Category Archives: Social

Attitudes & behaviors in society; looking at the past, present, and future characteristics among people.

Life 101: Taxes, not pissing off authority

March 4, 2009 d dot b Leave a comment

Life 101

Taxes, Leasing, and Not pissing off the man

There are many things that we learn in high school that we probably will never utilize in our adult lives; like Geography, History, Chemistry, Biology – unless you plan to to practice in one of those disciplines, chances are, the information will be useless to you. However, there are some things that I thought about that we all need to learn no matter if you are just going to start working after high school or are planning post secondary education.

Taxes:

This whole Western System is essentially designed for people to support the government. We go to school to equip us with the skills to work, and as we work, we pay taxes to the government, which in turn the government uses to provide social services. So, if taxes are going to be something that we are going to have to do until the end of our lives, why don’t we provide a mandatory tax preparation course so that we all can get a better idea to fill-out those retarded difficult forms.

Leasing:
So many young adults get pulled into the idea that Leasing is so easy; I know many who lease everything from their cars, apartment, electronic equipment, et cetera. Leasing fulfills the appetite of those people that ‘must have’; they must have the latest car, technology, fashion, and the like. But most don’t understand compound and principal interest that are key elements of leasing agreements. If people learned about what ‘leasing’ really comprises if, then we can probably reduce the amount of young adults who go into debt or have their items repossessed because of debt.

How to NOT piss off the Man:

If you are black or Latino, listen up here. This should definitely be taught like every year of High School; especially for males. The ‘Man’ in this term is for the law enforcement officers, and the golden rule is ‘respect’. When you are pulled over, whether you feel it was warranted or not, just answer the officer’s question with common courtesy and respect. Using vulgarity and having a rude attitude will get you nowhere.

I am sure there are other Life 101 skills that need to be a mandatory component of high schools, if you have any ideas, share your thoughts.

Entertainment, Love, Relationships, Social

Brown and Rihanna – Black Cyclic Domestic Violence

February 16, 2009 d dot b 2 Comments

Black Domestic Violence

Curtailing the cycle of violence

This whole Rihanna and Chris Brown ordeal is really devastating to both the artists and their fans, but what needs to be discussed more is the prevalence of domestic violence in the Black family. Domestic violence is really troubling in the black community, as it usually has a cycle effect – as children growing up watching their Dad physically abuse their Mother will usually grow up and exhibit similar behavior to their potential mate. Thus, to stop domestic violence, it needs to start at home with the family, and conflicts need to be resolved with discourse as opposed to physical actions. Here are some alarming stats of black domestic violence that will NOT make you wonder why even though a talented, and rich entertainer such as Chris Brown is not immune to black domestic violence as he grew up in a household where he saw his mother being physically abused by his Step Dad.

Stats:

Overall, African Americans were victimized by intimate partners a significantly higher rates than persons of any other race between 1993 and 1998. Black females experienced intimate partner violence at a rate 35% higher than that of white females, and about 22 times the rate of women of other races. Black males experienced intimate partner violence at a rate about 62% higher than that of white males and about 22 times the rate of men of other races.

Callie Marie Rennison. and Sarah Welchans, U.S. Dep’t of Just., NCJ 178247, Intimate Partner Violence (2000), available at http://www.ojp.usdoj.gov/bjs/pub/ascii/ipv.txt

African-American women experience significantly more domestic violence than White women in the age group of 20-24. Generally, Black women experience similar levels of intimate partner victimization in all other age categories as compared to White women, but experience slightly more domestic violence. (Estimates are provided from the National Crime Victimization Survey, which defines an intimate partner as a current or former spouse, girlfriend, or boyfriend. Violent acts include murder, rape, sexual assault, robbery, aggravated assault, and simple assault.)

Callie Marie Rennison, U.S. Dep’t of Just., NCJ 187635, Intimate Partner Violence and Age of Victim, 1993-1999, at 4, (2001), available at http://www.ojp.usdoj.gov/bjs/abstract/ipva99.htm

Approximately 40% of Black women report coercive contact of a sexual nature by age 18.

