Play-Acting

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Jaded cynical attitudes can be deadening.

I ran into an acquaintance from high-school a few days back. Notice I wrote “acquaintance” … notice I wrote “High-School”.

I’ve been away from high-school for a minute, to give you an idea how long that’s been, my transcript reads “Gender: Male Race: Negro”

{Stepping Away for a Minute}

In school I was reserved, not shy or an introvert but more selective about whom I gave the business to socialize with. I was an average athlete good at most but never excelled. My theory on the self-reliance and independence is associated with growing up in a house that was one of two houses on a block where the only other structure was a church. I believe you are a product of your environment and I am just like the house I grew up in self-sustained and independent.

{Now I’m Back}

Of Mr. Play Actor and others who seem to hold onto their “self-proclaimed” glory days and awareness that all the world is a stage, fully embracing the various opportunities for role-playing. People with low self-esteem are caught in powerful emotional beliefs about themselves. No I didn’t make the varsity basketball team; No I’m not still in a marching band; no I’m not still dating Halle Berry. Man that was years ago. However, Mr.TramueL™ see’s through your mask. These things are all said in an effort to BIG you up. The conversation never progresses past sh*t that we used to do and I keep getting pulled back to the future … Me: “Oh, that’s great man, the little dance group didn’t work out for you? That’s okay cause’ you’re the night manager at McDonald's now huh? That’s good, real good.” People with low self-esteem often look desperately for evidence that they're good. You don’t have to put others down to bring yourself up.

“Welcome to McDonalds may I take your order please?” Yes, I would like for you to have the rewards of self-knowledge.

Do As I Say Not As I Do

☛ Beware of competition and jealousies.

☛ Don’t hold on to your pain.

☛ Drop the mask.

Humor Abounding

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I get myself into trouble sometimes because I use humor, sarcasm and witty snap backs usually to express some critical comment. My bio is true ...

"Sometimes nit-picky & critical, “secretly” feeling he handles matters better than others" 

How ironic.

Do As I Say Not As I Do

Know When To Be Serious And When To Let Up

Don’t Let Teasing Get Out Of Hand

Beware Of Third-Party Rivalries

Act With Consideration To All

Barbershop Philosophy

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Another morning in the Barber Shop.

For as long as I can remember the neighborhood barber shop has been a community gathering place. People who visit for a haircut also have the benefit of the in-between talks during the hair cutting sessions. What I like to call "Barbershop Philosophy". The rational inquiry into the principles and truths of being, nature, knowledge, conduct, etc. of course from the black perspective.


THE BARBERS

The Owner / Barber

Wouldn't know it to look at him but this guy is filthy! As in filthy rich. Nice house owns a small real estate firm, summer house & used auto-dealership in Jamaica. They say you are a product of your environment … well he has a lil' bit of each of the barbers, characters and customers rolled up in his personality. The owner is very nice with the clippers, to him haircutting is an art and has to be mastered like any other profession. Once you rise up from the chair you feel as if your personality has been polished. You stand a lil' taller and speak a lil' louder.

The Reverend

Never has any customers but prominently post his shop hours. He also runs auto-parts for Napa. {Note to Rev this sign is 10 years old}

The Homey

"Ayo! What's up son?" Better city in America? According to Homey … not fucking likely. That's right Homey is from NYC the transplant that cut hair out of his home for 10 years came down south to school these country ninjas in the art of barbering. Took him 3 years to get licensed but Ayo son! … He did it his way.

The First Chair

Fresh out of Clown Barber College, he ends up with the walk-ins and the small kids. He's nice with the clippers, although I did see him patch a dude up once. {Keep practicing on those small kids}

THE CHARACTERS

The Coach

No one knows what he actually coaches, he has on the gear, looks the part and he just stops by in between practices (which happen to be year round). You can't leave without hearing one of his motivational quotes. "Big B, listen my man before you go … If everything seems to be going well, you obviously do not know what the hell is going on."

