Written with Fire - Today's Blog Post

We continue to play around with each other when we need to be serious. There are a lot of things that are not going right. We don't stand up when we need to and we don't fight for each other. When I say this, I mean when we see things going wrong, we don't pull up each other.

I cannot deal with mediocrity and while we can't complain for everything that goes wrong, how long must we stay quiet and watch the foolishness continue. If people are in an organization and they cannot be corrected, then something is wrong. When I say corrected, I mean that they are not fulfilling their roles the way that they should. How long will we continue to accept the nonsense because we don't want to offend.

Please offend me if I am doing wrong so I can wake up. I am not perfect and I know many of my flaws. I am working on them day by day. Please bear with me and bear me in prayer. However, while you bear with me, know that I am bearing with you too and we have to be each other's keeper. Be a seeker for greatness and someone who inspires others, not a criticizer who offers nothing positive.

Let's go man!

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Taking time to smile

Life can be up and down and some days you just need to laugh. It's good when you work in an office where you can get a smile during the day. It's awesome when you have some friend or family member who will call you just to give you a joke to make you laugh. We all need that. I can't go through the day without getting something to laugh at.

It's not everything that we will agree is funny but at least an attempt at it can help when you are feeling down. Of course, I do not encourage you to laugh at others' expense or at their situations. However, you can look for a short joke on the internet.

I enjoy looking for one or two liners to share via social media. If it can make another person laugh then at least I gave someone a smile. When you are in pain or feeling down, a little joke can really make your day.

So this is a one-liner I found:

Grandpa: "Go hide, your teacher is here because you skipped school today!"
Boy: "No you go hide. I told her you were dead!"

LOL!

My 'What's In' List

Instead of a pet peeve list, I'll share a 'What's In' list.

1. People who stand up against wrong
2. People who give constructive criticism
3. Products that make life easier
4. Good deals with no catch
5. People who do not litter
6. Animal owners who take care of their pets and livestock without having them being a bother to others
7. Parents who truly parent
8. Church people who try to be real with you
9. People who are quick thinkers
10. People who see a friend with a problem such as alcoholism and encourage them to change

Inspired by "Rethink Possible"

AT&T's motto when I wrote this post was "Rethink Possible" and I like it. As I look at my journey, I have met the impossible and in many cases I've walked away saying "I'm Possible". Some risks are scary but you have to take the step forward to be able to achieve your goal.

Set your plan in motion and remain determined to succeed. Obstacles are every where but walk over, creep under or walk around them. Be realistic and ask for help if you need it. Everyone needs help from time to time.

So today, "Rethink Possible" and see how far you can go.

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Some Days.....

I have the weirdest experiences sometimes. I can never explain them either. I have been through so much in this life. Sometimes, I get surprises and other times, I can see things coming. I even meet some strange people sometimes.

I may just happen to be the one to get the defective item or the bad product. However, I take it as it comes.I believe that God gives you tests to ready for bigger challenges. Even Jesus was tempted and tried so I try my best to be patient. Patience is hard for me but somehow I like farming. I watch my mangoes and can't wait for them to mature.

So I am continuing to work on me and hoping to be the best me! Pray for me please.

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Common's 2000 Album Like Water for Chocolate is Classic Hip Hop

Hip Hop artist Common released Like Water for Chocolate in 2000 with songs like "The Light," "Geto Heaven Part Two" and "The 6th Sense."

Common is known in the hip hop genre as a solid lyricist whose music is always fresh and brings a different flavor. Common's real name is Lonnie Rashid Lynn Jr. and he was born in Chicago in the 1970s. He released Like Water for Chocolate in 2000 and had hip hop fans mesmerized with songs like "The Light," "A Song for Assata," "Nag Champa (Afrodisiac for the World)" and "The Questions."

Common's Albums

Common's debut album was Can I Borrow a Dollar? in 1992 with the song "Take It EZ." Common's follow-up was Resurrection in 1994 with the song "I Used to Love H.E.R." One Day It'll All Make Sense was released in 1997 and Like Water for Chocolate in 2000. Common then released Electric Circus in 2002 with the hit song "Come Close" featuring Mary J Blige. The video for "Come Close" aired on BET and other music networks where Common's leading lady was hearing impaired and he would write signs to her expressing his love. 

