desc

via Is a Line Being Crossed in Haiti Coverage?.

Mother Nature’s Sinister Thoughts

Originally uploaded by Manuel Smith

So, what’s with Mother Nature lately? More specifically this morning, where there is this weird combination of steady drizzle over hard frozen ice. That’s not even to mention the daylight that has not even appeared close to 7 am.

Yes, she tries to blame it on "global warming", or "man made weather effects" but this one was all on you Mother Nature. Your sinister thoughts still shine through….even at 6:30am.
Sent on the Now Network™ from my Sprint® BlackBerry

This is it. We’re here. The end of 2008.

And you know the weirdest thing about it all? For the first time, I’m ahead of the change, and ready to plan for the new changes that are going to come. Every year in the past (that I can remember), it always felt like I was going with the flow, reacting and responding to external factors that were present in my life.

That’s all going to change in 2009. The beginning of 2008 felt like everything was out of control.  I’m back in the saddle now, and ready for another long ride. To somewhere, anywhere…and not just in the pack….as the leader.

I recently went into a bookstore with Meelah; mostly to pick out some children’s books for her. On the counter; a book almost jumped out at me. “The Power of Now”, by Eckhart Tolle. To be perfectly honest, the ideas in the book are so powerful…that I’m barely even done a quarter of the book myself. The changes that it moves you toward are so deep that I can only take it in small fragments….like a super rich chocolate cake, small, small bites.

The basic premise of the book is how to enjoy the current moment you live in….the Now. The past and the future are really only illusions. Maximizing the terms of your current situation is what makes the best life for you possible.  Always being the responsible person, the planner, the anticipator….I’ve almost NEVER lived by this rule.

That brings me to my resolution for 2009….which is really nothing. I plan to live my life to the fullest this year. I’m going to do a good job at work….and leave on time. I’m going to be a great dad at home….and not rush the moments that I have with my daughter, my family, or my friends. Most importantly, I’m going to enjoy every moment that comes my way, expected, or unexpected…and enjoy it without preconcieved notions or expectations.

It’s even just relieving to think about.

In the midst of a violent bank robbery, where numerous shots have been fired, the front doors have been broken in, and the thieves have cowered everyone into their deepest fears; a bank manager asks the gun-toting thief before him “What do you believe in?” He responds, “I believe that what doesn’t kill you simply makes you… stranger.” In a dazzling performance as the time honored Batman character “The Joker”, actor Heath Ledger is said to give what may have been the greatest performance of his career by delivering surprisingly sensitive lines like that one; from the lips of a madman. “Introduce a little anarchy. Upset the established order, and everything becomes chaos. I’m an agent of chaos. Oh, and you know the thing about chaos? It’s fair!” continues ‘The Joker”

Introducing Chaos, intended or not, it’s exactly what this film has done. Only rarely are first-run films re-released into the theaters, but demand to see the 150 minute-plus film is still strong enough for the studios to plan to place the film back in theaters this January. And if that weren’t enough; the Academy Awards might also break a rule….awarding an action film it’s top awards. Strong rumors say the film is a leading contender to win at least Best Director & Best Picture at the upcoming awards ceremony. The awards have rarely been bestowed upon action movies….much less a “Batman” flick.

Seeing the headline announcing the accolades the film is garnering; it reminded me that 2008 was the year of “The Dark Knight” in more than just a movie. The themes of the film revolved in my real life this year; the year where everything that I assumed to be reality, turned out not so much to be.

Since I’ve been a boy; I’ve been fortunate enough to have a clear moral compass. It’s pretty deep to say that right out; but it’s true. Being on the right side of things has always been of utmost importance to me, the point where adequate sleep becomes an issue when outstanding wrongs that I feel should be corrected is not. Relaxation only comes when the world revolving in a circle of “right”. I know, I know…call me a goodie, or holier-than-thou, but it’s honestly the way I feel, for better or worse.

After enjoying a life of mostly blessings and love from family, friends, co-workers, and even strangers….2008 was the year that everything changed. Almost everything that could have gone wrong did. Imagine everything that could happen to bring a man to his knees, it did. But more than the changes that occurred in the darkest period of my life; I experienced the darkest side of some of the closest people in my life. The worst of their personalities and traits began to be displayed all at once. For someone used to expecting the best from everyone, it was overwhelming to feel let down by the people you felt were better when you needed them the most. At one point, the road back to the peaceful wonderland I used to know seemed to permanently disappear, or in the words of The Joker “Y’see, madness, as you know, is like gravity. All it takes is a little… push.”

When Dark Knight Co-star Aaron Eckhart was asked why he thought the action film was up for so many accolades; he told the Associated Press that the movie was “important …sociologically. I feel like in this day and age, with terrorism and with the cancers of the city and people trying to find a voice within their own city, this is an important film.” At one point the movie appears to be over, when the supposed white knight of the film, new District Attorney Harvey Dent begins working for evil explaining “You either die a hero, or you live long enough to see yourself become the villain.” And therein lies the point of the “The Dark Knight”, or is it?

Call it naiveté; or maybe stubbornness…but despite the challenges; it’s been pretty hard for me to consider things in shades of gray. Despite disappointments, I still try to place everything in clear categories of right or wrong, good or bad. It may appear to make overly complex things too simple or creating expectations of things, or people that may never be met….but what’s wrong for hoping & planning for the best in everything. Especially when you’re giving out that same energy, with the only expectation is of receiving the same in return.

