Using Your Voice

It's about time. Time for what, you ask? It's about time that some mainstream black athletes finally showed some concern for something other than themselves. Now, I'm sure you're saying to yourself, "but, athletes give money to charities all of the time on top of visiting kids hospitals, etc."

Yeah, but all of that is the safe thing to do. How many of today's black athletes actually stand up for a cause that's political? How many of today's athletes stand up for a cause that's racial? For something that involves the possibility of losing a sponsor therefore losing one of many paychecks?

I'm sure by now, unless you've been living under a rock a la a Geico commercial, you've heard of the Trayvon Martin shooting tragedy. If you haven't, then Google it. Long story, short, the Miami Heat basketball team did a photo shoot of all of the players wearing hoodies just like Trayvon was when he was killed. To many, this photo means absolutely nothing, but to a black man like myself, it's a breath of fresh air.

Reportedly organized by LeBron James, this photo represents so much to black culture. In a world where no one wants to have an opinion on anything political because they want to avoid scrutiny, these guys, black and white, took a stand. And it's not LeBron's first political statement. He once said that if he could dunk on anyone in the world, that he would dunk on and shatter the backboard on George W. Bush. That's a strong statement from someone who I'm sure has to see Republican season ticket holders sitting courtside at his games.

Muhammad Ali, the most polarizing figure in the history of sports (despite what Skip Clueless Bayless thinks), was the first person to turn an athlete into a celebrity. However, he was willing to throw all of that fame away to take a stand in what he believed. His beliefs actually landed him in jail for a period of time in the prime of his career.

That doesn't happen now. It hasn't happened on a regular basis in 30 years. Michael Jordan once famously said that he wouldn't endorse a Democratic candidate in a local election because "Republicans buy shoes, too." He would rather be selling shoes than using his celebrity status to bring awareness to something political. That's mainly the reason that I'm not a fan of the off-the-court Michael Jordan. He's very selfish and would rather add millions to his millions rather than make a difference in the world.

If you have the spotlight and you're not using your voice, then you may as well lose it all together. LeBron James and the Miami Heat have decided not to fall prey to pressure. The photo may not be as powerful as the one from the '68 Olympics with Tommie Smith and John Carlos, but it does make a statement that justice has not been served in the case of Trayvon Martin. I'm not saying who's innocent or guilty, I'm just saying start the process already!

This blog is about common sense. Sure, I do blog postings on things that are funny, provocative or random, but ultimately, the message I want to convey is that "there's always another way of doing things." People who have the means to make a difference in the country prefer not to do so because they don't want to stop their cash flow. No one wants to rock the boat.

Well, I'm glad LeBron James and the Miami Heat decided to do so. It's amazing how something so simple, so subtle, can be so important.

Redheads

Actresses Lucille Ball and Christina Hendricks along with blogger, Cherie Martin

We all have something that fascinates us. Something that we find attractive and we're not even sure of why. For me, when I was growing up, I was fascinated by redheads. I wonder if it's because I used to watch "I Love Lucy" reruns religiously as a kid? Who knows?  But, despite most of her shows being broadcasted in black and white film, I still loved Lucy.

I mean, some guys are fascinated by twins (in more ways than one). I've seen dudes on TV who had a thing for little women (literally). But, me? Redheads. I carried that fascination with me throughout life and found myself always being a fan of theirs. To this day, I can appreciate a good-looking redhead over an attractive blond or brunette. Does this qualify as some sort of fetish? Seems like a strong word to use in this case, but it may be just that.

If The Mrs. reads this post, I hope she doesn't come home in a red wig or anything tomorrow. That would just be weird.



What trait fascinates you about people?

When Elevators Attack, Part II

Back in my college days, a lot of craziness occurred. Unfortunately, since this was before the days of cell phone cams and YouTube, most of the antics were unseen to the world. So, now and then, I have to do things the old fashioned way and tell you a story about the time I was at Mississippi Valley State...

If you thought Part I was bad, then imagine the horror I must have felt from this tale. This incident actually occurred on another college campus. The campus of Alcorn University. This was a rival to my school that was located about 150 miles south of Valley. My roommate and I traveled there to watch a basketball game between the Alcorn and Valley. Afterwards, we decided to stop by one of the dormitories to visit a high school friend of his. So, it was me, Tim, a guy named Bobby and another guy whose name escapes me.

