Tuesday, November 25, 2014

#30DayBlogChallenge - Day 9 – What Do You Wish You Were Good At?

Mechanic

Day 9: What Do You Wish You Were Good At?
For more info on the 30 Day Blog challenge, click here.

Growing up in Detroit, the “Motor City”, the recognized “Auto Capital Of The World”, you are expected to either:

A. Own A Car OR

B. Know How To Fix Them

Well, I’ve gotten the ownership thing down to a science, and since my 16th birthday, I’ve changed cars at least once every 2-3 years! However, fixing them, I’ve pretty much shied away from! So I wish I was good at fixing cars … at leas so that I can avoid costly trips to the mechanic!

It’s not that I’m terrible at it or anything…but it’s just the way my bear paws are setup, getting into an small spaces is not feasible! So, since I’ve never tried to do it, I haven’t taken the time to learn it either! The other problem I’ve had with fixing cars is remembering all of the things it takes to fix each type of car. My memory already doesn’t serve me, so trying to commit something to it that I will probably not actually do…is again, futile!

One thing I am good at with cars though, is brakes and wheel components! I have changed brake pads, rotors, calipers and bearings. So at least I have that! Until my wish ever comes true, or they make fixing cars as easy as putting together computers…then you’ll just have to find me posted up at your local mechanic shop!

What do you find yourself struggling with, that you wish you could be better at?

Monday, November 24, 2014

#30DayBlogChallenge - Day 8 – What Makes You Smile?

My Extended Family

Day 8: What Makes You Smile?
For more info on the 30 Day Blog challenge, click here.

If anyone knows me, they know I talk about my family… A LOT! My family (immediate, extended and extras) is my life! My wife, my kids, my grandkids, my sisters, my wife’s sisters, my cousins, my aunts/uncles, my bros, my peeps, my “big-little whatever”, all mean the world to me!!!

If nothing else, I am most happiest when I’m hanging with, talking to, or just knowing how their day is going! Knowing they’re happy, makes me happy! And that makes me Smile!

What makes you smile!?

Sunday, November 23, 2014

WHAT STYLEZ THINKS ABOUT => The current situation in #Ferguson #MichaelBrown #DarrenWilson

Mike Brown Sr. holding
a picture of his son.
I was reading some comments to a Facebook status, about the lack of movement by the Ferguson Grand Jury in the Michael Brown/Darren Wilson case. The commenters, both stated and/or agreed with the "we weren't there...let the Grand Jury (take their time and) decide"! One of them also went so far as to state that "since Mr. Brown committed a crime...he spun the wheel"!

All I could say was WOW! It was very interesting to "hear the other side" and what they thought of the situation. I have the sneaky suspicion they'd think otherwise, had it been their son, or one of their family...regardless of color.
NO ONE needs to be gunned down and killed by police for JAY WALKING, possible petty theft or hiding from police! The officer unloaded approximately half of a clip (if not more) at a Jay Walking and possible petty theft suspect (if it's proven Wilson even knew about the theft)! There's NO REASON for that, regardless if we were there or not!

If you are a law enforcement officer, there is NO REASON you should be allowed to patrol, protect & serve, or anything else, if you are gonna shoot anything that moves! If the Officer was so "afraid", he should have turned in his badge and retired! Using fear as a reason for action, when you are trained in several facets of combat and weaponry, is completely and utterly, irresponsible and unacceptable!

The underlying issue is not about "being there", it's not about "hearing all of the evidence", but it's about taking responsibility for actions unbefitting the position! It's about holding law enforcement officers accountable, and not continuing to allow the (excuse the pun), cop-out that they won't make it in prison, since they were former law enforcement. Giving these individuals excuses, is giving them a "license to kill" and unfortunately, they're usually aiming their guns, and unloading full clips at a "select few"! This is what has to stop! "To Protect & Serve" means us all, not only who you choose!!!

That's what Stylez thinks...what do you think?

#30DayBlogChallenge - Day 7 – What Do You Wear To Bed?

pajama-party

Day 7: What Do You Wear To Bed?
For more info on the 30 Day Blog challenge, click here.

So now we’re really getting personal.

Well, whenever I actually do get to sleep, I’m usually wearing … drum roll please…

T-Shirt & Boxers!!!

Yea, there’s not a lot of options for guys, so I’ve opted for comfort, not style, when it comes to my bedroom ensemble!

What do YOU wear to bed!? Hopefully something a little more “sexy” and/or stylish than my T’s & boxers! SMH! LOL!

Saturday, November 22, 2014

#WillieStylezSays - Wisdom and Opportunity

"Wisdom and Opportunity are an amazingly blessed combo! But to appreciate it, take advantage of the Energy and Freedom of Youth!" #DontWasteIt - Willie Stylez

#30DayBlogChallenge - Day 6 – What Pet Do You Want?

komodo-dragon-wallpapers-10

Day 6: What Animal Would You Love To Have As A Pet?
For more info on the 30 Day Blog challenge, click here.

For YEARS, I’ve always wanted to own a:

KOMODO DRAGON

I’ve been obsessed with Komodo Dragons, ever since my first time seeing one on WWF, being carried into a wrestling ring, by Ricky “The Dragon” Steamboat! Although they are not the most prettiest beasts, they definitely have a mystery, and a certain, umm… don’t F with me, or my dragon will F you up… kinda look to them! Yea, I need a friend like that! LOL!

What kind of animal would you consider for a pet?

Friday, November 21, 2014

#WhatStylezThinksAbout => INBOX by GMAIL #GTD #SoftwareReview

Inbox by Gmail, the newest tool
for digital organization
So, a buddy of mine posed the question...
Which do you feel, is a superior email client? GMAIL 5.0 (Lollipop update) or INBOX (by Gmail)?
So, being the software addict that I am, I asked for an invite so I could check out the fabled new addition to the Google stable... INBOX! So What Does STYLEZ Think?

OK, so after only 1 day, I (kinda) prefer INBOX over GMail 5.0!!! I feel like Inbox, indeed, helps me get things done and kinda forces me to get organized in my digital life. To begin the process of getting more organized, I consolidated my corporate email to my GMail account and spent like 3 or 4 hours cleaning up that mess! I'd been getting a lot of spam lately so I think Gmail is going to help with that! (so far so good)

So then I moved on to understanding INBOX and the bundling, and the sweeping, and all of the other organization tools it flaunts! And I must say, between the mobile app (on Android) and the website, I am impressed. I actually never really got motivated to do the labeling/tagging in Gmail. It was never user friendly to me. I found the new Gmail 5.0 on Android was better. But with Bundles in INBOX, I feel more in control and pre-organized so that I can focus on what I'm doing and get it done, versus flailing my arms all over the place with random messages just filling up my mailbox daily!

The only "major" gripe I have right now, is to perform more complex selections (based on advanced filters), you still have to rely on the old Gmail website, but other than that INBOX's website and mobile app are easy to use and very helpful in getting what's important, right in front of me! Also, the addition of some of Google Keep's features (reminders) is an added bonus, since I love that app too. I'm impressed, and hope with (a little) time, it will totally replace all of my email clients and fulfill my digital needs! 

By the way, I also found a GREAT website that pretty much goes over all of the current features in INBOX and gives you a basic overview on how to use them! Check it out here:http://gmail-miscellany.blogspot.com/2014/10/inbox-by-gmail-101.html

And finally, if you're interested in getting an invite to Inbox, please let me know, I believe I have one or two I can send out! Then you can get organized too! That is what Stylez thinks, what do you think? Please comment and share!

#30DayBlogChallenge - Day 5 – What Do You Collect?

Collectables
Day 5: What Do You Collect?
For more info on the 30 Day Blog challenge, click here.

So Day 4’s topic was an easy choice, but this one…not so much!!!

I know some people may think, Willie Stylez, Mr. Gadget Man himself, MUST collect … GADGETS! But, yea, that would be WAY TO OBVIOUS! So I have decided to list some things I’ve collected over the years, so you can understand, not only my broad range of interests, but also my addiction to collecting! LOL!

Young Kid (5 years to about 12)

  • Baseball cards
  • Comic Books
  • Stamps
  • Coins (I was pretty good at coins, but SOMEONE took most of them) Sad smile
  • Bullies! (I was the fat, nerdy, funny looking kid that was easy going so easy to pick on…luckily I learned use my size to my advantage, made fun of myself being a nerd to deflect the abuse, and I finally grew into my looks! I was finally able to avoid bullies by the end of Middle School)

Teenager (13-17)

  • Video Games
  • More Comics (finally sold most of them around my 17th bday)
  • Gadgets (I had a couple computers, pager, and a cell phone)

Young man (18-25)

