Virtual Reality

At work we always have visitors that come in and out from various other organizations. While someone was getting a tour of our facility they crossed our call center and our Technical Support agents were assisting customers. We have a very warm, welcoming setup here, and our call center is no exception. The person getting the tour stated "This looks so nice and cozy. It's so much different than what I was expecting. I guess I was expecting one of those call centers in India like in the movies." We all looked at each other for a minute then continued the tour like nothing had happened.

There's been such an increase in virtual work places and outsourcing that often we forget what the people who do jobs that our integral to our businesses look like. There's a certain dehumanization at play when the only interaction you have with someone is via email. Even if you use conference call setups, there's no replacement for being in a room with someone and reading their body language and composure. This online, digital age we find ourselves in has seemingly replaced human beings with just avatars that respond to our email written requests with a certain SLA.

I know the thing that spawned this line of thought was the tour at work but I thought about how detached we as a society have become in our personal lives as well. It's almost like we're afraid of being alone and must always be connected to one another via social media. We text more than we talk on the phone, and I'm guilty of this. There was a critically acclaimed movie that hit theaters recently about a man being in a relationship with his computer, and smart phones are basically hand-held computers. All of the stigma has been removed, and we're now detached from other human interaction more than ever.

I received a message on LinkedIn by someone who has recently started up a company. The company, which I won't name, sells articifial intelligence software that basically is able to read and interpret text and spit back intelligent answers. Basically, this software is able to replace call center agents that are needed to deal with email, message boards, etc. and basically link queries directly to a directory of help documentation. Everything we have this day and age is getting smarter and smarter to remove human error, but isn't that what makes society so great? I know that human error can lead to huge mistakes, but it can also lead to flashes of brilliance as well. I love humans. Maybe I need to start displaying it more.

The Innovation of Loneliness from Shimi Cohen on Vimeo.

Getting To Know: Gleams

I was checking out Mostly Junkfood, one of my favorite music blogs as of late, and I stumbled across a new mixtape by a rapper named Gleams. I've heard dude's name before on Twitter but never really gave his music a listen. I read into the article and saw that he truly was a rapper that was leveraging Twitter for all of its potential. It's great to see social media work out in someone's favor. I was so intrigued by Gleams that I asked if he would do an interview for the site. Via email correspondence, I was able to ask Gleams some questions about his influences, Joe Budden in particular, and what we can expect from him in the future. Be sure to check out his latest offering "The Exception".


1. Why do you rap? Not trying to be funny, but what is the main thing you wish to accomplish using rap music?

I rap for listeners, blunt heads fly ladies and prisoners...lol naw lemme chill. I do this music to give the people something true to life and dope at the same time. Also because I'd rather make music instead of be out in these streets self destructing, plus it helps me vent/express my feelings best.

2. The reason you started rapping? What’s your motivation?

My motivation was seeing my favorite artists do what they love and get paid for it. And giving listeners another choice.

3. Your bio says that you’re from New York. How do you feel like that environment influenced your sound as an artist?

The majority of New Yorkers show me what I don't wanna be and how I don't wanna live my life. We're one of the best cities in the world but the people here just wanna do the same thing the next person is doing. I wanna detach myself from being labeled a NEW YORK artist, cuz I hate being put in a box. Still in all i love my city, i just don't like falling into a stereotype with the people who "RUN" it.

4. What are your influences, artists you look up to?

Obviously Joe Budden, John Lennon, Nas, Pac, Hov and Michael Jackson just to name a few.

5. Explain how the whole Joe Budden situation unfolded and how you two initially linked up? Do you guys still have a working relationship and can we expect any collaborations in the future?

Man I was just a fan that got to meet him at a bb kings show cuz of my homie Ice. Shortly after, I noticed Budden was following me. I been to his studio (as a fan) twice, and I never would have imagined what happened at Irving Plaza. We don't have a working relationship, we're just Twitter homies as of now. I'd love to collab with him in the future. We'll see what happens. Anything is possible.

6. What artists do you see as your main competition? Who else is in your lane or do you think you’re carving out your own niche in the rap game?

Only competition for me is the artists I look up to and myself. I don't view the local acts nor other rappers on twitter as comp. And I believe I have begun paving my own way musically, thank God lol.

7. Name one song that describes who you are as an artist. Something for people that have never heard your music.

A song off of “The Exception” called "FYI" will tell you a lot about who I am.

8. Explain your current label situation and when we can expect to hear another project.

I am unsigned, just building my brand and fanbase at the moment. And my next project should come out as soon as I drop the visuals for this project that’s out now.

9. I’ve drawn some parallels between your situation and another Twitter/Internet sensation Kreayshawn. Both of you have leverage what I would like to call “virtual fanbases” into creating a name for yourself, almost overnight. Would you agree with the idea of a virtual fanbase or do you see your fans as something else?

I mean I wouldn't call it a virtual fanbase, but I understand why you label them that. I don't mind what they are viewed as. As long as they support they can be anything but spam bots.

10. Wanted to leave room for you to give a shoutout to anyone in particular, or anyone not on our radars that we should be checking for.

Shouts to #TheCast, LNF and stay tuned to www.THEGLEAMSSHOW.com thanks for your support!

