"oh no you didn't"

so, i am all for women having dignity and being respected. girls should not be called bitches..the two aren't synonymous, but what if a girl is acting like a bitch? what if she's called one because she actually deserves it? no matter how idignant you may get about it, if you deserve it, there's not much you can say in your defense..i don't care what your momma told you "not to take from any man." the not-so-evident inequality that's often unaddressed by many females is that a lot of women (or girls, considering the level of maturity with which some act at times) think they can talk to a guy however their feelings dictate. some think they can tell a guy he's "not shit", he's this, he's that, fuck him and his mother and his friends, etc..and males can't say anything in defense without it being interpreted as disrespectful, no matter the degree to which it is true. well, i was raised to be respectful of women, and to be a gentleman--you know, holding doors, pulling out chairs, opening car doors, etc..BUT i was also raised to realize respect is earned, not given. you don't deserve to be treated like a queen if you're acting like a bitch. plain and simple. 

so, what entitles girls to think they can talk to a male however they want, but the second they're called "bitch," they go a trip about being disrespected? can't take what you dish out? sensitive? my proposed solution is that you watch what you say in the first place. personally, i don't agree with calling girls bitches collectively, but be reasonable. you can't have an allergic reaction to the word if everything you say warrants the label. treat people with same consideration you'd like to be treated with. you can't pop off at the mouth and honestly expect the person you're talking to, regardless of your gender or theirs, to sit there and take it. they'll call you on your bullshit if they're human...unless they're some kind of pushover. in a conversation discussing this very topic with cat, i said to her, "if you actin like a bitch, i'ma call you a bitch...if you got a problem with it, i'ma tell you why i think you're a bitch, and if you don't like it, eat a dick and don't fuck with me anymore..i don't lose sleep...why do girls think niggas care about that petty shit..?" this is admittedly an angry reaction to a conversation with a friend i had earlier in which she proceeded to tell me i "ain't shit" because i wouldn't take her side when she was acting immaturely; however, i don't think i was off in the premise of my statement. don't be mad if you get called something you deserve to be called. cat subsequently said, "some females think they can walk around and start shit, hitting niggas and threating the moms, neighbor, and dog, and thenn they're shocked when they get popped in they eye for acting stupid." although i'm not talking about hitting specifically, her statement still applies. just be sure you can take what you dish out..in general.

debunking the myths of "swag" and individuality

what is this "swag" everyone claims to have? why does every guy think he's ballin and every girl think she's "the female version of a hustla" or a model of some sort? all this unwarranted self-praise lately is really starting to get to me. i mean, it's great that people are self-confident--if you don't believe it, no one else will, but when does it become excessive and undeserved? what defines fly?

in a self-centered age in which even children think they're rock stars and everyone stresses their individuality no matter how many trends they follow, it's hard to for people to be honest with themselves about the degree to which they're just followers of leaders who aren't even worth being trend-setters. trends fade away; therefore, if you're gonna follow something, make sure it's something started by an ICON.  usually, such things are timeless and don't get outdated in the next few months. such things are also rarely related to fashion...if you're going to internalize something--really internalize it. don't make it your status on facebook. "nigga, i'm the shit, get the fuck up out my toilet." words of wisdom? is lil wayne wise? are there many aspects of his character you'd like to incorporate into your own? you're not thinking for yourself if you describe yourself using the words of others. one of the reasons i'm so keen on this is because i too am guilty of making lil wayne quotes my status on facebook. it's YOUR status. treat it as such.

with that said, to what extent is it true that all the people who claim to have swag "swagtastic?" if everyone has undeniable "swag" and if every group of girls is the "baddest" and every group of dudes the "flyest," who are the regular people? who are the people that really stand out in a good way? the truth is that they are one in the same. the people who have swag are usually not the ones who stress the fact that they do over and over. they usually don't have to say anything about it all. the people who stand out aren't the loudest ones. it's the people who convey an attitude of confidence and have their own sense of style. they don't dickride trends whether they're in the category of music, fashion, or slang. "liberate yourselves from mental slavery."

