Video Game-Playing Thoughts: Dragon Age: Inquisition (PS4)

November 14, 2018

Ahh. I’m loving this game. I legit only played about 35 minutes for the PS3 version a few years back. Seems to be a pattern with me the past few years: not playing games for long periods of time or giving them any real play-through. Dragon Age: Inquisition is an action role playing game with pause-able fighting via the tactical mode. It’s like a hybrid between full real-time action RPGs (like the Diablo series) and… Read more of: Video Game-Playing Thoughts: Dragon Age: Inquisition (PS4)

2018 Nov 14

Video Game-Playing Thoughts: Final Fantasy Type-0 HD (PS4)

October 20, 2018

Time to get back into Final Fantasy games via the physical copy of Final Fantasy Type-0 i had bought like a year ago from Game Stop. The story and cinematic scenes are engrossing, intense from the moment you hit “New Game”. Death, loss, and blood. Beautiful intro music while credits are rolling. Started playing this with my soon-to-be five-year-old watching. Wanted to see if they would be able to, if it was too violent. The… Read more of: Video Game-Playing Thoughts: Final Fantasy Type-0 HD (PS4)

2018 Oct 20

Some Things to Help While Dealing with Depression

March 20, 2017

Some stuff that has worked (at times) for me over the years when depression lulls hit: Throwing unnecessary things out Cleaning off one’s work desk or work area. Declutter your mind physically—try it, it helps, oddly enough Throwing out stacks of (un)read magazines and newspapers Donating books (gasp!) and clothes ya never wear (like, last time was over a year ago), unless it’s really something of value, like financially or family heirloom-esque Shit, shower, shave; basically, grooming… Read more of: Some Things to Help While Dealing with Depression

2017 Mar 20

Civil, Human Rights ARE NOT a Zero-sum game

February 13, 2017

I need to address this notion that being pro #BlackLivesMatter means you’re denying the lives of other people and segments of life. Nah, bruh. Not how it works. Peep game. Off jump, White (from now on, yt) lives are the already checked box upon signing up for life’s EULA. Black (and Brown and Yellow and Red and…) lives are under custom/advanced settings. Gotta turn those options on while yt lives stay greyed out because (assumed) pillar… Read more of: Civil, Human Rights ARE NOT a Zero-sum game

2017 Feb 13

“New Blacks” & Respectability Politics [short]

June 5, 2015

We have this neologism of folks Pharrell dubbed “New Blacks” tragically crafting themselves as uncanny likenesses of Narcissus. The pool of compliments and encouragement poured by Whites, the lavish reflections gazed upon will be a bowel of New Blacks’ drowning demise, set to a background cacophony of “Wake up!” reminiscent of the end of the Black film School Daze. Sure, y’all have made a few million dollars, tripped or climbed up some ledges and steps… Read more of: “New Blacks” & Respectability Politics [short]

2015 Jun 5

i embody the nomad life

February 10, 2013

Even if you’ve only known me for ten minutes, let alone ten years, you will understand that i live the nomadic lifestyle–vagabond, wanderluster, constant-jaunter, etc. I love being on the move; i dislike staid or static existence. New experiences, new lands, new people are what get me going in the morning–even more so than coffee—and i LOVE coffee. Over the past year and a half, i’ve been introduced and bonded with a tertiary family: the… Read more of: i embody the nomad life

2013 Feb 10

You are not a label

April 2, 2012

I don’t mind labels. I actually like them. A label is just a sticker. It can be removed. It can be moved around. It can stay on indefinitely. Labels and categories are only measures of identification. They make things easier to sort through, to know what might occur. A label is not a scarlet letter branded into your flesh, an Auschwitz tattoo pricked into your arm. People get riled up, proclaiming, “I hate labels!” or… Read more of: You are not a label

2012 Apr 2

thoughts (on relationships) viewed as atoms

March 30, 2012

I mentioned in a post a few weeks ago my intrinsic desire to question everything…to know…to understand. With every encounter…with every conversation…with every word, i attempt to fit each item, each grain of salt into my world, into my psyche, to see if is a perfect match, or with some slight or even drastic maneuvering, it can be a compliment. I cannot fathom the idea of mental atrophy or life stagnancy. These protonic moods and… Read more of: thoughts (on relationships) viewed as atoms

2012 Mar 30

Post-Racial America? Ha!

