I had the pleasure attending a conference in Cambridge where Jeff Taylor was the opening banquet's keynote speaker. He's a pretty good speaker and gave me some idea I could incorprate into some of my speeches. But most shocking was how he used some of the same phrases and techniques I used to my advantage four years ago.Very eye opening. Anyway, his talk set the tone for the Synergy 06 event, where edcators from across the country come together to work on action plans to address the need to create 21st Century Learners. It's one of those pedagogical buzzwords being thrown lately to slyly imply that shT is ugly. The state of our education system is in disarray and if something is not done to proactively address the future now, things will get even uglier.
But more on the conference later. Mr. Taylor was once known as the Chief Monster. He founded monster.com back in the day and steered it towards the phenomenal success that its had up to now. So basically, he's a super entrepreneur and is a highly in-demand speaker and business strategist. But his latest endeavor is intriguing. Eons.com will focus its attention on the baby boomer market and lavish and abundance of resources on a market segment that Taylor and his cronies think has not been truly tapped. We got a sneak preview of the eons.com site and its features/content. The site goes lives Monday, July 31st at 4pm. Suffice it to say that the site didn't exactly amaze me, but the concept stuck in my mind.
All those baby boomers are nearing retirement age and moving on to tackle those regrets they still have. So one feature is a listing of the top ten things you want to do before you die. A haunting premise, but one full of hope and promise. As I heard the idea for the first time, it did make sense. In its rawest form, I see it as a service tailored to help people live their lives to the fullest. Can't argue with that. nahmean.
Monday, July 31, 2006
Friday, July 28, 2006
with night sticks i write quick hoping that i might hit somebody in the heart
Like an arrow with her eyes on a sparrow
Yo i feel my peoples pain all in my bone marrow
just making observations...
a sister cannot go to their slain brother's memorial without losing her life
the justice department's civil rights division is quietly being staffed with lawyers who lean wit it (to the right, that is). and yes being neutral is ideal, let's really keep it real here people.
boston neighborhoods have the most youth and teens on them than there have been in decades.
the preachers are being look towards as the ones with the answers too much
not enough youth input is being captured and factored into the solution equation
there are 12-year-olds with guns
the four peace video is still being filmed. they will be filming at the Suffolk County House of Corrections. appraently, the media is very interested in the story. I'm interested in the angle. If only DS got the call to pen the piece. At least I'd feel content knowing it'd be covered right. But we shall see.
teen prostitution is the new elephant in the room. it is slowly becoming an epidemic.
if you see a teenager with MEMPHIS on his shirt, take a picture and send it to me. more details to follow. it won't be good news though.
the issue surrounding the memorials of homicide victims is a microcosm of the hood as a whole. let's agree to disagree on this one if you ain't with that view.
foreclosure are up in Massachusetts and the more I think about it, the more I'm leaning to buying a crib in another state. A nice big one with much more bang for my buck that forcing myself to settle on something here that would not truly be what I wanted.
I heard Cambridge Mayor Ken Reeves speak. He and big bro Horace convened a Leaders of Color event at City Hall that has the potential to flip shT. Definitely makes for some interesting brainstorming. But aside from issue tackling, there appears an obvious need for some much needed relationship building to occur first. Latinos are mad at Blacks about immigration. Blacks arfe mad at Latinos because they not speaking up enough about youth & violence. Cape Verdeans and others feel let out because of language barriers for some. Asians don't get invited to people of color events. Yeah, the Team Unity house needs to get itself in order and make a home first.
the violence is coming full circle. last week I was speaking to a friend about the peace movement and about stuff in general. today, i hear that one of the guys that got killed this past weekend was her cousin. and she is very involved in the peace movement. this shT is very, very maddening.
i got "assigned" a mentee tonight. his teacher flunked him. then he got kicked out of summer school. so he'll be repeating the 7th grade next year. i'm debating my strategy. hard-a$$ or mellow. apparently, moms is hardcore but he still does his wild out thing. hmmmm
i designed new business cards for myself. may have to revamp the whole brand identity now.
i once famously said that I'd like for the midget to know algebra by the second grade
now conflict resolution is tops on my list
Yo i feel my peoples pain all in my bone marrow
just making observations...
a sister cannot go to their slain brother's memorial without losing her life
the justice department's civil rights division is quietly being staffed with lawyers who lean wit it (to the right, that is). and yes being neutral is ideal, let's really keep it real here people.
boston neighborhoods have the most youth and teens on them than there have been in decades.
the preachers are being look towards as the ones with the answers too much
not enough youth input is being captured and factored into the solution equation
there are 12-year-olds with guns
the four peace video is still being filmed. they will be filming at the Suffolk County House of Corrections. appraently, the media is very interested in the story. I'm interested in the angle. If only DS got the call to pen the piece. At least I'd feel content knowing it'd be covered right. But we shall see.
teen prostitution is the new elephant in the room. it is slowly becoming an epidemic.
if you see a teenager with MEMPHIS on his shirt, take a picture and send it to me. more details to follow. it won't be good news though.
the issue surrounding the memorials of homicide victims is a microcosm of the hood as a whole. let's agree to disagree on this one if you ain't with that view.
foreclosure are up in Massachusetts and the more I think about it, the more I'm leaning to buying a crib in another state. A nice big one with much more bang for my buck that forcing myself to settle on something here that would not truly be what I wanted.
