Thanks, Paul Ryan!!!!

Now anyone who knows me well understands my disdain for discussing politics. I try to keep my conversations simple. I talk life, a few deep thoughts, and a sizable amount of pick up lines and silliness. When the subject of politics comes up, I try to stay away from the fray because 1.) Sometimes I'm not educated enough on a topic and I would rather research it before saying something ridiculous; 2.) I know I'm going to hear some fool who's not educated enough on a topic and who didn't research it say something ridiculous, and 3.) Politics, along with religion, is a tool of division used by the masses (government, media, etc;) to keep the people ignorant from the real issues that go on. So I choose to keep it moving. But recently some comments were made which made me feel kind of offended and upset. Wisconsin Rep. Paul Ryan, in an interview with Bill Bennett that there was a "tailspin of culture, in our inner cities in particular, of men not working and just generations of men not even thinking about working or learning to value the culture of work." Now anyone slightly intellectual can read between the lines and see he was describing mainly black men, basically saying that we were lazy. Ryan since has said that he was "inarticulate about the point I was trying to make." But he never really apologized for the comments nor did he offer any solutions to the "cultural" issues presented. Let me be brief on this. I would like to sum up my opinion of his comments with one word: Thanks!!! I would like to thank Paul Ryan for showing why Republicans lack any support from blacks and other minorities. I can understand if he was looking to spark a conversation about culture and changes that are necessary. But once you use terms like "inner city", you automatically put a black face on it and you eliminate any productive discussions that may have been able to be conducted. Good going, champ! I would also like to thank Rep. Ryan for offending every hard working black man (hell, all minorities) I've ever known. Now Rep. Ryan can make amends for this by repeating this statement to the faces of every employed minority making a living the best way they can. He can start with my father who helped raise a family when my mother passed, worked hard every day and, at 69, recently received an insurance license, still setting goals and working to reach them. Or how about my homeboy Tony, who is a recent college graduate working 40+ hours a day and looking to move further in life. Hell, say it to my face. Wait, I wont have time to talk to you because I work full time and go to school full time so I don't have time to waste on clowns like you!!!! This is why people need to think before they say something ridiculous!! Sheesh!!! Most of all, though, I would like Rep. Ryan for bringing my mind back to a concept I'll be exploring in the near future, which is community reinvestment. It is basically putting money into a run down neighborhood with the goal of not only bringing jobs and opportunity to the people of the neighborhood, but also doubling and tripling the money you put into it!!! Quick explanation of what I mean. Lets say you are a successful ballplayer looking to invest some money. Instead of investing in descending assets such as cars and clothes and jewelry, how about investing in a piece of land in a hood. What you do is (and if you don't have enough do, go in with some business partners) build a strip mall on that property. You move different businesses in such as grocery stores, hair salons, Laundromats, etc. Then you take people from the neighborhood and employ them. Now these people have money in their pocket plus places within the strip mall to spend them at. Now you, as the investor, act as landlord because all of these businesses will be paying you rent. If the business is sustainable, you now have residual income coming in that you can really retire on. Plus, the fact that you've allowed poor people to receive jobs and create an economy for themselves is the icing on the cake. People reading this may think I'm crazy. But give me a few years and I will show you what I am talking about!!!!!! This is my longest blog ever!! It will probably be the last time I talk politics for a while too!!! Next week, the foolishness returns!! Blog Done!! www.offthecorner.net www.facebook.com www.instagram.com IG nombombz www.twitter.com/thefakejcoston

Club Bloggin

Sometimes, I do things I just can't explain. I'm typing this blog from the inside of some club. I just saw Wolf of Wall Street and, instead of just going home, hopping in the bed and calling it a night, I went to this little spot to do a two step and clear my head a little bit. In the middle of my two step, I thought to myself "Excuse me random cougar who prefers dancing to the words instead of the beat, hop off me for a hot second while I type this blog real quick." Between "American Hustle" and "Wolf of Wall Street" (two of the absolute best movies I've seen in quite a long time.... AND DON'T ASK ME ABOUT 12 YEARS A SLAVE! THANK YOU), I've had an opportunity to do a little soul searching. Society tells me that my goal should be to graduate college, have a wife and kids, get a nice house and live happily ever after. Am I weird if that's not all that I want in life? Am I crazy if I say I wanna be filthy rich with the kind of revenue streams that sets my grand kids up to be comfortable? Am I weird if I say I want a lot of women and to be able to smoke, drink, and workout as I please? That last part, not so much anymore (except for the workout...and women...yep, the women....Ooh yeah the wom.. Alright I'm good). I've been there, done that, and nothing good came out of it. But what I am trying to say is that I have never been the type that wanted what everyone tells me I should strive for. I don't want to "go somewhere and sit down" as my father has asked me to do so many times in my life. I would like the world and everything in it. I want to be an accountant/rapper/writer/public speaker/real estate agent/investor/insert new hobby here. This is just a glimpse into the way my mind works. I have always walked a fine line between being ordinary and wanting to be extraordinary. At times, it has messed up my focus and, other times, it has increased it. I think that right now (as this young lady in the green miniskirt smiles me with the inside of her mouth looking just like piano keys...I hope it's just the lighting in here...Sheesh), I'll just get this degree and, while the goals are still in place, see what happens. Maybe it's the club, the movie, or a combination of both that made me write this tonight. I'm about to go home because the music is trash and I feel like I could be doing something more constructive like studying, plotting my takeover, or sleeping and dreaming about being the meat in a Nia Long-Sanaa Lathan sandwich. Ok I'm out. www.twitter.com/thefakejcoston www.offthecorner.net I'm on Instagram Nooooooowwwwwww!!! IG:Nombombz P.S. This is me in the club: http://youtu.be/d4M5AwaC2qY

