Superhero Girlfriends Part 5: Storm, Mutant Diva

        Hey it's been a while since I talked about jacked up comic girlfriends. So in this installment the target is Ororo Munroe bka Storm of The X-Men. Now you are probably figuring "Logik done lost his mind!!" However if you haven't really read up on Storm, then there's a lot you have missed.   Now she's a great hero & good person but has a diva streak.  That's great for debutante balls but not to be a super hero's wife.  A while back she married T'Challa The Black Panther & became Queen Of  Wakanda.   At first I saw this as the beginning of something great, but unfortunately the diva showed up and ruined a great thing.  Egos can hurt a relationship, & this one is no different.  In this edition I will show & discuss how Storm is a big diva.  Some ladies may want to be divas but that's not a title to aspire to.

   
      Let's give you a bit of a background on her.  Ororo was born in New York to an African mother N'Dare & an American father David. Her parents moved to Cairo, Egypt due to all the racism & civil unrest they found in the U.S. This would be their undoing, due to a conflict between Arab & Israeli forces her parents were killed.  The worst part is that she was trapped under rubble with her mother's body.  This caused her severe psychological trauma in the form of claustrophobia.  Apparently Storm is actually a descendant of a long line of Kenyan High Priestesses who's distinguishing marks are long white hair, blue eyes, & the potential to use magic.  Now if you know this, don't you think you would have a huge ego.  Along with the natural mutant ability to manipulate weather patterns, it's very hard to be humble.  Especially if you are in a relationship.

     After her parents died she fell in with other street orphans in Cairo as a pickpocket & left Cairo as a teenager wandering through the Sahara at first. As a teen she met a teenage T'Challa, who was very attracted to her but couldn't maintain the relationship due to him being the Prince Of Wakanda.  Ororo eventually made it to the Serengeti Plains of Kenya,  This area was the home of her ancestors & met a tribeswoman who explained her ancestors origins.  The neighboring tribes in the area started to worship Storm.  This was the first creation of the diva.  Her powers are biological in origin, but due to the belief of magic she is worshiped   Another key point is that she's a teenager, the particular age for the wanting of attention.  So what better way than to be a high-priestess at a very pivotal, developmental age? Therefore thinking you are even more special than anyone. (Even though being a mutant is as common as being left-handed. Big whoop but come on.)  The funny thing is when she first encountered the X-Men it was to fight a villain named Delurge (a fellow weather manipulating mutant) in Africa.  She actually declined to be in the X-Men thinking she was needed for her tribe, in actuality Prof. Charles Xavier didn't want to tell her she was really a mutant cause the shock alone could kill her self-esteem, (Ain't that a bitch!)  Prof. Xavier had to recruit her due to the X-Men getting captured on the living island of Krakoa.

Yeah good idea Forge, apologize with a gun in your face & an angry woman behind it. 

      After becoming a stellar member of the X-Men, Storm overcomes everything from Brood attacks, becoming the leader of the X-Men & The Morlocks, you would think that's enough for her ego.  Well while on a trip to Japan to attend Wolverine's wedding.  She meets a rebellious female ninja named Yukio, & they become friends.  Yukio influences Storm's behavior to become care-free (aka reckless) & a sign of this was her having a mohawk.  So now not only your ego is on 3,000 you now have the diva mindset with it. Damn I feel sorry for the boyfriend...Forge.  Forge is a mutant with the ability to virtually create any type of machine he wants.  He unfortunately (or fortunately, depending on how you see it) created a weapon to take away mutant abilities which accidentally was used on Storm depleting her of her abilities.  Forge nursed Storm back to health & they eventually fell in love. However it was cut short when she found out he created the weapon.  They later reconciled when they were on an "alternate Earth", I could imagine the begging & pleading from Forge.

         

        So let's fast-forward to recent history T'Challa the Black Panther came back into Storm's life and proposed.   She accepted & the Marvel Universe rejoiced. I thought it was a good look for T'Challa (at first) cause they had been both deemed royalty & she had an understanding of the man T'Challa and his title of Black Panther. (It's not just a costume, you also the ruler of Wakanda & it's best warriior. No pressure!)  It's funny that during T'Challa's bachelor party Luke Cage tells him he tried to  "holla" at Storm but she came off a bit conceited. (Note: Luke Cage is a hood dude, but come on he's still a good person.)  T'Challa just chuckled & agreed cause he knew where she came from.  As all new relationships you are figuring out your partner from the likes & dislikes to how your families will get along.  Storm at one point even challenges T'Challa while they are sparring.  As she is using her abilities to gain the edge, T'Challa has already deduced how to get past her abilities. (See how's she's thinking fortunately T'Challa is on top of his game, being one of the smartest men on the planet you gotta do that.)  Storm even went to the nether realm to find T'Challa's soul.  I thought they were inseparable until the Phoenix Force returned to Earth.  Storm sides with her X-Men & T'Challa sides with The Avengers due to the Phoenix's destructive nature.  How can you side with something that will eventually eviscerate the Earth?  Cause you are more "familiar" with it?  GTFOH & you allow your empowered X-Men to attack your home.  So of course T'Challa is beyond pissed & not only dissolves his marriage but makes Storm an enemy-of-the-state.  I'm wondering was defending the Phoenix was really worth it?

       I say that to say this, that diva sh*t will leave you lonely. Your marriage is bigger than teammates who have a tendency to mess up to the point where the Earth is put in danger (See: Prof. X & Tony Stark)  Storm's ego is a bit out of control, maybe being lonely for a while again can bring her back the Earth.  So sad though, cause it was great while it lasted.

Men Who Are Intimidated By Women

         A homegirl wanted me to touch on this subject.  At times some men can be intimidated by a woman.  It's not really the woman though, it's what she represents.  I like many men get "butterflies" when either starting a new venture, job, or any big endeavor.  Therefore it's about a man not truly being confident within himself.  Some women try to be intimidating because they know the man isn't as confident as they are.  So you have a clash of egos. This begs the question, why isn't a man confident in himself?  Well there are so many reasons let's look at some of them.

        The first could be that he's not where he wants to be in life.  Hey I'm 35 unfortunately some things I haven't done in my life yet that I should.  Times in the past I would feel real bad about my lack of life experience,   However some experiences are overrated, some things you just miss.  It doesn't mean he's not an adult, he's just coming into things real late.  Some ladies see it as fear, therefore you see women suggesting that the man change up overnight.  Some guys end up hostage relationships if they pursue women like that cause they feel if doing something risky but "grown" will alleviate their issues.  It usually backfires like when a guy moves out of his parents house cause of his age, but never really had a serious plan to.  So he either ends up moving in with his woman but doesn't know enough about her.  At first things are real cool, she's cooking & just happy to have you there.  However if she's not satisfied in the pace of the relationship, you might need to look for a place to live or call momma-do and ask for that room back.  The lack of confidence can allow other folks to shape who they think you should be.  Bad situations happen it's how you handle it that makes character in a man.


          Another is the fact he hasn't really matured,  Maturation isn't based on what you possess.  I know immature dudes with nice cars & good jobs.  Doesn't mean they are a grown-up.  A lot of times possession of materials deems some sort of confidence,  That's only cause maybe other male peers are lacking at that particular time.  Like here in NYC having a car is a luxury.  So even a Toyota Corolla can get you play on a cold winter's night (especially if she's a car whore).  Then you see the guy with the new Range Rover pull up, now the man with the Corolla all of a sudden feels inadequate.  Why?  I touch on that in my blog "The Popeye Complex" about having confidence only when in possession of something.of value.  So if they feel somewhat embarrassed they might not talk to a woman.  Even though the woman could care less what a man is driving.


