PODCAST: cutting people off...

On this week’s episode of The 12Kyle Podcast, we’re talking about cutting people off. Most people who are in your life that deserve to be cut off...normally fall into a few categories. We’ll discuss the categories and more on the podcast!


cutting people off...

You can LISTEN, SHARE, AND SUBSCRIBE to The 12Kyle Podcast here...

Apple Podcasts https://itun.es/us/RZVM_.c

Spotify https://open.spotify.com/show/1a1Qpq4fRIxZM1AfwS9WRZ?si=_6VQtmYxTTufQhqIoJIBDQ

SoundCloud https://soundcloud.com/twelve-kyle

Stitcher http://bit.ly/2ij1KWZ

Overcast FM http://bit.ly/2ij6zzC

Google Play - Search 12kyle Podcast

YouTube http://bit.ly/2mVmOng

CastBox https://castbox.fm/vc/131500

FOLLOW ME...

Facebook https://www.facebook.com/twelvekyle

twitter @12kyle; @12kylepodcast

Instagram @12kylepodcast

PODCAST : Stop Hating

The word “hate” gets thrown around a lot these days. If someone doesn’t like something, they are immediately labeled a “hater”. But are they really hating??? The Urban Dictionary defines a “hater” as…

“A person that simply cannot be happy for another person's success. So rather than be happy they make a point of exposing a flaw in that person. Hating, the result of being a hater, is not exactly jealousy. The hater doesn’t really want to be the person he or she hates, rather the hater wants to knock someone else down a notch.”

But can you dislike something/someone and NOT be a hater? We examine the phenomenon of “hating” and if we should stop using the word “hate”.

SUBSCRIBE & SHARE The 12kyle Podcast

iTunes – (The 12kyle Podcast)

Soundcloud – (www.soundcloud.com/twelve-kyle)

Stitcher Radio – (The 12kyle Podcast)

Twitter – (@12kyle)

Twitter – (@12kylepodcast)

Facebook – (www.facebook.com/twelvekyle)

Blogger – (http://the12planet.blogspot.com)

LISTEN BELOW

dirty

TripAdvisor has announced the top 10 dirtiest hotels in America, based on travelers' cleanliness ratings posted to the popular review site.


1. The Grand Resort Hotel & Convention Center, Pigeon Forge, Tenn.

The Grand Resort Hotel & Convention Center earned thumbs down from 87% of more than 200 reviewers.

2. Jack London Inn, Oakland, Calif.

3. Desert Inn Resort, Daytona Beach, Fla.

4. Hotel Carter, New York, N.Y.

5. Polynesian Beach & Golf Resort, Myrtle Beach, S.C.

6. Atlantic Beach Hotel, Miami Beach, Fla.

7. Rodeway Inn, Williamsville, N.Y.

8. Super 8 Estes Park, Denver, Colo.

9. Palm Grove Hotel and Suites, Virginia Beach, Va.

10. Econo Lodge Newark International Airport, Elizabeth, N.J.

Maybe you should do your homework before you book your next hotel...

the dash

There's an old saying in life.

"There are two dates that matter. The date of birth and the date of death."

I think this is true. We have no control over these dates. We didn't know when we'd be born. And we don't know when we will die. Death is a certainty of life. I've always joked that I will live until I am 135. I believe that. Nevertheless, I do believe that we all serve our purpose on this earth. I think we're here until God feels like we should no longer be here. It doesn't matter if you're here for 9 days or 99 yrs.

If you see someones timeline, it looks like this 1950 - 1999.

The number's are there and we can't control them. The thing that we can influence is the DASH.

The DASH represents what you have done on this earth. The dash represents your infinite possibilities on the is earth.

Remember that you control your dash.

just twitterin'

Myspace...


Blogger/Blogs...


Facebook...


Twitter...


And the winner is...

