A year has passed

Hello World,

A year has passed since my last post.  A lot of really good things have occurred.  When I look back to at least acknowledge what bad things have happen....I cannot rightly say!  Since the last time I published a blog posting, I have changed homes, gained friends (lost friends), realized a few of my goals and...I found love.  Not bad for a year's worth of living eh?

I was perusing through TV channels recently.  I ran across the evening news and I viewed a scene of war coming from Syria.  There was this girl convulsing from chemical weapons used on her earlier that day. It was downright disturbing.  I do not condone the United States of America always going in to someone's country and imposing our believes on someone else.  I do however oppose turning a blind eye to those in need.  Is it right to let kids (or adults for that matter) suffer from tyrants (al- Assad) whom abuse their citizens?

All of a sudden, a lot of (my) life began coming in to perspective.  So far, at 32, my life is fun and exciting....even through the savagely rough navigable waters that I wade in from time to time. The older I become, the more I notice my friendships with others are changing.  It's OK though, I think that is supposed to happen.  It is all a part of maturation.  However, I am noticing, that my core group of friends, remain the same (I'm pretty proud of that).

Soon, I will update this blog with new pictures and new posts in general!  Thanks for tuning in World.  So far, I have over 5,000 views!

Until the next time,

Cheers

Facebook is for your friends and family, Twitter keeps them from knowing your'e crazy

Hey Folks,

I hope everyone is doing well this Saturday!  This last week has been full of news and fun events.  With the Olympics, back to school madness, the national jobs report and life in general, ...let's just say waking up this Saturday was a welcomed change of pace.  I drove to meet friends for breakfast and noticed that between my Facebook app and my Twitter app, my phone was one buzzing, beeping box of bantering broadcasts.  After awhile, the phone began to buzz so much, that I turned a deaf ear to the tones by turning up the radio. While I was racing to the next possible television to see Serena Williams beat down Maria Sharapova, I thought, "man, do I really need a Facebook and  Twitter account.  My first inclination was that they serve the same purpose: keeping up with your friends (and family).  Then as I pondered over the issue further, I could not figure out which account would be less painful for me to delete.  Here is how I broke things down:

When I am on Facebook, I am aware that there are some pretty meaningful people in with whom I am connected to. As of a few months ago, my Mother has connected with me on Facebook (I am still getting used to having to elaborate on a posting that did not meet my Mother's (aka Momma's) approval)! I will admit it; without Facebook, I would not remember many if not most birthdays.  I am not talking about just birthdays in general, but were talking, aunts, cousins and close friends.  Simply put, Facebook helps to keep me out of hot water!  The things I do and say on Facebook have real repercussions.  If I post that I made dinner, I better be ready for company. If I tag myself somewhere and did not send the appropriate invitations to my family and friends, I would be labeled as being "shady".  On the other side of the coin, if I post that I am feeling bad or need help, I have a wonderful group of support to rally me to brighter days.  Looks like I am keeping Facebook.

When I am on Twitter, I feel as though that account is my personally crafted peep hole into life and society in general.  The individuals you subscribe to, basically help to keep you abreast to who and what are making headlines.  From quirky facts, to worldwide news, to the Tweet of God (OK, he is not God, but boy does he put some one liners out there!), my Twitter account is better than reading most mainstream media magazines.  Twitter provides easy to access forums to keep up with and find people who share similar interests.  If you liked a TV show and want someone to talk about it with...go on Twitter, it will be easy to find someone to chat about it with...in real time!  Also, Twitter is made to be constantly updated.  So, whatever is on your mind or whatever you would like to put in the atmosphere, seems to be 20 times less offensive to read and or see.  Between garnering more followers and always having fresh news (that you care about) to read, Twitter has made itself almost indispensable to the guy or girl on the move.  Looks like I am keeping Twitter,

Okay, so maybe I will just adjust the settings on how many notifications I receive. It looks like each account has it's own purpose.  In order to be a good family member and friend, I will keep the Facebook account.  In order to be an up to date and "with it" type of guy, Tweet I must.  ....I'll just be sure to not have my Mother as a follower on Twitter (I can only explain so much)!

Have a Fantastic Saturday!

TADA

The 2012 Olympic Uniforms: The USA's True Colors

Good morning Everybody,

I hope the morning finds everyone happy, productive and well intended!  The first few texts I received this morning all hinged on "...it's Tuesday, four more days to go.".  To that, I hope everyone's day flies by...unless your'e off, then I hope your day trickles by as you squeeze out every iota of enjoyment you possibly can during your day of respite.  Enough of the salutations, let's get down to business.

 

I have been following the concerns about the 2012 Olympic uniforms.  It has been said that Americans should be ashamed and that our athletes should be wearing American made uniforms.  Part of the argument is that jobs are being taken away from Americans because the uniforms for the Olympics are foreign made (China).  Another part of the argument is that the team is less patriotic because they are wearing foreign made uniforms.  These notions have rang out so loudly that six Democratic senators will introduce "Team USA Made in America Act of 2012"!  That's right, a law stating that the USA Olympic Uniforms will be made only in the USA.  This piece of legislation- if passed, would take affect in time for the 2014 Olympics.  

My questions is this:  Are we trying to address a problem or are we politicizing an issue?  

Nearly half the clothes in the closets of Americans are made in China.  That's right, half (feel free to look up the statistics folks)!  Not just in my closet or in the closets of Congress, but in everybody's closets!  We should not embarrass ourselves by lamenting over the uniforms of 530 athletes traveling to represent the USA's commitment in WORLD SOLIDARITY.  Just the mere moaning and groaning about it leaves a foul stench internationally.  To sponsor legislation over this issue is petty and trivial!  We have people losing jobs daily, Americans starving from a lack of malnutrition, immigration issues and EDUCATION issues...and we want to waste our time on legislation to have uniforms made in America for an instance that only comes around once every four years?! Are you serious right now!?!  

If you want to change something, change the red tape that makes these textile/factory businesses outsource or go out of business in the first place.  If you want to boost consumption of American goods, talk about that as the issue; but please, please don't politicize and issue as if the solution will bring 1,000's of more jobs or boost American patriotism for our outstanding US Olympic Athletes.  Let's not have our 2012 Olympic Team go to London with this ugly cloud lurking over their heads.

Have a Great Day Folks!

Tada

Where did all the R&B Groups go?

Good Evening Everybody,

For the last few months I have noticed that my iphone playlist has been in heavy rotation while I have been riding around Atlanta.  This is not unusual, as I pride myself on having a well rounded iphone library.  I was talking to one of my friends during our weekly Sunday night dinner and True Blood viewing, and the questions came up, "Where did all of the R&B Groups go?".  

While I was growing up the mere utterance of groups such as: The Commodores, Color Me Bad, Shai, Silk, 112, Envogue, SWV, Xscape, Brownstone, BlackStreet, Ideal, Jade, Destiny's Child, TLC and Jodeci sent instant good music vibrations up down your body.  Those were groups that had harmony, style, great lyrics and soul.  I am not so jaded as to assert that there is not any good music out today.  There are plenty of Artists making good music.  However, what the heck happened to the R&B Groups?!  I mean come on people, why are we listening to Rappers singing?  They are supposed to rap, not sing! All of a sudden, my car rides are being inundated with these bone head rappers, squawking out some weak melody.  Chris Brown and Trey Songz cannot be on every track that needs a good R&B singer; neither can Beyonce nor Alicia Keys. The world (or at least the USA) is not so bereft of soul singers that we have to depend on Rappers to sing, right?  

So, what should happen?  How about we get a group of individuals together who want to form a group and they get together with some awesome song writers (if need be) and give the public what they have been starving for...some awesome R&B groups?!

 

Also, as long as I am making this wish list, how about a group that can stay together for more than two or three years!  I mean Danity Kane would have been awesome today! As would have Destiny's Child (although I am sure they were together for longer than five years...well most of the members) would have made awesome music today.  Missy, Coco, Kandi....can you all help our singers...or even form a group of your own. The R&B groups need you now more than ever!

P.S. - P. Diddy, you created some amazing groups, in the future, could you please ensure that they have some longevity.  Thanks...an avid music fan

TADA

Time to kick it up a notch!

Hello Everybody,

After a year of intensively being back in school, I am back in the Blogosphere.  While being away from my blog I have thought about writing an awful lot.  Also, I am still amazed by the amount of views my blog has received while I have not been writing.
There are so many things that I would like to comment on and tackle.  Before, my blog was ran by random thoughts and ideas that came to mind.  That is fine some of the time. After putting a few feelers out on how I could improve my blog, I came up with the following new directions: social commentary on current events, more pictures, updated pictures and consistency.  That's right, I am able to call myself out on the consistency piece.  To everyone....thanks for peeking in on my blog.  I will be sure to make things more interesting for future posts.

Tada

It's Iowa Caucuses Time.....and I'm Excited!

Good morning World,

I hope that you all had an OUTSTANDING NEW YEAR!  Although I did not bring the New Year in with my usual rituals of being rowdy, rambunctious and darn out risky, I enjoyed waking up hang over free!  Like the rest of The United States of America, I methodically chose some obtainable (with earnest work) goals/resolutions.  So, bring on 2012 and all the excitement that is inevitably will bring with it!  What excitement do you ask I speak of?  Why the 2012 Presidential Elections is the excitement I speak of!

Tonight is the night of the Iowa Caucauses! This is U.S.'s first election in which the Republican Party will vote on who they would like to see as the Republican Nominee for the President of The United States of America.  Now, I will admit that I have been paying close attention to the candidates that will appear on Iowa's ballots tonight.  As a son of an elected official, my interest in government has always been keen.  I enjoy evaluating both sides of our nations political parties (sometimes three sides....counting the Independents) and making a sound decision on who to vote for.

Crazy thing about this Iowa Caucuses..... I actually care about who wins and how it will affect the rest of the GOP Candidates!  That's right, I do!  Here is my reasoning.....if The President is defeated then I do not want the most racist, rigid, gun happy, homophobic, misogynistic conservative candidate to become my next President.  Either way, I as a responsible American, will support whoever becomes the President of the United States.  That's how a country stays united right?  So, I will pay close attention to the GOP field.  As I view the field, there are some solid candidates. I look forward to seeing how Iowa will rank the GOP candidates......it gives me an  early indication of who else The U.S. thinks is capable of running the country! ....and this, I have just got to know who, they will come up with...cause I'm not convinced!

Really...did you think I wasn't going to give my opinion somewhere in here!?

Have a Great Day!  .......and Thank You for reading :)

As the New Year approaches... Why not get better at something?

Good morning World,


I hope that you all had a fantastic Holiday Season!  I was fortunate enough to go by four different homes (all family) for Christmas.  Other than a huge drain on my gas tank (my mother lives 50 miles away from me) I greatly enjoyed the day.  On a high note, I was able to have my nephew with me all day and he met a whole side of his family for the first time!  Awesome, it was just awesome!

So I've been pondering over New Year's Eve and Day.  Will I go out of town, will I stay in with friends, will I say "the heck with it all" and stay home that night?  Well, I have not quite come to the answer to those questions, I have however, figured at least one thing out for the New Year.....I am going to get better at something this year! 

Don't get me wrong, I will rang in with the rest of The United States of America and put losing weight and exercising more on my list as well.  I mean, LA Fitness is making the come up off of me, so common sense says I'd better start frequenting the place more often.  But, in such a rocky economy and (admittedly) topsy turvy times, everybody should take the time to get better at something!  What makes you stand out as an individual, what is it that makes you happy, what would you do if you had more time to do it?  I find when I ask people these questions, it takes more than a few minutes for people to respond back.  The answers to the aforementioned questions should have less than a 10 second response!  Aren't these some of the most important questions that one should know about themselves?

So aim at getting better.....cause if you do not, nobody else will take the time to do it for you!



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