Off the break, I’ve all but smashed out my commitment to myself and my audience to blog more this year. I’ve actually blogged far less over the past six months then what I have since I really got into this thing last year.
I’m not sure if the love affair is gone, honeymoon is over or perhaps i’m just too tired and haven’t made the time after or even at work to put my thoughts…and life down on (proverbial) paper. And maybe…just maybe i’m not alone in this drawback from the scene of personal blogging. “The blogosphere” which was once apon-a-time an freshwater oasis of folksy self-expression and clever thought on the most of interesting and intriguing topics. Ranging from the very personal and subjective, to everyday social issues that impact people and inact responses at the most sincere and passionate levels.
But now….now you have cut-rate journalists and underground marketing campaigns who’ve all but drowned out the authentic voices of my cohorts. The Huffington Post, Engadget, Lifehacker, Boing Boing, and TreeHugger just to name a few. A stand-alone commentator can’t keep up with a team of pro writers cranking out up to 30 posts a day, and for the sites that have large followings (like sbm and vsb) it’s nearly impossible to keep up with the comments let alone the demands of new topics every 24-48hrs, and even they have small teams of “contributers” themselves much in part to do just that….keep up.
Then there’s the social media sites - YouTube, Flickr, and Facebook have all but made an outlet to catalog all but long-form writing, which some can arge is irrelevant now that a picture or video that can tell a story better than nearly as good as a half dozen paragraphs on a site with your name (or name that represents you/yoursite) on it. And then there’s twitter….maybe the bane and future of blogging as we’ve known it over the past ten years. I myself am guilty of this new fad, this new wave of commuincation because just like most of our society I want something quick, easy, and with instant results. Twitter offers just that.
But alas, I pay for this site. I don’t care if Twitter, Facebook, Myspace, & Flickr make blogging look like 2003, I will continue to do it. Why? Because deep down a truely love blogging, putting my thoughts down….what i’m interested it, what I can’t always verbalize, what I enjoy or hate, crave or find absolutely hilarious.
This time you have my guarentee of new posts - hell or highwater.
Long Long Long year this has been, & much has taken place as it does with any other year….but I think more so with this year then then the 26.4yrs prior to I’ve grown and experienced more then ever. Not all was shared on here because as much as I enjoy being transparent, there’s a wall that must exist between my personal life offline, and what I share with the rest of the world….although I hope to be more open in 2009.
Learned
Your attitude changes your reality - Seriously, It does. When you for instance use a positive attitude instead of a negative one you start to see things and viewpoints that weren’t apparent to you before. Not to be mistaken with living in a bubble void of reality, or the realities of the world around you (this can be extremely dangerous and a henderance for personal growth), but being generally positive and always keeping things in the correct perspective. You know the “Night is always Darkest before the Dawn” & “When God closes a door, he opens a window”
You don’t pay taxes, the government takes taxes - The gospel via Chris Rock
Google makes a move in the cell phone realm with the Android software, it’s yet to be seen if this will actually be competition for the iPhone given the fact that it’s just the OS and not a “phone” per se
Bush’s man turned on him…..should pick your people more carefully next time Mr. President Bush. He then publically supports his boy John McCain but months later up and turns on him at the last minute and votes for Obama. Classic.
God bringing my sister back from the brink of death
The man beat some of the best in the sport with a broken leg, greatest without question
The comedic genius of SNL cast members past, thank you Tina Fey
Apple iPhone 3Gand iPhone App Store – Apple continually releases “cool” technology. They’ve released a new version of their iPhone with enterprise technology built-in including Exchange 2007 (something that the only phone with Android/Google software does not have) ActiveSync support. They also made strong improvements in their iPhone App Store. Apple is going to turn tuning over the phone industry like they did the portable music one. Look for my personal review on the iphone to come shortly
David Cook won American Idol, perhaps there is hope that it’s not just a popularity contest
Myley Cyrus’ Vanity Fair Photos/Dating an adult - Better yet, the fact that both of these scandals didn’t do squat to derail her career speaks volumes
The most powerful man on earth is; down-to-earth, trustworthy (so far), committed, intelligent, grounded, young, in better shape then i’ll ever be, and what do you know….black
Continue to experience racism, but this time on a more personal level. Perhaps it’s because I expect people to act like the have some common since seeing how “minorities” are quickly becoming the “majority.”
