Science Is Always The Way to the Truth

Let's talk science.

We all use cell phones, check the weather, drive cars, fly on airplanes, use electricity in our home, go to the doctor when we are sick, etc. There are many more everyday uses of this process to acertain the nature of reality. Breathing for one (we all accept that we need oxygen to survive), cooking meat (we know and accept the reality that a certain temperature will kill off the harmful bacteria in the meat, which will prevent us from becoming sick), stuff like that. However, when it comes to very specific things, for some reason, many of us lose faith in what the scientists say. Even though without them, we wouldn't know anything. 

1. Climate Change - even though over 97% of climate scientists on earth all agree that climate change is warming the planet and it is largely man-made, for some reason (cough - fossil fuel corporations-cough) we refuse to do anything substantial to deal with it. It's ALMOST like rich people who won't be around for the devastating effects of climate change don't care about what happens after they die with their millions...

2. Religion - if somebody told you today, in 2019, that they were swallowed whole by a large fish and survived for 3 days, and then escaped the whale, would you believe them?  If someone told you they had a literal verbal conversation with a snake, would you take it serious? If somebody told you they saw a 3 headed dragon with red skin, would you ask what movie they saw or would you assume that they were speaking about a real-life incident? If one of your BEST friends told you they had a grandparent that lived to 900 years old, would you laugh or would you treat the conversation as if it was real? These are all stories that are in the Bible and taken as truth by a large number of Christians. The same Christians who believe science in almost all other instances, except when it contradicts what's in their "holy" book. 

3. LGBTQ issues - there are many observable behaviors in the animal kingdom that show homosexual and bi-sexual relationships. Penguins, chimpanzees, dogs, and many other species come to mind. If this was REALLY some sort of choice or reaction based on past experiences (as I've heard many anti-LGBTQ advocates say), then why are non-human animals doing it too? Did the devil influence them too? Did they learn the behavior from us? Or MAYBE...just maybe...it's natural?  Also, the idea of trans-people can be shown in nature as well. According to https://www.sbs.com.au/topics/science/nature/article/2016/09/29/7-gender-bending-animals-animal-kingdom, there are at least 7 "gender-bending" animals, some of which include Lions, Spotted Hyenas, and Clownfish. Weird, if this was a human concept that only humans dealt with because "choice" or "something in your past made you that way", then explain that to the lions, because I guess they didn't get the memo. 

4. Evolution - granted, it's a very difficult subject to understand, which is why I think so many people don't believe it's true. To think that a single celled organism eventually created all life that we on the planet today, is incredibly hard to believe. However, if you want to see this phenomenon in the modern day, there are a few examples. Take a domestic pig, let the little pink, sort of ugly sort of cute animal in the wild for a few weeks. I guarantee you will not recognize that pig the next time you seem them, as it will have grown tusks, become hairy, and also become very aggressive. Then there's the fox experiment (http://www.bbc.com/earth/story/20160912-a-soviet-scientist-created-the-only-tame-foxes-in-the-world), where a scientist basically took the tamest foxes from an original group, and only bred the tamest puppies from each litter. Within 40 years, each generation of fox had floppier ears, curlier tails, whined when the human they were closest with left them alone, and even flipped on their backs to ask for belly rubs. What does that behavior remind you of? Domestic dogs. Another example of modern day evolution you can see with your own eyes is from this site https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2008/04/080417112433.htm. To make a really long story short, in 1971 a group of researchers took 10 Italian wall lizards from their home island of Pod Kopiste and moved them to a neighboring island called Pod Mrcaru. After about 36 years, the lizards they orignally brought were no more, and a completely new species of lizard had inhabited the island. Still not convinced? I got one more. https://www.nhm.ac.uk/discover/news/2019/may/birds-on-an-island-in-the-indian-ocean-evolved-flightlessness-twice.html In this article, they explain "Birds on an island in the Indian Ocean evolved flightlessness twice. On Aldabra, in the Seychelles, lives the last surviving native flightless bird in the Indian Ocean. But fossil evidence has revealed that the Aldabra rail lost the ability to fly not only once, but twice." Basically what the article goes on to explain is that a bird species from Madagascar flew to a remote island, where over time they lost the ability to fly. They went "extinct" doe to sea-level rise. However, the original species of bird still exists in madagascar, and a separate group of birds (same species) for whatever reason took a flight to the same island. And guess what happened next? After a few generation, these birds also lost the ability to fly. WHAT OTHER EXPLANATION DO YOU HAVE OTHER THAN NATURAL SELECTION AKA EVOLUTION?

