.....you're kidding me, right???

Dear America......

 What the fuck is wrong with you?
No, seriously! What the fuck is wrong with you?

I'm not going to name any names here, you can do the research on your own. However, there is a very popular British hat company, who needs some type of machinery brought to the US for the purpose of manufacturing head-wear. Now, to be clear, i'm not attacking that company. In fact, I own several of their hats and have done a lot of business with them. They're doing their thing, and as a businessman, I get it....

However, in order to fund the acquisition of said machinery, they have started a "kickstarter" fund. That makes perfect sense to me! If you can get your customer-base to help you in your time of need, and offer you monetary support, why, I say "GO FOR IT"! In less than a DAY, they have already had 25 Backers bring $2488.00 to the table!! Good for them! I am so not mad at them.....

I'm FUCKING FURIOUS with YOU, though, America.

In less than a day, you have committed $2488.00 of your dollars to get hats manufactured, but in 15 days since the StopLoss22 Foundation gofundme acct was set up to help address veteran suicide, not ONE DOLLAR has been contributed! Here, since the 22 veteran suicides PER DAY we are addressing aren't enough for you, allow me to share some OTHER statistics about the men and women who fought for your rights...

23% of homeless population are veterans
33% of male homeless population are veterans
47% Vietnam Era
17% post-Vietnam
15% pre-Vietnam
67% served three or more years
33% stationed in war zone
25% have used VA Homeless Services
85% completed high school/GED, compared to 56% of non-veterans
89% received Honorable Discharge
79% reside in central cities
16% reside in suburban areas
5% reside in rural areas
76% experience alcohol, drug, or mental health problems

....but you can fund a HAT COMPANY? You can buy into their "create american jobs" tagline bullshit, if it makes you feel better. But, the fact of the matter is, they are creating more profit for themselves. THAT is the ugly truth.

However, your fighting men and women didn't do what they're doing and have done, for profit. They did it because they believed in a country that leaves them homeless, destitute, reliant on alcohol, drugs and medications, to numb the pain, whether physical or emotional, and feeling so lost and alone that they would sooner take their lives, than to keep on trying for one more day.  We leave as ONE person, but we return as someone else altogether, and our government does NOTHING to help them. The VA has, on average, an 8 month waiting period, before a bed opens up for them to help a veteran who is at risk for suicide.

But you're funding hat companies and allowing Syrian refugees to enter the country.....

THAT'S your priority, America? HATS!? As a veteran, i'm saddened by this. As an American, I'm ashamed and disgusted by it.

Get your shit straight, America

Let's address the thousand pound god in the room....

I'm not exactly known as the guy who keeps his opinions silent, so i'm going to say this here and now....There are huge differences between the words "Religion" and "Theology". I keep hearing ignorant blanket-statements about Islam, from people who have neither cracked open a Q'ran nor spent more than 7 seconds in a mosque.  "Islam teaches this. Islam teaches that." Absolute non-sense.  Islam is not representative of those who twist it's scriptures to justify their actions or teach hate. That's not ISLAM, that's THAT TEACHER.  Just like you christians wouldn't want the entirety of christianity to be represented by the actions of the Jim and Tammy Faye Bakers or Jimmy Swaggarts  of this world...that not to mention the countless other "preachers" who have been proven to be liars, hypocrites, cheaters, and thiefs. Hell, I'll tell you about a preacher in Columbus, Ohio who pisses on the very name of the so-called "christ" he represents.  Rod Parsley is a well-known (at least in the midwest) tele-evangelist. He holds telethons on LESEA fairly often.  I was watching one, when I saw something that disgusted me. "For Donations Call 1-800-XXX-XXXX"   on one side of the screen. "For Prayer Call 614-XXX-XXXX" on the other.....do you see that??  So, if i'm calling to give you money, that call is toll-free...but if I need prayer, I have to call you long-distance at my own expense?? That's how you represent your god?? Now, should I judge ALL of christianity based on that experience? Of course not!  But yet, it's fully acceptable for you to hate all of Islam, because of the teachings of the extremists? Come on, get real.

By the way, while you're being so "holy" and all, remember THIS. Christianity isn't a religion of peace.  In fact, your Jesus himself said "I didn't come to bring peace, I came to bring a sword". Your god ordered Saul to go into the land and "slay every man, woman, child, and beast. Leave nothing alive". Christians have committed countless murders and mass-slayings in the name of their religion, for centuries......Stop being hypocrites.

Ya Done Forgot.......

There is an interesting thing that I have noticed, in my time in the music industry.  The ones who were once young, broke, struggling to make it, screaming "never forget where you come from".......

Forget where they came from.