Lost a few meaningful relationships with people that were predominant in my life. People that helped me grow, helped me develop into the man that I am today……Good and Bad. However one relationship in particular that I lost with a friend of mine who was more like a little brother/son then anything else. The bond was beyond that of friendship, and what broke the bond was very marrow of his own success. Life had become such a constant panegyric cycle that he unknowingly had built up this gross narcissistic view in which elevated himself above everyone else…..their opinions, feelings, guidence, input, EVERYTHING — that is unless he deemed it important enough that he would give it a measure of thought or it fell into his realm of importance. I loved him like I would my flesh and blood, and even though i knew his capacity to do this for a long time now (due in part that he’d rarely made a wrong move in the past 10yrs, let alone his entire life) I didn’t want to believe though, believe that he was so callow as to throw away 20+yrs over…..well nothing but his desire to be magniloquent. It showed me (and the others he cast aside) without a shadow of a doubt what that relationship meant to him, even though it’s been a year now it still feels like it was yesterday.
So, that’s my year in a what might be my longest post i’ve made in a while, expect more from me as I will be on this much more then I have the last five months. As always, i look forward to feedback. God bless in 09.
Just wanted to throw out a big MERRYCHRISTMAS!!! to everyone, and that I hope you’ve had a blessed and safe holiday where the concentration was not on what you received, but what you gave. He’s the reason for the season and I hope that all of my readers, and those that would stumble across this site would prosper and have a great Holiday season!!!
First, I’m sorry i’ve been away for so many weeks. Work is heavy, and last week was the holiday so I really didn’t want to touch, or look at my computer. Sleeping in everyday till at least 10 (sometimes as late as 12:30) was glorious and I could use another solid week like that where I don’t have to get up at the crack of dawn for some reason or another.
Second, HappybelatedThanksgiving!
I don’t think wishing someone happy thanksgiving can be belated, that is unless thanksgiving is all about the food, the day off of work or the shopping which for me it’s not. It’s spending time with my family, being thankful for what i’ve been blessed with and taking a moment to reflect on the year and just be thankful for the little things…..my family, my health, my employment status just to name a few.
Third, Alert!!!
America…..We have a problem.
And THIS is it
And
http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/27955316/
NEW YORK - Police were reviewing video from surveillance cameras in an attempt to identify who trampled to death a Wal-Mart worker after a crowd of post-Thanksgiving shoppers burst through the doors at a suburban store and knocked him down.
Criminal charges were possible, but identifying individual shoppers in Friday’s video may prove difficult, said Detective Lt. Michael Fleming, a Nassau County police spokesman.
Other workers were trampled as they tried to rescue the man, and customers stepped over him and became irate when officials said the store was closing because of the death, police and witnesses said.
At least four other people, including a woman who was eight months pregnant, were taken to hospitals for observation or minor injuries. The store in Valley Stream on Long Island closed for several hours before reopening.
Police said about 2,000 people were gathered outside the Wal-Mart doors before its 5 a.m. opening at a mall about 20 miles east of Manhattan. The impatient crowd knocked the employee, identified by police as Jdimytai Damour, to the ground as he opened the doors, leaving a metal portion of the frame crumpled like an accordion.
“This crowd was out of control,” Fleming said. He described the scene as “utter chaos,” and said the store didn’t have enough security.
Dozens of store employees trying to fight their way out to help Damour were also getting trampled by the crowd, Fleming said. Shoppers stepped over the man on the ground and streamed into the store.
Damour, 34, of Queens, was taken to a hospital, where he was pronounced dead around 6 a.m., police said. The exact cause of death has not been determined.
And
Is this what the holiday season is about now?
Shoppers returned to Toys R Us in Palm Desert on Saturday, a day after two men shot each other dead in front of terrified Black Friday customers.
An armed security guard stood watch outside the store and another was inside. A police car patrolled the parking lot. Many employees came from other Southland stores because some regular clerks were too scared to return, said an employee who asked not to be identified by name.
The dead men were identified by Riverside County sheriff’s officials as Alejandro Moreno, 39, of Desert Hot Springs and Juan Meza, 28, of Cathedral City. Two handguns were recovered at the scene.
