The economic downturn has US cable television companies shedding subscribers in record numbers and Americans increasingly “cutting the cord” in favor of cheaper online options, new research shows.
The findings point to a growing pool of potential customers for online services such as Hulu and Netflix and newcomers like Apple TV and Google TV, which offer lower prices and more flexibility, analysts say.
According to research firm SNL Kagan, US cable operators lost 741,000 basic video customers in the third quarter of the year, the biggest decline since it started tracking the segment in 1980.
Fresh food that lasts from eFoods Direct (Ad)
Comcast, the largest US cable operator, lost 275,000 video subscribers during the third quarter while Time Warner Cable, the second-largest, shed 155,000 video customers in the July-September period.
Tuesday, November 30, 2010
Monday, November 29, 2010
Sunday, November 28, 2010
Saturday, November 27, 2010
Tuesday, November 23, 2010
Voyage
On a trip to beach
i lost my sunglasses in the ocean and
took the opportunity to pray
To Poseidon, the Lorelei
Agwe, or La Sarene
( or what ever sea god or monster listening)
kissed a wish and said
"Here's what I've seen"
Blind as fuck
I feel free and noticeably
more bitch's flirt with me
Realization'
I'm always baked
and running late
i lost my sunglasses in the ocean and
took the opportunity to pray
To Poseidon, the Lorelei
Agwe, or La Sarene
( or what ever sea god or monster listening)
kissed a wish and said
"Here's what I've seen"
Blind as fuck
I feel free and noticeably
more bitch's flirt with me
Realization'
I'm always baked
and running late
Monday, November 22, 2010
Who will survive in America?
Us living as we do upside down.
And the new word to have is revolution.
People don't even want to hear the preacher
spill or spiel because God's whole card has been thoroughly piqued.
And America is now blood and tears instead of milk and honey.
The youngsters who were programmed to continue
fucking up woke up one night digging
Paul Revere and Nat Turner as the good guys.
America stripped for bed and we had not all yet closed our eyes.
The signs of Truth were tattooed across our open ended vagina.
We learned to our amazement untold tale of scandal.
Two long centuries buried in the musty vault,
hosed down daily with a gagging perfume.
America was a bastard the illegitimate daughter of the mother country
whose legs were then spread around the world
and a rapist known as freedom, free doom.
Democracy, liberty, and justice were revolutionary code names
that preceded the bubbling bubbling bubbling bubbling bubbling
in the mother country's crotch
What does Webster say about soul?
All I want is a good home and a wife
and a children and some food to feed them every night.
After all is said and done build a new route to China if they'll have you.
Who will survive in America?
Who will survive in America?
Who will survive in America?
Who will survive in America
And the new word to have is revolution.
People don't even want to hear the preacher
spill or spiel because God's whole card has been thoroughly piqued.
And America is now blood and tears instead of milk and honey.
The youngsters who were programmed to continue
fucking up woke up one night digging
Paul Revere and Nat Turner as the good guys.
America stripped for bed and we had not all yet closed our eyes.
The signs of Truth were tattooed across our open ended vagina.
We learned to our amazement untold tale of scandal.
Two long centuries buried in the musty vault,
hosed down daily with a gagging perfume.
America was a bastard the illegitimate daughter of the mother country
whose legs were then spread around the world
and a rapist known as freedom, free doom.
Democracy, liberty, and justice were revolutionary code names
that preceded the bubbling bubbling bubbling bubbling bubbling
in the mother country's crotch
What does Webster say about soul?
All I want is a good home and a wife
and a children and some food to feed them every night.
After all is said and done build a new route to China if they'll have you.
Who will survive in America?
Who will survive in America?
Who will survive in America?
Who will survive in America
Haters with no Work skills
It seems like there are way too many haters right now in Arizona. You get dumb fucks hating on you when you try to move forward, here in Arizona not that many people are progressive they want to live in a fucking dream, I was thought if you want something you have to work hard for it, thus hard work is lacking in Arizona, the lottery got most people by the balls. Come on fucks , it is time to wake up now is going to give you shit, and hating is great, the more hate their is here in Arizona we will go no where. People say they are sick of being broke however, I see no one trying to push there minds farther, I give you an example a co worker of mine I see let's go to Four Peaks Brewery because they are hiring he said no because , he wanted to wait the we wore off in December, that shows me that he does not want to work. Now days company's are not going to hire you on your schedule that want you to work. Thus, I continue to see the end of hard work because most people are living in a fucking dream world that does not exist. Or I am just a blue blooded hard working junkie that See's the world as it is a fucked up place , with fucked up people and you can not forget the dumbs fucks that will always behind . It is on us to do what we have to do. I guess it's DGAF to all the haters because hate will never get you anywhere and if you don't want to work go fuck yourself because you will always be a bum to me.
NFL players the Suck this year
Recently, Jeff Pearlman put together a list of the 100 worst players in NFL history for Deadspin.com. We found the list intriguing and certainly more interesting than at least one of those "legendary 100" did, but also thought that the idea needed a more modern touch. To that end, we've assembled a team of players that you'd do well to acquire if you're:
a.) looking to get the first overall pick in next year's draft;
b.) trying to assemble a team so bad that you can tank attendance and move to another city like Rachel Phelps in "Major League"; or
c.) Matt Millen.
Halfway through the 2010 season, here is the Shutdown Corner "No-Pro" team; the guys who have underwhelmed more than any other at their positions. Some are having atypically poor seasons and might turn it around; others are what they are, to use the famous coachspeak. Offense below; we'll have the defense up very soon.
Quarterback: Brett Favre, Minnesota Vikings
Lost at the bottom of Football Outsiders' cumulative efficiency metrics, you'll find names like Max HallJimmy Clausen, Derek Anderson and Matt Moore. What that tells you in part is that the Carolina Panthers and Arizona Cardinals have the NFL's worst quarterback batteries. And while there are guys like Cleveland's Jake Delhommewho banked $7 million in guaranteed money to be an injury afterthought and has created a great divide between expectation and reality, nowhere has this been more apparent than with Hattiesburg's Favorite Son. The efforts of every national pundit to deflect blame everywhere else on the Vikings' roster notwithstanding, Favre has played terribly nearly all season -- Minnesota has a league-worst minus-11 turnover differential, and that's with Adrian Peterson solving his fumbling problems. Getting Sidney Rice back should up Favre's totals a bit, but let's be honest -- if you give this Rice-less offense to Manning, Brady, Brees or (dare I say it) Aaron Rodgers they'd each do quite a bit better than 10 touchdowns and 16 picks. Head coach Brad Childress has messed this season up beyond repair, but he did have a right to expect more from his quarterback and his one-year, $16 million contract.
Running Backs: Laurence Maroney and Knowshon Moreno,Denver Broncos/Chester Taylor(, Chicago Bears/Cedric Benson(notes), Cincinnati Bengals
Maroney-Moreno? Sounds like a bad UFC fight card; but maybe these guys would fare better in the Octagon. Maroney was New England's first-round mistake in 2006, and the Broncos took Moreno in the first round of the 2009 draft. Moreno has put up an anemic 358 yards on 98 carries this season (3.8 yards per carry) and just two touchdowns, but those are Chris Johnson numbers compared to Maroney's 2010 output. Traded to Denver in September, Maroney has alternated between garbage-time carries and weeks on the inactive list. It's also worth mentioning that Moreno did put up his first career 100-yard game against the Chiefs in Week 10; maybe he'll be off this list by the end of the season. Benson hasn't been the only issue with Cincinnati's offense, but anytime you have more fumbles (four) than touchdowns (three), you're not helping. And Taylor hits this list for his 2.8 yards-per-carry average and 14.5 percent first-down rate.
Receivers: Darrius Heyward-Bey, Oakland Raiders/T.J. Houshmandzadeh(notes), Baltimore Ravens/Pierre Garcon, Indianapolis Colts
We'll start by excluding guys like Steve Smith and Larry Fitzgerald, whose aforementioned quarterback situations have destroyed their overall productivity. But speaking of first-round picks that haven't panned out -- yeesh, Mr. Heyward-Bey. When dividing catches by receiver targets, Oakland's second-year receiver comes up with a totally unacceptable Catch Rate of 38 percent. Believe it or not, that's actually an improvement over his rookie year, when he caught just nine of the passes that were thrown to him. And he doesn't have JaMarcus Russell to blame anymore. The Seahawks thought so much of Houshmandzadeh to let him off the roster despite owing him more than $6 million of guaranteed salary, and he's done almost nothing for the Ravens. And as for Monsieur Garcon, we'll let Nate Dunlevy of the estimable Colts blog 18to88.com explain why Garcon has been the team's least effective receiver in the Peyton Manning era.
Tight End: Brent Celek, Philadelphia Eagles
You think the Eagles' passing game is dynamic now? Imagine what it would be like if its primary tight end hadn't dropped six passes (among the league leaders among all receivers), leading to a 48 percent Catch Rate, which is abysmal for a tight end -- you'd expect more like 65 percent as a baseline.
Tackles: Alex Barron, Dallas Cowboys/Andre Smith(notes), Cincinnati Bengals/J'Marcus Webb, Chicago Bears/Sean Locklear, Seattle Seahawks
Barron put up an amazing (and league-leading) 75 penalties in his first five seasons; he managed three flags in six games and one start in 2010 before being replaced by Marc Colombo(notes), who could make the list on his own with his three false starts and 3.5 sacks allowed. Smith had three false starts and a hole, also giving up two sacks, in four starts before going down with yet another foot injury that ended his 2010 season. Webb has already allowed seven sacks and amassed a host of penalties, but we have to really give the royal raspberry to the Bears' front office for putting him in the position of starting on an already porous offensive line, when he's a rookie seventh-round draft pick just trying to find
Guards: Stacy Andrews, Seattle Seahawks/Roberto Garza, Chicago Bears/Kory Lichtensteiger and Artis Hicks, Washington Redskins/Stephen Peterman, Detroit Lions
Andrews is on here for his five false starts, though this may be another coaching issue -- Andrews looks more to us like an adept right tackle in a position where an upgrade wouldn't be too difficult. Garza gets pushed around far too much at the point of attack to be a functional guard at the NFL level, and the Redskins average just 2.76 yards up the middle per running-back carry, which is a severe indictment of both their guards. Add in Hicks' six false starts, and it's an easy pick. Peterman leads all NFL players through 10 weeks with 11 penalties per Football Outsiders' penalty database; six false starts, two chop blocks, and a host of ancillary infractions.
Center: Casey Rabach, Washington Redskins/Dominic Raiola, Detroit Lions
See above. When you're dead last up the middle, the center is a major problem. The explosive Raiola is generally a penalty magnet, and he's lived up to that rep this year with two holds and three false starts. He's also allowed two sacks, and the Lions' mid-line is no great shakes in opening gaps for their backs, either.
a.) looking to get the first overall pick in next year's draft;
b.) trying to assemble a team so bad that you can tank attendance and move to another city like Rachel Phelps in "Major League"; or
c.) Matt Millen.
