NAME CALLING

What’s really good people?

It’s the end of February and tis the Ides of March already. Therefore, NBA All-Star weekend is here and every Jersey Chasing professional gold digger will be out auditioning for a spot on next season’s Basketball Wives. And why is that only during NBA All-Star weekend do you see every player accessorize his attire with reading glasses as if they are candidates for the Rhodes Scholarship to study at the University of Oxford. Oh BTW; I got Chase Budinger (Houston Rockets) winning the slam dunk contest.

Ok people; let me get focused…

So I caught a portion of the documentary Freakonomics on television the other day and I have to say I was very impressed. I liked how the principles of economics and data were used to tell the ugly truth about how the world works sometimes. Freakonomics is actually a book that digs at the following premise; “the conventional wisdom is often wrong” and “incentives are the cornerstones of modern life”.  Please go check it out because it is definitely some good programming and a nice break from all the trash that is on T.V.

The part of the piece that I really enjoyed was the name study segment. In it, researchers analyze things like how one’s given name is linked socioeconomic status, social acceptance and popularity. The documentary discusses how some parents put very little effort or thought into the naming of their child with the use of acronyms found at the hospital, misspelled versions of half-remembered names of sitcom actresses, etc… And we wonder why some kids just never had a chance from the start.

The naming of a new born represents pride, celebration and hope for bigger and greater things to come. One thing I know about Nigerian and the African custom is that your birth name is the beginning of your introduction to the world and the standard that many of us are often measured by. For example, my name has like 15 syllables, vowels, consonants and everything in between. And that is just the names I have on my father’s side of the family not counting my mother’s. But you all can just continue to call me “P”. Looooooooool.

Now why is it in the African American community and amongst my peoples do I continuously hear the most INCONGRUOUS (yeah I got degrees people) and senseless names giving to kids time and time again. I mean you did not just decide to name your new born CiRoc, Rozay, or Cristal because you only drink expensive champagne. Or better yet, since I will never be able to actually purchase one, why don’t I just go ahead and name my babies Lexus, Porsche and Mercedes. And I just love how we become so creative and start taking initials, signs and anything else that comes to mind and throw it altogether and call someone NO DISRESPECT but LaShanequia? Charmonique? Quantavious? Com’on Son!

The best point made in the documentary is how our names do not necessarily define or measure how successful or impactful we become. But when it comes to filling out a job application, applying for college or other elite institutions of higher learning there is no getting around the first question typically asked….

First & last Name

When Friends Grow Apart

What’s really good people?

It’s the 3rd weekend in February and still no winter snow storm yet for the DMV? And out of nowhere today the weather man wants to call for 6 inches of snow on Sunday? Hmmmmmm! Looks like another ploy to have retailers storm the supermarkets and buy everything in site to only get 1-2 inches of snow. Speaking of the economy, has anyone also noticed that Gas prices are already climbing over $4 per gallon and we ain’t even reach spring yet? Time to go get my BMW (Bus, Metro & whole lot of WALKIN’) serviced for the spring & summer like right NOW.

Ok people; let me get focused…

So a friend and I were talking earlier in the week when the topic of a get together with friends from high school came up. And me being “who I iz” RESPECTFULLY declined the invitation. What a reach for me huh? Anti-social “P” like so many of my LOVING family and friends commonly refer to me as. Truth is I know who and what I am and have no problems communicating things I have no interest in to others.

The conversation then touched on how it would be nice to see friends we grew up and had a special bond with in our youth and how there is nothing painful in spending a few hours over a dinner and catching up. So my next response was then I don’t know about you but sometimes some things are just better left in your past for us to savor and reminisce over than to try to forge and recreate especially when both sides have come to terms to function apart as such.

That is crazy talk coming from me RIGHT? I mean the same excuses I am making to not meet up with my High School friends is the total opposite when it comes to other folks in my life. I mean there are people in my life today that I don’t see or talk to daily, weekly, or even on a yearly basis but whenever the opportunity presents itself for us to kick it, it is like WE never missed a beat and our conversations and interactions are so fluid that it just starts to feel like old times again.  

