Photo Finish
Kyle is a young photographer involved with an older woman, who later dumps him for a wealthy man. Years later, Kyle runs into her daughter and devises a plan to seduce her, but ends up falling in love. Her mother finds out about the relationship and makes her own plan of “get back.” Can we all just move along?

Thick and Thin
Marcus and Timothy were two obese teens growing up in the 90s. On graduation night, they had a falling out and parted ways. Marcus became a fitness guru with hopes of a reality show while Timothy attended culinary school and opened a restaurant. When Marcus’ uncle dies, he comes home and decides to help his estranged friend lose weight and get his own cooking show; however, his hidden agenda may ruin Timothy’s life.

What are your thoughts?

I haven’t recorded a new favecast since August - I have been redirecting visitors to earlier episodes in the interim. I have managed to produce a few “Behind the Groove” podcast interviews for the good people at Soulbounce. Be sure to check them out.

In addition to tackling my EP (originally slated for the end of this month - now TBD), I plan to participate in NaNoWriMo and crank out another novel in 30 days during the month of November. With that being said, the FFC will not return until it’s second anniversary in December.

I’ve been playing the keyboard and singing with a local band, Indie Gruv. This has been a therapeutic experience for me in that our alliance was birthed out of MySpace (of all places) and it is the only outlet I have in Houston that is just connected to me (and not some byproduct of my wife’s friends and family). We will be playing for a Hurricane Ike benefit on 10/25. Will keep you posted.

That’s it for now. Until next time…

Barack Obama was strong in his rhetoric on managing the economy and demonstrating concern for the American people (regardless of race). He has a clear plan on decreasing our country’s dependency on foreign oil while increasing usage of alternative fuels. Overall, his stance on how to take care of the homefront was concise, compelling and inspiring.

John McCain flexed his experience as a long-term senator with substantial knowledge in foreign policy and negotiations. I would imagine, as a POW who spent 2-years in solitary confinement, McCain has a myriad of thoughts regarding how to use diplomacy in foreign relations. His incessant name dropping and experience touting was credible; however, so is his penchant for voting for failed Bush policies 90% percent of the time.

They played their strengths and it was a close debate. It’s a case of proven experience full of failures (McCain) and a new hope fueled with untested results (Obama). In the end, it came down to how each candidate presented themselves as a potential leader of the largest superpower on the planet (which also seems to be dwindling by the day). McCain was very impersonal, condescending and very indicative of the type of arrogance and ethnocentrism that has tainted America’s reputation around the world. Someone get this guy a public speaking and debate course…he couldn’t even make eye contact! Obama is known as being a great orator that not only speaks his mind, but reflects the views and concerns of the American people.

I believe McCain loves the concept of America. He loves his country and has made great sacrifices for it. I believe Obama loves the PEOPLE of America. He has dedicated his life to helping the people in it and improving upon the concept of America’s internal health as well as its global perception. To me, that passion is the tie-breaker than made Obama the victor in this debate.

Right now, my passion-o-meter is leaning towards writing. National Novel Writing Month is this November and I’m feeling the itch to join in the frenzy of writing a 50,000-word novel in 30 days. The challenge inspires me; however, I know that it requires me to sacrifice my other interests for the month in order to be successful. The reward is yet another novel under my belt, which would be great. I’m still on the fence about it. I’ll revisit this in a couple of weeks.

Until next time…

Why do men lie so much?
There’s a theory that, if we practice (the art of lying) long enough, we’ll be just as good as women *lol* Just kidding…(hint hint).

Seriously, I do not feel lying is gender-specific. I do believe that – when you think of lying – the male species is more associated with the act. This is not because we’re good at it, but the exact opposite. We suck at lying; therefore, we’re always getting caught and making life much worse than it has to be.

There are many reasons men lie. Do you really want to hear that those jeans are too small- making your side meat look like a cupcake crown? We don’t want to hurt your feelings; but we don’t always want to do what it takes for the truth NOT to hurt. Our devious nature (as humans) to get away with things – big or small – is often a catalyst for lying. Sometimes a lie is thrown out there to buy time while we come up with a better solution to our problem.

