Relationship Advice from someone Single? Nah...

I mean honestly, how the hell can someone who doesn't have a boyfriend/girlfriend possibly give any relevant advice to be taken seriously? I mean if you're not in the situation you can't provide intelligent input right? That's why only sick Doctors can help patients, that's why they only allow female Plastic Surgeons to give Breast Implants, that's why rich folk never listen to their financial advisers or accountants because how could they possible give them good advisement if they themselves aren't as rich as their employers, right? 

If you haven't noticed by now I'm implying you are stupid by using sarcasm. The validity of someone's advice should have all to do with the content of their advice, not the assumed position you think they are in. Good Advice is good advice no matter who gives it so don't ignore something just because your ego is too inflated to evaluate without bias, that's a mental handicap on your part. There are many people are single because they are strong enough maintain their standards instead of settling for someone beneath their requirements for the simple sake of saying "I got me a Him/Her." And furthermore, the people who made mistakes, that they learned from, will probably be able to give far better input to those in general situations then someone who has never done so. I mean how smart and quick on your feet do you have to be if you've never had anything go wrong or you've been in a long standing arranged marriage, Hmm? Keep in mind... On the road to success in whatever endeavor, Finances, Relationships, Parenting etc, its best not only to listen to those who made it with no issues, but seek those who hit potholes so that you can make attempts to avoid them or learn to bounce back. Make Sense? 

Follow me on Twitter: @KingMagma

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Top 5 Things My Parents Taught Me To Teach My Kids

5) Game Night

At least once a month gather the family together for an enjoyable, tech free day/evening of board/card/team games to direct and indirectly teach EVERYONE, not just the kids, how important family should be. This also teaches how to be a respectful winner, gracious loser and even get better at witty retorts because you gotta talk trash but not cross the line and get popped. Hone those trash talkin skills early.

4) Dinner Time

We will eat together, Not only literally but metaphorically. Breaking bread with your people is something your kids should know and understand in every sense that it is used. The time invested in putting in the work necessary to be able to eat a hot meal should be honored, respected and appreciated. Eating whole meals daily is not a luxury i had growing up, so being able to ensure my kids don't take that for granted is highly important.

3) Allowance is to be Earned, Not Expected

I never got a traditional allowance every week or month, and to be honest never even asked for it. When my parents gave us money it was a business proposition really. What's funny is both parents did it independently of each other, they weren't together at the time.

DAD:

While getting bored with how easy school was grades started slipping because i me and my older bro spent time being class clowns and town miscreants, so he made a deal. At the end of semester when we got progress reports in elementary thru high school, he created a monetary scale in lieu of allowance. If we got A - $20, B - $10. A C we got nothing, BUT... A D resulting in us owing $10 and an F $20. At 6-8 classes each, i looked forward to that $140 4 times a year. Never got the max every time, but made me work harder in school the entire time. I learned that sometimes doing good doesn't matter to folks. You have to motivate them with what THEY WANT, and make the means to an end thru what they should be doing. Eventually, hopefully, they will learn valuable lessons along the journey you've embarked them on. Clearly i did and gained tons of knowledge on the way

MOM:

I wanted to play in a soccer league in my town, it cost $30 and there were exactly 31days left to register and i asked her to enroll me. She said lets make a deal, you clean your room, do your chores without me having to ask you, i will give you $1 a day and you can pay for it yourself.

I of course made it like 2 weeks, got lazy, stopped and the end of the month only got $14 and couldn't join. Lesson learned, if you not ready to put in the work, you not worthy of the reward.

(Sidenote: i also started and organized my own soccer league after school with friends that i didn't tell her about which ended up in me getting the ass whooping of my life for lying to her about why i wasn't home on time everyday when she called from work. A Jamaican woman had to stop her from beating me because it was so bad... A JAMAICAN. You may not understand the significance unless you got island family, But i digress...)

2) Expose your kids to religion, don't enforce it

I think what many people do is try to make their kids follow their practices instead of allowing them to. Everything i learned about every religion in existence involved free will. Why take away from your child what your God gave everyone? Even if you don't believe in religion, just spirituality or hell nothing at all, why make them follow you? The very fact you have to force them to instead of explaining why it works for you and why they should try it should open your eyes to the fact that you need to get yourself right mentally. Because clearly you don't have faith in your own ways. Be tolerant and open minded so your kids wont choose their faith or lack thereof ignorantly.

1) Make fear of disappointment worse than physical pain

No matter the amount or severity of whoopings i caught from Pops, Moms, Uncle Mike, Aunt Dollie, Aunt Linda, yeah I'm naming names, eff that (don't beat me tho, for real that's not cool, I'm grown), nothing compared to the immense amount of terror i had/have in letting them down by not being the best i could be. I'm not allowed to be a failure because of them. Regardless of any personal flaws they had they instilled great ones in me that will last GENERATIONS beyond me. I don't want my kid to be afraid of the beating they will receive for getting caught doing something dumb, i want them to not feel its worth risking having me look at them with anything but Pride & Joy for a dumb act in the first place.

But best believe they will still be getting that behind whooped...

What you thought this was? Just cause I'm droppin knowledge don't mean you aint getting popped future kids. Act stupid if you wanna, i been practicing hitting other peoples kids on the sly for years. Try me.

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WorldstarHipHop… Cops

 http://t.co/STQ9G45lcJ

 

• You have the right to remain stupid.
• Anything you post can and will be used against you in a court of law.
• You have the right to consult an attorney before risking your freedom for cyber popularity.
• If you cannot afford an attorney, Sah Dah Tay.
• Knowing and understanding your rights as I have explained them to you, are you willing to keep being sheep?

 

I’m sure this website is not new news to anyone under the age of 35 by now. The site where all random cellphone video captured fights, “ratchet” chicks dancing and your favorite thug artists are doing drugs, drinking expensive liquors and various other parole violating activities to show their fans how “Real” they are. Idiots. It seems to me ignorant Hip Hop artists utilize “Free Speech” as a method to rid themselves of this basic human right that was once a luxury to even have in the first place which is why Hip Hop Culture even exists right now in the first place. Irony at its prime.