The shooting occurred about 11:30 a.m. Friday after two women got into a fight. After the women began arguing, witnesses said, Meza pulled out a gun. Moreno also pulled out a gun and started chasing and shooting at Meza, witnesses said. Frantic shoppers either dropped to the floor or stormed out of the store.
Sheriff’s Sgt. Dennis Gutierrez said no one was arrested, but he would not identify the women. Their dispute was not part of the investigation, Gutierrez said.
Many shoppers Saturday were slightly skittish.
Valerie Criscuolo, 26, of Twentynine Palms went to the store with Marcus Noil and their two sons. It was their elder child’s birthday, and the family planned to go to Chuck E. Cheese and Toys R Us.
After hearing about the shooting, the family almost canceled its plans, but the security guards reassured them, Criscuolo said.
Ryan Tidd, 13, of Sky Valley went to the store with his parents but seemed nervous. As his mother, Michelle, perused video board games, he asked her if the gunmen could return.
“They can’t come back,” she said, although that didn’t seem to reassure the boy.
Tidd said the situation was surreal.
“You gotta be kidding me,” she said. “A shooting at a Toys R Us?”
These two events are sickening reminders that humanity has happily replaced caring and respect with greed and selfishness. This shouldn’t be a holiday/weekend/time for a “deal” but a time for family, out pouring of reflection, joy, compassion, & kindness to your fellow man. Nope. Its about saving a few hundred bucks on a TV.
The Walmart tragedy boils down to scarcity, IMO. Scarcity cuts two ways: scarcity of goods and scarcity of dollars in the pocket. Walmart being the largest and arugably deepest discounter profits BIG TIME from both of these and could probably care less about what happens in thier “parking lot” or “front door”…….now if people had starting running out of the store carrying TV’s and blu ray’s I can promise that the Walmart story would’ve been about people getting shot and arrested for theft by store security….believe it.
Not even going to touch the Toys-R-Us story being that all of the details aren’t known and it we don’t know exactly why it started. Other then it being shameful, and sad.
While watching my non-cable-enabled TV this weekend, I ran across the commercial below and it literally made me explode with laughter. Now according to a little research this commercial has been out for the better portion of a year…..yet somehow i’m just now seeing it, but that’s beside the point. It was cute, and even though the organization the produced it is run by the devil, it made me laugh like I hadn’t in a while.
Haven’t had much to say as of recent…..well maybe not so much that I haven’t had anything to say but more so that I haven’t had time to post up what I wanted to say. However I couldn’t let a week go by and not point out the obvious here.
The past seven days have been very big for my city, and in case you’ve been living under a rock the above picture is a illustration of what’s been going on, and arguably one of the most historical and relevant times in our existance as human beings…not just our modern day society, but our existance. I’ll be able to tell my kids one day that I was apart of history, I was there like their grandparents before them during the civil rights movement to see history in the making.
Now grant it, there are some issues/policy changes that have already surfaced that I don’t agree with, but I plan on reserving judgment until this man (who’s checks the same box as I do on official government documents that ask what your “Race” is) is able to get his feet and the ground and get into the Oval office. He’s not the guy I wanted a year ago, but given the choice we had it was a “no-brainer” on who would be president and I will give him a shot to prove himself, and back up what he’s been saying he would do over the past 18months. He’s surely got his work cut out for him.
Below I have posted up some of what I consider the most touching photo’s from the past year that i’ve found and have been sent to me. I hope and pray that this man can begin the process of bringing about a new era in the United States. To whom much is given, much is required President Obama…….
So here I was thinking to myself “Fall what a beautiful time of the year, right before my Favortire season. The crisp snap in the air, cool humidity free afternoons, football games, the leaves turning color…..” And that’s where I stop. Apparently since we haven’t had rain in the past, oh 21 days as well as it’s been a “dry summer” the tree’s around the DC metro area look like utter crap. They are still green, by now they should be in the peak or near peak stages and to be honest it’s a big let down that they aren’t.
Examples of what we SHOULD be seeing:
According to the Virginia Fall Foliage Report and Maryland Department of Natural Resources, we are right around peak time, which is utter BS because we are at the very least 2.5wks late on this “peak” season they keep mentioning. Even the local weathermen are blaming it on the lack of rain (even though left overs from a damn hurricane cam thru a dumped a few gallons on us recently) saying that it will be late Oct early Nov before we start to see the gorgeous colors we are use to.
I know to most it’s not a big deal and probably think it’s trivial but to someone that very much enjoys natures most colorful and appealing display it’s a very big deal, and frankly i’m quite disappointed. Last year this time the colors were near past peak and now 3/4’s of the tree’s not located 45 miles out of the city are still green….an ugly brown green I might add. So hopefully we’ll see some change to the pending storms that will hit this weekend, and this time next week i’ll be able to enjoy the scenic route home with all of the proper emerging colors.
On with the same theme as Thursday I wanted to discuss the topic of the executive office/politics, but this time lets put ourselves in the drivers seat……
What I mean by this is what would you do if you were president? How would things be different? How would you have done things or be doing things now? This topic came up Thursday when a rather eccentric fellow blogger and I were having a conversation about if he was president…..well lets just say his behavior would be along these lines
Me personally, well some would say that I’d be just as bad as him even though I don’t believe that i’m nearly as bad….but then again i’d be much more frank then probably most of the presidents in recent memory have been. I’d like to think i’d be a cross between Dave Kovic (Dave) and Tom Dobbs (Man of the Year) with of course a twist of blackness.
So lets get to it, and since this is my topic that I feel pretty passionate about i’ll start. But please feel free to answer in whatever way you like, however long, short, detailed, or for whatever topic you might choose.
1. Would you continue in this war until Iraq is a stable democracy?
Yes. Plain and simple. We are already there, if we pull out now then the country, it’s government, infrastructure, economic engine will all completely and utterly fail. The country will fall into the hands of extremists and terrorists, the lives of 4000+ would’ve been given for nothing. And even though it’s a mess, and I don’t agree with our reasons for being there I’d deal with it and try to turn what was one of the biggest mistakes made in the 21st century.
2. What would be your first act as President and why?
I would first and foremost address the American people….Not with this “My fellow American’s garbage” But with a “Look….I’m not your average President, i’m sure you all are aware of that because you elected me. I wont be having a bunch of press conferences telling you what’s going on, why things are such and such. No, that’s what my press secretary is for, my cabinet heads are for. I have more important things to do like run the country. You’re paying me $400, 000 per year to do this not including expenses, camp david, Marine and Air Force one, and exclusive access to the most powerful military in the world. America should be modern day rome, and in roman times she was feared by her enemies and respected by her allies, the next 4yrs I will be getting us back to that statue. As for the media, yeah my personal life is non of your business and if you think it is, just test me. Youve got ten minutes for questions, after that you’ll see me at the state of the union.”
3. Would efforts to combat global warming be increased under your administration?
Meh……For the most part yes, although some measure’s would be scrapped immediately, as well as more research to be conducted in how many other times in the history of the globe has this taken place and if this whole global warming thing has been over hyped. We’d be sure it isn’t just a cycle from/of nature that has been happening since time and we are just now only able to record it’s effects on our society/way of life.
4. Before the social security system runs out of money, should increase social security taxes to maintain benefits, if not then what?
I would honestly have no immediate answer to this question, it’s something that I would have to set up an non-partizan indenpendant task force to research what the to three solutions be. Then perhaps poll the American people between the ages of 18-40 (the ones who are going to be effected by this) to get their opinions and then go from there. I mean this is America….for the people, by the people?
5. Should America should take stronger and more consistent measures against the presence of illegal immigrants in the United States?
That’s a tough question. I would say that my first goal would be to ensure the security and protection of our borders. Doing this would require more deployment of manpower, technology, and intelligence as it relates to border crossings. Honestly, building a fence is a bit extreme, however there does need to be some type of control of the influx and access points to get in across the border. So far as the people that are here, honestly as long as they don’t have a felony criminal record in their country or origin, venereal diseases, or are a host of some unknown strain of bacteria I would push for them to stay once they crossed the border.
So those are my answers, i look forward to seeing you all’s. Again, feel free to alter or add the questions.
Alright folks, so as much as I’ve attempted to avoid this I really just can’t anymore. I’m not drawing a line and picking a candidate yet because…..well frankly the guy that I liked didn’t get in, so right now i’m still riding the fence for eh, the next 30days or so. However, when i see absolute stupidity/incompetency or where I might notice things that literally and utterly confound and perplex me I just can’t sit on and act like they don’t exist.