Sadly, this rarely works and when it does…it doesn’t work for long. My experiences are that lying typically leads to destruction and amplifies any existing bad situation. We do it for the off chance that it might work…this one time.

Why do men cheat on wives, girlfriends and significant others?
This question correlates with the previous issue of lying. You must lie to cheat – unless you’re a straight up G and got it like that. Most people don’t so – for the sake of this question – we’re going to assume that you must lie in order to cheat successfully.

Again, THIS IS NOT A MAN THING. In fact (and I know I’m about to piss off some women), it is my belief that women cheat much more than men do. The difference (AGAIN) is that men are not smarter, more cunning nor organized enough to cheat and NOT GET CAUGHT. This is why society associates cheating with men – because we get caught on a regular, thereby providing a plentiful sample for a flawed statistic.

The reasons we cheat range from emotional starvation to basic carnal desire. It depends on the maturity level of the man. Most cheat because they’re not getting what they think they should be getting from home. I have an amazing clip from the movie “30 Years to Life” that I will post one day to illustrate this fact. No reason can justify cheating – especially in marriage – but it happens…often. I’ve done it and I lamented over how it hurt the person. I’ve had it done to me and it did irreparable damage to my heart as well. It’s just not a good look and you jeopardize years and moments you cannot get back.

We cheat because we’re stupid.

Why do men treat women like they are stupid?
Please refer to the last sentence of the previous answer.

Why do men pimp when they walk?
There are many theories dating back to Africa. Here are a few of my faves:

Perhaps the disproportionate penis + gravity combo results in a shift in walk to maintain balance.

If you grew up in or near the 70s, the blaxploitation films perpetuated the ‘pimp walk’ as a status of cool.

We walk with music in our heads, sometimes you have to stay on beat

Allow me to wrap this question up by asking another, have you actually seen a pimp…walk?

Why do men want to have threesomes?
Young, virile men want threesomes…and can probably handle them. Older men dream of threesomes…and would probably die from them.

It’s the ultimate ego stroke – the ability to please two women simultaneously while indulging in the coup de gras of overstimulation. The concept of a ménage a trios feeds the hedonist id that dwells inside of every man…waiting for an opportunity to get into a “phone-less” 3-way.

My opinion is that it plays out better in the mind than in real life. The concept of 2 girls, 1 guy is a gateway to erratic feelings that disrupt the ordinary. While it strokes the male ego, it has the potential to destroy the female psyche (e.g., “Am I not enough for my man that he wants another woman?”).

In the immediate long run, it’s just not a good look. What can I say? We get the idea from all those pornos we watch(ed).

Until next time…

Why do men fight and make noises when fighting?
When ANYONE fights, the noises make it more dramatic (e.g., what’s a good cat fight without a few screams?). In the case of men, the grunts and growls seem to muster up additional strength when you connect fist to jaw. I don’t condone violence in the offensive sense, but I am a firm believer in defending yourself. The propensity to fight tends to correlate with the ability to effectively communicate; therefore, the better the communicator, the less likely they are to resort to violence. It’s primitive, it’s non-cerebral and honestly, it solves nothing…other than the barbaric satisfaction of knowing you whooped somebody’s ass (sidenote: some of the best fights I’ve ever witnessed involved women).

Why do men like gadgets and cars?
“I’m gonna break this one down so it will forever + consistently be BROKE” (Isaiah Washington in Love Jones, 1997):

gadgets = distractions
cars = proverbial mobility

Men have so many stigmas, responsibilities (whether we acknowledge them or not), pressures and stress. These elements compound with age. We need an escape void of human interaction or seriousness. We need something to “play with” to revert our minds back to simpler times while maintaining a sophisticated level of stimuli. It’s a bonus when those gadgets actually help make life more efficient (ex., I would NEVER do cardio if it wasn’t for my iPod nano with Nike+ kit). Plus, it’s fun I think this question was birthed out of how these gadgets monopolize (time away from women) more than anything. Just my two cents

As for cars, it’s always been a sign of upward mobility since its inception. I am not a car fanatic - I believe in keeping them maintained and cleaned, but not worshiped. It’s a false status symbol in that nothing depreciates faster than an automobile. I see guys rubbing on their cars with more affection than they show their children…it’s not a good look.