Halfway through the 2010 season, here is the Shutdown Corner "No-Pro" team; the guys who have underwhelmed more than any other at their positions. Some are having atypically poor seasons and might turn it around; others are what they are, to use the famous coachspeak. Offense below; we'll have the defense up very soon.
Quarterback: Brett Favre, Minnesota Vikings
Lost at the bottom of Football Outsiders' cumulative efficiency metrics, you'll find names like Max HallJimmy Clausen, Derek Anderson and Matt Moore. What that tells you in part is that the Carolina Panthers and Arizona Cardinals have the NFL's worst quarterback batteries. And while there are guys like Cleveland's Jake Delhommewho banked $7 million in guaranteed money to be an injury afterthought and has created a great divide between expectation and reality, nowhere has this been more apparent than with Hattiesburg's Favorite Son. The efforts of every national pundit to deflect blame everywhere else on the Vikings' roster notwithstanding, Favre has played terribly nearly all season -- Minnesota has a league-worst minus-11 turnover differential, and that's with Adrian Peterson solving his fumbling problems. Getting Sidney Rice back should up Favre's totals a bit, but let's be honest -- if you give this Rice-less offense to Manning, Brady, Brees or (dare I say it) Aaron Rodgers they'd each do quite a bit better than 10 touchdowns and 16 picks. Head coach Brad Childress has messed this season up beyond repair, but he did have a right to expect more from his quarterback and his one-year, $16 million contract.
Running Backs: Laurence Maroney and Knowshon Moreno,Denver Broncos/Chester Taylor(, Chicago Bears/Cedric Benson(notes), Cincinnati Bengals
Maroney-Moreno? Sounds like a bad UFC fight card; but maybe these guys would fare better in the Octagon. Maroney was New England's first-round mistake in 2006, and the Broncos took Moreno in the first round of the 2009 draft. Moreno has put up an anemic 358 yards on 98 carries this season (3.8 yards per carry) and just two touchdowns, but those are Chris Johnson numbers compared to Maroney's 2010 output. Traded to Denver in September, Maroney has alternated between garbage-time carries and weeks on the inactive list. It's also worth mentioning that Moreno did put up his first career 100-yard game against the Chiefs in Week 10; maybe he'll be off this list by the end of the season. Benson hasn't been the only issue with Cincinnati's offense, but anytime you have more fumbles (four) than touchdowns (three), you're not helping. And Taylor hits this list for his 2.8 yards-per-carry average and 14.5 percent first-down rate.
Receivers: Darrius Heyward-Bey, Oakland Raiders/T.J. Houshmandzadeh(notes), Baltimore Ravens/Pierre Garcon, Indianapolis Colts
We'll start by excluding guys like Steve Smith and Larry Fitzgerald, whose aforementioned quarterback situations have destroyed their overall productivity. But speaking of first-round picks that haven't panned out -- yeesh, Mr. Heyward-Bey. When dividing catches by receiver targets, Oakland's second-year receiver comes up with a totally unacceptable Catch Rate of 38 percent. Believe it or not, that's actually an improvement over his rookie year, when he caught just nine of the passes that were thrown to him. And he doesn't have JaMarcus Russell to blame anymore. The Seahawks thought so much of Houshmandzadeh to let him off the roster despite owing him more than $6 million of guaranteed salary, and he's done almost nothing for the Ravens. And as for Monsieur Garcon, we'll let Nate Dunlevy of the estimable Colts blog 18to88.com explain why Garcon has been the team's least effective receiver in the Peyton Manning era.
Tight End: Brent Celek, Philadelphia Eagles
You think the Eagles' passing game is dynamic now? Imagine what it would be like if its primary tight end hadn't dropped six passes (among the league leaders among all receivers), leading to a 48 percent Catch Rate, which is abysmal for a tight end -- you'd expect more like 65 percent as a baseline.
Tackles: Alex Barron, Dallas Cowboys/Andre Smith(notes), Cincinnati Bengals/J'Marcus Webb, Chicago Bears/Sean Locklear, Seattle Seahawks
Barron put up an amazing (and league-leading) 75 penalties in his first five seasons; he managed three flags in six games and one start in 2010 before being replaced by Marc Colombo(notes), who could make the list on his own with his three false starts and 3.5 sacks allowed. Smith had three false starts and a hole, also giving up two sacks, in four starts before going down with yet another foot injury that ended his 2010 season. Webb has already allowed seven sacks and amassed a host of penalties, but we have to really give the royal raspberry to the Bears' front office for putting him in the position of starting on an already porous offensive line, when he's a rookie seventh-round draft pick just trying to find
Guards: Stacy Andrews, Seattle Seahawks/Roberto Garza, Chicago Bears/Kory Lichtensteiger and Artis Hicks, Washington Redskins/Stephen Peterman, Detroit Lions
Andrews is on here for his five false starts, though this may be another coaching issue -- Andrews looks more to us like an adept right tackle in a position where an upgrade wouldn't be too difficult. Garza gets pushed around far too much at the point of attack to be a functional guard at the NFL level, and the Redskins average just 2.76 yards up the middle per running-back carry, which is a severe indictment of both their guards. Add in Hicks' six false starts, and it's an easy pick. Peterman leads all NFL players through 10 weeks with 11 penalties per Football Outsiders' penalty database; six false starts, two chop blocks, and a host of ancillary infractions.
Center: Casey Rabach, Washington Redskins/Dominic Raiola, Detroit Lions
See above. When you're dead last up the middle, the center is a major problem. The explosive Raiola is generally a penalty magnet, and he's lived up to that rep this year with two holds and three false starts. He's also allowed two sacks, and the Lions' mid-line is no great shakes in opening gaps for their backs, either.
Friday, November 19, 2010
State of Arizona Murders Transplant Patients
This is the reason we need Socialist single payer. This guy has been denied coverage in private insurance his whole life. The only way these people have a chance to live is on the state dime, and because it is political suicide to raise taxes--even when the state can barely keep the street ...lights on, the state just cut the program. Congratulations AZ. You murdered these people for a few percent of your marginal taxation rate. I bet you would drown your collective grandmothers for a dime.
Arizona’s student loan default rate tops nation
A U.S. Department of Education report lists Arizona as having the nation’s highest rate of student loan defaults, but where the state really stands comes down to how you view the numbers.
That’s because the report counts loan defaults by schools based in a state. That means the for-profit University of Phoenix, with its nationwide student body, counts toward Arizona’s rate.
And count it does.
While the report lists the state’s default rate at 10.9 percent for fiscal 2008, removing the University of Phoenix lowers Arizona’s rate to around 8 percent. That’s much closer to the national rate of 7 percent.
Those attending the University of Phoenix, which had a default rate of 12.9 percent, accounted for 70 percent of loan defaults attributed to Arizona, the report showed.
Arizona’s default rate was 9.8 percent in fiscal 2007, when it also was highest in the nation. The default rate in fiscal 2006 was 9.2 percent, placing Arizona second behind Kentucky
Youth unemployment is now at 20 percent, the highest since the 1940s, hindering borrowers from paying off their loans, The report also shows community colleges tend to have higher default rates, with 14 out of the state’s 20 colleges above 10 percent.
In contrast, the state’s public universities all have rates in the low single-digits: 3 percent at Arizona State University, 4.3 percent at Northern Arizona University and 4 percent at the University of Arizona.
The report represented borrowers who entered repayment in the 2008 fiscal year but defaulted before Sept. 30, 2009. That is a total of 3.4 million borrowers nationwide, of which more than 238,000 have defaulted, it said.
Including University of Phoenix, Arizona had 223,468 loans in repayment with 24,531 in default for that period, the report said.
Student loan default rates by school:
• ASU: 3 percent
• NAU: 4.3 percent
• UA: 4 percent
• Grand Canyon University: 3.4 percent
• University of Phoenix: 12.9 percent
• Mesa Community College: 12.8 percent
• Pima Community College: 13.1 percent
• Arizona Western College: 16.1 percent
• Gateway Community College: 10.6 percent
• Chandler-Gilbert Community College: 8.5 percent
• Mohave Community College: 15.7 percent
Top states for loan defaults:
• Arizona: 10.9 percent
• Arkanasas: 10.1 percent
• Iowa: 9.9 percent
• Kentucky: 9.6 percent
• Colorado: 9.2 percent
That’s because the report counts loan defaults by schools based in a state. That means the for-profit University of Phoenix, with its nationwide student body, counts toward Arizona’s rate.
And count it does.
While the report lists the state’s default rate at 10.9 percent for fiscal 2008, removing the University of Phoenix lowers Arizona’s rate to around 8 percent. That’s much closer to the national rate of 7 percent.
Those attending the University of Phoenix, which had a default rate of 12.9 percent, accounted for 70 percent of loan defaults attributed to Arizona, the report showed.
Arizona’s default rate was 9.8 percent in fiscal 2007, when it also was highest in the nation. The default rate in fiscal 2006 was 9.2 percent, placing Arizona second behind Kentucky
Youth unemployment is now at 20 percent, the highest since the 1940s, hindering borrowers from paying off their loans, The report also shows community colleges tend to have higher default rates, with 14 out of the state’s 20 colleges above 10 percent.
In contrast, the state’s public universities all have rates in the low single-digits: 3 percent at Arizona State University, 4.3 percent at Northern Arizona University and 4 percent at the University of Arizona.
The report represented borrowers who entered repayment in the 2008 fiscal year but defaulted before Sept. 30, 2009. That is a total of 3.4 million borrowers nationwide, of which more than 238,000 have defaulted, it said.
Including University of Phoenix, Arizona had 223,468 loans in repayment with 24,531 in default for that period, the report said.
Student loan default rates by school:
• ASU: 3 percent
• NAU: 4.3 percent
• UA: 4 percent
• Grand Canyon University: 3.4 percent
• University of Phoenix: 12.9 percent
• Mesa Community College: 12.8 percent
• Pima Community College: 13.1 percent
• Arizona Western College: 16.1 percent
• Gateway Community College: 10.6 percent
• Chandler-Gilbert Community College: 8.5 percent
• Mohave Community College: 15.7 percent
Top states for loan defaults:
• Arizona: 10.9 percent
• Arkanasas: 10.1 percent
• Iowa: 9.9 percent
• Kentucky: 9.6 percent
• Colorado: 9.2 percent
Thursday, November 18, 2010
TOOts And the MaYtals
Toots and the Maytals, originally called simply The Maytals, are a Jamaican musical group and one of the best known ska and reggae vocal groups. According to Sandra Brennan at All music, "The Maytals were key figures in reggae music. Formed in the early 1960s when ska was hot, the Maytals had a reputation for having strong, well-blended voices and a seldom-rivaled passion for their music. Hibbert's soulful style led him to be compared to Otis Redding".
