Raising Obama

Time Magazine has a great article that sheds some light on the upbringing of Barack Obama. It ties in well with his ‘More Perfect Union” speech and “Dreams From My Father” book.

I suggest you read it.

Get that dirt off your shoulder

Cool, calm and collective.

Websites that I like

These are a few of my favorites outside the usual (myspace, youtube, nba/nfl/mbl.com. espn etc.)

The Drudge Report: Although conservative, they cover everything in the political and current event world, leaving no stone unturned. I read this daily.

The New York Times: Need I say more?

With Leather: Hillarious sports blog about the idiots in sports.

Ball Hype: Links to every cool story/video in the wide world of sports.

Bill Simmons: One of my favorite writers for ESPN. His column is always worth reading.

Hype Beast: Fresh streetwear/sneaker blog

High Snobiety: See Hypebeast

Nike Talk: If you are able to get past all of the douche bags, it can be informative . I usually check for the release dates of whatever shoes I want and then bounce.

Digital Gravel: Great online store.

KarmaLoop: See DG.

Pick Your Shoes: Every shoe that you would ever want resides here. They’re pricey though.

Hip Hop Game: The most recent interviews, songs and stories in the world of hip-hop.

Stuff White People Like: Hillarious!

The Fail Blog: See “Stuff White People Like.”

Perez Hilton: Sure he’s a douche, but celebrity gossip and fuck-ups are a guilty pleasure of mine.

What Would Tyler Durden Do? Basically a better, more satirical version of Perez.

Film Drunk: Film news, insight and opinions brought to you by the same people who write With Leather and WWTDD.

Nintendo 8: Every Nintendo game known to man. I just beat Contra for the first time since I was a kid. (up, up, down, down, left, right, left, right, a, b, start)

Facts of Life: Fuck you Cody.

City Weekly: I’m not a huge fan of their writers or opinions, but they do keep me up to date on the haps of SLC.

IMDB: Everything about movies. Everything.

College Humor: Immaturity at it’s finest

Ebaums World: See College Humor. I really am 6 at heart

If any of you have sites that may relate to these, and aid in me wasting me free time, I urge you to participate and share.

“A more perfect union”

Obama once again proves why he is getting my vote.

Congratulations and thank you Barack for delivering my generations “I have a dream.”

YES WE CAN!

After what has been the equivalent of a 12 round heavyweight title fight, Barack Obama just landed the hardest punch so far. After last nights HUGE wins in MD, DC and VA Obama now leads Sen. Hillary Clinton in delegates needed for Democratic nomination. Due to the knockdown we will score this round 10-8 in favor of Obama.

Interesting note, VA has not been won by a Democrat since Truman. Times they are a changin’.

Lastly, the icing on the cake has to be that my man won himself an Oscar on Sunday for his spoken word poetry. Not even Al Gore could pull off something like this.

*Note to self – Put this at the top of your reading list.

Awwww…. The sweet smell of victory.

I’ll actually trump Cube because I have had one hell of a good week.

After drudging nervously throughout the last few weeks, I woke up this morning (after my ritual procrastination, bitching and condemnation of the morning) feeling- for the lack of a better phrase -pretty damn good. Things have been going my way for about the last 7 days, and I believe a personal reflection/gloating period is necessary.

The real highlight to this recent turn in luck was, of course, The New York Football Giants pulling off the miracle upset of the then untouchable New England Patriots. Oh how sweet it is ladies and gentleman! As a fan there is nothing better than watching your team win a championship, let alone the Superbowl in the fashion that it happened. Congratulations Tiki, way to be the NFL’s Patrick Ewing. I’m sure that Good Morning America microphone feels better than a ring anyway.

The victory still feels surreal. If someone would have told me this time last year that the Giants would win the Superbowl, and Eli Manning would be the MVP. I would have spit in their face. Needless to say I didn’t see it happening, but I will bask nonetheless.

Secondly came Super Tuesday, and for me the results were fantastic. On the republican side Romney and Huckabee got taken outside by the shed and beat like they stole something. I am far from a fan from any of the Republican candidates (except maybe Ron Paul) but this put a smile on my face. Additionally I read today that Mitt Romney has officially dropped out the race. Que Hallelujah now! I know Mccain is not much better, but the fact that I no longer have to see Romney’s face plastered all over the media, especially in the state of Utah, will help balance my erratic behavior somewhat.

