Dizzy Rascal what are you doing?

So I was watching TV last night, surfing for information relating to the recent election of Barack Obama. I'm waiting for Heroes to come on so I go to BBC2 and what do you know, they have a Newsnight special relating to everything that has been going on. At one stage Paxman decides to get the point of view of 2 people that the BBC must have thought correctly reflected the different spectrums of the black community.

So you have former Leader of the House of Lords, Baroness Valerie Amos in one corner and Dylan Mills (aka Dizzy Rascal - no...you have not read that incorrectly) in the other!

Valerie Amos gave a clear, thorough and well presented view of where she felt everything was going and what needs to be done next etc. Dizzy Rascal on the other hand did nothing but fulfil what in my view is an extremely negative stereotype. The hand gestures, the obvious lack of understanding relating to some of the questions and his blatant inability to clearly communicate his patterns of thought in a concise manner were an extremely sad sight to see.

Barrack Obamas achievement is a proud moment in humanity and shows that the Human race is moving forward and transcending racial differences and divides. Many of those divides do still exist and I agree with Malcolm X who said that before we as a human race can unify we as black people need to unify. I feel that if we are going to have people that represent our community, the younger black community, it should be someone with a bit more effluence than Dizzy Rascal!

I couldn't even watch the entire thing for fear that he was gonna start shouting "Brap! Brap!" at the camera...idiot!!

Here we have, another point of view.
And another...

First Black President, pinging on Paul and a change of scenery.

Well, I am still in a state of shock after reading the news on the BBC web site to find that Barrack Obama has been elected as President of the USA. Now this suprise is not derived from my not knowing obviously but more the fact that this is not something I ever expected to see in my lifetime. Even when the Polls had him as front runner all the way up until yesterday I couldn't help but cast my mind (as I am doing now) to when Senator Bush stole (in that he took something that blatantly was not his) the presidency. Al Gore had more votes, but who cares?? We have innocent people to kill, business that does not concern us to involve ourselves in, an economy that needs fucking up and some weapons of mass destruction to find (like looking in your neighbours house for your keys!). Either way, I think it a good thing that this change has introduced itself to the people of the world and it's a sight to see knowing that if you had even suggested the idea of such a thing 60 years ago, you would have been linched, laughed at or
both.

Anyways, I've left the martial arts school I was going to. A few reasons but the most important being that I really wanna concentrate on Brazillian Jiu Jitsu. Lucky for me there's a place within walking distance! Like...5 minutes away!! Had my 1st class on Monday and it was great! You spend 10 minutes warming up and stretching, the remainder of the hour practicing drills and then the remainder of the time you spend on the mat trying to submit each other. Awesome! Got submitted around 50 times which I don't actually mind in one sense being as that won't be the case forever.

Anywho, being as I want or rather, need to work on my standup, I currently spend about an hour a week now doing some pad drills with my good friend Paul. Paul and I met when we worked at Interactive Solutions together, we got on like a house on fire and were always
ribbing each other. The amount of dead arms that guy used to give me (back in my skinny days) was a joke! Anyways, just before I start the timer, Paul reminded me of what I used to say after one of these dead arms..."one of these days I'm gonna be bigger, find you and then kick the shit out of you". This comment was usually followed by copious amounts of laughter in my direction and another dead arm. 6 years on...my how the tables have turned! I was using the MMA gloves so I could only do open handed strikes but it was so much fun. Them gangly arms helped me again. Think I need to get in all the hits I can now though, a few more weeks and it'll be "one of these days I'm gonna be bigger..."

Mr Powell WHAT ON EARTH ARE YOU DOING!

OK, former general and US Secretary of State lets his hair down a touch and shows his human side. Nothing wrong with that, but still a touch cringe worthy I have to say. It's almost like watching your dad at a wedding!

Fair play to him though, he's obviously taken the view of "So what - it's for charity and I'm gonna have some fun" and for that alone, more power to him!

My money is on Obama

Yeah, my money is on Obama. From what I can tell he is the one best suited to take America in a better direction than Bush has been doing. I still think the prospect of seeing a black man in the whitehouse during my lifetime is amazing and damn near laughable in it's ambition, but certainly something I hope to see.

In my opinion he has already cemented himself in that group of great black men in history(Malcolm X, Marcus Garvey, Frederick Douglas, Martin Luther King Jr., Mohammed Ali etc)

Impossible is Nothing!

Read this in the Metro this morning. A superb and extremely inspirational story.