March 29, 2012

Post-Racial America? Ha! I can’t help but scoff at the notion of this term whenever it’s uttered. We live in a post-racial America in the same vein that god exists: it makes for a cool story, bro—something soothing yet entertaining enough to tell the kids while tucking them in; a story of hope, possible triumph, leaving them with a smile and no ill-thoughts brewing nightmares. But it’s all a fallacy, a charade, smoke & mirrors—as… Read more of: Post-Racial America? Ha!

2012 Mar 29

disambiguation: black is a color; Black is culture, history, music

March 27, 2012

I’ve been sitting on this piece for quite some time. It’s witnessed two Black History Months pass by, actually. After the resurgence of racial upheaval and tensions (e.g. Trayvon Martin), racist ideologies and commentary spewed forth, tipped over by yesterday’s Gawker post regarding the outrage of the Hunger Games’ casting of Black folks for—get this—Black characters, a piece indicative of a large slice of mainstream America, its pop culture and racist attitudes, i figured it… Read more of: disambiguation: black is a color; Black is culture, history, music

2012 Mar 27

Love to travel? Love me? Support Nomadness Travel Tribe Kickstarter

February 27, 2012

I love to travel. Being the ever curious one, a veritable sponge, i’ve had the bug since i was a child—always wanting to see the sites and distant lands i read about, whether fantasical or real, didn’t matter. As a kid i wasn’t presented with the opportunity to travel outside of the Tri-State often. Before i was 19 the farthest i traveled that i can recall was to DC. I believe i went once to… Read more of: Love to travel? Love me? Support Nomadness Travel Tribe Kickstarter

2012 Feb 27

No, Rihanna is not responsible for your child

February 25, 2012

With the recent social media mosh pit over Chris Brown and Rihanna’s rekindling, at least for music’s sake, i’ve seen the word “responsibility” thrown around all willy-nilly. It has been said that she is not upholding her responsibility to her impressionable young fans. Ummm. Wait. What!? Since when did releasing music come with the caveat that someone must now be given extraneous responsibilities? Ahh, probably when Americans began to blame others for their faulty parenting.… Read more of: No, Rihanna is not responsible for your child

2012 Feb 25

marriage, oh boy; or is it, oh girl? ::shrugs::

February 16, 2012

It’s funny the way life works: growing up i learned about marriage through broken relationships, innumerable constant failed attempts—one after another—with every pairing i witnessed my family’s and friends’ of the family, and not to downplay the backdrop of the vast populace around me, or on the tube or covering magazines or spread eagle on billboards, attempts at society’s golden hallmark when it comes to courting and pairing up, procreating and rearing. The participating folks… Read more of: marriage, oh boy; or is it, oh girl? ::shrugs::

2012 Feb 16

of muses, of lovers, friends and others

In case yet said along parchment rooftops cursive or ruled awnings bold:   Women are God’s gifts laid upon Earth’s mantled soul. Born in whispers A muse is more than mere influences.   Existing in a word Living off sentences Birthing paragraphs silent Raising chapters alone Destroyer of books Standing atop volumes Queen of sounds Empress of visions Goddess of gods Breaker of hearts. She is The ultimate lover. ~m.j   Conceived as prose, transformed… Read more of: of muses, of lovers, friends and others

2012 Feb 16

i don’t like phone calls

February 15, 2012

What people don’t know or if they already know, don’t seem to fully get: i don’t like phone calls. Not any. Well, okay, let me explain that a little bit: i don’t like unsolicited phone calls. I prefer phone calls treated as if they were emails: i want to know the subject beforehand. I want to know what i’m getting into before i get on the phone. It’s like reading a book without glancing at… Read more of: i don’t like phone calls

2012 Feb 15

stream of consciousness #0009: music is god’s daddy & mommy

There is a train of thought that is constantly chugging along the great mental metal of minds too great to fail. That was the thought pattern behind the Titanic—right? Or, was that off since it wasn’t a train, but a large ship atop water, the icy depths of death soon awaiting its foolish passengers believing they could tackle the grandest of behemoths that are the oceans of the earth? Foolish pride is not pitied. Or,… Read more of: stream of consciousness #0009: music is god’s daddy & mommy

