Scams

I'm getting really frustrated.

People are really evil. Here I am looking for 1-Bedroom apartments, and I happen to use "Craig's List" for a few listings. A good amount of them have come as being absolutely steals. Then I speak to the owner, who clarifies that due to job obligations they are now working overseas. If I want to move-in (Note: this is without even getting a glimpse of the apartment) I would deposit anywhere between $500-$1,000 in an account and they would send me the keys. I could THEN view the apt and if I like it I can move in. In the word's of Ed Lova, "C'mon Son?!" LOL.

Watch out for the scammers...

And the winner is...President Barack Obama

They voted him winner two months after he was inaugurated as the 44th President of the United States of America. A little premature? I cannot disagree with that opinion, but does it tarnish the name of the award? By no means at all.

To keep it short and sweet, Obama was the perfect individual to receive this honor. He is the figurehead of a movement of change in one of the most popular and unpopular nations of our time. There is a love-hate perception that comes with the mentioning of the USA. That started to change as soon as Obama was elected as President. It was seen all over the world. Obama is well-spoken, charismatic, and an archetypal component of hope/change as his successful campaign for presidency was labeled. He is worthy. He may not have the track record, but it's what is to come. The NPP committee are putting a lot of eggs in Obama's basket of hope/change/peace, but it is up to Obama to live up to this honor. He's shown that he is humble, and undeserving, which help in supporting my confidence in his ability to lead this country while at the same time promoting peace, bringing about change and fulfilling his duty as the 2009 recipient of the Nobel Peace Prize. I can't wait to hear his official acceptance speech in Oslo. Until then I will share a bit of what Dr. King said when he accepted his prize...

"I accept the Nobel Prize for Peace at a moment when twenty-two million Negroes of the United States of America are engaged in a creative battle to end the long night of racial injustice. I accept this award in behalf of a civil rights movement which is moving with determination and a majestic scorn for risk and danger to establish a reign of freedom and a rule of justice...Most of these people will never make the headlines and their names will not appear in Who's Who. Yet when years have rolled past and when the blazing light of truth is focused on this marvelous age in which we live -- men and women will know and children will be taught that we have a finer land, a better people, a more noble civilization -- because these humble children of God were willing to suffer for righteousness' sake."


-Martin Luther King, Jr. (December 10, 1964 in Oslo, Norway)

Stochasticity

Al Sharpton was on WWE (formerly known as WWF in my day)...smh...what is the world coming to...

President Obama winning the Nobel Peace Prize...hmmmm...I'm sold, but a smorgasbord of people aren't...(see next post)

They're creating a "suspended animation solution" that could be given intravenously in order to resuscitate a patient later...

Results from AIDS Vaccine trial in Thailand involving more than 16,000 participants show that combination of two vaccine candidates administered sequentially lowered the rate of HIV infection by about 31%...Note, that this is the first time an AIDS vaccine candidate has shown any efficacy in preventing HIV infection...

The US Men's Soccer Team is on to the World Cup 2010...

People still believe that when individuals listen to rap that it somehow promotes acts of violence...

What if we all loved beyond our prejudices...better yet, what if we imagined how God [or whatever higher being you believe in] loved and tried to mimic his actions...

Cowards

This world is full of scared little boys posing as grown men. I'm sick and tired of it! The way I was raised, if two men had a dispute with each other words would be exchanged, and if nothing was resolved after that you settled it with your fists. The most precious thing in this world is the gift of life, and people feel as if they have the authority, and right, to take another person's gift from them. That is not your decision, but God's.

Early Sunday morning I lost an older cousin, who was but a year older than my quarter-century mark. During an argument with either acquaintance or foe--I do not know--the opposing person felt the need to end their quarrel by pulling out a gun and shooting my flesh and blood relative in his heart. He left behind a son a mourning family left with many unanswered questions as to who had taken his life and why?

I would never wish this upon any family, and my aunt and his immediate siblings are in my thoughts and prayers.

(R.I.P. Darnell)
*Shout out to my cousin Dawn for putting together the collage of photos of my cousin

Fastest Mammal on Land

Usain may be the fastest man on the planet, but a cheetah from somewhere Cincinnati, OH has recently claimed the crown of being the fastest mammal on land...

...The cheetah completed 100 feet in 6.13 seconds, which in turn also means (relatively); 1 mile in 98.08 seconds (1 minute 38 seconds) flat! That is if the speed is maintained the entire time.

Amazing! I wish I was that fast...

Confidence and Secured

You come off as a confident and secured person, but is that a front to mask insecurities? Hmmmm...

Confidence can go a long way, but is most often confused with being cocky...

...It depends though. Personally, I know that when it comes to things that I've done for a long time I tend to speak with a tone full of confidence and may come off as being cocky. That is only if it involves Wrestling, where I am confident in my abilities to overcome opponents. I have to get warmed up before I ever entertain talking trash during basketball or football games. As a recent quarter-century inductee I stray from full contact sports that have a high probability of injuries. I do that because (1) I'm not a professional athlete that is receiving large sums of money to compete, and (2) I have been blessed to not have to many injuries while remaining in pretty good shape at my age.

I would have to admit to masking insecurities when it comes to straying from negative thoughts, and negative altercations. That's why you can find me 24/7 in a happy, uplifting mood no matter what is going on in my immediate environment. I can admit to that. I just always remain positive to keep moving onward and upward.

I just thought that was a good question, because many people mask a lot of their own insecurities instead of speaking with someone about it to turn those insecurities into things of the past. Just my thoughts.

Your thoughts are always welcome...

EXPERIMENT CONTINUED (Duration = 2 months)

All right! It's been about two months since my last sip of either beer or alcohol. I'm feeling good about this little experiment. My little sister tried her best to unveil my ignorance in trying such an experiment in which the results are already known (i.e. healthier lifestyle, increased energy, and no gut...LOL...and other effects as well). She made me rethink my experiment, but now I've taken the attention away from myself and more on others around me (lightbulb should go off...Ahah!).

Now I'm more concerned with why people are drinking, what really drives them, and the results after it is consumed, especially around a sober FiGZ. This is a similar means of analysis that I used to conclude that strip clubs will never be graced with my presence or dollar bills, as well as why I don't indulge in 420 activities (wink, wink).

What's funny is that it's reminiscent of regular tobacco smokers, who think they're cool, everyone else is doing it so they join, and they make excuses as to why they can never quit. Again I exclude beer and hard liquor (tequila, cognac, etc etc etc) while occasionally partaking in a glass, or two, of wine.

While visiting my little sister a few weeks ago in Tampa, FL after leaving a nightclub my little sister and I got into a little argument, and she was able to get underneath my skin. I was the only sober person out of a group that consisted of myself, younger sister, older sister and her husband, and my little sister's best friend. People who are drunk are so emotional. I was sober, so I was just trying to get back to the apartment to go to sleep. A group of ten or twelve young guys were following us on our walk back to the car and they exchanged a few choice words with my sisters that were very disrespectful. I was trying to keep it moving, but my sister wanted to entertain the conversation. One word led to another and my sister felt that they disrespected me, verbally, so she felt compelled to push one of the guys in the face. I had to cool everyone down before anything started. I would've been outnumbered if it escalated to a physical altercation. On the ride back to the house my sister said some things she apologized for the next, but I did forgive her.

For that reason, I will continue this experiment and plan on stretching it out even further. I'll keep you updated on my thoughts of why others should join me.

D.O.P.A.M.

(Death Of Paper And Magazines)

Jay-Z's release of Death Of Auto-tune (D.O.A.) has sparked the death of all of things from D.O.S.J (Death Of Skinny Jeans) to D.O.S.M (Death Of Stephon Marbury) now I move onto D.O.P.A.M.

