Not gloating just hoping to move someone's heart & soul...

Please excuse my absence. I haven't graced the world wide web with my thoughts through my fingertips, tapped through a keypad, and stored online. I've been moving & shaking, and shaking & moving. I can elaborate in future posts when I have the time, but honestly I want my own website and I'm working towards that. I'll have it soon enough because I am enjoying and have plans for the future, which I will attain (Lord willingly).

I wanted to highlight a special day, which was a few Sundays ago, May 16th. I participated in the NYC AIDS Walk 2010. This was the second year in a row that I participated and help raise $500 personally, but around $8,000 with the help of my entire team: GMHC-WBLS M.A.D. Soul Runners. We had a group of 100-120 young and seasoned individuals from our local Harlem community and from abroad (e.g. as far as New Orleans). I walked in remembrance of my father, Nicholas Figueroa, and the handful of close relatives that I have lost in the past to their own personal battles with the virus. HIV/AIDS claims the lives of many and I can say that I'm here to help prevent it from spreading. I'm doing the research at the Aaron Diamond AIDS Research Center, but what is truly going to stop it from spreading is informing people of safe methods to have sex and how to protect themselves from those that wish to continue to spread HIV/AIDS either willingly or unwillingly (i.e. for those that choose not to know their status, and never get tested). I walked with friends and family members from Harlem and my church community, First Corinthian Baptist Church (FCBC). We walked for about 3-4 hours taking our time. We met new people, heard the stories of many, and gave our personal testimonies of why we were walking. After taking that 6.2 mile long walk we went to BBQ's and ate a good meal.

Now, on my way uptown I was escorting my good friend Maria A. Davis back to her apartment building. When we reached 116th Street we were posted up on the sidewalk for a little while and a woman who was walking with the alacrity of a speedwalker began to pass us by. Maria quickly asked her if she was hungry, because her spirit was moved and proceeded to ask her. We all had Styrofoam containers with food from BBQ's. We all combined our containers into one big plastic bag and handed it to her. Then Maria began to dig deeper and see if she needed anything else. She reached deep inside and told us. We purchased her a new shirt, some jeans, socks, and shoe strings. In the process of getting all that she would enter stores asking for what she wanted and they would tell her to get out. All because they saw what was out on the facade. She might have been strung out, but she had needs to. Now when I entered in they offered me their business. Before we were to part we all joined hands on the street corner and began to pray; not only for her, but for ourselves and others. It was very emotional because that same day of taking part in the AIDS Walk we met a woman named Natasha, who was living with AIDS. May 16th happened to be her 30th birthday. She didn't look 30, but her body had grown weary from abuse mentally from others, through drugs, and the toll the virus took on her being. Through all that I cried like I never cried before and she saw me and wiped away my tear.

That day Natasha grew far more than I have. She saw my tear fall, and the hurt and pain on my face. Despite having been abused by her only family, and native New Yorkers she wiped my tear. I haven't seen her since, but I still look out for her. I owe her a birthday cake. I hope I see her soon, because there's more that I can do to help.

I know this post is long, but this goes to show why I choose not to walk in the streets with headphones in my ears listening to music. You never know when you'll cross paths with another human being that might need your helping hand or time. I just wanted to share, because people walk along in life without truly living and helping someone else along.

Live life with the Kingdom in mind. The Kingdom is here on Earth, but only if you believe.

Wrestle with it...

"Wrestle with what it means to be a Christian instead of eating whatever is on the spoon and thinking it's good."

Groupthink: "That Just Isn't Right..."

This world can be so limiting sometimes. We are so capable of so much more. Just recently I have begun my new mantra and repeat to myself, "Today I wake up with the possibility of GREATNESS." Everyone in this world would be on a whole other plane, if from their entry into this world they were told that they had the power to move mountains or the will to overcome death. To often individuals or groups seek to hinder creativity, curiosity, and open dialogue.

I respect Erykah Badu for using guerrilla tactics when it came to filming her most recent video for her latest track, "Window Seat", off her upcoming album. I'm not going to front at first I was mesmerized by her vivacious curves, but I took a few minutes...collected myself and paid close attention to what she was saying and thought to myself why would she use the Dallas, TX and the location of JFK's assassination for her video? There was news coverage about how people were disgusted and outraged, but I don't see anything wrong with what she did. Some people just don't want to be walking around naked, but a child doesn't come into this world knowing that he/she is naked. We put that that thought within their mind as soon as we cover them. They don't reach to cover their genitalia. They bask in the glory of their new birth (even though they're crying after being purged from the mother's womb).

We are better than this. We have to change how we raise the next generation, which is also a good reason why I'm waiting to have children. Each and every day I'm learning more and more, not only about myself, of others, of my relationship with the Divine Creator, but of the responsibility that I have--that WE all have--for the future.

"They who play it safe are quick to assassinate what they do not understand...They move in acts ingesting fear with every act of hate against one another...afraid to respect the individual...to love oneself...to EVOLVE!" -Erykah Badu "Window Seat"

To the sTochAstiC rhythm...

I'm a little tempered with it being 7:21pm on Friday evening and I find myself still in the lab. I have a pair of gloves on my hand typing these random thoughts on a contaminated computer that might have infectious particles festering all over it...while allowing my cells to incubate with the proper antibodies to fluorescently label the proper cellular markers that give me the answer to the questions we ask for the plethora of patients in our cohort. I haven't written in a long time, and I felt compelled to write during this 15 minute period. February 11th will be the two year anniversary for me being employed with the Aaron Diamond AIDS Research Center. I'm surrounded by intelligent, supportive, and inquisitive scientists, physicians, and technicians. I'm very appreciative, but know that I need to go back to school and embark upon a journey on my own accord--translation; I need to conduct my own research, design and carry out my own project from start to finish, and more. I need more...I wish I could divulge even more, but my timer just when off. Back to the lab.

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!