  • Addresses (I moved 7 or 8 times in this short time)
  • Cars (I also owned about 4 cars during this time)
  • Jobs (I worked at about 9 jobs during this time)
  • Businesses (I owned or co-owned 4 businesses during this time)

The Last Decade…or so (26-38)

  • Kids (I have 6 children, 2 Godsons, 2 Goddaughters, 1 grandson and 2 god-grandsons…wooo, I think that covers it)
  • More Cars (owned another 4 or 5 cars)
  • More Gadgets (computers, servers, laptops, phones, tablets, etc, just to name a few)
  • Pennies (I collect them all year long, donate most of them to United Way Penny Wars, then start collecting all over again)
  • Years in my Career (20+ years professionally in IT)
  • Years with my Wife (13 years, 25 days together; 9 years, 6 months, 16 days of marriage)

That’s what I’ve been collecting…let me know in the comments, what you’ve been putting your time into!!

Thursday, November 20, 2014

#30DayBlogChallenge - Day 4 - Who or What Can't You Live Without?

Day 4: Who or What Can't You Live Without?
For more info on the 30 Day Blog challenge, click here.

So this one was an easy choice:

Who?
My GOD and My Wife!
My Beautiful Wife, Alexis!
The two most important people in my life! Jehovah gives me structure, Alexis gives me purpose! Jehovah has taught me to Love... I've shown Alexis that Love throughout our friendship and marriage! Jehovah, through his son, has promised to save me from Sin and Death! And HE's already shown he can save me by giving me such a blessing in a strong, dedicated, ambitious and motivating wife!



What?
My Galaxy Note 10.1 2014
My Drink and My 2 Step... LMBO! Just kidding. But most folks know, I can't live without my technology...all of it. From PC's and Tablets, to smartphones and wearable tech, I love technology and all it stands for! Progress, innovation and creativity! It's my hobby and my career!

Wednesday, November 19, 2014

#30DayBlogChallenge - Day 3 - What's In Your Bag

Day 3: What's In Your Bag?
For more info on the 30 Day Blog challenge, click here.

So, NO, it hasn't taken me 4 days to figure out what's in my bag, but I've just been super busy (and writing a bunch of other stuff, as you'll see in my 4 blogs)! Anyway, it's time to catch up on The Challenge!

So, because the only bag I actually carry (besides my wife's when we're shopping) is my laptop bag, I decided to explore it! And here is what I found (thanks to Sunny D at Spoken Words & Thoughts for the inspiration on how to structure my list):


The Obvious:

  • Dell 15" Laptop from work
  • Pencils
  • Highlighters
  • Charging cables
  • spare headphones
The Less-Obvious:
  • Samsung Galaxy Note 10.1 2014 tablet
  • tissue (I have terrible hay fever allergies)
  • Micro fiber screen wipes (gotta keep those screens crisp)
  • Sharpies (just to keep it from getting stolen off my desks)
  • Battery pack charger for phones
  • Network cables (never know when wifi isn't going to be an option)
  • extra USB cables
  • Influencing Skills workbook (from an interesting class I took)
Obviously you can tell I like to be prepared! What's in your bag!?

Tuesday, November 18, 2014

#30DayBlogChallenge - Day 2 - Significance of Your Name #WhatsInaName

Day 2: What Is The Significance Of Your Name?
For more info on the 30 Day Blog challenge, click here.

So I've spent a few hours trying to decide how to approach Day 2's subject. As MANY of you know, my name on this Blog, and most other places is Willie Stylez! If you go to my Twitter you see a "full name"... William F. Stylenzski! When I talk to my kids about "Who Willie Stylez is", I always claim his name is:

William F. Stylenzski, III, Esquire
AKA
Willie Stylez
AKA
STYLEZ
AKA
Big Little Whatever

Well, because this is the Willie Stylez Blog, I will stick with What's In WILLIE STYLEZ's Name!!! HA! And y'all thought I was about to reveal my Government name! #NoComment

So Willie Stylez has been my pseudonym since 1994 when I started writing and doing music. It was a cool name, and got me thinking about my brand, my image as an entertainer and separating me from the day-to-day businessman I was, in real life! I have continued to use this name, in brand and persona, ever since!

When Twitter came about they wanted a full name for the profile, and I initially used the Willie Stylez name. Later on, while trying to garner 5000 followers in a friendly competition I was involved in, I decided to step up the stakes. I promised my followers I would CHANGE when I reached 5000 followers, it was the least I could do to prove there was a "Prize for all these followers"!!! And at 5000, I officially MORPHED...into the Black Power Ranger!!! LMBO! YES, I spent close to a year being the Black Power Ranger on Twitter! #GoodTimes

But shortly thereafter, I decided I needed to change again and gave up my PowerZord! But then I needed an "identity"! So I asked around and #OOMF (one of my followers) suggested to just be myself. No nickname, just fully, who I was...as Willie Stylez though...all grown up! Then it hit me...what would Willie Stylez be a nickname for!? William was obvious for Willie! But then I remembered most people who came from other countries changed their last names to "fit in"! So I had to figure out where STYLEZ "came from"! And that's when I came up with William F. Stylenzski, III, Esq.! Sounds very astute doesn't it! And Polish...but whatever! LOL!

So what does the F stand for...


And NOW you know! LOL!

Monday, November 17, 2014

#30DayBlogChallenge - Day 1 - Playlist Shuffle #MusicIsMyLife

Day 1: Put your Google Play Music on Shuffle and list the first 10 songs...and how you feel about them!

Like I said in my last post, I have to put a little Willie Stylez twist on some of these Blog Challenge topics! I am an AVID Google and Android user, so I don't own an iPod (an iPhone 6 Plus, yes, but it's only used secondary to my Note 4), but I do listen to most of my music on Google Play Music (as well as on Rhapsody, Spotify, SoundCloud and Pandora).  So you can say... #MusicIsMyLife

Anyway, here is what Google Play Music came up with for me:

1. "That Ain't Me" Lil Wayne feat. Jay Sean (I Am Not A Human Being) ~ So this song wasn't one of my FIRST choices when picking up my headphones. But I really do enjoy the song, and the message. It's a strong cut from the I Am Not A Human Being album, and a song you can really jam too.

2. "I Ain't Thru (Remix)" Keyshia Cole feat. Nicki Minaj & Gucci Mane (Calling All Hearts) ~ I love Nicki, love Keyshia and well, me and Gucci, we can get along at time. I always find myself bouncing and jamming to this HOT TRACK! Definitely one of Nicki's best features in the beginning of her major career!

3. "Right Round" Flo Rida (R.O.O.T.S.) ~ I can actually jam to this track! I definitely don't tell to many people I keep some Flo Rida on my playlists, but no one can deny his music is a guilty pleasure! I think Ke$ha guest starred on this track, but my copy didn't mention.

4. "Download (Remix)" Lil Kim feat. T-Pain, Charlie Wilson, The-Dream & Soulja Boy Tell'em ~ What can I say, Uncle Charlie, T-Pain AND The-Dream on one track, with a hot 32 by the Queen B herself...oh and a (surprisingly decent) verse from ya boy Soulja! Yea, definitely a great recipe for a HOT TRACK! I love the classic feel of the Roger Troutman Computer Love track under the T-Pain AutoTune mastery!

5. "Supermodel Baby" Tyga feat. Gata (The Free Album) ~ OK, I can't win them all. Let's just say, Tyga is LUCKY that The Free Album was indeed free, or I'd have demanded a refund! Shoot, to tell the truth, with the wack Autotune and even wacker lyrics on this track, I think I do want to demand the 2 minutes 39 seconds of my life back!!! SMDH! NEXT!

6. "Swagga Like Us" T.I. feat. Jay-Z, Kanye West & Lil Wayne (Paper Trail) ~ OK, this is more like it! SUPER Hot lyrics from arguably 4 of the best rappers in the game today!!! This remix is in several of my playlists and is definitely a long standing favorite HOT TRACK in my book!

7. "Shut It Down" Pitbull feat. Akon (Rebelution) ~ This may not be one of Pitbull's best tracks, but you gotta admit that ANYTHING with Pitbull on it is HOT! He knows how to get you up out of your seat!

8. "Lyrical Exercise (Beast Mix)" Ace Hood (Body Bag 3) ~ One of the most slept on in the game, Ace definitely went Beat Mode on this track! The Body Bag Series is a MUST Listen! Check out Ace Hood NOW!

9. "A Million Lights" DJ Khaled feat. Tyga, Cory Gunz, Mack Maine, Jae Millz, Kevin Rudolf (We The Best Forever) ~ BROOOOO! Talk about HOT TRACK! This who's who of the younger members of Young Money is BEAST of a track! The producer, the artists and the singer really did their thing on this track! I can listen to this one OVER AND OVER!!!

10. "Don't Say Nothing" Maino feat. Diddy-DirtyMoney (The Art Of War) ~ A HOT TRACK from one of the kings of the street and the king of flash! Maino stands out with great lyrics and his razor sharp delivery. Even Diddy pulls out a hot 16 for a strong feature, and of course, he brought the beautiful ladies of Dirty Money along with him! And they seal the deal to make this a great track! Certified Banger!

Bonus Track: "Do What You Do" Drake (Room For Improvement) ~ And finally, we end with a great early track from Drake, when he still had tons of respect from the industry and the fans! I still consider myself a fan, but you have to admit over the years, his rep has dwindled! Check out this mixtape, it's one of his best of his early period! You can definitely tell why Drake was once one of the hottest commodities in the game!

And for your listening pleasure:

WHAT STYLEZ THINKS ABOUT => A Shot Of Inspiration - a 30 Day Blog Challenge!

So I was checking out a couple friends' blogs and found that they were really getting into their writing game more and more lately. Then I remembered...hey, what about MY blog! Well, one of my blogs (Stylez Radio) has been getting plenty love from me! But this blog has been falling to the wayside, more often than not! So What Does STYLEZ Think...well, what does he think he should do about that!?

Well, that led me to deciding to take on the 30 Day Blog Challenge that my girl Sunny D is doing on her great blog! The challenge is simple...everyday, for 30 days, try to post something new and interesting on your blog! Where we get this "shot of inspiration" makes it even easier to accomplish this 30 day blogging marathon! So here it, in unedited form:

Of course, I'm going to put my own twist onto it. You know how STYLEZ gets down! LOL! Anyway, I'm going to do like Sunny and start my posting today! Hope you enjoy what I post and please, feel free to comment, share, complain, whatever! Alright, enough of this... LET'S GO!

That is what Stylez thinks...what do you think!?

Thursday, November 6, 2014

WHAT STYLEZ THINKS ABOUT => iPhone 6 Plus #Review #MyTech

So my first week with the iPhone 6 Plus has just went by, and I am in a word, satisfied. I have been using an iPhone 5 for a little over 2 years, and while it was my 2nd most used phone (out of the 4 I used over the past 2 years), it was my least favorite! Most people know how I feel about Apple...it's a love-hate relationship. Mostly hate! Anyway, because of my day job, I must have Apple technology at my disposal and the iPhone 6/6+ update was my chance to at least get an iPhone BIG enough to handle what I felt an iPhone should have been able to do YEARS ago. Satisfy my need for size, quality and performance.

Quality is subjective I think. What I feel makes something a quality product, may or may not, appeal to others. And vice versa. Therefore, all the reviews of the i5 and i5s which touted the "quality of the iPhone build" just didn't quite make sense to me. I, of course, did prefer the metal build in the iPhone over the plastic in the Samsung devices. But I didn't actually own a Samsung. I had a Motorola Droid Razr Maxx. A phone which was made of metal and kevlar coating. So build quality, comparatively speaking, was severely lacking on the iPhone side. My Razr Maxx took a BEATING, one that would have CRUSHED a mere i4, and put a severe hurting on an i5/5s! And that it did. At the end of THREE years, my Droid Razr Maxx still looks brand new...even after using it with no case, and allowing it to take several 5-10 foot drops, also letting it fall into a 6ft pool and being submerged for well over 90 seconds! Still worked and performed like a champ, though not 100%, but at least 90% of the time! My i5, which was coddled like a baby, and never without a case for 18 months straight, was at times, borderline buggy and when I took it out of it's CASE, it was scratched and battered beyond belief! YES, it couldn't even handle life INSIDE a case! SMDH! And as for size...well, we all know how stupidly small iPhones have been for years! Even the i5, with it's (fake) 4" screen dimension, was still ridiculously small and incapable of being a media consumption device!

Well, that's all changed with the iPhone 6 and iPhone 6 Plus! I opted for the #BigDaddy, and so far it's a BIG ASS iPhone! LMBO! But it's nice to be able to finally have it work nicely for watching video. i5's and definitely i4's were TERRIBLE for watching anything...video, animations, texts, anything!!! Now it's a much better visual experience. However, even with a 5.5 inch screen, and a body that is actually LARGER than the Note 4, the iPhone 6 Plus STILL does not support real-time, on screen multi-tasking! That's not a deal breaker, but it's a feature, again, Apple should have considered.