More importantly however, was the success that my man Obama achieved. I know Clinton has the edge in committed delegates due to her wins in MA, NY and CA, but the fact that Obama won more states and electorally delegates than Clinton is a major positive. This has put Obama is a very extraordinary position, due to the fact that Florida, Texas, Viriginia and Washington all have not voted yet, those votes could put him over the top. Whats even more positive is that Obama has dominated the South (minus Arkansas) so the future looks bright.

Furthermore the Jazz have reeled off 10 straight wins (including an OT nail biter last night in Denver). Hollinger has the Jazz at number 2 in his power rankings, which is unprecedented, but the numbers don’t lie. The bench is completely healthy, Deron, AK and Booze are firing on all cylinders, and Kyle (KY) Korver might be playing the best ball of his career during this stretch. The trade for Korver is becoming strikingly similar to the Jeff Malone for Hornacek swap in the 90’s. Hopefully with a little more positive result (NBA championship). With Sacramento, Chicago and Seattle as our next 3 games, I don’t see the Jazz losing until after the All-Star break. Yes!

To stay on the basketball tip, “The Big Shaqtus” (thaks Dan Patrick) just touched down in Phoenix. HAHAHAHAHAHA!!! This has to be one of the riskiest/dumbest trades in recent history. Thank God for knee-jerk reactions (LA getting Gasol, Jazz getting Korver). Here’s my list of why this is great.

1) Shaq is old, fat and injury prone. The Suns acquired him for interior defense, which over the last few years he has shown none of. He can’t jump at all anymore, but I guess he will take up space. Amare Stoudemire is one of the worst defenders in the game, therefore any team with a 1-2 scoring punch (ie Boozer and Memo, McDyess and Sheed) will have a field day with these two. Funny that the Suns were the 11th best defensive team this year.

2) Shaq throws off the dynamic of this team. The season is more than half over, the Suns have the West’s best record and they want change?!?! I know people believe they can’t win in the playoffs (Jim Mora), but that assumption is ludicrous! The only reason the Suns aren’t the reigning NBA Champions is because they got screwed in the San Antonio series. Shaq will post his fat-ass on the blocks therefore eliminating the Steve Nash/Amare high pick and roll as well as having Nash getting assists by having Marion and others slash to the basket, or spreading the floor. Marion was an eighty-plus percent free throw shooter, Shaq is 48% this year. Marion also averages more mpg, assists, rebounds (wow) and points.

3) Shaq’s contract is ridiculous. $20 mil over the next two seasons. I’m sure Shaq will eat that, alongside a large pizza, hot wings, cinnamon dips, brownies, ice cream and a 6 liter bottle of Root Beer.

4) The Suns are now one of the oldest teams in the league. Shaq is in his mid 30’s along with Nash and Grant Hill (who The Suns will now be relying on as their everyday small forward. HA!). The window for this team to win a championship has now been closed a considerable amount. This is perfect for the Jazz, because once Boozer and Williams hit their prime (late 20’s) The Suns will no longer be a factor in the west!

Thanks Steve Kerr, keep living off that old bullshit (damn i’m clever).

Lastly, Facts just uploaded the lead single on myspace for our album “Kiss the Ring” called “The Game” and we are getting a huge response. We’re hitting the studio the next few weeks and after that the album will be completely recorded, and will be out by March. The release show will be next level and I couldn’t be more excited.

Here’s the official tracklist.

1. The Game – Prod. Brisk
2. Kiss the Ring – Prod. Brisk
3. Triple R (Johnny Utah solo) – Skinwalker
4. Stockton 2 Brockton (Facts feat Higgenz & Rhyminal) – prod. Scarecrow
5. Lock & Load – prod. Abacus
6. This Wouldn’t Last – prod. Definit
7. Wake Up – prod. Skinwalker
8. Nip Tuck – prod. Domingo
9. The Anthem – prod. Skinwalker
10. One 4 The money (interlude) – prod. P-Nyce
11. Raise the Stakes (REMIX feat. Enee1) – prod. Brisk
12. Sin City – prod. Domingo
13. Baby (You & Me) – prod. Handsome Hands
14. You know the name (featuring Ebay Jamil) – prod. Scarecrow
15. Salt City 2 (feat. Concise Kil, Adverse, Den of the Flow, Sam Eye Am, Demise, Enee-1)- prod. Iggy Chop

I’m loving the position I’m in, though I know all good things come to an end. Hopefully later than sooner.

Super Tuesday….

I’m about to go hit the polls. After stumbling through my daily myspace routine I read this bulletin posted by Q-Tip. He does a great job describing his stance (as well as mine) and why he is endorsing Obama. Thanks Q, you just saved me 15 minutes of typing.

Enjoy.

We are in the midst of a very important time in our history. The world is fixated on an American election for many obvious reasons.

Abroad, young Americans are dying in a poorly managed and ill-conceived war. America’s prestige as a moral leader has suffered as a result of a divisive approach to foreign policy. Unfair trade practices have resulted in the loss of countless jobs and toxic products for children have reached our shores.

Untold millions are unable to pay their mortgages and afford the cost of gas. Global warming and its effects are spreading at an unchecked pace, and special interests have frozen the nation’s governance into inaction. Given this disturbing climate at home and abroad, it is imperative that we break out of old habits and politics as usual. It is time we endorse real change. This is why I endorse Senator Barack Obama for President.

I have been blessed with the opportunity to be apart of a great American culture with the Hip Hop movement. The music that I created was inspired by fresh, new ideas in expression. I have always strived to let that sentiment live in my music. Hip Hop continues to be a mighty voice for the disenfranchised, the disillusioned and poor. Senator Obama offers the best opportunities for all of us who fit these descriptions. A large amount of us still remain unregistered to vote, and Barack Obama not only represents unification of our communities by his presidential platform but the ignition of the light that remains untouched by any political figure.

Hip Hop culture was the product of the impoverished who found strength and solace in this music phenomenon. It is a transformational art form born of neighborhoods where crime and drugs was on the rise and self-esteem was sinking. The education system was failing, and the odds were against us. But as a people, we persevered. I know about having true substance, new ideas and a desire for fundamental change like Senator Obama. This is not an emotional decision, although I am moved by Obama’s American story. I am endorsing Barack Obama because I feel that we can benefit greatly from a leader that offers sound judgment and experience rooted in the lives of real people. We can change our economy. We can change our health care. We can change the course of the Iraq war. We can change our neighbor’s minds about nuclear weapons. The only way we can have this renaissance is with the Senator from Illinois as President of the United States. We are on the brink of moving past our stigmas and preconceived thoughts to make a substantive decision for change. The change is Barack Obama.

Obama for ‘08

I feel that, like most Americans, I have been much too apathetic about following the presidential race. My goal for myself in the last few weeks is to get myself caught up on the candidates. Luckily this semester I have had more down time than usual, which has been fantastic in the sense of me attaining this goal. I have done a lot of reading, and so far, my decision is leaning towards Barack Obama. The more I read and research, the more I am continually impressed.

I agree with the high majority of his stances on the major issues of this election. Especially his stances on health care, the economy, foreign policy, and most importantly, the war in Iraq. You can read about those here.

I understand the argument of Obama being too inexperienced to be president, but I strongly disagree. It is my opinion that the United States need a fresh start, and Obama is the man for that job. I forgot the exact quote from Thomas Jefferson but it was something along the lines that the more a man is involved in politics a certain corruption is inevitable and continuously grows. Therefore, along with other factors, I think his inexperience is not a valid argument, and he is the best candidate to represent my vote.

*Update* I am even more excited knowing that Obama has all but wrapped up the Democratic nomination. With endorsements from several power figures including Oprah and now Ted Kennedy, it looks as if he really could win. Ted Kennedy may not have a squeaky clean past, but he’s a still a powerful man with some political sway. Also, after all the bashing Hillary has done I have a feeling that John Edwards will be his running mate. That’s a tandem that I can stand behind.

I do find it odd however that the final race is going to be between a black man and a Mormon. America certainly is changing, and if Obama wins, I believe it’s for the better.

Thanks Facts…. and Obey.