Thanks again to Gleams for doing this interview. He can be found at his Twitter account, which links to his other website.

The 8th Seed

I said that if I ever had a classic rant I would blog it again. Well I had one. It's about ending up in the friend zone and about people who claim that their ex is their best friend. Without further ado:




I don't trust chicks who claim their ex is their best friend. Something about that just doesn't sit well with me

If the chick claims her ex is her best friend, I automatically imply 2 things: 1) She doesn't have any female friends, & 2) Her ex has residual income pussy on deck

There's no reason your ex should be picking you up from the airport

Fellas: If you offer to pick a chick up from the airport and she declines or says "I already have a ride", she doesn't want your dick

@AlluringShrew raised a point that it could be the case for anyone. That it doesn't mean something is awry when exes are friends

If that person is your ex that means you were in a relationship with them at some point. And if you were, you thought you had a future

Very few relationships have two people that don't think there is a future between them. Only sex. It happens, but its rare.

If you view this person as your best friend, you probably still wish that future was there. And secretly, probably wish yall were together

If a female has decided she wants to be with you, her vagina will always get wet for you. Always. Can't argue with nature.

Why do you think females stick around in abusive relationships? Just like dude's dick clouds their thoughts, women's vagina does the same

If she views her ex as her best friend, it's like telling that dude "My vagina will always be here, ready when you are"

He may not act upon it immediately, but trust the he knows the option exists in the back of his head

That's how you get in situations where she tries explaining it to you like "Yeah he spent the night, but we're like good friends now"

That nigga just put it through her back and she came back to you because he doesn't want a relationship. The minute he does, yall are a wrap

You can date a chick who claims her ex is her best friend only if you're comfortable with sharing the pussy. If not, go elsewhere.

Some dudes are comfortable with sharing the pussy. I'm not one of them.

RT @ShowinOut Most females stick around because theyre scared, have low self esteem, theyre comfortable, or have kids. Not just for sex

I'll take it one step further. Men can't be best friends with a female, unless he has zero intentions of fucking her

If either of you have contemplated what sex would be like between you, yall aren't best friends. Just lovers on hold.

You're on some permanent friend zone shit but you stick around hoping things will change.

The only way the situation will change in the dude's favor is if the female comes in contact with her own mortality.

If the female endures a horrible relationship, or has a kid, or some other live changing event, then she might say "He's been good to me"

After someone else wiped his ass with her heart, then she might give you a whiff of the pussy. Might.

Even if you get that whiff, you still will have that Friend Zone Scarlet Letter on you. Let a free agent land in the area, back to the bench

The Friend Zone is like spending your prime years as an athlete on a team that always loses in the first round of the playoffs

You're better off than other dude's who don't even know her, but then again, you're not getting a ring anytime soon

Would you rather spend your prime years putting up numbers on a horrible team or being a 8th seed & get swept every year?

That's a question you have to ask yourself. Do I want to stick around on this squad, or do I want to try my luck elsewhere?

Kevin Garnett on the Minnesota Timberwolves was the epitome of the Friend Zone athlete

He was a guaranteed Hall of Famer but was stuck in no-mans land. He needed a change of scenery before he finally got over the hump

That's what some of yall niggas need that's in the friend zone now. A change of scenery.

Sure, I bet it feels good to win 41 games a year, but why not try your luck somewhere else and try to win 50 games? or 60?

And I'm done ranting. The friend zone is no joke. But its something every man experiences in life. Just gotta stay strong.

Getting in the friend zone can be demoralizing. Especially if you're in the friend zone with a known ho. But that’s neither here nor there.

? RT @AlluringShrew girls get stuck in the "friend zone" sometimes too. And it sucks equally bad for us when that happens, trust me.

@AlluringShrew The only time a female is in the friend zone is if she's not attractive whatsoever

@AlluringShrew There are no other circumstances. If he has a chick in the friend zone he doesn't find her attractive

@AlluringShrew Men don't turn down pussy. If he turned down the pussy there has to be a reason

@NahImSerious Exactly. We can be friends if I never wanna see what that mouf do

I apologize for all the people in the friend zone that I'm crushing your dreams.
I'll stop with my rant now.

Hide Your Kids

I blame a certain person for bringing this foolishness across my timeline on Twitter.

I came across this link. Yes, that's a female who is using her Twitter account to advertise her business as an escort. She is using the same social medium used by musicians to promote their work and politicans to promote their social platform to promote her line of work.



I literally have no words to describe this, or her actual website where she advertises her rates, or the Twitvid videos of her actually participating in explicit sex acts. All I can do right now is use this as a platform to stress that we need to choose wisely what we promote and what we don't promote.

I think the saddest part of this whole situation is that she doesn't see anything wrong with the situation. In fact, she takes pride in the fact that she can charge fees for what others are doing for free. Almost like an informal expose' into the mind of a woman who is able to separate her emotions from the act of sex to where it is strictly a tool for self-promotion and profit. Kinda sad when you think about it.

I'm gonna end this before I began a trademark rant because I know it wouldn't end well and I would probably say something that I regret. I'll just say HNH and cue the 2Pac: