I'm In Love With A Stripper!

I'm sure some of my readers recognize that blog title as a song from the radio. Ladies, have you ever wondered what makes a man visit a strip club?

Well, I'll break it down for you the best that I can. I won't discuss the guys who fantasize about sleeping with the strippers because these are simply pervs. They will pay the stripper's bills, but will stalk her afterwards. I'm talking about the normal guys who don't have a stripper's photo surrounded by burning incense in the basement. I'm talking about normal guys like me.

Now, first of all, I haven't been in a strip club in over a decade, but I did hang out there now and then back when I first moved out of my parents' house. At first, it was just to hang out with the guys and try something new. Of all of the movies I'd seen about them, I really didn't expect much from going, but I was pretty surprised.

There was good music, expensive great drinks and beautiful women. And these women recognize a fresh wallet when you walk through the door. They will immediately flock to you to be the first to get you to part with your paycheck. However, that attention is a boost to a man's ego. And we all know that a man's ego controls his brain. That's what keeps men at the nudie bar. The attention. Now, some ladies are saying, "well, I pay my man attention at home."

That may be true to an extent, but let's be honest: some men are going to go look at other women just because they can. But, for the average guys like me and my friends, we enjoyed hanging out at these clubs because of the heightened attention we received. You're treated like a celebrity when you go into a strip club. Women are all over you as soon as you come through the door and people are bringing you drinks. Your every need is being catered to by good-looking women.

When a man's ego is being stroked, he doesn't care why it's happening, only that it's happening.

Contrary to what women may think they're doing for their significant other, it may not compare to what Cinnamon and Trixie are doing down at "Tall Tails." So, ladies, if you have a man, then do him a solid now and then. Tell him before he comes home to stop by the ATM. Turn on some music and fix him a drink. Put on some sexy attire and commence to shake what your momma gave you.

How low can you go?

Now I was single at the time, so there was nothing at home for me, but what kept me going every Friday night was the booty shaking. The club I frequented was like walking into a Ludacris video. The booties didn't just clap, they gave a round of applause. And a male never gets tired of seeing booty shaking (as shown in the video below). However, at some point, you have to grow up and do other things with your money. I visited the strip club for roughly every Friday night for two months before I decided enough was enough. It was fun while it lasted, but knowing that these women were going to get you all "charged up" only to go home alone got old. I started seeing too many pathetic old men and some of those aforementioned stalkers and realized I didn't want to be in a place with those types. There was one guy that we met there who was in his early 50's, married 30 years and claimed that he spends roughly $500-$700 a week in the club. The girls knew him by name and he probably put so many of them through school that they have a scholarship named after him. After all, strippers are just trying to put themselves through college, right? :)

I didn't want to be "that guy." I've never wanted to be the old man in the dance club and I definitely didn't want to be the old man at the strip club. That's not to say I wouldn't go to a strip club again, but I'll never be a weekly customer any more. After a while, you have to realize that if you put dollars into the g-string of your wife/girlfriend at home, then you're probably getting more than just a lap dance.

Cat Loves Booty Shaking - watch more funny videos

Scooby Doo Arrested for Assaulting Ghost

What is the deal with cartoons these days? What happened to cartoons being cheesy, mindless, comedic shows for kids? My favorite cartoon as a child was "Tom and Jerry." Critics said the show was too violent and have since edited tons of what I consider "cartoon violence."



Well, cartoons have taken a whole new meaning in the 21st Century. Let's see today's version of "cartoon violence" with this Stewie and Brian clip from "Family Guy:"

All of a sudden, T&J doesn't look so bad, does it? In a span of a couple of decades, cartoons have gone from clip #1 to clip #2. Not all cartoons are kid-friendly these days.

Don't get me wrong. I'm not saying that this just started in our lifetime. Way back in the day, they had what were considered at the time as "adult cartoons."

"Betty Boop" hit the scene during the Depression Era of the 30's as animation's first sex symbol.  

"Fritz the Cat" came along in 1972 and became the first U.S. cartoon to get an "X rating."

1981 spawned "Heavy Metal." This was the first adult cartoon that I remember seeing (8 years later as a college freshman).