History
Frederick "Toots" Hibbert, the frontman of the group, was born in May Pen, Clarendon, Jamaica in 1945, the youngest of seven children. He grew up singing gospel music in a church choir, and moved to Kingston in 1958 at the age of thirteen.
In Kingston, Hibbert met Henry "Raleigh" Gordon and Nathaniel "Jerry" McCarthy, forming in 1962Thompson, Dave. Reggae and Caribbean Music. Page 178. Back beat Books, 2002.1 a group whose early recordings were incorrectly attributed to 'The Flames' and 'The Vikings' in the UK by Island Records. The Maytals first had chart success recording for producer Clement "Coxsone" Dodd at Studio One. With musical backing from Dodd's house band, The Skatalites, the Maytals' close-harmony gospel singing ensured success, overshadowing Dodd's other up-and-coming vocal group, The Wailers. After staying at Studio One for about two years, the group moved on to do sessions for Prince Buster before recording with Byron Lee in 1966. With Lee, the Maytals won the first-ever Jamaican Independence Festival Popular Song Competition with their original song "Bam Bam" (not to be confused with the Sister Nancy song of the same title).JCDC list of festival popular song winners, Accessed October 20, 20072 However, the group's musical career was interrupted in late 1966 when Hibbert was arrested and imprisoned for 18 months. He stated that he was not arrested for ganja, but whilst bailing a friend.Interview with David Katz, Solid Foundation, page 90. Bloomsbuy Press 2003.3 He also stated that he made up the number 54-46 when writing "54-46 That's My Number" about his time in jail.
Following Hibbert's release from jail towards the end of 1967, the Maytals began working with the Chinese Jamaican producer Leslie Kong, a collaboration which yielded a string of hits throughout the late 1960s and early 1970s. These included "Do the Reggay", one of several songs released in 1968 to first use the word 'reggae' (spelled 'reggay') in a Jamaican recording;Turner, Michael and Schoenfeld, Robert, Eds. "Roots Knotty Roots". Nighthawk Records5 "Pressure Drop"; "54-46 That's My Number" the 1969 Jamaica festival's popular song winner; "Sweet and Dandy"; and "Monkey Man", the group's first international hit in 1970. By 1971, they had not only become the biggest act on the island, they were also (thanks to signing a recording contract with Chris Blackwell's Island Records) international stars. In 1972 they won their third Jamaica festival popular song with "Pomps and Pride"6 . The group was also featured twice in the soundtrack to The Harder They Come, the 1972 film starring Jimmy Cliff, named as one of Vanity Fair's Top 10 soundtracks of all time.
After Kong's death in 1971, the group continued to record with Kong's former sound engineer, Warrick Lyn. Their re-instated producer Byron Lee renamed them Toots & the Maytals. The group released three best-selling albums produced by Lyn and Blackwell of Island Records, and enjoyed international hits with Funky Kingston in 1973 and Reggae Got Soul in 1975. Following the release of Reggae Got Soul, Toots & the Maytals were invited to tour as the opening act for The Who during their 1975-76 North American tour.Concordmusicgroup.com - accessed 21 October 20077 The tour went poorly and Toots & the Maytals never went on to the success of Bob Marley or Peter Tosh in the U.S.The Rise of Reggae, and the influence of Toots and the Maytals8
Toots and the Maytals' compositions would be given a second airing in 1978-80 during the reggae punk and ska revival period in the UK, when The Specials included "Monkey Man" on their 1979 debut album and The Clash covered "Pressure Drop". They were also included in the lyrics to Bob Marley & The Wailers song, "Punky Reggae Party" - "The Wailers will be there, The Damned, The Jam, The Clash, The Maytals will be there, Dr. Feelgood too". In 1982, Toots & the Maytals' "Beautiful Woman", reached number one in New Zealand, but the group had already broken up.
They reformed in the early 1990s to continue touring and recording successfully.
In 2005, the group released True Love, an album consisting of re-recorded versions of their earlier hits, alongside Bonnie Raitt, Willie Nelson, Eric Clapton, Keith Richards, No Doubt, Ben Harper, The Roots, and Shaggy. The album won the Grammy Award that year for best reggae album.
In 2006, they recorded a reggae/ska version of Radiohead's "Let Down" for the tribute album, Radiodread, by the Easy Star All-Stars. The album was a song for song makeover of the English rock band's album OK Computer into reggae, dub and ska. In August 2007 Toots & the Maytals released Light Your Light, which featured re-workings of older songs such as "Johnny Cool Man", as well as new material. The album was nominated in 2008 for a Grammy in the best reggae album category.
Toots & the Maytals hold the current record of number one hits in Jamaica, with a total of thirty one.
In March 2009 it was announced that Toots & the Maytals would be performing alongside Amy Winehouse, for their shared record label, Island Records' 50th anniversary. Winehouse has covered the band's "Monkey Man", and the act were supposed to support her at the Shepherds Bush Empire in London on 31 May 2009 However, Winehouse was forced to cancel, leaving the Maytals to play at the more intimate Bush Hall, round the corner from the Empire, to a sell-out crowd.
History
Frederick "Toots" Hibbert, the frontman of the group, was born in May Pen, Clarendon, Jamaica in 1945, the youngest of seven children. He grew up singing gospel music in a church choir, and moved to Kingston in 1958 at the age of thirteen.
In Kingston, Hibbert met Henry "Raleigh" Gordon and Nathaniel "Jerry" McCarthy, forming in 1962Thompson, Dave. Reggae and Caribbean Music. Page 178. Back beat Books, 2002.1 a group whose early recordings were incorrectly attributed to 'The Flames' and 'The Vikings' in the UK by Island Records. The Maytals first had chart success recording for producer Clement "Coxsone" Dodd at Studio One. With musical backing from Dodd's house band, The Skatalites, the Maytals' close-harmony gospel singing ensured success, overshadowing Dodd's other up-and-coming vocal group, The Wailers. After staying at Studio One for about two years, the group moved on to do sessions for Prince Buster before recording with Byron Lee in 1966. With Lee, the Maytals won the first-ever Jamaican Independence Festival Popular Song Competition with their original song "Bam Bam" (not to be confused with the Sister Nancy song of the same title).JCDC list of festival popular song winners, Accessed October 20, 20072 However, the group's musical career was interrupted in late 1966 when Hibbert was arrested and imprisoned for 18 months. He stated that he was not arrested for ganja, but whilst bailing a friend.Interview with David Katz, Solid Foundation, page 90. Bloomsbuy Press 2003.3 He also stated that he made up the number 54-46 when writing "54-46 That's My Number" about his time in jail.
Following Hibbert's release from jail towards the end of 1967, the Maytals began working with the Chinese Jamaican producer Leslie Kong, a collaboration which yielded a string of hits throughout the late 1960s and early 1970s. These included "Do the Reggay", one of several songs released in 1968 to first use the word 'reggae' (spelled 'reggay') in a Jamaican recording;Turner, Michael and Schoenfeld, Robert, Eds. "Roots Knotty Roots". Nighthawk Records5 "Pressure Drop"; "54-46 That's My Number" the 1969 Jamaica festival's popular song winner; "Sweet and Dandy"; and "Monkey Man", the group's first international hit in 1970. By 1971, they had not only become the biggest act on the island, they were also (thanks to signing a recording contract with Chris Blackwell's Island Records) international stars. In 1972 they won their third Jamaica festival popular song with "Pomps and Pride"6 . The group was also featured twice in the soundtrack to The Harder They Come, the 1972 film starring Jimmy Cliff, named as one of Vanity Fair's Top 10 soundtracks of all time.
After Kong's death in 1971, the group continued to record with Kong's former sound engineer, Warrick Lyn. Their re-instated producer Byron Lee renamed them Toots & the Maytals. The group released three best-selling albums produced by Lyn and Blackwell of Island Records, and enjoyed international hits with Funky Kingston in 1973 and Reggae Got Soul in 1975. Following the release of Reggae Got Soul, Toots & the Maytals were invited to tour as the opening act for The Who during their 1975-76 North American tour.Concordmusicgroup.com - accessed 21 October 20077 The tour went poorly and Toots & the Maytals never went on to the success of Bob Marley or Peter Tosh in the U.S.The Rise of Reggae, and the influence of Toots and the Maytals8
Toots and the Maytals' compositions would be given a second airing in 1978-80 during the reggae punk and ska revival period in the UK, when The Specials included "Monkey Man" on their 1979 debut album and The Clash covered "Pressure Drop". They were also included in the lyrics to Bob Marley & The Wailers song, "Punky Reggae Party" - "The Wailers will be there, The Damned, The Jam, The Clash, The Maytals will be there, Dr. Feelgood too". In 1982, Toots & the Maytals' "Beautiful Woman", reached number one in New Zealand, but the group had already broken up.
They reformed in the early 1990s to continue touring and recording successfully.
In 2005, the group released True Love, an album consisting of re-recorded versions of their earlier hits, alongside Bonnie Raitt, Willie Nelson, Eric Clapton, Keith Richards, No Doubt, Ben Harper, The Roots, and Shaggy. The album won the Grammy Award that year for best reggae album.
In 2006, they recorded a reggae/ska version of Radiohead's "Let Down" for the tribute album, Radiodread, by the Easy Star All-Stars. The album was a song for song makeover of the English rock band's album OK Computer into reggae, dub and ska. In August 2007 Toots & the Maytals released Light Your Light, which featured re-workings of older songs such as "Johnny Cool Man", as well as new material. The album was nominated in 2008 for a Grammy in the best reggae album category.
Toots & the Maytals hold the current record of number one hits in Jamaica, with a total of thirty one.
In March 2009 it was announced that Toots & the Maytals would be performing alongside Amy Winehouse, for their shared record label, Island Records' 50th anniversary. Winehouse has covered the band's "Monkey Man", and the act were supposed to support her at the Shepherds Bush Empire in London on 31 May 2009 However, Winehouse was forced to cancel, leaving the Maytals to play at the more intimate Bush Hall, round the corner from the Empire, to a sell-out crowd.
