New Years Resolution: Appreciate life!!!

               I know I have been away for a few months. I have been going through a little personal business. The end result is I have sole custody of my two children. Thank god! My beautiful daughter Daeshana'e will be turning twelve on January 1st. I always tell her the whole world is celebrating with you. I cannot believe how fast she is growing up. When she was born, way back in the '99, (Yeah, wow!) she was one of two. Twins. Born almost 4 months premature, my son and daughter weighed less than one and a half pounds a piece at birth. Unfortunately, my son didn't make it. He passed on five days into his life.

            My daughter however was a fighter. That combined with the miracle of modern day science, and round the clock treatment by a small army of doctors and nurses, she has survived to this day with little to no side affects. Recently I saw a show on preemies on television. A kid weighing 3 pounds at birth was being labeled a miracle baby. I laughed and thought to myself, that baby was like three of my daughter combined! My daughter Daesha really is my miracle, and I thank god everyday for her being here. 


          My son was born totally fit and healthy. Most people say he is my mini-me. He is amazing because he is just so advanced for his age. He is so active. He taught himself how to skate, skateboard and ride bikes. He climbs and jumps off things fearlessly. He will be seven this year. I sometimes worry because I see a little too much of my attitude and temper growing in him, but I guess like father like son.

         I guess my primary goal is to raise my kids to be leaders and not followers of trends and peers. I think I have been doing alright up until this point. I know as they grow I am sure to have some issues, so I am just cherishing this time I have with them. They still look at me with awe. I can see the complete innocence in their eyes. One day I will look back and wish for these days, so for now I will appreciate them every minute of everyday.

Now that that is all said and done I am back and ready to continue blogging consistently for the next year. Subscribe to my blog and receive discounts on all Simply tasteful products and services.

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Can The Los Angeles Lakers get any credit?

       The new NBA basketball season is set to begin. The Miami Heat have dominated the headlines with the acquisitions of two of the biggest free agents on the market. Lebron James made his intentions known in a nationally televised fiasco entitled "The Decision, in which he informed the world, including Cav's owner Dan Gilbert about his plans. Chris Bosh bolted from the Raptors while Dwayne Wade decided to return to the Heat, spurning his home town Chicago Bulls. It has to rank among the most unprecedented free agent acquisitions in history. Three max salary players signed by one team. When I first got the news, I wondered what would be left for role players?

                The Heat did a decent enough job of picking up a few serviceable players like Mike Miller and Zydrunas Ilgauskas but was it enough? I for one thought they missed a big opportunity to bring back Shaq for some size. The may regret letting him walk to Boston in a playoff series. Expectations, of course for this team are through the roof, and the Pat Riley buzz will begin early if coach Erik Spoelstra gets off to a rough start. The Miami Heat may have welcomed all the good and negative press by predicting they will win multiple championships before one game was played. They really looked kind of silly strutting their new look when introduced at Miami's arena to the applause of screaming fans. Fireworks and light shows, excited the crowd, as the trio danced and strutted,soaking up the accolades, Pat Riley smiling in the crowd approvingly.

          The early talk was this is the greatest trio of young talent to come together ever.With a straight face many commentators including Jeff Van Gundy, predicting a run at The Chicago Bulls all time mark of 72-10. At the time I am writing this they are now 11-9. So I guess they would have to win 71 straight. The Miami Heat players are frustrated, and they recently conducted a players only meeting in which they discussed frustrations with the young couch. Some have begun privately campaigning for the man with the rings to lead the team. I am not trying to say they can't, or won't get it together. I am just saying championship teams are not born overnight. It takes chemistry.

