SHEEEE'S BAAAAACK!!!! OUR STAR IS ON THE RISE AGAIN!

I've got some Hot News for y'all!

Our girl is back!

I'm quite sure y'all remember the article that I wrote in early August entitled "Fallen Icons" where I talked about how our favorite musicians had fallen victim to substance abuse, and ruined their careers or ended their lives. Well, I am happy to report that our girl is back!! Our beautiful song bird Whitney Houston is back! After leaving Bobby Brown, and checking herself into rehab, she is finally ready to strut her stuff down the Red Carpet once again, and boy doesn't she look good!

Check out these photos that were sent to me, and tell me what you think.

Go ahead Whitney, and do your thang!!!

The Vegas Photos Are In

Sorry for the delay, but I've got 'em y'all! The Vegas photos are in! I suggest you read the previous post first, then click HERE to see the matching photos.

Enjoy!

VEGAS BABY!...Oh, what a Night!!

SCENE....

Friday night....

Las Vegas, NV....

12-midnight....

Club 'Taboo' in the MGM GRAND (the one that ALWAYS pays me ;-)....

Me and my family (Craig Mack, Stephanie, Renee, Tina, Shane, Jackson, Baby-Momma, and their big-baller cousin Melvin) are in the club holding it down like we owned the joint! I felt like I was in a rap video or something. The only thing that was missing was a big-booty stripper get Champagne poured all over her ;-).

We're in there chillin' in our own little baller section (thanks to baller Melvin), dancing on the table like Coyote Ugly (rock on Shane). EVERYBODY in the club is checkin' us out, tryin' to get close to see who we are, and what we're doing. The girls are watching, and the boys are hatin', but it's alright. I know how it feels to be on the outside...but never no more!

We've got our own waitress to keep the drinks flowing (but y'all know I don't drink), our own secure guards (to keep the groupies away) and our own couches and foot stools to chill Big-Willie-Style. Every time one of the crew went towards the liquor to get themselves a drink, here comes our waitress to make sure they didn't do anything but party, chill and get their drink on. The only problem with that was, she was good at her job, but maybe a little too good.

Now, y'all know I don't drink, so I'm sober and trying to keep a watchful eye over my family and I'm noticing the waitress making the drinks. Instead of doing a somewhat 50/50 mix, she's giving my crew a 70/30 split. 70% sauce, 30% fruit juice/mix. Maaaaaaannnn, by 2a, my crew is $&#%(*-UP!!!!! Oh my God. My main man Jackson is sleeping on the couch, trying to call God knows who on his cell phone, but all he can do is dial number 1. Baby-momma is shouting at him trying to get him up, and I'm looking around for another sober face to help me organize (with no avail) our leave.

I look towards Craig Mack and Shane, but they're still dancing on the tables. Renee and Tina is standing there with me, but the ladies are not very helpful when trying to move a 180+lb drunk grown man. Melvin is on the other side of our table looking at us, but he's just as drunk, if not worse than Jackson. Craig and Shane try to get Mel up, to pay the tab and get out of the club, but by the time we get them out, and into the Casino, they're both 'yakkin' up liquor like no tomorrow.

The club security comes up to us with trash bags to catch the vomit, and a wheel chair to help get Jackson back to our hotel (which is about a mile away....which is nothing when you're sober,but when you're carrying your drunk boy, it's like walking a marathon). He can only take us half way to our hotel because of property issues, so we have to carry Jackson the rest of the way. Boy what a nightmare!! Jackson's damn-near passed out on his feet, baby-momma's in back shouting out instructions like a drill seargant and fighting with the other local party drunks, and then there's me trying to hold Jackson, and keep baby-momma focused and out of a fight so I don't have to lay Jackson on the floor and put my fist in somebody's mouth.

We finally get to our hotel, and thank God there's a floor-type escalator (the one that you can ride through the hotel) that we can stand Jackson on and coast through to our destination. I hate to offend some of you religious types out there, but it was like we were carrying Jesus on our shoulders. Everybody in the hotel was pointing, looking and laughing with us, and sharing their familiar stories. By some minor miracle, we get Jackson to the elevator, and up to the floor where our rooms were. I don't know why, but for some reason, they ended up with the room ALL THE WAY DOWN THE DAMN HALLWAY! That hall was so long, it looked like we were in the movie Poltergeist (you know...when she's trying to run down the hallway, and it keeps getting longer and longer)!