So guys, let's trust science in ALL of it's aspects, not just the oens that are convenient for us so we can excercise cognitave dissonance. Being purposely ignorant to easily proveable facts helps nobody, and ultimately may destroy the entire planet. So, get it together guys. 

Comparing States Differing Gun Laws

So it looks like I gotta write about guns again. 

If you would like to read my previous thoughts on guns, click here.

So after the 3rd mass shooting in Texas over the last month, I just want to take the time to compare the 5 states with the strictest gun laws to the 5 states with the most lax gun laws, and see which states have a higher body count. Just to see if this whole "gun restrictions don't work" argument is legit. (Spoiler, it's not.)

From https://www.deseretnews.com/top/3430/0/The-10-states-with-the-least-restrictive-gun-laws.html 

Wyoming: 18.8 in 100,000 died via gun in 2017.

Kentucky: 16.2 in 100,000 died via gun in 2017.

Arizona: 15.8 in 100,000 died via gun in 2017.

Mississippi: 21.5 in 100,000 died via gun in 2017.

Louisiana: 21.7 in 100,000 died via gun in 2017. 

Above are the 5 states in which it is easiest to obtain a firearm. Divide how ever many millions of people live in that states by 100,000, and then multiply your answer by the number of people killed per 100,000. That will show you how many people died in 2017 alone in each state. Below, are the states with the strictest gun laws. Let's compare the death rate, shall we?

Also from https://www.deseretnews.com/top/1428/0/10-states-with-the-strictest-gun-laws.html

Connetitcut: 5.1 in 100,000 died via gun in 2017.

New York: 3.7 in 100,000 died via gun in 2017.

Massachusetts: 3.7 in 100,000 died via gun in 2017.

New Jersey: 5.3 in 100,000 died via gun in 2017.

California: 7.9 in 100,000 died via gun in 2017.

Do you see how much lower these numbers are? It's crazy, but it's ALMOST like the states that make it harder to obtain weapons have fewer deaths as a result of those weapons. The reason I bring all this up is to say this. Texas is basically right in the middle, with about 12.4 dead bodies out of 100,000 in 2017. Texas also has a big population, so that total is around 3,513 gun victims. That's around the same number of people who were killed in the Twin Towers. Also, another fun fact, someone in Texas is killed with a gun every 30 minutes. 

Just close the loopholes; No more private sales, implement a national registry, universal background checks for all gun purchases (to include social media), and no AK-47 (or equivalent) sales allowed to anyone who isn't currently in the military AND overseas fighting. No need for a weapon that can shoot that many rounds in a matter of seconds to be in the hands of anyone who isn't in active duty/combat. 

Do I think any of this will change? Sadly, no. Americans love guns more than we love other Americans, and as long as that mindset is the prevalent thought process, just be aware that another mass shooting is coming. Soon. 

Black Expectations

You can never get credit when you're black in America. Everything is either a backhanded compliment (he's so articulate, he's so well read) or an unrealistic expectation(if Jay Z can be a billionaire, any black man can!). Just because Barack Obama was the President, does not mean that the MAJORITY of African Americans, Afro-Latinx Americans, or Africans who live in this country have the same shot. But I digress, this is more about how we can never be any type of way without extreme judgment. I'll give examples.

I've always been told that I talk white. Now, despite the overwhelming majority of my family being black, my friends parents and their children all being black for the most part, I still went to school with mostly white people for most of my life. When we lived in an all black, working class neighborhood, my parents enrolled me in private school in the neighboring city, rather than having me go to school in the neighborhood. Then a mass gang fight broke out, spilled all over our yard, scared the shit out outta my Mom, and the next thing I knew a "For Sale" sign was up. We sold that house, and moved a little further away from the city. 