 

I know a couple times on my blog I seem like a conspiracy theorists but I study people, all the time. And you know the dumbest way to enforce your authority over someone? With brute force. Think of all the cultures that used all out force to attack, subdue and control their enemy… what ALWAYS HAPPENS? Revolution, Anarchy, Collapse. But what if you remembered this simple universal truth, regardless of race, ethnicity, religion, creed, gender, sexuality… Ignorance is Bliss. Why even tell people they are enslaved? Hear me out…

When you have a group of folk and oppress them, they bind together to overcome ignoring differences to unite and fight against a common evil. Every.. Single.. Time. When you get your back to a wall eventually you have no choice but to fight to survive. Too much to gain with seemingly nothing to lose, Anarchy.

Now when you are too lax in authoritative force you get a group of the few that feel they can do a better job than those in power, and start a militia to overthrow in a lust for absolute power. Too much to gain with seemingly nothing to lose. Anarchy.

But what if you, the one in absolute power, instead created a system in which the oppressed feuded with the oppressed? Where the people with nothing to lose constantly kept each other from uniting without as little outside influence as possible? What if a overseer simply injected hot topics and influencers that people with nothing who craved power chose to revolt against that while giving others power and the immense desire to not give up the little power they did have?

How does this all relate to sites like WorldstarHipHop? Lets see, you have hood rappers with nothing who did everything possible to hide their drug empires from cops in order to provide for the people around them, using their stories to create new lanes that accomplish this goal, legally, and are now in positions to inspire others to do the same as them but celebrated when they get caught doing the very thing in their lyrics they wrote to make money to stop them from needed to do said illegal activities in the first place. Confused yet? lemme simplify.

If you were a cop, your goal could be to get an undercover in training willing to risk their life, start him/her from the bottom to weasel his way to the deepest levels of the criminal empire gaining pertinent information with wiretaps, video surveillance along the way so that they could eventually testify after years upon years of work to bring down the head boss. OR… you can just make it “cool” to tell on yourself by filming your self doing so and submitting it to a public forum voiding any expectation of privacy and use a persons own words/actions against them.

Like I said, I’m not one for conspiracy theories, but if you are a real Hip Hop fan, of the culture, not just the music.. what part of the game is encouraging your “idols” who made it out the hood to get caught doing stupid stuff to get wrapped back into that life? Sounds like undercovers to me. Or maybe I am crazy and if this were true there would be TONS of evidence pointing to this actuality… in unrelated news, peep the below quote.

 

“The greatest trick the devil ever pulled was convincing the world he doesn't exist.” ~Charles Baudelaire

 

 

I’m gone.

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Flu Shots… Nah, Im Good.

Now I’m not all for conspiracy theories and all but this right here? Man listen. We all know the flu comes round every year, I’m sure we are not interested in know how or why it comes seasonally, that isn’t the issue though. What I do know is how vaccines work. You are basically purposely infected with part of the very microbe you are trying to not get in a watered down form so your immune system creates defenses against it. This would be cool, if the Flu didn’t mutate and evolve so frequently.

 

Problem with people these days is we super medicate everything making our immune systems seemingly stronger, but when it boils down to it makes the very diseases we trying to eliminate evolve far faster than we ever can. What this means is diseases, like any other living thing, have to adapt or perish to survive. So essentially what we are doing is FORCING a living thing to breed to acclimate to its environment, a process that takes many generations, thousands of years in some cases, into doing so yearly. The “bug” is getting stronger and stronger, we are breeding Super Predator diseases by throwing mixtures of chemicals in our bodies.

 

But on the conspiracy theory side…..

Do you even know what is in your medicinal cocktail? You just figured “if doctors said it, must be cool?” I guess. In the age of information we sure do avoid finding it as much as possible because mad folks get sicker than Flu Symptoms from getting the flu shot… how that make sense? and many people STILL get infected. Furthermore lets be real, in the US we do not have free health care, yet FluShots are given out every year, by random stores, not even doctors offices, stores like CVS, Walgreens and such with no financial benefit? eff that, I am not naïve enough to believe that. yall being tested on as far as I'm concerned, have fun in Tuskegee Part 2. If you don’t get the reference, shame on you. Research it NOW.

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Did the Media make em do it? pt 2 (in-depth analysis)

 

This is a continuation of the article posted on The Info Soup blogsite pertaining to the Colorado Shooting that happened

 

Something I’ve noticed is that many criminals tend to cite music, movies and videos games as reasons they’ve committed crimes in the manner they have. After a while you have to ask yourself, are they as crazy as the news and police make them out to be? or is there a degree of truth to the controlling nature of where we have been pushed to the brink of mentally and emotionally thru marketing?

Check out some notable Current Events in the news.

 

Penn State Scandal

We all know of the lifetime of pedophilia Sandusky did to them kids under the willfully ignorant eye of what seems to be the entire administration, community outreach program and local government, but how many 'urban' people that boast "Stop Snitchin' were pissed at these happenings? Seems hypocritic doesn't it?

How does this relate? Well, washed up artists who emancipate themselves from Major labels of many genres are constantly speaking on how they are/were puppets to their Corporate Labels no? You really think the label that keeps your favorite musicians in the limelight won't bend them to their will to control the Public? You really think you determine what is "in" these days? If so, why has Hip Hop just so happened to have migrated from speaking on Trends of the streets to motivate the underdog low social class to change for betterment to telling you to spend your hard earned money you live check to check on so you can purchase all foreign made goods where the Label more than likely has stocks in Corporations that operate sweatshops there? Sound too complicated? Let me simplify... "You scratch my back, I'll scratch yours."

 

If you think I'm whacked out my brain just remember lil tidbits of info like this:

Run DMC made a song called "My Adidas" because of the shell toe'd shoes they liked to wear before they made it big which landed them a 7 figure promotional deal.

Jump up to the 90's and companies like Avirex gave out free leather jackets to artists in the limelight such as WuTang and Nas as "gifts" to wear in music videos and at photoshoots that otherwise couldn't afford such brands/items growing up in their lifestyle.

