Adrian and I will be departing Auckland tomorrow morning for Nadi where the beautiful Fijian Islands await us. We will spend 10 days there until we arrive back in Los Angeles on December 11.
I've already been asked to reflect on my time here in New Zealand and how it has affected me, but I honestly believe it is to soon. I'm still running around trying to pack, sell my car and make sure all my loose ends are tied up before departing. I know my time here has helped me, but I'm not entirely sure how.
Most importantly, I know I will be happy to return home to family, friends, and familiar surroundings. No matter how much you travel you always appreciate the flight home the best.
One Love
Thursday, November 29, 2007
Monday, November 26, 2007
Hola
It has been about a month since I last filled you in on my trips. The first half of November I spent on my dissertation that I wrote on the work of Sports NGOs in developing and conflict societies. The second half of November I have been travelling around the South Island of New Zealand. Some highlights have included jumping out of a plane, boogie boarding through a river and witness Adrian walk up to a glacier that I could hear cracking and echoing through the valley.
Other than that things have been great. I will be back December 11th. HOLLLA
Other than that things have been great. I will be back December 11th. HOLLLA
Monday, October 29, 2007
A Plea from an Exiled Los Angeles Sports Fan
Dear Boston Fans,
It looks like our fates our inversely related at this point. My Angels flutter out of the first round your Red Sox win the world series, making it back to back for times they've won the world series while I've been abroad. Our respective football teams are both undefeated, as in the Patriots haven't lost and LA doesn't have a team (although my jags are stumbling to stay in contention). My Lakers are in shambles behind the latest Kobe mood swing (also eerily similar to last time I was abroad and the Lakers traded Shaq) while your Celtics have the new big three. My sporting enthusiasm is at an all time low, i can only hope for a brighter light at the end of the tunnel. Everytime I leave home the sporting franchises of Southern California amazingly wither away. My final plea, Kobe please stay and we'll surround you with the talent necessary to win a title. I can't watch the Lakers trade the greatest player touching a basketball for a shooting guard shorter than me, and two more big men who just aren't quite good enough, with a swing man who has yet to emerge as anything more than a role player.
Sincerely,
Exiled LA Sport Fan
It looks like our fates our inversely related at this point. My Angels flutter out of the first round your Red Sox win the world series, making it back to back for times they've won the world series while I've been abroad. Our respective football teams are both undefeated, as in the Patriots haven't lost and LA doesn't have a team (although my jags are stumbling to stay in contention). My Lakers are in shambles behind the latest Kobe mood swing (also eerily similar to last time I was abroad and the Lakers traded Shaq) while your Celtics have the new big three. My sporting enthusiasm is at an all time low, i can only hope for a brighter light at the end of the tunnel. Everytime I leave home the sporting franchises of Southern California amazingly wither away. My final plea, Kobe please stay and we'll surround you with the talent necessary to win a title. I can't watch the Lakers trade the greatest player touching a basketball for a shooting guard shorter than me, and two more big men who just aren't quite good enough, with a swing man who has yet to emerge as anything more than a role player.
Sincerely,
Exiled LA Sport Fan
Tuesday, October 16, 2007
MIA
i'd like to say a special thank you to all those that take a lo0k at the blog. I apologize for being missing in action but i'm still in new zealand and still doing well. Writing a thesis on basketball NGOs and looking forward to comin home December 11. see you soon. 1 love
Monday, September 24, 2007
Ingredients for a bad day
A slight cold is always a great backdrop for a bad day. Not too sick though because that will just make you take the day off and focus on recovering. More suitable is a pesky running nose and low energy level as a result of being sick, thus you still try to accomplish everything, but can't.
Second mix in an overtime loss for the team your coaching. Such a loss becomes very frustrating and can add to the flavor of a bad day by when it occurs at the hands of a team you "should" have beat.
Third fill your down time with errands, such as calling the electric, internet and housing companies to sort out your new future living situation. These errands make sure you stay busy while cooking your favorite bad day.
And finally for presentation walk out to the parking lot where your car is supposed to be waiting for you and find it missing. For extra garnishment, make it a rent-a-car and make it happen when you obviously need to be somewhere else. That is surely to make your dish taste PHENOMENAL.
Yes, unfortunately, it has been one of those types of days. I try to put in perspective as I know that bad days happen and you just have to push through. Luckily for me I have had enough of them to know the sunsets on them just as the sunsets on good days. Another sunrise awaits me tommorow and hopefully I can cook something that is more to my liking.