Stepping into school that day, there was ONE other kid who looked KINDA like me. He was a biracial kid named Randy (we're still friends). Besides Randy and I, I can name every other black student at the school at the time. Joe, Janae, Dennis, Brittany, Will and Justin. So, needless to say, walking into that classroom was the first time I ever noticed that I was not like everyone else. The other students knew it too, and they definitely took a while to warm up. 

During this time, I would often visit my old neighborhood to get my haircut (shout out Shears in the Park and Salon Ultimo), visit my Grandma and Grandpa who lived in the house my Dad grew up in on 6 Mile and Livernois, or head east towards Mt. Clemens where my entire Mom's side of the family lived. "Oh you can tell he go to school with dem white folks," was a phrase I heard many times. I never thought anything of it. It's also important to mention that during this era of my life, I was heavy into basketball, and was on a league at the old YMCA which used to be on 7 Mile and Lahser. So I had a very healthy dose of the hood from my former neighborhood, family members, and basketball team mates, and a healthy dose of suburban life due to where I went to school. 

Slowly as middle school and high school approached, more and more black people began attending the schools I went to. Most of them talked similar as each other, used similar words that you would hear in rap music, and all lived in neighborhoods like the one I had moved from. This is when the whole "acting white" thing really comes into play. Because again, I always loved rap music, I always loved basketball, I liked to wear clothes that were considered fashionable, but I sounded so different. 

"This nigga talk like a white boy."

So what does one do when they begin to grow into adulthood and they begin to realize that there are certain codes of conduct that each race is supposed to adhere to? Well, some of us actively try to become the sterotype that everyone views when they see us to be accepted. Some of us might start hanging out in areas where we know our safety is, at best questionable, but that's where "real niggas" chill, so you gotta be there. You might hang out with people who are into the things you hear about in music, possibly who all wear a particular color, and do illegal things for money. You might get into group fights at movie theatres and in bars that you normally wouldn't have gotten into, you may get into stand offs with guns on both sides outside of the Fox Theatre on Woodward, and you might also have your left earring ripped out during one of these altercations in the club. 

The other side to this coin, is when you do find yourself in a struggle or a situation that isn't the best for your well being, people act like there is absolutely no excuse for it other than your own actions. Even though statistically, black people are 4 times as likely to be arrested for drugs as white people, generational wealth that has accumulated since the countries founding is equal to roughly $100,000 per white family is only about $10,000 per black family (since we couldn't own anything until the 1960's and even then there were unfair disadvantages such as the way the G.I. Bill was distributed), black people with college degrees are statistically less likely to get jobs than white people with a high school diploma, somehow because Jay Z and Diddy exist, there is no reason for ANY black person to have difficulty building wealth. What people ignore is reality. Jay Z is from the Marcy Projects. Name another Billionaire from the Marcy Projects. No? Name a millionaire from the Marcy Projects. Exactly. What people fail to realize is these people are the exception, not the rule. So to compare the average black man to any of these elites is simply ridiculous and unrealistic. 

Barack Obama was the first and only black President. From 1776-2019, there has been ONE black President. Let's stop pretending that things have changed so drastically since 2008 that the playing field is level. It is absolutely not level. Refer to the above statistics.

My point is this. My blackness does not have anything to do with how I pronounce my words, my style of dress, or any of the above. I could be blasting Coldplay in my headphones, walking down the street in an Abercrombie shirt, and still get pulled over by police. I can say the R's at the end of my words very clearly, and still be called the N word with said R attached. You can never impress everybody. For some people, I'll always be a white dude in black skin because I talk proper and I'm into politics. To some, I'll always be a thug because I dress a certain way, listen to trap rap, and curse casually when speaking to my peers; despite never having a violent charge on my record. 

So instead, I'll just be Shane, and y'all can take it or leave it.  

The Republicans Have to Get Off Koch

David Koch's death should make NOBODY sad outside of his family.