           I've also learned that some of the men that are intimidated are the guys who lack good character.  Have you ever seen the "super thug" with the real square girlfriend.  They try to hide who they truly are around her.  So there's a whole lack of honesty in the relationship.  Sometimes it's the "nice guy" with the bitch girlfriend too.  She's so fucked up that he hates bringing her around but feels he can't do any better, going back to the source of his confidence.  Which is, his relationship so now he's allowing her to intimidate him out of fear.  So   he becomes intimidated out of fear.  And that begins the end of his relationship cause if his woman knows it's his downfall.


            You also have the momma's boys.  If they have had an overbearing parent particularly a mom.  They can make a man feel inadequate when he becomes a man.  Either second-guessing their choices or coddling them to the point where they can't experience failure for themselves.  Sometimes the son was the mother's surrogate "boyfriend" so he doesn't know to break off that relationship from his mom. Why?  Cause his mother is an intimidating woman, so he looks for that same strong personality trait in his women.


          Some men are intimidated cause of past bad relationships, so it's scarred them.  Sometimes men over-think & believe the woman they are dealing with is like their ex.  Maybe they have some similar character traits.  A man like that has to get through his heartache. Usually the 2nd relationship was a rebound relationship so there are unresolved feelings.  A woman will know cause he reflects a lot about the old relationship.  Avoid that man all day.


 Now on the flip-side, there are women who try to be intimidating on purpose.  If you aren't confident with who you are you can see it from afar.  If not here are some types to be aware or beware of:

The New Wave Feminist - She's either fresh from a women's lib class or read a few feminism books so she thinks she's a NOW advocate. There might be some daddy issues there, so they try to give you  anger left over from that class they took.  Just remind them they are not Susan B. Anthony.

The "I'm Too Smart For You" - Ever met a young lady who though she was a genius.  She's using her brain to dictate the relationship,  Most of their info is from self-help books or a lot of Oprah & Dr. Phil.  So now big words are thrown around to confuse you.  This doesn't imply true intelligence, just the fact that she read a dictionary.  Sometimes the intellect is used to mask other shortcomings.

The "I Can Do Better By Myself" - Word you that ill, if that's the case why are we on a date?  She's doing so well that all men don't measure up.  Usually this is some delusion & the real problem is they actually don't know what they want.  Rather than asking what can work, they focus on what doesn't work for them.  Relationships are 2-way streets COOPERATION is the key.  Until she lets that anger go, you can't really do anything for her to help. BOUNCE!!!!

The "Wannabe Dime" - The female who is okay-looking, she looks like a low-grade Halle Berry.  In the hood they have men trying to get their attention. So with some nervous men find this intimidating cause she has options. Fellas remember all women have options even the ugly ones.  Thirsty men are in-style so even the girl with the missing teeth & big butt can feel like a winner.

The "Testosterone Fiend" - Ever met a lady who tried to out "man" the man.  The hyper-aggresive, talk with your hands, extra dude sounding female can come across intimidating.  A lot of them are in the "hood" but are even in business such as Yandy Smith from Vh1's Love & Hip-Hop.  Real loud to the point you either gotta talk over them or put that Chris Brown right on em. "Oh you tryin' to help Ike?" ***SMACK***  The aggression isn't needed, cause the man will step to you anyway.  This type tells me some things happened in their childhood that deemed they needed more control in their life.

So ladies if you are running into intimidated men, ask yourself what kind of energy am I putting out?  Am I dating down?  You have to figure if you really want a man who's really confident or just comfortable?  You could be one of the types I've noted above & those issues are keeping you from rising. Figure it out.

Iron Fist: Marvel's Version Of Eminem

Hello folks & readers I decided to switch it up this time.  I wanted to focus on one of my passions comics.  Particularly a fave of mine, Danny Rand aka Iron Fist.  I think he's one of the coolest cause he's one of the Marvel Universe's best martial artists.  He's also just a real cool, kick ass character.  Particularly with writers exploring more of who he is as a man, he's become way cooler.  I'm guessing any rich kid with a black man as his best friend and business partner, a black woman as his fiancee, & he meditates.  This would definitely bring out a coolness factor.  However it's deeper than that.  As anyone knows Eminem (aka Marshall Mathers) is probably the most successful Caucasian emcee in a music genre created & dominated by African-Americans.  Therefore there is a resolve, a sort of never-say-die attitude.  I will bring up a few points that makes them similar.

Damn near twins

1. Underdog - Both were underdogs when learning their craft.  Danny Rand had issues inside of the mystical city of K'un Lun as being an "outsider" being taught martial arts by his sensei Lei Kung.  Eminem had issues in the battle rap scene in Detroit.  A lot of hip-hop crowds didn't get his rhymes or thought he was corny.  Both were driven by the fact of being an outsider to be better than their peers.  After achieving their statuses, the real challenges began.  They have both learn to endure past all their problems at the cost of personal sanity.

2. Salt & Pepper - . Particularly in the fact there is an African-American & Caucasian partnership.  Aside from the obvious racial differences, they stark contrast works. Both became famous being one half of a famous black/white duo Danny Rand had Heroes For Hire Inc. with Luke Cage (At the time he was known as Power Man) & Eminem had Bad Meets Evil with fellow Detroit emcee Royce Da 5'9",  Their partnerships fostered great tales in the comic world & some really good music with Eminem and Royce Da 5'9".  However both had broken up as working partners but reconciled later.  

3. A Taste For Brown Sugar - Both have a taste for Black women.  Iron Fist's long time lover Misty Knight is a private eye & adventurer.  Eminem was famously known for offending black women with a racist tirade  that was found on tape by The Source Magazine as follows: ''Blacks and whites they sometimes mix / but black girls only want your money cause they're dumb chicks,'' the rapper on the tape says. Later he raps, ''Don't date a black girl / if you do it once you won't do it twice.'' He also adds, ''Black girls are dumb, and white girls are good chicks.''  This just shows you both love(d) black women at a point in their life. 

4. Jacked Up Family Life - Both have several jacked up origins particularly dealing with family.  Danny Rand saw his father killed by his business partner & his mother was killed by a pack of wolves.   Eminem's dad abandoned their family & his mother sued him for $10 million.   Eminem's contempt for his mother's issues has been documented on the songs "Cleanin' Out My Closet" & "My Mom".  Eminem & Iron Fist fortunately had father-figures to help shape them as men.  Iron Fist has his sensei Lei Kung & Eminem had his Uncle Ronnie who introduced him to hip-hop. 

5. Steel Reserve - Outside of the tragedies they have had.  Eminem lost of his rhyming partners, Proof to street violence.  Iron Fist as a fictional character must constantly face new danger.  However what we love about them is that they rise in spite of itl

So now look at Iron Fist & tell me he's not one of the coolest white guys in the Marvel Universe.  I could see him rhyming while kicking someone right in the teeth.  Em's one of the most popular cats in music, so I guess we can refer to him as the Iron Fist on the mic.  Along with being able to summon the power of a dragon, he got a new upgrade in his look. 

