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Monthly Archives: April 2012

Kevin Hart is a Riot in Think Like A Man

24 Apr

The movie Think Like A Man, based on the book Act Like A Lady, Think Like A Man by comedian, radio personality, and Family Feud host Steve Harvey was one of the funniest movies I have seen in a long time. Comedian Kevin Hart, made the movie the knock-down, drag-out laugh fest that it was along with his fellow cast of all stars. I laughed so hard with the rest of the audience that the follow up dialogue was hard to hear, but that didn’t take away from the film. The movie was well paced, easy to follow, and well worth every penny spent.

Much to the shagrin of all film industry, I plan on going to see this movie again in theaters and then I plan to  hit up the bootleg man until it comes out on DVD and BluRay. Yeah, I should probably be prosecuted for copyright infringement for just saying that, but hey I plan on dropping the $20-$30 bucks for the widescreen version that’ll fit my TV screen. Not to mention I’ll have seen it in the movies twice. Both times I’ll be going with someone; that’s at least $60-$70 of my hard earned money. So yeah, I think that’s fair (It’s a joke, lol).

But seriously the movie was that good. It wasn’t just that Kevin Hart was so funny or that Megan Good looked so awesomely sexy in every dress she wore, but the movie was as good as movies get. The movie never really slowed down to make you wish another good part was coming; the entire movie was a good part. The way the relationships played out were hilarious, but they were also heartfelt, and easily relatable to real life circumstances. With Kevin Hart’s humor, this movie would have played out well with any cast. I also have to give it up to Terrence J, who did a great job in his first true on screen movie role. He’s been featured in other movies, but mostly as a host or DJ, much like on his show BET’s 106 and Park.

So if you’re looking for a good laugh, some wholesome, witty, funny, and even some sexy entertainment, then Think Like A Man is the movie you want to see.

I’m almost tempted to buy the book, which is probably good since the movie was a smash hit as far as I’m concerned. Not to mention, Think Like A Man moved The Hunger Games out of the #1 position on the box office after the adaptation from Suzanne Collins’ book of the same title held the spot for four consecutive weeks, raking in $33M in its first week according to Yahoo Movies box office.

What are you waiting for? Go and see Think Like A Man.  Pick up the book too. I’m sure Steve Harvey will thank you.

 

Until next write…

Comment and check out my debut novel, The Virgin Surgeon.

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Posted by on April 24, 2012 in Movies

 

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Trayvon Martin Gets Michigan Teacher Fired

10 Apr

By now, everyone in American has heard of Trayvon Martin and his untimely death at the hands of a nieghborhood watch volunteer George Zimmerman in Sanford, Florida. The circumstances of Trayvon’s death are still being hashed out, and Florida has yet to charge Zimmerman with any crimes. However, there has been much discussion, backlash, turmoil, outcrying, and media foul ups surrounding this case. All of us are watching and listening intently to find out exactly what will happen in Florida in the weeks and months to come. And of course people are reaching out in support of the family.

Some recent support was going to come from students in Michigan who wanted to raise some money for the Martin family. It is likely that Trayvon’s funeral had cost a nice penny, and while money can never bring back their son; it’s a decent gesture to give a gift of some kind. Most of us could use an extra couple of dollars, and I’m quite sure the Martin family could also. For a trip to the movies, a dinner, a trip out of Florida for a couple of days. Anything to get their mind off the loss of their son for just a few minutes. These particular Michigan students wanted to have a “wear a hoodie day” in honor of Trayvon at their school, asking for just a $1 from administrators. Teacher Brooke Harris is quoted as saying she did everything “by the book,” and was “dismissed with little explanation.” Superintendent Jacqueline Cassel said she didn’t oppose the effort, more its timing. She is quoted as saying, “I’m a child of the civil rights movement,” but “this is not the time in the school year” to distract students from academics. “In every situation, there are work rules,” she said. “When rules are violated, there are consequences.” You can read the rest of the article here.

What i want to know is…when is it the right time to teach activism and standing up for what you believe? Are all the kids going to somehow magically fail out of school for one day in support of a tragic event that has obviously affected them enough, that they want to do something nice for Trayvon’s family. Not to mention that it’s already mid-April. If the students haven’t learned enough to pass by now, then they need do repeat the grade. And aren’t teachers supposed to be there to support students in how to postively and correctly go about rallying for a cause. If Brooke Harris did everything “by the book,” as she is quoted as saying, then why has she been dismissed. I guess even if you’re politically correct and try to appease the people in charge, then you still get hung out to dry. When you’re being what a teacher is supposed to be; a teacher who supports students, a teacher who supports kindness and generosity for your fellow man, you’re destined to be hung out to dry. Civil rights organizations are calling for her reinstatement and so am I. Enough of our teachers are bogged down by state regulations, feeling that their hands are tied, and that they are powerless to truly educate students so that they are prepared for the real world. We’ve got enough puppet teachers in America as it is, going through the motions and collecting a paycheck.

And in conclusion, what these kids wanted to do, and what this teacher supported is what this United States of America is built upon. What would this great America be if people didn’t stand up to injustice and tyranny. Would Native Americans have reservations, would blacks have been free and given civil rights, would women have moved up the social ladder, would Pearl Harbor have been blown up unanswered if there weren’t people who fought. This country isn’t perfect, but the one ideal that always stands in America is that when their is injustice, we stand up and we fight. We don’t fire people for it. We clap our hands, we cheer them, and then we build them a monument in honor of their brave service.