There is a quote, unquote revolution on the web that is slowly eradicating published papers, magazines, and even books some what similar to an abrupt "murder-death-kill" as seen and heard from the Sylvester Stallone starred movie Judge Dredd (I know...real random, but that's me). I've been a witness to newly constructed electronic magazines on the web, published magazines that have segued into electronic magazines, and journalists that have left published media into personal blogs and web pages, where their own opinion and voice can be viewed from all across the world. Paper and hard-backed books are on the chopping the block as well with the newer generations of the Kindle. I am a constant supporter of "papyrus", which is my favorite substitution for the word paper. People are buying into these wireless reading devices, and supporting the online revolution. At the end of the day these new advances and paradigm shifts are allowing people to conduct their normal activities and catch things on their own time. Where Videos-on-Demand, DVR, and TV web recaps have flourished so shall web magazines, wireless devices which can hold 300+ books, and personal blogs as well.

What do you think of this revolution? I might choose to highlight specific publications in the future just to give examples...

Good Hair (2009)

This is actually a good documentary coming to a theater near you this upcoming October 2009.

I'm not surprised that Chris Rock has taken on this project, but the reasoning behind it is funny and yet not so funny all at the same time. How could his daughter, who is so young, present that question to him, her father? Who put that thought in her mind at all?

From Spike Lee's short skit of "Good & Bad Hair" in School Daze to 2009 where most African-American women have a fresh perm or an expensive weave/wig, there aren't that many women who fight for the cause of the natural look. Finally, someone is questioning and challenging a common misconception that young women have today.



I'm half African-American/half Puerto-Rican. Always being around my mother's side of the family, which is African-American, and people [especially women now that I think about it] have told me on numerous occasions that I have "good hair".

Hair is hair to me. Some people have thinner hair that just so happens to either curl or most likely fall flat and straight, while there are people on the opposite end of the spectrum that have thicker more fuller hair that is very curly and will not fall flat or straight unless it is forced by chemicals or very hot tools.

I'm intrigued by what Chris Rock has come across while filming this and I hope people go out and support, because he is by far the best of the best when it comes to African-American comedians. If there was a ranking he would be #1. This is a different path for him, but a necessary subject that needs to be addressed.

More than a game

This evening I had the pleasure of viewing a screening of the soon to be released film titled "More Than A Game".

The film follows a group of young men along a journey where they use the game of basketball as a tool to bond with one another, to put their city/state on the map, and to follow through a predetermined goal.

"More Than A Game" is a documentary of the St Vincent St Mary's High School basketball team's Fab Five, which included Lebron James. In my own personal opinion this was the basketball version of the pact on screen and in real life. They all may not have become basketball players in the end but brotherhood bond was molded in the hot couldron of Akron, OH.

The same can be said for many sports-- "it's more than a game"--but here four young men and a coached proved the old adage: "it takes a village to raise a child."

I recommend this for any and everyone. a step up for Lebron over Kobe in Spike Lee's "Kobe Doin' Work". A must see.

I love basketball. Why? Simply because it's more than a game.

When Keeping It Real Goes Wrong...

To use the term correctly as it pertains to the attached video: "When Making It Rain Goes Wrong"!



SMH...This is a dam shame. If I had a list of things I will do once (i.e. I have done this already) and will never do again, throwing money at strippers in the club will be Top Three on that list. I can't recall if I gave the story in a prior post, but I went for my twenty-fourth birthday. An older cousin gave me a wad of cash along with the rundown of the "do's and dont's" with additional strip club etiquette...LOL...I felt like I was giving away my mortage without my wife's knowledge; like I was gambling money that was for my son's/daughter's tution...You get the point. It just felt wrong. I'm good, though. This is what happens when you give ignorant people money. They have too much and don't know what to do with it all. But if the porn industry is at full throttle why shouldn't the stripping industry be thriving? (Disclaimer: FiGZ supports neither of these two industries financially) Making it rain is never a good thing in any environment. People will always go crazy and worry most about picking it up.

"They should've never gave you n****s money!" - Rick James/Dave Chapelle (The Chapelle Show)

(Note: I'm a frequent reader of MissInfo and I have to give her props for having this on her blog, which in turn sparked my interest in writing this post)

100 years of NAACP

Also, if you haven't heard already the NAACP has recently taken up an Environmental Initiative. Finally...LOL...enjoy the full length speech that Obama gave recognizing their milestone.

Visit msnbc.com for Breaking News, World News, and News about the Economy

"If White-Americans have a cold then African-Americans have the flu!"~ Pres. Obama

"...No one has written your destiny for you. Your destiny is in your hand." ~Pres. Obama = "...I am the master of my fate. I am the master of my soul." - Invictus

"The Government isn't your mother. The Government is not your father. Bill Cosby says, 'The Government does not love you.' We've got to take it upon ourselves; it is incumbent upon us. To look upon ourselves. What can we do as people to make things better."
-Michelle Bernard, MSNBC

EXPERIMENT: "No Liquor For A Year"

Before I turned twenty-five I made a pact with myself that I would abstain from drinking liquor (or beer) the day after my birthday FOR GOOD. "For good" has now recently turned into an experiment. I know, I know. I'm slowly pushing the boundaries I had previously set, but in retrospect the reasoning I first made this decision with was as follows: in the near future I was trying to accomplish things physically and was aware that drinking on the weekends would hamper my results. It's a proven fact. I'm always looking for ways to cleanse my body as well. When I start tackling a few of these accomplishments I will post them on my blog.

So, it started July 6th (disclaimer: I had to enjoy my birthday WEEKEND; don't judge me) and we'll see how it ends up in 2010. I am allowed to drink wine, though; but absolutely NO distilled beverages (or beer) at all. If you see me giving in to temptation make sure that I stay on course and do not veer of the path I have set for myself. I am always up for a good challenge and am pretty good at staying the course (e.g. I was vegan for 3 years. At the beginning when I made that decision I stopped eating all meat and dairy the next day. That's how I roll.) no matter what temptation is thrown my way.

Quarter Century (7.3.09)

I had so much on my mind the week of my birthday, and had been mulling over the thought of expressing myself in my blog. Here I am twenty-five years of age; becoming wiser, gaining more knowledge, and learning my place within this world.

First, I am truly blessed to have reached this age, because my older brother (God rest his soul) died at the tender age of twenty-two due to a fatal car accident in Virginia (1996). I thank God everyday for keeping me safe from harm; as well as from a majority of the ills of this world. I just hope and pray that I can live strong well beyond the years of those that came before me (my goal is 100+..."Lord willing").

Second, I had a wonderful birthday "weekend". I had Friday off, so I was off in South Hampton for three days. What a wonderful experience. It definitely helped me decide the way I wish to live in the future. To have a place where you can come and relax, right next to the beach...(sigh)...you could never wake up and feel grouchy, grumpy or disappointed. The view is gorgeous and the seclusion is food for the soul. If I had a beach house I would make sure my kids had the keys and could come whenever they please.

It is amazing how time passes by so quickly, but you just have to enjoy each and every day that you live. I'm trying to maintain my physical, mental and spiritual health. Maintaining all of these isn't easy, but you're continuously learn new things as you go along your journey.

I'm still working at Aaron Diamond AIDS Research Center. I will have been here for two years February 2010. My future goals including: (1) obtaining my MS, PhD in Genetics; and (2) being published in a scientific journal within five years. Easily attainable, but I just have to continue to be on my grind. I'm just blessed to have made it this far; no regrets.

What Michael Meant to Me

What Michael Jackson meant to me...

...To me he was greatest musical entertainer to ever walk this Earth. He had women faint and pass out at concerts; taken out on stretches and inserted into ambulances. He was a little dorky mixed with a little bit of cool. He understood everything that he wrote and felt it that much more when he sang it. His moves should be copy-written and never to be used again, unless in remembrance. I remember playing the MoonWalker Sega Game and using his moves to save young girls and Bubbles. The MoonWalker movie was in my possession, but not before The Wiz had stole my heart. I played that movie non-stop. That was my sugar-honey-ice-tea when I was but a young boy. Words can't describe, but we definitely lost a gem. We were all consumers of his products/gifts/talents that he shared unequivocally. He meant so much to me during my younger years and when I became older it hurt to see his physical transformation with my own, mature eyes. It took me some time to really believe he's been gone and to even think about writing this post. Luckily in the years to come there will be plenty of unreleased material, followed by footage from his last days. He will forever be remembered, but the biggest question is, "who will take his crown and reign as the greatest entertainer of our time"?

In closing, the IllDoctrine explained Michael Jackson's life and the celebration of it in his passing [in particular on 125th Street, Harlem NY] so eloquently that I had to embed this video in this post. Watch it a couple of times to fully grasp it:



Did He mean anything to you?

FiGZ goes mobile

My first post via BlackBerry...

...Very random sighting yesterday for me. I was in the barbershop on 116th street and right next to me in a nearby chair also getting a haircut was Samuel Eto. He is a multimillionaire futbol [soccer] player for Barcelona.

The barbers were so excited; trying to get as many pictures as they could. The reached the point where Eto said it was enough. He was polite and very quiet. This was reminscent of "Coming to America" when Hakeem (Eddie murphy) met a few countrymen at the Knicks basketball game...LOL!

Skinny Jeans? How about Hammer Pants!

This is absolutely hilarious! If I was in this store shopping I would've been frozen stiff and then overcome with laughter for a good 30 minutes afterward...LOL!



Notable Comment:
"In 2020 this could be done again...but doing the crank dat souljah boy!" -akguzman(via youtube)

What Single Women Can Learn From Michelle

"Women and men alike have an archetype figure that exemplifies everything that they look for in a potential significant other."
[If you agree or disagree leave a response as to why]

Since Barack Obama has been elected as our new President the Obamas have been center stage. They're not even sweating, and that's a normal body function when a hot spotlight is directed at you. Needless to say they may not have a physical spotlight on them, but this is one of the greatest families the public--better yet the African American community--has seen since the Cosby Show.

I can easily imagine young guys thinking, "Forget about Halle Berry, Nia Long and Kerry Washington. I need a 'Michelle Obama' in my life right now!" She is single-handedly shifting the paradigm for African-American women, or at least I would hope so. Too often prominent figures in politics, music or the entertainment industry are associated with multiple divorces (one alone is still bad in my book...think about those words that are exchanged at your average American wedding...that says enough), infidelity, and unpaid child support. What a breath of fresh air to have a near perfect family and President. They have their ups-and-downs like all of us but what matters is how they have triumphed and reached the White House. The meridian of all positions here in the US.

I would like to believe that single, married, and committed men are being challenged by Barack. I'm a Christian, so Jesus Christ is what I try to reach. I fail a lot, but I try. So if you're an Atheist or you choose not to believe in any higher being I hope that Barack is pushing you to be a better man. He loves sports, which he plays on a regularly. He wakes up early in the morning and works out routinely. He has two beautiful daughters and a little dog. He has a beautiful wife in Michelle who is supportive, well spoken, and has an amazing (in the public's eye) relationship with Barack Obama. They seem to get along very well. If anyone notices very often the are playful in public when times permits. Obviously there is a lot that we simply aren't able to hear or see, but what we are able to view and hear is enough to catch everyone's hearts and attention.

I recently came across this article on the web, which is the reason I chose the title for this post: "What Single Women Can Learn From Michelle". What they can learn from Michelle is simply that you have venture outside of the norm. That's it. Barack's character is near spotless, but as a man he is an all around average guy. Shades of an expensive and prestigious educational background tower over his speech. His physique does not mirror an action-figure, but rather a man who is in pretty good shape. I sometimes envision Hitch previously training Barack to keep his "two step" within the respectable boundaries, so it's not too dorky or forced. If he wasn't the President of the United States of America a lot of women wouldn't pay him much mind. There are guys that have a similar style that single women cross paths with and pass right on by without even noticing. It's time women start noticing, that is, if they hope to truly find someone special instead of searching for that archetypal figure that either breaks their heart or isn't ever really that into them.

Is this a solution to they're problem? Maybe. Probably only for those that are truly looking for someone, though. There are women and men alike who are comfortable--maybe even complacent--with being single. To each his/her own, right? Right.

Single men can learn from Barack as well. I'll leave that for another post. I look forward to reading your responses and comments. The article is linked below:

What Single Women Can Learn From Michelle

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A Different Drug Problem

Someone in the age 50+ wrote this, but I thought it was ill either way. I'm the type of person who could sit down and listen to an elder woman or man talk about their life story and everything in between from beginning to end (i.e. if I have the time...lol). It's always good to view something from the perspective of someone else...

Cordiality...

Rude...
Standoffish...
Serious facial expression...

...Any of these describe your everyday visage? I hope not, because it isn't always the best way to greet someone. Granted most of the people we see on a day-to-day basis we do not even know, but still we are human beings, right?

I know I constantly repeat how I choose not to listen to an MP3 player while riding the train, walking, or any kind of traveling, but that's just me. Being aware of what goes on around my environment, hearing myself think, and occasionally listening in to what others are talking about is what I like to do. So, I choose to carry my smile with me everywhere I go. If I don't have a smile on my face then I'm most likely deep in thought.

You just never know who might walk up to you and start a conversation. It might be a friend you haven't seen in a long time, somebody that recognizes you but you may not necessarily recognize them, or it just might be someone that might be your link to a new job, opportunity, or shared common goal. I prefer to be cordial, but people will be themselves and there's nothing wrong with that.

Cordial greetings should produce affable smiles. If people believe I have a "Cordiality" sign on the top of my forehead I think that's absolutely awesome. I enjoy giving directions, my opinion, and listening to others. It's but another chance to learn something new outside of your normal activities.

When one is no longer able to stop and stand in awe, that is when life is no longer worth living. Would you agree?

Cordial or Standoffish?

I will leave you with a possible scenario. You just never know who you might be next to in the elevator, on the train or waiting to cross the street. A "not so extreme case" may be an individual standing next to you that looks like their day isn't going to get any better. That person might be preparing their very own demise. That night they may commit suicide. What if they whispered something under their breathe and you caught just enough to know something was wrong with that person. Would you entertain a conversation or walk away? Depending on your answer may depend on whether or not that person lives or dies...

AIDS Walk NY 2009

So collectively New Yorkers were able to raise $5.6 million for AIDS, which continues to threaten not only NYC, but worldwide. From strain 1 to strain 2. From CCR2 haplotype to CCR5 haplotype the HIV virus is very diverse and trying to develop a vaccine still proves to be a long, drawn-out, unattainable, arduous process. Scientists and researchers still push on though, and those that are in the lab and those that don't even work in the field choose to walk for a great cause.

I was up at 7:30 AM in order to meet my fraternity brothers at 8:30 AM. It's drizzling and then to my dismay it doesn't get started until 10 AM :-\ So we waited...

...There were tons and tons of teams. People had donuts, croissants, orange juice, and many more breakfast condiments to sustain the anxious walkers. What was a surprise to many people, including myself, was the large turnout of young walkers! I mean high school students and a slew of college students and organizations.



I would have rather ran the 5 miles, but walking it seemed forever! My legs were so fatigued after completing the 5 mile trek in about 3 hours. It was for a good cause, so I did my part and went right to sleep. There were tons of cross dressers and the most random old man with his little dog:



I feel for that little dog. No expression in the face at all. The dog was either very angry at the forced get up or extremely confident that no other dog was as fabulous as she/he (wasn't sure about the dog's gender...i wouldn't be surprised if he/she was transgender). Overall a good walk for a good cause, and I'll leave a photo with a message for all those promiscuous gigolos out there:

"Use Condom Sense"

Obama brushes dirt of his shoulder yet again...