          Speaking of chemistry, The Los Angeles Lakers are set to defend their title going for the second  "Three-Peat" in the Phil Jackson era. Kobe is going for his 6th ring this year. Yeah, that's right. The same amount Jordan won. With all the relentless comparisons to The Great One, this may be the year Kobe "Bean" Bryant begins to distance himself from His Airness himself. And I don't think The Black Mamba is going to quit to play baseball any time soon neither. Barring injury, he can stay at his current level for at least four more years before we see some sort of decline. When it is all said and done he has a chance to be listed among the top ten players of all time if not the greatest. He is climbing steadily up the career scoring list. Who knows where he may end up? Already he has the third most 40 point games of all time , right after Wilt and Jordan. We may never see this level of basketball wizardry again no matter how good Lebron gets.

         For Lakers coach Phil Jackson the "Three-Peat" has become almost routine. If successful, this would make the forth time a team under his command has achieved the legitimate status of Dynasty. We are witnessing perhaps the last go round of the greatest basketball coach of all time. The Zen Master's back is becoming a problem and he cant take too much more. He will most likely hang em up after getting to the mountain top one last time.

         Then you have the big European Paul Gasol, who continues to amaze as one of the top big men in the game. After being bullied, dominated, and exposed as soft by the Celtics Kevin Garnett a few years ago in the NBA Finals, he has been on a rampage. He kind of reminds me of James Worthy, because he is quiet, and fine with just doing the dirty work, like defense, boards, and blocks, but when needed he is more than capable of  taking over and dominating games as need be. With an Alpha Dog like Kobe already on the team, Paul Gasol's temperament is perfect for team chemistry. Don't expect any Kobe, Shaq soap opera's here. Think Magic and Worthy. Paul Gasol also continues to be an excellent ambassador of the game abroad where he is hailed at near rock star status.

         The Lakers have few flaws, even with Andrew Bynum out for an extended period once more. When he returns the team gets even deeper, as Paul Gasol gets to shift to his normal Power Forward position and take advantage of less physical players, while Lamar gets to go back to the bench to help bolster the 2nd unit. New additions like Steve Blake and Matt Barnes provide added depth off the bench. The resigning of the vastly improved Shannon Brown has already begun to show dividends. Top to bottom this may be the best Lakers team Phil Jackson has ever coached, and that's saying a lot. So Miami can get all the headlines. We'll take the parade and confetti! I guess sometime after Kobe and the rest of the Lakers are finished being doused with champagne, we may look back and realize this team is pretty special.  Well, till then, how about them Miami Heat!

       

    

The Palin brand continues to grow. Next stop, White House?

            These days, it seems as if Sarah Palin is everywhere. From speaking engagements, book tours, a new reality show, and daughter Bristol's recent appearance as a contestant on Dancing with the Stars; the mama grizzly has been eating quite well as of late. Surprisingly, as her popularity continues to rise, polls consistently show her with dismal favorable ratings, although recently, with her constant television appearances, it has started to rise. There can be no mistake, there are many who still see her as a legitimate presidential candidate despite her less than stellar grasp of the issues.

            Ever since the infamous Katie Couric interview, handlers have steered her clear of any serious interviews; instead opting for uncontested forums like Fox News, where she can safely cling to her talking points without opposition, after failing miserably when asked by Couric the question "What do you like to read?". With all the bad press that ensued, her handlers wisely shut down all unscripted interviews from then on. To defend her critics who rightly question the wisdom of electing an unqualified politician, Palin has branded them the "Lame stream media". Now with no one to question her intentions or motives, no one knows what she stands for. All I hear her saying is "We want our country back!" over and over again, but what does that really mean? She owes it to us to explain. She can say she wants smaller government, but then wouldn't she have to be able to explain what that means? What programs would she cut?

           There are many who see her as simply all style and no substance. I think this would be underestimating her. She is a very intelligent woman, beautiful and charismatic, we should all be able to agree, regardless to our feelings toward her rhetoric. This woman is using the star power she gained by  John Mccain's failed presidential bid to the fullest. She has become a celebrity! Wasn't that a bad thing when Obama became one? Anyway, times change I guess. Who could blame her? It is really cold in Alaska! It has been reported that Palin is now raking in 100,000$ dollars per speaking engagement. She brought in 7 million dollars for the book, while inking 250,000$ per episode of her new reality show. It has been estimated that she has earned over 12 million since leaving her office at the end of July 2009. Democrats, underestimate this woman at your own risk!