To say that Twitter trumps the aforementioned things is an understatement. Twitter is the leader of the pack and it's not going anywhere. I've mentioned on this blog about my love for twitter. I guess you could call me a twitter veteran. I signed up for twitter in July 2008. I'll be honest...I had no clue what it was. It was foreign to me but cool. At the time, I only knew one person on twitter (@rawdawgbuffalo). No athletes were here. No celebs. No news sites. Just common people. Twitter was so random that we all would get each other's tweets via text messages. There was no SocialScope or Ubertwitter. Those were the some funny times.

What is twitter?

Twitter is a social networking and microblogging service that enables its users to send and read other user messages called tweets. Tweets are text-based posts of up to 140 characters displayed on the author's profile page. Tweets are publicly visible by default, however senders can restrict message delivery to their friends list. Users may subscribe to other author tweets—this is known as following and subscribers are known as followers.

One of the reasons why I love twitter is because if you follow someone's tweets, you'll get SOME insight into who they are. Also, you can say something random and your followers will engage in a conversation that could last any where from a few minutes to a few hours. Two weeks ago, I sent the following tweet..."I hate watermelon." That one tweet spawned a 2 hr conversation between me and some of my followers.

Here are some of my other thoughts (and past tweets about twitter and it's dominance in the social networking game)...

1. Twitter is 10 times better than Facebook because it's not as personal.

2. If you've ever noticed one of your Facebook friends with 15 status updates during an event (awards show, game, tv program), tell em to get on Twitter

3. I don't follow celebs/athletes. Very few of them are interactive and they usually don't have much to say. In fact, the more that they say, the less you'll probably like em.

4. I follow people who I'm interested in. Thus, I keep the number of people whom I follow at a low number (currently at 177/being followed by 164). If I was following 2000 people, there's no way that I'd be able to keep up. I can honestly say that I know at least ONE thing about each follower that I have. Sometimes I wonder why some people follow me. Maybe one day I'll ask em.

I remember once when a woman said good morning on twitter to her followers. Before I could say good morning to her. She sent the following tweet..."I'm followed by 5,628 people. I say good morning and only 2 people responded?"

That's b/c they really AREN'T following you, clown. I immediately unfollowed her.

5. You can unfollow people. I've unfollowed a ton of people. I've never followed more than 190 people and I won't follow more than that. I wanna stay connected to my followers on twitter. It's ok to unfollow people on twitter. I've been unfollowed. You can't take it personal. If you deleted a friend from your Facebook page they'd be pissed! You can't take it personal if I unfollow you on twitter. Hell, I unfollowed my brother once. So, if I unfollowed him, I'll unfollow anybody! LOL. (i'm following him again...LOL)

6. Tweets can be protected. You gotta love that. That means you control who reads your tweets.

7. News can be found on twitter minutes...and sometimes hours before it appears on CNN, ESPN, or your local news station's website. For example, I learned of Michael Jackson's death 2 hrs before it appeared on CNN.com

8. Twitter never goes to bed. I can always tweet with people at any hour of the night.

9. Almost every blogger than I know is on twitter. And subsequently, we all blog less than we used to! LOL

10. Even President Obama used twitter during his campaign.

11. Most people who say they don't like Twitter...have not tried it. #fact

12. Twitter aint going nowhere. Get on board.

@12kyle

showyahluv

Most of the time when I sit down to write I know what I'm gonna say...

Not today...

I needed some direction. Mind was racing. I turned on some music...

Hip hop group Little Brother's song came on..."That Ain't Love". The first words came on and jumped out at me...

Yeah, love
You know we always, we always talkin 'bout love
We always thinkin 'bout it y'know
I'm in love, I want love, I need love, whatever
But like sometimes I wonder
With all the hurt and pain that people that supposedly love you put you through
Is that really love? - Phonte



That got me to thinking. Thinking about love. You could ask 20 people about their idea about what love is. And I'd bet that you'd get 20 different answers. Why is that? There's so many different types of love. There is the love that you have for yourself...love for God (or what/whom you may worship)...love for your parents...love for your spouse...love for your siblings/family...love for your children...love for your friends, etc. It's safe to say that the people who are closest to you...the ones that you love the most...can hurt you. And the pain is far greater from a loved one than from somebody who you don't care about. Yet, we all need love and want to be loved.