We walk into the dormitory and proceed to the elevator. We get in, face the front, press the button and as the doors start to close, a freakin' armadillo walks onto the elevator with us as if he belonged.

Yes, you read that right. An armadillo. Now, despite watching many episodes of "Wild Kingdom" while I was growing up, my knowledge of armadillos was next to zero. The same must have been true for the other guys in the elevator because panic ensued immediately! We had no idea what that thing was capable of. We also had no idea that armadillos make a horrific sound and jump (quite high, I might add) when they get scared. Go here to open a new window and see an armadillo jump (no need to watch more than 30 seconds of the video). As for as how they sound when they're scared, just peep the video below or go here if you don't have Flash.




So, imagine that noise and a creature jumping around the elevator with four grown dudes who are completely terrified. As the armadillo bounced around and made screeching sounds reminiscent of the snake in the old Q*Bert arcade game (for the 70's babies), the four of us visited every corner of that elevator multiple times in an attempt to get away. Four guys, the smallest being 220 lbs., smashed up in a corner like children. All of us were attempting to climb up the elevator walls like Spider-Man with Vaseline on his fingers, not wanting to be attacked by the armored rodent who may as well been a cobra by the way we were reacting.

We almost tore that elevator up. When the doors finally opened, we shot out of that elevator like a Roman candle. Two other guys, who were waiting on the elevator, stared at us as they started to walk into it. One of them saw the armadillo in the back corner, fell on to his back and proceeded to scurry backwards on all fours like something from "The Unborn."

The doors closed and the "threat" was over. How an armadillo got into the dormitory is beyond me, but my mom almost lost her youngest son to a heart attack that evening. I've gotta start taking the stairs.


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How Close Do You Keep Them?

From the 1995 must-see movie, "Kids."

I'm not a parent, but I know plenty. The struggles they have with their kids are many, but everyone has their own style of parenting. What works for one could be appalling to the next. For example: spanking. It worked for me when I was growing up, but some people view it as child abuse.

Since there are so many styles of parenting, it's very difficult to say which method is right or wrong. Especially since each child is different. But, how far will a parent go to keep an eye on their children as they grow into the teen years? How close do you keep them when it comes to more "adult decisions."

Would you allow your child to have sex in your house? How about getting drunk? Or smoking weed? Some of you are re-reading that and freaking out. However, there are some parents who think it's okay to let their kid do something that may seem immoral or even illegal as long as it's within the confines of the home. Some parents think that as long as they know about it, then they can control it.

There was a parent of one of my high school classmates who used to buy her son cigarettes. She said that she would rather buy them for him than have him sneak and do it. Is there a difference just because she knows?

Would some of you be okay with your daughter/son having sex in the house as opposed to someone's backseat or a seedy motel?

What about marijuana? Would you rather take the risk of purchasing the dope for your child than to have them in the streets with no experience?

What's your style of parenting?

What Should The Punishment Be 2?

For those without Flash, you can open a new window and see the video here.

"Wanna get away?" Bad things happen to people who try to cut in line at gas stations. What? Did she think that she was the 1,000,000th customer or something and would get free gas? Where does this sense of entitlement originate? She could have blown something up and / or killed someone.

What should the punishment be for this idiot?

Is It Stupid If You Can Afford It?

"They cost how much!!!!????"

Lil' Wayne was spotted at last month's NBA All-Star Game with custom Beats by Dre headphones on his head. The headphones, which were made with 114 carats of diamond by Graff Diamonds, were worn courtside by the rapper with a value of over $1 million dollars. Yes, you read that right.

Now, why someone would wear headphones to an all-star game is beyond me, but maybe he likes listening to music in crowds. The average person would read this and say that "it's the dumbest thing they've ever seen." They would probably also say that "only an idiot would spend that much money on headphones."

However, Lil' Wayne is rumored to be worth roughly $85 million dollars, so will this $1 million hurt him? Only if he allows himself to fall into the same traps that an Allen Iverson (blew $200 million) or MC Hammer (lost $35 million) did when they threw away their bucks. Iverson played 15 seasons in the NBA and was rumored to never take luggage on road trips. His teammates have even said that he would buy a new wardrobe in every city and just leave everything he bought in the hotel room when they left. MC Hammer had a waterfall in his swimming pool on top of buying elaborate gifts for his dance team (Rolexes, cars, etc.)