'till next time
pEace
Second mix in an overtime loss for the team your coaching. Such a loss becomes very frustrating and can add to the flavor of a bad day by when it occurs at the hands of a team you "should" have beat.
Third fill your down time with errands, such as calling the electric, internet and housing companies to sort out your new future living situation. These errands make sure you stay busy while cooking your favorite bad day.
And finally for presentation walk out to the parking lot where your car is supposed to be waiting for you and find it missing. For extra garnishment, make it a rent-a-car and make it happen when you obviously need to be somewhere else. That is surely to make your dish taste PHENOMENAL.
Yes, unfortunately, it has been one of those types of days. I try to put in perspective as I know that bad days happen and you just have to push through. Luckily for me I have had enough of them to know the sunsets on them just as the sunsets on good days. Another sunrise awaits me tommorow and hopefully I can cook something that is more to my liking.
'till next time
pEace
Wednesday, September 19, 2007
DIDDY
Diddy's Arrived in Auckland... thats it and a post and picture later to document my first tourny championship since high school
Sunday, September 9, 2007
Basketball is Life
Its been a while since I last wrote a meaningful entry in my blog. Well here it is, I love basketball. In college I used to leave up an away message that said, "Basketball is life." This simple phrase sticks with me today, even as I find myself in a country obsessed with Rugby during the Rugby World Cup, my life and social circle is made up of people that love the game of basketball. Life for me is simple, and luckily I've made that choice to focus much of what I love around basketball.
When I was young I spent hours upon hours playing basketball on a portable hoop positioned at the end of a culdesac. Those days were where I learned to love the game. As I got older I found a friend group that began with a guy I legitimately disliked, probably because he infringed on my territory as the leader of basketball at Diamond Point Elementary School. He moved into my school's neighborhood during 4th grade, bringing with him a competitive spirit that tested me over and over again. Once we played in his backyard to the death, like it resulted in several hard fouls including me getting shoved into the pole of another portable basketball court where I brought down the whole court. Competition ever since has been something I've never shied away from knowing that my skill set gives me a chance in any arena.
As I progressed into highschool I integrated myself into a group of guys that far exceeded the gym. We spent every moment together and basically planned other activities just to fill in the time between games, practices, open runs, shootarounds, and most importantly front yard battles. In college I found myself living out my dream, playing college basketball. This dream I never really mentioned to others, there was no need, I think it was a dream most of my friends shared. I wasn't sure if I really was going to achieve it or not. As a sophomore going into my junior year I tore up the UCLA basketball camp leaving as the second best player there, where I was awarded the defensive player of the week to go along with my team claiming the championship, but more importantly the assistant coach added that with continued work on my part I could be a college basketball player.
Even with this encouragement my dream of playing college basketball, inspired by Nick Van Exel's same dream of playing college basketball, still wasn't a tenable dream. I mean my senior year I averaged 10 points a game, hardly stellar numbers, I got recruited by two DIII schools Redlands legitimately and Chapman because they wanted my best friend. However, I had one other thing to balance, I was an intellect, I was carrying a 4.6 gpa, I needed to go to a school that met my profile. I somehow stumbled upon Pomona College, because we lost a game to Wilson a team I had never lost to before that game and was so upset I didn't want to go to school the next day. My mother being a teacher would never accept such an excuse, so I told her I would make a visit to a college, the Claremont Colleges being the only schools close enough that I hadn't really visited or known anything about were the excuse I needed.
Well I ended up visiting and even applied, only to Pomona on the whim of thinking well I'm from Pomona, so why not? It was only after my application was mailed in that I realized I just turned my application into the most selective school in the US. My college admissions essay that used the metaphor of a gym to lay out my story got me through the admission process and began visiting the different schools, Pomona being close allowed me to come up and play with the team in there open gym runs after the season ended and eat some meals in the dining hall. I looked at some schools up North and loved them, but never felt at home during the trips as I did when at Pomona. That comfort I didn't realize consciously, but it was basketball, the other schools simply didn't give me the opportunity to run up and down their gym, the most important facility a school could offer me. My girlfriend at the time after I told her I decided to go to Pomona responded, "I already knew that." I guess Pomona being the only place where I could continue my dream was really the only place I could have really ended up.
