The Great American Bash

Gay bashing is at an all time high. Let’s face it, as long as people hate those in the LGBT community this is a serious problem. I’m not going to dismiss the fact that in the eyes of Christian-dominant America that being gay is a “sin”. But to beat someone or bully them into suicide is just sadistic. And contrary to belief, Tyler Clementi (may his soul rest-in-peace) is just the most highlighted in a string of deeply depressing suicides across the nation by gay youths just because they were bullied into submission.

So here’s my take on it: WHY CAN’T YOU LIVE YOUR OWN LIFE? If a person can be homosexual by himself why cant you be heterosexual by yourself? I don’t see what’s the problem. Why must you deem it necessary to judge others on how they live their life; IT’S THEIR DAMN LIFE…DEAL WITH IT. We have reverends and priests and the like spewing hate stating that “they’re the scum of the Earth” or they’re evil vile brats. They in turn feed this bunch of crap to the youths of their time and let them grow up with hate in their heart for people they don’t even know. This is where “to each his own” NEEDS to be taken in effect.

This doesn’t sound familiar? Wasn’t it 50 or so years ago where we had a damn gang of racists known as the KKK going around killing blacks because of their skin color? In my opinion, America needs to find a new group to discriminate against when we finally find equality and stability. When blacks are finally equal, we as a country leave them alone and turn to the LGBT community to voice our anger.

I’ve quoted the bible before and I’ll do it again. The bible bearers will shove bible quotes down the throats of anyone with ears (don’t judge my logic lol). But it’s the same people who want to tell you that everything you do is a sin according to the bible, that’ll celebrate anything with a nice trip to Red Lobster pigging out on endless shrimp. But wait…I thought eating seafood or “those of the sea without fins and scales” was a sin, humph.

So members of the LGBT community hear my plea. Please, PLEASE, don’t give these jackasses the benefit in life by taking your own life. It’s not worth it. If you need to just express yourself through screaming or just venting your problems, do it. If you’ve already come out, you’ve already relieved yourself of so much stress. You should be morally rewarded for your bravery, and the fact that you can live life as free as you should. There is always someone to listen to, someone to talk to. Heck, my ears are always open. Don’t let the true “scum of the earth” make you believe you are anything below them.

I’m still dreaming of the day that Dr. Martin Luther King’s “dream” can be interpreted to help the evergrowing LGBT community. Discrimination, bullying, and hate is never the answer. African-Americans you know that especially. I’m just saying live your own life, and basically, to each his own.

And with that…your life just got that much more Rated-R.

New York Is Washed Up!

I was web surfing today and found this website: http://imgonnadieapoet.com/

I saw this poem and couldn't agree more, for more poems like this check out Eugene Woody on the website: http://imgonnadieapoet.com/