Lil' Wayne has been reported to own close to $4 million in vehicles and another $6 million in jewelry. That's $10 million dollars out of $85 million. Does he own property? Does he have investments? Who knows? He's rumored to be pretty smart with his money when it comes to making dollars from producing other rappers. Only time will tell if he goes broke or not.



Is it stupid if you can afford it?

When Elevators Attack, Part I

Back in my college days, a lot of craziness occurred. Unfortunately, since this was before the days of cell phone cams and YouTube, most of the antics were unseen to the world. So, now and then, I have to do things the old fashioned way and tell you a story about the time I was at Mississippi Valley State...

If I were to tell you that I almost got killed on an elevator, then you would think that it had fallen, right?

I stayed on the 4th floor of my dormitory during my sophomore year. The previous year, I was on the 3rd floor, so the elevator wasn't much of an option unless we had groceries. However, that extra floor made it worth standing around and waiting on the elevator to come.

This one lazy Saturday, me and the fellas decided we were going to play some basketball. It was me, my roommate Tim and four other guys. We all get on the elevator, press the button and it makes its descent. Between the 1st and 2nd floor, there was an abrupt halt to the elevator and then an alarm.

"What happened?" Tim asked.

"I think it's stuck." I said.

At that moment, one of the other guys spoke up. His name was also Tim, but to avoid confusion, I'll call him Charleston (since that's the city he was from originally). "I can't stay in here!" he yelled.

I looked over my shoulder, not taking Charleston seriously. Being stuck in an elevator didn't seem like a big deal to me at the time. Boy, did he change my mind on that! Charleston pushed his way from the back of the elevator and tried to pry the doors open with his fingers. "I can't stay in here, man!" he yelled again.

By now, the five of us are staring at him and our collective light bulbs have popped on in our heads. This guy is claustrophobic. He can't bare being trapped in this tight spot. Especially with five other people crowding his space. One guy made the mistake of trying to calm him down by putting his hand on Charleston's shoulder. "Dude, chill out!"

The next thing we know, Charleston's arms are flailing around wildly. He struck two of the guys in the face. One guy tried to bear hug him from behind, but Charleston was from the deep country. He displayed the strength of six tractors as he broke out of the bear hug and went into a panic trying to get the doors open. The more he panicked, the more the elevator shook which was making us all nervous. We decided instinctively that we could only do one thing: take him down.

Each of the guys grabbed a limb. You would think that a group of guys putting a man on his stomach would be easy, but not Charleston. He thrashed around like a mad man and busted a few lips in the process. Finally, I put him in the headlock and the guys were able to pull his legs from under him. "Hold him!" started Tim, "Hold that fool!"

Charleston landed on his stomach and we all had a lock on him. It was about 30 seconds into the headlock that I realized that I was actually locked onto Charleston's neck a little too tightly. I felt drool running down my arm and realized that I was choking the dude out. "Whoa!" I thought to myself, "I don't want to 'Radio Raheem' the guy."

(If you don't understand the Radio Raheem reference, then you need Netflix in your life)

I eased up on my headlock and heard a gasp of air come from Charleston. By that time, we heard some voices from outside of the elevator, "Are you all okay?"

"Man, get us out of here before this dude kills us!" Tim yelled.

Within minutes, we heard the scraping of metal against the elevator and then the doors popped open. Once the doors opened, Charleston's fight returned as he scrambled towards daylight. "Be careful coming out, man, or you'll fall into the shaft!" one of the guys said.

Charleston scrambled out and was helped to the floor. Once he got there, he laid on his stomach for at least three-to-five minutes. We all slid out of the elevator, not even thinking that if it started again, that we could be sliced in half. 19-year olds don't fear much.

Once we were all out, the two guys who pryed us out just stared at us and our injuries: two busted lips, a nose bleed, cuts and scratches. "Were you all wrestling in there?"

"Pretty much!" I replied.

I'd almost been killed in an elevator... by a mad man. Not a serial killer type of mad man, but a man who was terrified. They may be more dangerous than a serial killer. I thought that would be one of the wildest stories I'd ever tell from my college days, but little did I know, it would be topped by another story involving an elevator...