Africana Voices Against Violence, Tufts University, Statistics, 2002, www.ase.tufts.edu/womenscenter/peace/africana/newsite/statistics.htm

The number one killer of African-American women ages 15 to 34 is homicide at the hands of a current or former intimate partner.

Africana Voices Against Violence, Tufts University, Statistics, 2002, www.ase.tufts.edu/womenscenter/peace/africana/newsite/statistics.htm

In a study of African-American sexual assault survivors, only 17% reported the assault to police.

Africana Voices Against Violence, Tufts University, Statistics, 2002 www.ase.tufts.edu/womenscenter/peace/africana/newsite/statistics.htm

The Family is where most of our problems start from – how we deal with situations at home is a strong precursor and indicator on how we will relate with the world. Thus, the resolution lies in re-building the family unit and teaching and practicing positive family values – its the only way to stop the cycle of violence.

.::LiBM::.

——————————–
Sources:
http://www.abanet.org/domviol/statistics.html

Social, Technology

Nerban’s week in Tech – Google domination and $99 iPhone

February 12, 2009 d dot b Leave a comment

Source: http://metasurfing.blogspot.com

The Nerban’s week in Tech

Week ending Feb 14 2009 – Google drops a whole load of features for Gmail, Google Meter, $99 iPhone

I know you all are digging the dope retro technology picture. Anyhow, this week in technology for the Nerban sees an affordable iPhone, and Google’s continued pursuit of world domination. I said it once, and I will say it again, Google offers the best services for the web (email, search, google docs), but Google is essentially an advertising service for companies – they offer free products, and slap adsense wherever possible. Twitter, take note, as you may need a business model soon, anyway, here are the best links:

Google Sync for mobile devices (iPhone, Symbian OS, Blackberry)
http://googlemobile.blogspot.com/2009/02/google-sync-beta-for-iphone-winmo-and.html
– A convenient way to sync your contacts and calendar over the air; another attempt for Cloud computing – looks like it will be better than Apple’s ‘MobileMe’ which just continues to be littered with problems.

Google deleting Blogspot posts with no warning
http://www.laweekly.com/2009-02-05/music/google-39-s-new-killer-app-why-are-music-bloggers-39-posts-disappearing-and-who-is-deleting-them/all
– Even though it is in your TOS, Google is deleting any posts at its will, if you have copyright content such as music or video; specifically from a media company (Universal, Time Warner etc.). The quick way to resolve this, is to self-host your own blog, and don’t rely on Google’s BlogSpot service.

Google Power Meter
http://www.google.org/powermeter/howitworks.html http://www.google.org/powermeter/howitworks.html
– Another attempt of Google trying to look more ‘green’, but also attempting to get beyond your home computing needs, and monitoring a household’s energy consumption.

Gmail knows where you are
http://gmailblog.blogspot.com/2009/02/new-in-labs-add-your-location-to-your.html
– A Labs feature that tells your recipient where you were when you sent the message … somewhat intrusive, but there may be some use for it, can’t figure out how it could be useful though.

$99 iPhone
http://news.cnet.com/8301-13579_3-10161368-37.htm
– As everyone is feeling the pressure in this battered economy, Apple posits itself to release an affordable iPhone; if successful, they could go at the neck and take out some cheap alternative smartphone models (HTC, Nokia, Motorola, Samsung)

Mac Clones
http://computerworld.com/action/article.do?command=viewArticleBasic&articleId=9127579&intsrc=hm_list
– Soon, could we see Dell and other traditional PC manufacturers deliver computers with the Apple Operating System??

Until next week …

Peace,
.:: LiBM ::.

Health, Logic, Social

Mad Dashes

February 12, 2009 d dot b Leave a comment

Mad Dashes

Situations that you gotta get out of ASAP

Watching a bad performance can be gruesome – not only for the performer whom may not know that they are bad, but it is bad for the viewer. From live performances or even on T.V., I cringe whenever I see someone giving it their all – and they suck; and the genuinely are trying, but the performance is so bad, that you must change the channel or distract yourself immediately. Part of me feels for the individual as we all know how hard it can be to come to the stage, but then another part of me feels like such lack of talent should not be viewable (to anyone). Not only does it apply to performances, but their are other situations in life, where I just got to get the hell out – As Soon As Possible.