I want my New York back. This isn’t the city I know. where am I? this isn’t New York, NOPE! This is LAME. This city is filled with no talent, over dressed, snot noised, work hard for nothing pansy’s……I WANT MY CITY BACK! what happened to you New York? We used to be so cool. People would come from the world over to worship us. Now they just come to laugh at how ass we have become. Why the hell would Lebron James come here? We have become overpriced losers, not worth the price of admission. Just look at the knicks….LOSERS! Look around you. Dammit, you know this ain’t right. You know this ain’t poppin. THIS is not New York. When do we as new yorkers blast plies “Becky” from our systems and sub-woofers? When did we start dressing like gay skateboarders? When did we rock with mo-hawks and half shaved heads? Who the fu*k are we? This ain’t New York…I WANT MY CITY BACK. Keep these emo lames out the game. Keep these pretentious slut groupie chicks out the game. Keep um out my city. drive them back to where they came from…. CALIFORNIA! We set trends we don’t follow them. As soon as our rappers got washed up we became what we are…..LAME. men aren’t men any more, they have become……prince and the revolution, not even shalomare. I see women smacking men around….because they can! how can you be a man when your pants are tighter than your girlfriends? I hope she whoops your ass for wearing those pants. NOT in this city, NOPE! Get lost. Get gone. LOOK just get the fu*k out of here. Do you see what you look like when you leave the house? if you want to wear tight pants…do you! But why do we all have to suffer? Why do you have to sag tight pants? who is supposed to be attracted to that? What woman in her right mind likes a man that wears his ass hanging out of tight jeans? The extra sh*t streak, is that your “swag”? where are you going with this? i’m so confused. I WANT MY CITY BACK. Please come get these wack chicks and lock um up. Lace front wigs with the glue dripping off your forehead. booty shorts and your ass looks like a bag of nickels. Stomachs look like an old mike tyson punching bag. Rainbows wardrobe but you got an attitude? no grace, no class, 18 with 4 kids. no job, no goals, you are just a straight hoe, swear you know everything…..YOU DON’T KNOW SH*T. MUTHAPHUCKAS i WANT MY CITY BACK. We as new yorkers are gonna get back to what made us. Time to get back on our grind. Time we stop letting soldier boys, waca flockas, plies, lames get by and it’s time we let real talent shine. I’m leading the pack, spearheading the movement. Bringing you what we were before parents started smoking crack with their kids. I’m bringing sophistication back. Keeping my city cooler than the south, we don’t do that southern sh*t. Keeping my city cool, we don’t do that soft “emo” sh*t. NEW YORK is, was, and always will be the best. Since no one else will do it, i’ll put the S on my chest. Time to grown man the situation. Put generation lame in it’s place, why are we letting crack babies decide whats hot? Time for men to be men, and women to be women. I’m shutting this sh*t down now, no more time will be given. I WANT MY CITY BACK. You are either with me, or against me. You gonna get down or lay down, when i’m done i’ll make sure the ignorant stay down, way down. So come and get some culture cause…i’m changing the game NOW!

And with that, your life just got more Rated-R

I Saw A Pornstar and Blanked Out

The title says it all. Sure it was a male pornstar but, I guess its one of those prominent male pornstars and still still its a frikkin pornstar. Lmfao even now I'm still speechless haha. But umm I'll try my best to get up to speed with what just happened to me.

Umm, so I'm getting in the 1 train to head to my best friend's graduation. Now while I'm waiting for the people to get out of this train, the last person started looking strangely familiar. And when he looked me in the eye I finally remembered. In my head I screamed, "DUDE YOU'RE A PORNSTAR!" But alas I blanked out on the outside world.
I just went in the train silently laughing and I bet a few other guys in the train knew exactly who that was and stayed silent for their wives' sake. But what am I supposed to say to someone like that, "you're awesome and I've seen you naked, can I have your autograph" ...yeah how sus is that?

I can't even stop laughing as I write this like the 4 years I've taken this route to get to and from my old high school, this never happened, now all of a sudden it does. Hahaha this is strangely hilarious. Only in NYC man, I tell ya

Well, now I can say I've seen a pornstar in real life...can you?

With that, your life is DEFINITELY more Rated-R

What's Your Excuse?

You say I'm immature
I treat life with nothing to lose
You can't stand the foolish games
I'm just being a mirror, what's your excuse?

My attitude is horrendous
I make you want to hang me with a noose
I have no respect for society as a whole
I'm just being a mirror, what's your excuse?

Sometimes my intensity scares you
Your in fear of abuse
There in your nightmares, I appear
I'm just being a mirror, what's your excuse?

My presence seems to annoy you,
You look like you tasted sour juice
My aura never agrees with you
I'm just a mirror, what's your excuse?

So when you wish to hate me
When you wish to judge my ways
Ask yourself why I do it
And I will simply tell you
I'm just being a mirror, what's your excuse?

Sounds Like Paper = Sounds Like Failure

New Yorkers, you guys already know the story. Rest of the world here goes. It's been a week (last Tuesday) since June 15th. Paper Magazine hosted a free kickoff concert by the South Street Seaport. This concert was to include Hanson, NinjaSonik, and their cover boy Drake. Now I say was because if you don't know already, this concert never got a chance to happen. Most people blame the crowd for why this concert was abruptly stopped. I blame a completely different group of individuals.

You see, I was present at that Drake concert. Like thousands of other Drake fans, I went prepared to start chanting out lyrics like I knew them all my life. The concert was to start at 6:00 PM but there was already a heavily packed audience when my friends and I reached to the Seaport at 4:00. And it is here where the problems start.

For those of you that did not attend said concert, imagine being under the hot sun for several hours, crammed next to thousands of other people, with nothing to do but wait. Yeah, it was that rough. And this is why I blame Paper Magazines for the horrible planning on their part.

The news wants people to believe that the show was cancelled due to the riotous activity that took place while waiting for the concert. Let me just say that this riotous activity only started due to the boredom of 25,000 fans waiting for at least some sort of music. They kept shorting out Hanson's mics, and when NinjaSonik seemed like the perfect way to end the boredom they cut their mics off as well. So what else do you expect teenagers crammed next to each other in the hot sun to do? Sing kumbaya?

And I've repeatedly read comments stating that African Americans were the main rioters in the crowd, the main ones throwing bottles and even catching a black girl throwing a chair down below. The people who STARTED hopping on top the kiosks and throwing water bottles, slushie cups, and the like were white and spanish. Most of the black people I saw there were more concerned about getting to the front of the crowd. Black people only got involved when things started landing on them. So stop placing blame on us, please and thank you.

Nonetheless, none of this would have happened if there were more security at hand and they continued the music...that's all we wanted. Standing 3-5 hours in the burning sun crammed into thousands of people with nothing to do, would piss off anyone. They should have kept the DJ playing beats to keep us entertained, end of story. Who the hell would want to undergo that torture, that's complete bullshit.

Am I upset, that Drake didn't get to come out on stage? Damn right. Did I forsee craziness at this concert? Damn right. But what really pissed people off was that Paper Magazine didn't even have the balls to come out and tell us the show is cancelled. They just let as assume it was over. They at least owe that to us and not let us stand around hoping for a miracle.

Oh well, Paper Mag, you failed epicly. I'm sorry. The way you carried out this concert was destined to come out the way it did. I saw no security, you underestimated the crowd, and you couldn't even keep us entertained. Two thumbs down. And no matter who you promote next, you've lost the trust in thousands of New Yorkers.

My Religion

You may not agree with my beliefs. You may differ in religion. Matter of fact if you have a religion we differ in religion. Not to say I'm atheist. That's something comepletely different. I just do not believe in any organzed religion. I think it's called being a theist. Yes there is a difference no just because i put a space between the "a" and the "t". But enough on the specifics I'll just tell you why.

For you see, most of my life I was told what to believe in because I was forced to attend mass with my mother. I know some of you were like me, going to church and not understanding why. Being in Sunday school asking yourself "why in blue hell am I here?" Honestly human beings have spent plenty of years battling over the better religion. Whether it be The Crusades, Muslims against the Jewish, or even Christians against themselves. In actuality, most, if not all, religions believe in a higher power being the highest of them all. Whether it be God or Allah or whomever, it is someone they use as a guideline to their life. But can't we also use morals and common sense to justify our lives and what we deem is right? Not to say that i know everything about everything when it comes to Islam, or Judaism, or Taoism, etc. So, I'll direct you to things I'm more knowledgeable about: Christianity and the Bible.

Now I know that in any argument one is destined to fail once they bring up the Bible but hey this is an argument about religion. In my opinion, the Bible is the most contradictory book of all time. Probably back in its very early stages it was less contradictory, but as we move on in time with more and more additons and newer editions we end up twisting things around. One major thing I realized while trying to explore what it is that I truly believe in, was that most Christians only look to the Bible for things that appeal to their benefit. One example, one BIG example: the book of Leviticus. Many Christians go to the book of Leviticus to justify why homosexuality is a sin. Constantly one would hear about how Leviticus 18:22 stating that a man lying with another man is an "abomination". However, no one even alludes to text earlier than that. Leviticus 11:9-12 states (just to paraphrase) it is also an "abomination" to consume anything from the sea that moves but does not have fins or scales. Betcha didn't know that now did you? So according to the Bible, if homosexuals are going to hell for sinning, people that eat shrimp, crab, lobster, squid, etc. are also going to hell for sinning as well. Travesty right? No more Red Lobster for you. Unless you only goin for the cheesy biscuits then that's probably different. There's many different rules just like this one that die hard Christians fail to instill in their life.