1989 started TV's era of adult cartoons. Enter "The Simpsons." If you were at least 13 years old in 1989, then you should remember the controversy surrounding this show. FOX was already pushing the envelope with the likes of "Married with Children," and protesters were up in arms over this unruly, spike-haired boy by the name of "Bart." Little did any of us know that it would be considered tame by today's standards.

After "The Simpsons" came "Ren & Stimpy" which led to "Beavis & Butthead" which led to "South Park" and so on and so on...

So, what's next? Will we see some modern day Scooby Doo arrested for assaulting a ghost? Does animation's favorite crime-fighting dog turn into a "Matrix" meets "The Transporter" type of action show where ghosts are assassinated?

That remains to be seen.

Mess with this pooch or his crew and get "Scooby Smacked!"

The purpose for this post is this: the world constantly evolves and it's not always for the better. It's imperative that parents recognize how the world has changed and find a way to change with it. You can no longer rely on TV to babysit your child while you get chores done or try to take a quick nap. You may think you're turning on a harmless cartoon and the next thing you know, your child is dropping the n-word on people because he / she was watching "The Boondocks."

Take the time to not only screen what your child watches, but watch it with them. That way if anything mature is shown, you're there to put things in perspective or to offer an explanation. Make sure he / she is watching "Dora the Explorer" and not "Dora Gets Explored." You're laughing, but don't think it can't happen some day. Maybe 20 years from now, but it could. (Okay, I made that one up, but you get my point. You know, I wouldn't doubt if that was some actual porn title. If not, I'm suing the first person to use it.)

So, despite seeing cartoonish figures and maybe even famous faces, don't assume that a show is good for your six year old. Give it a test run yourself before allowing others to see it. Know what's on TV at all times so your kid won't grow up to be the Einstein from "Robot Chicken" instead of the Einstein from the history books.

(Warning: Language may be inappropriate for the sensitive)

Don't Be...

Be a mother, but please don't be a "baby mama"

So many times, I come across "baby mamas". For those who don't know, those are women who have children, but still continue with their lives as if they're single. They drop their kids off with the grandparents every chance they get so that they may go out with the girls, hang out at bars and/or go clubbing.

For the life of me, I can't understand how someone who calls herself a "mother" would do that. Don't get me wrong. I'm not saying once you have a child that you're never allowed to have fun. All I'm saying is that if you are a parent and you're still a regular in the nightclub, then you're doing a disservice to the child. If you're not ready to give up that lifestyle, then close your legs and not have a kid until later in life.

Be a father, but please don't be a "baby daddy".



Since I'm a man, I have a little more to say on this one...

Let's stop treating children like pets or accessories. They're living beings who need nurturing, support and guidance.

Being blessed with a two parent household as a child, I was raised with many traditional values from the Old South. I was taught to take my cap off before entering someone's home, hold a door for a lady to enter first, give a firm handshake, make eye contact when speaking with people, and be accountable for my actions.

As crazy as it sounds, those things are becoming a lost art. Too many boys out there lack the man training that is necessary to restore the dwindling cycle of the main components of manhood. Pride, responsibility, and accountability have been replaced with entitlement, dependency, and deflection.

Pride allows you to be proud of what you have achieved so you may maintain/enhance it. Entitlement lets you think that something is owed to you without earning it. You exist, so, therefore, you deserve.

Responsibility is what keeps you focused on what is important: life, love, and leadership. Dependency perpetuates childhood. You can have a life and you can love, but you can't lead if you're crawling around on all fours without the ability to stand.

Accountability keeps us humble. It removes fear when it comes to saying "my apologies." Deflection removes all blame because it's someone else's fault/problem, right?

Once you become a parent, it's no longer about you. It's about doing what is best for the child. It takes an adult (preferably two) to raise a child.

It's time to stop the foolishness.

A Bit Much?

Okay, the latest controversy in Jackson is about a couple of billboards a local gentlemen's club, by the name of Danny's, has placed on the highways.

Tasteful or distasteful?

Is a bit much? Are we at a point in society where we should just accept things like this and move on? I remember at one time when people were protesting "The Simpsons". Now, 25 years later, shows like "Family Guy", "The Boondocks" and "South Park" are just another show.

So, with Victoria's Secret having prime time shows showing night wear and the Miss America Pageant showing "cheeks galore" in the swimsuit segment in stunning HD, are we to the point to where this is just something else that was once frowned upon that we will now accept?

If so, how many years are we away from having nude people on billboards?