A mouse gets fed to this snake, the snake is thinking "Ahhh....lunch....", the mouse if thinking "FUCK YOU!"

I hate rodents but I want this mouse as a pet!!!
More info here...

Talk about tragic

Poor lady, a damn shame if you ask me and something I truly believe could happen to anyone. Some would say that it's a little irresponsible, I say, put yourself in that situation and see how you fair!

http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/3161948/Fire-death-brothers-Arrested-mother-to-be-quizzed.html

She's been arrested too as if losing her kids ain't enough to deal with not to mention the fact that she'll probably be blaming herself and now she's under arrest for manslaughter and child neglect. A damned shame!

Kimbo Slice, XXX Grot and Dylan Moran

OK 1st things 1st. Came across this video (forgive the pun - totally intended) and laughed my ass off. Very funny stuff!!!

Check out www.diesel.com/xxx/

Also, looks like Kimbo Slice has suffered his 1st defeat to Seth Petruzelli. I gotta say, the entire thing looks like a slip from Kimbo which was then capitalised on by Petruzelli, still counts as a win but if you replayed that 20 times I think Kimbo wins 95% of the time.

Oh, Dylan Moran was not good. I'd say get teh DVD but you won't be impressed, his 1st 2 DVD's were great and I think he's a good comedian but unfortunatley he's lacking in consistency and seems to have lost a great deal of spark. Joe Rogan keeps the Number 1 spot as my favourite stand up, shortly followed by Dave Chappelle and now Jamie Foxx moves up from 4 to 3 knocking Moran right outta the top 3.

Sorry Dylan, you've lost your sting mate :(

Chuck knocked out!

OK, I totally was not expecting that!! Stayed up til 3am Sunday morning waiting for UFC 88 all to see Rashad Evans get an ass whipping and what happens? Chuck Liddell gets knocked out cold with an overhand right (Imagine that?? Knocked out with your own signature hit). I was in shock and I think the crowd was too - no real cheering or booing just a sense of disbelief! Hat off to Rashad Evans though - can't wait til he gets to Machida though - my money would be on Lyoto for sure! :)

Oooh - Chrome!

New web browser is now out. Is it another version we have to account for when developing or a phunky browser that will leave the masses gagging for more? Time will tell but so far...I'm impressed...feature rich and looks pretty nice to boot.

http://www.google.com/chrome

HOLY SHIT!!

YES!!! YES YES YES YES YES!!!

http://uk.ufc.com/index.cfm?fa=news.detail&gid=14275

Nobody likes Nobodies

OK - So I go to Boots like 3 times a week and by the counter they got all these "Gossip" mags. Brad and Angelina's baby - Exclusive pics. Cheryl Tweedy...why I went back with Ashley. Jordan Price...why me and Pete are the perfect couple and my favourite spotted just today - Jade Goody, I have to stay strong for my boys.

Now when it comes to Brad Pitt and Angelina Jolie...they're both good actors and Angelina is super fit...but I personally couldn't give a shit about their personal lives unless they impact me. Don't get me wrong, it's always nice to find out something like "Oooh, he went to the same school as me" but other than that...who gives a shit?? I ain't being a hater and more power to the lot of em (with the exception of Jade...I'll get to her in a minute), they've used the system and peoples unhappiness with their own lives to make money. I just wonder why no one actually thinks about these minor points. It's not like most (MOST NOT ALL) of these people have made any major contributions to society or impacted the world in a great way for the advancement of humanity. So why do we care when one of them has kids, breaks up with someone or blows their nose?? Just makes you feel like the majority (with the D-Listers at least) of their income comes from telling any and everything about their personal lives to weekly mags for the drone like masses to consume.

What got me on to this?? Jade Goody. I gotta say, from day 1 that girl pissed me off and I dunno why. I think it's something to do with the fact that she's a f**king idiot...yeah - that's it. Don't get me wrong, I think her having cancer really blows and I would not wish that on anyone but COME ON PEOPLE - Cancer is not the cure for being a f**king idiot!! She was a retard before she got it - she's a retard now and is the perfect epitome of what I am talking about. She can't do anything interesting like juggle or pull a rabbit out of a hat, she has not written any dissertations on ways to improve humanity and in general has not made any REAL contributions to society. "Why I broke up with some random geezer" is NOT a contribution to society. "Me and my new boob job" is NOT a contribution to society. "Why am I such a f**king looser" while funny, is not a contribution to society. But many people would still rather read about some ignorant nobody than concentrate on the person that actually counts, themselves.

A reflection of societies down turn or just the way the media portrays "celebs" - decide for yourselves.

UFC 87 : Review

I actually stayed up to watch this and finding ways to kill time til 3am when you're high and there's nothing on Telly is not easy!! I managed it though and totally worth it! With the exception of the 2nd round stoppage predicted in the last post, everyone who I thought would win...won. Have to say, easily one of the best UFC events I've seen in years - Demian Maia vs Jason McDonald was an excellent Jui Jitsu showcase. Jason M is not an easy dude to tap!!

The Ken Flo vs Huerta fight was good - I was routing for Heurta but Kenny had some seriously tight skill.

Brock Lesnar is a freaking beast! Congrats on the dude winning the fight but I found him to be a touch disrespectful once the fight was won. Pointing at the opponent and laughing...what a complete twat! Yeah I can see you now you big headed mother fucker!

The GSP Fitch fight should easily have got fight of the night. Jon Fitch is a freaking machine. The dude can take serious punishment and just keep on going. That guy has nothing to be ashamed of in loosing, he put up a hell of a fight!

Another beached whale...

Does anyone every consider that Whales that beach themselves are the retards of the Whale community??

Go buy this little snippet of the Rogan (from Shiny Happy Jihad which is REAL funny!) - swiftly becoming my favourite stand-up comedian.

2 for 2!

Passed my 2nd grading! Woo hoo! I tell you something...considering how much I was sweating...I should hope so too. Got home and was totally bushed...think I was actually asleep before my head hit the pillow! Anyways, I think....possibly...I may have another grading before this fight of mine in November.

Also, I hear that James Irvin has been snagged taking drugs - fool! I don't get it - they know there are tests all the time...so why bother risking it??

Rampage, Rampage, Rampage....

Dunno what's happening with Rampage Jackson doing an "OJ Simpson" n stuff. Dude must be well stressed...a damn shame. Anyways, he's been arrested!! Nothing too major from what I can tell and Dana White apparently flew out to post his 25k bail (5 quid says he was plenty pissed). Kinda sucks for the UFC and MMA in general though. Too many people out there have the view that it's "human cock fighting" and that all the fighters are a bunch of fools who just wanna fight...in the ring...in the street...wherever! (not the case), or people like my mom who have watched waay to many Jean Claude movies and visualise a bunch of business men in an underground arena chanting "KILL! KILL! KILL!" shortly followed by random weapons being thrown into the ring. It really does not help an amazing sport which is still largely under scrutiny and in it's infancy.

Either way, I hope whatever the dude is going through he comes out the other end OK.

You can view the article here.

Post 100!

Welcome to post 100...a small milestone and not too significant (if at all) in the great scheme of things, but a milestone non the less. Not updated for a while as I've been busy with either being ill or training.

Anyways, the 2nd sparring session was way better than the 1st. After that first instance and realising that I was being way too defensive I was determined to be a great deal more offensive that time round. Also spent a good few hours putting my UFC video subscription to good use watching all the best stand up guys and studying how they do their thing. Lyoto Machida, Anderson Silva, Wanderlei Silva, Chuck Liddell. I also managed to use a trick that I read in Mohammed Ali's auto-bio where he puts one hand on the head of the opponent (watch some of his fights, you'll see him do it) which apparently helps distract them (it works too). In MMA that'd be no good...leaving your arm out there for too long is gonna do nothing against someone with good BJJ apart from get you submitted, but considering our sparring sessions are hands only for the moment, it's all good. I've also been running to my sessions too (it's only a 1.5k run) but an excellent way to warm up and get the aerobic conditioning on the way. Need to concentrate on the Anaerobic too though. All in all, I'm loving the MMA stuff I'm doing and the guys I train with are all really sound people. Getting to be a tight group...

In other news, less than 4 weeks until UFC 85 and I can't wait. My very 1st live UFC event and it's gonna be the shiz! It still sucks that I won't get to see Chuck Liddell as that would have been way cool especially after reading his book but the UFC have made up for it with one of the biggest fight cards in the history of the UFC. Nicely done boys, nicely done. Bisping is fighting Jason "Dooms" Day who I have not heard of but from all the hype...is meant to be a bad mother fu*ker! Still a shame that Chris Leben has had to go to Jail though...would have been good to see Bisping and him get it on. I also think it would have been good for Bispings career with Leben being better known among UFC fans but the fight should be pretty good anyway. They also have Thiago Alves vs Matt Huges, Rashad Evans vs James Irvin and Paul Taylor vs Jess Liaudin. I'm diggin Paul Taylor, dudes from the West Midlands for a start which is where I'm from and he's got some skills too although he's in the under card so that fight won't get televised.