Malcolm X said something related to this topic in one of his speeches. He stated, "[to my black Christians] since the white man, your friend, took away your language during slavery, the only language you know is his language. So you call him the same thing he, your friend, calls him: God. And when he puts that rope around your neck you callin for God, he callin for God. And you wonder why the one you callin on never answers,". It's effin crazy the way we miss stuff like this.

So what's my point. My point is that I do not, yep DO NOT believe in any religion. Sure there's a higher power, whatever you may call him, but I think we as humans have effed up the works of the bible in the past two decades to find only some self-sufficient interest. If something happens I think I'll just say it's fate. But to my knowledge fate doesn't exist in any religion. I think the only time that there is a god is when he or she wants to look back at your life and cast judgment. Whether it be eternal damnation or salvation. So yes I do believe in the after-life too.

What I'm trying to say is, I'm the type of individual who lives life to the absolute fullest. I hope that wherever I go I just have fun just pure fun. Because I don't know about you, but life would surely suck otherwise.

First Tattoo

Whatever anyone tells you don't really believe them. In certain cases me too. In my opinion, people feel pain in entirely different ways. That being said, I'll tell you about my first tattoo experience.

Before any questions arise, I'll answer the question on most freshbloods minds. The answer is YES!!! That damn thing definitely hurt. But trust me, after you put that money down for the tat, you're gonna make sure that the tattoo comes out as perfect as possible. To me, it felt like getting a shot at the doctor's office...just imagine
that shot being dragged across your skin. Now I didn't cry or anything, maybe just groaned alot at first. I definitely got "Oderint Dum Metuant" which was Caligula's as well as my favorite saying. It translates to let them hate so long as they fear. Which is what I love to live by. People can talk all the shit they want, so long as they
know they don't want a fight with you. The process of the tattoo story actually starts back at school.

So as a joke, I mentioned to my friend from school, Maunda, that "yo we have way too much time. We should def go out and get our tattoos. She instantly jumped onto the bandwagon encouraging me to get the tattoo. So fast forward to the parlor. My nerves just double or even triple my heartbeat. I think the hardest part of the whole experience was having to hand them the money and sign the contract. And being money hungry like I am (lol don't judge me) I hate having to give away large amounts of money.

Second hardest part of the experience? The moments before. I think they purposefully try to psyche you out. The place I went to in the Village was playin some kinda satanic music and me and Maunda just looked at each other like "what...the...fuck?" And it was like a 30 minute wait period. So imagine song after song of just what hell would sound like lol.

The least strenuous part was actually getting the tattoo. Like I said, yes...that motherfucker HURT! But I guess it was because the guy twisted my arm around until he was writing on my bone. Like i said to try to give you an imagination of what it felt like, imagine a doctor's shot. But after a while it did kinda started to feel good. Crazy right? Now I see why people get addicted to it.

So I guess what I'm trying to say is...the whole process is an experience that you can't anticipate if you're getting a tattoo for the first time. Some will say oh it doesn't hurt. Some will exaggerate the pain. I won't undermine the pain but it's nothing to shed a tear over either. And also make sure what you're getting is worth any sort of pain over. Because it is permanent. It's not like any piercing where the meaning is straightforward, you're literally getting art on
your body so don't get a fad just because it's cool. And your giving away a significant amount of money for it as well. Make sure you get your money's worth.

Safety...or the Lack Thereof (Edited Version)

A sad,sad event has occurred in the halls of ol' G-Dubs. I'm surprised, shocked, disgusted, and worried all at once. I don't blame anyone's parents. I don't blame any teachers. Honestly I place blame almost solely on the damn NYC high school security system. Sure, I admire some of them. I've shared good laughs with some as well. But to let something like this slide by is a wake-up call to so many people.

In case you don't know what I'm talking about (Which let's face it, most of you don't have a clue), a local student at the High School for Media and Communications managed to sneak in a steak knife into the George Washington Educational Campus. Said student, at around 11:00 --my guess is right after 4th period, being that 4th period ends at 11:04-- stabs another student 16 times in the back and arm in the school's dean's office. The victim is said to be in stable condition and the attacker was arrested and taken to the 34th precinct.