Change Room

I don’t know why, but in the fitness gym environment, old men like to walk around nude as if it is their own house. Old, fat, and the like all just put out their junk in the gym, around a bunch of men, and there is something kinda gay about that – that is why, when I get to the change room – its no time to ‘relax’ or ‘cool down’ … I get the hell outta that place fast.

Friend’s Washroom

You know when you just gotta go, you gotta go – and it can hit at anytime. But it is bad when you have to go at your friend’s house. Of all things that people are particular about – the bathroom is very paramount. To many, the bathroom is one’s throne; their thinking space, their relaxing space, and people usually do not welcome ‘foreigners’. Thus, if I have to do my business, I handle my business and go – no time for the usual relaxing and reflecting as I do on my own throne.

Doctor’s Office

Whenever I go, this place feels like a place of walking bacteria and viruses. Living on every seat, door knob, mandatory reno magazine, and airborne through the dull colored walls of the office. To the left and right of me, everybody is sick – and the reasons to why they are sick (the reasons that they are there) run rampant in my mind: are they contagious, is it easily communicable, et cetera. Just in that environment, sick people, staff that is over-worked, under-funded, and under-appreciated, makes me want to get out of there ASAP.

I am sure there are other universal mad dashes, leave comments below.

Peace,

.:: LiBM ::.

Cre8ive Abstract, Logic, Social

I hate you all the time, time (not a grammatical error)

December 12, 2008 d dot b Leave a comment

The eternal battle with ‘time’

An account of time, and how it affects us

I don’t like time, it sits there ticking and tocking – second after second, minute after minute. Throughout the day, I have to consult with time to do every and anything – to see if time agrees with my proposed actions. I have pervasive feeling that time is not my friend, it is my ‘frenemy’; when times are tough it is against me, when I got deadlines approaching it is against me, and when I need more time to do something, it shows no mercy. Furthermore, time always seems to make good times go by fast, and for excruciating events go by at a turtle pace – time has a dynamic way of being sadistic (and not in the S&M way). Because of you ‘time’, I don’t know how to really relax – I always feel that there are a bunch of things behind me that are chasing me; things that I have to deal with, resolve, and rectify. Even in my sleep, I can not escape these things that chase me, and the chase only really ends ‘in a matter of time’, when I deal with the situation; but that is not the end of the chase, because where one thing stops, another one continues, or in my case, a new problem is created. Oh time, you create a burden on me that leads me to believe of ‘impending somethingness’, of which I must deal with.

I disdain you time, last time that I enjoyed time was …. I really got to think far back, but I remember a time around this summer where I went up North in the woods to a cottage. Nothing but clear skies, open lakes, and endless rows of trees – I remember really enjoying it, and I remember that for awhile, time was not my enemy, it was my friend, as I was with friends, throwing down beers and eating BBQ food. To me, time literally stood still; as wireless devices were turned off, watches were abandoned, and all the worries I had were left on the dirt road that we rode upon to reach our relaxing destination. Its funny, all the times were I recall that I enjoyed time was when I was out of my city, on vacation; I guess I need to reassess my perspective on not how time is against me all the time, but how I can make better usage of my time.

But as with most things, ‘easier said than done’, but I am a work in progress, just like the Mona Lisa, and perfection will yield itself in a matter of time.

Hip-Hop, Social, Swag, videos

Joe Budden says “F**k’ NY”

December 10, 2008 d dot b Leave a comment

Joe Budden says “F**k’ NY”

Hometown love, where has it gone?

Now, I get what Joe Budden is saying in this video – he has a qualm with cities not supporting homegrown talent. Apparently after a show that he was performing at with other New York artists, Joey felt that the crowd didn’t show love for their artists. Now the reason for that, could be varied (i.e. the artists did not perform well, etc.), but Joey concludes that the local fans does not support their artists; especially now, New York is in a transitional phase in hip-hop music where they are trying to reclaim that crown from the South. And being up here in the T Dot (Toronto), we are known for having the most haters per capita – we never show our own talent love & support; we always support the American acts when they come to our city to perform, and buy their CD’s when they drop, but when it comes to supporting our own, we never do. I see it all the time, as an event promoter putting on live music events, its very difficult to get people to come out to support their own; up here, we would rather go to a redundant club than go experience our peers performing.