He's fly, can fight, & is zen cool Danny Rand aka The Iron Fist.

Perception Is A Funny Thing

      

         I was having a very interesting conversation with some friends.  One of them (a young lady) was giving me an understanding of why some women don't want to hang with you when you ask.  So I asked why is that?  She first off explained that some ladies may be a bit nervous around new people.  I countered that argument by asking "If she met me through you and you trust me, why shouldn't she?"  After some more intense conversation, the real issue showed up.  Something about women being attacked by men they know surfaces.  Now I've never had to attack or sexually assault a woman.  It's despicable & deplorable that men even do that.  So I'm wondering to myself, "Why would you think I would go there?" & "What kind of ninjas have you been dating?"  Do I put out a creep/perv vibe to women?  Is my look or physical stature imposing to women?  A funny thing happened to me last night, A young Caucasian woman asks me to pretend that we are together cause some young man was stalking her.  I was so amused I asked her to repeat herself.  She proceeds to tell me the story about how she hung out with this guy.  So now he's the creep & I'm the protector.  Just in one day I go from being creep to hero.  This made me look at myself of how I'm perceived before anything is even said.

SMH, these n*ggas.

      So is it me putting out a fearful aura?  Like anyone we all have had dark thoughts, however I don't let them run my psyche.  So is it the image in media that have made young women fearful of black men?  Possibly, at the same time a lot of black men don't help this image by committing public foolishness.  So by default a lot of women & non-black folks already dismiss us. Even before speaking, so they are already on the defensive.  As for myself I'm 5'11" & about 270 so that's physically intimidating.  I try not be this ominous person because that energy draws bad things to you.  However I don't have this all smiles demeanor either.  When I'm hanging some ladies usually think I'm the street dude from the corner cause I do wear the baggy jeans & timbs.  The reason, I don't do sport coats with jeans at the hip-hop events or skinny jeans.  I'm a big guy so I need space & I wear size 14 so those colorful shoes you like don't come in my size. (They also look terrible in my size, have you ever seen a big guy with a cardigan sweater? One word: MOIST)   When they see me laugh & have a good time I notice I get more love.  However the assumption of me being this hard guy is made totally on my physical, but folks who know me know I'm a kind, giving dude.

This isn't helping our cause brothers

The funny thing is I know my personality is intimidating.  At times I'm brash, loud, & talkative.  However when does this come across as scary?  I think it becomes scary to folks who lack something.  Maybe my intelligence scares folks into retreating cause they have nothing to say.  Could be just the fact they have issues  on their own & haven't worked through them?  I know it's not in style for a black man to have an opinion about anything. Why is that? Are we just cannon fodder for media & angry women who have nothing better to do?  It almost feels natural for America to shit on us.  Throwing us under the bus has been a staple since slavery.  It might be that slave mind that still has some folks caught up in this "fear the black man" stance.  I just wonder what is thought of me by strangers on the train?  Some are afraid to sit next to me, like I'm going to wig out or something.  It's worse though when you get judged like that from people who actually know you.  Especially when they don't defend your character to others.  It's just as bad if not worse than stealing or committing a crime against me.  Matter of fact it is a crime, the crime of being fraudulent.  To get to know me is a blessed thing, if you understand that we are friends.  If not, you just think we are friends.

Always remember perception doesn't equal truth.  Perception changes from angle to angle. So change your angles & see truth for what it really is.

The Death Of The Nice Guy

         I was talking with one of my peoples. We tend to watch re-runs of old sitcoms & movies. As a youngster most of the subtle knowledge in the script went over my head. One example of this is watching old episodes of Family Matters. Steve Urkel is your typical nice guy. He's polite, sincere, humble, and can listen. Now on the surface you think that Laura Winslow didn't like him because he was a nerd or a bit annoying. That holds some truth but it's really because he was too nice. Now this is not to say being polite or a gentleman is bad, but that there is lack of respect for the nice guys. One of the first things that most nice guys like Steve is that they are predictable. They put too much on the table when they meet a woman for the first time. Steve had totally told Laura he loved her before he even knew anything about her. There was no mystery to his character. Remember that advice you would hear some characters say: "Don't tell her how you feel?" it's actually good advice. I've learned that you can be forward and honest. However It will only get you so far.

        Myself personally, I was the nice guy. Putting my feelings out there without really figuring if this woman liked me or not. I learned that women like honesty but want mystery first. It keeps a woman motivated to figure things out. I've learned that women sometimes say what they want, but don't actually want that. So what does this mean: The nice guy isn't really what they want. At least not initially. After a bit of rough relationships or bad experiences, then they are open to change. Not before though.

        Ladies and really ask yourself and be honest. Do you really go for the nice guy as your first choice? Think back to when you was a young lady before the kids & your previous relationships. Was the nice the cutest, most popular, or star athlete? Probably not, he might have worked for the A/V club, a science geek, or an artist like myself. Now ladies you may desire a "nice" guy now, but in turn he may bore you. I know ladies like excitement. This I had to learn over years dating and growing as a man.

So what actually killed the nice guy. It was never one thing, it was actually a very slow death. It really starts in the youth. The nice guy is the friend, never the boyfriend. This in-turn can cause some frustration and confusion. Due to the fact you can't really figure out why she thinks you are a great guy, but she won't date you.

        The second would probably be the rise of "Thug Luvin'". You remember when it became so popular to date a thug. Remember the songs and the imagery. As the saying goes: "Ladies love a bad boy." So now how is a well-mannered man going to compete, he may try to mold himself into one. However most fake thugs get exposed at some point. It's sexy until his thug life interferes in the relationship (i.e.: otther women, jail, people shooting at you while on a date, death, etc.)

    The third is the most personal. It would have to the lack of respect that he gets. I know women like a man that can command respect (i.e. the Thug). Remember people often mistake kindness for weakness, women can make this mistake as well. I've held doors open for some ladies and they expected me to talk to them. I give the basic respect to everyone until you cross me. (Yes talkin' slick or unnecessary sarcasm counts too)

So will the nice guy come back to life, probably not. Being a "nice guy" is good, but it will never get you the respect a man truly desires. So ladies when you ask the question: "Where are all the nice guys at?" Ask yourself how many did you kill before you asked that question?

The Shame Of Embarrassment (Classic)

It's funny how people can act when embarrassed. I think it's much more interesting in how we react to it, particularly the ladies' response. Fellas for those rare times you catch your woman at an embarrassing moment, she would rather you slap her than see her in that moment. A young lady I had known from high school I asked her out on a simple date. She had told me she was busy and was unable to come out for the night. I understood and said cool we have other times. Later that evening as I'm standing on my best friend's stoop. Guess who I see walking down his block hand in hand with another guy. Did I approach her, no I didn't. But the look on her face was priceless. Cause she couldn't look me in the eye. She even hid behind the guy in order to hide her face. 

I had to react that way cause I wanted to show her how mature I was. After that if we saw each other in the street, she couldn't look me in the eye. This was just one of my many "Gotcha" tales. It's funny cause I think in phone conversations women try to pull the "Jedi Mind Trick" on you. I know I've asked a woman something or she told me something that might have slipped "accidentally". When you bring it up in a conversation later, they would deny ever saying it or act like you heard differently. Is this a woman testing to see if a man listens or are they just talking sh*t? If that is the case, shouldn't a woman be prepared to have her bluff called?