As humans, we are different from other animals in that we have the ability to reason. We also have the ability to love. I'm not saying that animals don't love each other but I doubt if bears love each other like how I love my family. LOL. Nevertheless, love really can't be defined. It's indescribable. It can be tremendously painful when it is lost.



Which brings me back to Phonte's verse...



With all the hurt and pain that we go through for love, we lay it all on the line for love.



And it's always worth it.



And if it's not, you need to question if you really need it or not.



Now let that marinate.



Hollatchaboi

street cred

"My money is funny. And my credit...won't get it." - Martin Lawrence on an episode of Martin

That sentiment can apply to a TON of people in this country.

The big C

Credit...good or bad

As someone who has spent the last 10yrs in the mortgage industry (7 as an underwriter), I'd like to think that I know a little about credit. I do. I look at it every day! I've seen some horrible credit reports. I've seen it all. Fortunately, I'm looking at great credit reports now because bad credit doesn't exist.

Or does it?

Of course it does.

So, what is credit? What is good credit? Great credit is when your credit score falls between 700 and 850. When I talk about credit, people always ask me..."Kyle, how does credit work and how do I get my scores up?" Credit scores are merely a statistical analysis of a person's credit files, to represent the creditworthiness of that person. A credit score is primarily based on credit report information, typically sourced from credit bureaus. You get your scores up by making payments on time on the debts that you owe (house, car, credit card, student loans, etc).

We're in a recession. Unemployment is at an all time high. Foreclosures are weakening an already unstable housing market. People are having to make tough decisions. Do I pay this mortgage or do I eat? Do I pay this student loan bill or do I pay my rent? Do I pay this car note or should I resort to riding public transportation? Lending institutions have tightened credit guidelines. Years ago, almost anyone could get a house or a car no matter their credit. And that's partly why we are where we are. We're in a hole and we're not getting out anytime soon. I think, at some point in time, lending institutions have to get the credit flow going again. It has to be monitored and regulated, though. It wasn't before.

I've always said that I wish that every report that I read had come with an explanation. There's a story behind each situation. I think that 95% of people want to pay their debts. I know I do. I think there are some circumstances that sometimes prevent that from happening. If you go through a divorce, you're credit is prolly gonna take a hit. What if you have to take care of an ill family member? Somethings gotta give. More often than not, it's a bill or an expense. The only advice that I can give you is this...

* get your credit pulled as LITTLE as possible

* be smart with credit cards and your credit limits

* if you can't pay a debt on time, notify the lending institution. they may be able to offer some other solutions for you.

hollatchaboi!

bling dynasty

Over the years, there have been several dynasties that have ruled the world

Some dynasties have been more popular than others.

But all dynasties must come to an end.

There was one dynasty that recently died...very quietly. Honestly, I wasn't sad to see it die.

The BLING DYNASTY is dead...thanks to this 2 year recession that we've had. I'm glad to see it go. The bling dynasty had a lotta people fooled and confused. People thought that it was here to stay. They were wrong. Too much flossing. I'm not saying that it's not cool to have nice things. I'm not saying that at all. You just have to be more practical about how you spend your money.

Why buy a $50,000 car that you have to park OUTSIDE in your apartment complex? If you spend that much on a car, you should park it INSIDE your house (garage). Why spend that much on a car note when AND rent when you can use that money to own a house?

Why spend a ton of money on clothes? Well...I know that most people shop and buy clothes and feel good while doing it. Most people aren't practical about what they buy. For example, I may be one of Michael Jordan's biggest fans ever. But at age 36 (soon to be 37), why would I spend $200 for a pair of Air Jordans? I don't wear sneakers to work. I only wear sneakers when I go to the gym. And when I go to the gym, I wear a different kind of sneaker. It's the same with jeans. I wear jeans to work but to spend $200 on a pair of jeans that DON'T jump on my legs by themselves...makes no sense. It's just not practical. Can I afford it? Sure I can. But that's not wise spending.