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Why Madonna is Still The Baddest Chick

There are so many famous people in the world, but very few legends. In fact, I think people don't understand how to be a legend these days. Sure, they're a legend in their own minds, but to the eyes of others, they're just a passing fad. There is an art to being a legend and most of today's "celebs" don't have a clue of how to do it. They need to seek advice from some of the old school artists.

Madonna could probably easily out-draw any female performer because she's a rare act. That's right. If you want to know why Madonna is still the baddest chick in the game, it's because she's a recluse. Have you ever heard of the phrase, "you never miss a good thing until it's gone?"

Well, that applies to people like Madonna, Prince and at one time, Michael Jackson. The fact that they refused to saturate the media with their faces made them more appreciated when they did make an appearance. That's not the case with some modern-day celebs. They try to get their face in every magazine or in front of every camera that they can. I realize that there are cell cams galore these days, but don't think some of these celebs don't seek them out.  I think that the younger generation of  fans has more patience with that, but for older guys like me, it drives me nuts. If I see/hear you every time I turn on my TV/radio, then I will get sick of you.

I hate hearing Lil' Wayne and Nicki Minaj on every single song that comes on the radio. If you drive an hour in your car and don't hear Lil' Wayne's or Nicki Minajs' voice at least four times apiece, then you must be listening to a country or gospel station. They not only have their own albums, but they will also perform on other people's albums as well.

Would Madonna make regular cameo appearances on someone else's CD? Heck, no! She's Madonna! An icon. A legend. She wouldn't play "second fiddle" with anyone like today's celebs do. When she performed in the Super Bowl back in January, she was the main attraction. As big as a star Cee-Lo is in today's pop culture, he was simply a background singer when Madonna was on stage. Cee-Lo went from "The Voice" to just "a voice" when Madonna was on the scene. Why? Because she's a legend.

There are many famous singers, but very few legends. Mariah. Mick. Whitney. Bruce. Prince. Celine. Santana. Aretha. I'm pretty sure that most of you know who these people are without me even having to list their full names. Why?



Because legends don't need them.

Ladies & Race

Tia Norfleet

March is Women's History Month and since we're coming off of Black History Month, I've decided to combine the two. Now "Ladies & Race" kind of has a double meaning in this post. I'm not only referring to the race of a woman, I'm also referring to the race within a woman.

Tia Norfleet is a 24 year old black woman who's looking to make her way onto the NASCAR circuit. Now, many ladies have already paved the way for women in racing, most recently, Danica Patrick. However, Tia has another trailblazer to follow who just happens to be her dad. Bobby Norfleet was a racer who thrived back in the 90's and helped NASCAR gain some awareness in the black community.

However, there is something that I hope Tia avoids: being sexualized. Danica Patrick has already fallen into that pit by doing Maxim and the Go Daddy commercials. Because men, who represent a majority of racing fans, have turned her into a visual fantasy, she has to be better than just "good" in order to be taken seriously in racing.


When women get involved in predominantly male-viewed sports, I think that it's a bad thing for them to succumb to the pressures of getting rich and subjecting themselves to being sexualized. I'm a huge fan of mixed-martial arts fighter, Meisha Tate (although she was beaten pretty badly the other day by Ronda Rousey). Meisha is a great fighter and has done some pretty exciting things in her MMA matches. She has also posed for magazines and websites in less-than-revealing clothing. She has a ton of male fans, but are they flocking towards her because of her fighting skills or the fact that she's hotter than fish grease on a Mississippi farm? Or both?

Meisha Tate

So, there's a thin line between 'famous for what you do' to 'famous for how you look.' I know it's wrong for men to sexualize women as we do. Face it, we're Neanderthals. However, despite the fact that it's wrong, it's reality. And as long as there are women who will take booty shots on camera, there will always be men who will be in the market for it. There's a time and place for everything and I get that to some people, their bodies are all the talents that they have. But, if you possess a talent to compete in a sport or even an everyday place of business, then why belittle those talents by taking it all off? I'm just hoping that Tia Norfleet has more photos like the below and makes her mark in NASCAR for how she 'drives cars' rather than how she 'drives men crazy.'

Do you approve of women taking it off to get awareness in male-viewed events?

Caucasian Persuasion on Asian

Now that I have your attention...

Americans have a powerful influence on the rest of the world (not always good either). People love our music, our cinema and our fashion. However, it seems that there is even more of an influence on other countries than we realize: they want the American look as well.