Though it still sucks for typing since Apple has learned nothing in 8 years about keyboards, but having a larger keyboard does provide a 25-50% improvement in key accuracy. However because I am still used to my Android and BB10 keyboards, I still expect a lot more than Apple is apparently willing to provide! But the nice thing is, now with iOS 8, you can use 3rd Party keyboards (without needing to jailbreak). Unfortunately, it's not seamless, as in some apps, you have to specify the 3rd party keyboard, although you've activated it in the system and on other apps. And even some apps restrict the use of keyboards, so you're still stuck with the Apple keyboard, no matter what! #KeyboardFail

Integration in iOS 8 is 100 times better, although it is still a huge work in progress. There are times when integration works well...like being able to share a picture directly to Facebook or Tumblr from the Gallery, or even better, being able to open an address link directly in Google Maps. But if it does open in Apple Maps, there's a quick button to take you to "other installed map programs", like Google Maps! But then there are a bunch of times when the integration fails or is not there! Like, with those same pictures you can't share them to Instagram or Google+! And sharing web pages doesn't offer all of the apps/services installed for consumption...or the fact that Youtube videos still don't open in Youtube at all!!!

I was asked by a friend, what I thought of the camera. And I must say, I seriously can't tell the difference between the camera on the iPhone 6 Plus versus the iPhone 5. They added Time Lapse when they did iOS 8, so that's on both. But the 6 Plus also has Slo-Mo, which the 5 never got. They are the same quality, 8 mega pixels, and I believe the lenses are the same, just some minor tweaks to the sensor. Apple doesn't believe in increasing the resolution of their cameras. Year-over-year they contend the 8MP is sufficient, and their minor tweaks and a new feature here and there is enough. Though, I have to admit, up until 2012, the iPhone did have one of the best cameras in the smartphone game. But with the HTC One in 2013, the G3 and the Note 4 in 2014, the iPhone camera is starting to be dated and playing 3rd or 4th fiddle to the android top dogs!

So overall, the phone is a good upgrade, definitely worth the time and money if you're using the older iPhone 4 or 5, or the lesser featured iPhone 5c. But I am still not convinced, nor a convert. Maybe by iPhone 10 or 11 they will finally get it together! Until then...I'll just be...Satisfied!

Thursday, June 5, 2014

"#Happiness, I See It" (Part of a Poetry Series by STYLEZ #TheSweetSeries)

31742_390545511905_2086339_n#Happiness, I See It

by STYLEZ, #TheSweetSeries

Happiness, in your eyes,
I see it, like the sun

Happiness, a good book in hand
I see it, like you know it ends well

Happiness, On the porch on a cool day,
I see it, because you look so relaxed

Happiness, you're deep in thought,
I see it, I hope you're thinking of us!

Happiness, in your arms,
I feel it, when you squeeze me back!

Happiness, I want it, For You Always!

Monday, May 26, 2014

Street Fighter: Assassin's Fist (playlist)

The new (and EPIC) web series, STREET FIGHTER: ASSASSIN'S FIST is out now!!! Watch the first season on YouTube!



 

Saturday, April 5, 2014

WHAT STYLEZ THINKS ABOUT => Mom forces son fight … Life Lesson or Bad Parenting!?

image

Recently, a video was posted on WorldStar Hip-Hop, where a mother is seen forcing her son to fight another boy and even goes so far as to tell him not to cry and fight! Plenty of emotions, opinions and comments abound, as to if she handled this properly… or naw!? Is she, as she calls it, teaching her son to be a Man, to be violent, or just plain stupid!?

I'm torn on this one too. The first fight I ran from, around 8yrs old, my mom went in on me about running too! She didn't force me to go back out and fight that one person, but she did teach me to man up and if the playing field is level, do what you gotta do! My mom was also in the Army, so yea, no son of hers was gonna be a coward! LOL!

I guess, the real question is, in 2014, would I teach my kids to go back out there and fight... maybe not... because running into the unknown, unprepared, is pure stupidity! But I do know this, I will teach him to stand up for himself and others, be brave enough to not let someone run over you, but smart enough to know how to either calm the situation, or if all else fails, walk away alive (hopefully, never know with the nuts out here these days). As parents we have to draw that fine line between integrity and stupidity! And hope to GOD that he is watching and protecting our babies while they walk that line!

That is what Stylez thinks, what do you think!? Watch the video and then comment below!

 

Source: WorldStarHipHop.com

Thursday, March 27, 2014

WHAT STYLEZ THINKS ABOUT => Law Enforcement vs. Everybody – What will force them to actually #ProtectAndServe!?