personally, i'm not egotistical. i consider myself a normal person with my own sense of style. i collect rare kicks and shop online and at stores that not everyone goes to because that's just what i like doing. i don't walk around stressing the fact that i'm so "swaggerific" because my shoes may be quickstrike release or virtually unattainable without a lot of effort. if i'm fly by a girl's or guy's standards, awesome, and if i'm not, that's ok too. i'm gonna wear the same shit regardless. i didn't start wearing skinny jeans because the world hopped on them--i wore them when people were laughing at me for them and still considered them "gay." i wear them because i'm skinny as shit, and i look awkward in bootcut or other types of jeans. i don't wear a kiffeyeh because lil wayne wore one in a video--i wear it because i support palestinian liberation. i don't collect shoes because i'm a hypebeast who wants to one-up everyone (though i do concede that i'm quick to point out how my shoes are different from another person's when asked or lumped in the same category)--i do it because i have a genuine appreciation for sneaker and skate culture. i read sneaker freaker more than the washington post. i've been that way since forever. maybe that makes me an elitist because i feel i've been into certain things before they were popular, but at least i'm not a mindless follower. some of the things i do are unpopular, and people would laugh at me for them (playing final fantasy, reading manga, listening to electro (not techno).) i'm me at the end of the day. i'm not trying to look like mikey or chuck, and i hate it when people accuse me of that.

enough about me. why do so many people talk about themselves on an individual basis when there's really nothing individual about them? how can they do this if they're accepting roles they're assigned or feed into, whether consciously or unconsciously? you're a girl, and you got a new dress along with your friends who got similar dresses from the same store in the same color. you all gather in front of a mirror like you've been doing since your myspace days and take pictures with a caption like "divas" or some other wack shit. you all are so bad. you go to a club, and you swear to God like every other group of girls there that you all are the baddest. what warrants every girl doing the same dumb pose in every picture thinking that she's a diva or model? because you say so yourself or because your like-minded friends say so? you're a guy, and you and all your niggas have on the same shoes, variations of the same coat, etc..(this example applies mainly to dudes at gogos). you swear you're the freshest dude in there. how's that possible when you have on the same shit as your man? your swag is like no other because you say so, right? that's up for you to determine, right? give me a break. this topic frustrates me so much, i don't even want to write on it anymore..

It's 3:30 am, and i'm watching Reservoir Dogs with my dad. i'm done with finals, and i'm on break. no complaints thus far. my dad has fios internet, and it's fast as shit. i've just downloaded reservoir dogs and pulp fiction within 30 minutes, and i'm about to download blow and the entire star wars saga because i have shit tons of space on my macbook still. while i do that, maybe i should import my dad's bob marley discography or pro tools? i missed fast internet seeing as how internet at au sucks, and i plan to take full advantage of this sorcery called fios. i have no purpose in writing this entry to be honest, but i can and am, and that's that. i'm also ordering a new dgk board with eazy e on it, so i'll finally have a skateboard at school..phase one of my plot to take over the world complete.....

i'm talking nonsense (.....), goodnight.

RIP Xuan

i love you, and so does everyone else who knows you...you were one of the most beautiful people i've ever met. you don't even know..it's so unfair that this happened to you of all people. i remember it like it was yesterday...you came to visit me cuz we hadn't chilled in a while, and we caught up while i studied for a test. you were eating your chipotle, then you laughed at how messy my room was and folded my clothes. i didn't think when i hugged you it'd be the last time...it's too fucked up to be real, and i hope i wake up at some point...all those times you were online and we didn't im each other weigh so much on my conscience now..i wish each time i could tell you how wonderful you were. i should have called you every time i thought about it. we were talkin about how we hadn't talked in a while and how we had to chill again, and now i'll never see you again..i don't even know if it's hit me as hard as it will because i'm still in shock..all the things that seemed so important to me yesterday don't mean shit...my biggest worry was my shoes arriving, and all the while, you were living your last moments..i can't even wrap my head around it yet..but i love you, we all do, and i'll miss you until the day i die..what a loss for the world. this isn't even right. you're tattooed on my heart and my mind forever, and i'll NEVER forget you. you were such a hard worker and so focused...you were pretty and smart, and you were going the right direction in life...you didn't even get to do all the things you wanted...that's why, while i still have time, i'll live for me and you. 