Now I don't really care about the backdrop story behind the stabbing. Quite frankly, my concern for high school drama died when I graduated last year. My first and main question thinking about this incident is HOW IN BLUE HELL DID A KNIFE GET THROUGH SCANNING!?!? The security guards are so concerned with finding an "electronical device" but aren't concerned with the actual stuff they're supposed to be looking out for. Its extremely sad to see that security guards are more concerned with looking out for cellphones and iPods than they are for knives, guns, and stuff that can actually hurt people. And look what happens because of this.

Another thing is, this will probably be another incident gone unreported when Bloomberg states that school violence is "severely declining". Who does he think he's fooling with this crap? Not only has fights and things of that nature remain the same, but let's face it, as the years go by, a lot of us lose hope when we see the stupidity that goes on with underclassmen in high schools. But back to my main point, Bloomberg won't even acknowledge this, yet so many oblivious jackasses will support him not knowing whats going on right under their noses.

Now like I said I don't wish to know why the kid stabbed the other guy. But I'll have to say, never in the years I've been at George Washington have I ever heard of anything as outrageous as what happened in Media. Its a shame. But like I said security needs to be taken more seriously. There is a reason why most of the students hate the security guards in the morning. What harm will a juice pouch do if we bring it in school? So what if we just so happen to forget a blasted cellphone? Who cares if we need music from our iPods in the morning just to stay up? Security guards need to stop carrying an eagle eye when it comes to the light stuff and start remembering what they're actually supposed to be looking for.

So maybe the security guards will be more on their toes, looking for every little thing now. Maybe they'll stop goofing around and take their jobs more seriously for the time being. But what the hell are you supposed to say to the boy who got stabbed 16 times? "Oops I'm sorry"? I don't think there'll be a long term change. Bloomberg will continue to live in his little bubble where NYC high schools are doing better and better and better, while EVERYBODY knows that high schools are just getting worse and worse. Nice job Bloomberg, way to screw up the New York City high schools. Four more years of continued stupidity and madness. And you wonder why the teachers always want to go on strike, hmph. ...Ass

And with that your life just got that more Rated-R

Don't You Hate it When Someone Else is Right

Ugh don't you hate when you have the best idea but someone makes so much sense that you're forced to look at things in a new way? Like forced epiphanies (if that makes sense). With that, my Rated-R Reality will soon undergo a change....less Rated-R I guess. You'll see what I mean in the upcoming posts.

Safety...or the Lack Thereof

A sad,sad event has occurred in the halls of ol' G-Dubs. I'm surprised, shocked, disgusted, and worried all at once. I don't blame anyone's parents. I don't blame any teachers. Honestly I place blame almost solely on the damn NYC high school security system. Sure, I admire some of them. I've shared good laughs with some as well. But to let something like this shit slide by is a wake-up call to so many people.

In case you don't know what the hell I'm talking about (Which let's face it, most of you don't have a clue), a local student at the High School for Media and Communications managed to sneak in a steak knife into the George Washington Educational Campus. Said student, at around 11:00 --my guess is right after 4th period, being that 4th period ends at 11:04-- stabs another student 16 times in the back and arm in the school's dean's office. The victim is said to be in stable condition and the attacker was arrested and taken to the 34th precinct.

Now I don't really give a flying fuck about the backdrop story behind the stabbing. Quite frankly, my concern for high school drama died when I graduated last year. My first and main question thinking about this incident is HOW THE FUCK DID A KNIFE GET THROUGH SCANNING!?!? The security guards are so concerned with finding an "electronical device" but aren't concerned with the actual shit they're supposed to be looking out for. Its extremely sad to see that security guards are more concerned with looking out for cellphones and iPods than they are for knives, guns, and stuff that can actually hurt people. And look what happens because of this.

Another thing is, this will probably be another incident gone unreported when Bloomberg states that school violence is "severely declining". Who the fuck does he think he's fooling with this crap? Not only has fights and things of that nature remain the same, but let's face it, as the years go by, a lot of us lose hope when we see the stupidity that goes on with underclassmen in high schools. But back to my main point, Bloomberg won't even acknowledge this, yet so many oblivious jackasses will support him not knowing whats going on right under their noses.

Now like I said I don't wish to know why the kid stabbed the other guy. But I'll have to say, never in the years I've been at George Washington have I ever heard of anything as outrageous as what happened in Media. Its a shame. But like I said security needs to be taken more seriously. There is a reason why most of the students hate the damn security guards in the morning. What harm will a damn juice do if we bring it in school? So what if we just so happen to forget a blasted cellphone? Who gives a shit if we need music from our iPods in the morning just to stay up? Security guards need to stop carrying an eagle eye when it comes to the light stuff and start remembering what they're actually supposed to be looking for.

So maybe the security guards will be more on their toes, looking for every little thing now. Maybe they'll stop goofing around and take their jobs more seriously for the time being. But what the hell are you supposed to say to the boy who got stabbed 16 times? "Oops I'm sorry"? I don't think there'll be a long term change. Bloomberg will continue to live in his little bubble where NYC high schools are doing better and better and better, while EVERYBODY knows that high schools are just getting worse and worse. Nice job Bloomberg, way to fuck up the New York City high schools. Four more years of continued stupidity and madness. And you wonder why the teachers always want to go on strike, hmph. ...Dumbass

And with that your life just got that more Rated-R

I Apologize

Its hard updatin this....bear with me. I have a couple of posts I want to put up but I still have to complete them. Oh well. I'll finish them ASAP. Still have stuff I want to talk about. The Rated-R hasn't left yet. I'm still as fucked up as always

Bitchassness in Numbers

Strength in numbers is definitely true. Its true for militaries, gangs and the like. Evidently running your mouth while in a group is a growing epidemic in the United States. Whether its in the bus, out on the street, at parties, wherever...people have this growing addiction to talk shit in a group and not by they damn selves.

Now I've noticed it for a while now. Its the proverbial, "Hold me back!!! Hold me back!!!" It's a shame. My opinion is don't talk trash if you can't do it without back up. That is a very bitch ass move. I put money a quarter of my readers just had an epiphany about themselves. Sorry, its just what I do.

Take yourself out of those circle of friends and settle shit one-on-one. And if they can't do that then that just shows who is pussy and who isn't. Plain and simple. Fact is, most people will have more respect for someone who mans up and ends shit by himself than someone who runs in with backup and has some lame ass cosigning any comment.

Is that how you want to live your life? Honestly and truthfully, most people don't have an ounce of respect for people that can't be as "gully" by themselves. Its like trashing someone behind impenetrable wall...(Check out the big word there!!!). One of my friends always says "You poppin off with all that mouth next to ya groupies but you damn sure can't do it with no one around you."

Nine times out of 10 the one by himself against the "ravenous" wolfpack will get the most respect, bar none. Its a common fact. Not only does it show independence, but it shows courage, even bravery. I know this seems like a case of "Well no shit Sherlock"... Well you'd be surprised to the amount of people that act like they don't know this...it's crazy. Look at it this way; when you talk shit do you do it to get a reaction out of the person or out of your posse? If you do it to get the reaction out of the person then why do you need a posse to talk shit. You're the main focus right? So act like it.

I'm not sayin that there can't be one tough guy in a group of people, I'm just sayin you don't need other people to hear you degrade somebody else. That's why people say "you got so much fuckin mouth, why don't you just say it without all ya bitches behind you?" Because in reality that's what you look like. A loudspeaker with little bitches backing you up. Be yourself, no one's gonna be you for you. Handle your own business. NO BITCHASSNESS!!!

And your life just got that more Rated-R

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Total Takeover for the 9th Time

Wow its really been a while. I'll try to have updates regularly but, college is kind of preventing that. But anyway the following is more for my people in the world of Steel Pan.

PAN SONATAS WIN!!! Oh my god! There are still days I feel like that was just a super poppin dream and that didn't even happen. But it really did. We really fuckin won panorama! So many people tried to get our heads out of the game. We had our ups, we had our downs. In the end, we did what we been saying all summer "We came to take the [fuckin] 'rama!" I'm not gonna use this opportunity to trash any other band but damn we really did work hard.