Recently, I was reading on a friend’s FB wall about another example of police officers, overstepping the boundaries of “Protect And Serve” and into the realm of “Abuse and Exploit”! Read a little here:

Quinshon Shingles nypd settlementQuinshon Shingles (pictured) a rising rapper who claims New York Police Department (NYPD) officers entered his aunt’s apartment without a warrant, handcuffed him, and forced him to rap for his release has won a $7,500 settlement in the case, the New York Daily News reports.

In her comment, my friend asked the question:

…there seems to be a disproportionate amount of Caucasian people in law enforcement in policing minority neighborhoods. What if WE (as minorities) apply for these jobs and do these jobs... will this type of abuse still be there?

So What Does STYLEZ Think?

I would LOVE to believe that racially match-making police officers to their assigned communities would aid in reducing some of the excessive violence, exploitation and corruption, HOWEVER, I have seen first hand, black-on-black, Latino-on-Latino and White-on-White offenses occur between Law Enforcement and Citizens they are charged with "Protecting and Serving"!

I don't believe anything will quell these offenses besides ensuring proper psychiatric evaluations are used in the selection of Law Enforcement officers, including evaluating their anger management, coping skills and their ability to handle the pressures and ills of policing society! Unfortunately, that alone would probably reduce most police forces to bare bones staff!

Secondly, it will take one other simple action on the part of the Criminal Justice system when it comes to handling the arbitration and remediation of the offences... ACCOUNTABILITY! The day you make Law Enforcement officers accountable for their deeds and actions, across the board and no exceptions, is the day you start to reign in some (not all of course) of the ills that Law Enforcement commit against the public! At this point, they get away with murder, and have no reason to feel responsible for their actions! And that has got to stop!

More on Mr. Shingles story just further reveals and supports my point, if we don’t hold them account, Law Enforcement will continue to be corrupt and exploitive:

N.Y.C. Pays Settlement To Handcuffed Man Forced To Rap For Release

Mar 26, 2014 By Hannington Dia

Shingles, better known as “Sauce Da Boss,” alleged in his suit that officers David Grieco and Joseph Patton entered the East New York apartment to question a suspect. They eventually cuffed him and told him to craft some “spits and bars,” and if they liked his lyrics, they would release him.

Shingles claimed the encounter killed his desire to perform onstage.

According to Shingles’ suit, Grieco and Patton fooled the building’s superintendent in to giving them a duplicate set of keys to enter the apartment.

Grieco and other officers from the 75th Precinct have been under investigation by the Internal Affairs Bureau for allegations, including stealing jewelry and illegal apartment searches. Grieco is also named in 12 federal and state lawsuits for civil rights violations.

In its response to the suit, the city denied Shingles’ claims. “It does not appear that either plaintiff was arrested… there will be very few police documents relevant to this matter,” Assistant Corporation CounselQiana Smith-Williams said in court papers. Despite this stance, the city continued the suit without any depositions. They claim no wrongdoing in the settlement.

Thursday, March 13, 2014

"MY – #Life" (Part of a Poetry Series by STYLEZ #TheSweetSeries)

969652_10151737455076424_530714968_nMY – #Life

by STYLEZ #TheSweetSeries

You came, You saw
You Conquered!
But it was needed, wanted
I wasn’t subdued,
You surpassed!

Surpassed Expectations…
Surpassed Requirements…
Surpassed End Goals…
Surpassed What I Deserved…

Life is filled with surprises,
Little ones, big ones,
and You are that special one!

If it ends, I’ve already lived,
If you go, It’ll already be gone!
Life is nothing without,
Life is everything within,
Within You! Because of You!

You give me Life!
My Life!

Monday, March 10, 2014

“Above All Is You” #TheSweetSeries – A Poetry Series by STYLEZ

10309026_10152457487686424_7342162047102284918_nI have known my wife, Alexis, for over 20 years, and in those years we have been friends, lovers, spouses, parents and now grandparents! But one thing has not changed in that time, I have always adored her and felt blessed to have her in my life! She has always been a beacon for my love and has always been a SWEET reminder that no matter what, we can do it, no matter what IT is! To express all the many feelings I have for my Sweet (my pet name for her), I have decided to write a series of poems and affirmations. I present to you… #TheSweetSeries

Above All Is You

by STYLEZ, #TheSweetSeries

My Life,
My Love,
My Heart,
My Focus,
My Charity,
My Attitude,
My Solitude,
My Beginning,
My Happiness,
My Dedication,
My Revelation,
My Conscience,
My Inspiration,
My Intelligence,
Above all, is YOU!

