the same time!)
The Giants are better than the Patriots, now. In a couple of years, the whole thing will flip and the Patriots will be better. That's how professional football goes. The Tom Brady's and Eli Manning's will get old and new quarterbacks will replace them. New teams will develop and the past will be remembered fondly and comparisons will abound. And for what? Freaked out statistics geeks will rise again! (Almost like Jesus! Whoa...)

A Warped POV by A. Dacosta Brathway

February 1st, Wednesday... I will never tweet any words! I will not do Twitter!/ I just heard some disturbing news that cut me to the quick. Some company is paying Kim Kardashian $10,000.00 a tweet! What the hell can she say that is worth that kind of cheese? I have more profound things to say, in my warped frame of mind, than she could EVER say!
Don't get it twisted! I know it's not her... I know that beauty is in the eye of the beholder. She's not paying herself but she is sure cashing in for absolutely nothing! (And there are absolutely no absolutes! Go figure...)
So, what's my point? This whole thing is out of control. There are rules that defy all logic now. What makes sense is nonsense! It is all about believing bullshit now! I used to think I was going crazy... Compared to what? This whole damn thing is wack! I might have to accept the fact that I am quite sane! Lord have mercy!!!

A Warped POV by A. Dacosta Brathway

January 27th, Friday... So I'm flipping channels and I stumble up a show that I do not watch: It's A Brad, Brad World, which is a show about a homosexual fashion dude. I'm watching this guy talk about his childhood, while crying. He is unshaven, hair a mess. He has on fashionable sun glasses and he is going on about how he and his father never got along and I am wondering, what is the perception of a black heterosexual male these days?
Last time I checked, I have an idea of what the white heterosexual male looks like. He is Tim Taylor (Tim Allen) who worships tools and grunts like the Neanderthal man. Are black men now represented by the "rapper" image. You know, hardcore, educated by the street in the hood, life expectancy to 25 years old? (Talk about an endangered species!) Stereotypes abound, I am talking about perceptions. Now-a-days it seems like TV is the portal to the world for most in America. What you see, is! Network TV, news included, is stupid! Cable TV puts it out there! The bad part is the more cash involved, the more idiotic the scenarios. "Reality" TV shows really show to what length people will act (up). Needless to say, black women do not fair well in this genre. Dressed up, weaved up, made up women dating no account men, driving expensive cars and throwing drinks at each other during a stupid argument has the ancestors twisting in their graves like a crocodile performing the death roll!
As outragious as it looks, I wonder what the future holds?

A Warped POV by A. Dacosta Brathway

January 25th, Wednesday... For the record, I am not a Bible thumper. I cannot recite chapter and verse off the top of my head. I do believe in God so I am not all bad! I try to live right. You know, respect others, respect myself... That sort of thing. I do go to church and I enjoy it. When not in church, I sometimes watch and listen to THE WORD Ministries that come on during the week. All of that being said, I cannot listen to every pastor or bishop or apostle that gets up there and goes through the process of teaching. I say that because I have problems with the presentation and delivery of the WORD by some.
There is one pastor, I won't mention his name, who wrangles my nerves! He is a good preacher, in my opinion, but he always manages to talk about his house, his possessions, his riches... He talks about how much he tithes and how it measures up with how much other pastors tithes... He's like watching religious train wreck performance art! (I can't turn away!)
Maybe I should not be critical of a religious man but am I wrong for feeling this way? I mean, if I visited his home that is set up like a museum and be comfortable in it when I cannot touch anything, when there are no signs posted that says "DO NOT TOUCH!" Not that I would want to touch anything. My fear is that the alarm would go off and security would physically remove me from the premises and, yet, I should be comfortable while visiting. Maybe I don't get it? Maybe I should just submit to a passive-aggressive, masochist who seems to get pleasure out of beating my brains out under the disguise of Christianity! Lord Have Mercy!

A Warped POV by A. Dacosta Brathway

January 22nd, Sunday... This week past I asked GOD for some Devine Intervention. Guess what? I GOT IT! I was granted FAVOR from HIM on something that I used to do and wanted to do again.
I think what I am talking about is belief. I have always been of the opinion that I am optimistically pessimistic! But my thinking got flipped when I had an epiphany. Just as I thought that something cannot happen, I started to think about how something can just as easily happen if I believe it can. Now, it might take a minute but nothing comes before its time! My appreciation intensified when what I wanted came at a time when it was most needed and not when I most wanted it! I had conditioned myself to be impatient. Now that I have developed some patience... Well, lets just say that I have matured!
Needless to say, I'm cool!

