Of course our military is over extended, which is bad in itself. But the pressure being put on recruiters is ridiculous! When our men and women who recruit for the Armed Services have to kill themselves to escape the wrath of superiors, something has definitely gone wrong and something needs to change!
Did you get a load of Michael Jordan’s suit last night at halftime of the game? This picture doesn’t do it justice but trust me he was clean. Jordan has sealed his career with the pinnacle of basketball achievement – induction into the Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame.
I like what he said about being inducted.
“This is not fun for me, Getting enshrined in the Hall of Fame, you know your career is completely over.”
Joining MJ, a basketball champion and statesman David “The Admiral” Robinson from the San Antonio Spurs via the US Naval Academy.
Then there is the all time assist leader John Stockton from the Utah Jazz and Rutgers women’s coach C. Vivian Stringer.
This is truly a sweet and deserving class of winners. And the best part about each of the players in particular is that when each came into the league, the Spurs, Jazz and Bulls respectively were horrible teams. Robinson was the foundation to bring the Spurs back, Stockton with pick n’ roll pal Karl Malone made the Jazz what they are today, and god knows what Michael did with the Bulls. It’s one thing to be a great player on a great team, its another to be a great player who helps to make a team great. All three of these can say they did just that.
It also goes without saying that Stringer deserves enshrinement too. She is the first coach in NCAA history to take three different women’s NCAA teams to the Final Four. She is the third winningest coach in women’s basketball history. She is also a pioneer for women’s sports period.
Congratulations to them all!
You can put Roy Williams in the same breath as Dean Smith now! They made it look pretty easy for the most part in dismantling Michigan State.
Many props to Tom Izzo’s team as well who beat some pretty good teams to make the final game. Turnovers and and lack of size and execution really hurt the Spartans.
This article is a real eye opener for me. I have never been a fan of men who are abusive to their women in relationships. Most every woman who is a family member or friend of mine has been physically abused by at least one man, more often more than one. A friend of mine recently told me recently of a guy who has been getting beat by his wife regularly for years.
Both physical and very/emotional abuse are damaging. To hear these men open up and explain their angry reactions in jealous fits of control gone wild is chilling. Some describe how they can’t communicate effectively while even another talks about all but blacking out when he becomes abusive. As hurtful is it is to read, I am glad they are talking at least. This is definitely something that needs to be talked about but it rarely is seriously and openly. Like race it’s a social ta-bu.
And just think, in Afghanistan they created a law to allow their men to rape their wives.
ME! I just learned that I passed my test and now I am officially certified to a baseball umpire!
And sure I know what I am getting myself into. I can only imagine if people argue fouls and travels the way they do I know how it’s going to be with balls and strikes. But I’ll deal with that later.
As for today… in the imortal words of Rick James/Dave Chappell … “It’s a celebration bit*%!”
I am looking forward to taking my daughter to some of the festivities! Perhaps I can get lucky and get some tickets!
Hey, I am a pretty liberal person when it comes to honoring people’s beliefs. I also have many questions of both Christianity and Islam. But claiming dual religions?
Even I don’t get that!
This sista is confused. Because the question of Christianity is the question of Jesus and whether he holds a place of deification, and whether he is indeed the son of god. Christians who use the bible clearly believe that.
This is not so for the Muslim. They believe Jesus is a prophet like Muhammad… I would argue not even as significant.
So she may take things from both religions that she may enjoy when it comes to worship or teachings. But just by virtue of the doctrines she cannot be both. It’s impossible!
Saw Natalie Cole the other evening on The Larry King Show. A lengendary singer, songwriter, performer and daughter of the late Nat King Cole revealed that she needed a kidney and dozens of fans called the show to offer theirs.
Cole, a former cocaine and heroine addict took full responsibility for her health issues and was gracious and real in discussing her challenges. She didn’t ask for anything.
I was especially touched because growing up until now Cole’s music still holds a special place in my heart. She is still as beautiful as ever too.
I really hope she gets her transplant and continues to live a productive and healthy life.
How does one rectify anger?
I have known for years that I carry anger around for different reasons. And at times it has manifest iself in different ways. For instance, for most of my life I’ve struggled with depression at some times or others. I’ve heard that depression is in effect ‘repressed anger.’ I can believe that.