Now if it's the mature thing to act like nothing happened. Am I not co-signing the behavior? If I don't bring up the fact that she got caught lying or fronting. What's to stop her from doing it again? This time for something bigger. Yes if I embarrass her, she will be uncomfortable but it will clear the air of the b.s. 
I sometimes think that women would rather get hit than wallow in embarrassment. Case in point is the Maury Povich Show. What happens when the woman finds out that the man is not the father of the child? She runs off crying, why? She has had an embarrassing moment on national television. So what changes if anything? 

I use the shame as a tool. Sometimes for learning or as a reminder that the lies won't be tolerated. Does this mean I look for a potentially embarrassing moment, No. However I don't let them slide. So be advised ladies that messing with a man who has some intellect and game, he will check your b.s.

Here's a gem that I learned from Chris Rock: "Men lie the most, women tell the biggest lie." Now who handles it better when they get caught is debatable. So for all the ladies that said, did, or showed off and got their bluff called I still have my eyes open. Thank you for making me more sharper than ever.

The Respect Of Love

       First off I want to say props to all the folks really in love.  Not the folks just playing coy or settling.  I mean the stay by your bed, marry you in the living room kind of love.  We all have a different perception of what love is.  However I think we have a lack of respect for this emotion.  I use myself as a prime example, by taking the woman I've ever loved for granted. I think because love is such a common & abundant emotion, we just figure it's always going to be there.  However it's just like gas during Hurricane Sandy, limited.  There's a point where love can't help or it's totally exhausted.  I make the classic comparison of love to a flower.  When it's in bloom, it's the greatest thing, however it doesn't get there on it's own. There must be some form of nurturing & good conditions for it to grow.  As human beings it's easy to get complacent, especially in love.  Does love have to be threatened for folks to treasure it?    


       Maybe that's why some ladies fight with their man, just to create that feeling.  However it could backfire, whereas a man can just be fed up with all the bickering.  Are folks trying to substitute the lack of love in one area for another?  I've seen folks get into relationships just to heal themselves from another.  I was having a conversation with some folks & they talked about love, settling down, etc. & it just hit me that I'm at a point where if I fall in love, It's pretty much the real thing.  Now does this mean any female can come along, hell no.  I tend to think of myself as being a critical guy, especially in this internet dating age.  So out of respect for myself & love I take my time.  I'm fortunate to not get caught up in the age thing & feeling that I should be married or in a relationship by a certain age.  Isn't there a famous saying "Love has no bounds."  Therefore age is a boundary, so why be a slave to that?  I've just learned most recently that love needs to be tempered properly like steel.  Too much of this or too little of that can create something that doesn't last.  The thing is that there is no sure way of making love grow other than communication & listening.  After that it's a crap shoot.

Context vs. Intent

          Hey folks recently I've gotten into some funny debate about the word "cooperation".  Now I use it in the true definition of the word.  So let me set this story up.  One night while hanging out with some friends we decide to head to Brooklyn & get some drinks.  I meet some other friends out there and we just have a general convo. I just happen to mention I went to a nice party earlier in the week in which the women were "cooperative."  My homegirl takes offense as I'm describing the situation & I give her the "WTF" face.  Apparently she thinks I use the word "cooperation" to mean that the women are very sexually cooperative.  I'm thinking to myself "Why did you take it there?"  She tells me that the word is very subjective & can be seen as something vile.  Now when I ask my fellas they are like "She is buggin'!" or "Yo she's too sensitive!"  So naturally I went to the place where all good arguments or debates go to really shine: Facebook.  As you know I'm not shy when it comes to debating so I asked my Facebook fam if the word is offensive to women.  I found that some women did agree with my homegirl, other saw my point of view as being no big deal.


            So is it the fact that cooperation is a bad word like submit or obey.  As any man knows these types of words offend women, especially in this politically correct/neo-feminism era. I was told by a lovely young woman that the word coopersation brings on thoughts of submission.  I disagreed in the aspect of, is the pre-concieved notion of submission come from a woman's hatred of being more agreeable?  Does it deal with subconscious anger issues?  I ask this because why would your imagination take it to that extreme? Does a woman think that low of me that if I say she's "cooperative" it implies that she's fast.  I think the word brings about mixed feelings.  Some ladies it doesn't affect them cause they understand the context I'm using it in. Is it my intent to create some mysoginistic word.. 

          
          My intention is to simply use the word cooperation in it's right context.  Nothing deeper than that.  I would probably use the word more in the presence of my male friends who undststand things like that.  I think certain women take male language out of context thinking they know what it means.  I remember watching an episode of The Cosby Show in which Theo & Cockroach were discussing females.  They happen to refer to them by using the adjective "burgers".  Now Theo's sister Denise overheard this conversation & was totally offended.  In order to give her argument some validation she urges her sister Vanessa that this word is totally offensive.  Vanessa only begins to agree due to pressure put on by Denise,  Eventually the siblings start to argue & it's settled by the queen feminist ala Claire Huxtable.  Claire deems the word as sexist & demeaning and Theo is put to shame along with Cockroach.  Now yes to call a woman a "burger" is a stretch., but ask yourself this "Why does Denise care that Theo calls a woman a "burger"? "  Is it cause she really cares about him maturing as a man?  Could it be the fact that no one ever called her a "burger" so she's a bit pissed that he's using this term?  Who knows, but what's for certain is that she's pissed about this word "burger".  In the end why do you feel so important to worry about the words I use?  I can use any word in any context to express my intentions.

            
            So this made me wonder, is it due to the fact of me being a black man.  I ask cause psychologically some women don't accept a strong, straight-forward, guy with a very precise, sharp vocabulary.  I know in some areas we are not expected to even get coopersation or any leeway from our women in a relationhip.  Why is that?  I think some of y'all think I'm reaching, but think "What if I was white, using the word cooperation?"  In the end it comes down to how you view yourself.  Your issues with my vocabulary let me know that you have some underlying issues that you need to address.  My way of speaking will not personally hold you back.  If you think that, then you have been listening to the wrong damn folks.  Maybe she just wants to argue....who the hell knows????

Synthetic Egos & Cloned Confidence

         

          Hey folk what's going on. Once again I'm focusing on a trend that I see that has gotten a little out of control.  In particular folks borrowing or cloning their confidence from folks they idolize or listen to.  Is it just me or have a lot of ladies read too many books & now base their entire social or dating habits based on what they have read.  This era of self-help now just caters to the ego, thereby giving the reader temporary confidence.  However when a situation that isn't "textbook" they all of a sudden don't know how to deal.  Some folks base their confidence on something they have or possess aka "The Popeye Complex". 