RIP Xuan Lai 1/19/90-12/9/08

Police Identify Teen Girl Killed in Six-Car Crash

VIEWING: FRIDAY DEC.
12TH @ 6PM
10 East Deer Park Dr
Gaithersburg MD,20877

FUNERAL: SATURDAY DEC.
13TH @ 10AM
11401 Brink Rd
Germantown, MD 20876

Starting '09 Early

so it's one twenty-six on a tuesday morning. i am typing this as i eat macaroni and cheese given to me by my friend nicole across the hall. i have a final in ten hours. i took an accounting final and an arabic final earlier today that i was, and also twenty-four hours ago, i ordered these shoes. no matter how shitty exams are, i win.  i've not been getting much sleep latey because of staying up cramming or staying up for staying up's sake. I'm about to start taking notes for my itec class, but i'm so dead tired, i'm not sure i can even stay awake. 

i've decided that's it's 2009 for me now because i feel like it, so i'm deleting some older posts, and depending on how it all reads collectively, i might just make this the first entry or something. the first half of my soph yr is over, plus a lot of things are coming to a close or starting new for me, so i'm ff a little.. i didn't write much yet anyway, plus i'd like to refocus the blog.

Nike Blazer Mid SB Elite: Lance Mountain x Craig Stecyk. this is the second Nike SB x Mountain x Stecyk collabo blazer--the first being the orange pair. these are elites though, meaning they're made of premium materials and shit..real leather, not patent, suede, and a red quilt inside. they're really simple, but they look hard.

i know everyone's probably heard at least some of it already, but 808s and Heartbreak is a good album. people avoid it because they hear it's autotune, but it's worth listening to. if you know the concept behind it, it's easier to appreciate. it was based off kanye learning that autotune is a very effective tool for communicating emotion, and kanye combined that with new ideas to make something respectable outside the realm of hip-hop. kanye also said that people knocking ideas suppresses other people's creativity, especially if it's something the other person likes or really wants to do. decide for yourselves whether you like it or not, don't take other people's word for it or judge it because it might not sound like what you're used to.

speaking of music, i've been downloading a lot lately. three 6 mafia, ugk, justice, boys noize, etc...to name a few..i'm really liking the justice album..anyone that likes electronic or just wants to listen to something new should check it out..it's called cross.

tuesday

it's tuesday. i'm currently in my information technology class. i'm bored as shit. i've been doing what i do best recently, CHILLIN. 

post-election last week was pretty shitty. i had an accounting test that was hard as shit, and i'm not confident i did too well, but i'm glad it's over with..this week i have course registration (tomorrow), a stats test, and i have to catch up on a lot of reading. blown. it's straight though. DJ Diplo at Commonwealth tomorrow.

fuckin pay me,

peace.

things are starting to look up in more ways than one, and i'm so happy i got the chance to get out and vote today. a lot's happened sense i last wrote, and it's all been pretty good. the culmination of my recent experiences is me feeling genuinely and generally encouraged.

for starters, i got a 96 on my stats test, which is great because i got a 50 something on the first one and since she drops our lowest gra

de, that one won't count, which means i have an A in the class now. i was hell bent on fixing my grade in that class, and i'm glad i was able. i'm doing pretty well overall this semester, and i'm sure my family will be happy with that. i also am loving my arabic class, partially because i'm doing well in it, and also because i just think it's a beautiful and logical language with much relevance in today's world. 

today i got to vote for the first time, and Obama is the new President-elect, and i feel really proud to be American--something i'd never imagine myself saying before tonight. don't feel like i need to say much more than i have faith that Obama and Biden and the American people as a whole will lead this country in the right direction in the years to come despite the snide remarks by republicans. he said he will be OUR president, and that goes for those who didn't support him as well. partisanship had a secondary role to necessity in this election. 

it was crazy downtown with Obama's supporters [political] race rioting at the White House and all over elsewhere. i was in the car with my friend and the masses of people came running and marching down the street, and sticking my hand out the window, i must have given/received over a hundred high five's. good times.

what have i been up to? studying, trying to get a job, shopping, chilling, saving money

what new interests have i found? some pretty cool shit on vimeo, al-jazeera ( a VERY legitimate news source, by the way. lose your stereotypes), bbc, supras

and i can't forget music...pandora's been awesome to me, and i downloaded some UGK, MGMT, digitalism's album, Idealism, stegosaurus rex's album, The Dino Soars, and some older daedelus as well.