Over the past couple of weeks there has been a lot of controversy about Obama giving the commencement speech at the University of Notre Dame, which is a Catholic institution of, supposedly, higher learning and at the same time against abortion. I'm sure everyone was well aware of Obama's stance on abortion and that of Notre Dame. Who give's a rat's "arse" (check Old English dictionary)! The topic of abortion, or let alone someone's opinion on it has nothing to do with the commencement of the class of 2009. This can be added to the long laundry list of unwashed events of church not being separated from state. I'm sure that there are converted atheists, satanists, Buddhists, and a smorgasbord of other faiths or followings at Notre Dame that they aren't aware of (Note: I'm not entirely sure if this is true, but I haven't and will not carry out this task/survey to find out). I am also certain that there are a few women, and men who talked women into getting an abortion off campus, so that their either their fresh, brand-new college career, or their almost completed degree would not have to be halted prematurely by a newborn infant and all the of responsibilities that come along with that bundle of joy (Ditto here as well).

I don't champion ill-willed, traditional, old farts stuck in their ways who know this is American and pick-and-choose a controversial topic as their own covert way to let everyone know that they are still not comfortable with having a half-White, half-African-American President in Office (Yes! Racism is still alive and well just under the radar and people avoid from using the "r" word...lol).

This is absolutely ridiculous! Can a brother live?! I am thoroughly disgusted with Arizona State University in not conferring an honorary degree to President Obama! He joked about being one-for-two when he was conferred an honorary degree at Notre Dame.

I guess people are finding any and all ways to somehow oppose Barack Obama. All I can do is shake my head [SMH] in confusion.

Personally, I am one of the most conservative people there is to know, but as time passes I have made the proper segue into the future in not just accepting new paradigm shifts of our contemporary thinkers [but listening, observing, and applying knowledge gained through my own experiences]. After such activities I formulate my OWN opinion of the matter and choose to support it or not. I respect Obama's stance on abortion and champion how he goes about approaching the topic wherever he may go. He is not a coward and he does not back down from those that oppose his beliefs. He tries to find the common ground.

I am pro-abortion, but if I was a woman I wouldn't abort it. Obviously I am not a woman and would never face that situation....

In my awkward analogous tone:
I firmly believe that if you start contracting jobs as a "certified plumber" (wink, wink) then you should follow through with the work if something was to come up that the customer wanted to get done. You get my drift?

In my simple, laid out tone (not necessarily as fun for me):
I firmly believe that if you start having sex (i.e. if you're the male) then you should be prepared to bring a child into this world, if by chance the woman is against abortion and chooses to have the baby, for it is always the WOMAN'S choice.

Abortion is a whole other topic I will approach in another post...Oh, and I can't forget to shout all the silent protesters at Notre Dame for being soft. If your going to protest someone or something GO HARD or go home. What a shame. You're not saying anything if you have baby feet on the top of the cap (saw that protester on the news and felt a certain way about it). You would be better of putting "HIRE ME" on the top of your cap. Maybe a potential employer could be in the rafters waiting to give you a job due to the laughter and he received from seeing your request on your cap (*shrugs shoulders*)...

...here is an example of people finding any and all excuses to somehow not get down with "Viva La Obama"...check it out:



...I would have to say James Harrison is an ignorant fool...smh

TURN MY SWAGG OFF!!! UGH!!

I have been putting this post off to the side for quite some time. I wasn't ready to delve into this subject matter, so I patiently waited until the time was right. That time is today! LOL! SWAGG/SWAGGA/SWAGGER is reminiscent of what BLING-BLING was way back when. I can't even recall when that word first started getting used so often. My only quarrels with this word are that it's getting "played out"! I've heard it enough and let's be real people, there are other viable words that have been used for centuries instead of SWAGGER. This is a word that has been used mainly for an individual's lack of brain activity. He simply couldn't find the word to say, and made one up. When it comes to a lot of things I may be a little old school, but when it comes to using the English language I choose to use it properly and not make up words. Let's work with a concrete example: Lebron James. I am a huge basketball fan, so many analogies and references will most likely be made to the NBA or involving a basketball. If someone were to say Lebron has a lot of SWAGGER I would interject with the following statement:

"Lebron James is by far one of the most intelligent, knowledgeable, and driven individuals I have ever seen come through the NBA. He has used the NBA as his cornerstone and sprouted millions and millions of dollars of his own money, and tons of money for other people. He makes other people look good. He may not be the most handsome men, but what matters most is on the inside of LBJ. He has heart, makes those around him better, and his work ethic has no comparison. He is funny, care-free, and wiser beyond his years. He doesn't carry himself like a 24 year old young man. I guess that's what happens when preparation meets opportunity."

Forget using SWAGGER! That for me relinquishes everything that will have followed that single word. Find the words and ways to express yourself without using some simple jargon. But I'm just FiGZ. I still read the King James version of the Bible, and I happen to love Shakespeare.

Why Food Chains LOVE Black People

No comments. Just watch. (Note: This is why I moved out of Rochester...no, not really, but I felt the need to joke a little bit). I'm glad I didn't see anyone I knew in this clip, but I'm sure college students drove out as well and took advantage of that deal...LOL

Mythbuster: "Swine Flu"

You cannot get the swine flu from eating swine. End of discussion.

My iPodless Life

As I stand on the morning train onward to work in the laboratory, before I put on my mad scientist visage (scientists are so serious sometimes...LOL...people are amazed, or think I'm up to something, when I walk around with my usual smile). I rest my weight against the car door, which is unauthorized, and yet is supplemental to maintaining your balance on the bumpy ride. My bag is placed in between my legs on the floor of the train, where designated personnel has previously cleaned off last nights vomit of a drunk New Yorker who was recently initiated into the unemployment club. I unzip the back hatch and pull out my new Walter Mosley novel. The train begins to fill with more and more people on a mission to make it to work on time and not have their supervisor or boss scold them for yet another late entry; little do they know that MTA has a $1.2 billion deficit, and they're continuously backed up due to passengers that are either arrested by the police, fall ill and pass out, or the executive decision of MTA to throw a train out of service making your fashionable entrance that less trendy...but wait don't they take the same train? Nope.

Observatory is my middle name! So from time-to-time I let my chin, forehead and eyes drift upwards from my book and on to New York's everyday train passenger. I could estimate that around 65-75% of the people on each train has head phones in their ears, which is most likely connected to an iPod, iPhone, or an iTouch. Some are courteous and keep the volume at a comfortable level where their ear drums aren't being mugged by the violent bass coming from their media player. Then there are others that you don't even have to be a mind reader to know what they are listening to, because it's as if there is a streaming sign on their forehead that continuously updates you of the song being played, when it's really exploding from the left and right ear pieces screaming at you to just ignore it, but how can you? And just your luck to have some overly obese Caucasian man hugging your back like a chimpanzee with his consistent, uncontrolled breathe. It's not his fault, or maybe it is (*shrugs shoulders in indifference*). I can't forget about the less than 1% that might be listening to audio books, but let's be real...if you're truly reading a book (well to truly be able to tell visually) you either have a physical book in hand--as i do--or you have those things...what are they called? Ahhh, that's right: Kindle(s). I've seen a number of people with those or some other high end electronic book reader.

In either case, besides the less than 1%, people are going deaf and zoning out on their train ride from A to B. I choose to live an iPodless life in order to preserve my brain and sanity; in order to hear myself think and not have Souljah Boy or T-Pain leading the charge as my thoughts combat problems with a proposed solution; in order to live my life like Rhianna and T.I. said; in order to REALLY enjoy the fact that God has granted me the ability to hear at all; in order to FOCUS (since I do zone out myself sometimes, since people these days are becoming more accustomed to a short attention span or recently acquired A.D.D.); in order to be ready for the unexpected!

Then everyone's attention is averted to the disheveled man who enters the train with a newspaper in one hand and a plate of sun-dried brownies that smell oh-so-good; but dried as bottom soles of a desert wanderer's feet. He commands his own space in a nerd-esque voice tone and sits next to a woman with child, who after she gets a whiff of his body odor slides to her right to find some fresher breathing room. If you're paying attention to the facial expressions as I am you will crack a smile, because some are disgusted, others are confused wondering if he has mental issues, and a few don't pay him any mind in the normal New York fashion.