I heard Cambridge Mayor Ken Reeves speak. He and big bro Horace convened a Leaders of Color event at City Hall that has the potential to flip shT. Definitely makes for some interesting brainstorming. But aside from issue tackling, there appears an obvious need for some much needed relationship building to occur first. Latinos are mad at Blacks about immigration. Blacks arfe mad at Latinos because they not speaking up enough about youth & violence. Cape Verdeans and others feel let out because of language barriers for some. Asians don't get invited to people of color events. Yeah, the Team Unity house needs to get itself in order and make a home first.
the violence is coming full circle. last week I was speaking to a friend about the peace movement and about stuff in general. today, i hear that one of the guys that got killed this past weekend was her cousin. and she is very involved in the peace movement. this shT is very, very maddening.
i got "assigned" a mentee tonight. his teacher flunked him. then he got kicked out of summer school. so he'll be repeating the 7th grade next year. i'm debating my strategy. hard-a$$ or mellow. apparently, moms is hardcore but he still does his wild out thing. hmmmm
i designed new business cards for myself. may have to revamp the whole brand identity now.
i once famously said that I'd like for the midget to know algebra by the second grade
now conflict resolution is tops on my list
Thursday, July 27, 2006
even your emotions had an echo
it's been a long time...i shouldn't have left you
but son was depressed, yo.
but i'm gradually getting over the funk and moving on with life
i've come to realize, well maybe not just realize, but truly accept, admit, and acknowledge that as much as we try to do things to get our ducks in a row and make sure everything is on point, there's a percentage of fate that is simply out of your hands.
over the past month and a half, i've had so many highs and lows it has truly been on some rollercoaster shT. aside from family drama, to work headaches, to having my heart broken, to petty life nuisances across the country affecting other family and friends, to the daily emotional effects of feeling seemingly helpless and useless amid a sea of ingrained nig%anomics, it ain't that bad. but it damn sure could be better.
we got ceilings dropping on a happy couple, a$holes in the middle east still fighting, corrupt cops getting bagged, and gun play in the hood damn ner every fuqing day.
i had forced myself to not blog for a while until i could fully get out of my stomach the mixed feelings that had been churning around the past few weeks. at times i feel helpless, used & abused, and weary. but on the other hand, i know full well that my presence and voice is needed and despite the odds serves an important role. i know full well of the good that occurs on the daily and the plight of those who go unnoticed every day yet make substantially large impacts throughout their communities.
i also briefly thought about writing a venting, emotionally impassioned plea for forgiveness and a second chance. and then the devil crept in and suggested I lash out with a scathing women suck diatribe based on perceptions. but in the end, i wrote a private, personal ode that will forever remain tucked away so that i'll never forget...her. there still might be a next lifetime. gotta be honest with myself first though. nahmean.
so although my motivation for writing this blog everyday is no longer there, i'll have to reinvent that inspiration in the form of a newfound purpose. and it's not all that newfound in the first place. this has been and will continue to be a place for me to speak about thatever the fuq i want in whatever tone and words i fell are necessary. only this time, i'll have to make even more of a commitment to it.
everything in life is a lesson learned. each action has a consequence and while I'm trying my bestest not to go awol, I'll need that freedom to explore a new range of thought. hell, maybe I'll even think about (gasp) moving. who knows. whatever i do, my peoples will be on my mind and heart heavy. because the gun clappings go down nightly around here and it's gonna take some of the villagers and maybe even a few vigilantes to get these muthafuqas in check. we got work to do, son. word to muthafuqing big bird.
and i can die when i'm done
but son was depressed, yo.
but i'm gradually getting over the funk and moving on with life
i've come to realize, well maybe not just realize, but truly accept, admit, and acknowledge that as much as we try to do things to get our ducks in a row and make sure everything is on point, there's a percentage of fate that is simply out of your hands.
over the past month and a half, i've had so many highs and lows it has truly been on some rollercoaster shT. aside from family drama, to work headaches, to having my heart broken, to petty life nuisances across the country affecting other family and friends, to the daily emotional effects of feeling seemingly helpless and useless amid a sea of ingrained nig%anomics, it ain't that bad. but it damn sure could be better.
we got ceilings dropping on a happy couple, a$holes in the middle east still fighting, corrupt cops getting bagged, and gun play in the hood damn ner every fuqing day.
i had forced myself to not blog for a while until i could fully get out of my stomach the mixed feelings that had been churning around the past few weeks. at times i feel helpless, used & abused, and weary. but on the other hand, i know full well that my presence and voice is needed and despite the odds serves an important role. i know full well of the good that occurs on the daily and the plight of those who go unnoticed every day yet make substantially large impacts throughout their communities.
