Challenges
I never run from difficult challenges, I accept and deal with them. I've found that if you run away, the challenges will pursue you unrelentingly. Sure, at times the challenges can be demoralizing, until you consider where you'll be when you get past them. I do my best to move forward in pursuit of the positive end result. This mindset enhances my ability to adapt to changing conditions and to prosper no matter what comes my way. A challenge is neutral. It doesn't care what it does to you. What really matters is what you do with the challenge.

Looks like Amazon.com is getting into the the luxury market. In additon to the $2 used paperback or a $14 CD, you can now also plunk down $950 for a women's handbag or nearly $20,000 for a men's gold wristwatch. Oh! how fabulous.

Two movies opening this weekend include All About the Benjamins and Time Machine. Reviews here

Bend but don't break
When I think about the bamboo tree's ability to bounce back or return to it's original position, the word resilience comes to mind. When used in reference to a person this word means the ability to readily recover from any negative situation that stretches the limits of a person's emotions.

I’ve been there, I have been at the breaking point, but thankfully, I have succeeded in overcoming and conquering the situation each and every time. Most times, it was simply a matter of staying focused on the positive end result that I was seeking. At other times, I had to remain strong while maintaining balance between affairs and emotions.

Life is a mixture of good times and bad times, happy moments and unhappy moments. If the going gets tough and you are at your breaking point, it's important to show resilience. Bend, but don't break!

Hey! it's that El Nino weather phenomenon... Again?

"The 'War on Terrorism' for Dummies"
"Don't know about you, but all this war and politics stuff can be mighty confusing. So I picked up a copy of "The 'War on Terrorism' for Dummies," a kind of primer on current events, and now feel much better educated. Here are some of their answers"

-------


Her foot in her mouth
Sheryl Crow, in a recent magazine interview, (USA Today Reports) complained about today's oversexed female pop stars:"Those poor girls. They're being marketed like porn stars …the images are pretty sleazy”.


Her point might have been valid until upon a closer look I realized that she was being interviewed by the soft-pornish Stuff Magazine which included her own soft-pornish pictorial . And, to make matters worse, take a look at the outfit she wore at the Grammy Awards

Is that Satan I hear laughing?
Several religious organizations are taking a big hit lately:
The Roman Catholic Church was embarrassed by a scandal involving pedophile priests and the alleged cover-up by a cardinal. Radical Muslims continue to display their intolerance of America and other faiths. And the Rev. Billy Graham was embarrassed by the release of a 30-year-old tape on which he was heard telling President Richard Nixon that Jews had a "stranglehold" on the American media, which needed to be broken because it was ruining the country. Makes me ponder the idea of "Power corrupts" even more.
--------

Lately, we're able to do most things on the internet .... now we can add one more to the list. Not happy with your marriage? No sweat, you can now get a Cyber Divorce

Have you ever wondered what Britney Spears might be doing 30 years from now? well, this short movie clip Britney 2032 gives a glimpse. Oh! the cameo appearance by Justin Timberlake of NSYNC is hilarious.

India.Arie

Her music is deep and introspective. India Arie conveys themes of strength, inner-beauty, courage, and love. Her vibe is uplifting and inspiring. Her style is pure, her music is alluring, and her lyrics are convincing. This is refreshing in todays music environment, where the music buying masses are fed a diet of mantras and chants. When I first saw her perform her song "I'm ready for love" I was so moved off my foundation by the lyrics that I started doing poetry snaps. I highly recommend this album.

Evil in a Haystack
Time magazine describes the difficulty of tracking down escaped evildoers in Afghanistan:

When the Taliban crumbled in the face of the American bombardment last November and December, thousands of foot soldiers surrendered to the Northern Alliance. But many thousands more, including most of the commanders and the bulk of al Qaeda, simply melted away. Hundreds are suspected to have crossed into Pakistan. But many more shaved their beards, ditched their black turbans and bought safe refuge in the myriad out-of-the-way villages and hamlets that dot the Afghan countryside.

Meanwhile,
The Christian Science Monitor has a day-by-day account of "how bin Laden got away." The only problem is, the paper doesn't tell us where he is now.


But ... Seriously
The latest in "shock Television is that "Amy Fisher is out and Paula Jones is in as Tonya Harding's 'Celebrity Boxing' opponent, Fox announced Saturday," CNN reports. Fox won't say why Fischer, who shot and seriously wounded her boyfriend's wife, dropped out in favor of Jones, who accused then-governor Bill Clinton of dropping her pants in front of her.