As I continue to walk along my iPodless life I wonder what it will feel like being one of the only people without a cochlear implant? Because if this continues people are really going to go deaf. I don't want to be one among that large number. I want to hear for as long as God allows me to. How about you? LOL

"Thrilla in Manila " and Why Ali is the G.O.A.T.

Earlier this month HBO aired a new documentary on one the greatest, if not the greatest, boxing match of all time:

Muhammad Ali vs. Joe Frazier
"The Thrilla in Manila"

They cover Ali vs. Frazier I & II, take a glimpse of Frazier vs. Foreman, Ali vs. Foreman, and finally Ali vs. Frazier in Manila. The documentary was great, but my overall opinion of it was to somehow take away a little bit of the flare that comes to Muhammad Ali and why is known as the "greatest of all time" when it comes to boxing.

Ali was bigger than boxing itself. It spoke for a people during a time when they needed him most. He was an idol and an icon when people needed someone to look up to. He was important during a time when African-Americans weren't seen as being important or worthy of the common freedoms America gave to everyone else. He was very intelligent and he might have been manipulated by the Nation of Islam, but most of what he did was for his people, who cried out for him.

I wasn't born until 1984, so this documentary gave me a glimpse into what really went on during the time. Ali portrayed Joe Frazier to be this "Uncle Tom", ignorant, and unworthy opponent. He always played head games and many times it was taken personal when deep down Ali really didn't mean any of it all. His life was like Reality Television Show 24/7. He was putting on his show for the people; that's who he was. He was good looking, charming, outspoken, and seemed to have no fear. He was a superhero to the African-American community, except to Joe Frazier. From all of the years of Ali calling him a gorilla, out-matched, ignorant, and an Uncle Tom, Joe Frazier has never had any respect for Ali. You can't disagree with him though, because Ali never physically apologized to Joe face-to-face. Even to this day Joe Frazier says that he's responsible for the condition that Ali is in, because Joe is doing quite fine.

Their first fight was won by Joe; hands down. Ali and his corner crew disputed it saying that the white judges gave it Joe, since he was an Uncle Tom. Ali refused to give Joe his respect. Soon Joe lost the title, that he had taken from Ali, to George Foreman. Then Ali and Joe had their second fight in which Ali won, but Joe and his corner crew disputed the victory because Ali was holding Joe more during their second match, which negated a lot of the body damage Joe was able to inflict in their first encounter. What shocked the world was when Ali defeated George Foreman. Foreman demolished Joe, who was the first man to give Ali his first loss. The Thrilla in Manila was scheduled soon after. This film might have been an attempt to label "Smoking" Joe Frazier as the true Greatest of All Time. Don't get me wrong, Joe was a fierce fighter and will always be mentioned in the same breathe as Ali, for that was his most formidable opponent. As much "Ali-bashing" that was being done during the documentary, what I took from this film was what made Ali great was for him to take so much punishment from Joe. Any other guy that fought Joe and was hit with the same punches that Ali was taking would have fallen and not gotten back up before the referee got to the 10-count. In their first bout Joe hit Ali with one of his strongest hooks in the 14th Round and sent Ali to the canvas. Ali got right back up in 2 or 3 seconds. Joe was definitely surprised. No one else would have gotten back up.

Even in The Thrilla in Manila. Ali and Joe were going blow for blow and they both were spent. Ali almost had the fight called at the end of the 14th round. He asked his gloves to be cut off, but no one noticed and his corner crew refused. It was Joe's corner that chose to stop the fight even with Joe's refusal. Ali won. That last fight should have been a draw in my mind, that is if they both would have lasted the final 15th round, but Joe's corner called it off.

In an era where boxing has lot all of its glamor and stake as one of the premiere sports in the world, Mixed Martial Arts is taking its place, and Soccer remains to be on the top, Ali will always be known as the greatest of all time and we all know it will be in the sport "formerly known as" boxing. Now all fans can do is wait for Fight Night Round 4 to be released in June and see what it would be like to have Ali in his prime fight Tyson in his prime. Hmmmmmmmm?

Act Like A Man, Think Like A Woman

Many say the company you keep says a lot about you. I would agree, so I've chose to go beyond just my fraternity brothers, family, friends and place more positive male figures in my company by going to church a lot more and working with the men within.

An interesting question was posed and I listened. My post title is the underlying theme of what I heard.

Men...most of the time when faced with problem always think try to formulate a solution, because of it is just within our make up. If a man's significant other tells him she needs to get away and the reasons why, he will have formulated a solution two seconds into the conversation; instead of letting her finish and take a step back and look at this problem from a distance even further than where he is currently observing from to see all angles.

The question posed was, what is it that drives us to make the decisions we make and how often do you step back and think before making a decision?

My opinion is that we all make decisions based on the experiences in our lives and how we were raised. Those young, sponge-like years of observing and absorbing things done by our older siblings, parents, and family members have long since passed us by and molded us all into the individuals we are today. They tell you what is wrong, what is right; what is good, and what is bad. We develop our own personal sense of fashion. Most importantly, though, we learn how to handle certain situations (e.g. if someone smacks your cheek you would either turn the other cheek or choose to reciprocate).

Perfect example in regards to me: I was raised in a single parent household where my mother made sure that I was held responsible for every decision I made. If I was ever confused I would ask her opinion, but she always said, "What works best for you or what do you think?" She made me take a step back and take a look from the outside in.

Not everyone's parents allowed them to do that. There are parents that make every decision for their children even when they're adults. Some parents don't care what decisions their children make at all, and see it as they have left the womb, so they are on their own. And there are those select few that take the responsibility of teaching their children how to think on their own and to be accountable for every decision they make on their own. Sometimes we hit that fork in the road with an opportunity or a setback. If it's an opportunity some people just think, "It's more money, may require more of my time, and overall it's what I want." When they should be thinking, "Maybe this isn't the right time for me. I have a new born and the mother of OUR child needs me to be around more." If it's a setback some may sulk, and wallow in the result of the unknown. What did I do wrong? What am I going to do now? It might just be set back where your true passion is found and finally pursued. The common theme is that you have to take that step back, think, and review the situation from all angles and ask a higher power. Asking God to me is like asking my mother. He'll give me the same response, "What do you think and why?"

I like to think that I'm a pretty good listener, but I know I'm not and I could be a heck of lot better. Going into a situation thinking I need to take a step back and see it from all angles and not jump the gun or jump to conclusions/solutions will make me a better listener and a better man. Hopefully it can help you too.

Disputing Grades in the 21st Century

"If 30 is the new 20; is B the new C?"

It amazes me how we can be so accustomed to formal schooling. First there's Pre-K, followed by Kindergarten, 1st through 8th Grade (Elementary School), 9th-12th Grade (High School), and finally College (Undergraduate & Graduate). I can remember either an old mentor or some article I read referring to the school system as a bunch of bull crap. It was described as so, "They teach you how to jump through a set of hula-hoops until it becomes pretty easy and you won't need any assistance. After that is accomplished you move onto another set of hula-hoops, but this time the orientation and degree of difficulty is bit harder (i.e. the hula-hoop may be on fire or have 600 volts of electricity running through it). After learning how to do all this fancy stuff your let out into the real world and it doesn't take long to realize that everything you do has nothing to do with jumping through hula-hoops at all! What sense does that make? None at all. It's funny but that's how it is.

Random thought:
If I had children right now I would have them home schooled. Some may say, "Well they'll never learn how to get along with other people." My reply is, "That is only if you keep them sheltered." I wouldn't do that. They would still have more than enough time to explore the world, and their neighborhood and interact with children in the area. This is a whole other post though.

I digress...The point I'm really getting at is in reference to a recent NY Times article about students disputing grades in college, and with some saying that if they come to class as well as completing all the mandatory things asked of a professor they should receive nothing less than a "B"! That's crazy! That would make a grade of "B" the new "C". I'm a firm believer in getting what you deserve. What you put in is exactly what you get out. Attending every class, and speaking to the professor in-and-outside of class won't cut it either. It's all about understanding the concepts and furthering your knowledge.