We get my man Jackson to his bed, and all he can do is smile briefly, and pass out. Now, to check on Craig Mack, Shane and Melvin. We rush back down the elevator to get to the lobby to see where they are, and the first thing we see is Craig, Shane and Melvin on the same floor escalator-belt holding Melvin like the second....coming of Jesus. He's asleep on his feet just the same, and all I can do is laugh. How I WISH I had my camera so y'all could see what I saw. The funniest thing of all this was that Jackson and Melvin are COUSINS!!! Their both 6'+, 180lbs+ and drunk as hell! You gotta love your family, cause if we weren't there to get their backs, my boys might STILL be sleeping on the floor of the MGM in a pool of pink liquor...if you know what I mean.

Well, that's the end of my little Vegas adventure story. I hope I painted a picture good enough for y'all to see it like I did....and with that being said, now comes the cliche...."what happens in Vegas, stays in Vegas"....unless you're with the genius mind of Aimless Thought.

(I will be posting the club photos at With Every Blink in a day, so stay tuned!)

This is a Man's World

This was sent to me by a very close family member, and I thought you guys would appreciate it as much as I did....Enjoy.

Finally, the guys' side of the story.
(I must admit, it's pretty good.)
We always hear "the rules"
From the female side.

Now here are the rules from the male side.
These are our rules!
Please note... these are all numbered "1"
ON PURPOSE!

1. Men are NOT mind readers.

1. Learn to work the toilet seat.
You're a big girl. If it's up, put it down
We need it up, you need it down.
You don't hear us complaining about you leaving it down.

1. Sunday sports. It's like the full moon
or the changing of the tides.
Let it be.

1. Shopping is NOT a sport.
And no, we are never going to think of it that way.

1. Crying is blackmail.

1. Ask for what you want.
Let us be clear on this one:
Subtle hints do not work!
Strong hints do not work!
Obvious hints do not work!
Just say it!

1. Come to us with a problem only if you want help solving it. That's what we
do. Sympathy is what your girlfriends are for.

1. Anything we said 6 months ago is inadmissible in an argument.
In fact, all comments become null and void after 7 Days.

1. If you won't dress like the Victoria's Secret girls, don't Expect us to act like soap opera guys.

1. If you think you're fat, you probably are.
Don't ask us.

1. If something we said can be interpreted two ways and one of them makes you sad or angry, then we meant the other one

1. Whenever possible, Please say whatever you have to say during commercials.

1. ALL men see in only 16 colors, like Windows default settings.
Peach, for example, is a fruit, not a color. Pumpkin is also a fruit. We have no idea what mauve is.

1. If it itches, it will be scratched.
We do that.

1. If we ask what is wrong and you say "nothing," We will act like nothing's wrong.
We know you are lying, but it is just not worth the hassle, besides we know you will bring it up again later.

1. When we have to go somewhere, absolutely anything you wear is fine...Really.

1. Don't ask us what we're thinking about, unless you are prepared to discuss such topics as baseball, the shotgun formation
or golf.

1. You have enough clothes.

1. You have too many shoes.

1. I am in shape. Round IS a shape!

1. Thank you for reading this
Yes, I know, I have to sleep on the couch tonight.
But did you know men really don't mind that? It's like camping.

A REAL Lady Knows

I know you have, but I have to ask anyway…..Have you all heard that song by Fergie (from the Black Eyed Peas) called ‘London Bridge’ (or something like that)? There’s a line that she says in the song that goes “I’m such a lady, but I’m dancing like a Hoe” (or something like that), and I just Gotta Know…if you’re a ‘lady’, but you’re dancing like a ‘hoe’…and you’re fully capable of dancing like a ‘hoe’…..and you STILL consider yourself to be a ‘lady’…..do y'all see where I’m going with this?

You see, I’m not a ‘pimp’, and I can TRY to ACT like a ‘pimp’…, but I don’t have it in me to smack a hoe! So…if I TRY to act like a ‘pimp’, but turn out to be unsuccessful cause I can’t smack my hoe…I’m just not a ‘pimp’…period! Now, on the other hand, she’s such a lady, but can’t seem to help herself from dancing that way…then…she MUST be a….well, y'all know where I’m going with this ;-)

There are lots of lady’s in the clubs and in the streets that believe the same thing. It’s just like Chris Rock said about women in the clubs dancing to the nastiest music being played…..’he ain’t talkin’ about me!’ If they continue to believe that, and have reinforcement songs like “London Bridge” being played for them, they’re gonna keep rump-shakin’, dancing like a hoe, and sayin’ ‘he ain’t talkin’ about me!’.

