Buzz of the Day
I was watching the series finale of Life on Mars yesterday. I was very disappointed. I went on to Google the series to find out some info. Well I guess the ratings were bad. I was quite surprised. The only bad episode in my opinion was the series finale.
Imagine being from somewhere different than everyone around you...Being able to relate, but not totally. Now in this series, he was in 1973 but he's from 2008. I'm just talking about in a different state of mind than the people around you.
I am a pretty different guy. I don't always relate or agree with people totally. My brother always says there are 3 sides to every story. My side; Your side; and The Truth! I think the one thing that separates me from most people in my awareness. I look at situations from each person's viewpoint. The reason I can do this (most of the time) is because I've been around so many different people. And in their mind, their actions are justified. Let me give you some scenarios:
A 17 year old boy goes to prison and leaves a 31 year old man. He was skinny, insecure, and he had to fight for everything he has. The prisons that he's been in were his home. Think about your 21st birthday...you were probably not in prison. So when he arrives "on the outside" for the first time since the early 1990's. Where does that man go to get a job? Where does he go to provide for himself? Who will accept him? Has he lost his constitutional right to the pursuit of happiness? How does he achieve that?
So he applies for jobs, but these jobs don't hire felons. And the jobs that say they will hire felons, only made that rule because a friend of the family was given a job many years ago (they haven't hired one since). This convicted felon has very few family members. They've said, " You can stay with us for 2 months, but after that you have to find your own." Where does he find his own?
Think about that
That is just 1 of 1 trillion different scenarios that people go through everyday. I know people in situations similar to the one above. I also know people that have defied the odds and have done very well after prison. Maybe they grew up in a drug house, maybe they grew up in a tough neighborhood, or maybe their family has never seen anyone get past 11th grade.
I know people who have never "struggled" in their life. Financially. They had both parents in the home, but the parents hated each other. Money was no object. They could buy whatever they wanted, but they didn't have family so share these things with. I know people who have broken the law for years and never has gotten caught. I know people who have lived a squeaky-clean life who were falsely accused of things and their lives were never the same.
When I hear latest tragedies, my heart hurts for them. When I think about the different directions that my life could have gone. Or if I would have gotten caught doing something stupid, how my life would have dramatically changed.
I guess I say all of that to say that I don't feel like I'm better than anyone...We all have our ups and downs and we all deal with them differently. So when people are extremely quick to judge, that bothers me because they don't know the whole story. Don't get me wrong, right and wrong doesn't change because of people's situations! What is wrong for one person is wrong for the next.
Sometimes people don't feel like they have a choice...And I'm aware of that.
Friday, April 3, 2009
Thursday, April 2, 2009
Jealously?
Random Thoughts Thursday
The comedian Katt Williams once talked about "player haters" and how you need some hater in your life. The jist of the skit was once you start doing some good things, people will start to get jealous. That is kind of your coming out party. Once people start to hate, then you have arrived!
I've never been a jealous person. I get more excited when my friends achieve something than when I do. I always think, "Well I can't wait til I do that." Very rarely (I can't remember a time, but I'm sure I have because I'm human) have I been upset with something someone else has that I don't have.
I guess the one feeling I have is disappointment in myself. That is probably the feeling I have the most. Very rarely jealousy. I have done some dumb things and made things harder on myself than they should have been. I have to work extra hard now just to "make par" per se.
I hope one day I'll have some haters too. Actually, I'd like the success without the haters...
The comedian Katt Williams once talked about "player haters" and how you need some hater in your life. The jist of the skit was once you start doing some good things, people will start to get jealous. That is kind of your coming out party. Once people start to hate, then you have arrived!
I've never been a jealous person. I get more excited when my friends achieve something than when I do. I always think, "Well I can't wait til I do that." Very rarely (I can't remember a time, but I'm sure I have because I'm human) have I been upset with something someone else has that I don't have.
I guess the one feeling I have is disappointment in myself. That is probably the feeling I have the most. Very rarely jealousy. I have done some dumb things and made things harder on myself than they should have been. I have to work extra hard now just to "make par" per se.
I hope one day I'll have some haters too. Actually, I'd like the success without the haters...
MEAP Scores Rise
Random Thoughts Thursday
Across the state of Michigan, scores in math, science, and social studies rise. I wonder what has brought on this change? I don't know...Let's hope we can keep it up!