              So now what happens when you are stripped of your magazines, cars, cool clothes, etc.  The raw individual doesn't have much.  Why is that?  As human beings now I've noticed possessions have become more important than the soul. So now you have folk looking to amass a fortune than rather work on themselves.  This is why you have celebs losing their damn minds.  Sometimes for them their talent was enough to make them comfortable.  They find solace in other things & reckless behavior to cope. The sad part is that average folks emulate these celebrities due to not feeling good about themselves.  How many females got out of pocket with their boyfriends after Rihanna got into with Chris Brown.  So many women think they identify with Rihanna, but in actuality they bond with the dysfunctional relationship she had.  Some claim to understand the "abuse" she endured.  How many of you ladies have gotten into a fight in a Lamborghini while checking your man's phone? You can relate somewhat, but let's been honest that's not your life. I'm guessing some folks need to live others' lives in order to make sense of their own.   We call that "The Matrix"

            A lot of men now are just as guilty of it.  If you listen to their slang "Yo son I'm on my Jay-Z swag right now." That to me just screams you have no original confidence of your own.  Too many men are looking to the rappers for how to dress, what to say, & even how to think. I'm not sure if you know this a lot of rappers don't make good choices. I mean would you trust Lil Wayne's fashion sense, or Rick Ross' choice in women to make the mother of his children?  Hell no, so why put 100% trust in everything they say?  Not everything you read on Twitter is a gem, some are just straight rocks or a quote they borrowed from someone else.  What makes an individual is what you do in spite of.  Not just going with the flow or defying they flow to be different. It's about creating something  new entirely.  As a man I had to learn to be myself & be truly comfortable with who I am.  Yes I'm a fat dude who's opinionated, still eats beef, doesn't like Madea, & reads comics.  In the end i learned some folks will get it, & others won't. 

           As a human being you have to know what you can & can't handle.  I'm seeing folks egos get bruised on Facebook due to everyone telling them how fly they are.  It's all bullshit cause in the end, can you really count on them.  The amount of "yes men" out there is always high.  It's your job as a "real" person to figure out what's real & what's fake.  There's no textbook to tell you how to deal with the bullshit, cause it's a case-by-case basis.  So Rihanna's bullshit isn't what Tyeisha from the Bronx is dealing with.  Your craziness is just that YOUR CRAZINESS!!!  Create your own "flyness" instead of looking for it in others.

The Popeye Complex

Now for the folks that get lost by the title, this will not be about Popeye The Sailor.  However we will talk about how his mythology plays in real life.  If you aren't familiar Popeye The Sailor is a fictional character that draws power from the vegetable, spinach. When he ingests spinach, he gets the ability to do superhuman feats.  He usually has to depend on spinach because his longtime girlfriend Olive Oyl, usually flirts with his equally longtime nemesis Bluto.  The funny thing is that usually Bluto will "beat the breaks" off Popeye until that can of spinach comes out of his shirt.  After that, it's no contest.  It's as

he's a whole different person.  So you have to ask, where was this strength before the spinach?

Now you are asking, how does this relate to real life & is this a rant about Olive Oyl being reckless?  The thing is that a lot of people suffer from a condition called "The Popeye Complex".  I will illustrate some forms of  this condition that you might fail to notice or just never thought that deep about. Trust me you will sit back after reading this & say "Yo, I know someone like that!!!" 

So let's examine the first instance of this condition.  This would be the dependence on physicality.  How many times have you met a male or female that lived their life totally on looks?  If they didn't have the latest clothes, their hair was a little off, or they just gained a little weight.  Next thing you know their attitude was gone. or they lost their confidence to the point you didn't know recognize them.  This is illustrated with a lot of reality television celebs. The sad part is with folks like this who fall victim to settling for someone who still reveres them like they are top notch.  That insecurity forces them to find a person they feel that gives them their old confidence.  I've seen this firsthand & it's sad, cause if their spouse gets their own confidence they would leave that situation.  If you find yourself in a situation like that, find the confidence in yourself to leave. Life is too short to be someone's "ego amplifier". You are more valuable to someone who truly respects you.

The second instance is a classic that we have all seen, dependence on financial status.  This is instance is also quite common in everyday circles.  Now you may think I'm only talking about the very wealthy, professional athletes, or big celebrities (i.e. rappers, actors), but it goes on commonplace with a lot of blue collar work as well.  How many times do you see the cute chick on the train or bus talking to the conductor or bus driver,  You think that was by accident or that he or she has game like that, nah their occupation allows for "job groupies".  Now some folks know they have benefits & good money coming in (especially in a recession) where they can dictate certain things within a relationship.  So they seem way more confident until they lose that job, or face off financially with someone who is the same tax bracket or is above .  Kevin Hart illustrated this beautifully in his bit about hanging with Dwyane Wade & Mekhi Phifer.  He thought his money was real big until he hangs with them.  It's a blow to his ego that their are some folks who make your money look like small change.  If you are dating a "job groupie" and she sees this, it might cause issues in your relationship.  It's a definitive ego check, that can either make that person want to get more money, or find someone that thinks their lifestyle is superior.  If that's the only reason why you even feel good about yourself, it's pretty shallow.  At some point the money stops, then what.  We have heard about folks who couldn't accept the fact they were going to lose their lifestyle & BANG!!! Dead on the doorstep.  You can't take it with you.

The third instance is another classic, particularly in the "hood".  Which is narcotic/intoxication confidence.  This is usually when someone gets drunk or high & all of a sudden has the ability to speak their mind without any fear.  Remember drugs just release your inhibitions, so where as when you take a risk you feel less guilty about it.   How many times have you either seen or been in an argument with someone that ends up bad & the next day you hear "I was drunk, my bad" or "I was high as shit".  It's just a passive-aggressive way to relay their real feelings.  Ladies if a man feels you up & claims he was drunk, he's been trying to sleep with you for the longest.  Fellas, if a chick tells you that "You can get it" but acts drunk, she's telling you that sober you can hit that.  If you expose this a lot of folks just run away or try to deny their feelings or use it as a gateway to talk about how they feel.  I don't trust folks like that, cause if it was that important you could say something.  I can't trust that as being honest cause you had to be on something to speak you mind.  That's a big liability in my book. 

The final instance is what I call item dependency.  This is where a particular item (i.e. spinach, car, social status, saying "Shazam") gives a person confidence.  This is usually refers to folks who have a particular object that brings some type attention. This can bring about attention but then be determent to them as well.  You have a pair of kicks that everyone wants but don't have the means to defend yourself from folks that want them.  I've seen guys scheme on dudes for their girlfriends, which to me is a form of stalking.  It's kind of sad actually.  When they lose that item, they are a shell of themselves.  Always remember only the soul is eternal, everything else is temporary. After a while you are just a slave to whatever you treasure & no longer enjoy having that item.

Take a look at friends or family.  You will see that some have issues until they take their "spinach" & then they become someone else.  You have to ask them & yourself "What are you running from?" & "Who are you, really?"  I know I will look in the mirror & do so. 

The Legendary Bus Uppercut aka ShoRyuKen

(Play The Video to understand this blog )

      Alright after watching the video with my lil Bro. I ain't gonna lie I laughed my ass off. Now I don't condone hitting women on general principle. However this hoodrat has definitive daddy issues. The bus driver was old cat from the old school. He probably had daughters & was not willing to play that walking away shit. As a woman what gives her the right to hit any man. (In Self-defense, that's different cause you might be fighting for your life so that's understandable.) This girl obviously didn't grow up with a male role-model to even remotely know to never hit a man.  That's the fault of her dad, for leaving for whatever reasons.  Now as an older man, you gotta learn to let certain things go.  Especially a man in this era, that allows & perpetuates young women being reckless has to be careful. Some folks will see this as abuse, even though he was egged on by the young girl.