I don’t know about y’all, but I think that’s madd funny! People are always doing one thing that’s supposed to be out of character, then try to excuse it by saying that they’re not a certain way. It kinda relates back to the “Get my Drink On” article I posted a month or so ago. If you’re gonna do it, do it with pride, and represent the skank in you ;-) CLICK BELOW TO WATCH THE VIDEO.

Imagine a ‘lady’ in the club dancing like a ‘hoe’. You’ve a couple of shots of ‘courage-juice’ in you, and you’re feeling bold. She walks by and you say something like ‘damn…that #&$^% was dancing like a hoe!’ Naturally, she’s gonna get mad because she doesn’t think she’s a ‘hoe’, but you think differently. You start arguing and making a scene all because you brought attention to the fact that a ‘lady’ was dancing like a ‘hoe’. You see ladies…if you don’t act like, or dance like a ‘hoe’, you won’t be labeled as a ‘hoe’. It’s pretty simple…if you don’t want to be treated like a ‘hoe’, stop acting like one, and stop trying to excuse it by saying ‘he ain’t talking about me’….A Real Lady Knows if she's a 'hoe' or not. What do you think? Lemme know your thoughts.

Welcome to Aimless-Thought

Welcome to Aimless-Thought! Soon you will notice this website/weblog taking on a new appearance, with new topics, juicy gossip, and great photos.

I have added two new websites to my list of blogs in the upper -right corner. www.everyblink.blogspot.com. With Every Blink (listed as SNAPSHOTS PHOTOGRAPHY) is strictly a photo-blog that I use to share how I view the world...with every blink of my eyes, and www.gimmeatopic.blogspot.com/ CREATIVE WRITING is my resume of articles that I have written for other online magazines and websites. (If you have a topic or an article that you'd like me to write for you or your publication/website, send me an email at nethedd@yahoo.com, or visit the site{Gimme A Topic} and contact me through comments there).

Thank you for your patronage, and I look forward to entertaining you with all of my new and unique articles/topics, and unique/strange photos.

*Home of the Free---Lance. Damned if I Do...The Freelance Curse

This is what I Gotta Know....In the world of Entrepreneurship and Free Enterprise, there lies an inherent struggle for the self-employeed....the Freelance Artist.

In our desire to take our futures into our own hands, and offer our professional services to the world at a greatly discounted rate, we ultimately have to endure the sea-saw, cat n' mouse up and downs of negotiating. For some unknown reason, potential customers that we encounter feel that they are entitled to 'franchise' quality, at bargain-basement prices. I'm willing to give the quality, but the bargain-basement prices are OUT OF THE QUESTION........MAN ;-)...get it...Question Man ;-)

*QUICK NOTE* Don't forget to pick up your Official Question Man T-shirt, and other custom apparel here!

In almost every experience that I've had as a freelance 12-volt installer (my previous career), or freelance writer (my new career ;-), my customers have ALWAYS wanted the best (as we all do) for less. Now, there's nothing wrong with wanting the best, but let's be fair about this. Just because I'm offering my services on my terms does not mean that they are not of the quality of a National Chain Store. Think about it....where do you think I got the skills and the qualifications to offer my services in the first place? Ultimately, it's just that we (Freelance Professionals) know what the services are really worth, so we offer them at what we feel the REAL rate should be....a little below retail, and right above 'cost' (us artists' have to eat too ;-)

There have been times, in my previous career, where my customers would drive me insane! Everybody wants a 'hook-up' beyond the 'hook-up' that you're already giving them. What's the problem....do they think we're on crack or something? I loved (past tense) the 12-volt industry, but I couldn't allow them (begging customers) to steal my passion away from me. I had to take a step away, and re-assess my situation. Now that I'm writing(and selling articles), I'm having a lot more fun, and I don't have to haggle with potential customers. I set the (fair) prices, and they agree...plus I think my writing is good ;-)

Either way, what are we to do? Are we to give up our freelance professions and desires to work for ourselves, and fall back into 'the system'? No! We are going to stay strong and stand tall, and not fall victim to 'Silver-Tongued' fast-talking negotiators. Seriously, how do they expect us to make a living? I understand the whole game of 'big business', but being that they're a part of 'big business', you'd think they'd have a little compassion for the little guy...but then again, little guys don't fit within the parameters of 'BIG' business, huh?

With every service known to man being duplicated and exploited all over the internet, we are being programmed to conform and follow society's guidelines. I say 'screw that!' Who's with me!?...

We, the sruggling few freelance artists' need to stick to our guns, keep our services above average and remain strong when negotiating for our futures. 'Big Business' was a solid foundation before the internet became fully available to the world, and with that came the introduction of the 'freelance artist'. Our world is the internet....Blogs, personal/small business websites, MySpace, Craigslist, and enumourous networking services that provide gateways for all of us who live and die by our budgets.

