Looters

My friend and I have a debate about this. Maybe he’s older and has more wisdom on this. Or maybe it’s me being a hothead. I personally think that looters should be shot on sight. As the son of a small business owner (now retired) I can’t imagine a group of people who would break into my Pop’s place and steal something he’s worked so hard to build, only to be told he can’t defend his business and must look on helplessly.

My feeling is that it would send a message to future looters that this is intolerable. HIS stance was that nothing you own is worth a person dying for. Fucking bullshit. They know it. You have to follow it. And it’s total garbage. I get at the base of the thought, yes…material things do not equate to a person’s life. HOWEVER, that person taking from you doesn’t know whether or not your business  is a matter of life and death. Say you get looted. Don’t have money/insurance against looters. Now you have to restock at your own cost and fix everything that is burned or broken. This would mean you have to ask the bank for another loan. Where’s the collateral coming from? Frustrating that this would’ve been completely side-stepped if potential looter knows HIS life is on the line. This country must be fucked up that you can’t protect your business as logic dictates. The rules imply that you can only shoot if you feel your life is in danger. Honestly, I think if someone is destroying your business they are jeopardizing your life.

You know what REALLY sucks about this? Criminals usually know the laws and the system better than you do. All you have is what you believe at the base of humanity what is right and wrong. We don’t have the luxury of studying what you can get away with or not.

The Things You Do For Snatch

Tough being a dude in this world today. Women really don't need us anymore.

In social media, there's very little of your individuality that can be expressed without someone getting offended and shutting off the pussy pipeline. In other words, the more people you can ensnare in your bullshit the more poon you get. Most of us, if push came to shove, for our views would be publicly admonished for the mean-ness of a dark heart we all possess. Not like kicking a puppy. Or squirting water at a cat. I'm talking what goes on in our minds. The reason why people who express themselves openly and without filter is so enticing is because we'd all like to be that. Whilst their fellow man scoff at them for being loud-mouths, that mouth is down on some hot broad. Meanwhile, go back to sucking up to the social norms.

I found this recently out on social media. I realize a lot of guys wilting at the thought of a high school teacher (female and stunningly beautiful) was carrying on an affair with a 17 year old boy. They're actually a couple now. The hotblooded side of our maleness LOVES that he got himself (relatively speaking) a cougar. Whilst a few kicked in with "What if the roles were switched?" or "What if it were your son." All, it seems to garner the pussy vote. Who gives a flying fuck about the pussy vote? Maybe guys who aren't getting pussy. Like me for instance. I'll gladly roll over like a cheap rug in whatever viewpoint she has in order to get pussy. I'll say Michael Brown isn't a thug and didn't deserve to get shot by a cop...to get pussy to like me. I'll even demonize Cosby for being a rapist for being rich and famous and paying cheap whores money to silence them...to let pussy think I'm really progressive and sane. Hasn't gotten me snatch. Probably kicked me into the basement of non-snatchhood.

A few of you will probably say, it's because I'm disingenuous of my viewpoint. That I lack confidence in my lack of sympathy. That if I really shared my real thoughts, I'd get moving with life. That type of dude doesn't just NOT get pussy. They get old pussy to get on their shit about it. So not only are you not getting laid, you have to hear nagging. Might as well be married, har-har-har.

Anyway...it is what it is. Most of us who can speak the truth...should. Truth, not meaning truth, but honest with yourself. We're shitty human beings. Hot snatch makes you think you should love tofu, yoga and babies. Don't fall for it! Pretending to be someone else is too much work. Let women deal with it. What with facelifts, botox and tit jobs. I think you'd be much more happy with yourself.

Ferguson, MO part 3

“Do you have a gun?” he murmured under his breath looking up to the sky watching a police helicopter fly by.

“Excuse me?” I asked.

“A gun.” His Eastern European accent hung in the air “Do you have one?”

“No.” He looked concern. “I was here in ’92, Rodney King. The animals came straight to my door. I had a shotgun.”

“All the way to Van Nuys? You’re kidding.”

“Yes. It will ignite when they let that police officer off in Ferguson. In ’92, A van pulled right up to the door” he waved his hand at the gate. “Right there. I pump’d shotgun, aimed it at that gate, where they stood. They left. Went down the street. Do you see the Mexican restaurant?”

He indicated towards a vacant building. “Uh…no.”

“Because they burned that place down.” He shook his head “Animals.” He kept staring off as my car battery was charging in his mechanic’s shop. “You have family?”

“No. Not here.”

“Once you have family, you have to think of these things.”

He was mentioning the far reaching effects that the decision in Ferguson was going to make. I’ve never owned a gun, nor do I have the interest. I certainly wouldn’t use it against a fellow man. But we’re not talking about rational moments. He lived through an irrational time. Who would’ve guessed a decision in downtown Los Angeles would stretch to the lengths of the San Fernando Valley.

How stupid was I? Or what memory I had. My last blog about this did have me the parking lot of Kroger when a pack of black teens got in the face of my group of friends. “Go back to China.” The black kid hissed. I turned and shouted “Go back to Africa.” My friend couldn’t believe I’d said that. I was 19 at the time. Balls beyond balls. The kid came up to my face. “What’d you say?”

“You told me to go back to China, I told you to go back to Africa.” Man was I scared. This was going to be a throw down. And as far as I knew, none of my friends have ever fought. “Fuck you.” He disappeared with his friends. Bullies aren’t use to be being responded to.

As I’m older now, all I can do is use rationalization. Los Angeles had its bruised eye and ego. They’ve rebuilt and re-trained. Blacks are harder out here. Harder in the sense that they are much more savvier than mid-western Ohio. If they spent any jail time, it would be a much harsher place than Cincinnati. These are things to consider when confronting people.

The Eastern European guy looked at me, leaned in as a father would to a son “you’re a nice guy. You don’t see a lot of this. They are animals” He flipped open his wallet. It was a detective badge. He used to work in some law enforcement office.

“I just like to think the best of people. When I can.”

“Good luck.” He seemed to roll his eyes.

My car battery was charged. I headed out into the urban jungle heading right to my home to sleep. I woke up this morning, they'd burned and looted Ferguson anyway. I was right. Nothing in L.A. But I was also wrong.

Hannibal Burress & The Cos

Hannibal Burress. I heard a podcast with him. Seems like a guy who really went with the flow of things. I actually like his work ethic, if what he says is true. Traveling on train to do comic sets in New York City. He’s not really known, until he blasted Bill Cosby for being an alleged rapist.

Here’s my gripe with Burress.

The angle he took on it, was the final message. It was that Cos was a hypocrite. Wrong.  What Cos is accused of doing has ZERO to do with what he said about the black community. In fact, if you wanna’ really be honest, Hannibal probably went into comedy the same reason Cos did. To get babes.

Now it was a different time in which Cos did what he did. A TON of guys would love the leverage to be where he was. What Cos said, was that he wants young black men to pull up their pants, speak better and get an education. What Burress countered was, why should be listen to a rapist. When it’s boiled down to those basics, are we really talking about the same thing?

Cos gained a lot of power through close to four decades. And when guys of his caliber get to that height of success and fame, there are rules we’re unaware of. The type of rules that get OJ acquitted. The type of rules that acquitted Robert Blake. The type of rules that Axl Rose rolls over and we don’t understand. The things I could tell you about celebrities that have done terrible things. A lot of them are shitty human beings. Why should they be like us? They think they’re better than us. And we want to destroy a man’s legacy because of something the industry understands to be true? Let’s get something straight, when you get to a level, you get away with idiosyncratic behavior. Is it fair? Fuck no. And it’s not right. But there are TWO sides to the situation. Most of which we will never hear. So I find it ridiculous that we wag our fingers now at Cosby. Maybe because he’s perceived as a father figure. I’m not sure. But, Hannibal didn’t stop to think how it effects him. There’s a HUGE target on his back now. His behavior is under the microscope. If you think he can get away with bad-mouthing the Cos and not have the Scarlett “A” on his chest, he’s mistaken. If he’s not on his best behavior, he’s going to be shredded by the press for every move he makes. Then he’ll realize what the Cos goes through. Because it’s never fair. For people who put themselves out there.

Porn Names

Lately, I’ve been really fixated on porn stars and their real names. I have no idea why it’s fascinating to me, but after a few searches, I’ve found a few. I think it has the similar effect to me as finding out the real name of outlaws. William Bonny sounds pretty bad-ass. People think Billy the Kid is cooler, I think his real name is boss.

Jenna Jameson has a really cool Italian name. I think it’s more bad-ass than the name she chose. Her porn name seems to soften her a bit. Her real name sounds like it should be in the mafia. I get why Czech porn stars should change their name. Too many syllables. The “Zs” and “Ts” together are too much. And I can’t imaging banging one of these Eastern European actresses and having to pronounce their name. They also pick the craziest names. Jenna Darling. Really? It just seems like they pick American words that they think sound like sexy words. They’re not. They’re boner killing sweet. Like some little kid is learning new words. I think they may believe it gives them a young angle.

The one that cracks me up completely, is the one that has never changed her name. Holly Sampson. She is under the MILF category. And has ZERO problems with people knowing she was on “The Wonder Years.” The confidence she has is amazing. AND, she still looks great too. She owns her name. And there’s nothing silly about it. Rachel Roxx is clearly too weird. Sometimes, even a name that sounds like a name is weird. For instance, Sasha Grey.  In her case, her real name is pretty harsh.

I’ve watches some UStream video a few years ago where a porn star had mentioned why they chose porn names. It’s pretty obvious with the stalkers. Online, it’s hardly a secret anymore. You can find anyone’s real name. It’s a bit scary. I think also, they like to have some anonymity in case a few family members/relatives find out. There’s a former porn star recently who has shared her terrible experience in the industry. My contention is that sometimes they change their name so they can tolerate the shit that they go through. Like an actor, they can play a role. A few of the girls had mentioned that it didn’t matter what they called you, sometimes the pain is immeasurable. The depravity, abuse and attitude is gripping. Damned if you do damned if you don’t.

