Words We Hate: "Dayum"

As you may have noticed, we have a slight disposition against slang words. It isn't that we are pretentious or elitist. It is simply that the words we key into do not sound good. If you are using it with a vernacular comprised mostly of slang, then fine. Otherwise, trying to blend this word with a normal vernacular is trying to navigate a bull through a china shop. And this word...this word, just look at the spelling. d-a-y-u-m. It even looks ugly.

Now, why we hate it. Well, for those who don't know, "Dayum" is an abhorrence of a word derived from "Damn". "Dayum" is mostly used in a stretched out capacity to put emphasis on something, (i.e. "daaayyyuummmm"). The word itself just sounds like a groan, and a very unpleasant one at that.It seems like a lazy way to express yourself, and we are far from lazy here at QM. Gentlemen, use your words! We can get We're fully confident that all our wonderful readers can find a better way to express themselves.

Words We Hate: A'ight

Sitting around at the office the other night, some other man walked in wearing pressed jeans, a clean white T-shirt, and a blue blazer. He took a seat next to our meeting, and started going on and on about something or another, we were discussing important business (who is covering the tab), so we didn't bother to care. However, about 15 minutes in we heard him on the phone, where he uttered the following phrase: "A'ight, A'ight, hold on, I'll get you in a minute."

The three of us who were closest to him simultaneously turned around to stare at this man. This sharp dressed man did not really just say that. Surely we misheard him, so we shrugged it off and went back to arguing. 5 minutes later, someone joined him to ask if he was ready. His reply started again with "A'ight...". Okay, once is just poor hearing, but twice and we were sure that's what he was saying. This sharply dressed man, who has the gall to walk into our meeting, just used "A'ight".

Look, we realize that it is derived from the vernacular of American English and is used in dialects or by slang. Still, if you are dressed to impress, do not use this word. It is stupid sounding, and used out of the generally accepted context of "street slang", just makes you look uneducated. You could walk into the bar passing out Benjamin Franklins to everyone, but if you used "A'ight" we can guarantee that you will not be able to keep fine company in this place for any length of time. So, please, there is a time and place to say "A'ight". If you even own a blazer, that time is never, and the place nowhere.

Music of the Moment: Chillin'

Walking around town, everyone has those moments when you get a track vibin' through your head. For us here at QM, that moment is usually when we make an entrance, because when we go somewhere, we come up in style. We equate our entrances to those seen in the HBO hit series, Entourage. We walk in with 3 or 4 of our friends to the beat of blaring music. Okay, so the music may just be in our heads, but it's an entrance to be seen anyways.

"Chillin' " is one of those entrance songs. From the old school sample in the beginning, to Lady GaGa's best impression of MIA, this song is just blazin'. The first single off DC' Rapper Wale's upcoming album is very impressive. (Editors note: The song mentioned in this post is By Wale, but it is an official remix, not the original single). First listen may have you waiting to hear T.I. drop a verse, since it has an eerily similar beat/feel to his track "Swagger Like Us". Make no mistake, the synth in the background of the verses sets the track apart and makes it. Every time we turn this track on, we can't help but to get a little cocky in our walk, it just that inspiring. Seriously, next time you're about to step into an event, play it. You'll be chillin'.

Mayday, Potential Ejection

Everybody has points where they get so mad at someone/thing that they just want to go crazy. This is perfectly natural, It's a human reaction. What is important is that we learn how to control the "going crazy" part. We figured the best way to show you how to control it, is to let you, the reader, into our deepest soul and have a true heart-to-heart. Okay...we're completely sarcastic in that previous sentence, we don't need to let you into anything, especially our souls. or cars. However, we digress.

The QM editors are quintessential men because they do something that differentiates them from normal men. They eject. Yes, almost every situation in life comes equipped with a handy ejector seat. Some are more obvious than others, but every situation has one. When you are dropped into a situation and feel yourself getting angry, Eject.

Leave.

Excuse yourself.

Pretend to take a phone call,
say you have to use the bathroom,
or walk for a moment under the pretense that you see a familiar face elsewhere.

However you do it, eject.
The consequences of not doing so are simple, you overflow, spout off and look like an asshole. Plain and simple as that. If you're striving to be a better man, you need to be calm and collected in appearances. Use the ejection lever, and you're one step closer to being a quintessential man.

So We Unwrapped Presents, Lets Wrap Up The Season

Christmas has come and gone. We now stand less than seven days until the New Year. We would like to take this time to share with you our thoughts on this Christmas Season.


Almost everyone has family that they spend time with on the Eve or Day or both. We cannot stress how important this is. Family is there for you no matter what happens to you, and this time of year, you enjoy their company and send a simple "Thank You" through your actions during the season. Thinking back during a meeting, the QM editors all agreed that some of the best memories we have are with our families during the 2 days of Christmas (Eve/Day). These are memories we will cherish for the rest of our lives.

Our second point is we said almost everyone has family. During the Christmas season we are overwhelmed by various charities for people who have no families, or no home. While this is a great thing, to be asked to give to all the worthy charities, some people do not have the capacity to give as well as purchase presents for everyone they would like to. We aren't here to scold you, we would simply like to suggest that you give when you can. Although all these charities seem to spring to life around the Christmas season, they exist year round. So if you don't have the money to give during Christmastime, please consider donating in the "off-season", if you will. Note charities you would like to contribute to and give to them when you might have a little more cash on hand, possibly in the summer, or when you get a tax refund.

Another thing is the "Christmas Spirit". During Christmastime, people seem to have a more pleasant demeanor . They have bigger hearts and more patience for their fellow man. We ask, why just during Christmas? Why don't we try to carry this feeling of goodwill toward man throughout the year. In the classic Christmas tale, A Christmas Carol, the grouchy-old-miser-turned-born-again-human Ebenezer Scrooge promised to keep the spirit of Christmas all year.

"And it was always said of him that he knew how to keep Christmas well if any man alive possessed the knowledge. May that truly be said of us and all of us."
~Charles Dickens

From our families to yours.

The Editors of QM

Merry Christmas

Yes. Merry Christmas.
We are celebrating the Christmas season. Not the Holiday season.

Christmas Trees. not Holiday.
Christmas Lights. not Holiday.

We acknowledge that there are other Holidays around this time of year, but the symbols most portrayed in this culture are CHRISTmas, not the other holidays.

So from all of us at QM, we wish you and your families a safe and amazing Christmas Eve/Day.


If you need us, we'll be hitting the eggnog.

Music of the Moment: Forever

Here at QM, we love music. Almost as we love being men. Almost. Music fuels feelings. Feelings of passion, desire, and determination. It is with the love we give to you Music of the Moment, a regularly appearing column (read as: whenever we feel like it) that gives you a glimpse into the latest and greatest tracks available.

We kick off the inaugural post of this of this column with an endorsement for a track we cannot live without. It's by the bright new rap artist by the name of Drake. If you haven't heard of him, where have you been? Go check him out, we'll wait...done? okay. He has a song called Forever. Now, if it were just him rapping, we'd be quite alright with that. But no, he went ahead and called up the current king of rap, Lil' Wayne, and had him drop a verse. Then, when they were done, they talked to Kanye West and Eminem, had them drop verses too.

Thats right, one track with Drake, Lil' Wayne, Kayne West, and Eminem. Damn, that's basically the hit list right now in terms of who's hot. The track with this line up is absolutely epic. It's just phenomenal. We are going one step further, and adding the most jaw-dropping drummer of this century. That's right, our man Travis Barker. Is your mind melting down yet from this list of talent? It should be. This track is everything, it follows the current trend of rap verses over rock hooks and drums. We can't even do this track justice with words.

Just listen.