Fast Forward to the new millennium and Busta Rhymes makes a song called "Pass the Courvoisier" which lands his management company a promotional deal yet...
Excerpt from NY Times.com (http://www.nytimes.com/2002/09/02/business/media-hip-hop-sales-pop-pass-the-courvoisier-and-count-the-cash.html)

And now you got artists rapping specifically about Companies they own or own stock it. Riddle me this, outside of photoshoots When the last time you seen JayZ in a Roca-a-Fella fit? Puff Daddy in Sean John? I'll wait..... Am I still buggin now?

What brought about this change around the same time the artists reached elite corporate status levels of business? Another astonishing act of happenstance? Or were they now in the ranks of those who know the "unknown"? (And not that illuminati crap either, we talking real Life stuff.)

Artists went from writing lyrics about things they enjoyed normally, to things they wanted but couldn't afford so they'd get free samples, to being paid promote things they care nothing about and now they invested in companies to produce stuff they don't use to influence their listeners to purchase items to help them line their own pockets. You telling me they don't do this KNOWING they have complete control over people? Man listen...

 

 

2012 Batman Movie Theater Massacre

Okay okay okay I already know you're like How the hell does this shooting have anything to do with the media or entertainment or corporate Greed, you "reaching". But before you spazz and tell me I'm crazy lemme just let me reiterate some interesting facts for you to extrapolate (not assume) info from.

As we saw above Corporations will easily spend 1-3% of their gross income on Marketing their product(s).

Through Bombardment and Subliminal methods they push products to the public in ads, product placement in shows/movies, payouts and "gifts" to musicians for mentioning them in songs, inclusion in popular video games etc etc etc.

Now peep this...

Members of the sport sporting community, hunters and recreational Target shooters account for $5.5 billion.

The gun industry generates nearly $31 Billion dollars a year in revenues in the US alone... And that's just the Legal stuff not including state & federal governmental contracts.
Cited from: http://www.reloadbench.com/gloss/impact.html

Again: Corporations will easily spend 1-3% of their gross income on Marketing their product(s).

You ever seen a Handgun commercial during Love & Hip Hop ATL? Ever been emailed a Black Friday sales circular on Discounted Bullets? How do certain guns become so popular to people that have never owned one? You think Gun Manufactures are the only Corporations in the world that don't use the same exact Marketing ploys that every other successful major worldwide company uses and still outsells them? Or is it that you are bombarded so hard with it that you are oblivious? Think about it...

Where do most teenagers learn about guns? Where is it they can see which ones work best? Isn't word of mouth still the one of the most effective forms of advertisement? So how is this happening? Where do you hear about/see guns the most? News? Hip Hop? Country Music? Video Games? Movies? You'd be crazy to think the Gun industry isn't using these same avenues to influence consumers into buying their products over the competitors. What better way to show the deadly real world applications of weapons you make then to see them in action on Living beings?

Nah, maybe I am just the far fetched conspiracy theorist, no country would allow such course of action as to unleash weapons onto the public just to see how deadly they were to prove a point in a pissing match... Right?

 

 

Also, peep game. I listen to lots of Hip Hop and dabbled in random country songs ex-girlfriends forced me to listen to (don't judge me, she had a 30inch waist and 48inch booty) and the most popular guns are all made from 8 manufactures of 1,100. Another bout of chance that every rapper/country star over the last 15 years from different regions all used/use the same low quality street guns but drive half million dollar cars? Okay then.. There's just no convincing you. This is all an illusion.

 

PS: for those thinking "The US wouldn't do that to it's own people, check out these intriguing facts:

Smith & Wesson - US (acquired after failing to $30million in debt)
Colt - US (Bankrupt)
Winchester - US (closed & reopened in Japan)
Mossberg - US (Native Swedish Owner) - generating $24 million annually
Glock - Austria
Magnum Research( maker of Desert Eagle) - Israel
Heckler & Koch - Germany
Sig Sauer - Germany/Switzerland

How come all the companies that haven't went bankrupt are all out of country businesses... in Europe? Nevermind, its not like Hip Hop artists boast any other products from corporations from this region in their music. I mean honestly, what rapper would talk about German cars, own Swiss bank accounts or boast European clothing designers? That's just dumb... Isn't it?

 

Hey, I’m not saying people are not in control of their own actions, because I know for dang sure I am, but I can no longer avoid the fact that TONS of people daily are guided solely by what “Popular” culture deems of them without thinking for themselves. I cant believe any further that this is an unexpected by-product, but a desired effect meticulously planned for by the Corporations that profit off the people by any means necessary. There's too much evidence of pattern for this to be a coincidence.

 

in the words of @TheCosby… #StayWokeDog

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48 Laws of Power: #10 Git from Round Me

"Infection: Avoid the unhappy and unlucky."

I don't know how many times I've fell victim not following this very important Law but its hard because of my overly protective nature, and I'm sure many of you have too. What it pertains to is people's negative energy, their aura, their Karma, luck or whatever you wanna call it, it's one in the same. Sadness and Depression are diseases; So much so, in fact, medicine exists to cure those who have too much of either... and its a multi-billion dollar a year seller. As living things we tend to sympathize with others doing worse than us out of caring, guilt and/or feel the need to want to be needed and attempt to help the less fortunate. I can't say I disagree with doing this but you MUST do so with better judgment. Let's look a this metaphorically...

Scenario: A man that cannot swim is in a river drowning, flailing at the arms...

What do you do? Seriously, say it aloud.

Now I'm sure most people's first instinct is "Jump in and save him." Which is a very noble idea but let's evaluate.

#1: Can you swim?

Sounds asinine to think someone who can't swim would try to save a drowning person but since we are speaking metaphorically, how many times have you (or someone you know) tried to help someone with an emotional/financial/physical issue that you/them couldn't get out of alone?

Broke people helping other broke people pay bills, "robbing Peter to pay Paul", people who are bad in relationships giving advice to others about keeping a lover happy, Out of shape folk telling people how to lose weight and diet properly... I know I see it EVERYDAY, don't you? Not saying the information/assistance can't be valid, because it very well can, but it definitely fits the scenario.

#2 Can You Do it Alone?

Do you actually possess the necessary ability to help the drowning man, or just the desire to? You want to try and aid someone but end up in a similar predicament doing so, helping them at your own expense.

And what if you dive in but because of your lack of expertise they STILL drown, now what? Now you feel guilty and just traded places, drowning, hoping someone comes along and saves you as you attempted to do for another. But if someone nearby just saw all the events that transpired, you think they will be just as likely to "dive in" and help you the same? If you saw a man run into a burning building to save someone and get thrown out by a fireball explosion would you run in next? I doubt it.

#3 Is it worth it?

This may sound kinda bad but you really must evaluate if helping someone is worth your time. Let's take that same scenario and ask a few questions...

If you can't swim, why you in the river?

Why weren't necessary measures taken to make sure you wouldn't be in this situation in the first place?

Did you do this to yourself on purpose because you get a thrill out of being saved? Or were you trying to drown?

If I risk myself to save you will you just dive back in?

Did someone else do this to you? If so shouldn't I be watching my back because this is someone baiting me.

Are you the one baiting me just so I jump in to save you as you use me to save yourself?

These may sound like I'm "over thinking" but they are quite common occurrences. People put themselves in harms way to get sympathy all the time, and some do so strictly to use that empathy you feel for them to stab you in the back. You've got to train yourself to think faster so you can evaluate situations thoroughly and still have enough time to act accordingly in the best interest of not only the person seemingly in danger, but yourself.

So before jumping in to save someone else from "drowning" in their problems, make sure you can handle the wave of responsibility and repercussions of such actions. Everyone's misery isn't external, they do it to themselves and if you choose to harbor around these people... It will infect your health, luck & blessings too. Lysol your Life, hang out with those who make sure if they can't swim in their ocean of issues that they were fortunate enough to have a boat, smart enough to bring a life raft, hell even those who trained themselves not to panic because they learned how to float. Everyone in danger aint worth the time, energy & risk to assist. So with the inspiration of the ever so wise hood prophet Project Pat...

Don't Save 'em, if it aint worth them being Saved.

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48 Laws of Power Explained: #5 What do You mean to You?

"So Much Depends on Reputation, Guard it with your Life."

Like seriously, Do you even care about your image or personal legacy? What will you be remembered for? Is a short moment of laughter, temporary happiness or even feeling of vindication at the expense of self respect and dignity that fulfilling to you? Seems that way for most.

Everything you do represents a part of you. The words you say, jokes you make, charity you provide, how you act/react in anger etc all contribute to the image you portray that can and will be used against you. Those who cannot always be in control to project the facade they want to be known for will be demeaned and remembered as the puppet they are.

Being the loudest, most ignorant and most animated is almost NEVER associated with power. "The strong move quiet, the weak start riots.", "Real G's move in Silence like..." and all that good stuff. Showing that adamantly what sets you off only exposes a severe weakness of yours, now we know how to cloud your judgment.


Appear peaceful, remain powerful.

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48 Laws of Power Explained: #18 Solo Dolo

"Do Not Build Fortresses to Protect Yourself, Isolation is Dangerous."

Man, where do I start with this one? Do you even see the implications not only physically but emotionally? How often do you see, or maybe even do yourself, that when you get hurt in a relationship with a lover you immediately go to the IDGAF attitude? That is really the weakest thing for you to but you, at that moment, swear you are most in control. But have you ever noticed the people who employ this method are always the ones perpetually hurt by others and unhappy? Can't be a coincidence.

Don't isolate yourself so much from pain out of fear that you are willing to cut off all Happiness and possible personal progressive opportunities to do so, that is NOT Power.

What other areas do you think isolation leads to a snowball effect of eventual self destruction?

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48 Laws of Power Explained

I've been reading, well studying these guidelines to power written by Robert Greene in 1998, It's pretty impressive. At first I thought it was some random collection of common sense google tweets someone turned into book but it is far more in depth than I'd imagined.

Oddly enough, not to sound conceited, but many of the things I read so far in the book are things I naturally do but never really took time to notice why I do them, or why they work so seeing them laid out and explained gave me a lot of insight as to why I succeed in the areas where I do and am seen as a leader and somewhat intimidating to others even upon first meeting.

I'm gonna be posting some random laws I find notable to events I see or experience depending on the days they happen so stay tuned and you might find out some stuff to help you understand or even reform your actions to gain more power in your everyday life. Won't give you all the secrets though, you gotta read for yourself for all that... (That's Laws.. Nah, can't give yall too much too quick) Stay Tune, first post in 30minutes; Law 18: Isolation is Dangerous.

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The Truth in a Joke…

 

 

“Oh man…. I’m just playin…” How many times have we said this after saying exactly what we meant and upon seeing the other party get offended/hurt use the phrase to quickly diffuse the situation? Often huh?

 

No matter how many frightened to be themselves people will tell you, the jokes you make tell A LOT about who you are as a person. The very way you formulate was is humorous to you speaks to your mental state and, more than likely, past experiences. I mean honestly, how funny are jokes that have no factual/logical basis to them? Don’t you joke best with friends or people you know more about? Why is that?

 

Joking is also a subtle way for people to show themselves in a manner they feel more comfortable letting out rather than being completely open and vulnerable in a serious setting. Pay more attention to what people say and how they say it when trying to be humorous and you’ll start realizing more about them as a person then you ever would have coming out and asking them directly.

 

So make sure the next time you get that “LOL'” after a statement from a “friend”, to evaluate the words before it and see how the people you consult with really think.

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The Complement vs. Supplement Guide to Dating

The opposite of being Happy is not Sad, its Apathy. Many people don't understand why they remain unhappy in pending/current relationships because they don't take the time to evaluate this fact. To do this I have plotted out a simple way to see what type of Qualities you should be looking for in another; so you can not be sad, or numb… but be Happy with someone. 

 

Complement: to enhance a quality to make complete.

Supplement: to fill a deficiency to make whole, or Perfect.

 

The deficient part of the white is Supplemented by the black and vice versa while the red Complements the same areas enhancing the abundant portion.