When I first graduated from film school, I was out looking for a job. Anything. I thought there was an editing opportunity at a porn house. I actually stumbled across this place in the valley. When I got to the receptionist, I asked if they were hiring. She eyed me up and down. And checked a laugh. I think she thought I was there to audition to be a porn actor. I really was tempted to come up with a porn name. I don’t think that fast on my feet. Otherwise, she’d have met Dong Lancer.

Bill Cosby

I never watched his show. Never thought he was all that funny. But I completely understand why he is who he is. What I don't understand is how all these people are coming out NOW and accusing him of rape.

If you've ever worked in this business or really any office type setting, you understand that you have to watch yourself nowadays. Nothing is what it seems. And people aren't as naive as you believe. A lot of celebrities hides themselves deep into their entourage. When I first started out, I use to laugh at these pretentious goons. Who are they trying to impress? It wasn't that at all. It was to keep as many witnesses as possible in case some groupie made their way into your room. They can't live like we do. We don't have a lot for people to think we're worth accusing of rape or assault or whatever. That doesn't mean you should. Just means on the other end, we also don't rape or assault. No money in any of it. The minute you put in a billion dollar face into the picture, then it elevates this to another level.

Take in point, Janice Dickenson. Self-appointed first super model. In her day, she was a stunner. Men probably threw gold at her. Must be tough. She claims Cosby invited her up to Lake Tahoe with a promise to further her career and then plied her with wine, pills and then sexually assaulted her.

A few common sense issues...Yes, I realize he was Dr. Huxtable, but he wasn't in 1982. He was a comedian from Philly. Last I check, Janice isn't a Catskills huckster. Exactly what would furthering her career mean, if it wasn't shaking her stuff for men? Not an excuse, just...common sense. Also, Tahoe? If you've ever been, it's...quaint. So quaint people have quickie marriages there. Sorta' like the west coast Niagra Falls. People can't seem to NOT get married or do bad things there. Both are a spit away from Canada. Suppose that may have something to do with the behavior. But it is a romantic spot. Moreso in the 80's. Common sense.

Now, decades ago, the Cos paid these people to go away. I think the number has gotten over ten. And I stand by what I said in previous blogs...once you get paid, you're done. We can't help you after that. An abused woman who goes back to their husband (fights tooth and nail sometimes to keep the guy from being incarcerated) can't help you, once you take the money. Not a judgement about who you are, but the way you see your life. I don't expect anyone to help me if I go back to drinking. Of course, people would be concern. But I can't waste people's time if I choose to constantly put myself in those situations.

I feel bad for Cos. He's done a lot for the community. He probably did do what people said he did. But they took the money and now destroyed his career. His legacy is that of a predator. Good or bad. Most of us guys, based on what we've said in the past (most definitely in entertainment) should be incarcerated for what we've thought. He's really supported education and helping inner cities. He's a LOT more savvy than I will ever be. Again, I'm not apologizing for what he's done. Just seems that, once again, something that doesn't really effect us one way or another gets so much outrage. Of course, I'd be accused of not caring about victims. I'm sure if any one of us (man or woman) knew these people, we'd drop the act fast.

Adrian Peterson

For those not in the know, Adrian Peterson was a former running back for the Minnesota Vikings. One of the best in the game. Probably on track to be in the Hall of Fame. It was derailed on the day he'd been accused of child abuse. He'd admitted to taking a switch to his child's legs and beating him for something the child did. He didn't get prosecuted for child abuse only causing the harm to another. Semantics.

I do NOT believe in this type of behavior in the least, but it seems lately...punishment through the public justice system is extending its way also into a man's livelihood. I often wonder, in a situation like this, if at a certain point the public doesn't realize what ending his career may do. I'm not sure what AP studied in college, nor could he ever get a job outside of pro sports that would allow him that much money, but chances are there are limited opportunities to earn that much in short amount of time. This is to support his family. Again, I think it was wrong for what he did, but now...because of John Q. Public, he is suspended for the rest of the season, without a paycheck.

I'm really not sure what the solution is here, but I can say...because of the pressure of opinion, we've really not done much to help child nor mother. In fact, I can surmise that we've probably set them back. It's not that he made a mistake and is now paying for a lapse in poor judgement, it seems the country won't be happy unless he suffered as much. But by punishing him in such a way, we're already punishing the family again. It seems so...counterproductive to some who believe rehabilitation does work.

I really don't care if Adrian Peterson will play in pro football again or not. Nor (not to sound harsh) what happens to his family. I wish them well. But to destroy a man's livelihood when it's so specialized and sending him back into "the world" with nothing else, is truly stupid on our part.

If you feel you must hurt the man, what would be the alternative? Certainly isn't debilitating the family.