TOOts And the MaYtals Album discography
Hallelujah (Jamaica Recording Studios 1966)
Sweet and Dandy (Beverley's 1969)
Monkey Man (Beverley's 1970)
From the Roots (Trojan 1970)
Funky Kingston (Mango 1973)
In the Dark (Trojan 1974)
Live at Reggae (Sunsplash) (Mobile 1975)
Reggae Got Soul (Mango 1976)
Funky Kingston (Trojan 1976)
Pass the Pipe (Mango 1979)
Just Like That (Mango 1980)
Live (Island (ILPS 9647) 1980)
Knock Out! (Mango 1981)
Island Reggae Greats (Island, also Mango 1985)
Hour Live (Genes 1997) - recorded in 1982
An Hour Live 'Straight from the Yard' (Dedicated to Robert Nesta Marley) (Sus 1990)
Sensational Ska (Jamaican Gold 1995)
Ska Father (Alla Son 1998)
Live in London (Trojan 1999)
Monkey Man (House Of 1997)
Bla. Bla. Bla. (Lagoon 1993)
Never Grow Old (Heartbeat 1997)
Recoup (Alla Son 1997)
True Love (V2 2004)
Roots Reggae (The Early Jamaican Albums) (Trojan 2005) - six CD compilation
World Is Turning (XIII Bis 2005)
Light Your Light (Concord 2007)
Flip and Twist (Concord 2010)
Sweet and Dandy (Beverley's 1969)
Monkey Man (Beverley's 1970)
From the Roots (Trojan 1970)
Funky Kingston (Mango 1973)
In the Dark (Trojan 1974)
Live at Reggae (Sunsplash) (Mobile 1975)
Reggae Got Soul (Mango 1976)
Funky Kingston (Trojan 1976)
Pass the Pipe (Mango 1979)
Just Like That (Mango 1980)
Live (Island (ILPS 9647) 1980)
Knock Out! (Mango 1981)
Island Reggae Greats (Island, also Mango 1985)
Hour Live (Genes 1997) - recorded in 1982
An Hour Live 'Straight from the Yard' (Dedicated to Robert Nesta Marley) (Sus 1990)
Sensational Ska (Jamaican Gold 1995)
Ska Father (Alla Son 1998)
Live in London (Trojan 1999)
Monkey Man (House Of 1997)
Bla. Bla. Bla. (Lagoon 1993)
Never Grow Old (Heartbeat 1997)
Recoup (Alla Son 1997)
True Love (V2 2004)
Roots Reggae (The Early Jamaican Albums) (Trojan 2005) - six CD compilation
World Is Turning (XIII Bis 2005)
Light Your Light (Concord 2007)
Flip and Twist (Concord 2010)
bOOmboX 11-18-10 (Hoes)
Dr Dre feat The Dude & Snoop Dogg - Fuck You
Snoop doggy dogg - aint no fun (if the homies cant get none)
Dr.Dre feat.Daz,Snoop Dogg,& Kurupt-Bitches Ain't Shit
2pac- I Get Around
Mac Dre - Punk Bitches
MAC DRE & MAC MALL - Cuddies say Yee
Too $hort - Cocktails
Too $hort-Freaky Tales
Too $hort-Blowjob Betty
Blowfly - The Girl Wants To Fuck
Blowfly - Too Fat Too Fuck
Snoop doggy dogg - aint no fun (if the homies cant get none)
Dr.Dre feat.Daz,Snoop Dogg,& Kurupt-Bitches Ain't Shit
2pac- I Get Around
Mac Dre - Punk Bitches
MAC DRE & MAC MALL - Cuddies say Yee
Too $hort - Cocktails
Too $hort-Freaky Tales
Too $hort-Blowjob Betty
Blowfly - The Girl Wants To Fuck
Blowfly - Too Fat Too Fuck
Wednesday, November 17, 2010
30 facts About Islam
1) "Islam" means "peace through the submission to God".
2) "Muslim" means "anyone or anything that submits itself to the will of God".
3) Islam is not a cult. Its followers number over 1.5 billion worldwide. Along with Judaism and Christianity, it is considered to be one of the three Abrahamic traditions.
4) There are five pillars of practice in Islam. These practices must be undertaken with the best of effort in order to be considered a true Muslim: A) Shahadah - declaration of faith in the oneness of God and that Muhammad is the last prophet of God. B) Formal prayer five times a day. C) Fasting during the daylight hours in the month of Ramadan. D) Poor-due "tax" - 2.5% of one's savings given to the needy at the end of each year. E) Pilgrimage to Mecca at least once, if physically and financially able.
5) There are six articles of faith in Islam. These are the basic beliefs that one must have in order to be considered a true Muslim. They are belief in: A) the One God. B) all the prophets of God. C) the original scriptures revealed to Prophets Moses, David, Jesus, and Muhammad. D) the angels. E) the Day of Judgment and the Hereafter. F) the divine decree (or destiny).
6) Islam is a complete way of life that governs all facets of life: moral, spiritual, social, political, economical, intellectual, etc.
7) Islam is one of the fastest growing religions in the world. To become Muslim, a person of any race or culture must say a simple statement, the shahadah, that bears witness to the belief in the One God and that Prophet Muhammad was the last prophet of God.
8) "Allah" is an Arabic word that means "God". Muslims also believe that "Allah" is the personal name of God.
9) Allah is not the God of Muslims only. He is the God of all people and all creation. Just because people refer to God using different terms does not mean that they are different gods. Spanish people refer to God as "Dios" and French people refer to God as "Dieu", yet they are all the same God. Interestingly, most Arab Jews and Arab Christians refer to God as "Allah". And the word Allah in Arabic appears on the walls of many Arab churches.
10) The Islamic concept of God is that He is loving, merciful, and compassionate. But Islam also teaches that He is just and swift in punishment. Nevertheless, Allah once said to Prophet Muhammad, "My mercy prevails over my wrath." Islam teaches a balance between fear and hope, protecting one from both complacency and despair.
11) Muslims believe that God has revealed 99 of His names (or attributes) in the Holy Qur'an. It is through these names that one can come to know the Creator. A few of these names are: the All-Merciful, the All-Knower, the Protector, the Provider, the Near, the First, the Last, the Hidden, and the Source of Peace.
12) Muslims believe in and acknowledge all the prophets of old, from Adam to Jesus. Muslims believe that they brought the message of peace and submission (islam) to different peoples at different times. Muslims also believe that these prophets were "muslims" because they submitted their wills to God.
13) Muslims neither worship Muhammad nor pray through him. Muslims solely worship the unseen and Omniscient Creator, Allah.
14) Muslims accept the original unaltered Torah (the Gospel of Moses) and the original Bible (the Gospel of Jesus) since they were revealed by God. However, none of those original scriptures are in existence today, in their entirety. Therefore, Muslims follow the subsequent, final, and preserved revelation of God, the Holy Qur'an.
15) The Holy Qur'an was not authored by Muhammad. It was authored by God, revealed to Muhammad, and written into physical form by his companions.
16) The Holy Qur'an has no flaws or contradictions. The original Arabic scriptures have never been changed or tampered with.
17) Actual seventh century Qur'ans, complete and intact, are on display in museums in Turkey and many other places around the world.
18) If all Qur'ans in the world today were burned and destroyed, the original Arabic would still remain. This is because millions of Muslims, called Hafiz (or "preservers") have memorized the text letter for letter from beginning to end, every word and syllable. Also, chapters from the Qur'an are precisely recited from memory by every Muslim in each of the five daily prayers.
19) Muslims do not believe in the concept of "vicarious atonement" but rather believe in the law of personal responsibility. Islam teaches that each person is responsible for his or her own actions. On the Day of Judgment Muslims believe that every person will be resurrected and will have to answer to God for their every word, thought, and deed. Consequently, a practicing Muslim is always striving to be righteous.
20) Islam was not spread by the sword. It was spread by the word (Islamic teachings) and the example of its followers. Islam teaches that there is no compulsion in religion (the Holy Qur'an 2:256 and 10:99).
21) Terrorism, unjustified violence and the killing of innocent people are absolutely forbidden in Islam. Islam is a way of life that is meant to bring peace to a society, whether its people are Muslim or not. The extreme actions of those who claim to be Muslim may be, among other things, a result of their ignorance or uncontrolled anger. Tyrant rulers and those who commit acts of terrorism in the name of Islam are simply not following Islam. These people are individuals with their own views and political agendas. Fanatical Muslims are no more representative of the true Islamic teachings than Timothy McVeigh or David Koresh are of Christianity. Extremism and fanaticism is a problem that is common to all religious groups. Anyone who thinks that all Muslims are terrorists should remember that the famous boxer Muhammad Ali, perhaps the most celebrated person of our era, is a practicing Muslim.
22) The word "jihad" does not mean "holy war". Instead, it means the inner struggle that one endures in trying to submit their will to the will of God. Some Muslims may say they are going for "jihad" when fighting in a war to defend themselves or their fellow Muslims, but they only say this because they are conceding that it will be a tremendous struggle. But there are many other forms of jihad which are more relevant to the everyday life of a Muslim such as the struggles against laziness, arrogance, stinginess, or the struggle against a tyrant ruler or against the temptation of Satan, or against one's own ego, etc.
23) Women are not oppressed in Islam. Any Muslim man that oppresses a woman is not following Islam. Among the many teachings of Prophet Muhammad that protected the rights and dignity of women is his saying, "...the best among you are those who treat their wives well." (Tirmidhi)
24) Islam grants women numerous rights in the home and in society. Among them are the right to earn money, to financial support, to an education, to an inheritance, to being treated kindly, to vote, to a dowry, to keep their maiden name, to worship in a mosque, etc., etc.
25) Muslim women wear the head-covering (hijab) in fulfillment of God's decree to dress modestly. From a practical standpoint, it serves to identify one as attempting to follow God in daily life and, therefore, protects women from unwanted advances from men. This type of modest dress has been worn by righteous women throughout history. Prominent examples are traditional Catholic Nuns, Mother Teresa and the Virgin Mary, mother of Jesus.
26) Arranged marriages are allowed in Islam but are not required. Whereas "forced" marriages, usually stemming from cultural practice, are forbidden. Divorce is permissible, however, reconciliation is what is most encouraged. But if there are irreconcilable differences then Islam permits a fair and just divorce.
27) Islam and the "Nation of Islam" are two different religions. Islam is a religion for all races and enjoins the worship of the one unseen God who, orthodox Muslims believe, never took human form. The "Nation", on the other hand, is a movement geared towards non-whites and teaches that God appeared in the form of Fard Muhammad in 1930 and that Elijah Muhammad (a man who died in 1975) was a prophet of God. These beliefs clearly contradict the basic Islamic theology outlined in the Qur'an. The followers of "the Nation" adhere to some Islamic principles that are mixed with many other teachings that are alien to Islam. To better understand the difference between the two, read about Malcolm X, his pilgrimage to Mecca and his subsequent comments to the media. Islam teaches equality amongst all the races (Holy Qur'an 49:13).
28) All Muslims are not Arab. Islam is a universal religion and way of life which includes followers from all races of people. There are Muslims in and from virtually every country in the world. Arabs only constitute about 20% of Muslims worldwide. Indonesia has the largest concentration of Muslims with over 120 million.
29) In the five daily prayers, Muslims face the Kaaba in Mecca, Arabia. It is a cube-shaped stone structure that was originally built by Prophet Adam and later rebuilt by Prophet Abraham. Muslims believe that the Kaaba was the first house of worship on Earth dedicated to the worship of one god. Muslims do not worship the Kaaba. It serves as a central focal point for Muslims around the world, unifying them in worship and symbolizing their common belief, spiritual focus and direction. Interestingly, the inside of the Kaaba is empty.