          I see it as a young girl learning the difficult yet simple lesson of "Knowing Your Role".  A lot of ladies think cause a man doesn't hit them he's soft.  NO!!! It just takes more resolve to not hit you,  Ladies you have to understand that being angry doesn't allow you to touch a man.  Also don't think cause a man is old that he's less dangerous.  Ever heard of "Old Man Strength". Did you see how that girl's head snapped back?  Then he grabbed her by the neck like she was a flamingo in the jaws of a crocodile.  The tears start rolling in, not cause she's hurt but because she's embarrassed.  I thought that uppercut would've put her to sleep, it just disorientated her. This reminds me of the "Amber Lamps" video.  Everyone can talk crazy until they get hit, after that they are looking for help.  Fellas this goes for you too, stop fighting folks cause you think they can't defend themselves.  I've seen young dudes get knocked the f*ck out, messing with old folks.  It's sad that an uppercut has to be the thing to check an ego.


Take a look at this The Aftermath Now she understands the hard lesson, & listen to the humility in her voice. Disrespectful children I will end by saying this to you: "Be like a tumor, & cut it out"

My Take On Bullying

         Bullies are needed, why you may ask? It’s to show you in life that there are “personal assholes” everyone has to defend themselves against. I’ve noticed that this crackdown on bullying has now made our kids a bit soft. Especially in pressure situations, I’m worried that these kids won’t be able to handle dealing with problematic people. Imagine when they are grown-ups, a rule of growing up is that eventually you have to learn how to deal with your own problems no matter what. Bullying won’t end cause you aren’t in grade school anymore. There’s plenty of bullying at the workplace & in various social circles. Now when this confrontation comes are you going to run? Or face up to them? Making bullying illegal is also just a waste of time. Are we going to really prosecute 9 yr olds & kids in high school who for the most part are just being assholes. The pressures of life alone “bully” you. Maybe this could be the reason to outlaw bullying. It helps make society or malleable to suggestion. When you overcome bullying it allows you to learn resistance. Remember if you are always used to running to someone to help solve a problem, you can’t solve any for yourself. This can leave you dependent even as an adult. Also learning how to fight is a valuable skill, because conflict can happen anywhere. Trust I was at the movies & cats wanted to fight. For what, who knows? The point is at this moment I have to be ready for conflict.


        I speak from the point of view as a victim as well. Bullies are assholes, & made hate myself at times. However I had learned from folks that you have to will yourself past your fears. If they are allowed to fester they will rule you into adulthood. Did I win all my fights? No but I felt better in the fact that I did try. The scary thing is now bullying has gotten to the point of violence now. Parents are now more scared that instead of a fight breaking out, someone will get shot. Some of these bullies resort to carrying weapons or making sure they always have a crew. In turn it shows that they really are insecure or just scared themselves. A lot of bullies have bullies in their life. It might be a relative or just a cry for attention. It’s sad all around, but the thing is this complex system of bully/victim will never end.


          It evolves with each generation. Not sure how “cyber-bullying” works being that you get harassed on a social network you don’t need to be on. It’s as simple as using the delete friend feature on Facebook. If you hit me on an IM, IGNORE!!! That’s just some punk shit if you allow someone to bug you online. The internet isn’t real folks. Please teach your children that conflict is as natural as a bowel movement. You can avoid it for so long until you have to see the porcelain throne or die due to dysentery. So running is an option but not a solution. Empower your will to stand up to it. Sometimes you only have you to depend on.

Was Doing Some Thinking...

As I was on my way back to NYC from DC, i had a whole bunch of time to think.  It's been a while since I wrote something down as well.  So a lot has gone down. Things such as my "purpose" has changed.  Apparently my purpose was always music at first I thought it would be production (and it still could be), but I see it's management.  I've learned to appreciate the art of putting pieces in place to make great things.  Allowing good artists to come together & create the greatest music ever.  Thanks to the homies in particular j. Monopoly & Tamir Brown.  So now it's about helping others get to where they need.  i've often wondered what my career path would have been.  I never really thought about it as a young man. It's gotten clearer though in this age. 


         Another thing I thought about is how I am perceived?  I used to want everyone to like me, cause I'm a good guy.  However in these last few years I've learned to care less about that.  Unfortunately some folks deem that as being insensitive.  Always remember my honesty is pure, not always polite.  I think I'm polite just not holding back my opinion about things.  Why take it personal?  That's just my opinion, I feel if you are taking it personal cause I hit a chord with you.  Just don't hold my opinion against me personally. Can't hold grudges, cause they leave you angry for no reason.


           
          Some folks are wondering about my personal life though.  I wonder why though.  There were ladies happy to hear I was in a relationship, some who weren't for obvious reasons.  I just ask though, when I was single where was this concern.  If you are a true friend, you should care period.  For me it's different, I have friends who are in relationships & even married, it doesn't stop me from being a true friend.  At what point is my friendship something from convenience or a true friendship?  If it's based off what I can do for you, then just step away.  There's no need to salvage a friendship that's not truth.


            In closing I just want to say thank you to all my family & friends.  They have truly helped me through bad times.  I would name you all but no need.  If you are smiling then you know who you are.  It's appreciated a whole lot.  Keep doing what you do

Logik TV, Welcome Back (Video)

Superhero Girlfriends Part 4: Sue Richards..So Disrespectful

Disclaimer: Whassup folks, back once again to examine the dysfunction in some of our favorite heroines & super couples.  For the folks who happen to be a bit sensitive, just remember these are just my take on these characters. Let's stop getting all soft & whiny about things.  Especially you dudes, "Man the f*ck up!!!" Now let's get back to the subject at hand: Sue Richards aka The Invisible Woman.

Now I've been  always wondering about the marriage between Reed (aka Mr. Fantastic) & Sue Richards.  I think their relationship has been somewhat good but disproportionate.  So let's look at why that's the case & why I think Reed should've never married this chick. 

1. Used To Date My Best Friend - Yeah in high school she dated the star athlete Ben Grimm.  Now in high school this could be considered innocent.  However I remember high school, & "dating" was a whole different thing.  Who's to say Ben didn't get lucky in the back of his car after a game?  Just remember how far young folks can go, like teen pregnancy.  Just wondering if Ben told Reed, & like the symp he is, he just accepted that.  That is a no-no in my book.

2.  Demanded To Work With Me (Even Though You Don't Know Sh*t) - The rocket that would send Reed & Sue into space giving them their abilities was originally only manned by Reed & Ben.  Reed funded & was the primary genius on the rocket.  Ben was piloting.  Sue begged Reed to let her & Johnny on.  Now what in the hell are you thinking as a man.  Why would you endanger your girlfriend & her brother just cause you don't want her mad at you?  Seriously, what is wrong with this picture? How can she help if something goes wrong?  She can't, Reed is thinking with his penis & that can get you killed.  Ben as the best friend, advises against it yet she ends up going. They are fortunate to live, but it changes their relationship drastically.

3. Flirting With Royalty -  When the Fantastic Four first meet Namor the Sub-Mariner, he's quite attracted to Sue.  Even though Namor wants to invade & enslave the surface world, Sue finds it quite endearing that royalty is smitten with her looks.  This is due to the fact that Reed has somewhat ignored her cause he's always into his scientific discoveries.  Sue is now risking human enslavement cause her man ignored her.  The worst part is Sue is flirting with Namor in front of Reed & the rest of the Fantastic Four.  How disrespectful is that?  Of course this leads to a fight, that ends with the Fantastic Four winning, but Namor keeps trying to woo Sue.  Even though Sue chooses to be with Reed, she allows Namor to massage her ego.  Only due to the fact that Reed, is the classic absent husband/boyfriend. As a man I would think this level of respect would be a breaking point before you just say "F*ck this b*tch!"  Yet Reed stays & works it out. (Not sure how true this is, but Sue even stayed with Namor in Atlantis for a short time.  Fellas would you really let your lady stay at a another man's home for whatever reason? I think not. Who's to say Sue didn't give Namor a piece of that invisible cookie?) 

