25th Birthday!

It's crazy to think that 10 years ago, I was 15, starting out in breaking, and still having a few girl problems. BWAHAHAHA.

I don't have girl problems anymore. Girls have Tom problems.

Anyway, this year's birthday was different from any other I've had in the past, namely because it is my first one away from all my friends and family.

Last year I was able to have a whole week's worth of events (dinners, sessions, outings, etc.) and see a lot of my good friends in different settings. In a way, I'm glad I did that, not knowing that I would be thousands of miles removed the next year.

The day went super swimmingly though, despite having only 3-4 hours of sleep. I got that energy secret. Being a Friday, I was giving out a quiz in all my classes. However, when I arrived at school, there was a power outage for half the building! So nothing started until 7:45am, which is 25 minutes later than usual. And even then, Homeroom period went on until 9am, so I ended up not teaching my first period at all. (a relief for me, cuz I was preparing the quizzes still). Meanwhile, my Homeroom students were hungry and wanted to buy snacks. They couldn't find any, so I sold them my candy! Made my money back!

Also, some students stopped by my classroom in the morning, and gave me a birthday balloon to carry around all day. It was very sweet.  (thanks Loan!). Pink balloon ftw. I kept it on during my Algebra 2 class, cuz that's a good class with well-behaved and awesome students... did a warm-up, quiz review, then took that quiz. Some said the the material this week was difficult, but they felt confident in the test. I need to grade them this weekend. And being Friday, I have a "Feedback Friday" thing where they give me feedback on the week. The reviews of the recent class changes have been good! Success!

Highlight of my day:
So then I had a prep period before lunch, which basically became an extended lunch period, time for me to run errands, make copies, etc... I filled out a Lunch-time announcement request form for the Hip Hop Sessions club, announcing that there would be battles after-school! Got the principal to announce "Freestyle Fridays" and at the end of the message she said "Each one, Teach one." My proudest moment.

After lunch, and after teaching/quizzing another class, we had an after-school session. After about an hour of practice, in a very impromptu manner, we set up the battles! Had a 2yr+ bracket and an Internewbie bracket. Had some pretty good showdowns in the 2yr+! Lots of sign-ups! And the Internewbies were very brave, some had JUST started coming to sessions THIS WEEK. All of them started THIS SCHOOL YEAR, so less than 2 months experience! Very impressive!

We had a winner for Internewbies, Ty, a winner for the freeze contest, and we had 4 winners for the 2yr+ bracket, cuz we didn't finish the battles. Everyone's a winner!

For the rest of the day, I relaxed, listened to good music, responded to FB birthday comments, and watched the pre-orders for my book stack up!!! That is so excited and fun (claim your free copy now!). At night I went to the gym (2nd session of the day), met some guys who saw me practicing and I invited them to the session/workshop today. Good stuff.

Also spent some time talking to my Mom and girlfriend on the phone. Didn't go out, slept at a reasonable time, and woke up at 8am. 25 years old, and I still feel young. I got a text yesterday that said "There are turtles 12x my age, languages 1200x my age, and trees 2000x my age. So I'm a young'n. I feel like I'm just getting started!!!

Mid-Night, a Counter-intuitive Time for Productivity

I can proudly say, that I fall asleep at fairly regular hours now. And I wake up early.
Now that the work-week is over, I am able to experiment with 2 sleeps per night.

That's when you wake up in the middle and have 2 sleeps per night.

It's a counter-intuitive time for productivity, a fun time to do stuff,
And a great time for writing, reading, journalizing.

Hyperbolic Reflection 

I. Journalizing is internalizing. Reflect.
"Journal-ing" about your day/week/month/year, and "realizing" things in reflection of that Time period, are the two components to "journalizing."That's an effective practice that I encourage everyone to have: Keep a Journal! Do the "write" thing by journalizing.

II. Mid-night also feels like a good time to write creatively, I'm definitely working on making this (Fre)eBook happen. "Astro-Logic: An exploration of Astronomy and Religion" yeah? Always making rhymes regardless.  I think my SoundCloud subscribers deserve a few new recordings too.

New book of rhymes, available in FREE (for all),
1.20 (for all)  or 3.60 for 18+ — Starting 9/27.

III. Then there's reading, which I'm just ready to do right now, after I journalize some more. Excited to spend time with this new book that I got from Baylor's stepdad Bruce. For any book, at least a few people thought it was good enough to be published, so maybe there's value in each book.