In college basketball taught me many more lessons. My first year was filled with arrogance and growing pains, but my sophomore year was essentially a beating. I basically got hit by the game everyday as it proved to be a season where it seemed no positive ground was made. I didn't see time on the court. After that I had to take a step back and realize once again although basketball was my passion, I'd have to be more creative than just simply playing to stay around the game. Thats when I went abroad as a way of escaping the game that had the previous year left me battered and searching. Hence basketball dictated for me where I went to college, supposedly the most critical choice one makes in life (if fortunate enough to make such a choice) and that I needed to go abroad. Before my sophomore year I wanted to go abroad, but knew that if I was doing well in basketball I would sacrifice the trip to stay and play. In many ways not playing my sophomore year made the decision to go abroad for me.
In South Africa although escaping competitive basketball for the first time since I was eleven, I didn't leave the game. I still played for UCT's basketball club team, and worked as a coach for Hoops4Hope. This experience made me balance the game with the other aspects of my life. I know those other aspects exist and center around some abstract conception of the good, being grounded in the ethical understanding of what a good life is, but I'm always more challenged in really using that as a guiding principle, so basketball has always remained my guiding light.
Most recently, basketball has led me here to New Zealand as part of my Rotary Ambassadorial Scholarship, where I've continued my work with basketball, as well as my education. I've continued to be shown different opportunities and am already working on my next move that involves basketball, we'll see where it leads me, I'm just excited because basketball hasn't led me astray yet.
When I was young I spent hours upon hours playing basketball on a portable hoop positioned at the end of a culdesac. Those days were where I learned to love the game. As I got older I found a friend group that began with a guy I legitimately disliked, probably because he infringed on my territory as the leader of basketball at Diamond Point Elementary School. He moved into my school's neighborhood during 4th grade, bringing with him a competitive spirit that tested me over and over again. Once we played in his backyard to the death, like it resulted in several hard fouls including me getting shoved into the pole of another portable basketball court where I brought down the whole court. Competition ever since has been something I've never shied away from knowing that my skill set gives me a chance in any arena.
As I progressed into highschool I integrated myself into a group of guys that far exceeded the gym. We spent every moment together and basically planned other activities just to fill in the time between games, practices, open runs, shootarounds, and most importantly front yard battles. In college I found myself living out my dream, playing college basketball. This dream I never really mentioned to others, there was no need, I think it was a dream most of my friends shared. I wasn't sure if I really was going to achieve it or not. As a sophomore going into my junior year I tore up the UCLA basketball camp leaving as the second best player there, where I was awarded the defensive player of the week to go along with my team claiming the championship, but more importantly the assistant coach added that with continued work on my part I could be a college basketball player.
Even with this encouragement my dream of playing college basketball, inspired by Nick Van Exel's same dream of playing college basketball, still wasn't a tenable dream. I mean my senior year I averaged 10 points a game, hardly stellar numbers, I got recruited by two DIII schools Redlands legitimately and Chapman because they wanted my best friend. However, I had one other thing to balance, I was an intellect, I was carrying a 4.6 gpa, I needed to go to a school that met my profile. I somehow stumbled upon Pomona College, because we lost a game to Wilson a team I had never lost to before that game and was so upset I didn't want to go to school the next day. My mother being a teacher would never accept such an excuse, so I told her I would make a visit to a college, the Claremont Colleges being the only schools close enough that I hadn't really visited or known anything about were the excuse I needed.
Well I ended up visiting and even applied, only to Pomona on the whim of thinking well I'm from Pomona, so why not? It was only after my application was mailed in that I realized I just turned my application into the most selective school in the US. My college admissions essay that used the metaphor of a gym to lay out my story got me through the admission process and began visiting the different schools, Pomona being close allowed me to come up and play with the team in there open gym runs after the season ended and eat some meals in the dining hall. I looked at some schools up North and loved them, but never felt at home during the trips as I did when at Pomona. That comfort I didn't realize consciously, but it was basketball, the other schools simply didn't give me the opportunity to run up and down their gym, the most important facility a school could offer me. My girlfriend at the time after I told her I decided to go to Pomona responded, "I already knew that." I guess Pomona being the only place where I could continue my dream was really the only place I could have really ended up.