Sunday, February 9, 2014

WHAT STYLEZ THINKS ABOUT => Moments In Black History (via Spoken Words & Thoughts - @spknwrdthts)

So What Does Stylez Think?
 
After reading this, it still surprises me and I realize sometimes, you forget how manipulative the customs and then laws were, in order to "keep us under control"! And how far we've come to fight and change those laws! But how far we still need to go to get people to turn from these attitudes!
MOMENTS IN BLACK HISTORY

1857
Richmond, Virginia, passes a comprehensive slave code that, among other stipulations, prohibits self-hiring by slaves, restricts blacks from entering certain parts of the city, specifies street etiquette, and forbids slaves from smoking, carrying canes, standing on the sidewalk, and using provocative language.

via Moments In Black History | Spoken Words & Thoughts


Powerful reminder, huh!?



That is what Stylez thinks! What do you think? Leave it in the comments!

Saturday, February 1, 2014

WHAT STYLEZ THINKS ABOUT => #TodayInBlackHistory #Feb1 A SuperFreak is born & a Dinner Pail patent

So What Does Stylez Think?

As you may well know, February 1st marks the start of a celebration and memorial of Black accomplishment throughout history. It was originally called "Negro History Week", when started in 1926 by Carter G. Woodson. Then in 1976, it was extended to a full month and renamed Black History Month, and is now recognized throughout the country as a time to remember and reflect. For 2014, I have decided not to focus only on well known civil rights leaders and groups. I have, instead, decided to dedicate my blog, to other Black people and newsmakers in history, lesser known events, little known facts and causes that have made an impact on the world, society and pop culture. I want to remember not only the likes of Martin Luther King, Jr. but also the impact of those like Ida Wells. Welcome to #TodayInBlackHistory on blog.AskWillieStylez.com! Today, Willie Stylez Remembers... Rick James and John Robinson!

Rick James – Singer
http://www.rickjames.com and http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Rick_James

On February 1st in 1948, a Super Freak was born! James Ambrose Johnson Jr. was born in Buffalo, New York, with music, and R&B royalty, already coursing through his vein, courtesy of his uncle Melvin Franklin of The Temptations. After forming several Rock, Soul and R&B bands, and serving as a staff songwriter for Motown Records, Rick James became a solo artist, in 1977. His 1978 debut, "Come Get It! (w/ the Stone city Band), released on the Motown imprint Gordy, included such classic hits as "You and I" and "Mary Jane". In 1981, Rick saw even greater success with his fifth studio album, "Street Songs", which turned out hits such as "Give It to Me, Baby" and "Super Freak"! It also featued a much loved duet with Teena Marie, "Fire and Desire".

After years of writing, touring and releasing music that was a "fusion of funk groove and rock attitude" Rick James succumbed to the perils of endless days, drugs, partying and even jail time. In 1997, while on a comeback tour, Rick suffered a stroke that kept him out of music, pretty much for good. However, he continued to see his music impact and form the foundation for many artists and millions of fans! Unfortunately, and much to soon, this "Whale" of a star, was found dead on August 6th in 2004, of an enlarged heart.

John Robinson - Inventor
http://www.google.com/patents/US356852

On February 1st in 1887, after waiting 7 years since filing, John Robinson of Coal Valley in West Virginia, was granted a patent by the United States Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO) for the invention of an improvement to the Dinner Pail! Mr. Robinson described this invention, as a "an improvement in dinnerpails for workmen; and it consists in the peculiar construction and combination of devices" to allow food and drink to be stored, kept warm and dispensed. Mr. Robinson is another in a long line of great Black inventors, who improved life and made things better for others around them.

Other important events of February 1st:

1997 - BET Movie/Starz launches, becoming the first 24-hour Black movie channel

1990 - Ida Wells, a Black reformer who compiled records on lynching, is immortalized on a United States Postal Service stamp

1974 - "Good Times", a situation comedy starring an all-Black cast, premieres on CBS

1967 - Langston Hughes, poet, dies

1937 - Garrett Morris, actor and comedian, is born in New Orleans, Louisiana

1834 - Henry McNeal Turner, reverend and elder of the Methodist Episcopal Church South, Morris Brown College's First President and commissioned by President Abraham Lincoln as the first Negro Chaplain in the United States Army, was born. Read his amazing story of defiance and determination here, here and here.