As I wrap this answer up, women are NOT off the hook! Our iPods, PSPs, PlayStations, GPS systems and Macbooks are the same as your Dooney&Burke purses, Prada dresses, Manolo shoes, MAC lipstick, Clinique/Fashion Fair/Maybelline makeup, Gucci flip flops and OhMiBod (and all other mechanical abominations like it!).

Why do men have trouble asking for directions and help in general?
Asking for directions (and help in general) indicates lack of knowledge = inferiority = less of a man. Ironically, it’s a stupid ideology that perpetuates ignorance in even the most intelligent of men. I believe in exhausting all resources before going outside to ask for help. In addition to Google Maps, Mapquest, Expedia, etc. I still keep a Rand McNally map in the car. This is another one of those societal conditioning things where help is associated with competency in the wrong way.

My suggestion is, when we finally break down and ask for help, that (women) don’t chide us - but actually encourage us in our admission.

Why do men enjoy pornography?
Define “enjoy” *lol* Are we talking sexual gratification? Comedy? For me, it’s the latter. I’ve seen my fair share of poorly produced porn with no storyline, goofy actors and the same hotel picture hanging over every lubricant-stained bed. It’s funny as hell to me, but I digress.

I think some men enjoy porn because men respond best to visual stimuli (I’m using that word a lot, eh?). It’s how we are wired. Even with my formal education in communication and appreciation for the “inner spirit” of the opposite sex…I am a lifetime fan of the phatty and I make no apologies for that.

That’s why women have breasts, hips, booties (no matter how big or small, but that’s another post), etc. Then there’s the flowing hair, eyelashes, lips, fingertips, etc…WE’RE VISUAL and porn is the coup de gras of visual stimulation. I think porn taints something that was meant to be beautiful and it is a gateway to spiritual uncleanliness, but I’m not here to judge because I’ve been tainted and spiritually unclean as much as the next guy. Some porn goes too far (e.g., 2 girls, 1 cup) and abandons any form of sexual stimulation while some men actually find satisfaction seeing women they will NEVER smash, get it on.

Why do men spit, what are they spitting out; and how does it get there?
We spit due to an overabundance or thickness of saliva in our mouths. This is often a sign of dehydration which can be easily onset with the overindulgence of beer, alcohol (which dehydrates you). You ever notice how in movies, the guys are spitting near a bar? That’s my take on it. I spit a lot in college…see where I’m going with this?

Get ready for Part 3 of 3 - I saved the best for last Until next time…

Why do men _______________ ?

I recieved a plethora of responses; most of them coming from a very inquisitive young lady, Shannon Renee. Not only did she send of barrage of inquiries via Twitter, she dedicated a blog post on her site.

I am going to address her questions from my perspective, which will NOT represent the entire male species. Although I am a man, I can only speak / write from my experiences as a man. My goal is to provide male insight to a number of questions that (in my opinion) transcend gender.

Let’s do it:

Why do men touch and scratch their penises throughout the day; does it move on its own; and why can’t they control it?
I’ve never been the daily “touch & scratch” type when it comes to my penis. The only time I find scratching validated is when irritated by sweat, fabric softener (on your underwear) or some hygienic malfunction.

It does, however, move on its own during certain activities (ie., walking/jogging, working out, dancing in the shower, etc.). It can be controlled just as any other appendage on our body. It is a choice made by the mind, not the penis.

Why do men get obsessed with sports?
I am the wrong guy for this question as I am not interested in sports to the point of obsession. I understand the excitement of the NFL, NBA, MLB and even NASCAR (in that order) but to make it a staple in my life, no ma’am.

I think it has something to do with connecting to winning/success. In the case of football (my favorite sport), there’s something symbolic about overcoming a force to reach your destination. I once worked with the athletic departments of the University of Alabama and Auburn University (a HUGE college football rivalry) and I could never wrap my mind around the obsessive energy that consumed the people in those towns. It’s not that serious. Those players are not giving you a cut of their multimillion dollar check. It’s entertainment, so I say be entertained and move on to something else.

Why do men have trouble saying “I love you” or sharing their feelings generally?
I love seeing this question. Here’s my short answer:
Men aren’t taught (voluntarily) to say “I love you” or share our emotions. American society has trained us to associate feelings with femininity; thereby “weakness” which are not positive traits for a man to embrace.