2012 Feb 15

gotta gotta gotta write write write

February 13, 2012

Remembering why i blog, or really revisiting it, i’m determined to actually put my foot forward and to blog more often. This really has more to do with looking around at my peers or even strangers i stumble past on the Interwebs than it does with fulfilling some personal mantra. I see ’em post all the time, even if a lot of it is drivel notwithstanding since it’s still being put out there for eyes… Read more of: gotta gotta gotta write write write

2012 Feb 13

Valentine’s Day: no, i’m not a fan

Typical, a man is not a fan of Valentine’s Day. An often heard and witnessed harangue, the woe is me charade: a man who has to spend buttloads of cash and oodles of time with a significant other or sometimes-jump-off-turned-friend-with-benefits who may very well be wifey material but you haven’t given much thought, all for the prospect of some carnal pleasure. But, more importantly, it’s truly for evading the days-, weeks-, months- or maybe year-long… Read more of: Valentine’s Day: no, i’m not a fan

2012 Feb 13

stream of consciousness #0015: inspiration is random on-purpose

February 11, 2012

Inspired by words from another who’ve i’ve never met physically—an online comraderie twittering—writing about a muse never encountered by either of us for she passed away years prior, this is a piece about the purpose of inspiration coming at us sideways in the dark holding a flashlight for the gloomy eyes to see hope. Hopeful for enlightenment, we grope, not quite blind yet possessing almost atrophied optics, around murky caverns searching for an outlet. Almost… Read more of: stream of consciousness #0015: inspiration is random on-purpose

2012 Feb 11

Ayn Rand’s Night of January 16th

February 4, 2012

Last night i caught a showing of a play performed on campus: Ayn Rand’s The Night of January 16th. “Your life, your achievements, your happiness, your person are of paramount importance. Live up to your highest vision of yourself no matter what the circumstances you might encounter. An exalted view of self-esteem is a man’s most admirable quality.” — Night of January 16th by Ayn Rand, Definitive Edition, Introduction I loved the line, “I’m an atheist—there’s no use… Read more of: Ayn Rand’s Night of January 16th

2012 Feb 4

Built my Online Bookshelf Surrounded by Physical Books

Several times over the past couple of years, i decided to migrate … well, more like copy … my physical books to the digital realm while sitting in the library. That is to say, i haven’t purchased or found a free way to have digital copies of the books—only a catalogue. Man, i should’ve just said that from jump. Anyway…I like instant access to knowledge, to lists—which is probably why i love the Interwebs so… Read more of: Built my Online Bookshelf Surrounded by Physical Books

2012 Feb 4

stream of consciousness #0013: all i do

February 3, 2012

For years my tears carried screams muffled by showered water, “I am not my father. I am not him.” I hated my given for years, not changing till i met poetry, spoken words from a friend familiar. Even still, i refuse to use my sur; i see little equity in it, this name more reminder of ancestral tarnish and pain, fatherly shadows, nothing to build upon. I’ve embraced a duality of innumerable voices bouncing around:… Read more of: stream of consciousness #0013: all i do

2012 Feb 3

Neither confession nor indictment

February 1, 2012

I want this to be neither confession nor indictment but more of a review, maybe a prospectus. So, 2011 was a tempest of a year for me. Fitting, I guess, that “tempest” has been used to describe me by a person whose life i may have inadvertently thrown for a loop; though it would be an echoed action since they had torn up mine, my head, lashed out and scarred my heart years prior. However,… Read more of: Neither confession nor indictment

2012 Feb 1

treating every encounter as if memoir material

January 28, 2012

After a recent introduction to a new clique (or maybe just a roughshod gathering of friends and friends of friends), i had a feeling, a slight tugging, that this was part of something bigger, that this Brooklyn night will end up years later across ruled parchment. Possibly the names will be changed, or, remaining intact, will only exist in a systrophic litany without fat, no delicacies for the reader to nosh upon, compelled to research… Read more of: treating every encounter as if memoir material

2012 Jan 28

my future reflected in birthmarks

January 13, 2012

Somewhere along my journeys i heard the spiritual theory that birthmarks signify how many lives one has lived—actual indicators of where one was killed previously. I would think, then, that if one was not murdered, but say had lung cancer or passed because of an heart attack, they would show up on the relative spot on the skin where said afflicted body part resided. But, that’s not important. I’m not truly sold on the violent… Read more of: my future reflected in birthmarks

2012 Jan 13