In college basketball taught me many more lessons. My first year was filled with arrogance and growing pains, but my sophomore year was essentially a beating. I basically got hit by the game everyday as it proved to be a season where it seemed no positive ground was made. I didn't see time on the court. After that I had to take a step back and realize once again although basketball was my passion, I'd have to be more creative than just simply playing to stay around the game. Thats when I went abroad as a way of escaping the game that had the previous year left me battered and searching. Hence basketball dictated for me where I went to college, supposedly the most critical choice one makes in life (if fortunate enough to make such a choice) and that I needed to go abroad. Before my sophomore year I wanted to go abroad, but knew that if I was doing well in basketball I would sacrifice the trip to stay and play. In many ways not playing my sophomore year made the decision to go abroad for me.
In South Africa although escaping competitive basketball for the first time since I was eleven, I didn't leave the game. I still played for UCT's basketball club team, and worked as a coach for Hoops4Hope. This experience made me balance the game with the other aspects of my life. I know those other aspects exist and center around some abstract conception of the good, being grounded in the ethical understanding of what a good life is, but I'm always more challenged in really using that as a guiding principle, so basketball has always remained my guiding light.
Most recently, basketball has led me here to New Zealand as part of my Rotary Ambassadorial Scholarship, where I've continued my work with basketball, as well as my education. I've continued to be shown different opportunities and am already working on my next move that involves basketball, we'll see where it leads me, I'm just excited because basketball hasn't led me astray yet.
Friday, August 17, 2007
Lupe Fiasco
I had the wonderful privilege of going to the Lupe Fiasco concert in Auckland this past Thursday. Lupe is my hero, the themes of his songs range from growing up in a single parent household to criticism of the current administrations foreign policies, to say it nicely. In every song though he approaches topics in a refreshing tone that brings out a new point of view. For example in the song he said she said, he takes the idea of a child growin up without his father. The first verse is told in the mother's voice, while the second verse is essentially the exact same lyrics, except altered so the speaker is the child himself. The power and depth of the verses forces the listener to delve into the topics of the feelings of abandonment, to the feelings of terror put into the world by our current administration.
As I babble in the above the truth is I'm in awe of what Lupe is able to say over a track that achieves commercial success. Even if his success is not in the same scale of that of 50cent (i'm about a dollar), just his voice is so strong. In writing a blog I attempt to find that truth in my voice. The move from that formal academic writing to the casual cool tone I use with friends. How am I supposed to sound in a blog? How do I produce a sound that is distinctly mine as Lupe's is his. Thats the constant struggle in keeping this blog. I thank those of you continuing to read and like I've told many of you I hope you find it interesting and entertaining.
So what I've captured is the first paragraph of this blog is bad (my apologies Lupe for not doing your performance or music justice), and the second although a stab at being good is more Luc Longley than the Dennis Rodman I would hope for (I say Dennis because he is always entertaining, remember when he took his shoes off during the game while on the Spurs?).
onE
As I babble in the above the truth is I'm in awe of what Lupe is able to say over a track that achieves commercial success. Even if his success is not in the same scale of that of 50cent (i'm about a dollar), just his voice is so strong. In writing a blog I attempt to find that truth in my voice. The move from that formal academic writing to the casual cool tone I use with friends. How am I supposed to sound in a blog? How do I produce a sound that is distinctly mine as Lupe's is his. Thats the constant struggle in keeping this blog. I thank those of you continuing to read and like I've told many of you I hope you find it interesting and entertaining.
So what I've captured is the first paragraph of this blog is bad (my apologies Lupe for not doing your performance or music justice), and the second although a stab at being good is more Luc Longley than the Dennis Rodman I would hope for (I say Dennis because he is always entertaining, remember when he took his shoes off during the game while on the Spurs?).
onE
Monday, August 13, 2007
Alarm Clocks and Cell Phones
Ok so my Samsung cell phone has taken its annual or should we qualify that to say semi-annual Peter McNeely dive (its crazy to think his bout with Tyson was in '95- I'm getting old). Why cell phones break after about 6 months of use is beyond me. I mean my first Motorola "peanut" phone worked for about two years until I got tired of paying pre-pay, which as a sidenote was 6 years ago and still cheaper at that time then the cost of a cell phone plan currently in New Zealand. Don't believe me, lets just say that my current prepay plan is at $1.21 a minute and that is to people in my Vodafone network. But lets not talk about the market failure of cell phones service here in New Zealand and get to the big issue with my phone not working.