I'm not here to preach to anybody. We just have to be more practical about how and what we spend our money on. I know that there'll be people who'll spend tons of money over the next few weeks on Christmas gifts. Be practical on what you spend money on. Make sure that it has a net tangible benefit. I mean, when you look back at your purchase, you see that you actually gained something in what you bought. Most of us aren't getting a raise at work. Expenses are increasing (has anybody seen how much a box of cereal costs). Incomes are decreasing. It would be asinine to keep spending like you used to do. That makes no sense. Eventually, you're gonna get hit in the pocket.

Remember, the bling dynasty is over.

Good riddance.

UnLiKeAbLe

We said that 2009 would be the year of CHANGE.

CHANGE is definitely needed.

I'm proposing a new CHANGE.

One of the great things about hip hop and it's lingo is that is forever changing. I propose that we make a change. A few years, the hip hop world adopted the word HATER. We took the word and ran with it. We could immediately identify a HATER (short for playa hater). There's no need for me to define HATER because we all know what it means. We all know HATERS. Or do we?

I propose that we change the word from HATER to the word UNLIKEABLE.

For example, I heard a female say that she didn't think that Beyonce could sing. People immediately labeled her a HATER. Just because she didn't like Beyonce's vocals? HATER? Not so. To her, Beyonce's vocal's are UNLIKEABLE.

Personally, I don't quite a few things/people. For example, I grew up hating the Dallas Cowboys. I don't know any of them personally. To me, they are UNLIKEABLE. I'm not a Kobe Bryant fan. I'm not a HATER. He's UNLIKEABLE to me. I don't know him personally. From afar, he seems to be very aloof and arrogant. Would I have a drink with him? Nope. I've been labeled a Kobe HATER. Not true. He's just UNLIKEABLE to me.

I'm a Yankees fan. If you're a Red Sox fan, I don't expect you to be happy that we just won a title. You're not a HATER. The Yankees and your view is UNLIKEABLE. And it's ok.

It's the same in your personal life. Ladies...if you don't like your co-workers mini-skirt...don't HATE...just say it's UNLIKEABLE. LOL. Got it?

It's ok NOT to like something. You feel me?

Though some of that shit y'all pop true it, I ain't relating. If I don't like it, I don't like it, that don't mean that I'm hating - Common (6th Sense)

t-w-i...

"Just sat down on the plane next to a fat dude who's sweaty and leaning on me. This is gonna be a looooong flight."


That was the text msg that I sent. I sat in between the fat man and my friend/co-worker Sherry. She saw the text msg just before I sent it. She started laughing.

"Who did you send that to?"

"It's a tweet. I'm on twitter."

"What's twitter?"


I've been asked this question several times. What is twitter? Well, here's the definition...

Twitter is a free social networking and micro-blogging service that enables its users to send and read each others' updates, known as tweets. Tweets are text-based posts of up to 140 characters, displayed on the author's profile page and delivered to other users - known as followers - who have subscribed to them. Senders can restrict delivery to those in their circle of friends or, by default, allow open access. Users can send and receive tweets via the Twitter website, Short Message Service (SMS) or external applications. The service is free over the Internet, but using SMS may incur phone service provider fees.

However, when people ask me...I can't define it so I usually tell them to join and they'll figure it out. LOL. Twitter has become my latest addiction. It's sharing my thoughts, actions, and whereabouts with a network of friends (called followers). It has become something that I've gravitated towards. For example, the tweet above could generate a conversation between me and 4 other people at once. That's the best way that I can describe it. I'm addicted and damn proud of it! LOL

I'm interested in my followers and vice versa. My twitter name is @12kyle. Some of my followers are some of my peeps who blog on a daily basis. For a blogger, twitter is a natural fit. It's a condensed version of blogging. I don't think it'll ever replace blogging for me because 140 characters ain't enough for me to convey my points. However, it is more than a fad. Twitter is a way of life. Some people enjoy the fact that they can follow celebs and atheletes. Some will actually send tweets back to you...so there's a connection. I'm not big on celebs and athletes b/c I would much rather interact with my peeps. Unlike Facebook, Twitter helps me process my train of thought.