           While rallying Tea Party crowds, with her near constant shots at President Obama and his policies, she is speaking to the choir. Her politics can be best described as high on rhetoric and low on fresh idea's in my personal opinion. Heck, she quit two years into her term as governor. How is that for serving the people's interest? In my book that makes her a quitter. I'm thinking, if she cant handle one of the least populated states, how can she run all 50? We are talking about the same woman who can see Russia from her house. Is this really the woman we want handling our foreign policy?

           She can say she is not running for president in 2012 all she wants. It takes no genius to see where this is headed. She is in the campaign as we speak. You cant say she isn't confident though. This lady really thinks she can beat Obama. That is where the brilliance of this woman lies. You see I say she is very intelligent because she knows how to tap a very sensitive issue for White Americans much in the same way less charismatic leaders like Rush Limbaugh and Glen Beck attempt to do. Many feel they are losing ground in this nation, with immigration gone wild, the war on terror, and on top of that a "mysterious" Black president? They want their country back the way it was after World War 2 when the "minorities knew their place". For these people, those were the good ole days. For us, the minorities, we were ready to die for a change. It is very offensive to hear these era's spoken of with such reverence.

          I myself, as a Black man, can generally emphasize with this sentiment though. There is a underlying backlash brewing that wishes to send our nation back to a time when the White man was more secure of his place in the land. Sarah Palin is banking on the power this anger is stirring amongst older, middle aged, and  uneducated white people, targeting them much like President Obama targeted first time voters among African Americans. The changes that occurred in this country in the 60's, most I presume would say was for the better. Still if Democrats are not careful, this anger that the Tea Party is building may end up sweeping Sarah Palin right into the driver seat of the most powerful nation this world has ever known.

            There is a few rays of hope. Let's not give her the job just yet. I wonder if Sarah Palin will be ready for the backlash that comes with running for the highest office in the land. Running from interviews and dodging questions wont be an option. Neither will high pitched screams for patriotism continue to hold audiences captivated. She is going to have to give substantial answers to complex issues such as how she would handle climate change, the economy, entitlement programs, the war on terror, and balancing the budget to say a few. Yelling "I love America!" wont cut it. If she does happen to win the Republican nomination( Mitt Romney and the likes will not give in easily), she will be set to face one of the most gifted orators and politicians this country has ever produced. The debates promise to be priceless!

         So what do you think? Does she run or not? Republicans are confused. Do they put their support behind The Palin Brand or one of the recycled former presidential losers who no doubt will be at it again? None of the more polished potential Republican candidates have anywhere near the star power and following or the buzz that an announcement would bring;  so it is really a choice of style or substance. Still think she's an imbecile? She has the whole right by the(you know what!) waiting to hear her decision. That there is power my friend. Meanwhile, I hear Democrats whispering, "Run! Sarah Run!" salivating at the prospect.

Are we a country of Democrats & Republicans or Americans?

         With all the bipartisan bickering going on daily in Americans lives, I started to wonder where is it all headed? It seems as if polarizing figures such as Sarah Palin seem to be popping up every week with increasingly outlandish rhetoric. More than ever our politicians have been making child hood playground fights seem reasonable in comparison. This disturbing trend towards partisanship now threatens to derail any plan to improve this country which is still in the process of trying to recover from the worst economic downturn since The Great Depression. I personally think if this continues to get worse and worse, the overall effectiveness of a two party system will have to be brought into question.

