Whatever happened to? 2nd edition

ok, lemme get deep right quick... Another edition of:

Whatever happened to?
... to love at first sight?
... to wedlock?
I gotta explain that one, remember the days when a girl would tell her parents, "I'm pregnant" and before she could finish the word pregnant her father had done already drove to the boy's house with a shotgun, brought him back and basically forced a marriage to happen right then and there. I mean back in the day, for better or for worse meant, for better or for worse. People stood married, even if they hated the situation... most of the time because it was out of wedlock, lol. But, can we even use the term Wedlock anymore?!? Doesn't seem to me like there's much of a use for that word... if there was, don't think you'd see so many baby mama's and the like. Not saying wedlock is good, but hey it would also make you think before you act and put yourself in that situation. America is gettin too lax. Society in general is too lax... it's like soceity is gettin old. Does anyone remember when the word Sex was like a word that ppl wouldn't say out loud. Birth control was considered wrong, the word family = Father+ Mother + plus kids+ community... I mean yea, some things were a little too unaccepted, but with the acceptance of 1 came the snowball effect of the rest. ooo sociecty can be pursuaded, if you bagger it enough anything can be accepted... Tobacco and Alcohol used to be banned... remember that? I don't lol, but it's clear in movies like Life where they had underground bars that u had to know the secret password to and stuff like that.... Now society has to beg ppl to quit smoking and has finally gotten a ban on smoking on indoors. Here lately we're talkin about legalizing marijuana and even dropping the drinking age... ??? We're even allowing same sex marriages these days... The new movement, Gay Rights.... everyone has there swing at soceity these days... Just form a group and make some noise!!! you'll get Whatever you like, like T.I. say.... Just to clarify, my views on Gays are based upon my religious beliefs, just plain wrong... however, I do no judge anyone... that isn't my job, that's for God himself to decide. I really don't know if a person is born that way or if it's a choice they've made.... ??? don't know, and that's a whole nother' blog.... back to soceity... It's falling ppl! but that's enough explaining.....

to .99 cent gas? Remember when 1.09 was too high? It's like a game... let's raise gas to 4 dollars and then bring it back to 3.58 and keep it there. That'll seem better than 4 and ppl will be content. We attack society so much, but as a society we accept too much. I don't understand how a small portion of society can bully the greater, collective society, but on the flip side, the society as a whole cannot stop a smaller segment of itself.... that baffles me! Kinda like how those idiots in the Child's Play movies let that damn Chucky doll kill them!! It's a freakin little toy kick the shit out of it!! A little doll with a knife ain't gon' stab me to death, i'm sorry.... lol that's funny... anyhow

to for better or for worse?
I had to come back to this... I think they should drop the for worse part because a 50% divorce rate is telling me that half of the American population I guess didn't hear or doesn't listen to that part of the marriage vows. Let's just drop it... Drop it like it's hot!! Let's just say to have and to hold for better or if not get divorced.... may as well. Don't like your job... quit. Don't like your weight... have surgery. Don't wanna be pregnant... abort. Don't wanna be a man anymore... get a sex change. Don't want your kid to be short... select the genes u want. Don't wanna be bald.... hair club for men/women. Everything has to be for better.... I mean don't get me wrong, some of these things are good to have... but the things we should be focused on making better we're far from doing and the things that only require a little work and effort to turn from bad to good we've just found another quick fix. I.e. instead of therapy/ get a divorce... instead of workin out and dieting correctly/get lipo...

I had planned on just making a list of questions, but I ended up having an opinion for each of em, lol so I'll save the rest for the next edition of Whatever happened to?

Do a few apples really spoil the bunch?

You know what they say, 1 bad apple spoils the bunch... Well can we really translate that to anything? Well I just finished watching a conversation between Tavis Smiley and Evan Bayh, Senator from Indiana who was considered by Obama as a possible running mate. A couple of things that the Sen. spoke about kind of got me thinking. Well i guess enough to make me hop on the site and write on it... lol. Well we all know that there is an issue of race when it comes to the Presidental race. So Tavis asked the Sen. how much of an impact did he think the issue of race would have in Indiana, which is known to be a Red state ( or Republican). Currently, Obama is actually leading in the polls in Indiana and has a chance of acutally winning that state, which is about a 21% increase from the last presidental election.

Well the Senator explained that while it would be naive to say that race isn't an issue, it shouldn't be much of an impact. There's a small group of ppl, in his opinion that still "think like that".... and furthermore those ppl wouldn't vote for a Democrat anyhow. I kinda felt where he was coming from on that, I mean if you're racist you're racist. You gonna hate who you hate and anyone who may seem like they helping who you hate. But they're still the "bad apples" and with history being the way it is, it's hard to overcome that stigma as a race. it's so easy to blame a difference of opinion, or personality, or even dislike of someone on being racist. I mean ppl of the same race have these differences.