I'm not saying we should celebrate it, but I don't want to hear about his philanthropy efforts through the arts or any of that bullshit. let's talk about who he REALLY was. 

He was the real life leader of the Republican party. 

He was never involved in politics in any official capacity. Ever. However, don't you find it funny that his name always pops up in political conversation? Here's why.

The man was worth $58.7 Billion. Koch Industries (with brother Charles) lobbied the entire Republican party at every level of government for YEARS. What did we get out of it? Extremely low taxes for corporations and the class of people who have at least six zeroe's after the 1 in their bank account (a million guys, keep up.) Extreme income and wealth inequality. CEO's who make on average 280 dollars to the average employee's $1. Funded climate science denial thinktanks. Lobbied against unions. Lobbied against gun reform. Lobbied to lossen environmental regulations. Lobbied against public transit. There's more, but I think you get the picture.

Any person who has enough money to lobby all these different causes and never has to run for a government position has way too much power. Billionaires are almsot by definition detrimental to society. This particular billionaire happened to not only be a detriment BECAUSE he had that much wealth, but he also turned that money into power by buying off the entire republican party. 

Good riddance Dave. We won't miss you. 

John Hickenlooper Drops Out

And another one bites the dust!

Colorado Governor John Hickenlooper has dropped out! Also, in a very sly, quiet move, Rep. Tim Ryan also announced the "suspension" of his campaign in the middle of talking about the El Paso and Dayton shootings. 

Keep it going!

Now all we need is Michael Bennett, John Delaney, Corey Booker, Kamala Harris, Bill de Blasio, Pete Booty Judge, Kirsten Jello Brand, Bet on my Stork, Julian Castro and Joe Biden to drop out so we can have a primary with actual progressives battling real progressive ideas that will defeat the Tweeter in Chief. 

Gov. Hickenlooper stated “I did imagine a very different conclusion; I’ve heard from so many Coloradans who want me to run for the United States Senate...I intend to give that some serious thought.”

Don't think, just do. We need democrats in the Senate, and that's what I wish everyone I named in the above paragraph would drop out and run for Senate. Not only would that help accomplish some of the actual goals of the left because then we could actually fight back against the Senate Republicans, but then we have the chance for someone who will actually FIGHT for something. Bernie is going to fight for Medicare 4 All. Tulsi is going to fight to end the wars. Elizabeth Warren is gonna fight to regulate industry. All of them believe in the main progressive issues (Free College, Medicare 4 All, ending the wars, Green New Deal, $15 minimum wage, removing money from politics), however their focus may lie in different areas. That aside, at least we could have a real debate about the priorities of each goal and how we should tackle them. Right now, it's just a competition of who's the most "woke" and who can shit on Joe Biden the worst. Entertaining, but we have real shit to deal with guys. Let's focus our energy on the best 3 or 4 candidates and get it poppin.

Joe Biden Is a Right Winger

Back to business.

Handsy Uncle Joseph, also known as Vice President Joe Biden is  terrible candidate. He is the male version of Hillary Clinton, with a worse record on racial issues. However, i am not here to break down his long ass voting record. I'm just gonna post a bunch of quotes from Joe Biden from over the years to show you what the man thinks. 

"Poor kids are just as bright and just as talented as white kids." - 2019 (Self explanatory)

"There's less than one percent of Iowa that is African American. There is probably less than four or five percent that are minorities. So look, it goes back to what you start off with, what you're dealing with. When you have children coming from dysfunctional homes, when you have children coming from homes where there's no books, where the mother from the time they're born doesn't talk to them - as opposed to the mother in iowa who's sitting there and talks to them, the kid starts out with a 300 word larger vocabulary at age three Half this education gap exists before the kid steps foot in the classroom." - 2007 (In reference to why Iowa's education system is "better" than Washington's)

"The younger generation now tells me how tough things are—give me a break;  No, no, I have no empathy for it, give me a break." - 2018 (In reference to the current situation millenials find themselves in where we cannot participate in the economy by buying homes, cars, etc because of how much the previous generations ruined everything)