We all should unite and take a stand against 'BIG business'. The next time you get a contract, and someone tries to renegotiate your prices, hang the phone up in their faces!!! ;-) Just kidding, but we do need to do something. I understand human nature when it comes to paying for services outside actual 'stores'. We tend to feel like we're making an unsecure investment. When dealing with Freelance Artists', there are no REAL garauntees. We, as Freelance Artists' just have to make sure that we continue to provide good enough services to show the negotiating world that there is a standard of quality that we, (Freelance Artists') live by. Once we do that, there will be more respect for us, and less room to haggle.

....and with that being said....as always....WHO HAS AN ANSWER FOR THE QUESTION MAN?

...This Article was inspired by Rob Arel http://www.blackdoorcreative.com/... my Question Man logo Designer...

*If you've Ever Wondered

This is what I Gotta Know....
Have you guys EVER wondered why my Question Man logo is always looking soooo @%$#&! off? It's because of the little things that we have to endure Every Stinkin' Day! Let me get to it, and break it down for y'all real quick.

*QUICK NOTE*:{Don't forget to pick up your Official QUESTION MAN T-Shirt Here!}

These are the little things that drive me nuts on a daily basis:

1. How everybody in California seems to think that they are better than one another. Everybody has this major complex about themselves that drives them into the doctors office for a little Nip Tuck. Maybe I'm biased and a little sexist, but for women, to a very small degree, it's kinda ok if they decide to get a little work done...sometimes. Why you ask...cause some women (that I've encountered) have deep-rooted self-esteem issues. Even the 'beautiful' one's have these issues. Don't believe me...take a look around the mall, or the Santa Monica Pier the next time you're out on a beautiful Southern California Day, and count how many 'beautiful' women you see with butt-ugly men. You can't help but wonder why she's with him, but if you ever get a chance to conversate with one of the 'beautiful' one's, or sit close enough to eaves-drop, you'll more than likely to hear her complain about something (something minor in our manly minds) that she'd like to change about her body. Women are constantly being ripped apart by men and other women (especially) about their image, so you can't blame them if they have a little complex about themselves...but even with their little complexes and all, they are still quick to turn up their noses to you, and pretend to be too good to talk to you....that's California for you. As far as the men go....Man, you better not take your @#$ to a damn plastic surgeon....what the #%$& is wrong with you! Now don't get me wrong...I'm not sitting here complaining cause I look like Shrek, I'm just expressing myself as I always do ;-). Us men are just not criticized as much as women are. Hell, it's normal and accepted to see a middle-aged man with a 10-lb beer gut. How do you think society would act if a woman had one too???

2. How life in California has become so difficult lately. I'm not starving or really struggling, but life is not as easy as it was for me when I was 17. It's like we're all programmed to work, eat, sleep, #%&$, and work. I feel like we're drones or something. No wonder so many of us party sooo hard on the weekends that we end up loosing our lunch in the back seat of our friends' Pacer on the ride home. Seriously, have you taken a real good look at the freeways? They are out of control! Where do you think road-rage comes from? Now, after however many wasted years, Arnold finally decides to use some of our ill-gotten tax money to widen the freeways...for what...to let the rest of us who have been trying to take the streets (to save 5-stinkin' minutes) home back on the freeway? That's just gonna make the problem worse! If I wasn't bald, I'd be ripping my hair out right now!

3. This is the one that really #$%#& me off!!! (You see the number 3 is in RED). I REALLY hate those car commercials on the radio when the guy at the end talks soooo fast and soooo cluttered that all you hear is ($&%()$&#)%U)!!! MAN, that #$^%^ me off!!! When I'm riding home from work, in a daze, I sometime find myself letting the radio play, not caring what's on. Then, after being able to ignore EVERYTHING ELSE on the radio, I suddenly hear that stinkin' commercial! They're talking so fast that you can't hear or understand them, but I guess by law, they have to say it. If I had a choice, I'd rather read of novel of small print explaining the contract, than listen to that guy. Maybe I should start paying attention to the radio, or just turn it off altogether. I'll say this though. If I ever meet that guy, I'm gonna pour a cup of Alum down his throat to suck his lips in!

Anyway, I just thought I'd share some things about my logo, vent a little, and share my thoughts, just incase you guys had any questions about it. If you have similar situations or annoyances, feel free to share them. I'd LOVE to read your stories....
and with that being said....as always....WHO HAS AN ANSWER FOR THE QUESTION MAN?