 

Now while these two sound very similar there is definitely a fine line that makes all the difference in the world between you feeling fulfilled, and you feeling bitter and empty. The first mistake you may have made is not knowing yourself enough to know what you want vs. need in a relationship, Most people only selfishly pay attention to the former. You should not be diving blindly into and relinquishing control of your heart to different people on a whim, Make sure they are even worth your time. To do this you must know your Good and Bad qualities to determine first what you NEED from another person, for them to Complement, or increase the potency of that quality; or Supplement, fill the remaining void you are deficient in that instance.

 

If you know you are typically frantic in situations, would you want someone like you who complements that, joining in your excitedness making you more frantic? Or someone on the opposite spectrum who Supplements the clear-headedness and Patience you are missing to be able to Calm you down?

 

If you know you are personally strong willed, hard working and determined for success, do you want someone who will complement that by challenging you, positively, to be better than you are? Or someone who Supplements by being lackluster and uninspired so that you feel more important as caretaker?

 

Believe it or not these may sound like obvious answers but they aren't. Some people like when everyone is as overly excited as themselves because it registers as engaging and there are PLENTY of people that date people they feel are "safe" out of fear of being left or because it makes sense Logically. The important part is to know who you are so that you can make the right choice BEFORE you get in too far with someone emotionally. If you take a little time every week and be real with yourself, write down a quality you've noticed you have and decide whether its Good or Bad for you, then you can determine the Qualities the Yin to your Yang will need to have to make your union complete. Keep in mind, It’s much easier to find what you seek if you know what you're actually looking for.

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Cause & Effect: Internet Shopping Hurting Your Local Economy

 

In this day and age we have so many avenues in which to reach the information super highway easily that all it takes is a flick of the wrist from Phone in holster to World Gather information on any Product, Service or Question ever asked in the History of our Existence, so why go to Retail Stores to shop when you can research, order, purchase without waiting lines and have everything you'd ever need shipped to you from the comfort of your own home?

Many people don't recognize the negative impacts online shopping, both legal and illegally have done to our Local communities. While it has opened up the markets to Mom & Pop shops to compete on a larger scale because of the trends and misunderstood nature of the common shopper it is set to do far more harm than good.

 

Right now Many retail companies are battling with the Business model that you need people to sell products, as crazy as that sounds think about it... Whens the last time you NEEDED a sales person? How often do you go to a store and need no one except a person to point you in the direction of what you need and a cashier to ring you up? How many times have you used the self checkout line instead of an actual cashier even when there is no line in either? How many times have you utilized the Purchase online and pick up in the store option because you've done all your research? It may seem crazy but the Machines that do the self checkout are more profitable than actual people. Hiring a minimum wage employee, giving them benefits and annual raises, break rooms, specific working conditions actually cost companies Billions of Dollars a year when internet can eliminate most costs, checking out millions of people at once and following all best business practices 100% of the time without needing to be trained or Monitored. With the way things are going, you will see far less people in stores and far more Machines to retrieve and ship these internet orders.

 

Another HUGE area people don't take into account is Tax revenue. Did you know that if an internet site does not have a Physical Brick & Mortar store in your state that there is no sales tax? That could equate to some very hefty savings from the customer and most would jump right on it, but that is also money taken away from Local Schools, Road Maintenance, the Legal system etc. etc. etc. Aren't we all annoyed with this trend that the annoying out of country Tech Support or customer service agent we have to speak to to get help was a job that could've gone here but Greedy corporations would rather cheaper Labor to pad their pockets? Well guess what? When We purchase things online trying to save a dollar here and there, not recognizing if its an American company we are supporting, then you are that Greedy person using cheap Labor to pad your pockets. Scary huh? You have now become a part of the very same corporate greed community that has setback our communities. And don't even get me started on you Bootlegg Movie and CD people, you will spend $600 on some Fancy European shoes but not $10 to support an artist from YOUR city that you enjoy the music of. You are crippling America but As Long as you look "Fly" I guess it doesn't matter right? Smh.

All I'm trying to point out here is that your community's success is on your shoulders, if you are not willing to reinvest back into it, how can you be mad when the government doesn't either? Step up and go to your local store, spend that extra $3 and purchase locally, get the extra additives that you know you need instead of stealing them all from torrent websites. I'm not saying be a saint, but at least Limit the negative impact you have in your own Neighborhood or else the next time you find you’re not able to get a job because "No ones Hiring" it'll be YOUR fault because the Internet took your job due to cheap labor, not foreigners.

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Whats the Difference? Being Able to: Buy vs Afford

 

As a finance major in college I found out how to tell the difference verbally in what I always knew instinctively; Its what's called the "Real Cost" of an item. Too often we look to the Price tag of an item and the amount we have in the bank account and make the determination of buying something based solely off that which only leads to uncontrollable debt, overdrafts and inordinate late payment/reconnection fees. So simply put here's the difference:

 

 

 

 

Scenario 1: You are about to purchase a used car and have saved up $3,000.

In the Able to Buy part of decision making you may start looking at a nice $2,800 Luxury vehicle with low miles in GREAT condition. Sitting in a luxury vehicle will definitely be an ego boost and you know its pretty reliable so it SEEMS like a good buy for you.

But you have to ask if you can actually afford it. What inevitable costs will be bound with the Car that you have not accounted for in the immediate and long term? Is there Sales Tax? How much will you have to pay for car registration? Do you have Car Insurance? How much of a deposit will need to be paid on the car before it can even be registered? How much will insurance be a month and do you have enough in your personal budget to account for it? How much does regular maintenance for the vehicle cost? When will it need to be done again?

Scenario 2: You saved up $300 and want to purchase a new Cell phone and deciding which phone and service you are going to go with.

You might decide you want the latest and greatest phone with unlimited plan and have enough to buy it but again you need to know if you can afford it, not only today, but the rest of the contract term you are signing. Have you checked How much the phone cost upon approval with Tax? Is there going to be a deposit? How much can you afford a month on a phone bill? How much is a carrying case and any other essential accessories you may need?

Scenario 3: You see that your favorite designer is/has released a new shoe, accessory, article of clothing that is unique and a Must have for you.