Across the state of Michigan, scores in math, science, and social studies rise. I wonder what has brought on this change? I don't know...Let's hope we can keep it up!
Random Thoughts Thursday
Thursdays will hopefully be fun. I want to just post random thoughts all day. Whether it's a thought I've had for years, days, or seconds, I want to share.
I'm really working on getting the blog a facelift, tummy tuck, etc.
I'm really working on getting the blog a facelift, tummy tuck, etc.
Wednesday, April 1, 2009
Early April Fools
Buzz of the Day
University of San Diego California made a pretty big oopsy Tuesday.
There were about 19,000 students who were accepted to the school for this upcoming Fall. There were another 29,000 who were not accepted. A welcome email was sent to...all 48,000 students! About a half hour afterwards, they realized the mistake. Talking about an emotional roller coaster...
That's all I got for you today. I will make it up tomorrow. I promise
University of San Diego California made a pretty big oopsy Tuesday.
There were about 19,000 students who were accepted to the school for this upcoming Fall. There were another 29,000 who were not accepted. A welcome email was sent to...all 48,000 students! About a half hour afterwards, they realized the mistake. Talking about an emotional roller coaster...
That's all I got for you today. I will make it up tomorrow. I promise
Tuesday, March 31, 2009
You Like Who?
Buzz of the Day
I think everyone has a right to be criticized...sometimes I question the person who has so much to say. I sometimes question their intent. I guess there are two things I'd like to get off my chest: 1.) I will not feel bad because some idiot (who happens to be black) does something...well, idiotic. 2.) I hope people criticize everyone equally. They should be equal opportunity critics. (equal opportunity...we won't go there today)
I've played sports my whole life. Things are simplified in sports. Either you can help the team or not. If you are my best friend and I have first pick in basketball, if you're not first pick material, then I'm picking someone else! No hard feelings. I couldn't care if it was a black, white, or purple person. I'm trying to win!
I know that people with differences will have conflict. But I hope that we will help people understand, and listen carefully when it's their turn to do so...And agree to disagree respectfully.
We all have a friend (or many, many friends) that have weird taste. They may eat cheese on their apple pie, put mustard/ketchup on everything, or put sugar in spaghetti. They may love super skinny girls/guys, long/short hair, or feet. Just plain feet. We look at them sometimes like, "What are you thinking?" The point is...we still love and respect them.
When people cut off their nose despite their face, it's stupid. If Barack Obama has the best interest of the U.S. in mind, he should get credit for that. If he does some things that you don't agree with, that's okay...But he's not the dumbest person in the world because he uses a teleprompter (the last president was). If Kwame Kilpatrick does something stupid (wait...I think he just did something else stupid...yup), he didn't do it because he's black. He did it because he is greedy, arrogant, and a whole bunch of other adjectives.
I don't think we should get so much pleasure out of dogging someone else. I know we have better things to do. I don't have a problem with people stating their opinion. I have a problem with people going waaay overboard to state their opinion. They had Madonna on CNN yesterday. "Is she going to adopt another African child?'" Who cares? I don't. We are going through the hardest economic time in my life. And frankly, I have better stuff to do than worry about Madonna! Or Kwame. Especially Kwame...He not only gives himself a bad name. He gives everyone who justifies his stupidity a bad name.
I'm too busy trying to make a name for myself in my new position, at my new job. The job that I'm trying to keep! When I have time to "hate" on somebody, things will have to be going much better than they are for me now...
That's my light buzz today. Maybe a little heavier than I originally thought. I got on a roll okay?
I think everyone has a right to be criticized...sometimes I question the person who has so much to say. I sometimes question their intent. I guess there are two things I'd like to get off my chest: 1.) I will not feel bad because some idiot (who happens to be black) does something...well, idiotic. 2.) I hope people criticize everyone equally. They should be equal opportunity critics. (equal opportunity...we won't go there today)
I've played sports my whole life. Things are simplified in sports. Either you can help the team or not. If you are my best friend and I have first pick in basketball, if you're not first pick material, then I'm picking someone else! No hard feelings. I couldn't care if it was a black, white, or purple person. I'm trying to win!
I know that people with differences will have conflict. But I hope that we will help people understand, and listen carefully when it's their turn to do so...And agree to disagree respectfully.