IV. The mid-night and early morning hours feel like a fun time to do stuff. Get stuff done. Pay bills. Wash dishes. I could do anything right now. hehe.


The point remains, it's a very counter-intuitive time for productivity. I can imagine weird/new ideas happening at this time.
I'm going to continue reading for now, before going back to sleep. This is a fun practice, but I can perceive one downside/counterpoint:

Might be just waking up and staying up! That's why I'm getting off the computer after this.

No more of this.

Also, if you want to try 2 sleeps per night, you can't start the first sleep later than 10pm. Someone who wants to practice 2 sleeps per night would have to sleep earlier, like around 7-8pm, 9-10pm latest, when the sun goes down. That takes you through at LEAST 1 R.E.M. cycle and makes it easier to wake up around 12-3am, for a Mid-night romp. It's an experience. I'm feeling a different calmness and clearness of mind in the quietude of these hours. I just wrote a 4-point-counterpoint/7 paragraph essay.


The first sleep gives a mental recharge.
Mid-night a very interesting time to do things.
There's a different feel to early morning.

Though I attempt my best to be highly effective, I'm not the most efficient person, in fact, I sometimes take forever to do things. In the end, I'm finding this hour to be more productive than most.

My Latest Lucid Dreaming Experience!

8/31 - Saturday morning, 7:17am

Holy crap. Lucid dream! Dream journal!

I entered the lucid stage of dreaming when I felt a strong sense of touch, followed by the "peeling away" of the illusion of the world (akin to salvia, strong shrooms). At that point, I realized I had control of the dream. Strictly with my mind, if I think of something, I was able to see it, FEEL it, and hear it. And at the same time, I can see it beautifully or not, it was up to my judgment. And after trying out my powers for a bit, I said to myself: Cool, I'm not waking up!

So knowing it was a lucid dream, I wanted to fly. I always told myself if I could control my dreams, then I would fly. So I started flying, ascending. It wasn't like a flying-around-the-sky type of flight, but an upward shot. 

It was more like a straight up vertical shot, not like this crazy lady.

And I could see anything I imagined, so I summoned a DNA strand, double helix. I could feel it and see the little phosphates/sugars as I was flying up through it. It was then I realized that it's not just about the DNA itself, which we share many in common with animals and plants, but about the EXPRESSION of the genes, which genes get put to work, that make you work, and manifest your results.

It looked a lot like this^ And I could touch it.

All the while, there was this music:

"We're rich, we're something." With beautiful chorus choir and music. Harps. Lights. It felt heavenly. I thought myself lucky to experience it. I could FEEL the music... "we're rich," it didn't mean rich in money, necessarily, but in life, in people, in memories, in family. And "we're something," it was very reaffirming, warm, made me feel a sense of purpose in hearing it. 

I brought people into my life, people that I haven't seen in a while. And when the flight ended, I was in my seat, small-spooned, with a girl behind me, apparently in a library, with other people there, all in pairs. Felt pretty good. Also felt like they had just arrived from a flight themselves. And it felt like there was a presence in the room, telling us to give an evaluation of our experience. Weird. Most of the dream was directed by thought. End dream.

It wasn't a long sleep. I had just gone BACK to sleep, about 40-minutes to an hour ago (~6:20am). It's a strange time to be sleeping. My 2nd sleep of the night, after waking up at 1am (something I do when I sleep early, at 7pm). All in all, I've had a productive midnight work/read session. Going to slumber for a while longer, then share this dream journal at a time when my friends on the west coast are awake... 5am over there.

---

I've looked around for "Lucid Dreaming tips" in case anyone reading is interested in trying it, but the techniques/tips  provided haven't worked for me. Usually my lucid dreams come when I'm super tired and lacking sleep, and right in-between the sleeping/waking phase. My theory is that maybe the brain goes into the REM phase more suddenly when the body is deprived of sleep.

Anyway, for more info on Lucid Dreaming, see HowStuffWorks and WikiHow.

Black Youths Beat Hispanic Man shouting "This is for Trayvon"

Headline: Witness claims youths yelled 'this is for Trayvon' in beating

Police still investigating claim in beating of Hispanic man

Source: Baltimore Sun - July 15, 2013

There's a lot of negative fallout from the Zimmerman verdict.
Trayvoning is one such example.

But this Baltimore story is another terrible example... This is real bad news after the Trayvon Martin/George Zimmerman verdict.

WHY?