I can think of a few people now, who would throw this very argument right back at me in disgust. How can you expect fairytale style results from the real world as shared in the words of “The Joker”, “You have all these rules and you think they’ll save you?”

For me, I learned that the night is darkest just before the dawn. And that even goes even sometimes for the “Knight”….who if holds on to hope just long enough, will live to see the dawn that is coming, or in the words of the “Batman”, “Sometimes, truth isn’t good enough, sometimes people deserve more. Sometimes people deserve to have their faith rewarded.” And that’s the real point of The Dark Knight….or nights.

Some Santas don’t feel so jolly this year

It’s going to be a lean year for the jolly fat man.

What Church Will President Obama Attend?

When you resigned your membership at Trinity United Church of Christ in the spring, you said you would wait until after the election to worry about finding a new church home.

Town Shrugs off Poorest Health Ranking

“People here have an attitude of ‘You’re not going to tell me what I can eat.”

Liberate Yourself from Old Email Addresses

The guide details how to set up a new email service, they use the robust GMail, and properly configure it to take in email from the old addresses and notify the people still using them of your current address

Wanda Sykes: “I’m Proud to be Gay”

Wanda Sykes ‘came out’ at a rally held in Las Vegas on Saturday

2003 seems like yesterday, where the crowds of pre-teens would crowd the corner of 46th and Broadway, just hoping for glimpse of the latest pop superstar to appear in the windows of MTV’s then-flagship show “Total Request Live”. I was the only guy, just a little older than this crowd, trying to bust through them so I could make it to work on-time at the up & coming leader of cable news, FOX News Channel. I really hated those crowds back then…..but how could I really be that mad? Times Square is the world’s media crossroads. With the industry growing as rapidly as it
was; traffic jams could all but be expected.

So with that in mind, I should not have been surprised to see the paths of “TRL” and my career intersect again. This time on the pages of the New York Times.

“It’s the new reality“, sums up Al Primo.. Last week, the Times asked the man considered to be the father of modern local TV news to talk about the new video sharing partnership announced by the local stations divisions of FOX & NBC that is expected to revolutionize the way that local television newsrooms operate across the nation. As a local desk Assignment Editor, it’s an exciting, but uncertain time, because the total way I’ve been trained to work, think, and operate will have to
change. And sooner rather than later, since my station is among those that will lead the way in implementation of the partnership.

“But it’s ending now”, exclaimed 15 year old Helena Mounesa to the New York Times as she waited outside of MTV studios in Times Square for her first, and probably only ever peek at the last taping of MTV’s Total Request Live on Sunday. For “TRL” too, a changing marketplace meant sagging ratings; and less relevance to a new crowd of younger viewers. For now, the show is being placed on hiatus. Asked about the show’s eventual return, show Producer Dave Sirulnick tells the Times, “Let it
catch its breath! Been working hard – for 10 years!,”

Not the right attitude Dave! With your show going OFF the air, I’ll opt for the advice of Kid Rock from the last episode of “TRL”, “Well, guess what? It’s over; I ain’t putting the cigar out.” While I probably won’t be downloading his next CD, I will keep the cigar of the future lit too. If there’s news to be broken; let’s find even more new ways to break it….and for those Times writers? Keep those pencils sharpened, there are going to be some NEW headlines to talk about in the future.

Obama Wins!

It’s hard for me to put the sum of my feelings into a string of words that would be appropriate for this moment in history, so I’ll leave it to the other voices and words that are putting the proper perspective on this special event!

Barbara Ciara, NABJ President

Grandma Would’ve Cherished The Moment

“What a different day it is,” I thought as I smiled to myself. No longer can you guess someone’s politics by worn out stereotypes.

Annette John Hall, Columnist, The Philadelphia Inquirer

The dream becomes reality

History hasn’t allowed African Americans to get their hopes up too high. See, I’ve watched my parents and grandparents keep their heads up through a lifetime of dashed dreams.

Rev Al Sharpton, for the NY Daily News

It’s an inspiring day, but the civil rights march must continue.

Some will argue that Obama’s candidacy represents the official beginning of a “postracial” era in America, where neither race nor civil rights claims are relevant.

Roland Martin, Essence.com

The President-Elect

Now, I can tell my nieces with certainty, that yes, even you can grow up to be president of the United States.

Comments on Obama from Concreteloop.com

When he won OHIO…..I almost started crying….WOW!!!

I feel so proud, so happy, so overjoyed. Yes we can & yes we did! OH HAPPY DAY!!!! Our ancestors are smiling down upon us.

…and the words from the President-Elect. A link to the verbate from his speech.

‘It’s been a long time coming.”

But above all, I will never forget who this victory truly belongs to. It belongs to you. It belongs to you.

The day everyone participated

Originally uploaded by Manuel Smith

Just two photos from polling places in Philadelphia on Election Day Nov 4th!
Arriving shortly after 7am, my personal wait to vote was only about 20 minutes.
As the sun rose further however, the lines began to grow.
It’s going to be an historic day!

The day everyone participated

Originally uploaded by Manuel Smith

Just two photos from polling places in Philadelphia on Election Day Nov 4th!
Arriving shortly after 7am, my personal wait to vote was only about 20
minutes.
As the sun rose further however, the lines began to grow.
It’s going to be an historic day!

People are in lines of 50 to 100 people already. Photos later.