I HAVE NO ALARM CLOCK. Its not a problem that I can't call anyone, I couldn't afford to do that anyways, I can get by without texting, but the fact that I can't use my alarm clock hurts. I've spent 15 minutes trying to come to a solution. For a real time play by play read the conversation that appears below:
p.s. If you happen to be reading this at about 1 p.m. pacific standard time on Monday 13th of August 2007, go ahead and give me a call on my Vonage, just to make sure my new alarm clock I downloaded off the internet worked.
p.s. #2 Why don't computers come with alarm clocks anyways, you tellin me that doesnt fit I can have something that colors the covers of CDs but not an alarm? I guess I'm just tired and confused.
I HAVE NO ALARM CLOCK. Its not a problem that I can't call anyone, I couldn't afford to do that anyways, I can get by without texting, but the fact that I can't use my alarm clock hurts. I've spent 15 minutes trying to come to a solution. For a real time play by play read the conversation that appears below:
p.s. If you happen to be reading this at about 1 p.m. pacific standard time on Monday 13th of August 2007, go ahead and give me a call on my Vonage, just to make sure my new alarm clock I downloaded off the internet worked.
p.s. #2 Why don't computers come with alarm clocks anyways, you tellin me that doesnt fit I can have something that colors the covers of CDs but not an alarm? I guess I'm just tired and confused.
me: you wanna here some funny stuff
my cell phone
's buttons are broke so I cant text message talk or even set my alarm so I have to wait for my computer to download an alarm clock program just so i can wake up in the morning
Simbarash
me: i dont know whether to be upset or just laugh at myself
it really has taken me about 15 minutes from the time of realizing my problem to tryin to solve it
Simbarash
Simbarash
me: yeah
ok i think it works, i hope it does
Simbarash
me: im to lazy to go up to my friends room and ask
noones online
my best bet would be someone in the
on that vonage line
Simbarash
me: haha who says technology makes things easier
Simbarash
me: if i had a clock wit a crank id be asleep right now
Global Justice
I will be analyzing the argument of David Miller, "Against Global Egalitarianism" and I've realized the idea of ethics, justice, oppression and representation are where my passions lie as an academic. Often people give me the standard line about philosophy being boring or impractical, but to me its simply thinking things out. I jotted down a note to myself regarding philosophy and I think it captures what I mean in the previous sentence.
In philosophy we take on complex problems and only accept simple answers.
In unpacking this statement ideas of what we are obligated to do by virtue of our abilities to reason are what underly our attempts to lead fulfilling promising lifes. Ok I'm getting to abstract at the moment, but after I do this presentation and write this paper I'll make sure to post some clearer thoughts.
Its late and I need to sleep.
Shot out to the world, I got mad love for you.
In philosophy we take on complex problems and only accept simple answers.
In unpacking this statement ideas of what we are obligated to do by virtue of our abilities to reason are what underly our attempts to lead fulfilling promising lifes. Ok I'm getting to abstract at the moment, but after I do this presentation and write this paper I'll make sure to post some clearer thoughts.
Its late and I need to sleep.
Shot out to the world, I got mad love for you.
Tuesday, August 7, 2007
Saturday, August 4, 2007
Hip Hop
Courtesy of my good friend Pop, I recieved 4 mp3 CDs worth of the best from hip hop in '07 and it has changed my life. Ok not literally, but its reinvigorated me in a way that only music can. From the beat of Misunderstood on Common's new album, to the striking lyrics of Brother Ali on Uncle Sam Goddamn.
Hip hop has some serious flaws. The notions that hip hop is dead, stems from greater arguments about the over abundance of misogyny, materialism and other negative images being proliferated, especially in commercial or mainstream hip hop. But you don't need to look far to find great music. As Guru said on an interview with my boi DJ Hyphen, there is a lot of artists doing great things with hip hop, that is both creative and conscious. The notion that music is ever stagnant or dead is a complete fallacy. In fact saying its dead would be ignoring the negative things hip hop does, rather it needs to be examined as a medium that both reflects the norms of our society as well as shapes them.