I could go on and on about Twitter but I won't. The influence of twitter made the cover of Time mag this week. You don't need me to pitch it ot you. I'm hooked. And if you try it...you will be too. Beware!

time2mend

I remember getting a phone call from my Dad a few years ago.

It went something like this...

Dad: "Hey...I've got some sad news...your grandfather passed away."

Me: "Really. Wow. Sorry to hear that."

And that was about it. If it sounds strange to you, that's because it was strange. It was strange to me because I didn't know him. I had only spoken with him over the phone once. I knew that he lived in Los Angeles for almost 20 yrs after leaving New Jersey. I didn't have a relationship with him because he didn't have one with my father. When my Dad gave me the news, it was almost like hearing that the old guy who lived down the street from you had passed away. I felt nothing. The fact that my grandfather's death didn't move me...bothered me. I mean, I was nearly in tears when Biggie died and I only knew him through his music. But I wasn't emotional upon learning about the death of the man who created the man who created me. Very strange...

Dad and granddad's relationship went sour when he and my grandmother split when my dad was a teenager. Granddad drank a lot and he wasn't "nice to be around" once he had that "oil" in his body. They had a bad relationship. When he died, dad wasn't mad at him. He seemed to be content with knowing that he loved his father and his father loved him. But I missed out on having a grandfather. Missed out on his wisdom. The fence was never mended. He and dad never connected again like a father/son should be. The one positive thing about their relationship is that dad vowed that if he ever had a son...he'd make sure that he'd be close to his son and be a better father than he had. And he did that for me and my brother.

Life is long...but it's also short. Tommorrow is not promised to any of us. Almost all of us have someone...parent, spouse, sibling, friend...that we should mend our fences with. We all assume that we'll be here forever but we know better. Sometimes people get relationships/friendships go awry and we don't even remember what happened. Life is too short to go around being mad at someone.

Maybe this post will move you to mend a fence with someone in your life.

Maybe...

whut's in a name?

I got an email the other day from someone who just started reading this blog. The email said...

"Just wanted to say hello. I enjoy reading your blog. I've been "lurking" for a minute. Maybe one day I'll comment. LOL. I have a question...is Kyle your real name or your alias?"

I responded to the email.
But it got me to thinking about names. I use my full name on Facebook. However, on Twitter, my name is @12kyle. And in the blogosphere I'm 12kyle.

For those of you who may be new to this blog...yes...my name is Kyle. Really! LOL The number 12 was my football jersey number in college.

What about you? How did you come up with your blogger name...or your twitter name...or your myspace name? How did you become to be known as "TastyDiamond69" LOL? What is your real name (first names only please...some of y'all might be running from the police and I don't wanna get anybody into any trouble. LOL)

do remember

No matter what obstacles you face...faith and determination will see you through.

When I saw this picture, those were my first thoughts. Only faith and determination is gonna help this dude. This picture wasn't photoshopped. It is real.

As we move forward into 2009, let's rely on our faith and determination to overcome obstacles and accomplish our goals. And I don't mean a resolution that you prolly aren't gonna keep. I mean something real. For me, one goal is to go to grad school

What about you?

hollatchaboi

talkin loud,,,sayin nuffin'

You're the instigator, the orator of the town
You're the worst when you converse, just a big mouth clown
You talk when you're awake, I heard you talk when you sleep
Has anyone ever told you, that talk is cheap

Run DMC (You Talk Too Much)



I told y'all last week that I was skipping the office Christmas party. Now, I'm glad that I did.

As I walked into the office yesterday, I was immediately hit with questions..."Kyle, how was your party?" "Where did you go?" "What did you do?"

You see...to avoid going to the Christmas party I told them that a birthday party was being thrown for me. That way, I wouldn't have to deal with the fools on last Saturday night. So, I gave them the line about how nice my party was...we had a deejay...and how much fun I had. And they hung on my every word.