Wait. You didn't think that this post was going to be something sexual because of the title, did you? LOL! You dirty bird! Anyway, even one of the most prominent races on the planet (and prettiest per this doctor), don't mind being a little bit American. Although this story isn't anything new, I recently got reminded of it when I stumbled across an old Tyra Banks Show video.

Asian eyelid surgery. Some Asians are getting surgery to remove the familiar eye shape to get it to resemble more of a American (or European) look. Getting a crease stitched into the eyelid achieves that look for them. It's said to be a painful surgery that can cause discomfort for up to 10 days, yet many Asians brave it to seek their new look. A recipient of this surgery would also have to deal with the criticism from the Asians who consider the surgery "self-mutilation."

Now, I've heard of Asians getting contact lenses to have blue eyes, but is the surgery going a little bit too far? Don't get me wrong. A lot of people would argue that any cosmetic surgery is denying who you are and going too far. I can't say that I agree with that, but when it comes to doing something that's manipulating your heritage, is that going too far? Some Asians are upset with the concept and call these people "Twinkies" (yellow on the outside / white on the inside). According to a few forums that I read, there are some Asian-Americans who consider the term a compliment as they feel priviledged to have white features.

I think back to how so many black people got upset with Michael Jackson when he slowly transformed from a young, black boy to an older, white woman lighter skin. Black people were outraged over the skin-lightening despite Jacko's pleas that it was due to a skin disease. Black people are now up in arms over recent photos of Beyonce' in which her skin was lightened for the photos.

So, don't just think that there's only a Caucasian persuasion on Asian. It extends to many different races, if not all. Imagine that. All of these years I'm thinking that we black people were the trendy ones, but I've never heard of an Asian craze for full lips and apple bottoms. Hmmph. Black people need to step their game up. :)

What's your take on it all? Is it okay to change your look to whatever you want?

Can You Really Be Addicted to Sex?

The term "sexual addiction" is used to describe the behavior of a person who has an unusually intense sex drive or an obsession with sex. Sex and the thought of sex tend to dominate the sex addict's thinking, making it difficult to work or engage in healthy personal relationships.

I'll name some behaviors associated with sexual addiction. Just for fun, I'll list the type of people who would probably partake in the act:

1. Compulsive masturbation - most men
2. Multiple affairs (extra-marital affairs) - most politicians
3. Multiple or anonymous sexual partners and/or one-night stands - most NBA players
4. Consistent use of pornography - most college students
5. Unsafe sex - see #3
6. Phone or computer sex (cybersex) - most nerds
7. Prostitution or use of prostitutes - see #2
8. Exhibitionism - strippers
9. Obsessive dating through personal ads - again, see #2
10. Voyeurism (watching others) and/or stalking - ugly guys

I think that even if you were to combine multiple "symptoms" listed above that it doesn't necessarily make a person a sex fiend. If so, then I know a lot of people who need rehab!

Can you really be addicted to sex? I guess like everything in life, too much of anything is bad for you. So, I do think that it's more likely for a person to be horny to the point of unhealthy. However, I don't think any of the above (at face value) define what a sex addict is in my opinion.

When I think of an addict, I think of someone who is willing to regularly put their life (or someone else's) at risk in order to get the high that they're seeking. I think of a crack head stealing from their own family. I think of an alcoholic continuing to drink despite having a bad liver. I think of an overweight person scarfing down a triple cheeseburger despite having high cholesterol.

I don't think of a person watching porn or making a booty call as a sex addict. I don't think a person reaches the level of a sex addict until things like molestation or rape comes into play. When you get to the point that you're willing to take it when you can't get it, then you're an addict. Or engaging in unhealthy activities can probably qualify you, too.

Tiger Woods was once a member of a sex rehab located about 90 miles from my hometown. He threw his marriage away over a few romps in the sack with some cafe waitresses. Does that make him an addict or just an idiot?

Pee Wee Herman once got busted for playing "pocket poker" in a theater. Addict or freak?

(Insert man here) gets a woman pregnant because he didn't practice safe sex. Addict or irresponsible?