The only time in college I ever had to dispute a grade was once. It was the end of my freshman year in college and while I was checking on my Spring Quarter grades before I was to head home I saw that for Calculus I received a grade of "D"! This was a total surprise because on all the exams I received nothing less than an "A" and quizzes nothing less than a "B". The funny thing is when I went to the professor's office and told him of the mistake he probably made, he said he's sure he didn't make a mistake, but he reviewed my marks and noticed that he forgot to put in my grade for the final exam, which was a large portion of your final grade, so if you missed it you would most likely receive a very low grade. When he entered my final exam score my grade shot right up to an "A".

Besides that, there were plenty of times when I received a "C" and knew that's what I deserved. There were certain classes I didn't like, so I may not have put in the same effort as I would have for a class I thoroughly enjoyed, and there were some classes that were extremely hard. This article let's me know that those lazy, entitlement seeking students that think the red carpet should be laid out for them all the time still walk amongst us.

Some people are perfectionists and can never receive anything lower than an "A" while others go with the flow and never let a grade define their knowledge in a given subject. Many of the greatest minds today were told you're not cut out for this field by someone once or twice within their lifetime, but they didn't listen to them or a grade. They kept it moving and worked harder and harder. This is just sad though.

Final Thought:

I agree with the closing remarks of a professor, who hopes that students of the future will go beyond just worrying about what grade they receive in a class and more of interest in their field of study. Can you blame though? We live in a society where being accepted to graduate schools and high paying jobs come with a requirement of a certain Grade Point Average (GPA). "Common sense" always beats out "book sense" (or book smarts). The two are like natural instinct versus conditioned instinct.

If you have time take a look at the article:
"Students Expectations"

Why I don't TWEET or will not be seen on TWITTER

A recent NYTimes article has solidified my perspective on Twitter and the process known as "tweeting".

People are overjoyed about this new outlet for celebrities, athletes, and politicians to be within the reach of a short 140-character text message. I refuse to put the application on my BlackBerry or even get involved online. That's too much and it's kind of phony, but that's my opinion.

Yes, people use it for networking and have good intentions, but others just use it as a marketing tool. I'm quite all right without twitter in my life. I wouldn't be inclined to divulge on my every actions in life.

What's kind of sad is how a mentor sent me an email where someone "tweeted" that they were recently given a job opportunity with Cisco Systems and how boring it was going to be. Little did that person know that there was a Cisco higher up that saw it and was able to see her name, picture, and whatever else she forget to put as private. I'm pretty sure that job offer was rescinded...smh...it depends on your field as well, but I have no use for it. It's sad that certain people aren't the one's that are writing the material that is displayed on their Twitter accounts though.

Article - NY TIMES on Twitter

Additional Article (Added 04.22.2009) - I'd Rather Die Than TWEET...LOL

A Woman's Worth

"Pray to God you can cope

I stand outside
This woman's work
This woman's world
Oooh, it's hard on the man
Now his part is over
Now starts the craft of the father"

If I could sing I would write my own rendition of Maxwell's "This Woman's Work" and title it "This Woman's Worth". I've come across some great women in my lifetime, which includes women who have been friends, more than friends, acquaintances, or family members. Since the day I was born I only had my mother. After her it's been my two sisters and all of my aunts, which I have a lot of. Uncles are few and far in between. My father died when I was four. There really hasn't been one male person saying, "Hey! I'm gonna make a concerted effort to be in your life." Not to say I needed that because at the end of the day my mother was always in my ear of saying that my true Father has always been God, of course. Let it be a woman to tell me that, right.

"I know you have a little life in you yet
I know you have a lot of strength left
I know you have a little life in you yet
I know you have a lot of strength left"

It is ironic however that most of the women that have had so much of an impact on my life are the very kind of women that I like, which are: Aggressive, Opinionated, Self-Motivated, Decisive, and, not so much masculine, overbearing qualities that a woman can have. It's darn right sexy to me. I've had nothing but strong women in my life, but as I have gotten older I have been a witness to them letting their gaurd down a little bit, which was not the case in the past. Don't get me wrong they still do their thing. It's just when you come of age you start seeing and hearing a lot of things you weren't able to be aware of when you were younger.

Whatever the case women are strong individuals; men are too. Analogy: If one individual had to hold the weight of the world on their shoulders it would be a heavy burden. That is true. If a man were holding that weight and he would soon tire he wouldn't ask for help from another man, because he would want to be the one that is known for holding the weight of the world. Now if a woman were to hold that weight, and she would tire she would ask the help from another just until she gathered her strength back. It would soon turn into not only her weight but the weight of a multitude. The beauty of life is that through some form of relationship a bond can be formed that will beat all the odds and never falter. If two held that weight it would be a great deal easier than the latter.

"I should be crying but I just can't let it show
I should be hoping but I can't stop thinking
All the things I should've said that I never said
All the things we should of done that we never did
All the things I should've given but I didn't

Oh darling make it go
Make it go away
Give me them back to me
Give that little kiss
Give me your hand"

Women are precious individuals, and some don't realize the power that they have. It should be women and not men that rule the world. Why? Because at the end of the day nothing can ever get done without the permission of a woman. That's why I applaud Steve Harvey for writing his book [Act Like A Lady, Think Like A Man]. When he was on the interview he said the exact same thing I have always had implanted in my brain, and that is, "A man cannot kiss a woman without her permission. A man cannot have sex wtih a woman without her permission..." Etc etc etc. You get the point. The ball is always in the woman's court. We're just waiting to see you're gonna shoot the jumper, drive to the basket, or post us us [I hope you like that Basketball reference].

That's one reason why I've never been too aggressive when it comes to women. I usually just show my interest and if it's to go any further I need the "greenlight" from her.

Women are precious, but not every woman knows that. Some are raunchy, rude, inconsiderate, nasty, negative, and any other word you can muster up. If you know you're a catch; you are a catch. If you know you're successful; you are successful. Your character should be overflowing so much that others feel it. It is absolutley breathetaking to meet a woman, or to even have one in close company, who just excudes many positive qualities. I'm sure women feel the same way about men, and if you're GLBT, I'm sure you feel the same way about whoever you are attracted to.

Some people feel life is nothing but a lonely road, but it's all about relationships; LOVE-ing relationships. I learned that first-hand from a woman.

"I know you have a little life in you yet
I know you have a little strength left
I know you have a little life in you yet
I know you have a little strength left

I should be crying but I just can't let it show
I should be hoping but I can't stop thinking
Of all the things we should've said that were never said
All the things we should've done that we never did
All the things that you needed from me
All the things that that you wanted from me
All the things I should of given but I didn't
Oh darling make it go away
Just make it go away now."

"Watch your mouth!!!!"

Just the other day, my cousin wanted to stop by American Apparel and buy a v-kneck t-shirt [which came to an excruciating $26...lol..."you know it's hard out here for a pimp"; right?]. After he purchased the t-shirt we were quite hungry. one of my cousins went to chipotle mexican grill, and me and my other cousin went to Koronet which is a pizza spot on 110th and Broadway. I heard about the spot all the time and couldn't wait to get a slice. Little did I know how huge the slices were [see image below]. These things were humungous...lol...they were quite good. So good I had two slices each for $3.25, which wasn't a bad deal.

As I finished my first slice, though I received an email with a url of a clip of Bill O'Reilly when he snapped off-air due to the lack of tech support for a recording. I clicked on the link and began to watch it on my BlackBerry Storm [Shameless Plug]. I thought that I had it loud enough for my two cousins and I to enjoy. When it was over though a young man approached our table, and I think he was Jewish, but he was White, and said to me very politely, "Excuse me, but can you turn that down a little bit, just for the little kid over there. Thanks." I replied, "No problem."

What's funny is that before he even approached our table we had previously joked about how the pizza was just as big as the little kid at the counter--a good two meters away from our table. There was a little profanity in the clip:



I didn't think it was that serious, but the fact of the matter is he was right. I should have been more courteous of the young child in the vicinity.