Because now colored people are angry at other colored people! They're tearing us apart! To quote George Costanza: "A house divided cannot stand!"


We got the Divided States of America here...

Simply, if people are mad about a court case, they should not continue the violence.

Stop the Violence! See: Davey D

See also: The Stop the Violence Movement (lyrics)

SOMEBODY KNOWS that the best way to PREVENT PEOPLE FROM RISING UP against a broken system is to keep them divided against each other. The sensationalization of the Zimmerman case is divisive in multiple ways, I will enumerate just a few:

1. Friends against Friends - Disagreement on the Verdict - Everyone's gonna have a different opinion on whether the verdict was right or wrong. This has caused more than a few arguments on social media networks. This "touchy topic" has even turned some friends against each other. No. Bad. Stop it.

2. Color against a Different Color - As evidenced in Baltimore, the Zimmerman verdict has turned minority groups against each other. Black vs. Brown, White vs. Black, Color vs Non-color... ain't no good. Can't we just get along and dance?

3. Community against itself - What does it mean to be colored and stigmatized in America? What does that do to one's self-worth? We got people criticizing their own people and reinforcing their own negative stereotypes.

For people who want justice and real change, we have to UNIFY against a common enemy, which is a broken system with corrupted parts—corrupted cops, along with incompetent political and business leaders. Instead of thinking in terms of "I" or "you," think in terms of "we" and "us."

Not all of them are corrupted, in fact, probably just a minority are. That's why it's no time for generalization, it's time for specificity.

Together we rise.
Divided we'll die.


Let's end the racism and start the embrace-ism. Let's give free hugs, literally or figuratively, and embrace our true relationship to each other, as Earth Citizens, of the Human Family, on Planet Rock aka Earth!

Rock, rock... Planet Rock.

A lot of us have experienced racism. It's real as shit.
Middle school, high school, even now it still exists.

This court case, and the subsequent fallout over its verdict, makes me question the justice system, the education system, the media/news media landscape, AND democracy as a whole.... more on that in a later post...

or maybe I'll make a song about it on my mixtape.

Forbidden Fruit

As far as new music goes, I like this song, "Forbidden Fruit" by J. Cole ft. Kendrick Lamar.

What I really like about the song though is that BASSLINE from Electric Relaxation! 

However....

I don't like the idea of calling a girl bitch. 

I don't call girls bitches.

I call bitches bitches... guy/girl/gender neutral.

But to call girls bitches is fk'ed up.

I don't like it, I'mma go against majority of mainstream rappers for that, and I think that's 100% fine if I'm not like them. 

If I was a rapper, I'd be the type that supports the XX gender for what they do, everything they put up with, and the miracles that they are.

Start that revolution.

Girl power!

Of course....

Some girls ARE bitches. But some guys are bitches too. So to refer to girls in general as bitches is kinda fucked up I think. That's a bad generalization.

Fuck your generalization.

Can't stand an overgeneralization.

Understand? I take a stand.

Tragedy going on, like what's happening in Afghanistan.

Things You Can Do This Summer 2013

Check it out... this list contains NOTHING that you HAVE to do, just things you CAN do, because it's summer!

jumping off a rock in Hawaii screaming WU-TANG!!! (2007)

1. See something new - Travel!
One great thing about traveling is, you don't have to travel far. And it doesn't have to cost much money. A Google search can give you access to all the info you need. You can go to another side of town and have a local vacation (called a "staycation", look it up). Walk, skate, bike, or drive to an area of town you haven't been, and see something new. Just be safe!

this was on a staycation in Long Beach @the Grand Prix!

And for the more "monetarily-inclined," another great thing about traveling is, you can travel far!

Traveling to different places will help you understand the world in ways that books and videos cannot. Experience new things, see new communities, meet new people, shop/eat at new places! Shopping and eating at new places might sound funny, but don't take it lightly, because you're actually re-routing your money into another local economy! $400 in America can go quickly, but over in another country, it might help a few families! If you have time off from work or school this summer, then you can travel! Vegas doesn't count!

For more on why traveling is great, see Lena Desmond: Date a Boy (or Girl) Who Travels


2. Learn something new - Practice!
The best things are learned outside of school. How many people do you know would agree with that?

Summer Learning is the BEST learning! Practice something. My best summers are ALL about practicing something new. It's when I learned to swim, and when I learned to break. Summer was the time I had AWAY from school that allowed me to focus on something else and learn something new!