This is bullshit.

We want to share our feelings but there’s rarely a safe place to do so. Most women, who claim they want this type of exchange, start to question a man’s machismo if he is too expressive of his feelings. As for me, I grew up in a house where it was rarely said – but I didn’t want to have that vibe in my household. I have never been afraid of saying “I love you” but I’ve witnessed my so-called emotions being ripped to shreds by women whom I erroneously entrusted with them.

Why do men pee on the seat, the floor or their pants?
I admit to doing this…when I was six. If you’re doing this – and have more than a first grade education – you are seriously disturbing the sexy. Yes, we accidentally pee on the seat (our aim is not as good as earlier reported) but that’s why we have toilet paper and disinfectant spray. I’m a neat freak so maybe I’m the wrong somebody to speak on this, but come on!!! On the floor? Okay, that can happen too but you WIPE IT UP. I’m not dignifying the peeing their pants reference with a response. Unless you’re two or ninety-two, peeing in pants is wrong and you should be wearing a diaper.

Why do men think they don’t need to wash their hands?
Again, I’m a neat freak and big on hygiene. What kind of men are you dealing with? Being in the corporate world, I interact with many people and shake anywhere from 10-15 different hands per day. My hands stay ashy because I’m ALWAYS washing them (sidenote: I need to start keeping lotion with me).

Honestly, it is RARE that I see a man in the restroom that washes their hands. I don’t know what the problem is. . .I see them piss, flush, zip and walk pass me at the sink like I’m the oddball. I’m not odd, I just don’t like spreading urine, dick crumbs and pubic hair particles to my colleagues and family.

Part 2 of 3 is coming soon. Until next time…

What would normally be a celebratory well wish, I took as an insult. The card was a reminder of the low opinion, high pride and hurtful hypocrisy that looms over my life like a storm cloud.
I remember receiving another card last year - with the same handwriting and card stock. It was the RSVP card from our invitation. I hadn’t asked my parents for anything except their presence at their only child’s wedding. The card read, “We will NOT attend.”

And now you want to wish us “Happy Anniversary” like it’s all good?

No thank you. I will never discredit the sacrifices you made while raising me – but I cannot ignore the emotional scar you gave by allowing your love of pride to be greater than your love for me.
Keep your damn card.

Does that make me bitter? Should I move past the hurt and embrace the now? I probably should. But I won’t lie to myself and force a false forgiveness. I’m not ready. I am still very angry and will be for a while.

My prayer is that I don’t expire with this anger in my heart. It has to go someday but that day is not today. As I send this card “return to sender” – maybe one day I can send the pain back as well.
Until next time…

“That’s the wheel barrell!” she blurted.

The loud bamming noise shook through our home like a bass drum during a college football halftime show. The vibrations seemed to slamdance with the howls of 90mph winds and tortured trees. I placed the wheel barrell outside - in the back corner of the house - but now it banged as if it was attempting to come through the wall.

I put on my sneakers to dislodge the wheel barrell and stop its persistent banging. When I opened the front door, I was greeted by a dark haze of midnight blue clouds, chaos and wind. The rain slapped my face as I raced around to the back of the house. To my surprise, the wheel barrell was secured right where I left it. My second glance upward revealed our back patio roof - the same one that covered so many outdoor parties (including our wedding reception) - was being ripped away. 2×4 beams and aluminum jerked in winds that seemed to carry tortured screams of lost souls. That was my cue to run like hell back into the house. I had never seen nature so enraged or unstable.

This was Hurricane Ike.

14 september 2008 1:24am

After a day of no power, limited water and spoiling food - I found myself drifting in and out of consciousness. The trees had collasped and crushed one of our cars. Our beloved patio laid lifeless and in pieces on a concrete slab. The streets were littered with tree limbs and broken glass. It was hot outside. My laptop was dead. My iPod - with over 5,000 songs - didn’t have one tune to console me.