What's even funnier is the conversation my cousins and I had after this encounter when what just happened really sunk in. One cousin said, "Man he really has balls." We're three black gentleman: I'm light-skinned with Hispanic/Arab/very mixed features, my other cousin is Jamaican, very dark with long dreads, and my other cousin is light-skinned very tall with a skate-boy-P kind of look. Basically, it doesn't happen that often that one single White individual has the courage to approach a group of Black Men and tell them that they're doing something wrong; not to be racist, but completely honest. It doesn't happen often, but my cousin said, "He must have a Black girlfriend or he just has balls." Whatever the case I'm glad he approached and informed me of my ill advised lack of character.

It's deeper than hip-hop...nah it's just deeper than race relations...I don't know.

The Shack: "Missy Project"

If there's anything I love to do more in this world it's READING. My spiritual adviser has always been and will always be my mother. Granted numero uno is GOD of course, but here on this earth when it comes to things that involve GOD my mother is conduit I choose to use when I may feel out of touch or just lost in general. It's like this...if you put me in an environment of wrestling (i.e. me watching matches, participating myself, or listening and learning) I am in my zone. I soak everything up and can give my philosophy in seven seconds flat. I am in the zone. When it comes to things involving GOD I see the sparkle in my mother's eye and she is in her zone. It's amazing. It's like a "shop-a-holic" having an endless budget each day for spending. They will be in their zone.

I took a little tangent, but getting back to this post's true purpose, I recently was referred a book by my mother entitled "The Shack". I believe it's listed as fiction, but the story is--according to the author--based on true story, and a real encounter. I don't want to spoil the book, but just refer the book to any and everyone. Even if you don't like to read, just read it. You will be able to relate to this book. Anyone who reads it is asked to either blog, refer the book, or let others know in anyway possible. I blog, so I'm informing you now.

What's kind of coincidential was how I was on the train reading it and a woman looked over and realized what book I was reading. I had only completed fourty some odd pages and she was quick to tell me how good the book was. She said it changed the way she looks at a lot of things. Somehow you feel different after reading it. Hearing that I was eager to keep reading on. I did reach a point in the book where I had to sit it down for a little while and think about what it was I was reading. That's all I have to say about that.

If people have read it already don't hesitate to leave a comment.

Pope & Condoms

So, Pope Benedict XVI decides to go on a week-long trip through the continent of Africa. This past Tuesdays he makes comments on condoms and how they are used to fight HIV. I'm not sure of his exact quote, word-for-word, but it was something along the lines of, "condoms do not help fight HIV, in fact they increase the problem." I would have to respectfully disagree with his comments, and first say, "Are you serious? You're the Pope and you think condoms increase the numbers of HIV in Africa [or maybe around the world in general]." This is why he is not a scientist and I am not the pope.

First, I have to put myself in his shoes and look at this from his perspective. I truly believe like, Pope John Paul II, that abstinence is the key to absolving this world of HIV/AIDS. I'm an optimistic person, but that's not gonna happen. That is unless there is a sexually transmitted disease that will cause someone's body to disintegrate after 30 days. Maybe then people will start to learn. But abstinence has always been and will always be the key. So I level with him and see that he might be saying that since condoms are available it is somewhat giving people the option to have sex, sex, and more sex.

Then I step back into the real world and think of an analogy....Aha....Having condoms readily available--especially in Africa where it is most prevalent--is like being a firefighter in Africa without a suit, gas mask, oxygen tank, and etc. You would be fighting fires and saving people from burning buildings while getting burned too. Sooner or later you would die while trying to save someone without any form of protective gear to shield yourself from the flames. Stations would go through firefighters like clockwork. That is until there is either the smart fireman or the smart fire station that makes the sacrifice to purchase the protective gear. Other firefighters and stations will look in awe like, "Aww man. I could have prevented that burn on my face I just had last week if I had that protective gear on." And the individuals wearing the gear would say, "Now I can really do my job. Ahhhh. This is safer and I feel even better living life and fighting fires." I use analogies a lot to help people understand something that I may not have the words for, and analogies are great.

If there weren't condoms this epidemic would be a whole lot worse than it is now. For someone who has such a respected opinion he should have thought about this a lot more. Now Catholic followers can use that in saying, "Well the Pope said that condoms aren't helping, so let's not use them at all." That's looking at his statement in relative to people out there who prey on women and vice versa.

Condoms are HIGHLY effective in preventing HIV infection. In a two year study, in which one partner was HIV-infected and the other was HIV-negative, no uninfected parter became infected among couples using condoms correctly and consistently at every act of vaginal or anal sex versus 10 percent of those using condoms inconsistently (www. advocatesforyouth.org).

They are needed and the concept of sex should be discussed in more households. I hope the Pope rethinks his thoughts, because many families and individuals around the world listen and follow everything the Pope says.

Those are just my thoughts as an eternal student, though.

Arrogant...Ignorant...Greedy (aka A.I.G.)

I am quite sure that there are more people than myself, who are livid with AIG literally handing out bonuses using some of the recently received bailout money. First, no one within that organization is deserving of a "bonus" for whatever so-called hard work they have put into keeping the company afloat. Second, their lame excuse of "trying to hold onto the talent that they already have and not losing them to other companies" is not valid at all. If the government chose not to give them any bailout money there would not be any bonuses to hand out. What would have happened then? Hmmpf? If they want to go to another company let them go! I cannot see any other company hiring them with their current track record of almost assisting in the downfall of AIG. Who would want them? No one! And Finally, these are taxpayers dollars they are handing out, but I know there is a process that goes with approaching this and it starts with the Board of Directors. A friend mentioned that they should have done something similar to that automotive companies who have received bailout money. They reworked their structure and how the money would be spent. I'm sure there were no bonuses given out either. AIG needs to follow suit and hold people accountable for their mistakes. There should not be any bonuses for anyone; plain and simple.

Airports, Desk Attendants, and Random Cowboys

So I was heading outta town this past weekend, and previously booked a flight with Jetblue. I knew I had to get there at least a good 30 minutes before departure. When I was on the train out to JFK though I soon realized that the train from Harlem all the way out to BK is alot longer than what it should be...smh...so I ended up getting a good 10 minutes before departure and would have made it to the gate in time, but I had to get the angry desk attendant talking about, "You're not gonna make it." Obviously I wasn't going to make it with her halting my progress. What options did I have...let's see...the flight I missed was the last one out of JFK, and the next one didn't leave until 6:45 AM and it was 11 PM! It took me 2hrs on the train to get out there...so I only have one option and that's to sit and wait at the airport :-(

She gives me some paper, and I try to get through the gate in order to sit at the bar and drink my sorrows away...lol...but she says I can't check in until 3:45 AM and I won't be able to go through security until 4 AM. Just great.

So I sit down and revert back to my happy-go-lucky normal self. I listen to some music on my BlackBerry Storm and relax while reading the latest edition of Gentleman Quartlery Magazine. After about a good hour I notice some cowboy-esque guy sitting a few seats from me. He was asking everyone questions. I think I have "nice guy" or "willing to talk to strangers" as a neon sign right above my head, and only other people can see it. Someone I got drawn into a conversation with this guy, which lasted all the way up until 4AM where we went our separate ways...that's 5 hours with only 2 power naps (i.e. 25-30 minutse of resting eyes) in between.

This guy had stories for days. I'll summarize it though:

He was dressed in all black...black cowboy hat, black trenchcoat, black boots with silver spurs, black jeans and a black shirt. He was a retired military veteran who was coming from ukraine where he met with this woman he has been in constant contact with over the internet. This guy was like late 50's, early 60's. The ukranian woman was in her late 30's, early 40's (note: he showed me a video of her on his camcorder). He was telling me stories of how much he's traveled while with the military, and afterwards. His descriptions of ukrane were as follows, "I have never been to a place where if I look out the window I could see more drop-dead-gorgeous woman than I will ever see in a lifetime in the US." The culture is definitely different out in ukrane and he's looking to take the ukranian woman away from a culture that marginalizes her. She divorced her husband who was an alcholic, which is the case for a lot of men out there, supposedly, and she later divorced him. Divorce is frowned upon, especially more so for the woman...To each his own right...and on another note this guy lives in South Florida, and has 3 kids that live in Minnesota. He couldn't take the cold weather any more, so he entered a better environment for himself, and now he's about to bring the ukranian woman back with him later on in the year. He proposed to her and she accepted...