The Retiree

Yep, meet Mr. Me Too. He will not be outdone. You've run with the bulls in Spain? Well he's run butt naked with the lions in the Serengeti. Forgot a little piece of the city's history? It's okay; he remembers the city when it was just a dirt road.

The Hustle Man

You never see him actually in the chair, but his hair is always cut. Not your average "hustler" he's not about the illegal acts, but about anything that will make him money. He'll shampoo your carpet if you rent the machine, pick him up and drop him off at the barber shop when he's through. His favorite line … "I know a guy" and he will invent a word for anything*

The Player: "What's up fam!? Man, I just lost a hubcap" {Did this ninja say hubcap? Where tha' 22's at playboy?}

Hustle Man: "I know a guy that can get you 4 brand new capo's* for the cost of one." {What the eff' is a capo?}

The Player

This guy. Always looking in the mirror at himself before, after & during his cut. The thought bubble above his head reads ..."Man I'm so attractive" He actually believes any woman would be blown away if they sat down and had a chat and got to know him.

THE CUSTOMERS

The Soccer Dad

So busy with family stuff, I mean if he could just clone himself life would be grand. "I gotta get outta here ya'll lil' Nathaniel William Edward Burghardt Du Bois III has T-Ball practice and I have choir practice at the church.

The Gay Guy

You never know he's in the shop cause his head is buried in his iPhone. I always admire what he has on, great style ~ {No Homo} & Ohhh Mmm Gee the whip! CLS5500! When he's done & drives that thang' *Pause* out of the parking lot all heads *Supa Pause* turn and this normally starts the discussion on cars.

The Educated Brotha' From the Bank

Comes in on his lunch break with the same bullisht every time. "How many I got in front of me?" Like his life is much more important than ours. Hustle Man likes to eff with him.

Hustle Man: "Ayo Educated Brotha' From the bank? You work for Bank of America right? What branch do you work at?"

Educated Brotha' From the Bank: "I've told you that I work in Commercial Mortgage Backed Securities not at any of the retail branches."

Hustle Man: "My bad, let me get a loan then?" {Shop erupts in laughter}

The Female

Comes in to get her eyebrows arched and neckline shaped. I think she's crushing on homey.

THE DISCUSSION TOPICS

Sports

Conversations about home town heroes like Chris Leak and why none of the NFL teams picked him up. The Bobcats, The Panthers, Independence High football dominance. Everyone in the shop is a Sports Analyst giving their take. The sports conversation is generally tame but it is without fail. "Well you know he dating that white girl" … which takes us into the next discussion topic

Women / Sex / Marriage / Relationships

This topic brings out the comedians.

On Women

Physical Properties: Found in various states from virgin metal to common ore.

Chemical Properties: Most powerful money reducing agent known to man.

Common Uses: Very effective cleaning agent.

Hazards: Illegal to possess more than one, although several can be maintained at different locations as long as specimens do not come into direct contact with each other.

Religion

No arguments or heated discussions here, faith is respected in the shop, where the conversation lives is the "service" of the church and the role it plays in the community concerning; drugs, homelessness, outreach and youth services. Always surprised at how well folk know the Bible or Qur'an. The interpretation is where it gets lost. The most revisited topic tithing; if you should at all, what the bible says, ten percent before or after taxes? {Never ending debate. I've been going there for 10 years & this never gets old to us.}

Politics

Currently "we on that" Health Care debate. Always on topic … What's missing from the debate, which has the better philosophy and is Michelle & Barack breaking in every room in the White House.

Cars

The Charlotte International Auto Show was last week and "we on that" Porsche Panamera



This list is not even close to half of the characters, personalities and topics discussed in the Barbershop. I didn't mention the fish fry lady or the bootleg music and dvd hustlers. They are out there in yo' shop!

Who are some of the characters at your shop & what they be philosophizing bout'?

Check out this video directed by Nelson George A Barber's Tale

Ebb & Flow

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I ljust reviewed my new followers and wondered if I would offend some of them cause' I'm not using Twitter for personal branding or to promote a product or service (Got a business page for that). It's just a creative outlet for me. Trust me I would rather be "one nighting" women. I can be serious, I can be funny, I can be technical, I can be all things at any given time #EgoFormation.