We all have a friend (or many, many friends) that have weird taste. They may eat cheese on their apple pie, put mustard/ketchup on everything, or put sugar in spaghetti. They may love super skinny girls/guys, long/short hair, or feet. Just plain feet. We look at them sometimes like, "What are you thinking?" The point is...we still love and respect them.
When people cut off their nose despite their face, it's stupid. If Barack Obama has the best interest of the U.S. in mind, he should get credit for that. If he does some things that you don't agree with, that's okay...But he's not the dumbest person in the world because he uses a teleprompter (the last president was). If Kwame Kilpatrick does something stupid (wait...I think he just did something else stupid...yup), he didn't do it because he's black. He did it because he is greedy, arrogant, and a whole bunch of other adjectives.
I don't think we should get so much pleasure out of dogging someone else. I know we have better things to do. I don't have a problem with people stating their opinion. I have a problem with people going waaay overboard to state their opinion. They had Madonna on CNN yesterday. "Is she going to adopt another African child?'" Who cares? I don't. We are going through the hardest economic time in my life. And frankly, I have better stuff to do than worry about Madonna! Or Kwame. Especially Kwame...He not only gives himself a bad name. He gives everyone who justifies his stupidity a bad name.
I'm too busy trying to make a name for myself in my new position, at my new job. The job that I'm trying to keep! When I have time to "hate" on somebody, things will have to be going much better than they are for me now...
That's my light buzz today. Maybe a little heavier than I originally thought. I got on a roll okay?
Monday, March 30, 2009
Life's Lesssons
Buzz of the Day
There are so many challenges if life. I look at my nephews and nieces and think about what I went through when I was their age. You become a teenager/young adult and you feel like nobody is in your corner. The toughest thing is when you are correct in your assessment. I spent time with 2 of my nephews a couple of weeks ago. One is 20 and about to have a baby in May; the other is 17; they both are straddling the fence of mediocrity.
How do you explain something to somebody before they've had the opportunity to experience themselves? I didn't have many people to give me advice when I was their age, and I get upset when I try to mentor and they do the opposite of what I've advised. Don't get me wrong, they are good kids. But good ain't good enough these days. I want them to be more prepared than I was going into the "real world." I am blessed to have a good head on my shoulders, but trust me: I did my share of stupid things. I think about my cousin who is in prison for "natural life" and he's less than 2 years older than me. I know that if he was around, I wouldn't have made so many mistakes, because I respected him enough to listen and if I didn't, he would have beat me up.
So I struggle with my approach when I talk to them. I know that they hear me, although many times they don't listen. There is always a learning curve. Hell, I'm still looking for a mentor; I believe we all need it. This world is tough! And getting tougher... I just want to make their path a little less stressful, because times have changed. Even the 10 years since I've been out of High School, society is much different. Couple that with this economy and the way business will be done from here on...so I'll stay in their ear and lend one if that's what they need, and pray God guides them and keeps them out of harm's way: That's what got me through my trials and tribulations when I didn't know any better.
There are so many challenges if life. I look at my nephews and nieces and think about what I went through when I was their age. You become a teenager/young adult and you feel like nobody is in your corner. The toughest thing is when you are correct in your assessment. I spent time with 2 of my nephews a couple of weeks ago. One is 20 and about to have a baby in May; the other is 17; they both are straddling the fence of mediocrity.
How do you explain something to somebody before they've had the opportunity to experience themselves? I didn't have many people to give me advice when I was their age, and I get upset when I try to mentor and they do the opposite of what I've advised. Don't get me wrong, they are good kids. But good ain't good enough these days. I want them to be more prepared than I was going into the "real world." I am blessed to have a good head on my shoulders, but trust me: I did my share of stupid things. I think about my cousin who is in prison for "natural life" and he's less than 2 years older than me. I know that if he was around, I wouldn't have made so many mistakes, because I respected him enough to listen and if I didn't, he would have beat me up.
So I struggle with my approach when I talk to them. I know that they hear me, although many times they don't listen. There is always a learning curve. Hell, I'm still looking for a mentor; I believe we all need it. This world is tough! And getting tougher... I just want to make their path a little less stressful, because times have changed. Even the 10 years since I've been out of High School, society is much different. Couple that with this economy and the way business will be done from here on...so I'll stay in their ear and lend one if that's what they need, and pray God guides them and keeps them out of harm's way: That's what got me through my trials and tribulations when I didn't know any better.
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