This was what I learned one summer!

If you already found a passion, art, sport, or hobby that you like to do, PRACTICE! Get those 10,000 hours of deliberate practice in, you'll be in good shape!

MOST PEOPLE have wasted summers. I've had it too, the summers where you don't learn anything, and just get really bored! Turn your boredom into fascination. Go find a hero, role model, or competitor/enemy to motivate you to practice something! Have a goal or greater vision in mind!

You don't necessarily have to take a class... just be OPEN to learning. Position yourself to grow and get help from others.

I learned this from a gas station!

I learn stuff all the time just by keeping my eyes and ears open.


3. Help someone new - Teach!
This might be the most inexpensive and meaningful thing to do this summer. But don't teach before you get enough practice or experience.

"Approach tests like a warrior,
And ATTACK each problem!"

Knowledge is powerful, and throughout the years of your life, you might LEARN something that other people don't know. Not only is knowledge powerful, it's useful and beneficial to other people's lives. If you're in a position to teach, give advice, or mentor someone... can be a younger sister, brother, FRIEND, or colleague... then not only will you have a positive impact on someone else's life, but you can also build a great relationship. Help someone new.

Some people combine traveling WITH teaching, as I know a few friends who are on English-Teaching and Mission Trips abroad, doing excellent work that I highly commend! And AT THE SAME TIME, by traveling, they are spending money locally and circulating it back into another country's local economy!


4. Do/Feel/Try something new - Experience!
Hey, if your idea of having fun is climbing a mountain, or going camping, or anything else experimental (but safe), then go for it! I know technically, everything's an experience, but I mean experience something NEW. TRY something new. Step out of your comfort zone.

You might make a mistake... Turn it into a learning experience. You can do something adventurous. Or do something awesome. Just DO something. And enjoy it! Live in the now, take in each precious and unique moment. Appreciate this temporary life.

5. Make something new - Create!
Go do something that no one else can do.
Everything you make will be unique to you.

We all have a unique fingerprint, but no one will see it unless we make a mark. Once you make something, it's yourself forever. Write, sing, record, put something together that you want to be remembered for. Think of the future, you can make something for your kids and grandkids. Think of the present, you can make something for your friends and family.

Current example: This blog post.

Hip hop lyrics that crack me up and make me smile

Got no money and you got no car,
Then you got no woman, and there ya are.

LOL
Young MC!

A romance, with no finance, is a damn nuisance!



Special Ed was also a hilarious MC. Especially the last verse here:
http://rapgenius.com/Special-ed-i-got-it-made-lyrics



"Lemonade was a popular drink and it still is
I get more props in stunts than Bruce Willis."

"Take the money never have to run."


More lines that crack me up, in a later post. In the meantime...


One of the best starting lines ever was:


"I seen a rainbow, yesterday, but too many storms."

Left Eye, would be the one on the left.

Lisa Left-Eye Lopez, RIP.



Thanks to Big Daddy Kane, Guru, Nas, KRS, Rakim, CL Smooth, Pete Rock, DJ Premier, Mos Def and Talib Kweli, Black Thought, everyone in Wu-Tang, even Jay-Z, I think their music has had a positive effect on the world overall.

Rap goes much deeper than Tupac and Biggie, and is a topic worth exploring for my generation.

Beyond Rap, which a universe in itself, is Hip Hop Culture (global), which is another universe in a shared dimension. I denote the term "global" because there is another type of Hip Hop Culture (local), which varies and intricates regionally.


Hell, here's the whole verse from Lisa Left-Eye Lopez, she goes hard:

I seen a rainbow yesterday

But too many storms have come and gone

Leavin' a trace of not one God-given ray

Is it because my life is ten shades of gray

I pray all ten fade away

Seldom praise Him for the sunny days

And like His promise is true

Only my faith can undo

The many chances I blew

To bring my life to anew

Clear blue and unconditional skies

Have dried the tears from my eyes

No more lonely cries

My only bleedin' hope

Is for the folk who can't cope

Wit such an endurin' pain

That it keeps 'em in the pourin' rain

Who's to blame

For tootin' caine in your own vein

What a shame

You shoot and aim for someone else's brain

You claim the insane

And name this day in time

For fallin' prey to crime

I say the system got you victim to your own mind

Dreams are hopeless aspirations

In hopes of comin' true

Believe in yourself

The rest is up to me and you

This song is etched in my childhood, and will be there always. Waterfalls yo.....