So, I do believe there is a such thing as a sex addiction, but I think the symptoms have to be a lot more severe than what's listed. If you're spending your very last dime on a monthly subscription to SweatyBiceps.com, then maybe you do have a problem. If you're buying sheep, but you're not a farmer, then maybe you qualify as a sex addict. If you think Ann Coutler is sexy, then maybe you have issues (or a praying mantis fetish).

Do you think that a person can be addicted to sex?

How Is That Even Legal?

The Mrs. was watching television recently and came across this commercial. She paused it using the DVR and called me into the room. What I saw shocked me so much, that I decided to take a photo of it to share with you all. Click on the photo to the right and read the fine print. For those of you too lazy to do so, let me tell you what it says: "The APR for a typical loan of $5,000 is 116.73% with 84 monthly payments of $486.58."

Allow me to do the math for those of you too lazy to click on your calculator application: 84 payments of $486.58 is $40,872.72 that you will pay back for that $5,000 loan.

How is that even legal? If I get a loan from this company, I have to pay over $40k over the next seven years? Now do you see why voting matters in our country? Because we have a Congress who cares so little about their constituents that they would allow something like this to even exist?

Whoops! Maybe I just jumped the gun on that statement. I just read a little further on the fine print and it says that "Western Sky Financial, LLC, is a 100% Native American-owned business operating on a Native American Reservation." I guess that means they're untouchable to Congress then.

Looks like the Native Americans are getting their money back after having their land stolen, huh? :)

Flashback to the Boonies!

A year ago today, I told a story that I had not shared with too many people in almost two decades. After stumbling across the post again, I decided that I would release the story again because thanks to a Disqus error, every original comment was lost. So, I don't even know what people thought of what happened that night near Booneville, Mississippi. Besides, if George Lucas can release Star Wars 10 times, then why I can't I "recycle?" :)

So, I've decided that at least once a month, I'm going to flashback to previous posts for my new followers who may have missed out. I present to you "Boonies Aren't For Me (Part I)"

"We turn on the hazard lights and start walking. The trees overhead do not allow any light from the moon whatsoever, so once we get 200-300 yards from the car, the hazard lights do not offer any assistance in vision.

After walking for almost 10 minutes, I heard the most creepiest sound come from the woods that haunt me to this day. It was the sound of a baby crying. At least I thought it was a baby."

Continue here...




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Aren't You Too Old For That?

We all love to hold on to our youth as we grow older, but, at what point is a person too old to do something? When are we too mature for certain activities that should be reserved for the younger generation?

Night Club

Playa, playa!

I said that I would never be the old man in the club. I kept my word and bowed out of the night life scene shortly before getting married at age 30. I remember being 21 years old and in the club looking at people in their early 30's wondering why they were there. Anything over 28 years old seems like 40 years old to a 21 year old. I just didn't have a desire to be the guy sitting on the bar stool saying, "C'mere, gurl!," to every single woman who walked by. I didn't want to be the guy who piled up a $100 bar tab and still went home alone. But, to each their own. If Daddy Warbucks wants to shell out his social security money, then more power to him.

Wardrobe

Charo

At some point, you have to say to yourself, "I look like a complete fool in this outfit."

Right? Well, everyone doesn't have the "common sense gene." Some people can convince themselves of anything. Bobby Brown convinced himself into believing that he could sing. Margaret Cho convinced herself into believing that she was funny. Bill Clinton convinced himself that smoking weed and not inhaling was okay.

The point is: it's important to have real friends. Real friends will be honest with you to prevent you from doing something stupid. Maybe the lady in the above photo doesn't have any friends (or outlived them all). But, how many times have you dressed to go out and your friend shakes their head and sends you back to the closet? Well, when you're older, you don't have friends hanging around with you when you go out. You just get dressed. That's why you'll see older guys with pants up to their nipples or older women with wigs only an inch above their eyebrows. So, given that info, what do you think is going to happen to a 58 year old who thinks she would look good in her granddaughter's outfit?

Unconventional piercings

Drew Barrymore shows her piercing

It's your body, so ultimately, you can do what you want with it. I'm sure with all of the ink on Lil' Wayne's body, that when he gets old and wrinkled, he'll simply look severely bruised. But, at least he was young when he did it. What about people who decide they want to be adventurous a little later in life? At what age is a person too old for a tongue, chin, nose or eyebrow ring? Of course, if you're a celebrity, then you can get away with anything at any age. But, what if you're Roberta, the cashier at the gas station down the block? Can she be a 53 year old rocking a tongue ring?