i also briefly thought about writing a venting, emotionally impassioned plea for forgiveness and a second chance. and then the devil crept in and suggested I lash out with a scathing women suck diatribe based on perceptions. but in the end, i wrote a private, personal ode that will forever remain tucked away so that i'll never forget...her. there still might be a next lifetime. gotta be honest with myself first though. nahmean.
so although my motivation for writing this blog everyday is no longer there, i'll have to reinvent that inspiration in the form of a newfound purpose. and it's not all that newfound in the first place. this has been and will continue to be a place for me to speak about thatever the fuq i want in whatever tone and words i fell are necessary. only this time, i'll have to make even more of a commitment to it.
everything in life is a lesson learned. each action has a consequence and while I'm trying my bestest not to go awol, I'll need that freedom to explore a new range of thought. hell, maybe I'll even think about (gasp) moving. who knows. whatever i do, my peoples will be on my mind and heart heavy. because the gun clappings go down nightly around here and it's gonna take some of the villagers and maybe even a few vigilantes to get these muthafuqas in check. we got work to do, son. word to muthafuqing big bird.
and i can die when i'm done
Wednesday, July 05, 2006
Wasn't lies when they told you wasn't nothing to fear
The struggle ain't right up in your face, it's more subtle
I finally peeped Dave Chappelle's Block Party movie. Had me straight-up on the edge of my seat all emotional and shT. Powerful stuff. Had the ill line-up and some real head-on insight on what this life shT - what it's all about; living.
It's crazy when you too real to be free
Symbolically speaking, this George Lakoff cat penned a telling piece about understanding the meaning of freedom. Very ill analysis. As for the day's symbolism. The fireworks were blah. Just whatever. Almost got creamed by a (probably drunk) driver who decided he wanted to fly through a light all of his peoples were parked at. My aplogies to any kids who were in the area who may have overheard me. So, the little mini holiday is over so now you bTches can go back to work. Now that I am officially an employee of the city, I'm supposed to adhere to certain guidelines and shT like that. Can we now all join our hands for prayer? I'm gonna need it. Let's see how this goes. Nothing much about the work shoudl change though. Just the dynamic. Still have a relatively good amount of freedom and leeway to be flexible. Still have to deal with pains in the a$es who don't know what they're doing or are just plain irritating. But blah; whatever. (Proceeds to brush shoulder off.) I need to make the most of this month's extra free time. Do some exercising. Maybe some running. Maybe some reading. Maybe some studying. Maybe some shopping. Need to scratch off some to-do list items. Need to get over this sucky depression spell. Need to find a new damn bed and some furniture to boot. Should get the brakes checked out. Should look at getting a different car. Might go ahead and be Santa Claus mad early. Might be Scrooge and repossess shT. Need to sleep. As usual. Happy post Independence Day. The year is half over. Make that shT worth it. Word.
The Jones is the richest since dismissing the Johnson's
If you ain't saying nothing, you a system's accomplice
It should play with your conscience, do away with the nonsense
I'm overseeing anything within my circumference
This ain't a press junket, I ain't seeking responses
I stand where the people got the heat in they pocket
You mesmerized by the calm nonchalant-ness
-Black Thought (The Roots), "Don't Feel Right"
I finally peeped Dave Chappelle's Block Party movie. Had me straight-up on the edge of my seat all emotional and shT. Powerful stuff. Had the ill line-up and some real head-on insight on what this life shT - what it's all about; living.
It's crazy when you too real to be free
Symbolically speaking, this George Lakoff cat penned a telling piece about understanding the meaning of freedom. Very ill analysis. As for the day's symbolism. The fireworks were blah. Just whatever. Almost got creamed by a (probably drunk) driver who decided he wanted to fly through a light all of his peoples were parked at. My aplogies to any kids who were in the area who may have overheard me. So, the little mini holiday is over so now you bTches can go back to work. Now that I am officially an employee of the city, I'm supposed to adhere to certain guidelines and shT like that. Can we now all join our hands for prayer? I'm gonna need it. Let's see how this goes. Nothing much about the work shoudl change though. Just the dynamic. Still have a relatively good amount of freedom and leeway to be flexible. Still have to deal with pains in the a$es who don't know what they're doing or are just plain irritating. But blah; whatever. (Proceeds to brush shoulder off.) I need to make the most of this month's extra free time. Do some exercising. Maybe some running. Maybe some reading. Maybe some studying. Maybe some shopping. Need to scratch off some to-do list items. Need to get over this sucky depression spell. Need to find a new damn bed and some furniture to boot. Should get the brakes checked out. Should look at getting a different car. Might go ahead and be Santa Claus mad early. Might be Scrooge and repossess shT. Need to sleep. As usual. Happy post Independence Day. The year is half over. Make that shT worth it. Word.
The Jones is the richest since dismissing the Johnson's
If you ain't saying nothing, you a system's accomplice
It should play with your conscience, do away with the nonsense
I'm overseeing anything within my circumference
This ain't a press junket, I ain't seeking responses
I stand where the people got the heat in they pocket
You mesmerized by the calm nonchalant-ness
-Black Thought (The Roots), "Don't Feel Right"
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