Then I thought it's Eff'em Friday's!

  • Eff them for using autobots to find new followers
  • Eff them for unfollowing me when they realize the bot that bought me to them was on some ol' next isht cause it didn't read all of my tweet and instead used some keywords
  • Eff'em cause I start hitting the block button from jump, I'ont owe you anything

I use my powers for good not evil ... now go spread the word.

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On Who’s Terms?

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I played the love doctor again today, well rather this time I played a male nurse and just listened while I took the patient's blood pressure and checked their heart beat allowing two of my female friends {Definition: (Fe)male: Male with iron added, for greater strength, ductility, and magnetism} to wheel and parry about what somebody didn't do for them Blah, Blah, Blah ~

On the Married Couple

Whether consciously or unconsciously they've crafted a set of rules for themselves. If I were a fly on the wall, I would probably comment on why they ain't invite me to the reception notice a common theme in their relationship: Who will impose ideas and who will follow them? Though they generally get along well, and have a lot of respect for each other, no kids in the house so they probably have lots of sex they have different ideas as to what a relationship / marriage should be all about. Thus the focus here is the issue of what shared ideology will work for them.

Do as I say, not as I do:

✍ Learn to compromise without resentment, swallow your pride occasionally and work for the common cause.

On the Friend Guy Friend Girl Couple

Their focus is power, whether the challenge is to seize it, exercise it, or give it up. I've noticed a spiritual evolution process; first striving for and grasping power, then learning more about themselves and their relationship and finally letting go of power in favor of higher ends. They may have to acknowledge their social or personal power and live with it for a while before they can give it up. Ayo! social & personal power I'mma let you finish but the power of love is one of the greatest powers of all time! Along the way they may come to realize it and understand that it should not be given up but given away and shared with others freely.

Do as I say, not as I do:

✍ Don't get carried away by power, seek your own path, simple acts of kindness can be very strong.

Mr.TramueL is a four letter word beginning with L and ending in E enabler. ☛ Stay on your toes kids, L O V E

Two Fingers, One Word ~

Conversation With Myself

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(Me) Hey Mr.TramueL! How are you doing today?! 

(Myself) No complaints, just maintaining.

(Me) True ... true. You sound a bit unnerved wanna talk about it?

(Myself) Thanks ... but I'm good

(Me) Okay cool but here is some advice:

"Do as I say not as I do" 

Learn to temper your intensity. By understanding yourself better, you will be less at the mercy of your moods. Work on improving social relationships and continue to befriend others. Beware of any tendencies to close yourself off. Allow your warm and loving side full rein and keep your heart open.

Needing To Be Needed

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My determination to always be at my best is typically magnified in most of my relationships granting me little rest. However when that phone call, e-mail or text message comes with those famous words "Hey, What you doing. Guess What?"

… I get all emotional (I'mma keep it short. I don't want another another feminine moment. I can't stand the smell of that night blooming jasmine.)

They picked me! They could have chosen anyone but they chose me! It feels good when I am able to impart my impractical wisdumb upon the earth.


Do as I say not as I do
Be aware of your effect on others.

Do not exhaust yourself in pursuit of the latest trend.

Seek traditional values.

*Remember a house can not be united with it's brothers, sisters, mamas, daddies, cousins, aunts, uncles, friends, boos, baby daddies, baby mamas, friend girls and friend guys divided. Now get out there and Unite!

Deep Feelings

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Before I go to sleep ... I wanted to go hard & bang this out. *Pause* 

I've secretly held back feelings concerning someone and a particular occurrence in their life. Thought it may have been a little judgemental. (Although most of you who know me know that I'm right 99.9% of the time)

Do as I say, not as I do:
Judgements can be as unfair as the actions or attitudes they condemn.