So here is how I see things; just because we both share surnames don’t mean you my family and just because I see you everyday don’t make us friends. COMPRENDER? And in the words of my brother A+ “O Sha mo…”I mean I got love for many people I grew up with and until this day we are joined at the hip but in the same token, I don’t lose sleep over faces and personalities that often can bring out the worse in me. The people I want to remain connected to are people that I have always had mutual respect for, bring out the better qualities in me and can tolerate my values or thoughts no matter how much we differ on a topic. But in the same breath, be it just the other day or 15 years later, there are always a handful of people that there mere presence just almost makes you go Apes**t whenever your paths cross. 

Now one of the things that I can admit to as a BIG character flaw of mine is the fact that I take myself way too SERIOUSLY. But guess what, if that is the worst of me, then I will take it AGAIN AGAIN & AGAIN.  The people we should want to keep in our lives are those that can command the RESPECT of room enough to shift a conversation or discussion primarily due to an understanding that they serve as an extension of us despite our absence.

Addition by SUBTRACTION…   

It’s Valentines Day (Do the Right Thing Fellas)

What’s really good people?

Really sad to see in the news that another fantastic talent has left us. If you from my generation and grew up on 80s & 90s R&B music you remember that there were only (2) chicks killing the game (Janet & Whitney). And for me the R&B Diva was that down a** chick that had grace and beauty but always kept it hood. R.I.P. Whitney. Love iz Love! P

Ok people; let me get focused…

So here it is; Valentines Day is fast approaching and for “us” men that means a mad scramble to pull something together for that special lady in our lives. Oh, I meant for you “SUCKAS” it is a MADD scramble because the homie “P” don’t play that. But all kidding aside fellas take care of your woman(men) and do right by the ones that have done right by you. Here is why, Valentines Day is not going away no matter how you much you ignore or fight it. And regardless of how many negatives we as men come up with, it still represents the celebration of a relationship which is always a positive.

Now what I do find baffling with Valentines Day are the guys who do cheesy things like showing up or sending flowers to the offices of their significant other to broadcast to the world their “Love”. Ain’t this supposed to be a moment for you and your lady? Or the one guy that actually convinces himself that Valentines Day is the perfect opportunity to pop the question by taking his lady to a restaurant all to get on one knee.

THE (5) THINGS MEN BETTER NOT DO ON February 14^TH.

1. Don’t Forget. Save yourself the headache and try not to fight the idea that Feb.14^th exist on the calendar.
2. No Excuses. There is a reason why the National League Football (NFL) season always ends before Valentines Day.  
3. X-Box or PS3.  Put the joy stick down and give up the online video games Call of Duty, Madden or Fifa football just for one evening.
4. Stay on Budget. Yo; you are not Jay-Z Dog. So Damn 50Grand, $50 to a brother like you please let me remind you.
5. Lingerie. Bruh; do I need to remind you of something called holiday weight gain? We only in February; give her some time to get her sexy back.
6. DEUCES. If you going to get rid of her anyways to kick it with your jump-off, might as well do it before Valentines Day and put that money towards a new pair of J’s.

Show some LOVE.

Money, Power & The Gay Mafia?

What’s really good people?

It is almost that time of the year when men are forced to put their love for their significant other on display because of that money grabbing hallmark holiday called Valentines Day. SMH! Please stay tuned in for my up coming Valentines Day blog coming out on its eve on February 13^th. Now last week I told everybody that the team with the most Afrikans (Nigerians) was going to win the Super Bowl. Hmmmmm… Looks like your man “P” still knows his NFL football huh? But I also tried to warn and educate many of you all about the consequences that come after hitting that SEND button in my featured post. Go check it out if you missed it.

Ok people; let me get focused…

   

So if you kept up with the news at all this week you might have come across the headline that CNN in its “strong stand against anti-gay violence and language that demeans any community” suspended Roland Martin for what was perceived to be a series of inappropriate and offensive tweets to the Gay Community. First of all, this dude Roland should have taken the time before Super Bowl Sunday to get on the My Omo Naija blogspot and learn a thing or two about the power of the “SEND” button and its Dos/Don’ts. Second, I can’t even say I care for Mr. Martin’s political views or remotely find him credible when it comes to discussing politics and the plight of the African American community. It is just something about seeing people of color on television proclaiming that they know and can fix all the ills of our community when in reality they exploit their own as much as any race when looking to build a BRAND on television. 