Not soon after I told my lie...i mean story about my party...people started talking about the office Christmas party which featured several karokye contests. I thought to myself..."here comes the drama, rumors, and gossip." I don't get down like that. I've never been one to worry about what's going on with the next person. Why worry about their problems...I've got my own.

Before I could make a cup of coffee, my supervisor pulls me in her office. She starts the conversation by telling me about the party. She says that it's probably not the "corporate thing" to do...you know...gossip about folks at the company. I was like "cool...I didn't ask." I really wanted to say..."i don't give a shit!" But that may have been too harsh for her ears. After she tells me this...she proceeds to tell me EVERYTHING that happened. She told me who was drunk...who got hit on...who passed out. Then, she even went to talking about this dude named Mike and his wife. I like Mike. He's a bit nosey but he's cool with me. She said that Mike's wife "looked like his mother". WTF??? Why would you say that?

My response...much like Flav on his show...wowwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwww

This brawd proceeds to show me pictures that she took!!! I offered no comments but I looked just to appease her. I couldn't believe how she was talking about how somebody looks when she looks like trash. She's white and her hubby is black...and he ain't no Denzel (lol) but that's besides the point. My point is this...if people are willing to talk bad about others to you...what will they say about you behind your back to others?????

Anybody know people who gossip like this? Ever had to confront em? hollatchaboi!!!!

DARTS

Most critically acclaimed Pulitzer, prize winner
Best storyteller thug narrator my style's greater
Model dater, big threat to a lot of you haters
Commentators ringside try watchin my paper
Almost a decade, quite impressive
Most of the best is in the essence
for this rap shit that I stand for
Expandin more to the big screen, Bill Gates dreams
But it seems you'd rather see me in jail with state greens
Want me off the scene fast, but good things last
like your favorite MC still makin some mean cash
First rapper to bring a platinum plaque, back to the projects
but you still wanna hate, be my guest, I suggest

NaS (Hate Me Now)


I love to watch the world evening news on NBC. Every night, I'm in front of the tube at 6:30. I dunno why. Maybe it's because I like to look at the world globally. I really don't like the local news. I probably SHOULD watch it for more than the weather. But if you watch the evening news here...you'll be depressed within 10 mins. It doesn't matter if it's the story about the high school kid who was gunned down, the mother of 3 who was stabbed to death, or the people who were shot outside of a nightclub. I can't watch it b/c it's soooo much bad news. I'm not suggesting that the world news is much better. Especially when you see the scenes from Iraq. But the crime that happens here locally is unreal. I heard a story about a month ago about a 17 yr old kid who accidentally shot his mother who was in the next room in their house. He was cleaning his AK-47 and the bullets discharged. He wasn't charged with a crime but my immediate thoughts were..." what the hell is he doing with an AK???"

What is wrong in this country? Are we desensitized by the crimes that we read about? Do we even care? As long as it doesn't happen in our hood...is it really an issue? I have to point the finger at myself sometimes b/c I' sometimes wonder if I am solving anything by looking the other way. For example, I saw these 3 kids standing on the corner in the middle of a school day. They should have been in school but they were pushin rocks. I know it and so did everybody that passed them that day. Did I stop my truck? Did I try to talk some sense into these lil knuckleheads? Did I show them that there is a better way of life? They weren't in my nice, middle class, suburban neighborhood. Why should I give a shit? Those 3 kids weren't my sons!

I did nothing. I drove by and gave them a look and that was it. Then I pumped up the Jay Z cd and sped off. Were those kids mine? No! But I am responsible for them to a degree. The life that I've built for myself is one that they could relate to if given the opportunity. I'm not LeBron James or Jay Z but I can have more influence on these kids as a role model before they could. I am a role model. Not just for my 3 sons but for any young person with whom I come in contact with. And you are too! Live your life so that you can set for the example for others to follow. Not only should you do that but you should also give your time. We always find reasons NOT to give our time but then we complain when these kids are on the news...or worse...in jail. There's a continual cycle that MUST be broken. I can't change the world but I can do my part. And so can you. We can't afford to walk around with our heads stuck in the sand.