Now I KNOW yall have all seen this before: a cocky "fashionable" person is wearing some $300 Belt, a pair of $1,000 shoes, $500 purse and/or some gaudy chain/earrings flooding with diamonds but rocking a $5 white t-shirt, some Old Navy $1 flip flops or Flee Market Jordan's and cheap Dingy jeans/shorts yet bragging about their ensemble... word? Witcha Broke Self. If they could’ve afforded it then there would be no need to brag because it would be normal and your entire wardrobe would be of an equivalent nature. See the difference now?

Once you calculate the "Real Cost" of the items you are purchasing you may realize that the thing you can buy is something you actually can't afford to keep. There's nothing worse than buying a new car, phone device, clothing etc. that you broke the bank to get and can't even utilize because there's something else you need to make it look or work proper. Then to make matters worse some over extend themselves to do so and sacrifice something they need for something they want and end up in a cycle of "robbing Peter to pay Paul". Don't fall victim to the approval you seek from others with material things.

Able to Buy vs. Able to Afford

Don’t just jump from A to B, make sure you cover A to A.

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What Are Your Thoughts: US Food Stamp Program

 

 

I've always thought we need to take care of those less fortunate so I fully support the existence of the SNAP (Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program) which many know as Food Stamps. I do have family members on it and they truly need more help then we are able to provide them as a family. What I have noticed is that the amount of people going on it is increasing faster than unemployment. Below I have researched and compiled some basic facts about the last 5 years of benefits paid along with basic rules to become eligible.

ELIGIBILITY

As the amount of people in the household increase the amount of Gross income allowed to be considered for Benefit payouts will at a rate of about $406 per person per month starting at $1174 ($14,000/year Gross).

 

Able bodied Adults without dependents in the house will only be allowed to receive benefits between 3months and 3years depending on specific income and situation. This is typically the plan College students will be on to supplement Food Plans and temporary solutions for people laid off or in between jobs needing a helping hand.

 

BENEFIT ALLOTMENTS

The minimal monthly benefit paid is $200 and raises slight for every dependent member of the household (rises approximately $143 per person on average). This number is based of the estimation that people spend about 30% of their net income on Food & Nourishment a month.

The National Average of benefits received per person is approximately $133 per person ($289 per Household). This is 140% of what it was in 2006 (a huge 22% jump occurred between 2008-2009 while the rest was a steady 1-6% increase year over year). 

Average Benefits Paid (per person) Per Month by State (2006 - 2010)

Average Benefits Paid (per household) Per Month By State (2006 - 2010)

 

I'm interested in a discussion so please comment and subscribe to the article so we can collect and share ideas.

Additional Facts:

• In Washington D.C. & Mississippi more than 20% of citizens receive benefits
• As of Nov.2009 1 in 8 adults and 1 in 4 children are using the Food Stamp Program
• Over 20,000 people per day apply for benefits 
• Number of People Participating has increased more than 4 million from Previous year. Chart of Rise of Members Receiving Benefits
• Benefits Paid to qualifying members has increased 214% since 2006 from 30 to 64 Brillion (Paid for with your Taxes) Benefits Paid Out (2006-2010)

 

So, now armed with the data, how do you know feel about Food Stamp Benefits? Answer a few questions in a sentence or two:

1) Do you feel the amounts paid out For Food Items are more or less than necessary for a typical household? Are they more or less than your own grocery bills?

2) Do you think the current time frame of 3 to 36 months encourages dependency on the program for unemployed able bodied adults?

3) Do the payout amounts & Income limitations per person/household indirectly encourage people into having more children/dependents and/or not seek better paying jobs?

What Are Your Thoughts?

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Why Did God Let it Happen?

 

I had a discussion with a friend recently about the topic of religion and Gods responsibility and/or accountability in events of an unfavorable Nature. I know many people, including myself at one point, that asked these same kinds of questions. I mean think about it, Have you ever asked yourself:

Why do bad things happen to Good People?

Why do Innocent People get Hurt?

Why do the good Die Young? etc. etc. etc. 

These questions are so meaningful that many Religiously Neutral/Agnostic/Atheists use it as the sole basis in which they choose not to be Religious/Spiritual. Since of course I cannot speak directly for God, I want to even the Plane on a Human level to help explain, and assist in spread the clarity that I have been lucky enough to attain.

 

Free Will:

To begin to understand, you must first realize that EVERYONE has a Choice. If you can't come to terms with that then stop reading now. Most of us are not Drones (or at least shouldn't be), and have the full mental capacity to know the difference between right and wrong, better and worse, Fair or Biased. Without the choice of making the "Good" or "evil" choice then, in my opinion, Life would be worthless. I mean think about it, what if you were NEVER allowed to make a bad decision... Never allowed to step outside the box... Never allowed to do anything that was Biblically considered wrong... Would you really enjoy your current lifestyle? Sex, Smoking, Tattoos, Cursing, hell the manner in which you may jokes would have to stop. Though it sounds good to say, would you really like the world to be “Prefect”? If yes, what if that idea of Perfection was someone who enjoyed the opposite of everything you did… Would your answer still be yes? Not me. 

Helping or Hurting:

Think about someone in your life that ONLY comes to when they need something and avoids the majority of the advice you provide them so they fall into the same problems over and over again... How merciful would you be to their feelings? How long would you continue to help them? At what point do you realize that "Helping" them in the way you are is actually the worst thing you can do for them?

I have been in this position personally with both people older and younger than me but maybe you haven't. If not, you will invariably get to a juncture in life where someone will be using you as a crutch and utilize that fact so they don’t have to worry about making better decisions. Unfortunately some people need to be forced into progress, because in the Tight Rope Walk that is Life, people that come across are more willing to be reckless when you are playing the safety net. They feel why spend time working on their balance if they know you will be there to catch them. If you want them to get better, you must sometimes remove that certainty. With that being said, how many times have we done wrong for days, weeks, months, years, generations and expect God to be a safety net? Maybe you are just being taught a lesson from your own doing, or are a tool in the lesson to others past actions. Forget God & Religion for a moment and ask yourself, Do you understand the Concept of Cause & Effect? Its as simple as that.