The nature of the music industry as a whole is undergoing a huge transformation. With the use of internet spreading music like wildfire, people no longer seek music through the traditional channels of record stores. Rather most people access music electronically, often without compensating the artists in return which causes problems of how can music continue to provide the investment necessary to reproduce itself. As a true capitalist, even though there are lots of problematic aspects of capitalism that I recognize, I believe in this system to solve itself. There's a need to find a better or more efficient manner to deliver the type of variety in music people crave and it will be achieved if it is not being done so already. I know as a person who loves music I rely on my personal connections of people who have dedicated their lives to music to pass me the best of what they listen to. I listen to Sunday Night Sound Sessions that streams online live and is available for download on line to keep me up on some the up and coming artists and great music coming out.
The music is out there people just need to not be so reliant on clear channel and/or express themselves to clear channel demanding the type of content they want. The truth is clear channel decides what is played based on what they think they can sell or market. 50 Cent, Mariah Carey, Britney Spears, all are marketable images and have proven track records of selling records, don't knock them for selling, just recognize that other stuff doesn't sell for various reasons. I don't pretend to know the answers, I just know there are alternatives, seek them out. For those who read this blog that know more about music please feel free to comment and express your views.
ONE LOVe
Hip hop has some serious flaws. The notions that hip hop is dead, stems from greater arguments about the over abundance of misogyny, materialism and other negative images being proliferated, especially in commercial or mainstream hip hop. But you don't need to look far to find great music. As Guru said on an interview with my boi DJ Hyphen, there is a lot of artists doing great things with hip hop, that is both creative and conscious. The notion that music is ever stagnant or dead is a complete fallacy. In fact saying its dead would be ignoring the negative things hip hop does, rather it needs to be examined as a medium that both reflects the norms of our society as well as shapes them.
The nature of the music industry as a whole is undergoing a huge transformation. With the use of internet spreading music like wildfire, people no longer seek music through the traditional channels of record stores. Rather most people access music electronically, often without compensating the artists in return which causes problems of how can music continue to provide the investment necessary to reproduce itself. As a true capitalist, even though there are lots of problematic aspects of capitalism that I recognize, I believe in this system to solve itself. There's a need to find a better or more efficient manner to deliver the type of variety in music people crave and it will be achieved if it is not being done so already. I know as a person who loves music I rely on my personal connections of people who have dedicated their lives to music to pass me the best of what they listen to. I listen to Sunday Night Sound Sessions that streams online live and is available for download on line to keep me up on some the up and coming artists and great music coming out.
The music is out there people just need to not be so reliant on clear channel and/or express themselves to clear channel demanding the type of content they want. The truth is clear channel decides what is played based on what they think they can sell or market. 50 Cent, Mariah Carey, Britney Spears, all are marketable images and have proven track records of selling records, don't knock them for selling, just recognize that other stuff doesn't sell for various reasons. I don't pretend to know the answers, I just know there are alternatives, seek them out. For those who read this blog that know more about music please feel free to comment and express your views.
ONE LOVe
Monday, July 30, 2007
Democracy???
The next couple months of my life will be dedicated to the idea of Democracy, more specifically what role decomcracy promotion should play in foreign policy, if any? My thesis will be examining the current Fiji situation that has seen a military coup step in, as it purports to be eliminating corruption from the government in hopes of returning the country to democracy at a later date, while facing international pressure to return to a democracy. Basic ethical questions emerge, such as do the ends justify the means? Or are precedents of coups something that riddle a state, as could be argued in Fiji as they have had 4 in the past 20 years.
A couple of reservations I have headed into this study follow below.
A couple of reservations I have headed into this study follow below.
- Is it the role of an outsider, paternal, government to push for democracy in another state?
- Is democracy the best form of government? Often overlooked when thinking about democracy is how much work must go into it for it to be functional. Its like any relationship, when a state decides to wed democracy it doesn't mean that wedding signals the beginning of a long loving relationship, but rather just the signalling of a commitment that will be tried and tested by the events of the future and even the events of the past.
General questions I have to answer.
- What role does democracy play in the securing of basic Human Rights?
- What role does democracy play for greater international security?
As an American I am biased that I do have some faith in Democracy, but as a skeptical American I recognize the shortcomings of our political process. The truth is when there is no clear right or wrong decisions, no matter how those decisions are made, democratically or by virtue of a single decision maker, those decisions are not necessarily correct. In fact much of what is popular is not correct, just look at patriarcy.
HOLLA
Jena Six
Group of Six Black students facing charges for the beating of a white student after three nooses were hung from a tree in Jena, Louisianna.
To read the situation view the following links, then feel free to engage in discussion.