The night was upon us again but I couldn’t sleep…again. The storm was over but the internal disruptions were just beginning. My esophagus spasmed. I jumped out of bed and fumbled through pitch black darkness to the bathroom. I hadn’t vomitted in 13 years - not since my college roommate’s birthday party - and I barely made it to the porcelain.  I was sick, overheated and dehydrated. What bothered me more was the reality that there were tens of thousands feeling like me at that exact same moment…and there was nothing I could do. I spent the next several hours making frequent bathroom trips and even more frequent prayers.

And God heard every one.

15 september 2008 8:34am

I woke up next to my wife with the cool breeze of central air on my neck. The sheets and pillows were soft. My stomach was settled. We were in her aunt’s house, less than a mile from our home. Her power had come back on and she invited us to stay with her until our power was restored.  We had eaten good soul food and enjoyed ice in our cups…something that was (and still is) a limited resource. My cell phone lit up with messages from friends, family and colleagues. It felt like waking up from a bad dream.

“Happy Anniversary,” my wife whispered.

I kissed her forehead and repositioned my pillow, “Happy anniversary to you, too.”

We embraced briefly before getting up to watch the news for more updates. A few people lost their lives while some lost all of their possessions. Most people are without power, water and gasoline. Millions are traumatized physically, emotionally and financially…including me. But even in the midst of chaos, I am thankful that God spared my family from long term grief. I thank God that we survived Hurricane Ike with just a handful of inconveniences.  I am grateful he allowed my wife and I to see our wedding anniversary.

September 15th will always be the most significant day in my life:

• On this day last year, I married my best friend.
• On this day in 2005, my newborn son died in my hands.
• On this day in 1972, one of my closest relatives was born - and he died suddenly in ‘06 from a heart attack.

I will never forget the many birthdays I spent hanging out with my cousin. The memory of my little boy’s face is etched in my spirit. These instances of my past have taught me to cherish the beautiful future I have with my family.

I am still dealing with the aftermath of my first, true natural diaster. The distorted, grey images of the storm are still fresh. My stomach still aches from the brief illness. These life-stirring jolts of the present reinforce the reality that I should always embrace my family.

This is more than recanting the past or surviving the present. Today is my reminder that the future holds a plethora of positive memories yet-to-be-created. I have survived so much in my 30+ years on this planet. God continues to spare me in order to fulfill a divine purpose that transcends my talents, my career or my online persona as “Fave.”

I’m no angel and I don’t intend to start some unrealistic pursuit of perfection. There’s no epiphany occuring - this is simply awareness. 

So as I sit here on this borrowed desktop - my aunt is barbecuing ribs (yes, at 10pm! lol) in celebration of our anniversary. I’ve spent most of the day playing Madden ‘09 on my new Sony PSP (my anniversary gift) while my wife has captured images of the broken city with her new camera and zoom lens (her gift). Our insurance claim is filed. The kids are safe. I’ve recieved text messages saying NOT to return to work (yet). Ironically, I got paid today (smile). I continue to literally feel the energy and prayers of my family, friends and even online acquaintances (via Twitter, blogging, etc.) and the spiritual surge is surreal…thank you guys for sending the Creator’s love and comfort towards my family.

Know that we are fine; but more importantly, remember that alI we have is now - and I plan to cherish it with all that I am. That is what today is.

Until next time…

I was going to spend the weekend in the luxurious confines of the Marriott Houston Hobby Airport - the same hotel I stayed in regularly when visiting my wife as her “long distance beau.” My anticipation had built up all week as I daydreamed about plush pillows, down comforters and made-to-order omelets for breakfast.

Instead of packing my bags to celebrate our wedding anniversary, I spent most of the day packing our den and taking potential projectiles off our back patio - in preparation for Hurricane Ike.

As I type these words, Hurricane Ike is headed right for us. Authorities have instructed us not to evacuate - but to ‘hunker down’ and ride this thing out. My office was closed today and there was no urging to work from home. The theme of the day has simply been “get prepared.”

Now, it’s a waiting game as the trees sway and twirl like straws in an empty milkshake glass. The wind is picking up - about 30-35mph - but they’ll be howling at 100+mph by midnight.

I can feel the prayers of family, friends (offline and online) and strangers. It’s a warm, positive energy flow sent from God at the request of those who believe this is a reminder that we don’t control anything…except our decisions.

The lights are flickering now, so I better wrap this up. My family and I appreciate your prayers.

Until next time…