(From an article I wrote about Karma available Here)

Just because you didn’t personally do something doesn’t mean a chain effect wasn’t set in motion. This is why we cant simply be good on our own, we must encourage others to make better decisions too because it could effect us later

 

We too often don't want to take accountability for our own actions because of the difficulty of responsibility involved but act as if we don't understand the weight of the duties to the decisions we avoid. On earth we play God everyday creating and destroying Life without so much as a second thought but swear as God we could do a better job. How does that make sense to you? I mean you do know about the bacteria, insects, animals, plant life etc. destroyed as a necessary evil for the survival of the Masses right? If so, why are you confused that evil is necessary for Good to exist? Its around us everyday perpetuated by the very people complaining of its existence. Ignorance will NEVER be a good enough excuse, self reflect and make sure you are PERFECT before complaining or you have to roll with the punches just like everyone else, Holy or Not. But don't make asinine comments saying that the existence of bad events proves God doesn't exist, because the death of All Life would cure any Evil... Is that better or worse for Mankind?

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Why is It Ok for a Man, but Not a Woman...

 

The age old question between the genders... "Why is It Ok for a Man to sleep around but when a woman does it, she's a Hoe?" Well the simple answer is, They’re both Hoes. But I'm sure you want a more definitive answer so I have broken in down into the three main reasons why one is more readily accepted as "Normal" amongst the masses. I am in no way saying I agree that it should be this way, I'm simply saying these are observations I have made since everyone asks the question but doesn't provide the answer. Let's answer the proverbial rhetorical question.

Part 1…

 

If you want to follow this Logic the first thing you must say aloud is "I want to be a Hoe too." If that makes you uncomfortable then you need to reevaluate if this line of thought is really in your best interest.

The term "Hoe" is reserved for ANY PERSON with Superficial means of choosing Sexual Partners, Male or Female. So when you choose to give yourself sexually (Penetration, Foreplay and/or Oral) to someone based solely off a Physical Attraction, Horniness, Financial Gain or Social Approval then yes, you are being a Hoe. This does not matter if you've slept with 65 people or 2, a Hoe is a Hoe beginning at the decision phase... the sexual partner number just denotes severity. Surely the majority of us have probably had our "Hoe Moments" in a time of pure Lust, but when you try to use the Justification "I'm not a Hoe, I'm just acting like a Man" then you are clearly in denial and can't deal with the real consequences of your actions. If you were born a woman, act like it. If you want to be a Hoe too, that's fine, just don't be mad when you are labeled as such.

 

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Part 2… 

 

This will probably be the hardest for women to digest but keep in mind I'm speaking in a general sense so it is not 100%, but definitely a Majority. Sex means more to Women then Men (at least in beginning stages). Don't believe me? Imagine the scenario:

An average, well physical/emotionally adjusted man and woman having consistent communication, friendship and sexual relations... Which of the two is more likely to "catch feelings" and develop a stronger emotion for the other then express it first with a want/need for monogamy?

(At this point if you may have started by saying "Well it depends..." which means you already had an answer (Woman) and are coming up with scenarios in which it would go against the norm... Point Proven)

Call it stereotypical, maybe even misogynistic if your being overly dramatic, but saying it's false for the general public on a grand scale is flat out unrealistic. I don't know if its natural or if our Patriarchal society makes us this way but continued sexual and mental connection builds stronger emotions faster in women than in men (generally). Women will give more of themselves during sex which sometimes binds itself with other emotions that are not controllable, i.e. Love, or simulated feeling thereof. Typically, Men need to be persuaded into seeing it as more than just sex, Women have to remind/distance themselves that its not.

 

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Part 3… 

This may be a little controversial but keep in mind it sickens me too... But in all actuality, the woman is the only person that HAS to deal with Pregnancy.

Getting Pregnant during sex is something that SHOULD be a decision between a man and a woman that will do their best to raise a child in this world, but let's be real with ourselves this is not always the case. Being an optimist I would like to believe that the amount of men that would get a woman Pregnant and then abandon her are slim to none, but I know they are definitely higher than the amount of women who abandon the baby with the father. Now both parents can choose abortion, day after pill etc., so that's equal. But during Pregnancy, a jerk of a "man" can decide to leave while a woman cannot. That's a choice "men" have, albeit sick and demented, its still a choice that women don't. I'm not speaking on it as a positive in any way, shape or form, but its true. Another Scenario:

Woman and man at club, both out of towners, have a one Night stand without exchanging numbers, names or any sort of contact info (not even Twitter Follow for Follows). They used condoms but still 1 month later the lady finds out she is Pregnant, its his but for whatever reason she is completely against abortion and decides to keep the baby. Is the man being less than Honorable for not being in the decision process in this instance?

Not At All, he doesn't even know about the kid. But from one Hoe decision, between a male hoe and a female hoe, who will have a substantial Physical, Emotional and Financial consequence because of it? The Woman, there's no Opinion here, Just fact. Now you can say she has other options, which is true, but the point is SHE has to do it, not Him. Men & Women can be placed on child support, Men & Women can get STDs, Men & Women can get suffer Heartbreak of thinking sex was more than just sex, but only Women get pregnant. So even if BOTH people involved decide to avoid all responsibility, the Woman CAN'T. Facts are Facts, Women have a lot more at stake from Hoe Decisions.

 

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Whether you like what I've laid out or not from an unbiased standpoint its Factually Correct on at least 1, which is the most important, of 3 basis's (Pregnancy) and generally/socially accepted on the remaining 2 of 3. I'm not saying this Justifies men being Hoes, I'm saying don't mimic someone's actions when you have a lot more to Lose from performing such actions, its just not smart. Take pride in being what you are, Hoe or not, and find you a man whose standards match yours. Cool?

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Blame it on the Alcohol

 

Just waking up, eye crust on steroids looking like Croutons, headache outta this world, stumbling about with the worst morning breath you've ever had in your life and your whole aura reeks of personal failure... Yup, you just had the best night of your life. Congrats.

The only downside is the drunken texts and calls you attempted while inebriated that made you look like the town fool with No Self Control. Depending on who you are and the people you surround yourself with this may not be far off from the truth. Hopefully it was worth it for you.