Sorry for the sermon, y'all...but I had to say somethin.

Hollatchaboy...

Making the Grade...

My oldest son LOVES school. I mean he really does love going to school. He's in the 3rd grade. I remember when I was in the 3rd grade. I really liked school back then, too. School was very easy back then. All of the subjects were a piece of cake. I was a straight A student back then. And then...it happened. School became difficult all of a sudden. The subjects, like math and science, that were once easy for me were not easy any more. By the time that I had reached middle school, seventh and eighth grade, school wasn't fun anymore. In fact, it sucked. LOL. I don't know if school was really that bad or maybe my disposition changed b/c my parents were going through a divorce. I don't know. It just wasn't the same anymore.

I realized that subjects like math were very difficult for me b/c I had never developed good study habits. That stuff used to come to me very easy. I REALLY met my match when I got to 10th grade. I had to take Geometry. My teacher, Mr. Greene, was one of the toughest teachers at our high school. He challenged you everyday. Most kids were afraid to be challenged. Not me. I just hated Geometry and didn't see the purpose of it. Looking back on it now, I STILL think that the course was useless. LOL. None of you have ever had to figure out (x+y=z) or figure pi on your job. You've never been told to explain the Pythagorean theorem, either. Nevertheless, I barely passed that class. I had a "D" average and it was the worst grade that I got in high school. Geometry damn near destroyed me mentally.

When I got to college, the 2 courses that gave me fits was microeconomics and macroeconomics. Talk about boring!!! Man, I'd rather watch a race between a spider and an ant than to sit through either of those classes again. My degree was in marketing so I had to take these classes. I passed both of them but I barely made it. I finished school with a GPA of 2.8. That's not a great GPA but I think it was pretty good when you consider that I played football. I will admit that I didn't always work as hard as I should have. My mind was on other things...at times. LOL

Nevertheless, what was the subject that was the thorn in your side? It doesn't matter if it were in elementary school, high school, or college. Everybody had that ONE subject that kicked their azz. What's yours?

Off tha Dome

random thoughts...

I usually have FOUR headaches a year. Some folks have 4 a week. I'm going through # 1 right now. OUCH!

Gas is high...and we haven't even reached Memorial Day and Fourth of July. Damn!

Naomi Campbell needs her ass kicked! Maybe I can get the Opinionated Diva to beat her.

Have you ever seen a chick and thought..."Damn she looks good." Only to find out that it was a dude!?! WTF?

Yesterday marked the 40th anniversary of the death of Martin Luther King, Jr. Wonder what he'd say today about his Dream?

I miss The Wire

I love black people

Wonder if ma dukes reads my blog?

I sent my dad a text msg the other day. He didn't know what the hell to do with it.

I told y'all that people have blog crushes on 12kyle. Sheeeeeeeeeyt, I even have a fan!

Just heard the new joint by The Roots. It's sick!

The movie The Wood reminds me sooo much of me and my crew.

Hilary Clinton...let it go. It's ova.

Something tells me that Obama will appear on a remix single with Jay Z by the time he reaches the White House

Beyonce marries Jay Z? I thought that they were already married. LOL. I aint mad atcha Jigga. But she needs to stop telling folk that she's 26. That's a damn lie.

Let's stop patronizing the corner stores in the hood where the cashier talks to you from behind the "bulletproof glass."

suffering+sacrifice = success

Sometimes I watch the Spanish speaking channels even though I don't speak Spanish

Love yesterday's entries about food.

Wanna hear something strange...
My birthday is December 9th
My youngest son, Brandon, was born on December 10th

I got married Sept 23, 2000
My niece was born the day before (Sept 22, 2000). Her parents were married the following year on her birthday.

My oldest son, Deion, birthday is August 9th
My middle son, Kameron, birthday is August 8th. Before you ask...no we didn't plan it this way. LOL

A Bite to Eat

As always...thanks for coming thru to the 12th Planet. I really do appreciate the love and the vibe that you bring. Without you...the planet would not be the same.