However, it seems like in the South, they got it. From the mid 90’s, they have been supporting their own local acts – from Master P and his No Limit empire, to Baby and his Cash Money Records empire, for local shows in the South, hundreds of people would go and support their local acts; everything from clothing to CD’s. And now, the South pretty much runs hip-hop, some of it is not wanted though, but regardless they still run it. And I guess that Joey is looking for that Southern affection and behavior to seep up north – as it is logical to suggest that especially when New York is ‘down’, the city should rally around its promising talent to support it, nurture it, and aide in its growth (flower-like).

However, I guess on this cold, winter night, Joey felt New York didn’t represent like the days in the Boogie Down when hundreds would come out to the park, after dark, for two turntables, a mic, and a dope MC.

I feel ya pain bro.

.:: LiBM ::.

Relationships, Social

‘E’ Drive-By’s

December 2, 2008 d dot b Leave a comment

E-Drive-by’s

The opinionated social community … but there are consequences for your actions

The Web and social communications has created a culture of opinionated people; we express ourselves through our WebPages, blogs, IM screen names, on message boards, and in chat rooms. All of these communications methods are asynchronous; not occurring or existing at the same time or having the same period or phase. Thus, you can say something, and the response to what you said will be delayed – allowing a ‘sense of freedom’ to say anything you want without being chastised. You see it all the time, on forums, blogs, et cetera, where people talk reckless gibberish about others; using profanity, funny metaphors, and humorous simile’s to degrade and undermine others – I won’t front, some of it is funny. However, I believe that this culture of web social communications has created a loss in the art of logical argumentation – not argumentation in the sense of violent, shouting behavior; but argumentation in the sense of making logic. Making logical sense to what point(s) you are trying to say.

In Synchronous (real time) communications, you can’t say something reckless without backing up your points – for if you do such an act, people will just look at you in a peculiar light; as one who can not express or justify their points accurately. Synchronous communications are face-to-face, live, interactive, and non-verbal visual cues are just important as the verbal communications. If some of the people who talk so recklessly on the web, were to try that in real life; some would be in the ICU at the local hospital – real talk. But the web gives a safe haven for us; allows us to quickly say whatever we want – with a sense of immunity, because I guess we can quickly log-off, change usernames, to avoid explaining ourselves. Sort of like an ‘E-drive-by’ like my boy RecSet once said “these people talk a whole lot of madness at someone, then flee the scene, and can’t back up their talk, because they know I will spank them.”, well said.

When it comes to personal relationships, Synchronous communications should be the path followed when dealing with serious topics – the real time dynamic gives you so much more beyond words. While, asynchronous communications can leave one bewildered, not receiving the full gist of the situation, or leave one with a misguided interpretation – trust me, it has happened to me on more than one occasion. So here is a list of what you should probably NOT use web social communications for:

Having a ‘talk’ about your relationship
– fellas, it’s bad enough in synchronous communications when your lady wants to ‘talk’, imagine how bad/LONG it will be in asynchronous communications??

Business Confrontations
– Don’t accuse a business associate of corruption in an IM, do it in person, so that you can gauge his verbal and non-verbal reactions

Criticisms of Friends
– Yes, it may be easier to do it behind an electric monitor, but if your friend is a ‘true’ friend, and you are one too, then a face-to-face or a phone call will not only show that you have something to ‘get off’ your chest, but that you also genuinely care.

Yes, the web is a powerful tool for communications, but with great power, comes great responsibility – use it wisely.

.:: LiBM ::.

Life 101

Tip What? Pt. 4 – When to Tip

Black Domestic Violence

The Nerban’s week in Tech

Hot or Cold – Its all good

Mad Dashes

Change Room

Friend’s Washroom

Doctor’s Office

The eternal battle with ‘time’

Joe Budden says “F**k’ NY”

Brooklyn goes Hard

E-Drive-by’s

”Bust de Dance’

Producer of Things