4. Loyalty Is Not In My Vocabulary - If you read the Civil War mini-series.  Reed sides with Iron Man & the Pro-registration side. Sue shows empathy for the Anti-Registration side.  Instead of just agreeing to disagree.  She runs off the with outlaws knowing she has kids at home.  What happened to the loyalty of their marriage vows.  Especially now being a wife & mother, Sug ignores these for a half-assed cause, that for the most part doesn't concern here. Sue's identity is public knowledge, therefore she has nothing to fear.  She risks going to jail & her marriage.  Sue even hits Reed with a few invisible force fields to let her know she's serious.  So now it's gotten somewhat domestic, & Reed ends up a victim.

5. Nothing In Common - I saved the best for last. Let's really look at Sue & Reed.  What do they really have in common?  Not a damn thing.  Sue was the popular, female athlete with her choices of men.  Reed is a child prodigy genius.  I'm guessing he's the classic "nerd" that falls for the beautiful "cheerleader".  For the most part they wouldn't have hung out in the same social circles in high school.  While Sue struggles with keeping her husband's attention, she should know this is how Reed has fun.  He's a world class scientist.  They don't have a beer & watch the game.  Reed's idea of watching something fun is turning on his Negative Zone viewer making sure something doesn't invade this dimension.  Reed isn't your typical guy, so what gets him motivated isn't the usual.  Ben has even had to make sure both of them realize the marriage is worth saving.  Is it really or are they just going through the motions for the kids?   Sue is the classic bored housewife, which can be dangerous.  Remember she's got a stalker in Mole Man, who already kidnapped her before while shopping.  

It's time to cut your losses Reed.. Man Up!!!  In the words of Teddy Pendergrass "I think I betta let her go, looks like another love TKO!!!"

Superhero Girlfriends Part 3: Betty Banner My Dysfunctional Ex-Girlfriend

          Hey folks what's the latest with y'all.  I was reading some past issues of The Incredible Hulk & thought about the relationship dynamic of Bruce & Betty (Ross) Banner.  As you know Bruce turns into the Hulk whenever he's angry.  Betty is his consoling woman that is one of the few people who can calm him down in his Hulk brute form.  So after years of seeing him rage out, she's finally decided to say "Fuck You Bruce!!!"  So let's examine my opinion of Betty Banner The Dysfunctional Ex-Girlfriend.

        For the most part Betty is a supportive lady, her father is a decorated 4 star general of the U.S. Army named Thaddeus "Thunderbolt" Ross.  She's known hardcore military structure throughout her young life.  So you wonder why would she get with a softy like Bruce Banner.  As a youngster I'm guessing she rebelled against her father by dating Bruce,  A man who didn't at all reflect military structure, yet was a certified genius.  However there was a military man that caught her eye, his name Major Glenn Talbot.  Both Bruce & Glenn were pursuing Betty at the same time.  However her father Gen. Ross didn't approve of Bruce & backed Glenn.  Betty's response was to go opposite of her father's wishes & next thing you know Bruce is in there.  Now what isn't expected is when Bruce becomes the Hulk after he saves a teen from getting hit by energy from a gamma bomb.  This event defines their relationship cause it literally makes Bruce into 2 different people.  So while one side of him is this intelligent, calm, & timid guy.  The other is this wild, angry, & dangerous man who is being hunted by Betty's own father nonetheless.  I think she became fascinated with Bruce more because of this duality & the level of danger he brings is quite exciting.  However there's another factor Betty is also quite scared of Bruce too.  Remember she can't get flip off at the mouth & piss him off.  Remember just him getting a bit angry might wreck a town or two. Bruce could literally kill her by accident & not feel guilty until he turned back human.  So now the residual anger & resentment kick in but she has to accept the choice she made of being with Bruce.

      As their relationship goes through various phases from her being Harpy (a gamma-radiated monster created by the villain The Leader), to the Hulk & Bruce being separated, & the arrival of multiple personalities such as Mr. Fixit.  It tested their relationship, Betty even married Glenn Talbot after publicly Bruce was revealed to be the Hulk. (Don't sleep on Bruce though, he went to the Microverse & got with a green princess named Jarella, pimpin' for real.)  Glenn Talbot was later killed, when he tried to kill Bruce.  However I think she decided to deal with Banner again because she got used to the effects of his condition & the fact that every day there was a danger.  Being Talbot's wife wouldn't guarantee any type of true excitement.  Remember she's spent years being Bruce Banner's girlfriend & the object of Hulk's desire.  The Hulk would the majority of the time would either get into a fight or have to rescue Betty.  How is she supposed to go back to a normal life after years of craziness.  So she may suffer from some form of "Stockholm Syndrome" or truly love bad boys.  Therefore she's gotten used to the dysfunction in her relationship & now this is "normal"  The funny thing is that after Bruce gets some psychological help from Doc Samson, he is actually able to create a somewhat "stable" relationship   Unfortunately this wouldn't last too long.

     After years of being around various gamma-radiated folks, Betty became ill from all of the exposure.  So here's the "final insult"  from supporting your man.  After all the battles, transformations, & near death experiences Bruce can't help her.  The ultimate insult is that one of Bruce's enemies The Abomination learns of her illness & manages to poison Betty with is irradiated blood while she's in a hospital.  She is reported dead (but in comics no one stays dead, trust.)  In the meantime of her death Bruce goes through a whole bunch of problems from being transported off Earth by fellow superheroes to being on a war-torn planet, & becoming it's king.  He even ends up having 2 kids, & declaring war on Earth particularly the superheroes that sent him off-world.  Betty ends up coming back through the super villains The Leader & M.O.D.O.K. as the Red She-Hulk, yeah as fucked up as that sounds she's back.  Just like a spiteful ex-girlfriend you haven't seen in a while, how do you think she feels after seeing Bruce all the years,  She hits him in the face, BAM! POW!, WHACK!  I'm guessing all that residual anger decided to come back & say hello.   Even one of Bruce's sons Skaar (whom he has another dysfunctional relationship with) looks on & says "Damn, pops what did you do to this chick for her to hate you?"  At first Bruce didn't know it was Betty & was ready to beat her, but after finding out who she was he wants to work it out.  Betty at this time didn't care for Bruce for 2 reasons: 1.  He got some chick off-world pregnant  2. She thought her ex Glenn Talbot was back in her life (later revealed to be an android)  So she could really care less for Bruce & now she has the ability to fight Bruce on an even plane.  So there's no reason to really work things out.

         Bruce is still trying to make things work, cause this is what he's used to. He thinks Betty rode it out for so long before, but now things are different.  When she just had to accept what it is, he was comfortable with that.  She's done with being the troubled maiden, but her Red She-Hulk form showed some inner issues that she has.  I think the dysfunction in her relationship with the men in her life took a toll & now is manifesting.  She enjoys releasing the rage in her form (this could be the anger she's had since a child or when she was dating Bruce in the early years of his Hulk condition).