           Increasingly we seem to be dividing ourselves into two distinctly separate America's. On one side, those that look at Rush Limbaugh as a serious party leader, Glen Beck as a stout Constitutional historian, and the aforementioned Sarah Palin as ripe for the presidency on one side; those who would like to give President Obama a chance on the other. Both, the right and left are choosing to steadily distinguish the differences between themselves, increasing the gulf between them, while holding on stubbornly to the "We are always right" tone". Meanwhile the citizens that these politicians are supposed to represent, sit patiently on the sidelines waiting for something to happen.

         It kills me when politicians speak so confidently about the wishes of the American people. Politicians only represent the interest of their party, not the people. If they did represent the people, and we lived in a true Democracy, we could utilize the internet to cast votes; majority rules.  Now I dont owe loyalty to either party although my political leanings tend to be on the Democrats side much of the time. In my opinion they are the best of two bad choices. I have a strong feeling amongst my generation, that before its said and done we will have more people identifying themselves as independent than ever before.

         I hate to say it, but as much as we like to preach the benefits of Democracy, it's really starting to feel like a controlled anarchy. As our economic strength in the world declines we put ourselves at further risk as The House and The Senate remains gridlocked. Republicans have come right out and said that they are committed to seeing to it that Barack Obama's presidency is a failure. When I hear formerly respected news columnist, commentators, politicians, and would be presidential candidates casually calling the leader of the free world, our president, everything from a Socialist, to a Nazi. Limbaugh went as far as calling Obama a flat out idiot. To many people, this is not only disrespectful to President Obama, but to the entire country as a whole, not to mention the hits taken to our image abroad.

          These are just a few examples of how party affiliation continues to shape the views and attitudes of millions of Americans. I no longer look at politics as entertainment. Every time I watch, it makes me wonder what happened to this great country. Maybe we should rename it The United States of Republicans & Democrats!

       

What’s The Problem with Organized Religion?

            As the world spirals toward a bleak and uncertain future, it is increasingly becoming more and more imperative for those who make up the human family to seriously analyze the world we live in and the religious traditions we agree to live under in our respective lands. We must decide for ourselves whether or not they are beneficial to world unity or dangerous to mankind. It is time for some soul searching. Our inability to come to grips with the true nature of religion no doubt puts society as we know it in a precarious situation. Now is the time when we must learn to set all prejudices aside, and begin the process of examining the barriers that continue to prevent us from living up to our true potential if we are to ever attain the lasting peace we all long for. 

           This will not be easy for many when considering that some traditions have been firmly in place for several thousand years. On top of that most indoctrinated into organized religions have had it continuously ingrained into their heads since small children by their spiritual leaders that to merely question their faith is a sin. The aim is to discourage inquiry. Sometimes questioning accepted doctrines can result in the complete banishment of the inquisitor.

 It is quite astonishing to think that even in our modern society were science is advancing at break neck speed, shattering many centuries old superstitions in the process, religion somehow manages to maintain its vice like grip on the minds of many. Daily news reports continue to show that as the world becomes increasingly interconnected, divisions between races and global conflicts between nations are on the rise instead of on the mend as one might expect. Watch a little television and you will discover there is no shortage of “Doom and Gloom” Pastors and so called Prophets happily predicting and in some cases eagerly awaiting mankind's demise in the near future. Is it possible these poisonous thought processes have the potential to equate to a self fulfilling prophecy?

             Is it not disturbing that we find so many people are extremely pessimistic about the future? Could it be that the “us versus them” dynamic spelled out among organized religion has dulled the hopes of mankind?  Many wonder if civilization can survive without the moral principals of the religious system. But is man really dependent on an agreed upon set of rules spelled out by religious traditions in order to behave ourselves and protect ourselves from each other? Or can it be said that what we define as morality is an innate quality already built into the gene of the human species? 

           There are those who see religion as a gift from God. One cannot deny that religious institutions have done some good, but how much longer can we ignore the evils it has done in Gods name? People point to religion as a force for good by an overwhelming margin all over the world. But with the growing severity of the clashes between religion I wonder if its time we asked ourselves if the positive aspects of organized religion out weigh the negative? What do you think?