It's just too hard to tell, and especially coming from a race that has been oppressed in the past, the extreme excuse is going to be taken... it's just a natural defensive mechanism... If u have a group of 5 ppl, and the group always picked on this one person i'll name Joe. Naturally Joe isn't gonna like that group too much... However, 4 members of that group realize the error of there ways and have genuinely changed and would never pick on Joe the way they did before. I bet if the 4 were together and happen to run into Joe... even knowing that information... Joe isn't gonna really trust them fully. Trust issues... see that trust pops up in everything that is associated with the word "problem"....

We've come along way, but there are just too many bad apples, maybe the analogy is transferable...
But hey, that's just me... Speak on it,

the

I'm Back!

I'm back!

Hey, that works on 2 levels....

The first being my return to Louisiana.... there's no place like home.... nah really there isn't. Especially the N.O.

The second is creatively. The past couple of weeks I don't think there was a creative bone in my body. I just felt so disoriented. I've only been back 2 weeks, but one small hurdle I had to get over was the fact that I'm not just visiting. Whenever I returned to N.O. in the past, my time was limited. Nowadays, I have no place to return to. That is a strange feeling, and you gotta feel it to understand it. Meanwhile, I just haven't been very creative. My creativeness is what sparks alot of my actions. The more creative i can be, the better I perform... pretty much. I think we got seperated somewhere between here and florida, but it has finally found its way back to me. I see alot of obstacles ahead of me, but with my creativeness back I can face anything thrown at me.

I'm Back!!

My Dreams....

Namaste!! ( means welcome)

... So I was on the phone right, and you know I'm just talkin, chit-chattin if you will and me and this person got on the subject of school and future careers; and I was like, there's a lot of things that I want to do. So, she was like, well what are they. I was stuck, then it hit me... I've never really talked out loud about all the things in my head that I want to do with my life. These things are still fairly new, but nonetheless I've never talked about them. So when she asked me that, I found myself not really being able to explain what it was. I mean sure, it makes total sense in my head, but when I said it out loud it was as if I wasn't confident in it or maybe even felt foolish. Like a little kid wanting to be a superhero, or an astronaut, or policeman... As if my dreams are too big!! So I've decided to take the first step and just get them all out of me. Not quite out loud, but out there in some form, I mean as I've already learned, my words can be very powerful... So here goes...

Well, let's start way back in High School,
I was destined to be an NBA star... :) just one problem, I was in the marching band throughout highschool, got to college, was like ooo i'll walk on. Took one look at the team, and headed for the library.... lol Hey, I could still pursue it, but prob very unlikely.... ok that's off my chest, lol

Nowadays, I don't feel like the things that pop into my head are my thoughts alone... I feel like there's someone telling me these things and ok let's back up, I feel like God is telling me all the things he wants me to do with my life, and basically it's up to me whether they get done or not...
Sounds weird? yes, no, maybe? Are u currently following your dreams? If so, did you hear the same voice? Let me know, cuz i'm tryin to figure this one out, :)

So what are they?
Well one day, I was sittin around thinkin and stuff and this idea for a movie hit me!! Actually I take that back I was in the shower. I've only told 1 maybe 2 ppl out this idea, lol.... it's just that good, to me anywayz... So i'm like, I need to write a screenplay. I think i missed my big shot to, cuz the writers going on strike probably was my ticket to success, but hey I didn't follow that thought right away... I'm still writing, but some of my new experiences have kind of altered the story... I've been doing alot of research and just reading literature on screenplays, how they're written and the whole hollywood process in general. I'll get her done though... plus another idea hit me not too long ago, I can't remember it though lol, I think I might end up as a writer..

So that was that, so now, same kind of situation, i'm just chillin, sittin around, and it hit me.... I want to start a corporation. Basically a company that has many different lines of businesses under it. So i'll use a current one out there as an example, hmm, Walt Disney world... perfect example, Fortune 500 company... many different lines of business... ABC, ESPN, Resort, theme parks, merchandise... lot's of companies u wouldn't even have thought, they're all run individually, but still owned by Disney... something similiar, Who knows, maybe it'll get to Disney status! prob after i'm gone...

So this next one actually happen earlier today while I was at work.... 2 of em actually...
I was watchin BET, well it was on in the break room... and 106 & Park was on, So I was thinkin about how and why I do not consider myself a viewer of this network... and it hit me, I should start my own network... haven't picked out a name, but I'm thinkin a truly Black station, one that displays Blacks in a positive image and not full of stereotypes, and also one that informs... If someone wants to steal this idea Be My Guest!! I mean hey, maybe some of these thing hit me just because God knows i'm not afraid to put it out there! But yea, momma always told me, if ya want something done right, ya gotta do it yourself...
and the second one that hit me was not too long after. I was thinking about a prior blog i'd written about reading and the black culture, and I thought to myself, hmm... maybe I should open up my own school... but then I thought, nah that can be for later when i'm in my 50's or somethin like that... lol

But as u can see, my dreams are REALLY big... but in my mind they seem inevitable... it's something I feel in my heart I can accomplish and through God's grace... it WILL be done.... I've always had the Do it big mentality and my Dreams are no different, I'm the type of person that wants to own a chain of stores rather than just a store in a chain....

but that's just me.... What are you're Dreams?