Le Punk HD from Daniel Etura on Vimeo.

these are the supras i want. just bought some stuff to go with them. soon.

also recently, i was sick as shit on halloween, so i didn't get to do shit, but i made up for it saturday i guess. my cousin came by for a bit, and i went to a party at a house of a friend of a friend..i've been smoking quite a bit lately, but i get my work done fairly consistently, so i'm not fucking up by my standards, and i'm keeping the rents of my nuts, so it's w/e really. probably should cut back at some point though..i'll think about it. wonder what kinda shit i'ma get into with catherine coming over this weekend. who knows..

random, but i need to beat some DS games and get some PS3 games. i've been slacking. & speaking of slacking, i have DEFINITELY been slacking on studying for accounting...i have a test thursday, and since it's 5:50 in the morning on wednesday, that means tomorrow. catch up later.

so, i've been here about two and a half days now, and it's a great feeling to be back..i got the room in centennial that i was looking forward to all this time, but we got jipped because it's a room on the end, so it's small as shit. oh well...at least we have the bathroom. that's the most important thing...that and the fact that a lot of my friends live not only on this floor, but in this building in general..no more walking from north side all the way down here...and the bus picks up pretty much right in front of my building.

no real awkward situations yet, but it's funny to see how people react to my chain. some people think it's cool, some people look at it like it's silly. to me, it's w/e. i've never really been one to care too much what other people think, especially people who have a completely different style than what DC ppl wear.

my cuzzo and i started bammin out already..lls, and episode two is today/tonight...we might crash a party or somethin..stay tuned..

so, it's saturday. 3:30 pm. only a few days til i move in. some of my friends are already back, and i can't wait to join them. i'm tired of summer, it's wearing on me, and i've never been so happy about it ending in my life. I'm just trying to relax these last few days at home, and so far, i've been doing a pretty good job at it. what exactly have i been doing, though? a whole lot of nothing. listening to de la soul "3 feet high and rising" right now, watching code geass r2, playing ffta2, shopping online for kicks and clothes, getting back in touch with old friends who i should have chilled with this summer but didn't, trying to decide which kinda deck i want on my new skateboard, and sleeping all day. it's a pretty exciting life, right? i mean, it's nothing bad, i just need school to put everything in perspective and balance my time better, otherwise, i'll spend hours on any one of those activities. after today, only 4 more..

tick-tock.

the fuck is really up? i'm trying to find anything i can do to kill time until it's time for me to go to school again..haven't really been doing much, but at the same time, a lot of shit has happened. i really need to get back to school because i need the fresh start. this summer has been too long..i'd much rather be bored at school around all my friends than bored at home alone. just counting down the days.

FFTA2 and the music i've been downloading recently (The Black Ghosts, The Whip, etc..) should occupy me until next week, hopefully..I

so, lately, i've been getting back in to things that lost their magic for me. not talking about my relationship or anything like that, just stuff i used to be more into like my ds, my ipod, certain shows, music, etc..i've had this game for my ds, The World Ends With You for a while, and i was really into it when i got it at first, but like with most games, i sorta forgot about it after a while. i dunno what really made me start playing again so fervently, but it's really getting good. it's my favorite ds game so far, and that says a lot because i have quite the repertoire of good games. i'm a fan of rpgs of all sorts, but this is by far the best action rpg i've played on a portable. the action is as intense as kingdom hearts, which is ironic considering the team that makes kingdom hearts is responsible for it. pretty evident in the artwork.