Monica's Moment
I watched the Monica Lewinsky story on HBO Sunday. It is depressing to see a situation in which almost everyone behaved badly and the depths to which our officials - elected and otherwise - will dig through the mud. It's worth checking out as it will affect the way you watch the news. It's simply absurd that nearly $60 million and months and months of investigations was spent to answer the key question of the nineties: Was his hand under or over her blouse when he fondled her breasts? Good lawd!


Murder was the case that they gave him
I think it's hard enough for a defense attorney to defend a celebrity client. But it becomes 4 times as difficult if the murder suspects' name is C-Murder

Haiti ... Land of my ancestors
The island Nation and republic of Haiti, will celebrate its 200th anniversary of independence in 2004. Haiti and her children continue to struggle to define themselves, as in the early days of our forefathers. The country was born in contradiction and conflict, slaves became masters, and the elite fought each other to see who would master the masses. Conflicts were created that still influence Haitian life today. Among other things, our division runs along educational, social, political, and religious lines. All cultures struggle with some of the same issues at one point and our potential and identity must be examined and redefined with each new generation.

---------


Speaking of Haiti
The situation in Haiti continues to go from bad to worse. For over a full year now, the country has been locked in the grip of a political and financial controversy. Although President Aristide has not yet lived up to his initiative and resolve to make a difference, we must not loose sight of what's important.


The U.S. administrations' Firm stance to withhold funds in order to hold the current Haitian government to higher standards has it's merits but I believe that it is the people that will suffer the most as a result. This was my position in 1999 when I wrote a letter to the Newsday editor concerning the situation in Haiti, and to that end, I remain optimistic.


I'm encouraged that some members of congress have conveyed similar sentiments but it is my hope that a quick and mutually beneficial resolve will be reached soon at least for the people's sake.

----------


Blog Anxiety is spreading


UK gives go ahead for human cloning One of those inevitabilities.

Global Warming
Global warming represents the dark side of the commercial ledger for the industrial age. For the past several hundred years, and especially in the 20th century, human beings burned massive amounts of fuel in the forms of coal, oil and natural gas, to produce the energy that made an industrial way of life possible. That spent energy has accumulated in the atmosphere and has begun to adversely affect the climate of the planet and the workings of its many ecosystems.

Turning to Consumerism
In a world where where the social architects have failed us in some ways, It seems that many are turning more to consumerism for solace. People have become immersed in material-ism, buying more and more stuff they don't really need. These material things have become symbols that give meaning to life.

Not that acquiring material things is a new trend, but shopping itself is an act that appeases the demons within during these uncertain times. Along the shelves of huge indoor malls - the cathedrals of the 21st century - are things that satisfy not only material needs, but an emotional hunger to which many people still admit. Advertisers understand this social dynamic, that is why they build brands into visual slogans, supposedly capable of evoking a profound response. Consumerism sets each person against themselves in an endless quest for the attainment of material things or the imaginary world conjured up and made possible by things yet to be purchased.

People still want to believe in the promises of a bright future. When the failures and apparent breakdown of the ideals of society affect us, our apparently insatiable spiritual and emotional yearnings can at times be sacrificed to advertisers of cars, beer, shoes, soft drinks et al with their promise that "this or that" will make things all better. Even if they fail to sell a particular product, they sell consumerism itself by ceaselessly reiterating the idea that there is a product to solve each of life's problems, indeed that existence would be satisfying and complete if only we bought the right things for the right reasons.

Hey! Where my Knicks at?
Watching the NY knicks blow a 17-point lead en route to losing by 11, getting humiliated by 43 points at home, or falling to a Chicago Bulls squad with the worst record in the NBA is pathetic. This season, the Knicks are proving that they're a truly bad basketball team. Call me a frustrated fan, but in a sense, they're giving something every NBA coach asks for from the first day of training camp: a total team effort. That's right, they all suck.

Your Online Rights
When Kelly Fero launched the now infamous site EnronOwnsTheGOP.com he never expected much fan fare, especially from the GOP. But when he got a phone call and then a cease-and-desist letter from Texas' GOP lawyers, the Democratic strategist took note. Fero's plight is not that uncommon and actually addresses a growing problem in the Internet community - the legal ramifications of published content. Now, a group of four major law school legal clinics and San Francisco-based online non-profit, civil liberties organization have launched a website to help and keep people in similar situations informed.

When will Tyson bite again? Hell! it might be sooner than you think, you might as well cash in on it.



I have not had the pleasure of seeing this live act at the New York Aquarium, but I think it is interesting that homosexual flightless aquatic birds such as these have been able to appeal to audiences across the East Coast, and even to tourists from more distant locales. I would not have believed it if I didn't read it for myself.