...an interesting guy indeed. I might have a few more posts about some interesting stories he told me...that's all I have for my 7 hours at JFK airport...

...but what really sucked was after going through security I went straight to the bar to find out that they couldn't start serving any alcoholic beverages until 8 AM! I couldn't even get a Mimosa...smh

Racist or Not? You decide...

I know this was a hot topic for all last week and is also an ongoing effort for Rev. Al Sharpton as we speak, but I wanted to give my perspective on this cartoon.

I would like to think that American's aren't racist. I would like to think that American's are accepting of our nation's first African-American President; even though he is half White as well. I would like to think a lot of things, but that's just not how the world is. Your imagination is a great tool to work out the kinks of HOPE, which is the driving force for some, but not many. It is the driving force particularly for those trying to bring about CHANGE to world that continually struggles between the forces of right and wrong.

Honestly, when I first saw this cartoon it was with the headlines reading [something along the lines of] "Racist photo featured in NY POST." I used to read the NY POST just because my uncle read both the DAILY NEWS and the POST, but read the POST most often. When I saw that they were supporting John McCain and Sarah Palin the NY POST officially lost my support. Yes, indeed. When you have both the DAILY NEWS and the NY TIMES supporting "CURRENT" President Barack Obama, why not support the future president? So I decided to stop supporting the newspaper. When I first heard about it people already began protesting outside of the NY POST. I tried to block out everything outside of the cartoon and the blurb of "They'll have to find someone else to write the stimulus bill," there were still racial undertones that just couldn't be denied. FIRST, President Barack Obama, whether he or any one else likes it or not, is the face of the stimulus bill. There is no doubt about it. Even if he wasn't the only writer, or if Congress was passing it....blah, blah, blah, blah....he's still the face. SECOND, American's aren't stupid to believe a simple excuse of using the recent story of a loose chimpanzee as a sattirical expression of the stupidity of the stimulus plan. No way Jose! Ughn! Ughn! Not gonna happen. THIRD, and FINALLY, how did this get passed after going through all the editors and however many people are supposed to see this before it goes to print? No one thought, "Hmmmm...this might be borderline racist?" I guess if they did they still didn't mind because it was going to stir up the population, and especially Rev. Al Sharpton, who I happened to run into around my block after he got his fresh perm...smh...he's a necessary component in our day in age. You can't knock his hustle.

I'm leaving this alone from now on, because the NY POST got what they wanted and I'm not going to continue to feed into [even though I am by posting this blog]. I just wanted to express myself and see what others thought. 

Comedy

I don't watch much TV, but definitely keep my ear to those that do. I love comedy and have become of a fan of the videos that Saturday Night Live (SNL) puts out on their show. OMGosh! These things are hiliarous. I'm gonna update this with some of my favorite as time goes on.

Here's my first..."I'm on a BOAT MUTHAF**KA!!!" LOL!!!


"Jizz In My Pants" is a classic!


"The ROCK Obama"

Realization

With the completion of the 16th Conference on Retroviruses and Opportunistic Infections (CROI), which is a scientifically focused meeting of the world's leading researchers working to understand, prevent, and treat HIV/AIDS and its complications, I had the sad, but true, realization of how this dilemma could easily be behind us if drugs and medication were readily available to everyone. We are a world where we have currency and if you don't have much of it many things won't be accessible. In ABSOLUT world though...



...you can only hope and dream, or make a commercial and smile. Sad but true.

What also confuses me is how people who knowingly carry the virus still have sexual intercourse not just with one partner, but many, like nothing is wrong. Not sure how that will make the world better, but people will do what they will do. In my opinion, if one should somehow acquire the virus their thoughts should circumnavigate the planet of Hope which is sister to the planet Right and nowhere near the planet Wrong. This is a sign, from a Higher Power [i.e. GOD], saying maybe this sex thing really isn't for you, or you have to stop being selfish or whatever you feel you is the debt you will have to pay for the rest of your life.

In an absolute world everyone would think for others and instead of their own well being. If that happened everyone would be all right. Did you follow that? I hope so. It may not sound like the answer, but it sure sounds pretty good.

Stimulus Plan/Package

So...It seems like people just want this to just go through and they can get their cut. Are people really paying attention to what is being distributed though? I would hope so, but I don't think so. I'm still formulating my opinion of the plan, but I follow a few newspaper articles and this website (www.readthestimulus.org) which helps me stay up-to-date for right now. It's very comprehensive, but I think it will get the job done. I have faith in President Obama. What people should be worried about is whether a large portion of people will take heed to what the President is actually proposing. He really is hoping that individuals will be smart with the small amount of money they will be given. What stands out to me mostly are his plans at saving the US money over time by improving the technology we rely on, and government buildings as well. I'm curious as to how others feel and whether or not they think it will work? We will shall see. I've attached a graphic from the Washington Post which is a relative breakdown of what the Stimulus should look like. Comment as you see fit and express your perspective. Thank you.

ManWomanBoogie

Gotta show some love not only to Q-tip and Amanda Diva, but a spotlight to a good friend/poet/singer/sister of Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority Inc...Shanelle Gabriel...Google her...lol

Q-TIP - New Music Video - Man Woman Boogie

Coaching and Correlations

I can't believe it, but I've been assistant coaching my old high school's wrestling team for two years now. This is the second year of course, and my first year was great. This year hasn't been as exciting, but definitely a learning experience for me. It's one thing when you experience something from one angle, but you learn so much more when it's from the other side of spectrum. I was once apart of the very team that I coach. Granted there were different people and personalities, but definitely similar experiences. Here are a few things I've learned and examples of similar situations other people are in or I've been in to see the correlation...

One of the very first things I noticed is that I entered the coaching realm not only to give back to my high school, but to get out just as much. In teaching these young men some of the knowledge I have come to gain while wrestling through the years and the skills as well I am learning more about the sport and what I need to work on to be a better coach and wrestler. It's the endless circle of what is called reciprocity. This realization is what keeps me coming back day after day even though a lot of them are knuckle heads.

Second, if the minds of babies are like sponges, then the minds of young adolescent high school boys must be like mops! All the pick up is the dirt and grime of your day-to-day conversations. I'm not gonna front...I swear a little bit, but that's because when it comes to wrestling I'm very passionate about it. I know what I'm talking about it, because I've been doing it for over nine years. Now they're not picking up on my swearing ways but I noticed in one of my athletes that he's picking up an old habit of mine, which was an uncontrollable temper. He gets frustrated easily and I did not notice that last year. In any case I just have to watch certain things I say.

Third, I definitely don't get paid enough for the amount of time and energy I put into what I do. Along with that comes the realization that it isn't about the money, which is crazy. What means more to me is making sure these young guys take something from their experience being on the team; plain and simple.

Finally, I love my old high school, but I see myself making more of a difference with public school students or inner city youth. They actually have a program called "Beat the Streets" where they have implemented wrestling programs all over the city throughout many high schools. The thought is great, but there need to be good coaches out there and I know I can take a beginner public school and turn them into some of the most feared and respected wrestlers New York State has to offer. That's not being cocky though. That's just me being confident ;-) Wrestling is a sport that is dominated mostly by Whites, and here in NYC African-Americans and Latinos can take over this sport. They just need the right guidance.

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I also have been mentoring outside of my fraternal organization and in more ways than one coaching is very similar to mentoring, tutoring, teaching, and a slew of other things. You make the correlation it is there though. When you teach someone else something you are efficient in over time you become a professional; an expert; and sought for advice on a regular basis.