They don't remember that feeling of being broke...like trying to make it happen, stretching it all out. Sleeping at the Port Authority, scrapin together for a meal....all in the name of getting that one break...just that one chance is all they need. They forgot.

"If all of your problems can be solved with money, you don't really have a problem"
- Carlo Gambino

Easy as pie to say, when you're a powerful multi-millionaire mob boss.

You see, when you speak to and deal with people who have tens and hundreds of thousands of dollars, they really stop looking at the price tags. They buy what they want. That's nice. I hope to be there one day, myself. But when someone who is NOT at your station or level says "I'm broke", that doesn't mean "I had to break into my last $10,000"...no, it means "I don't have two simple nickels to rub together, B". Now, that isn't to say that you should necessarily bail them out or HELP them out...some people don't actually want "help" they just want the money.  Some people need help and are too proud to ask.  It's the hardest thing for a man to go to another man and ask that man to help.  It's bad enough just KNOWING that you don't have a way to make ends meet...without lowering what's left of your pride to ask for assistance.

On the other hand, there ARE those cases where a helping hand is EXACTLY what they need to just get them back up and on their feet.  Granted, you may loan a hand and get paid back in fingers. You might not get paid back at all! But the good karma will come back to you.

- "I have always believed it is in every way profitable to invest in your fellow man" 
- Don Michael Corleone

Yes, I'm aware I quoted a fictional character....but it was a human that wrote that
Thank you, Mario Puzo

Personal Accountability - WARNING: CONTAINS STRONG LANGUAGE AND HARSH REALITY

"I'm gonna say a few things....I'm gonna use some bad words....you're just gonna have to deal with it"

-Tony Soprano




PERSONAL ACCOUNTABILITY-

I want to brush on a couple of topics. Accountability is the key to success, regardless of the endeavor. If you answer to no one, you have no reason to push for results. Even when that someone is you. My friend Sir Mixalot, coined a phrase a very long time ago and put it on a record. I have shared it with countless others and frankly, it has become a battle cry of my life. "There are two types of people. Those who look for ways to succeed, and those who look for EXCUSES NOT to. YOU decide which of those two you are".
It's true.
You don't have to like it,
but it's true.

This applies to diet, exercise, addiction, work, family, marriage, parenthood, etc. You have to be accountable for your choices. Every meal decision, every snack decision, every fast-food decision, I know that tomorrow, I'm going to have to answer to my scales, first thing in the morning. Do I want to see success? If I do, then I find a way to enjoy my foods in a responsible manor.

"Dieting is so hard!"

Fuck you and fuck your excuses.

I have gone from 298.9 Feb 1st, to 238 this morning. Know what I changed in my food intake? Nothing.
You didn't hear me.
NOTHING.
For dinner last night, I had steak and potatoes. The night before was home made rigatoni in red sauce with hot Italian sausage in it, covered in mozzarella. Not fat-free bullshit, not low calorie nonsense.
How?
I don't add salt at all. Period. None. "It will taste bland". Tough shit. Use Accent, use Mrs Dash, use garlic. That and portions. I cook just enough for myself and my girlfriend. If there happens to be leftovers, they are packed away before I sit down to eat. There is no such thing as "second helpings" in my house. Do I WANT more? Absolutely!! Tough shit.

"I can't give up soda/pop/coke! That's my one vice!!"

Fuck you and fuck your excuses.

Fine! Enjoy your Dr Pepper and keep struggling with your weight. How many alternatives are there? I drink coffee, unsweetened iced tea, or water. Do I WANT a cherry coke? Absolutely. Know what I want more? Success.

"Ways to succeed, or excuses not to"

"Well, ya have to reward yourself now and then, and splurge"

Fuck you, fuck your excuses, AND fuck any of your friends who feed you that bullshit.

No you don't. You have "rewarded yourself" into the weight you struggle with now.
Why do we think this is an acceptable mindset?
Here, let me fix this up a little.

I'm an alcoholic. I have been sober for 4 yrs now. Should I "reward myself", and go enjoy a nice scotch, like I want?
I'm also an addict. I have been clean since 2001. That's a long time!! Should I "reward myself" and go buy an 8ball? Come on! I showed restraint, and I deserve it, don't i???
I quit smoking cigarettes 7 months ago. Should I "reward myself" with a smoke? G-d know I WANT one!!

Why did any of you say "NO! You CANT do that!!"? I EARNED it, didn't i?? Why? BECAUSE THOSE THINGS WILL KILL ME!! Guess what, sweetheart. So will that fucking ho-ho!! Your reward is looking down and seeing your dick, instead of your belly (ladies, I don't know....your new shoes, I guess). You'll see your reward on your scales every morning!!

I'll end with this final thought.
"Ways to succeed, or excuses NOT to!"

Which do you choose?