1st) I’ve been reading over a lot of really interesting blogs lately trying to broaden my perspective on this bailout i’ve pretty much come to the conclusion that this bailout for the most part is garbage. What they (the government) are doing is basically rescuing all of the companies and organizations that made terrible, and risky decisions way back when the housing market was booming. You know what that is? It’s me asking everyone in my building complex (it’s about 1000 of us) to give me $1,000 so I can clear out my debit after i’ve gone out and financed a $150,000 classic car that I was going to restore and turn around to sell for $200k……well I couldn’t sell that car because the market for it dried up and now I cannot afford the note……what do you think those people’s responses would be?
Don’t get me wrong I’m fully aware that this is indeed a bailout of the American economy. And that If banks continue to feel the pressure that that are currently have/do then they will continue to pull back on lending, the economy will become extremely stagnant and the ripple effect from that will be enormous. But it still doesn’t make me feel any better that i’ll be carrying on my back the price tag for their bad decisions.
This meltdown has already inflicted its damage. If you have a decent credit score and your 20 percent downpayment, you’ll still get your new mortgage. If you have a good pay history on your credit cards and a job, you’ll still be able to get your ultra-HD Big Screen T.V. on 180-days Same As Cash at your friendly neighborhood Best Buy.
If, however, you’re a meth-addicted crack whore working a minimum wage job at McDonald’s with a 325 credit rating (and let’s face it, if you have a pulse, you score a 300), then guess what: no, sweetheart, you will not be able to buy your $450,000 McMansion in Tuscan Hills Estates.
2nd) That debate tonight……a small child would’ve been able to identify not only who was in control but who got butchered who wasn’t, and who came out the clear victor. Although, why in the heck did this get so much press?? I honestly couldn’t care less about what the vice presidents views are, no matter how powerful that office is it is subordinate to the west wing.
Prior to the events of my previous post I was in the process of venting about what was turning out to be somewhat of a phenomenon taking place in my life. In the course of six months (although I found out within the time frame of 7days) twelve different friends of mine (close, as well as associates) have either gotten engaged, or married. TWELVE DIFFERENT PEOPLE!!!
This completely shocked and disturbed me, not that i’m “against” marriage or the joining of man and woman or anything, i hope to get married myself one day. But the fact that at 25 (i’m 26 now, but at the time of the phenomena i was 25) more then half of the people I associate with are on or that path, or getting ready to blaze the path of DINK (not enough of you all are DEWK for statistical representation) and most being within 4yrs of my age range is hard for me to accept all in one sitting.
So I seriously start to think perhaps i’ve missed some brief, memo, ABP, or maybe just maybe I haven’t had the time to sit back and realize i’m not in that “position” in my life where I thought i would be oh some 8-9yrs ago……..Ok, so I had to kill that thought real quick. I’m not in a race here. There’s no measure of “who gets there first”, or me trying to keep up with anyone. However it’s easy to get caught up in those thoughts when you get bombarded with the reality of people….I guess….moving on, it makes you think crazy things.
Being completely honest with myself, I am for all intensive purposes in “that position” to get married if I so choose to. According to the measures by which society would hold me to i’ve already pre-qualified for marriage. I have the house, the car, a career, capitol (well…not so much now), etc…However I believe that you have to be in a different frame of mind in order to open your life up and share it with someone…..FOREVER that is.
Marriage should be:
Holding the value of your mate’s thoughts and interests at a level equal to your own, even if you don’t share them
Having a commitment…a long term commitment encompasses all of our attitudes of respect for marriage covenants, including relationship skills to deal with whatever challenge
Displaying integrity…..integrity is the force behind the commitment that gives it lasting value. Without honor, vows become meaningless. That’s probably why the divorce rate is so high.
There are a great many other things that make up what a marriage should be, to discuss that would make this very long and somewhat preachy post, so hopefully you get the gist of what i’m saying. I do know that when it’s my time i’ll be calling the rest of you single folks, broadcasting my marital status, and sending you all of my information for where me and the future Mrs. are registered. But for now I guess i’l ljust have to get ready for all of those ceremonies and receptions…I suppose i’ll have to buy a few gifts for yall too, eh?
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