30) The hajj is a simultaneous pilgrimage to the Kaaba made by millions of Muslims each year. It is performed to commemorate the struggles of Abraham, Ismail and Hagar in submitting their wills to God.
2) "Muslim" means "anyone or anything that submits itself to the will of God".
3) Islam is not a cult. Its followers number over 1.5 billion worldwide. Along with Judaism and Christianity, it is considered to be one of the three Abrahamic traditions.
4) There are five pillars of practice in Islam. These practices must be undertaken with the best of effort in order to be considered a true Muslim: A) Shahadah - declaration of faith in the oneness of God and that Muhammad is the last prophet of God. B) Formal prayer five times a day. C) Fasting during the daylight hours in the month of Ramadan. D) Poor-due "tax" - 2.5% of one's savings given to the needy at the end of each year. E) Pilgrimage to Mecca at least once, if physically and financially able.
5) There are six articles of faith in Islam. These are the basic beliefs that one must have in order to be considered a true Muslim. They are belief in: A) the One God. B) all the prophets of God. C) the original scriptures revealed to Prophets Moses, David, Jesus, and Muhammad. D) the angels. E) the Day of Judgment and the Hereafter. F) the divine decree (or destiny).
6) Islam is a complete way of life that governs all facets of life: moral, spiritual, social, political, economical, intellectual, etc.
7) Islam is one of the fastest growing religions in the world. To become Muslim, a person of any race or culture must say a simple statement, the shahadah, that bears witness to the belief in the One God and that Prophet Muhammad was the last prophet of God.
8) "Allah" is an Arabic word that means "God". Muslims also believe that "Allah" is the personal name of God.
9) Allah is not the God of Muslims only. He is the God of all people and all creation. Just because people refer to God using different terms does not mean that they are different gods. Spanish people refer to God as "Dios" and French people refer to God as "Dieu", yet they are all the same God. Interestingly, most Arab Jews and Arab Christians refer to God as "Allah". And the word Allah in Arabic appears on the walls of many Arab churches.
10) The Islamic concept of God is that He is loving, merciful, and compassionate. But Islam also teaches that He is just and swift in punishment. Nevertheless, Allah once said to Prophet Muhammad, "My mercy prevails over my wrath." Islam teaches a balance between fear and hope, protecting one from both complacency and despair.
11) Muslims believe that God has revealed 99 of His names (or attributes) in the Holy Qur'an. It is through these names that one can come to know the Creator. A few of these names are: the All-Merciful, the All-Knower, the Protector, the Provider, the Near, the First, the Last, the Hidden, and the Source of Peace.
12) Muslims believe in and acknowledge all the prophets of old, from Adam to Jesus. Muslims believe that they brought the message of peace and submission (islam) to different peoples at different times. Muslims also believe that these prophets were "muslims" because they submitted their wills to God.
13) Muslims neither worship Muhammad nor pray through him. Muslims solely worship the unseen and Omniscient Creator, Allah.
14) Muslims accept the original unaltered Torah (the Gospel of Moses) and the original Bible (the Gospel of Jesus) since they were revealed by God. However, none of those original scriptures are in existence today, in their entirety. Therefore, Muslims follow the subsequent, final, and preserved revelation of God, the Holy Qur'an.
15) The Holy Qur'an was not authored by Muhammad. It was authored by God, revealed to Muhammad, and written into physical form by his companions.
16) The Holy Qur'an has no flaws or contradictions. The original Arabic scriptures have never been changed or tampered with.
17) Actual seventh century Qur'ans, complete and intact, are on display in museums in Turkey and many other places around the world.
18) If all Qur'ans in the world today were burned and destroyed, the original Arabic would still remain. This is because millions of Muslims, called Hafiz (or "preservers") have memorized the text letter for letter from beginning to end, every word and syllable. Also, chapters from the Qur'an are precisely recited from memory by every Muslim in each of the five daily prayers.
19) Muslims do not believe in the concept of "vicarious atonement" but rather believe in the law of personal responsibility. Islam teaches that each person is responsible for his or her own actions. On the Day of Judgment Muslims believe that every person will be resurrected and will have to answer to God for their every word, thought, and deed. Consequently, a practicing Muslim is always striving to be righteous.
20) Islam was not spread by the sword. It was spread by the word (Islamic teachings) and the example of its followers. Islam teaches that there is no compulsion in religion (the Holy Qur'an 2:256 and 10:99).
21) Terrorism, unjustified violence and the killing of innocent people are absolutely forbidden in Islam. Islam is a way of life that is meant to bring peace to a society, whether its people are Muslim or not. The extreme actions of those who claim to be Muslim may be, among other things, a result of their ignorance or uncontrolled anger. Tyrant rulers and those who commit acts of terrorism in the name of Islam are simply not following Islam. These people are individuals with their own views and political agendas. Fanatical Muslims are no more representative of the true Islamic teachings than Timothy McVeigh or David Koresh are of Christianity. Extremism and fanaticism is a problem that is common to all religious groups. Anyone who thinks that all Muslims are terrorists should remember that the famous boxer Muhammad Ali, perhaps the most celebrated person of our era, is a practicing Muslim.
22) The word "jihad" does not mean "holy war". Instead, it means the inner struggle that one endures in trying to submit their will to the will of God. Some Muslims may say they are going for "jihad" when fighting in a war to defend themselves or their fellow Muslims, but they only say this because they are conceding that it will be a tremendous struggle. But there are many other forms of jihad which are more relevant to the everyday life of a Muslim such as the struggles against laziness, arrogance, stinginess, or the struggle against a tyrant ruler or against the temptation of Satan, or against one's own ego, etc.
23) Women are not oppressed in Islam. Any Muslim man that oppresses a woman is not following Islam. Among the many teachings of Prophet Muhammad that protected the rights and dignity of women is his saying, "...the best among you are those who treat their wives well." (Tirmidhi)
24) Islam grants women numerous rights in the home and in society. Among them are the right to earn money, to financial support, to an education, to an inheritance, to being treated kindly, to vote, to a dowry, to keep their maiden name, to worship in a mosque, etc., etc.
25) Muslim women wear the head-covering (hijab) in fulfillment of God's decree to dress modestly. From a practical standpoint, it serves to identify one as attempting to follow God in daily life and, therefore, protects women from unwanted advances from men. This type of modest dress has been worn by righteous women throughout history. Prominent examples are traditional Catholic Nuns, Mother Teresa and the Virgin Mary, mother of Jesus.
26) Arranged marriages are allowed in Islam but are not required. Whereas "forced" marriages, usually stemming from cultural practice, are forbidden. Divorce is permissible, however, reconciliation is what is most encouraged. But if there are irreconcilable differences then Islam permits a fair and just divorce.
27) Islam and the "Nation of Islam" are two different religions. Islam is a religion for all races and enjoins the worship of the one unseen God who, orthodox Muslims believe, never took human form. The "Nation", on the other hand, is a movement geared towards non-whites and teaches that God appeared in the form of Fard Muhammad in 1930 and that Elijah Muhammad (a man who died in 1975) was a prophet of God. These beliefs clearly contradict the basic Islamic theology outlined in the Qur'an. The followers of "the Nation" adhere to some Islamic principles that are mixed with many other teachings that are alien to Islam. To better understand the difference between the two, read about Malcolm X, his pilgrimage to Mecca and his subsequent comments to the media. Islam teaches equality amongst all the races (Holy Qur'an 49:13).
28) All Muslims are not Arab. Islam is a universal religion and way of life which includes followers from all races of people. There are Muslims in and from virtually every country in the world. Arabs only constitute about 20% of Muslims worldwide. Indonesia has the largest concentration of Muslims with over 120 million.
29) In the five daily prayers, Muslims face the Kaaba in Mecca, Arabia. It is a cube-shaped stone structure that was originally built by Prophet Adam and later rebuilt by Prophet Abraham. Muslims believe that the Kaaba was the first house of worship on Earth dedicated to the worship of one god. Muslims do not worship the Kaaba. It serves as a central focal point for Muslims around the world, unifying them in worship and symbolizing their common belief, spiritual focus and direction. Interestingly, the inside of the Kaaba is empty.
30) The hajj is a simultaneous pilgrimage to the Kaaba made by millions of Muslims each year. It is performed to commemorate the struggles of Abraham, Ismail and Hagar in submitting their wills to God.
NFL MVP so far
We are about to entire Week 11 of the NFL season (that's both exciting and depressing at the same time), so it's time to start thinking about who is up for the biggest award in the sport. While one Indianapolis quarterback is looking to win the award for a third straight time, it is another, less-expected player behind center that leads the way. Who has a shot at being named the best player from this crazy season?
1.) Michael Vick(notes), QB, Philadelphia -- I said this to a friend after the Monday night "game" against the Redskins, and still stand by it, hyperbole and all: This season, Vick has been the most dominant player I've ever watched play football. Now, you have to understand, I'm not as old as some of you that got to see some of the greats back in the '80s and early '90s, but from what I'm seeing, Vick is the
equivalent of John Wall walking into a pick-up basketball gym and playing hoops. Everyone would stand back, thinking, "This guy is SO MUCH BETTER than everyone else." That's how I feel Vick is as an NFL quarterback. With him being so accurate with the ball (still hasn't thrown a pick this season), it seems he can rush for 20 or more yards per attempt. The only knock? He's played just six games this season
2.) Peyton Manning(notes), QB Indianapolis -- Sure, he hasn't had the best statistical year of his career, but he still has the Colts at 6-3 and leading their division. I don't really think there is anything more I can say about Peyton here that hasn't been said. He's the best leader in football, period.
3.) Darren McFadden(notes), RB Oakland -- Did you know the Raiders are 5-4, with Jason Campbell(notes) behind center? Yep, that's because the former Razorback running back is having a monster season. He leads the league in yards per game (108.1) by nearly six yards and is one of the few top backs playing for a serious playoff contender.
4.) Tom Brady(notes), QB New England -- They're arguably the best team in football, and he's the head of the operation. Also, a side-note: When did Brady become so tough? The guy was screaming at his offensive line on Sunday night like he'd gone mad. I mean, I like the fire he's got, but geez, lighten up. You were killing the Steelers. Also, Brady hasn't had an interception his last four games, against the Chargers, Vikings, Browns and Steelers. That's a pretty meaty group to go through without one loose toss.
5.) Roddy White(notes), WR Atlanta -- In nine games, White has surpassed 100 yards receiving five times, including his 201-yard performance in the presence of those reality-star receivers on the Bengals. He is the main part of the hottest offense in football right now (averaging just over 30 points a game in their last three contests, all wins), and along with Matt Ryan(notes), beat the Ravens last Thursday night nearly by themselves. A wide-out has never won the MVP award, but this season has been so weird, why not give it to him?