Failure equals Freedom

Whattttt?!?! Two blogs in 3 days? Yes. For the viewing public, you're welcome. I have had a lot to say lately but I haven't been able to make the time to say it. I am making the time now so enjoy while it lasts because you may not hear from me for the next 21 years. I can sum this blog up in two words: I've failed. Blog is done, tune in next.... just kidding. On occasion, it is good to say that I have failed at something. It doesn't mean that I am a failure. There is a difference between saying "I'm a failure," and "I've failed." When you say "I'm a failure," you are implying that you have given up hope and that you can't handle the pressure given to you. You are basically saying that you are a loser. If you feel like you're a loser, your words and actions will follow suit and you'll miss all the joy and wonders life brings. Now one may say, "Oh soft and tender one, isn't saying you're a failure the same as saying that you've failed?" My response? First, don't call me soft and tender!!! 1000% Mandingo Warrior ova here, sunn!! (Not quite). Second, When I say that I have failed at something, it is usually followed up with an evaluation of what I did wrong and a plan focused on how I will correct the error and excel. Failing just means you took the wrong approach. Now you have the freedom and flexibility to try something new and different. It's not the time to hang your head and let the black cloud rain on you during a sunny day. It's the time to really get your mind, body, and soul moving. Step out of the comfort zone and get busy!! The closest I ever came to thinking I was a failure was when I caught the DUI and sat in my cell, feeling sick from my buzz wearing off and dirty from wearing the state-issued blue suit I'm sure many wore before me. As the cell door closed behind me, I laid on the top bunk, wide awake, fuming at the predicament I had put myself in. I had about 2 minutes where I felt like the biggest loser on the planet. I had no one else to blame but myself. For that time, I looked at myself as a failure. But then I thought to myself "This is just a test. I made a mistake. I'm willing to make amends in anyway I can and I will do all it takes to turn this negative into a positive." That's exactly what happened. Have I been perfect? No. But have I allowed that failure mentality to take hold of me? Not at all. I've treated it as a stepping stone to learn and gain strength from and now I'm getting closer to where I want to be. That night, I failed. That same night though, I feel like I was set free. Need some additional motivation? http://youtu.be/JA7G7AV-LT8 Again, your welcome!! Blog is done!! Have a great week www.twitter.com/thefakejcoston www.offthecorner.net www.facebook.com

Therapy:

So much to talk about...So little time. I was on the verge of ending my blog because I felt like I didn't really need it anymore. Over the past few months, I thought I was living well, hanging out with friends, messing with a few ladies, copping gear, basically living the fake-out good life. But recently, I had a moment when I did an overall evaluation of myself. I took a deep look in the mirror and I didn't like what I saw. Now on the outside, not much had changed. I was still shockingly handsome and that million dollar smile still shined like a diamond (I cant keep a straight face typing that foolishness!). But I didn't feel right. There were bags under my eyes from lack of sleep. I had a headache from all of the nonsense I had been eating and just felt heavier than I had in a while (luckily I haven't gained any weight back.) After my torture session in the mirror, I performed an evaluation of my finances and grades. I've saved up some money but not as much as I set out to. Plus my grades weren't where they were supposed to be. Now I am not even close to hitting rock bottom. But lately, I haven't been as productive as I usually am. I could make up plenty of excuses, such as working full time and going to school full time, lack of sleep, dog eating my homework, depression over Peyton Manning getting intercepted over and over again, DiCaprio not winning an Osc....you catch my drift. In actuality, I thought I had earned the right to party and drink and fornicate a little because of all of the work that I had been putting in. I thought I could take a little time off from the serious life and live a little. One of my boys told me it's okay to be ignorant sometimes and I took heed. But then I also thought about something that one of my homegirls told me. She said that God puts people and situations into your life. While Im not the most deeply religious person, I do believe that certain people and situations enter your life to help you grow as a person. I feel like the people that I have most recently met and hung with have been placed in my life to show me that I can't get the past back. The women, liquor, and overall foolery is a thing of the past. While hanging out until all hours of the night was cool as a young buck, I have to remember that I am a grown ass man (*Beats Chest) and I don't have the time nor the energy to be galavanting across town doing nothing positive. I would rather sleep and get ready for a workout than hang out and eat sh%t. I've missed out on a lot of study time and goal-setting trying to be the man on these streets. I think I'm going back to just being a hermit during the week, concentrating on my studies and, if everything is accomplished, maybe hit the town for a hot second. Either way, I feel like I needed to take a few steps backward to get on track. So, to everyone's joy and amazement, the blog lives on. Yay!!! I definitely WILL be posting more blogs because I have a few more stories to tell that I know you folks will find interesting, silly, and just straight up ridiculous. To be honest, this blog is like therapy for me. It allows me to get the craziness stuck in my head out of it and pass it on to you. Ha!!! Blog done!! www.twitter.com/thefakejcoston https://www.facebook.com/#!/john.w.coston www.offthecorner.net and every other blog, website that supports me!!!!!