the game's premise is interesting. you know pretty much nothing when you start playing, just like the main character, neku. the game takes place in the shibuya district in tokyo, except the difference is, you have no memory of ANYTHING besides your name, and you have a text on your phone saying "you have seven days. fail, and face erasure." you then learn that you have to survive a series of missions while fighting these creatures called noise and reapers if you wanna survive and not be erased. the game is interesting in that it is a modern rpg, taking place in an alternate dimension in shibuya. you can see everyone else, and even read their thoughts, but they can't see you. i'm pretty far in it, and it's getting great. i can't wait to finish it.

in regards to my ipod, the new 2.0 software update from apple makes the touch much more fun. the app store adds tons of new features as i can now get on aim and use my touch as a remote for my itunes and apple tv. those are just a couple of the ridiculous new amount of things it can do. with the software update, i've decided to sync my library with my touch, whereas i had always done it manually before. i knowingly have more songs in my library than i have space for on my ipod, so this allowed me to carefully select what i want and don't want on my ipod. it was starting to feel cluttered. now i have what i like most on it like b suggested. thanks for the advice.

speaking of music, i've got some new stuff to entertain me and hopefully whoever actually reads this thing as well. this artist named daedelus does mostly experimental stuff, and his new album "love to make music to" is really enjoyable to listen to at pretty much anytime. i can actually listen to every song on the album, but the best songs in my opinion are "my beau," "you're the one," and "i car(ry) us." good music. dance gavin dance is also a pretty good band if you're into post hardcore. inspired by the title of the game i mentioned above, i made a playlistconsisting of songs that remind me of her or just us in general. frank sinatra, ella fitzgerald, daedelus, stevie wonder, sade, common, louis armstrong, are in there just to name a few. reunites me with my favorites while allowing me to communicate something to my gf as well. good feeling.

EDIT: i forgot one thing. gundam 00. awesome series. great action. great story. reminds me of good ol' wing with a message more pertinent to the path our own world is taking. exhaustion of gas, adoption of solar energy, terrorism, and world unity. check it out if you like all that and giant robots.

MF Doom[s], kicks, and clothes

Been downloading lots of music lately. MF Doom and his collaborations are a new favorite. I'm glad there's still some Hip-hop out there. I've never been one to listen to super-commercial music. Madvillainy is an awesome album. I'm looking to download the intstrumental version and write some things to it. Madlib's one of the most overlooked producers in the game...Speaking of MF Doom, I want those dunks somethin serious..My 720's should be coming in sometime this week. Ordered matching stuff off karmaloop to go with them.These are the kicks I want more than any others:
Oh, and I'm still blown about my car...anyways...

The Worst Uniform, MGS4, and Eric Benet

Ok, so I understand that stores like American Eagle, Aeropostale, Hollister, and A&F are wildly popular, but..when are we going to move away from that shit, America? No one's saying the clothes look bad, but at the same time, who gives people who wear it almost exclusively the right to think they're fashionable? I was reading a post on a site by someone saying that people that dislike it are people who can't afford it. I was and still am of the opinion that it's not expensive at all. Also, for that person to say that people who don't wear it can't afford it completely ignores the existence of other styles. I don't wear it not only because it's not my style, but also because there's nothing unique about it. I have my own sense of style, and I see the AE, HC, A&F fad as nothing but a uniform. If everyone's wearing it, where's the individuality? If everyone's on that same page because it's plain looking clothing that doesn't make any sort of statement, good or bad, there is none. I understand not everyone's so concerned about what they wear, and neither should they be expected to be, so wear what makes you comfortable. Fake fashionistas who think they're elite because they can afford brands that aren't even that expensive in the first place are the ones who need to be put in their place. I don't own anything of the of the above brands except a belt I gave away, but I can guarantee everything I currently have on is more expensive. If you claim to be fashionable, you can't wear what everyone else does, so don't make ignorant posts exalting your choice to wear EXACTLY what everyone else does, you deluded, fake prep who probably has one Polo by Ralph Lauren shirt to his name, backwater suburbanite fuck. I hope the fad comes to an end at some point and people start trying to differentiate themselves from the current, boring uniform.