*How'd he do that?

Marco Tempest - Jigsaw Puzzle (Japanese)

This is what I Gotta Know....
This guy is pretty slick with his magic and illusions. Although it's based on distraction, and slight-of-hand, it's STILL impressive. It's kinda like the card tricks where they ask you to write your name on a card, shuffle the cards, then throw your cards against a window and you find it stuck to the glass. All you can do is laugh, and wonder...'How do they do that?' Nevertheless, this stuff is impressive, and I thought y'all would enjoy it as much as I did.

I can't help but wonder how he does it? Does anyone have an answer for the Question Man?

*The Starbucks Clean-Up. It is BIG no more :-(

I have just received an email notification that the Starbucks promotion has been pulled (D'Oh!)! It's kinda funny how major corporations ALWAYS seem to find loop-holes in the system in order to free themselves from their 'somewhat legal' obligations. MAN these guys are quick!

Talk about a real I Gotta Know editorial....I REALLY Gotta Know how they can get away with crap like this? Is big business truly ABOVE the people who make them....big? To save-face, and a couple thousand dollars (peanuts for them), they're gonna take away our freebies!!! D'Oh!

Anyway readers, here's the actual news editorial from The Associated Press. This is not my article, and I give FULL CREDIT to The AP.....and I (QUOTE)...

"Thursday, August 31, 2006

Starbucks promotion got too hot

THE ASSOCIATED PRESS

There's no such thing as a free iced coffee at Starbucks -- at least not anymore.

The world's largest specialty coffee chain has pulled the plug on what was supposed to be a nearly five-week promotion after an e-mail coupon spread farther and wider than the company anticipated.

The offer began Aug. 23 with an e-mail offering a free Starbucks iced coffee from noon to 9 p.m. through Sept. 30. It was sent to "a limited group" of employees in the Southeast with instructions that they share it with friends and family.

The company put the kibosh on the promotion Tuesday night, issuing a statement saying the e-mail had been "redistributed beyond the original intent and modified beyond Starbucks' control."

Starbucks spokeswoman Valerie O'Neil said Wednesday that the company had no estimate of how many free iced coffees it had served up or just how far and wide the e-mail had spread.

"We're continuing to monitor it and see it spread," O'Neil said.

Asked if Starbucks would give this type of offer another shot, O'Neil said only, "We're always looking at different ways we can share our products." (END QUOTE).

You can find the actual article here: http://seattlepi.nwsource.com/business/283238_nofreestarbucks31.html

Wow!!! I guess they had an ANSWER for the Question Man ;-) 2-pts. for Starbucks!

*The Starbucks Screw-Up. This is BIG!!!

This is what I Gotta Know....
For all you Starbucks Coffee drinkers out there, it’s been said that there is a Starbucks coupon floating around giving away a FREE ‘ICED GRANDE BEVERAGE’! I was told that it was supposed to be for select Starbucks customers, but the group-email that was sent was flawed. Instead of the ‘special’ customers getting the email to get their exclusive offer, it went out to EVERYBODY! So, if you were lucky enough to end up on the Starbucks mailing list, you could be getting a chance to walk in there and get your freebie.

The problem that Starbucks is facing however is they can’t discern who is a ‘special’ customer, and who is a scavenger….like you and me ;-). That means that EVERYBODY who has this emailed coupon in their possession can get a sweet-treat from the Donald Trump of Coffee and Ice Mochas. It must really suck to be Starbucks, but hell….those guys are rich enough from all of us.

Now, because you are my loyal readers, I HAD TO let you all know about the screw-up, and that this coupon expires on SEPTEMBER 30th!!! The coupon is good at ALL participating Starbucks...but which one is participating....ALL OF THEM!! They didn't specify. MAN it sucks to be Starbucks!!! They can’t tell you no. They can’t say that they’re not honoring it. The only thing they can probably do is check to see if you’re on their ‘special’ mailing list, but who wants to go through all that trouble to save a dollar or two…Starbucks, that’s who. This faux pas is gonna cost them MILLIONS!!! I’d hate to be that employee/ex-employee who designed the coupon…or even worse, the guy who approved it. Can you say unemployment line?

Anyways, in closing, for all you loyal Starbuck-ers, what are you going to do to get your hands on that coupon? Who you gonna call? Who you gonna ask for a photocopy? ;-)

I don’t know about you, but I might have a clue.…
and with that being said….as always....WHO HAS AN ANSWER FOR THE QUESTION MAN?

This short was inspired by HVS