To see the news story read.
http://www.democracynow.org/article.pl?sid=07/07/10/1413220
To hear an interview conducted with the parents read.
http://www.democracynow.org/article.pl?sid=07/07/10/1413228
get at me
To read the situation view the following links, then feel free to engage in discussion.
To see the news story read.
http://www.democracynow.org/article.pl?sid=07/07/10/1413220
To hear an interview conducted with the parents read.
http://www.democracynow.org/article.pl?sid=07/07/10/1413228
get at me
Washed Up
Ok, so today i played in an open gym run, talent level was mediocre as it is in New Zealand, however I can't say anything because I'm pretty sure in a combined 5 games to 7 I was 10 for 92. It got so bad that I started takin shots with my eyes closed, like mikemaines looking elsewhere when he shoots. Luckily my team helped me pull out a few wins, but I am officially a bum on the court and I'm ready to hear it from the peanut gallery.
Making things worse is I've actually worked myself into decent shape, not like basketball shape, but I can run open down the court now, so I can't blame it on conditioning. I can't blame it on not playing because I've been getting up at 6 a.m. twice a week to play. I think I'm going to get a Bruce Bowen jersey because thats pretty much my game at this point. I basically look forward to D-ing up the other teams best player. Holla at me and let me hear it, cuz I'm going to be a hooper again one day, it just may be when I finally have a kid and he begins to get close to getting a win against his pops.
HOLLA
Making things worse is I've actually worked myself into decent shape, not like basketball shape, but I can run open down the court now, so I can't blame it on conditioning. I can't blame it on not playing because I've been getting up at 6 a.m. twice a week to play. I think I'm going to get a Bruce Bowen jersey because thats pretty much my game at this point. I basically look forward to D-ing up the other teams best player. Holla at me and let me hear it, cuz I'm going to be a hooper again one day, it just may be when I finally have a kid and he begins to get close to getting a win against his pops.
HOLLA
Monday, July 23, 2007
Barry Bonds
Just to go on record as the great Barry Bonds is about to, yes great, the man is better than the handful of others we have chosen to celebrate during his career, I WANT BARRY TO BREAK THE RECORD.
Barry is better than McGwire, better than Ripken Jr., better than Griffey, these players we have taken time to herald as great. The difference between Barry and them is Barry doesn't care about what people think of him off the field, that is not to say he doesn't carry himself professionally, becuase he absolutely does, but that his image isn't for sale. Barry just wants to be a baseball player, not a pop icon, not a legend and most of all not poster boy for hamburgers.
During the 2002 World Series I had the privilege to watch Barry hit what was at the time a meaningless home run during Game 6 that pushed the lead to, if I recall correctly 5. Before that at bat as every other one of his at bats during the game I made sure I was in position to watch. I sat there with suspense, as if all the home runs he had hit prior to that didn't real mean that much because I had not seen him do it myself. However, he quickly showed me just what everyone of those home runs meant, especially that one, as I had just witnessed a man crush a ball at will during the most important time in his career. Now the Angels rally monkeyed past the Giants in that game and the series to win, but it is safe to say Barry performed phenomenally on the biggest stage. He hit balls so hard they disappeared from sight during the games in Anaheim.
As Barry turns to break the home run record, I'm left with that same suspense that filled me during the world series, is he going to do it? The only difference is from experience I now know the answer, of course he's going to do it and it is going to be amazing.
Barry is better than McGwire, better than Ripken Jr., better than Griffey, these players we have taken time to herald as great. The difference between Barry and them is Barry doesn't care about what people think of him off the field, that is not to say he doesn't carry himself professionally, becuase he absolutely does, but that his image isn't for sale. Barry just wants to be a baseball player, not a pop icon, not a legend and most of all not poster boy for hamburgers.
During the 2002 World Series I had the privilege to watch Barry hit what was at the time a meaningless home run during Game 6 that pushed the lead to, if I recall correctly 5. Before that at bat as every other one of his at bats during the game I made sure I was in position to watch. I sat there with suspense, as if all the home runs he had hit prior to that didn't real mean that much because I had not seen him do it myself. However, he quickly showed me just what everyone of those home runs meant, especially that one, as I had just witnessed a man crush a ball at will during the most important time in his career. Now the Angels rally monkeyed past the Giants in that game and the series to win, but it is safe to say Barry performed phenomenally on the biggest stage. He hit balls so hard they disappeared from sight during the games in Anaheim.