“We have predators on our streets that society has in fact, in part because of its neglect, created…they are beyond the pale many of those people, beyond the pale. And it's a sad commentary on society. We have no choice but to take them out of society….a cadre of young people, tens of thousands of them, born out of wedlock, without parents, without supervision, without any structure, without any conscience developing because they literally … because they literally have not been socialized, they literally have not had an opportunity….we should focus on them now….if we don't, they will, or a portion of them, will become the predators 15 years from now.” - 1993 (In reference to the Crime Bill, and african americans who would ultimately be the worst affected by this legislation)

“The consensus is A), we must take back the streets. It doesn't matter whether or not the person that is accosting your son or daughter or my son or daughter, my wife, your husband, my mother, your parents, it doesn't matter whether or not they were deprived as a youth. It doesn't matter whether or not they had no background that enabled them to become socialized into the fabric of society. It doesn't matter whether or not they're the victims of society. The end result is they're about to knock my mother on the head with a lead pipe, shoot my sister, beat up my wife, take on my sons.” - 1993 (In reference to the Crime Bill, and african americans who would ultimately be the worst affected by this legislation)

“I don't care why someone is a malefactor in society. I don't care why someone is antisocial. I don't care why they've become a sociopath. We have an obligation to cordon them off from the rest of society.” - 1993 (In reference to the Crime Bill, and african americans who would ultimately be the worst affected by this legislation)

“No issue has consumed more of my time and energies than the question of court-ordered busing of students to achieve integration in our public school system; The courts have taken it upon themselves to go beyond simply dismantling deliberate segregation as an illegal government policy. They have gone on to attempting to force integration by reassigning students to achieve particular racial balances.” - 1978 (In reference the busing desegregation)

“The new integration plans being offered are really just quota-systems to assure a certain number of blacks, Chicanos, or whatever in each school; That, to me, is the most racist concept you can come up with. What it says is, in order for your child with curly black hair, brown eyes, and dark skin to be able to learn anything, he needs to sit next to my blond-haired, blue-eyed son. That’s racist!” - 1975 (In reference to integrated schools)

“I was in a caucus with James O. Eastland; He never called me boy, he always called me son. A guy like Herman Talmadge, one of the meanest guys I ever knew, you go down the list of all these guys. Well guess what? At least there was some civility. We got things done. We didn’t agree on much of anything. We got things done. We got it finished. But today, you look at the other side and you’re the enemy. Not the opposition, the enemy. We don’t talk to each other anymore.” - 2019 (In reference to open segregationists who helped him with past legislation)

Any of this sound like a democrat? Yet, he's currently the front runner. If this is the guy who is going to represent "the left", get ready for Trump 2020. 

Top 50 Rappers of All Time

Alright guys, I'm taking a break from politics today to give you all my Top 50 Rappers of All Time list, since that's what's hot in the streets this week, and I love hip hop. So, without further a do......here goes....

My Top 50 Rappers of All Time

1. Jay Z

2. Rakim

3. Nas

4. Eminem

5. 2Pac

6. Ghostface 

7. Busta Rhymes

8. Raekwon

9. Ice Cube

10. Kool G Rap

11. Black Thought

12. The Game

13. Royce da 5'9

14. Talib Kweli

15. Snoop Dogg

16. T.I

17. Lil Wayne

18. Bun B

19. Jadakiss

20. DMX

21. Beanie Sigel

22. Ludacris

23. Kanye 

24. Biggie

25. Cam'Ron

26. Common

27. Big Pun

28. Method Man

29. Redman

30. Rick Ross

31. 50 Cent

32. Styles P

33. Kendrick Lamar 

34. Twista

35. Scarface

36. Fabolous

37. Nipsey Hussle 

38. Drake 

39. J Cole 

40. Mobb Deep 

41. Fat Joe

42. Slick Rick 

43. Crooked I

44. Mos Def

45. Danny Brown

46. Schoolboy Q

47. Xzibit

48. Jay Rock

49. Meek Mill

50. Big Sean