Nine time champions. Woooo! That is crazy. "How we won?" Some ask. Its because come gametime Sonatas ALWAYS delivers. We transform from pan players into 100 savage gladiators hungry for another glorious victory. Its our instinct, we know we are performers and we exploit it. No questions asked. We perform, and perform, and give 800% of our energy into that 10 minutes we have on stage. Don't get me wrong, ADLIB definitely gave us a run for our money. Without a shadow of a doubt, ADLIB definitely gave it their all to defend that title. But I guess we just showed the judges we wanted it more.

In 2010 fellow Bandoleros, we need to show these civilian spectators that this is the start of yet another takeover in pan, the upcoming decade needs to be painted black and gold because if they thought that this was the end of the Sonatas victories, they're dead wrong. DEAD WRONG. In fact we may even see an era of greatness in the hands of Sonatas. The next decade will be the decade of Sonatas, and you can willingly accept it, or go down in a blaze of glory. Remember ladies and gents, "This is the band that [ALWAYS WILL] take the rama!!!"

So no matter what happens my fellow Sonatas players,...you can always say I won a panorama.

Impact

There are people in this world that leave lasting impressions on others. Some, because of their wealth. Others look up to certain people because of their power. But I'm here to tell you I look up to some people because of their character. The way they carry themselves I guess. Some aspect of their daily lives I've grown to admire, even respect. I'm here, not to exploit perfection in anyway (we're all human), but to tell these people thank you.

The first person, actually taught me how to play steel pan...well strengthened my skills at the very early stages anyway. And if you know me, pan takes up a chunk of my life right now. But that's not the impact I really admire. His impact on me is the way he thinks. He's been playing pan before I even knew what a pan was. Is he arrogant? No. Does he have a fuck the world, I'm the greatest alive attitude because of it? Nope. He reasons out a situation until it can't be reasoned out anymore. Even thought he always tries to get at me for "stealing his name." He's an assertive person by nature and everyone I know comes to him like a big brother. His wisdom is what I look up to and for that, I thank him.

This next person, is not only an inspiration to myself but also leaves a lasting impact on an entire band. For the brief time I've known her, she's treated me with the utmost respect and I respect her for that. But what impact she left with me is her conversational skills. Had you have known me a few years ago, you would know either I always ended a conversation passively giving up, or that I always end aggressively. But just hanging out with her has made me understand how to talk to people especially when they don't see eye-to-eye with me. Rather than just saying "Yo fuck everything you stand for" I can reason my way out of conflicts. She makes attempts to make sure that everyone she cares about has at least one smile on their face for the day. Its her interaction with others that leaves an impact on me and for that I thank her.

The third person is just an all around nice person. He's another person who could be one arrogant motherfucker due to the fact that several girls like him, but instead he's just very chill. Sure he's a clown at times but his overall swagger is just fucking awesome. I guess what I'm trying to say is that he could be the common stereotypical Brooklynite and be a conceited SOB but instead he's just...him. I also consider him a big brother only because he always manages to just live life ho he sees fit regardless of the drama surrounding him. If anything his impact on me would have to be his maturity.

Fourth, this person.....actually at a spectator's glance one would wonder why in blue hell this person is on the list. But honestly, he's helped me grow. If you see a dude that's just loud as hell at times, immature, and sometimes a bit too hyper, you'd wonder WTF? I don't. Its just the fact that he could careless about the griefs around him (well most of the time) is enough to be admired. His impact on me will forever be the fact that if I have a problem I can easily come to him and he'll still try to cheer me up regardless of the situation and most of the time it actually works. I in turn make sure that he's ok whenever I just feel a bad vibe. Ok yes, he's like a brother to me too (I know I have more brothers than a damn fraternity). You can look for the weirdest ways to find an inspiration.

So with so many impacts these people left on me I'm surprised I didn't thank them earlier. I actually really meant to do this way earlier but better now than never. So I thank you Big Marc, I thank you Kiera, I thank you Ryan, and I thank you James. You've helped me transformed myself into a better person...well in the process of it anyway. =p