Now back to the matter at hand, this was Mr. Martin’s exact comment that he tweeted, “if a dude at your Super Bowl party is hyped about David Beckham’s H&M underwear ad, “Smack the ish out of him!” SERIOUSLY? What is so OFFENSIVE about that? The whole issue is so laughable because when I first saw that absurdity on television while the game was being played, I immediately made a comment to my wife that this has no place on television. One; I can’t stand Spice Boy David Beckham (Go LFC Football…YNWA!) simply because his attention seeking. And two; he looked extremely zesty for that advert to run on national television while little children are trying to take in the game.

So here is where “RO-LAND” messed up in my opinion. If you want to live the life of a so called public figure, you better be prepared to deal with the consequences which means the same people that help you come UP can’t wait to bring you DOWN! Furthermore, if you going say or stand for something please go ALL OUT. Releasing statements such as “I sincerely regret(ted) any offense” and “I was merely zinging Beckham and other fans of soccer”. WTF?  I mean bruh; you SUPA-STUPID for that one. Are you taking a shot at the gay lifestyle or not? Do not try to dare disrespect football aka…“THE BEAUTIFUL GAME” in hopes of deflecting the controversy you just created. COM’on Son!

And do not start to back track and soften your position because you now realize “The Gay Mafia” is fixing to hit them pockets by having you suspended indefinitely and have food taken off your plate. This is your moment to stand firm and call their bluff if you have any type of respect for yourself. And oh yes; who and what is the “Gay Mafia” anyway because every time I look on television or read something in the news they are quick to make a stink about absolutely NOTHING typically. Wikipedia defines the “Gay Mafia” as a group of rich socially powerful gay men and lesbian women who control definitions of gayness including clothing, mannerisms, haircuts, political views etc… That is cool but what I gather as their agenda is to boycott, censor and have people suspended or fired. What was once meaningful in helping to change minds and influence the general population to be more accepting of all lifestyles has become a ploy to shame people and ruin lives.

Roland can do well by borrowing a leaf from strong-minded individuals who stand by what they believe in (right or wrong). The gift of free-will given to us allows us to decide what we like and don’t and therefore we don’t need to be always politically correct all the time especially when it is about saving a pay-check and not what we truly believe in.

Keeping em’ honest.

SEND…Uh Oh (Now What)

What’s really good people?

It is Super Bowl weekend already? That means February is here and all the Valentines Day absurdity is near. Anywho, I got the team with the most Afrikans (Nigerians) on their squad winning the game. Think am talking crazy? Do the research and find me a team in the past ten years that won the Super Bowl without a Nigerian on their roster. All we doo is WIN! Can somebody also let me know if the “DMV” has now become Florida all of a sudden with all the near 65 degree weather we had in recent weeks. No complaints here but just wanted to know why I invested in a winter coat this year.

Ok people; let me get focused…

I got a question for the people. How many times a day do you hit or click on the SEND/SUBMIT button on your smart-phones, iPhone, iPad, Blackberry, Mac laptop or PC? The next time you get bored and want to occupy your minds with something totally unproductive and useless please give it a try by keeping count. Now that I got you thinking a bit, I want you to tally up your count and record how many times you regretted your decision and screamed wishing you could crawl into some cave embarrassed or shamed for your actions.

I recently had an experience of my own on the importance of checking and managing one’s emotions in today’s internet crazed world before clicking that ever so dangerous SEND button. Let’s just say in the course of dealing with incompetent people on a daily basis, every once in a while somebody just finds a way to take you there. And me being who I is; you just have to check that a** on the spot. Especially when their primary motive was to clearly start one of them “Cover your A**” email threads.

Now many of us confront our SEND urges time and time again whenever Emailing, Twitting, Texting and oh yes; the Sexters out there. All can have serious and in some cases disastrous consequences when handled recklessly. Reputations, social lives and future careers can be ruined as a result of a momentary lapse in judgment. It seems like time and time again there is some type of news story about a leaked story. Fact remains whenever you communicate via any of the aforementioned outlets there is a small chance that someone sooner or later shares it with people you never intended it for.  

Here is my list of the things you don’t SEND/SUBMIT over 140 characters or less…

Secrets: It’s a secret for a reason. Ever heard of the forward button? Guess it ain’t no secret no mo.

Birthday wishes: Call “P” old skool or whatever; I just don’t get down like that… A phone call only takes 2 minutes.

Passive Aggressive Behaviors: Any man that has dealt with a female at one point or another in their life will go through this bulls**t.

Condolences: Are like B-Day wishes. Show some KLASS!

The Break-up: GOODLUCK! You better off manning up & handling your BIN-NESS in person.

Respect that REPLY Button.