Reading and the Black Culture

Ok let's talk,

We all, well alot of us have heard the statement, "if you want to hide something from a black person put it in a book because they'll never look there." That's just a disgrace. What seems to be the problem? Now I have to beat up on myself in this one because I have been known in to past to say I hate reading... I just won't read. Well my views on reading have been changing for the better. In the past, I've always associated reading with words like, boring, studious, nerdy, unexciting, just plain ole' not good associations. How this occurred? couldn't tell ya. However, I've come to understand how powerful a simple book can be, even how powerful my own words can be. This led to a lot of writing on my part. I'm not just writing to entertain myself, but in doing so I actually become better and better at it. It's also really therapeutic!

Ok that's just me, what about the rest of my race. Why the stigma? Is it true? What's the problem?
Well I did a little research and found that a study was done in 1992 that tested the reading scores of 12 graders. The study was conducted up until 2005 and shows a trend of decline over these years. This includes all races. However, the discrepancy between the races was also tested and not only was the black race on the decline, but started at a lower score as well. You can see this for yourself here http://nces.ed.gov/ssbr/pages/reading0407.asp?IndID=39
Come on nah, not only did the Hispanic population take the number 2 minority spot, but they also read better than us too! Actually, the white population tested showed the most decline up to 2005 while the other races really remained the same and didn't really change so that does say that it isn't all bad, but it needs to rise.

Could this be the problem be that blacks are not at a proficient reading level and are discouraged from doing so? Maybe if we did something to better our youth's reading ability, reading would become a common pastime and maybe then the power that we have will begin to rise.
I think we all need to go watch that movie Matilda about 50 times and see just how strong our minds can be.

Well, that's all I have for now... It's past my bedtime! I gotta long day tomorrow!

Oh, just a side note... There's a book written by Hill Harper called Letters to a Young Sister, I hear that it's a good read... he also has one entitled Letters to a Young Brother. I will be getting my copy soon.... So should you!

Maybe I'll form a book club, we need more of those don't ya think, If not, this message did not serve its purpose at all.

Goodnight,

Relationship Theory

Ok, I know i said maybe, but I've decided I will... (besides ppl like the juicy stuff anyway)

Here's my latest theory on relationships:
If it starts too fast, it will end even faster....

Think about that,

I was conversing with a close personal friend and she so eloquently said the same thing in her own words. I was like, hmm that was deep.

Lets talk,

So you meet someone and there's a mutual interest. You go on a couple of dates and hit it off very well. Let's stop here, This means absolutely nothing! (yes I said it)
Children get new Xmas toys every year, if they really loved the ones the year before there would be no need for new ones every year would there.... It's just something new and exciting in your life. Granted those initial dates do tell whether or not you should continue to build something, but let's not jump the gun. Now where many relationships go wrong is exactly at this point. This is the point where many relationships start. Unfortunately the representatives of people often do not remain for the duration of the relationship. Usually around the time when they depart is when the relationship is about to come to an end.
I'll call this part, meeting the truth. It's funny how people are shocked to meet the true person they're dating. "My how you've changed" may be a phrase used...
So you meet your true partner and you hate them, and you end up alone again. Then you repeat the cycle again, that's the killer part. You know why many of the major corporations are successful? They are good at producing a consistent product and can perform successful things over and over again. You know why you're still single? cuz you're good at the cycle that I just described... time to try a new one!

Ok now that I've tore you down, it's time to build you back up... can't just leave ya damaged.
Here's what ya do:
You meet someone you like, great job....
You have a mutual likeness for each, great
Now all you need to do is begin dating, and find out everything you can during this dating period and after that you can decide whether or not you want to proceed to the next step or not.

Now don't get me wrong, there are many many many other factors that contribute to this cycle, but I think one of the major sources is the two parties just getting something other than what they expected.

But this is just my theory, what do you think?

A Brief Message,

Hello folks,

It's been a minute since I wrote here. Sorry, I've been traveling the U.S.A!! I think i'm become a frequent flyer, lol....
Well this will be a brief one, I have a lot to say and little time, because it's 1 am and i work for 9:15 am, yea I need to be sleep. However, I had so much in my head that I had to at least get an outline so I won't forget... so here's some topics I'll be talkin about in the upcoming week...

-The closeness and importance of family
-Reading & the Black Culture
-and many more.... lol I'm forgetting already
maybe relationships... or maybe not, might get a little to real! (starting too fast, ending even faster)

In other news, if you're reading this I'd like to thank you for your time, and also i'd like to invite you to subscribe to my blog. There should be a link around here somewhere, but if not you can find it at twinsinc.blogspot.com also spread the word.. I'm interest in feedback and also engaging in topics that aren't necessarily talked about everyday. Hopefully I can make a difference in someone's life and promote a change for the better...