Most wouldn’t know about the anger because I am generally a “happy- go- lucky” person. When I am around friends or collegues at work this is the side they see most often. My natural make up is to spread joy and offer encouragement. I love to see a genuine smile on someone’s face. And I enjoy helping to create that smile whether it’s by some form of serving, saying a kind word or saying something humerous. I get a lot out of seeing other people happy.
Often, I find myself giving out a lot without asking much in return. Perhaps I get angry because I wish that sometimes people understood that I may need a little something something back. It’s natural for people to think that the “happy guy” is always OK and is never in need of attention or encouragement. And then sometimes when I do ask, sometimes folks are looking around strangly as if I asked for a first born or something. This is because they are not used to it.
“What you? Need something?”
Then there is the supressed anger that I recognize. It happens because sometimes I see things or feel as if someone may be trying to take advantage of the kindness I try to offer or the contributions I try to make. In those cases I get kinda stuck because in one sense I would like to communicate my displeasure. But in my nature if I do I try to do it in a way that preserves the other person’s dignity. I try to approach people the way I want to be approached. I try to avoid being too harsh or just letting them have it.
More times than not however, I find that this approach does not work. In far too many instances people seem to take kindness for weakness. And at some point it’s going to come out and I am going to go OFF. At that point that creates an issue of having to possibly repair the damage done within conflict of the anger expressing moments. I’m saying to myself, “Why could you not listen when I broke it down gently before? I said the same thing basically, except this time I added a MF or SH to it which finally got your attention.”
Then I am angry that I even had to go there.
The thing is this: Most days I can just move on and think of the positive and not carry this stuff with me. But at the same time, I find that many of these issues are not really resolved, but rather just tucked away till the next time. So then there is resentment on top of resentment – anger on top of anger
I know that anger itself is not a totally negative emotion. I know it has it’s place. But I am not sure how to use it to my advantage without doing or saying things against my nature.
Roland S. Martin – CNN
We all have our vices. But one that drives me nuts is smoking.
There is nothing — NOTHING! — that I like about smoking.
Why someone in their right mind would want to essentially inhale fire is beyond me.
When relatives come to my home and they smoke, they can’t just stand outside the front or back door. No, I send them to the furthest point in the backyard to get their nicotine fix.
I celebrate when cities pass smoking bans because the only smoke I want in a restaurant should come from a hot, juicy steak. If I’m walking down the street, and the person in front of me is leaving their trail of smoke, I’ll happily speed up to get past them or publicly wave the smoke out of the way when walking by them to show my disapproval. And it angers me to drive down the street and look over to the next car and see a mom or dad puffing away as a helpless child has to sit there and inhale that junk.
So don’t think for a second that you’ll find any sympathy from me for the folks who are up in arms over the federal tobacco tax on a pack of cigarettes jumping from 39 cents to a buck and a penny. The money will be used for the expansion of the president’s health initiatives.
Look, I don’t care if a Democrat, Republican, or independent was behind this tax, I would gladly see it happen.
The folks who are not happy are saying this is far too much taxation and it’s wrong, but we can’t deny the health reality. Cigarettes are unhealthy. Period. This isn’t up for argument or debate.
According to an Associated Press story, “The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention says cigarette smoking results in an estimated 443,000 premature deaths each year, and costs the economy $193 billion in health care expenses and lost time from work. Smoking is a major contributor to heart disease, cancer and lung disease.”
But then those who don’t want to see it happen are bringing out the usual prop: the poor, poor people.
Critics say the tax will disproportionately hurt poor people. Fine! Did we somehow forget that poor people already are likely to be in poorer health because they are living in areas where there are food deserts, and that means lack of access to fresh fruits and vegetables?
Poor folks are likely to lack insurance, which means when they get sick, they will go to a city or county hospital, and taxpayers have to foot the bill. So their decision to buy cigarettes will probably hit us in the pocketbook later on.
Folks, poor people are always used by someone. And in this case, they are being trotted out so we can say, “Oh, this is so harsh because the poor will be hurt.”
Let’s face it: I don’t want poor, middle or rich folks smoking. I just think it’s disgusting. But if this tax will cause a lot of folks — poor or otherwise — to quit smoking and add a few years to their life, then I call that good legislation.
~ Any thoughts people?
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