MGS4
How long we've waited for Solid Snake to make his return. This game is probably more anticipated that the Second Coming of Christ by Seventh-Day Adventists on hallucinogens. I'm pretty excited for it myself, and that says something. I don't know about the rest of the you waiting for it, but I've only had a brief romance with the series. I'm not entirely sure I'll even play it when I get it because my introduction to the series came with a spinoff, Metal Gear Ac!d for the PSP. I need to beat the rest of the games before I even have the right to play this one. I'm excited for the gameplay nonetheless. My friend has the inapproproate habit of sneaking up on enemies and yelling "It's my snake in a box!" That is, I thought it was inappropriate until I did it myself. Here's the link to the theatrical trailer if you haven't yet seen it.

Lastly, I just wanna say FUCK YOU, Eric Benet, you're stupid, and I hate you. How do you cheat on Halle Berry? You have a sex addiction, nigga, the fuck? That doesn't mean you cheat. Get your fix from her. Sex addiction isn't even recognized as a valid disease, ANYWHERE. You say you're mad because you didn't wanna be known as "Mr. Berry" but what does that have to do with cheatin on her? It's not HER fault she looks the way she does no matter how old she gets and that she has so many awards and nominations. Support her, don't cheat on her, shit. Bitch ass. You were one of the luckiest mothafuckas in the WORLD and you blew it. So, once again, FUCK YOU.

You look weird as shit anyway. Creepy ass...

Introduction & Tha Carter III Review..

Well, bitches and hoes,

This would be my first blog entry. I'm a pretty smart guy who knows a lot about a lot of shit and pretty much has an opinion on everything. I'll never bitch and moan about my day, so don't worry about any of that, but I will cover things of interest to me and other people. I'm pretty blunt for those of you who don't know me personally, and don't take this the wrong way, but if you don't like what I have to say, fuck you? I'll only laugh at your comments if they're negative anyway, so don't waste your breath.I'm well-educated, but this does not, however, mean that I can't get ignorant. Don't make me stoop to your level if you perchance feel the need to say some ignorant shit because my vocabulary is probably much larger than yours, and combined with a few "fuck-ass nigga"(s) and a slew of other insulting phrases, I can probably verbally abuse you. That being said, I am a very chill person, and I never pop off at the mouth, so if you treat me respectfully, you don't have to worry about shit.

With that said, let's get right into what I planned on covering first...I recently downloaded Lil' Wayne's highly anticipated (partially due to constant release date changes) "Tha Carter III."
I used to think Wayne was the shit. He's still cool with me, it's just that Tha Carter II and Dedication are almost single-handedly responsible for making me like hip-hop. That's when Wayne was hungry...Hungry rappers are the best. He still had somethin to prove even though he was never really a bubblegum rapper . Since Dedication II, I feel he got lazy. He was bustin out serious lines on every track on his previous mixtapes, but it's like the syrup, coke, and pounds of weed have gotten to his brain for good. He can still turn it off and on, don't get me wrong. He's got hot lines still, but his flow's nowhere near as aggressive or edgy like it used to be. Everyone wants to hop on the autotune T-pain shit, and the horrible child birthed from the union of that and drugs is called "Lollipop." WTF, Weezy. Yes, it sounds good, I'm not debating that, BUT the Wayne I listened to faithfully in high school was way more serious about his lyrics. You fuckin up, Weezy. I'm gettin mixed messages. I'll hear "Mr. Carter" and think "my nigga Wayne's still got it," and then hear "Lollipop" and shake my head instead of bob it. Singing's not your forte, nigga, cut it out. It's not even T-Pain's forte, but hell, he does it better than you. You still my nigga, but get serious. You've become too comfortable. I don't feel like even addressing the other songs on the album. It's like a bag full of candy and glass. Some songs are a real treat. I feel mostly tricked. Fabolous killed the first verse of "Nothing on Me", and Juelz and Weezy did their parts, but other songs make me wanna gouge my eyes out with a spoon. It's a good album overall, and it has an all-star producer cast, but I can't say it was worth the wait..I know it's hard to completely reinvent an album after niggas leak it online, but shit..you've been working on it for a minute. I was expecting to be blown away. I'm just blown. 3 stars...Oh, and enough with the baby pictures.