Anyway - bored of typing now...will add more when I can be bothered...

UFC 83, 85 and Ouch!

Yeah, so was sparring on Monday. Was a shed load of fun but my cardio needs a lot of work. As you can see, I've been doing some "Nike+" Runs, even woke up at 6am this morning to do a few kilometers. The goal...2 miles in 11 minutes...at the moment I can do 2k in 9.5 minutes so I've got some to go. Anyways, really really really need to work on my stand up. Apparently my foot work is good so that's one less thing, but I gotta start committing to the punches. I also got tagged square on the bridge of my nose which I have to say was a b*tch!! On a scale of 1-10 I'd say the pain was at like 6-7 so nothing life threatening but enough to make me pause and start nodding my head even though no one asked me a question. The eyes start streaming and you cant see properly and there's that little voice in your head saying "3x 5 minutes of this? HA!...lets go home" but I'm ignoring that little git and powering through. Anyways, didn't really help that the guy who was training me says after years he's never gotten used to being punched in the nose :( NOOOOO!! Anyways, not giving up...this is spurring me on to get better and the way I see it, the more I get hit in the face the more incentive there is for me to move out of the freaking way!!

Meanwhile, I have not done any UFC of late so I'll throw something in. Very happy that GSP got his belt back, the crowd looked freaking awesome in terms of the atmosphere and even though Serra lost, it's cool he got an applause at the end. Meanwhile, seems that Chuck Liddel won't be fighting at UFC 85 anymore! I was well gutted when I found that out. Training injury n all of that which couldn't be helped but damn dude!! The one fight on the entire card I was really looking forward to not to mention the fact that I lashed 300 bones on tickets! Anyways, the main card has been changed to Matt Hughes vs Thiago Alves - which ain't as kick ass a Liddell vs Evans, but it's nice to see that UFC have their finger on the pulse being as Bisping will be taking on Chris Leben. FREAKING AWESOME! Now that's the fight I'll be looking forward to. Getting to see our boy in LIVE action is gonna freaking rock and even though the US fans may not be as welcoming to the big man...we freaking love that guy over here. I guarantee you that the crowd is gonna go absolutely freaking wild when he comes out. Got to say though, I think this will be a very good gauge to see how Bisping would do against Silva. If he can take out Leben just as quick it looks good, if it goes to a decision or even worst he loses (doubt it) then he's got a ways to go. But one I'm looking for, Rich Franklin vs Bisping - OH YEAH!

Chuck Liddell out of UFC 85 card and my grading

Yeah, he's pulled his freakin' hamstring!! I'm well gutted about that! £300 bones on tickets and he injures himself on training! Anyways - you can read more here, as for the replacement - no idea! :(

Meanwhile - got me belt/passed my grading, 1st of many I hope - so onward and upward.

Chinese Guardians of the Torch

Daaamn, seems like China are serious about keeping this torch alight! Those dudes in the dodgy blue track suits are members of the Chinese Counter Terorrism Unit. I'd usually say that was overkill but with the way things are going - maybe not.

I for one will not be watching the olympics at all in protest of the stuff that's going on over there! No way am I about to support the supression of a people. It wasn't right 100 years ago...it's not right now!

More info about these hardcore homies in blue here

15 years in Jail over a "white lie"

So been reading this article about some poor geezer who goes on a site looking for some "nudge, nudge, wink, wink". Meets up with this chic who is also a paying member of the site, they hop on the good foot, do the bad thing and then end up loosing contact after a short while. Next thing you know - poor fella is at home, having a brew (watching Maury no doubt) and the old bill come knocking on his door. Turns out this chic was 14!! Dude now has to spend 15 years in prison...talk about harsh!! I mean, people say "Well he should have been able to tell" but that ain't always the case...the amount of chics I went to school with who were dating 20-30 yr olds who had no clue about their true age is almost shocking. Me for example...I've always looked ridiculously young for my age....most people put me between 22-24 (I'm 29 in a few months). On the flip side, I work with a dude who is 24 and looks like he's in his early 30's!!

Talk about weak!! I ain't saying nothing should have been done - what I am saying is 15 years is an awful long time all because some chic decided to lie about her age.

You can read more about it here.