As Barry turns to break the home run record, I'm left with that same suspense that filled me during the world series, is he going to do it? The only difference is from experience I now know the answer, of course he's going to do it and it is going to be amazing.
Tuesday, June 12, 2007
Don't be Jelly
Yo bois going to be in Samoa- Don't be jealous- HOLLA at me
Itinerary
Depart: Auckland 19 JUN- 1630
Arrive: Apia 18 JUN- 2310
Depart: Apia 29 JUN- 1030
Arrive: Pago Pago - 1105
Depart: Pago Pago 6 JUL- 1405
Arrive: Apia - 1450
Depart: Apia 6 JUL- 2225
Arrive: Auckland 8 JUL- 140
Itinerary
Depart: Auckland 19 JUN- 1630
Arrive: Apia 18 JUN- 2310
Depart: Apia 29 JUN- 1030
Arrive: Pago Pago - 1105
Depart: Pago Pago 6 JUL- 1405
Arrive: Apia - 1450
Depart: Apia 6 JUL- 2225
Arrive: Auckland 8 JUL- 140
Sunday, June 3, 2007
Homesick and Sick of Home
Several things have come to my attention while being abroad. First, despite my easygoing nature, it is extremely difficult being away from home for an extended period of time. I used to wonder why people would get depressed or home sick, but now I realize just how easy it is for you to go up and down. I'm not writing this during a downpoint now, but I have seen my mood and demeanor switch as quickly as chone figgins stealing second. Shot out to Vlad's walk off home run against the Orioles today. I actually caught it on ESPN game cast, so I didn't see it, but saw a live update of the game as he homered, which was exciting for me since I have only been able to read stories following the games rather than getting to watch them for myself.
Second, why is it when I go abroad the Lakers want to implode? When I left in 2004 for South Africa the Lakers traded Shaq, I walked around for a week with my head down as I had a pit in my stomach like finding out my girlfriend was seeing another guy. Now Kobe is expressing the same frusturations all of us have felt as Laker fans in watching them fail to put together a contender around Kobe. I admit I was opposed to moving Bynum during the season, because I think he will be a legitimate center down the road. I realize though at the same time that getting another legit player to help us out is essential. I mean we are blessed nightly to be able to watch Kobe go nuts every night. He is by far and away the best player in the game. Big up to Lebron, but you're not KOBE, we'll see what goes down in San Antonio. Beyond the Lakers being in shambles, hopefully it being exposed will force it to be corrected, it just adds to the homesick/sickofhome feelings that I have to deal with on a daily basis. I recognize that these feelings also make everyday great so I'm not completely being negative, just sayin you got to work with those feelings whether good or bad and continue to take steps forward. Holla
Second, why is it when I go abroad the Lakers want to implode? When I left in 2004 for South Africa the Lakers traded Shaq, I walked around for a week with my head down as I had a pit in my stomach like finding out my girlfriend was seeing another guy. Now Kobe is expressing the same frusturations all of us have felt as Laker fans in watching them fail to put together a contender around Kobe. I admit I was opposed to moving Bynum during the season, because I think he will be a legitimate center down the road. I realize though at the same time that getting another legit player to help us out is essential. I mean we are blessed nightly to be able to watch Kobe go nuts every night. He is by far and away the best player in the game. Big up to Lebron, but you're not KOBE, we'll see what goes down in San Antonio. Beyond the Lakers being in shambles, hopefully it being exposed will force it to be corrected, it just adds to the homesick/sickofhome feelings that I have to deal with on a daily basis. I recognize that these feelings also make everyday great so I'm not completely being negative, just sayin you got to work with those feelings whether good or bad and continue to take steps forward. Holla
Saturday, May 19, 2007
Twenty Three
I must say this birthday was markedly different from any I’ve had before. I began the day excited, just like wow I’m 23. Watched the Spurs beat the Suns, who I surprisingly rooted for because they were the lesser of two evils. GO
It’s just that this birthday I wasn’t with the people from home, my family and my friends. I’m not one to celebrate a birthday; to me it more or less feels the same as any other day.
My friends here threw me an excellent surprise as we dressed up and had a nice dinner at a tapas restaurant. Then we proceeded to Minus 5 an ice bar. I must admit it’s a novel experience and since it was free not half bad. We ended the night playing pool and listening to music and that’s all I can really ask for. Thank you to the friends I’ve made here in
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