» Be more accepting.
» Try to be honest about yourself

"YOUR WEEKLY TOP TEN"...Created By Lena "The Art Diva" ( The Post-Halloween Edition)

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"The Top Ten Celebrity Masks That Were Too Scary For Even Halloween” Written & illustrated By Lena Hopkins-Jackson

10. “The O.J. Simpson mask” ..... Imagine you’re passing out the Hershey’s Kisses and Skittles when who should pop up at your front door?...The Juice! If he asks for candy apples and jelly beans It’s just a costume, relax... BUT if the conversation turns to anything about the whereabouts of stolen golf clubs, Heisman trophies or White-b@tches-who don’t-appreciate-nuthin’-you-do….then you better run Forrest run like a Buffalo Bill running back, that’s O.J.!

9. “The Joan Rivers mask”...… Older than the Mummy and almost as scary, I can’t imagine anything more frightening than a Joan Rivers look-alike withering away at my door. If she asks for chocolate bars and lollipops, it’s all good but if she starts demanding botox shots and screaming for her daughter Melissa to slide her dentures back in, slam the door and call the "National Enquirer" QUICK!
( ..and um, to be on the safe side…Medic Alert!)

8. “The Wendy Williams mask” … Listening to the “Queen Of All Media” on the radio is one thing, watching her on TV is another…( alarming at first, but it gets easier with time) BUT seeing her turn up on your front porch saying “How YOU Doin’?” ;looking like a cross between Ru Paul and Janice the guitar player from the Muppet show could be downright spooky! Now I ain’t sayin’ Wendy is a man but I heard she was a stunt double for the Wayans brothers in the movie “White Chicks”, but they dropped for being too masculine, ( insert snare drum here: buh-dum-dum-ttttttttt!)

7. “The Suge Knight mask”… Um, need I say more?

6. “The Amy Winehouse mask”…I don’t care how many music awards this broad has, Amy Winehouse’s Crystal-Meth face is not one I want to ever see up close and personal, mask or the real thing. Ain’t nuthin’ freakier than a crackhead-wino chick showing up on your doorstep… AND I’m convinced she hides her stash in that nasty, bee-hive hairstyle…anybody showing up at your house even dressed like her ought-ta’ be frisked for contraband.

5. “The Bill O’Reilly mask”…. Now-a-days it doesn’t get much scarier than Fox news; especially watching the liver spots and jowly rolls of chin fat under Bill O’Reilly’s face. Although I can’t imagine anyone wanting to wear a Bill O’Reilly face mask, the only thing more ghoulish than his face is his bloated, overrated politics…hmmm, or maybe worse, Rush Limbaugh!

4. “The Octo-Mom mask”….. Outside of the obvious fact that she’s crazy like that glue, seeing the Octo-Mom’s face show up at your door isn’t really all that scary…it’s seeing ALL 14 of her kids showing up wanting candy! That’s more than enough to make me not answer the door!

3. “The Joe Jackson mask”…..Honestly who’s more of a scary, ruthless blood sucker than Michael Jackson’s dad? I sure wouldn’t want to see him or anyone looking like him at my crib and If you see him messing with his belt buckle…slam the door and run NOW! We’ve all seen the beginning of “The Jacksons: An American Dream”, it explained a lot!

2. “The Sarah Palin Mask” …Just when you thought it was safe to watch ice-hockey again….. imagine Sarah Palin; now that she’s free of her Governor of Alaska duties actually skatin’ up to your doorstep.... AND with “Palin For President In 2012” shirts too! ( an idea even colder than the state she used to rep, brrrrrrrrrr)

..And the number one celebrity mask too scary for even Halloween is..( drum roll please)….

“The John McCain Mask”… and you thought the crypt-keeper was dead after HBO canceled his show, naw, he just went into politics! John McCain will never stop: a bunch of stinkin’ Vietcong couldn’t do it, a broke-down leg couldn’t do it, and since the American public had the audacity to vote “That One” into office to be president, I hear he’s been plotting his revenge ever since...( even Republicans are scared!) Treat him or any look-a-like as you would any other Zombie and bolt the door!
He told us after his first run for office he’d be back…BELIEVE HIM!

YOUR WEEKLY TOP TEN QUESTION: Do YOU think Halloween is a pagan evil celebration or harmless fun that you still get a kick out of, just like the kids? Holla'....