People need to remember that Alcohol affects Judgment and Lowers Inhibitions. What that means is the stuff you did/said is the stuff you always wanted to, its just that little voice in your head telling you not to is passed out now. Learn to control yourself when drinking, ESPECIALLY if you know you been fake with people you could potentially contact... You aint gonna do nothin but tell on yourself. Drink in Moderation

 

Below are some Drunk pictures for you enjoyment

 

 

 

 

Published with Blogger-droid v1.7.1

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Got Jokes Huh?

I have seen a resurgence of the popular past time form of joke telling called "Roasting". Now, I didn't know what it was because in NY we just called it Clowning and then in Bmore a small circle of us called it "Clock time," in which we made jokes with a Symbolic Chess Clock in front of us and if you couldn't make a joke in a couple seconds then you lost.
Now it seems people are doing it to be popular online, which is pretty lame, but whatever; not everybody has self respect, I guess. But nonetheless, I think all "Roasts" should have a time limit. If it takes you 5mins to come up with a non Intelligent joke like, "You look like a Radioactive Turd" {'~' }™ , chances are you should just stop!

 But I do have a newfound saying, "If you're gonna be LAME, do that sh*t to the MAX!" So... for you 'Be Lame-For-Fame' Style Roasters here's a few tips to increase your RT's and follower Count:

Basic Algebraic Formula:
Obscure(Country+ Animal)
Ex: You look like a Mongolian Praying Mantis

The good thing about most of these jokes is that 95% of the times the person looks NOTHING like the animal but it sounds funny so people can't help but to laugh. If you think I'm lying then you look like a Filipino Coy Fish when you Kiss

The Tag Team:
Tag people who are funny so that you can Ask for Help, without actually appear like you're asking for help.
Ex. Yo @JohnnyMagma look at this ugly mofo @RandomTwitterName,
don't he look like a Antarctic Snow Beaver?

Unfortunately, this happens DAILY and so many names get tagged that a decent joke is almost never possible.

TT Roast:
Use the current Trending Topics up on the board, or one that you are about to put on the board (if you are one of the "Kings/Queens of Twitter" {'~' }™ This will increase your exposure Tremendously because there are literally millions of people on TT's at any given time that will see it even if they aren't following you.

Ex. #MarcusBJoke(s) if you don't know of that hashtag, thank your lucky stars you've never had to suffer through what can only be explained as a Nicki Minaj rap style Roast with random capitalized words typed with the intelligence of a Lil B punchline.

The Only 2 Universally Successfully executed Hashtag style roasts are #Rhamu (which Trended Worldwide by the way) followed by #BoywaltsVest. If you weren't in on those then you just missed it... Sorry.

Another benefit of this is the fact that the trend can be explained (via Apps and/or WhatTheTrend.com) and therefore be a permanent record of the Hilarity that ensued if it becomes popular enough.
Ex: #BoyWaltsVest => whatthetrend.com/trend/boywaltsvest

Have Fun "Roasters" your Cyber Life depends on it... Word to the wise though, anyone following these guidelines will typically get labeled a Lame Ass and be unfollowed just as quickly as you were followed. Your interest factor will decrease severely because when you see how the magician does his trick... it's just not as Mesmerizing.

Moral of the Story: If you have to Try to be funny, then You aren't Funny!!

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Reality Shows: Why watch them?

 

 

 

*Higher Learning Voice*

 

 

 

What is Real?...

 

 

 

What is Realer?....

 

 

 

What is Reality?....

 

 

 

What is FAKE?!?!?!

 

 

I think these scripted shows are the worst thing to happen to television since AJ and Free left 106 & Park (or the Vietnam War DVD remake infomercials). I personally don't understand how people enjoy these shows of ignorance and racial stereotypes. I don't EVER watch these shows, yet somehow I know most of what's going on from people complaining and doing play-by-plays on Twitter and Facebook every time they air. Here's a thought: if you don't like what's going on, STOP WATCHING IT, GENIUS!!!

 

Clearly, you don't understand how TV ratings work. The more people that watch, the more money they get for advertisements. This means you will continue getting more of the same to keep you tuned in.

 

For the people thinking these shows are real, ask yourself this one question: when the credits roll, why does every reality show have writers? Go ahead and ponder on that while you wait for the next show where the Black dude is ghetto and/or gay, the nudist White/Hispanic chick is an alcoholic sl*t, the "pretty boy" flirts and is involved with every female in the house except the token "bi*tch" that everyone hates.

 

How well did I do on type casting the past 10 years of reality shows? Let me know.

 

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Its not a Man Purse… Its a Satchel

Ah The Hangover, the funniest movie of last year partially thanks to this man and his oddly humorous style of Comedy and Fashion. The Man Purse, or Satchel as he calls it, was the laughing stock of the movie as he posed ready for a night out on the town with his Lone Wolf Wolfpack Compadres. But I’ve got a question, Fellas: Would you be caught sporting one of these if it were fashionably acceptable? And more importantly, Ladies: How would you feel if you were headed out on a night on the town and your man ran back in the house to get a Satchel accessory to match his ensemble for the evening? One might think it's effeminate, some say Metrosexual, others say just plain Homosexual. What are your thoughts on the pictures below?

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Now Jamie has done some suspect outfits in the past with his Leotard snap between the leg looking shirts (can’t Blame that on the Alcohol) and Hugh Jackman is famous for running around in a Bright Yellow Leather suit killing others who didn't like him because he was "Different"… But that’s Wolverine, He CAN’T be effeminate, can he? He’s got death claws for crying out loud.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Bow Wow & Tom Brady? Really? Tom Brady is one of the epitomes of masculinity in Americas Past time of Full Contact Football and Married to a Brazilian Super model, Gisele Bundchen, but you gotta admit, even he looks rather… dainty in the above Picture. And Bow Wow, I mean he dated Ciara who we all know is one of the most beautiful Women.. er um, well… yeah. Never mind on that one. With all those rumors floating around this might actually make sense.

Either way, it seems these Murses (Man Purses) are making a comeback, Will you ride the Wave?

Photos from: http://madamenoire.com/

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