Others on our list: Tampa Bay quarterback Josh Freeman, San Diego quarterback Philip Rivers, Baltimore defensive end Haloti Ngata, Detroit defensive tackle Ndamukong Suh and Houston running back Arian Foster.
1.) Michael Vick(notes), QB, Philadelphia -- I said this to a friend after the Monday night "game" against the Redskins, and still stand by it, hyperbole and all: This season, Vick has been the most dominant player I've ever watched play football. Now, you have to understand, I'm not as old as some of you that got to see some of the greats back in the '80s and early '90s, but from what I'm seeing, Vick is the
equivalent of John Wall walking into a pick-up basketball gym and playing hoops. Everyone would stand back, thinking, "This guy is SO MUCH BETTER than everyone else." That's how I feel Vick is as an NFL quarterback. With him being so accurate with the ball (still hasn't thrown a pick this season), it seems he can rush for 20 or more yards per attempt. The only knock? He's played just six games this season
2.) Peyton Manning(notes), QB Indianapolis -- Sure, he hasn't had the best statistical year of his career, but he still has the Colts at 6-3 and leading their division. I don't really think there is anything more I can say about Peyton here that hasn't been said. He's the best leader in football, period.
3.) Darren McFadden(notes), RB Oakland -- Did you know the Raiders are 5-4, with Jason Campbell(notes) behind center? Yep, that's because the former Razorback running back is having a monster season. He leads the league in yards per game (108.1) by nearly six yards and is one of the few top backs playing for a serious playoff contender.
4.) Tom Brady(notes), QB New England -- They're arguably the best team in football, and he's the head of the operation. Also, a side-note: When did Brady become so tough? The guy was screaming at his offensive line on Sunday night like he'd gone mad. I mean, I like the fire he's got, but geez, lighten up. You were killing the Steelers. Also, Brady hasn't had an interception his last four games, against the Chargers, Vikings, Browns and Steelers. That's a pretty meaty group to go through without one loose toss.
5.) Roddy White(notes), WR Atlanta -- In nine games, White has surpassed 100 yards receiving five times, including his 201-yard performance in the presence of those reality-star receivers on the Bengals. He is the main part of the hottest offense in football right now (averaging just over 30 points a game in their last three contests, all wins), and along with Matt Ryan(notes), beat the Ravens last Thursday night nearly by themselves. A wide-out has never won the MVP award, but this season has been so weird, why not give it to him?
Others on our list: Tampa Bay quarterback Josh Freeman, San Diego quarterback Philip Rivers, Baltimore defensive end Haloti Ngata, Detroit defensive tackle Ndamukong Suh and Houston running back Arian Foster.
Sunday, November 14, 2010
suggest reading 11-14-10 (prison)
Life in Prison by Stanley Williams
Inside: Life Behind Bars in America by Michael Santos
The Big House: Life Inside a Supermax Security Prison by James H. Bruton
Fablehaven, Book 5:Keys to the Demon Prison by Brandon Mull
Live from Death Row by Mumia Abu-jamal and John Edgar Wideman
Death Blossoms: Reflections from a Prisoner of Conscience by Mumia Abu-Jamal and Cornel West
We Want Freedom: A Life in the Black Panther Party by Mumia Abu-Jamal and Kathleen Cleaver
Lucasville: The Untold Story of a Prison Uprising by Staughton Lynd and Mumia Abu Jamal
Eldridge Cleaver soul on ice
Blood in My Eye by George L. Jackson
An Eye For An Eye And His Blood For My Tears by Frank Carver
Inside: Life Behind Bars in America by Michael Santos
The Big House: Life Inside a Supermax Security Prison by James H. Bruton
Fablehaven, Book 5:Keys to the Demon Prison by Brandon Mull
Live from Death Row by Mumia Abu-jamal and John Edgar Wideman
Death Blossoms: Reflections from a Prisoner of Conscience by Mumia Abu-Jamal and Cornel West
We Want Freedom: A Life in the Black Panther Party by Mumia Abu-Jamal and Kathleen Cleaver
Lucasville: The Untold Story of a Prison Uprising by Staughton Lynd and Mumia Abu Jamal
Eldridge Cleaver soul on ice
Blood in My Eye by George L. Jackson
An Eye For An Eye And His Blood For My Tears by Frank Carver
BOOmBoX 11-14-10 RNB
Keith Sweat Featuring Athena - Nobody
Keith Sweat - Make You Sweat
Keith Sweat - Twisted
Ginuwine - Pony
Blackstreet - No Diggity ft. Dr. Dre, Queen Pen
Montell Jordan - This Is How We Do It
Usher - burn
R. Kelly - Ignition
R. Kelly - Step In The Name Of Love
R. Kelly - Bump N' Grind
Kanye ft. Talib Kweli & Consequence “Chain Heavy” (Prod. by Q-Tip)
Bun B. Feat. Slim Thug & Play N Skillz “Ridin’ Slow”
Cage “Captain Bumout”
Keith Sweat - Make You Sweat
Keith Sweat - Twisted
Ginuwine - Pony
Blackstreet - No Diggity ft. Dr. Dre, Queen Pen
Montell Jordan - This Is How We Do It
Usher - burn
R. Kelly - Ignition
R. Kelly - Step In The Name Of Love
R. Kelly - Bump N' Grind
Kanye ft. Talib Kweli & Consequence “Chain Heavy” (Prod. by Q-Tip)
Bun B. Feat. Slim Thug & Play N Skillz “Ridin’ Slow”
Cage “Captain Bumout”
Monday, November 8, 2010
Trails
Everyday, I try my best to succeed. However there are the times that I seem to fuck up. Thus, life goes on, also I am the first to admit that I need to work on myself. I see the fact that we are only human and flaws and misbehavior makes us stronger if we decide to learn from it. In this life no one is perfect you get those assholes who think they are but, in their hearts they are the weak. In these times of on going drama we need to help each other, but the ones who we help must remember a hand out is only temporary, and they need to thrive for more. Also, I see nowadays that we as nation is scared to face our own demons, until we face our demons how are we every going to learn. Look yourself in the mirror and start working then change will arrive.
Nihilism
Nihilism derives its name from the Latin root nihil, meaning nothing, that which does not exist. This same root is found in the verb “annihilate” -- to bring to nothing, to destroy completely. Nihilism is the belief which:
labels all values as worthless, therefore, nothing can be known or communicated.
associates itself with extreme pessimism and a radical skepticism, having no loyalties.
The German philosopher, Friedrich Nietzsche (1844-1900), is most often associated with nihilism. In Will to Power [notes 1883-1888], he writes, “Every belief, every considering something true, is necessarily false because there is simply no true world.” For Nietzsche, there is no objective order or structure in the world except what we give it. The objective of nihilism manifests itself in several perspectives:
Epistemological nihilism denies the possibility of knowledge and truth, and is linked to extreme skepticism.
Political nihilism advocates the prior destruction of all existing political, social, and religious orders as a prerequisite for any future improvement.
Ethical nihilism (moral nihilism) rejects the possibility of absolute moral or ethical values. Good and evil are vague, and related values are simply the result of social and emotional pressures.
Existential nihilism, the most well-known view, affirms that life has no intrinsic meaning or value.
Nihilism – Beyond Nothingness
Nihilism--choosing to believe in Nothingness--involves a high price. An individual may choose to “feel” rather than think, exert their “will to power” than pray, give thanks, or obey God. After an impressive career of literary and philosophical creativity, Friedrich Nietzsche lost all control of his mental faculties. Upon seeing a horse mistreated, he began sobbing uncontrollably and collapsed into a catatonic state. Nietzsche died August 25, 1900, diagnosed as utterly insane. While saying Yes to “life” but No to God, the Prophet of Nihilism missed both.
labels all values as worthless, therefore, nothing can be known or communicated.
associates itself with extreme pessimism and a radical skepticism, having no loyalties.
The German philosopher, Friedrich Nietzsche (1844-1900), is most often associated with nihilism. In Will to Power [notes 1883-1888], he writes, “Every belief, every considering something true, is necessarily false because there is simply no true world.” For Nietzsche, there is no objective order or structure in the world except what we give it. The objective of nihilism manifests itself in several perspectives:
Epistemological nihilism denies the possibility of knowledge and truth, and is linked to extreme skepticism.
Political nihilism advocates the prior destruction of all existing political, social, and religious orders as a prerequisite for any future improvement.
Ethical nihilism (moral nihilism) rejects the possibility of absolute moral or ethical values. Good and evil are vague, and related values are simply the result of social and emotional pressures.
Existential nihilism, the most well-known view, affirms that life has no intrinsic meaning or value.
Nihilism – Beyond Nothingness
Nihilism--choosing to believe in Nothingness--involves a high price. An individual may choose to “feel” rather than think, exert their “will to power” than pray, give thanks, or obey God. After an impressive career of literary and philosophical creativity, Friedrich Nietzsche lost all control of his mental faculties. Upon seeing a horse mistreated, he began sobbing uncontrollably and collapsed into a catatonic state. Nietzsche died August 25, 1900, diagnosed as utterly insane. While saying Yes to “life” but No to God, the Prophet of Nihilism missed both.
Sunday, November 7, 2010
P.A.I.D.
This post is probably going to offend a very large percentage of the population, basically because it is about bad drivers and seeing as most of the population are bad drivers, this will offend many people. It also may offend other groups of the population so if you think you may fall into these groups (senior citizens, foreigners etc.) Then you have a choice, leave this post or take notes. If you are easily offended, you may want to leave, if you want to help the world be a better place, then I'd do us all a favor and do the latter. ***FOUND!!!THE WORLDS WORST DRIVER HAS BEEN FOUND.....RIGHT HERE IN PHOENIX!*** Scroll down for the breaking news!!
This post is devoted to:
•People who understand that 'Road Rage' is the effect NOT the cause
•Tired of people who can't drive
You are an idiot driver if:
•You are on social security (for age or injury reasons)
•You just got your license
•You have a handicap license plate
•You drive a Cadillac (i.e. you are old)
•You live in Arizona (yes, I'm partial to this one, lots of idiot drivers here)
Yep! That's right, the search for the P.A.I.D. poster child is over and she's living right here in Arizona...
Now please understand that the female who is has taken the honor was quite a shock to me....I was pretty sure it was going to be a girl....but I thought for sure she would be 100 years old and blind or something like that. But no, she looks to be somewhere in her 20's and though she didn't appear to drive like she was blind, she did drive as though she was impaired...This of course was confirmed when I saw the warning sticker on her car that she had so thoughtfully placed so that there was no doubt that she was indeed, impaired:
In case you can't read that (and it is a bit tough)...it says "CRACK WHORE"....if the shoe fits....