 

I Voted for the Black Guy

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The day after the Municipal Elections I just so happened to need a fresh cut so I made my way to the Barbershop. I anticipated lively interchange on the typical shop talk, on Twitter I give it the hash-tag #barbershopphilosphy. This has reached the top trending spot several times. Politics, Religion, Sports and Sex (not necessarily in that order)

On Religion

The topic centered on churches in the community who are here to serve themselves and those who are here to serve the lord. The conversation also focused on serving the homeless vs creating opportunity for the homeless. ☚ But the title of this post is "I voted for the black guy" … let's move on.

On Sex

There was a guy selling Viagra pills for $25 bucks a pop ☚ No pun Intended.

On Sports

Yankees in seven. Kobe vs Lebron. The Bobcats & The Panthers. ☚This one's for North Carolina! ♬ C'mon and raise up ♬ Take your shirt off, twist it 'round yo head ♬ Spin it like a helicopter ♬ North Carolina go on and raise up!

On Politics

Okay, here is where the conversation got heated. It started with a simple question of "Did you vote?" Who knew three words could spark such a heated debate. For those of you not knowing the local mayoral race saw an African-American, Negro, Black Man (Anthony Foxx) run against a Caucasian, White Man (John Lassiter) The Governor's seat was open due to the decision by Mayor Pat McCrory, a Republican, not to seek re-election. Anthony Foxx, a member of the City Council, won the election by a slim margin, becoming the first Democrat elected to lead the city since Harvey Gantt was re-elected in 1985.

Issues with the Black Community:

The debate was not really about race but it was? Huh?? "I voted for Foxx because he was student council President at West Meck." "I voted because he is a democrat." "I would have voted for him because he's black." These statement were not polled by me nor or these any of my answers. I was just an innocent observer. The one Black Republican questioned them … What was Anthony's platform? What are the issues that concern you?

Issues with the White Community:

The debate was not really about race but it was? Huh?? "Ok-now the Dems ☚ Translation(Blacks)have complete control…No one to blame but themselves from this point on." "Charlotte just screwed up and at a time when the city is going down the tubes."

I can't answer for anyone else and what is important for me may not be as important for anyone else. (But it should cause' I'm right 99.9% of the time) I voted for the black guy not because of race but because of the issues that were important to me. I have no doubt that John Lassiter was capable of running this city, the two were dead even on issues they just had different views on how to achieve them.

 

 

A Thought / Feeling Split

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Have you really tried to understand?

No. Okay well why don't you try to mute dissent and turn arguments into conversations. ☚ Not a question ... this is advice.

Look outside your own world

We all get caught up secretly believing that our way is better than others, however,The Merciless God of Perfection doesn't want you to believe there are other ways of viewing things. ☚ Shout out to The One real GOD, his SON & their homeboy the HOLY GHOST cause' they are the only ones you should put your faith in.

Pay attention to the needs of others

Try to keep track of what's going on, be sensitive to telltale signs & don't take things for granted. Think constructively & work to improve relations.

Calm your nerves and center yourself

Don't stick stubbornly to your point of view, go ☠smoke or exercise or do that thing the we all like to do ☚ You scream, I scream, we all scream for ...

☠

  • SURGEON GENERAL'S WARNING: Smoking Causes Lung Cancer, Heart Disease, Emphysema, And May Complicate Pregnancy.
  • SURGEON GENERAL'S WARNING: Quitting Smoking Now Greatly Reduces Serious Risks to Your Health.
  • SURGEON GENERAL'S WARNING: Smoking By Pregnant Women May Result in Fetal Injury, Premature Birth, And Low Birth Weight.
  • SURGEON GENERAL'S WARNING: Cigarette Smoke Contains Carbon Monoxide.

An Imaginative World

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It's sleepy, sleepy time ... thought I'd hip you to some late night hipnipedness.

10-20-2009 1-59-09 AM.avi Watch on Posterous

 

Stay on your side of the bed.
Let others make their own decisions.
Be the best you are capable of being.
Dreams can become realities.