Until next write…

Comment and check out my debut novel, The Virgin Surgeon.

 
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Posted by on April 10, 2012 in Politics and Education, Something About Me

 

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What’s Stopping Me From Success

08 Apr

The world turns in a way where good and bad things come and go. Those things which are good for us have their moments and those things which are bad for us seem to linger longer with us during their moments. Often bad things force us into despair and depression that can seem irreparable. Yet, the world also turns in a way where you might see someone you’ve known from many years ago. In that moment you talk about pass things, good and bad, but more importantly the discussion centers on the present and then the hopeful or abysmal future that is to come. Experiences shape us, who were are, what we think, and what we think of who we will be. While we all experience things in a different way, our experiences seem to center around the same things. I guess that is the human condition that allows us to relate our own lives to that of those who we meet, or meet again under new circumstances.

My conversation with my old friend got me thinking about the obstacles that we each face. Similarly we are both not exactly where we want to be in life, but have an optimistic view of what will be. The only thing that is standing in our way of what we hope to achieve is true belief. The other factor may be taking a risk to drop everything and dive in head first into what our dreams are made of. I think Winston Churchill’s quote above has it correct. Too many of us as people simply do not continue to forge forward and grab life by the horns. We shy away from that old raggedy cliche that says “you can be anything you want to be if you believe it.” Yet, unlike those who have grasped their destiny in hand, we’re too busy not continuing forward. Allowing others to set up in your mind what you are capable of, or what you are worth is wrong. Your own mind is the most powerful tool you possess in achieving whatever it is you believe success to be. Follow it. It harkens to your heart. And if your mind continues to hover around a single thought that will help you approach your own success, then do exactly as your mind says.

As humans we don’t always have the answers, very much conflicted between those two voices in our heads telling us what to do. That proves that success or failure is simply a choice we make based on decisions that are made in our head. We need not try for success but only choose success by becoming what no one can deny. I feel that was summed up when Albert Einstein said, “try not to become a man of success, but rather try to become a man of value.” Most men of value have success, not because success is something they can hold. They have it because of their actions, their courage to continue, and what they bring to the table that cannot be found anywhere else. So in truth, there really is nothing stopping me, you, or them for success other than ourselves. We are the masters of our own universe.

Until next write…

Comment and check out my debut novel, The Virgin Surgeon.

 
60 Comments

Posted by on April 8, 2012 in Something About Me

 

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How To Find Your Passion In Life

03 Apr

There are things that everyone wants, regardless of age, sex, race, or background. They are things like a comfortable home, security, someone to love, money, and good health. Recently, the biggest Mega Millions jackpot was claimed by at least three people. Thus all of us with the dream of becoming the lastest overnight millionaire fell short by at least a buck. I fell short by $19 or more aptly, another Friday night with Dominos pizza. That’s probablly better for my health anyway since I could stand to lose a few pounds.

And since we’re not among the new American millionaires, your life, like mine is probably largely unchanged aside from an extra pound or two and a couple of more bucks wasted on something we wanted, but probably didn’t need. Yes, I should have probably skipped the McDonald’s McDouble last night, but I love them. I’ll grow some will power tonight, I promise. So as each lottery jackpot continues to evade us, we must continue to search for and find a passion that drives us. Do you know yours? Yes? No? I finally know mine, and it took me about 26 years to revisit it, and put it into action.

When people of all ages tell me that they don’t know what they want to do with their lives, I ask them a simple question. What is your passion? Often that question is answered with the proverbial “I don’t know.” My follow up question is then; what would you do for the rest of your life even if you weren’t being paid? When that question is answered specifically and confidently, my advice to that person is to find a way to do that and make money doing it. Of course that is always easier said than done, but the cliche will hold true. When you’re doing something you love, something that you’re passionate about, you’ll never work a day in your life. I found my passion to be writing. It is something that I’ve always done since I was a kid, reading my stories to my brother off of notebook paper before we fell asleep. I’d read to anyone who’d listen and let them read whatever I’d written if they had the time. From September of 2008 to January of 2009, my passion to write culminated into my debut novel, The Virgin Surgeon, published in December of 2011. The wicked thing was that I wrote the first 12 pages back in 2001. That fact shows that passion never dies, but only lies dormant.

So what if you don’t know what you’d do forever without getting paid? What if you really don’t have a passion? How will you determine your purpose in life? My advice is simple. Find it. Yes, yes. It is another easier said than done conundrum, but it can happen. The simplest way is to try to find ways to turn a hobby into a career. Volunteer somewhere or with someone in something that’s always interested you. A passion doesn’t have to be a tangible thing like writing novels, or playing instruments, or making films. It could be something as simple as wanting to help people. You could be anything from a day care center worker to a doctor. Or a mentor to somene who nees some advice and guidance. What I’m almost 100% sure of is that you wont find your passion by not doing anything. So go out and engage the world. If you love to drink, own a distillery, if you love to party, become a promoter, and if Jesus is Lord and all that you love, then there are a dozen churches in your community that would allow you to express your passion for Christ. Whatever it is that drives you will become your passion. You’ll know it when you find it.

Until next write…

Comment and check out my debut novel, The Virgin Surgeon.

 
6 Comments

Posted by on April 3, 2012 in Something About Me

 

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