Ahhhh.....ok, got that off my chest...And if you're wondering what makes her such a bad driver, well I can pretty much state for a fact that this stupid bitch hasn't read my page or any of the lessons on it.... ever....add to that that she never once signaled, couldn't keep in one lane for longer than 5 seconds, and she wasn't even talking on the phone! I mean at least that could be offered as an excuse for her but no...she's just the worlds most absolute shittiest driver! And lucky me that she lives here...!
Now, this is the part when all of you who fit into the "Idiot Drivers" category, take notes:
(lessons added frequently due to daily discovery of new ways people drive like sh!t)
LESSON 1
If you're illiterate, don't drive.
LESSON 2
If you've had a stroke since you last renewed your license, maybe you should reconsider getting behind the wheel.
LESSON 3
It's called the Fast Lane for a reason.
LESSON 4
If performing multi-tasks is a problem for you, then I'd limit your task intake to perhaps only changing the channel on the remote and drinking a beer at the same time. Driving requires just a few more brain cells than people like you, possess.
LESSON 5
The word of the day, "MERGING". This means that when you are getting onto the freeway, for instance, that long piece of road called the 'on ramp' is meant to be the used as the time to get up to speed with the rest of the traffic. By the time you are actually 'on' the freeway (and not the on ramp) you should already be going at least the minimum speed limit so that you don't cause the traffic already on the freeway to have to slow down to your 'on ramp' speed. This is not efficient or safe.
LESSON 6
When you are making a left turn at a light, pull forward to the middle of the intersection; Don't sit there and wait for the damn light to turn red, this too is incredibly inefficient
LESSON 7
Turning right on red (unless there are signs specifically stating not to) means that when there are no cars coming, (this includes when there are no cars coming in the right most lane even if there are cars in any of the other lanes) TURN already you fucking idiot!!
LESSON 8
Having your indicator signal on doesn't mean you can just change lanes at will. That is the first step, then you have LOOK to make sure you have room and its safe.
LESSON 9
If there is a cop who has pulled someone over and ticketing them, you don't have to stop and look and/or slow down, he's not coming after you. No, really, he's not.
LESSON 10
If there has been an accident that is not blocking any traffic, then there shouldn't be traffic. I mean really? Half the time a car is stalled on the side of the road. Is it really necessary to look at that? The ONLY time that slowing down MAY be ok is if there are injuries and other gruesome stuff to look at (you know you would want to look too so don't think I'm the only one here who is sick in the head).
LESSON 11
If you just must get in front of another driver because you think they are driving way to slow, and do everything you can to get in front of them, then when you do get in front of them....don't fucking decide that this is a good time to slow down. You wanted to get ahead of them for a reason, right? Or you're just an idiot....which I'm guessing may be the case.
LESSON 12
New term for the day, 'Enabler'. Don't become one. For example, if someone has decided to make their own lane due to bad traffic, don't allow them room to cut back in. In this situation, it is the person who lets them back IN that is the problem, after all, people wouldn't do it if it never worked.
LESSON 13
If there are TWO turn lanes (in the same direction) then its probably a good idea to STAY IN THE SAME Fucking LANE for the duration of your turn. I.E. if you are in the right most lane, then STAY in the right most lane, don't 'cruise' over to the left lane mid-turn.
LESSON ...
PLENTY MORE TO COME I ASSURE YOU
This post is devoted to:
•People who understand that 'Road Rage' is the effect NOT the cause
•Tired of people who can't drive
You are an idiot driver if:
•You are on social security (for age or injury reasons)
•You just got your license
•You have a handicap license plate
•You drive a Cadillac (i.e. you are old)
•You live in Arizona (yes, I'm partial to this one, lots of idiot drivers here)
Yep! That's right, the search for the P.A.I.D. poster child is over and she's living right here in Arizona...
Now please understand that the female who is has taken the honor was quite a shock to me....I was pretty sure it was going to be a girl....but I thought for sure she would be 100 years old and blind or something like that. But no, she looks to be somewhere in her 20's and though she didn't appear to drive like she was blind, she did drive as though she was impaired...This of course was confirmed when I saw the warning sticker on her car that she had so thoughtfully placed so that there was no doubt that she was indeed, impaired:
In case you can't read that (and it is a bit tough)...it says "CRACK WHORE"....if the shoe fits....
Ahhhh.....ok, got that off my chest...And if you're wondering what makes her such a bad driver, well I can pretty much state for a fact that this stupid bitch hasn't read my page or any of the lessons on it.... ever....add to that that she never once signaled, couldn't keep in one lane for longer than 5 seconds, and she wasn't even talking on the phone! I mean at least that could be offered as an excuse for her but no...she's just the worlds most absolute shittiest driver! And lucky me that she lives here...!
Now, this is the part when all of you who fit into the "Idiot Drivers" category, take notes:
(lessons added frequently due to daily discovery of new ways people drive like sh!t)
LESSON 1
If you're illiterate, don't drive.
LESSON 2
If you've had a stroke since you last renewed your license, maybe you should reconsider getting behind the wheel.
LESSON 3
It's called the Fast Lane for a reason.
LESSON 4
If performing multi-tasks is a problem for you, then I'd limit your task intake to perhaps only changing the channel on the remote and drinking a beer at the same time. Driving requires just a few more brain cells than people like you, possess.
LESSON 5
The word of the day, "MERGING". This means that when you are getting onto the freeway, for instance, that long piece of road called the 'on ramp' is meant to be the used as the time to get up to speed with the rest of the traffic. By the time you are actually 'on' the freeway (and not the on ramp) you should already be going at least the minimum speed limit so that you don't cause the traffic already on the freeway to have to slow down to your 'on ramp' speed. This is not efficient or safe.
LESSON 6
When you are making a left turn at a light, pull forward to the middle of the intersection; Don't sit there and wait for the damn light to turn red, this too is incredibly inefficient
LESSON 7
Turning right on red (unless there are signs specifically stating not to) means that when there are no cars coming, (this includes when there are no cars coming in the right most lane even if there are cars in any of the other lanes) TURN already you fucking idiot!!
LESSON 8
Having your indicator signal on doesn't mean you can just change lanes at will. That is the first step, then you have LOOK to make sure you have room and its safe.
LESSON 9
If there is a cop who has pulled someone over and ticketing them, you don't have to stop and look and/or slow down, he's not coming after you. No, really, he's not.
LESSON 10
If there has been an accident that is not blocking any traffic, then there shouldn't be traffic. I mean really? Half the time a car is stalled on the side of the road. Is it really necessary to look at that? The ONLY time that slowing down MAY be ok is if there are injuries and other gruesome stuff to look at (you know you would want to look too so don't think I'm the only one here who is sick in the head).
LESSON 11
If you just must get in front of another driver because you think they are driving way to slow, and do everything you can to get in front of them, then when you do get in front of them....don't fucking decide that this is a good time to slow down. You wanted to get ahead of them for a reason, right? Or you're just an idiot....which I'm guessing may be the case.
LESSON 12
New term for the day, 'Enabler'. Don't become one. For example, if someone has decided to make their own lane due to bad traffic, don't allow them room to cut back in. In this situation, it is the person who lets them back IN that is the problem, after all, people wouldn't do it if it never worked.
LESSON 13
If there are TWO turn lanes (in the same direction) then its probably a good idea to STAY IN THE SAME Fucking LANE for the duration of your turn. I.E. if you are in the right most lane, then STAY in the right most lane, don't 'cruise' over to the left lane mid-turn.
LESSON ...
PLENTY MORE TO COME I ASSURE YOU
Is it really the same
I’ve heard it, you’ve heard it, we’ve all heard it several times – ‘it’s the same everywhere else’ – it has slowly but surely become the go-to argument whenever a negative story or comment is shared about how life really is in Arizona. This argument has really increased in popularity out here over the last few years as many have tried to relate Arizona’s problems with that of the nation’s struggling economy. There are some people out here who may actually believe that other states are having the same economic, real estate, crime, and job struggles which we are dealing with in Arizona. Maybe you’ve even wondered if it really is this bad everywhere else in the country?
Not a chance. Do other states share some of the similar problems? Absolutely. Do other states have their own issues to deal with? They sure do. How many other states are stuck with permanent economic and social issues? Not many. Could it be the economy? Elsewhere, yes – in Arizona, not really. Is it just that the future for Arizona and its residents doesn’t sound all that appealing? Probably.
Anyone who really believes that the problems we are experiencing in Arizona are ‘the same as everywhere else’ either has never left the state of Arizona, has been stuck here so long that the heat has left them with no rational thought left, or is just ignorant to what is really going on around them. Look around you – most of these issues found here are not plaguing the rest of the country. Arizona does share some similar struggles with the rest of the nation, but the main difference is the rest of the country will probably recover at some point. Three of Arizona’s major struggles which will continue for the foreseeable future include the housing market, job market, and increasing violence. I’ll keep it pleasant and much, much shorter by leaving the weather, schools, residents, drivers, traffic, and lack of things to do out of this one.
Arizona’s Housing Market – finished. I really don’t think there is a simpler way to describe how the real estate market is going to continue playing out here in the coming years. The growth over the last 10 years fueled a real estate boom like something never seen before. Brand new developments went up all over the Phoenix area and each new development managed to get farther and farther away from the center of this mess. The homes continued to go up, but the population growth did not. The homes became larger, more feature packed, and pricier, but the number of unemployed and underemployed in Arizona increased. Arizona now struggles with tons of vacant homes, foreclosures galore, and a population struggling just to make rent. Who is going to buy these houses now? Arizona has always relied on growth to keep the bulk of its economy moving along, but what happens now as the growth continues to go down? More foreclosures and extremely cheap housing for anyone dumb enough to still move out here. Investors will certainly be shopping around for the best bargains, but might be in for quite a surprise when they realize nobody wants their home or they have to accept Pesos just to get someone to rent their home. I’ve said it before, and it needs to be said again – avoid the Arizona housing market all together unless you plan on staying for a very, very long time.
Arizona’s Job Market – almost non-existent with the exception of the retail, call center, and fast food industries. Even the construction jobs have vanished since we have vacant homes, offices, and strip malls for years to come. It will be interesting to see how the restaurant and service industry fare in Arizona since disposable income is just another thing running dry out here in the desert. Arizona’s job market will not rebound like that of the rest of the country because it can’t come back around since there was never really any jobs here in the first place. The so called HOT job market in Arizona was one of the more elaborate schemes coming out of Arizona which was pioneered, abused, and a success story for many Realtors around the state. It was simple, but it worked – create a false job market, persuade people to relocate to Arizona, and then sell them a home. The result was thousands upon thousands of people who made the voyage to Phoenix in the hunt for a piece of this bogus job market. So many people moved out here thinking good jobs were abundant, bought homes, and then could never find work. Want a good job, maybe even a career? You probably want to avoid Arizona, unless you want to push shopping carts around while it is 117 degrees outside.