        So fellas what have we learned, if a relationship starts in recklessness it will end in recklessness.  Betty could've left long ago.  This however would have proved her father right, so she decided to "cut off her nose, to spite her face" by staying in this very dysfunctional relationship.  Now that she's got a new body, she's trying to get back on the market & see what's out there.  But what dudes you know that would date a chick that could kill them if she has an aggressive orgasm. I'm not f*ck that.  Ladies reading I hope y'all understand that patience in dysfunction will only get you in trouble or worse, KILLED.

The Reasons Why Doomsday Is Actually A Runaway Slave

Shouts to all my comic fans who've been waiting for the latest assessment of comics.  Today my subject is the "villain" from Superman comics, Doomsday.  As you know this character was first introduced in the "Death Of Superman" story.  This massive creature threatens Earth & the only one who can stop him is Superman. Superman dies trying to stop this creature.  I just noticed that Doomsday reminds me of the undying spirit of the black man fighting white supremacy.  Now some of y'all  are wondering how does this dynamic work.  Well there are a few reasons why Doomsday represents the "Black Struggle"

1.  Strength - He's stronger than the "white champion of Earth" who is Superman.  When he's first introduced he's bound by cables & is still a scary threat.  He defeats a few heroes with just one arm.  Doomsday is so strong that Superman bleeds & has whelps all over his body.  His resilience is also unwavering, because he has a goal to destroy no matter what.  Just like a slave who's trying to escape & will kill to get freedom.

2. Experimented & Manipulated - In his creation, he was a Kryptonian experiment to create the perfect being.  He was thrown into the wild, killed then cloned from the dead flesh. This experiment was done over numerous times to the point that Doomsday detested all life, due to being killed so many times.  After dying & re-dying so many times he was able to evolve past needing to eat or sleep.  He eventually killed his creator after realizing he was behind his agony.  However he would become the pawn of other characters such as Lex Luthor & Darkseid.  Have you ever noticed how some folks who control a person & when the person becomes conscious of this they rebel?  Doomsday rebels against who controls him & his controllers feel betrayed, just like slave masters.  The whole notion of "Look at what I've given you." comes into play.  The master always feels betrayed when the slave becomes conscious of their surroundings & plight.  When the slave wants to emancipate themselves, it's a threat to the master's control.  Then the slave becomes the threat & must be eliminated.

3. Appearance -  It's the first thing you notice about him, his size & color of skin.  He looks like a man of color.  Doomsday's hair is white suggesting some age, & even has hard bone shards protruding out of his chin.  The bone shards look like a beard.  His size reflects the old "field slave" or "Brute" as they were referred to.

Here's some pics to help illustrate my point:

Notice his skin, & him breaking the chains of his "oppressor"

The early appearances, notice how he's trying to
escape his bondage,  Notice that you don't
see what he looks like

I must stop your Negro domination.

4. The Mental State - As you know Doomsday has the mental state of an animal when he's introduced.  Meaning he lives solely by instinct & nothing more.  Remember for years black men were considered like wild animals.  However were still aware of their surroundings, so that means with each new experience Doomsday became smarter.  At one particular point Doomsday become sentient & is able to communicate with others.  His new intelligence along with his immense strength makes him extremely dangerous.  Now the "slave" has come 180 degrees by now being the master of himself.  Now the white power structure in the book represented by Lex Luthor & Superman must put him down.  However now that Doomsday has become sentient, due to genetic tampering. Now Doomsday has some Kyrptonian DNA so he has a weakness from Kryptonite like Superman. This weakness along with his intellect, means he knows pain & fear. In turn having fear empowers the White Power Structure, because now they can manipulate his fear.  Now that they know Doomsday can only go so far for what he desires, he will have limitations.  Before when he was introduced he was a fearless engine of destruction.  Now he's just a shell of what he was.  Same as black people in America.


Synopsis - So if you look at these similarities I've pointed out, the writers might have been subconsciously talking about race relations.  Maybe the writer & artist feel that people of color have "invaded" the U.S. or if we get out of control we must be reined in.  This is just me looking at imagery & how it plays out in race relations.  For some folks their racist notions can manifest in creations, even though it's on a subconscious level.  I could also be reading too much into it, but there are sometime too many factors supporting my theory.  Especially being conscious of race, true black history, & race relations in America.  Just take time to  look closely.  To any of the millions of comic readers that take offense to this, you need to chill.  It's my opinion & you love it.

Residual Anger (Part 1) - The Source

   One night I woke up from a dream that really scared me.  It was me just walking around a big city, Philly I think & some cats stepped to me just cause.  So I actually tried to avoid the confrontation, but they persist & I end up shattering one of the guys' jaw.  I'm then in handcuffs trying to explain to the police why it got that far. When I see the guy's face he's all bloody & swollen.  I woke up just thinking about where was all this rage hidden.  I'm guessing that my subconscious still has a lot of old anger from my childhood that I suppress & the situation in my dream was a classic scene. This wasn't first time I've had a dream like this.  I just rarely talk about it

     As a youth I was quite innocent & non-confrontational.  However you can't really go through life without confrontation.  So as a youth I did get bullied & picked on cause I didn't really know how to fight.  I also felt that I was good kid, so what did I do to deserve this. I'm guessing that some just didn't like me or resented my positive outlook.  I just wasn't the confrontational type.  It started from junior high into high school.  I lost the respect of some folks as a youth, & that really hurt me.  There was some self-loathing on my part.  I just didn't understand why God would put me through this.  That in itself created some resentment & I would act out around my parents.  I think it was training for dealing with the harsh reality of a world.  I was quite naive in a lot of ways, cause my parents allowed me to be a kid. 

    

      

    Sometimes I just wonder why I was given this life.  I always thought you do good, you get good.  That was a lesson I learned as a kid.  Some folks just don't like you period.  They would want to see harm come to you just so they could feel better.  So my mind had some ease, but yet I would still want to see certain folks get hit in the head with a bat.  I know that's wrong to say, but it's honest.  Have I not paid my dues for vengeance??  I think a source of my anger is me being angry at myself for not fighting back.  Sometimes I was afraid to just try for fear of retaliation.  So these feelings are self-inflicting wounds on my psyche. 

   This is just a blog for me to work out the source of my anger.   The next blog will focus on my triggers & how I can counter my anger.  The 3rd blog will focus on the people & things that help with my anger issues.  I hope you enjoyed this reading & you get to understand who I am.

The Travel Blog

As I travel back to NYC, my thoughts wander to my future. I just saw my godson & it rings of a possible future for me. What things I could share with a child? Where would I start? These are the things I ponder. Raising a child definitely shows you who you truly are, in the fact that your actions determine how this child thinks, views, & reacts with the world. At times I shun the responsibility, but then I think about my dad. He was 23 when he became a father, & he was far from perfect. There was probably a moment he said "Eff this..." but then decided to work it out. Why short his son of a father? My dad didn't have his father full-time, so my father wanted to break the cycle. Great thing cause I came 6 yrs later. As a man I learned from him that problems come & you deal with it as a man does. Is the solution you have to your problem the right one? Not always, but it shouldn't deter you from at least trying. So I'm at least willing to try, because you can only fail by not trying.