A Warped POV by A. Dacosta Brathway

January 16th, Monday... I attend a Black church and I did go to it yesterday. It was a good sermon. Pastor talked about being in position to receive GOD's grace and blessing. I left feeling good about myself. I felt like I have a long way to go but I've come a long way also. I got in my car and pulled out of the parking lot... And then it hit me like a shot! Hey, it's Dr. Martin Luther King Day! (Yes, the pun is intended!) My (Black) pastor said nothing about Martin Luther King! Nothing, zilch, nada...
Last time I checked, Dr. Martin Luther King was the pre-eminent pastor of the civil rights movement. He may be, arguably, the single most reason why Black pastors can exist. It was his voice that opened up the wound to help expose the injustices against Blacks that was taken into consideration by the powers that be in America! Sure there were preachers and pastors before him but he had his hand on the pulse of racial injustice that we all owe a debt to.
Quiet is kept, I have not heard much about this holiday in the media or by word of mouth. I live near DC and not too far from the new Dr. Martin Luther King monument and I have heard nothing about (another) march on Washington D.C.
So what am I to think? Am I living in Arizona East? Should I confront my pastor or should I just act like everybody else does? It's just another holiday... There will be no normal bus service, garbage collection, post office service and the banks and schools will be closed. It is too cold to have a MLK cookout and I need the rest to get ready for work tomorrow. Thanks Martin for putting your life on the line for me to be able to hear NOTHING about you on the day that took legislators forever to decide to have in the first place! "I have a nightmare..."

A Warped POV by A. Dacosta Brathway

January 14th, Saturday... Friday the 13th was yesterday. Any Friday the 13th is always a good day for me. It's the 14th when things go south. Now, I have said this before so when you read this, don't get your drawers in a bunch! I HATE FACEBOOK! No, it's not the concept of Facebook that irks me. It's the people on Facebook that chokes my chicken! Fake philosophers, pseudo pastors, poets, pundits, posers, procrastinators, posturers, whatever... They all emerge on Facebook and spew all of these words that make them sound so intelligent... Blah, blah, blah, blah, blah... Case in point, I had a conversation with a woman who loves to post religious comments. She is ALWAYS quoting the BIBLE and making affirmations. She is very beautiful and she is always changing her profile picture, which indicates, to me, that she is suffering from one (or all) of the deadly sins. She made a comment about a "paradox." I commented that a "paradox" was 2 doctors! Well you would have thought that I slapped her momma in front of Jesus! She proceeded to give me Webster's definition of what a paradox is. So, I ask you: Can someone be so stuck on them self that they can not see a joke coming from a mile away via the 3 Stooges? I know, I know, it's me! I'm too worldly to understand the quagmire bible thumpers are stuck into. If I were preparing myself for "KINGDOM" living, I would understand those folks better. But, I don't so I don't. 2012... The end!

A Warped POV by A. Dacosta Brathway

January 12th, Thursday... Yeah, I know... It's been a couple of days but I've been busy discovering my inner christian! Man, I've hatin' on people for no good reason! For instance, I'm Black but I dig Lady Gaga! So what if she's Madonna via CHER... I dig the fact that she has the kahunas to do what she's doing! She's famous and paid! And we know that in America, it's about being paid!
And, so what if the Kardashians are stupid! They're famous and paid! So what if the Republicans are assholes? They're famous and paid! (See if you can get a gig where you can get dumb ass people to give you millions in campaign funds to hear you spew stupid racist and bigoted comments!) And so what if idiotic unknown folks have reality shows. Now they're (in)famous and paid!
I'm done hatin' on people. The people I used to like and thought were my friends I'm not feelin' anymore. Besides, they're broke and not famous! Fuck them! "Well..."

A Warped POV by A. Dacosta Brathway

January 3rd, Tuesday... Man, I gotta stop watching network TV in 2012! Cable is cool! It seems more realistic (except for the "reality shows!" LOL! Reality shows being realistic? That's the joke right?)
Anyway, I'm flipping channels & I come across the Wendy Williams Show & it dawns on me... The prerequisite for being on any network talk show, either host or guest, is to be shallow as hell! Education be damned, just know something about fashion, in general, color in particular... Do not worry about how you look. Dress as goofy as you like. For some reason you will be recognized as an "artist!" Talk about some stupid premise & make a mockery of it. (Take marriage for instance. It does not work anymore! so, when you talk about it, make it sound like it does work!) Always give the appearance that you are an expert! It does not matter what the topic is, act like an expert. (Even if you have no paperwork to verify your ass!) And, if you are a big, BLACK, heterosexual male and you want to fool the producers so that you can be on a show- Act gay! That way you will not be menacing looking & threaten the sensibilities of the viewing public! Good luck!

A Warped POV by A. Dacosta Brathway

January 2nd, Monday... DAMN! I made it! I'm into 2012! Whew! Now that I'm here & I put it out there that my resolution is to not drag 2011 garbage into 2012, here's an example of the type of things I will NOT be part & parcel to:
The lady, who owns the house I am living in, has an out-of-town friend who periodically comes to stay. When she arrives, she expects to park her car in a certain spot. That spot is where I usually park my car! Now, she will come in town, notice the space is occupied, come in the house, see me eating or typing on the computer, interrupt me & expect me to stop what I am doing & move my car! It does not matter what time of day or night... She just wants my car moved!
FUCK YOU! It's 2012 & I'm not having it! You want the space, get here when I am gone! I mean, how screwed up are you that you have to have a particular parking space? I'm sure there is an answer she has that would make perfect sense, to her! I don't want to hear it!
Moving forward in 2012!