Should you give it up once you become a parent? Grandparent? I mean, do you really want your son or daughter's friends to start giggling every time you leave the room?

The moral to this post is: make sure you have reliable friends as you get up in age. Someone you can trust to say "you're too old for that" when you decide that you want to wear a bikini despite the fact that your breasts sag so much that you look like you have four arms.

Are you truly as old as you feel or as old as you are?


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Can You Teach Patience?

I picked up my godkids this weekend to hang out with them a bit and give their mom a much-needed break. I enjoy spending time with them because they absolutely crack me up. The boy is 9 and the girl is 5. They love coming over here because I have the Xbox 360 Kinect. They go non-stop on that thing and I wonder if sometime they're on the verge of passing out from exhaustion.

Anyway, my godson wants to play a game called Hydro Thunder. It's a super-speedboat racing game that isn't extremely hard, but does require a few instructions to play. As the game started, I sat back and allowed him time to view the instructions, but he skipped past them. "Don't you need to read the instructions to know what you're doing?" I asked.

"No, I know how to play," he replied which is code for "I don't want to."

So, I decided to do the "tough love" thing and I completely dominated him in the game. He seemed only a little bit frustrated, so we played again and I beat him even worse the second time. "You know," I started, "if you read the instructions, you may do better."

He didn't respond as he hit the start button en route to his third straight butt-kicking at my hands. Finally, he decided to go back to the menu and read the instructions to see how he could improve his play. After he read the instructions, I rewarded him by allowing him to barely beat me. "Do you see how much better you played after you took time to read the instructions?" I asked.

"Yes, sir," he responded never taking his eyes off the screen.

I allowed him to win a second game which brought a smile to his face. Did he learn a lesson? Only time will tell. I'm not sure if you patience is something you're born with or not, but I'm doing what I can to instill it into my god kids. Things can turn out so much better when you take the time to learn how to maximize your abilities by reading. I wonder if kids are so impatient simply because everything in technology these days brings about instant gratification.

I always read the instructions before playing a video game when I was a kid, but then again, video games were a quarter when I was young. I knew that I would be foolish and quickly out of money to play without taking the time to learn the controls. So, maybe that's where I developed some patience. Or, is it because I always saw my older brother buy something and read the instructions before he even bothered to take the product out of the box.

Can you teach patience or do you have to be born with it?

From the Courthouse to the White House

@DivorceCourt, Judge Joe Brown, Judge Mathis, People's Court and Judge Judy are all staples in my late night / weekend TV viewing. I have a background in law from college and I've always been fascinated with court TV. Although some of the court TV shows are staged with fake cases, some of the older ones are real cases with a little bit of a "reality show" production to add drama.

The main draw for me towards these shows (aside from Judge Lynn Toler being hot) is how each judge is unbiased and fair. That's something that I'd argue we don't get from the U.S. Supreme Court being that their political affiliation is their most important credential to most people. But, the court TV judges don't use politics to influence their rulings. They use the law. Everything is cut and dry and problems get resolved. The end-result may not be pleasing to the litigants, but it's fair and based on the law.

Why can't we move this mentality from the courthouse to the White House? Why is it that we can't make decisions based on what's fair instead of what's beneficial to an agenda? We continue to elect a Congress who invents new ways each day to not work together. Their only focus from the time they get elected is to get re-elected. It's not to help the people who actually put them in office (unless your donations to their campaign are large).

I say we elect some TV judges to the White House! Just the basic concept of fairness would be enough to turn this country around in one term. It's too late for 2012, but come 2016, I want to see these judges get together and run for office. With as many viewers as Judge Judy has, I know she could pull down some votes.

Okay, seriously, for those who read my blog, you know that I believe in fairness. I try to avoid any bias, hypocrisy or double standard that may arise from a topic. I don't think it's that hard for people to live in this country and be successful and happy as long as everyone is doing their part. The problem is: that rarely seems to be the case. So, when someone steps out of line and infringes upon the rights of others, don't you think that the resolution should be swift and unbiased?

Think of how many problems Judge Marilyn Milian could resolve in just an hour. Maybe even in 45 minutes if you take out the commercials! LOL!

If Congressional rulings were based on the Constitution and fairness instead of personal opinions, do you think the U.S. would be better off?