Arizona’s Escalating Violence/Gang Activity/Drugs – they say crime is going down in Arizona, but picking up a newspaper, watching the news, or just keeping an eye on what is going on around you would tell you otherwise. The crimes out here seem to get crazier and more intense every year. Arizona criminals are desperate and will go after anyone and everyone including kids, the elderly, cops, the homeless, and even your pets. Fanatical crimes happen everywhere in Arizona from the white trash trailer parks to the illegal ridden apartments to the so-called affluent area of North Scottsdale. Drugs are all over the place as well, and what were once normal people will now do anything to get their fix. The schools out here can’t brag about the education your children are getting, but they do offer great exposure to gang activity and hard drugs. The number of gangs is on the rise across Phoenix, and the bulk of it is originating from our friends down South. Drug, human, and weapon smuggling is commonplace in Arizona and something you probably don’t want to get in the middle of. The most alarming part about all the violence and crime in Arizona is that it is only going to get worse as more illegals creep in, more people lose their jobs and houses, and the meth use continues to rise. It is quite the situation out here and it is definitely not the same everywhere else.
Still think Arizona is exactly or close to being like anywhere else? Think again.
Not a chance. Do other states share some of the similar problems? Absolutely. Do other states have their own issues to deal with? They sure do. How many other states are stuck with permanent economic and social issues? Not many. Could it be the economy? Elsewhere, yes – in Arizona, not really. Is it just that the future for Arizona and its residents doesn’t sound all that appealing? Probably.
Anyone who really believes that the problems we are experiencing in Arizona are ‘the same as everywhere else’ either has never left the state of Arizona, has been stuck here so long that the heat has left them with no rational thought left, or is just ignorant to what is really going on around them. Look around you – most of these issues found here are not plaguing the rest of the country. Arizona does share some similar struggles with the rest of the nation, but the main difference is the rest of the country will probably recover at some point. Three of Arizona’s major struggles which will continue for the foreseeable future include the housing market, job market, and increasing violence. I’ll keep it pleasant and much, much shorter by leaving the weather, schools, residents, drivers, traffic, and lack of things to do out of this one.
Arizona’s Housing Market – finished. I really don’t think there is a simpler way to describe how the real estate market is going to continue playing out here in the coming years. The growth over the last 10 years fueled a real estate boom like something never seen before. Brand new developments went up all over the Phoenix area and each new development managed to get farther and farther away from the center of this mess. The homes continued to go up, but the population growth did not. The homes became larger, more feature packed, and pricier, but the number of unemployed and underemployed in Arizona increased. Arizona now struggles with tons of vacant homes, foreclosures galore, and a population struggling just to make rent. Who is going to buy these houses now? Arizona has always relied on growth to keep the bulk of its economy moving along, but what happens now as the growth continues to go down? More foreclosures and extremely cheap housing for anyone dumb enough to still move out here. Investors will certainly be shopping around for the best bargains, but might be in for quite a surprise when they realize nobody wants their home or they have to accept Pesos just to get someone to rent their home. I’ve said it before, and it needs to be said again – avoid the Arizona housing market all together unless you plan on staying for a very, very long time.
Arizona’s Job Market – almost non-existent with the exception of the retail, call center, and fast food industries. Even the construction jobs have vanished since we have vacant homes, offices, and strip malls for years to come. It will be interesting to see how the restaurant and service industry fare in Arizona since disposable income is just another thing running dry out here in the desert. Arizona’s job market will not rebound like that of the rest of the country because it can’t come back around since there was never really any jobs here in the first place. The so called HOT job market in Arizona was one of the more elaborate schemes coming out of Arizona which was pioneered, abused, and a success story for many Realtors around the state. It was simple, but it worked – create a false job market, persuade people to relocate to Arizona, and then sell them a home. The result was thousands upon thousands of people who made the voyage to Phoenix in the hunt for a piece of this bogus job market. So many people moved out here thinking good jobs were abundant, bought homes, and then could never find work. Want a good job, maybe even a career? You probably want to avoid Arizona, unless you want to push shopping carts around while it is 117 degrees outside.
Arizona’s Escalating Violence/Gang Activity/Drugs – they say crime is going down in Arizona, but picking up a newspaper, watching the news, or just keeping an eye on what is going on around you would tell you otherwise. The crimes out here seem to get crazier and more intense every year. Arizona criminals are desperate and will go after anyone and everyone including kids, the elderly, cops, the homeless, and even your pets. Fanatical crimes happen everywhere in Arizona from the white trash trailer parks to the illegal ridden apartments to the so-called affluent area of North Scottsdale. Drugs are all over the place as well, and what were once normal people will now do anything to get their fix. The schools out here can’t brag about the education your children are getting, but they do offer great exposure to gang activity and hard drugs. The number of gangs is on the rise across Phoenix, and the bulk of it is originating from our friends down South. Drug, human, and weapon smuggling is commonplace in Arizona and something you probably don’t want to get in the middle of. The most alarming part about all the violence and crime in Arizona is that it is only going to get worse as more illegals creep in, more people lose their jobs and houses, and the meth use continues to rise. It is quite the situation out here and it is definitely not the same everywhere else.
Still think Arizona is exactly or close to being like anywhere else? Think again.
Ten Reasons why Arizona Sucks
10. Overcrowded – there is already far too many people packed into the Valley. Everyone who moves here just adds one more car on the road, more pollution, and increased commute times for everyone. Do you really want to be surrounded by traffic and smog as well?
9. Culture – what culture? The majority of Arizona residents spend their days and nights getting black out drunk. There’s not much else going on. Enough said.
8. The people – liars, thieves, illegals, con-artists, white trash, felons, 30k millionaires, fakes, and everyone else who moved here hoping to blend in. Arizona is filled with a number of low class individuals, and it shows in every aspect of day-to-day life. The people here are generally rude, arrogant, unfriendly, and not even worth dealing with.
7. Schools – Arizona public schools consistently rank just about dead last in every ranking done across the country. These schools are under-funded, over-crowded, and teachers are underpaid. More on Arizona schools later.
6.Job Market – everyone always says there are plenty of jobs across the Valley. That is, if you want to work in a call center or sell used cars or work for the fast food industry. There are very few corporate, white-collar positions in the Valley and this will not be changing anytime soon
5. Crime – the crime in Arizona is continually getting worse and absolutely nothing is being done about it. Don’t forget that pulling over the guy for going 5 miles over the speed limit is more important than catching the real criminals who will rob you at gunpoint or break into your house while you are there.
4. Transit system - it is so fucking hard to get some where on the bus. Also, if you are not in Tempe the bus's stop to fucking early.
3. Tax code- Workers in Arizona are taxed to death
2. Economy – let’s face it Arizona’s economy is sinking, and sinking fast. Arizona’s economy was almost solely tied to the real estate market and with that crashing down, what is everyone going to do? The recent housing crash will end up affecting every Valley resident for years to come and then some. Unlike most areas, Arizona has nothing to fall back on and who really knows what will become of the Valley and its people in the coming years.
1. Republicans - Face this is a red state, so if you are poor or have no health insurance this state is not the one for you. Fuck too many republicans
9. Culture – what culture? The majority of Arizona residents spend their days and nights getting black out drunk. There’s not much else going on. Enough said.
8. The people – liars, thieves, illegals, con-artists, white trash, felons, 30k millionaires, fakes, and everyone else who moved here hoping to blend in. Arizona is filled with a number of low class individuals, and it shows in every aspect of day-to-day life. The people here are generally rude, arrogant, unfriendly, and not even worth dealing with.
7. Schools – Arizona public schools consistently rank just about dead last in every ranking done across the country. These schools are under-funded, over-crowded, and teachers are underpaid. More on Arizona schools later.
6.Job Market – everyone always says there are plenty of jobs across the Valley. That is, if you want to work in a call center or sell used cars or work for the fast food industry. There are very few corporate, white-collar positions in the Valley and this will not be changing anytime soon
5. Crime – the crime in Arizona is continually getting worse and absolutely nothing is being done about it. Don’t forget that pulling over the guy for going 5 miles over the speed limit is more important than catching the real criminals who will rob you at gunpoint or break into your house while you are there.
4. Transit system - it is so fucking hard to get some where on the bus. Also, if you are not in Tempe the bus's stop to fucking early.
3. Tax code- Workers in Arizona are taxed to death
2. Economy – let’s face it Arizona’s economy is sinking, and sinking fast. Arizona’s economy was almost solely tied to the real estate market and with that crashing down, what is everyone going to do? The recent housing crash will end up affecting every Valley resident for years to come and then some. Unlike most areas, Arizona has nothing to fall back on and who really knows what will become of the Valley and its people in the coming years.
1. Republicans - Face this is a red state, so if you are poor or have no health insurance this state is not the one for you. Fuck too many republicans
Saturday, November 6, 2010
Fuck the GOP it is time for a change
Come on, Arizona it is time to wake-up. With the Arizona GOP holding control of the state for nearly almost of Arizona existence it is time for a major change. The Arizona GOP do not have the interest of the people they are all for themselves but, when the carmars are on it is a different story. Also, the Arizona has a history of racism. Our elected officials are lacking in every aspect that makes a politician a politician, this means that see us only as a game. Here in Arizona the people do not get the right repetition, big business has it's hands all of the Arizona GOP pockets books. So, this meas that Arizona will continue to fall at the bottom of everything like, health care education and the over all moral of the state. I have a real strong feeling that the jail population will continue to raise because Arizona spends more money putting people in jail than education, a figure that makes me sick to my stomach. Here in Arizona if you call your yourself a Republican you must look your self in the mirror and figure out what you really want because budget cuts and spending do not mix. As I finish Jan Brewer will send us pack to times were the poor is hurting more hints my opinion that crime will raise. However, it is on us to hold our elected figures to a HIGHER STANDARDS, and fuck the tea party racism is not need in 2010 and be yon, power to the people or it is time to start taking our state back, because the GOP is the main problem that has put us in the major whole that we are currently in. Fuck the GOP more the same is lame and you can't brainwash a true old g
Thursday, November 4, 2010
BoomBox Country 11-4-10
Easton Corbin - A Little More Country Than That
Billy Currington - That's How Country Boys Roll
Jason Aldean- My Kinda of Party
Trace Adkins - Anit another love song
Darius Rucker -Come back song
Darius Rucker- alright
Billy Currington- pretty good at drinking beer
Blake Shelton - the more i drink
Joe Nichols - Gimmie That Girl
Joe Nichols - Tequila Makes Her Clothes Fall Off
Billy Currington - That's How Country Boys Roll
Jason Aldean- My Kinda of Party
Trace Adkins - Anit another love song
Darius Rucker -Come back song
Darius Rucker- alright
Billy Currington- pretty good at drinking beer
Blake Shelton - the more i drink
Joe Nichols - Gimmie That Girl
Joe Nichols - Tequila Makes Her Clothes Fall Off
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