The subjects that we discuss here are those that come to me during the day or whatever comes to mind when I'm on the computer. If you have any subjects that you want to discuss or if you wanna vibe...hollatchaboyeee (12kyle@gmail.com)

That said...I'm starvin right now. I had some popcorn about 4 hrs ago but there's no way in hell that I'm gonna eat something THIS late. It'll be sleep for dinner. LOL. I would love to have something good...like my favorite...lasagna. Not only is it my favorite food but it is one of my best dishes (yes...12kyle can cook). We'll keep it simple today...

What's your favorite food????

rhyme time

When the average minimum wage is $5.15
You best believe you gotta find a new ground to get cream
The white unemployment rate, is nearly more than triple for black
so frontliners got they gun in your back
Bubblin crack, jewel theft and robbery to combat poverty
and end up in the global jail economy
Stiffer stipulations attached to each sentence
Budget cutbacks but increased police presence
And even if you get out of prison still livin
join the other five million under state supervision
This is business, no faces just lines and statistics
from your phone, your zip code, to S-S-I digits
The system break man child and women into figures
Two columns for who is, and who ain't niggaz
Numbers is hardly real and they never have feelings
but you push too hard, even numbers got limits
Why did one straw break the camel's back?  Here's the secret:
the million other straws underneath it - it's all mathematics

Mos Def

Ayo Technology

I raced out of the house the other day. I had everything. Keys...check! Brandon (my 1 yr old son)...check! His bag...check! A few cds to bump in my truck...check! I got halfway to my destination before I realized that I had forgotten my cell phone. How the hell did that happen? That's usually the FIRST thing that grab before leaving the house. I have a blackberry aka the crackberry. And it's addictive. I do so much with it. I blog from it. Send emails (i prolly shouldn't do it while in traffic). I mean everything. That day, I turned around so that I could get my cell phone. I was willing to risk being late (i'm never late for anything) just so that I could have my cell. Is that crazy or what? I remember when a cell phone was almost as long as your arm. Now, they come in all shapes, sizes, and colors. They are responsible for emails, IMs, text msgs, and ringtones. Some days...I use the phone for everything EXCEPT talking on it. LOL.

In the days of new technology, we have all attached ourselves to certain gadgets. I remember when cell phones didn't exist. You'd get a page and have to stop at a pay phone. Are pay phones still around? LMAO. Seriously, I talked to a woman the other day who didn't own a laptop NOR a microwave. Huh? How is that possible in 2008? We are all about our gadgets. It doesn't matter if it's cellphones, laptops, ipods, GPS systems, HDTVs, etc. What is the one gadget that you can't live without?

rhyme time...

MCs get a little bit of love and think they hot
Talkin' 'bout how much money they got; all y'all records sound the same
I'm sick of that fake thug, R&B-rap scenario, all day on the radio
Same scenes in the video, monotonous material
Y'all don't here me though
These record labels slang our tapes like dope
You can be next in line and signed; and still be writing rhymes and broke
You would rather have a Lexus? or justice? a dream? or some substance?
A Beamer? a necklace? or freedom?

dead prez

A Conversation Over Dinner

I had a dream about a week ago that I was having breakfast with my maternal grandmother. Her name was Gladys but we all called her Granny. I don't remember much from the dream. I just remember her laughing with me and she was drinking coffee. If you ask anybody who knew her, they'd say that she was one of the sweetest people to ever walk on Earth. No lie. She was a special lady. She grew up in South Carolina. Her parents and grandparents were slaves. At an early age, she picked cotton and share cropped as well. She also worked as a domestic. She did all of this on an elementary school education. She and my grandfather raised 6 kids in the segregated south. She was a very special lady. She died in 1979. I was only 6 yrs old at the time. I have fond memories of her but I know more about her now than I did at 6. If I could, I'd love to sit down with her and have a conversation. There'd be sooooo much to talk about. And so little time.

If you had the opportunity to have a conversation over dinner with someone, who would it be? A relative? Someone famous? Someone who is deceased? What would you talk about?

The floor is yours...