Be was released in 2005 and then Finding Forever in 2002 which was executive produced by Kanye West. The Universal Mind Control album was released in 2008 with the title song "Universal Mind Control." A compilation, Go!: Common Classics, was released in 2010 with hit songs "The Light," "Come Close" and "Testify."

Like Water for Chocolate is a Great Hip Hop Album

Like Water for Chocolate has sixteen hip hop tracks on it and some do have explicit lyrics. This album features artists like Jill Scott and Bilal in "Funky for You," Mc Lyte (http://www.officialmclyte.com/) in "A Film Called (Pimp)," Rahzel in "Cold Blooded," Mos Def in "The Questions", D'Angelo and Cee-lo. All of the songs on this album have lyrical input from Common who is listed as Lonnie Lynn. Common's father, Lynn Sr., also orates on this album in "Pops Rap III…All My Children."

• Common's Version of "Geto Heaven Part Two": Common's "Geto Heaven Part Two" contains a sample from The Family Stand's "Ghetto Heaven" which was written by group members Peter Lord, V. Jeffrey Smith and Sandra St. Victor. D'Angelo sings the hook and portions of the original "Ghetto Heaven" in this song where Common raps about life in the 'ghetto.' Common emphatically raps "A thug is a lost man in disguise" and "Find heaven in yourself and God" in the lyrics of this powerful song.
• Common's Love is "The Light": "The Light" has an infectious instrumental that Common raps with a poetic flow. It was produced by the Soulquarian's. He starts off "I never knew a love, love, a love like this / gotta be something for me to write this." This song can considered one of the best hip hop love songs. "It's important we communicate / tune the fate of this union to the right pitch" begins the second verse. The music video has Erykah Badu as the leading lady and begins with the glare of light shining from a spinning record and the image a red lava lamp.
• "A Song for Assata": Another heavy poetic song by Common is "A Song for Assata" featuring Cee-lo (http://www.ceelogreen.com/). This song brings to mind strong images of the Civil Rights Movement. "They said she robbed places that didn't exist" and "I wonder what would have happened if that would have been me / all of this just so that we could be free" are minute portions of the strong lyrics. This is the longest track on the CD and features strings played by Larry Gold. It ends of with a woman's voice speaking "Freedom…You asking me about freedom… I know a whole lot more about what freedom isn't than what it is…."
• Common Hits Hard in "The 6th Sense": "The 6th Sense" is another of Common's songs that features Bilal's voice in the background vocals. DJ Premier produced this song and implemented the scratches and cuts. "The 6th Sense" begins "the revolution will not be televised / the revolution is here." While the song contains elements of Mobb Deep's "Allustrious," the first line comes from Gil Scott Heron's poem "The Revolution Will Not Be Televised." "If the revolution had a movie / I'd be theme music" and "I just wanna innovate and stimulate minds / travel the world and penetrate the times" are some of the lyrics of "The 6th Sense."

Common's release of Like Water for Chocolate in 2000 brought hip hop a fresh new voice and style. With the tendency of hip hop artists of that time to lend their voice to materialism and sexual perversion, Common stood out with his tight and distinct poetic lyrics. Like Water for Chocolate featured other fearless and innovative artists like D'Angelo, Jill Scott, Bilal and Cee-lo who always bring a fresh message in their music. Songs like "The Light" and "The 6th Sense" will entertain and inspire generations of future hip hop fans. 

The Factors that Play Out in Our Lives

It's usually a lot on my mind, but I try to take on things step by step....day by the day. I see a lot of funny things going on and people are chatting. I take each day in stride and work accordingly. There's a lot that needs to be accomplished but just a few persons are willing to do the work. Changes will happen whether we like it or not. Unfortunately, it's more often than likely that we won't like it.

I've notices certain things and I will adjust myself as well. I have to make the difference in my life. I have to know what works for me. The game of life is about the risks we take. I have to be adventurous and seek to better my life. This is something that we all need to do. Several factors play out in life - our good deeds, who we know and of course karma. Whether you believe in fate or faith, you still have to pay your cards right. I don't worry about changing the what I have done in the past. Somehow God has pulled it all together for me and I thank him for the blessings and the challenges because every challenge is a blessing in disguise.

So today, do not be frustrated or turned off with your situation. Seek our ways to make it better. Be mindful of the people around you and seek to be among those who will encourage you. Write your goals and find ways to pursue them. Do what you have to - that's positive - to chart the path you need to be on to improve your future.

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