Taking a Stand

Sometimes when you stand up for something, and in the end, yo feel like you fall on your face. However, sometimes what seems to be futility is really a step going forward. Sometimes you have to stand up. When we all sit down and leave things as is, there is no growth or new thinking. There would be no Google if someone had continued to sit down. There would be no internet at all if someone had continued to sit down.

Also standing up does not mean that you have to be loud. It can bea quiet and conscious choice to stand up for something. I have made several decisions quietly and people just notice that I do not take part in something or I sit quietly. There are stands that I have had to take and will continue to take. You have to be mature and know when and how to fight your battles.

Take your stand in a positive way while still being respectful to others. Stand up for what is right and just.

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POEM: My Trod

I'm in the midst of the lions
while on my trod to Zion
but I won't be lying
and stealing to get there
cause my head
will need to be clear
cause if that's gone
there would be
no use for me
cause I'll be
worst than a decaying tree
with no life or future
no reason or culture
just a pending disaster
and that's not what I want
for my seed
cause this Black Diamond breed
is special and talented
and these roots
go long and far
so this trod I'm on
is just the beginning
I have mountains
to move
I've got feats
to prove
cause my destination
is heaven
and I won't back down
for nothing

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Words of Encouragement for May 20-21, 2012

There's a lot going on around us. All I can beg of you is that you are patient and stand grounded in your faith. Stay focused and always try your best to do your best. Life must have challenges and you cannot run away from them. You have to learn to overcome your obstacles and recover from defeat.

Challenges can sometimes be enjoyed if there is a triumpant end. Life does not always hand you simplicity and ease and it's hard to regain confidence. However, we have a master who has set a path of growth for us. As we mature, we are to use our talents to show people positivity and encourage them in love.

Not all of your fellow man will love you, but you must still show them love as Jesus did his captors. Love is the beginning and the end. That agape love is unselfish, kind and sweet and we must strive to love our neighbors and our enemies. Be strong and let us work together to improve the world for us all.

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Twelfth Annual BVI Music Festival Set for May 25 to 27, 2012

The BVI is hosting its twelfth annual BVI Music Festival in Cane Garden Bay from May 25 to 27, 2012 featuring Third World, Estelle and other artistes.

The 2012 BVI Music Festival is set for Friday, May 25 to Sunday, May 27, 2012 on the beach in Cane Garden Bay in Tortola in the British Virgin Islands (BVI). The year 2012 marks the twelfth year that the music fest has been held. The event has grown since its conception and is well-attended and supported by the British Virgin Islanders, persons from other Caribbean Islands and from the United States as well. This exciting three-day weekend is filled with an eclectic mix of musical genres and artistes. The performers include local acts out of the BVI and the wider Caribbean region as well as internationally recognized artistes.

Twelve Years of BVI Music Festival

The BVI Music Fest started in 2000 and has featured many local and international acts. BVI Artistes such as Iyaz, Third Dimension Band, Out of the Desert Band, Quito and The Edge and Sister Joyce have performed for a beach full of enthusiastic fans. Regional artistes have included performers who sing both reggae and soca. Destra, Shurwayne Winchester, Alison Hinds, Iwer George and Black Stalin have given super soca performances at previous music fests. Reggae artistes such as Jimmy Cliff, Morgan Heritage, Gregory Isaacs, Beenie Man, Luciano and Maxi Priest have wowed the audiences in the past with their energetic and captive renditions of popular songs. The BVI Music fest also had the pleasure of featuring renowned performers such as Jonathan Butler, Roberta Flack, Envogue, Jonathan Butler, the Manhattans and BoyzIIMen. Popular artistes like Daddy Yankee, Trey Songz, Fantasia and Keyshia Cole have also graced the music fest stage.

The Slate for BVI Music Festival 2012

 According to the BVI Music Fest Official website, the international headliners "are English Grammy Award winning R&B singer, [Estelle](http://www.estellemusic.com/); [Third World](http://www.thirdworldband.com/), Forever Motown, Antigua's Tizzy of El-A-Kru and Fireman Hooper." Rhodni Skelton, the event coordinator, shared that the three-day event is packed with awesome gospel, Rock & Roll, Motown, jazz, reggae, hip hop, R&B, soul and soca music coming from local and international artistes.

• Night One - Friday, May 25: The first night of the music festival includes a new item called the "VI All Stars Showcase" which will give the BVI musicians a chance to share their talents and music with the diverse audience. Kirk Adams, McKenzie B'More Baltimore, Lincoln Ward, Too Smooth, Ritical, Maccabee, Shine-I are some of the local artistes who will be performing in the showcase. The other headline artistes for Friday night are Extreme band, Fireman Hooper and Tizzy and El A Kru from Antigua.
• Night Two - Saturday, May 26: Local band A Type of Toad and local reggae artiste Ritical will be performing on the second night of music festival. Mada Nile, a reggae artiste from neighboring St. Croix in the US Virgin Islands and Lady Saw from Jamaica will represent the powerful women of the reggae genre. Third World will be the headliner for Saturday night.
• Night Three - Sunday, May 27: The final night of the BVI Music Festival will start off with gospel music and continue with Ouida, a blooming local artiste. The X-Factor winner, [Melanie Amaro](http://www.melanieamaroofficial.com/), who is celebrated by her people in the BVI, will also have an opportunity to awe the crowd. Sunday night continues with Forever Motown and the most popular artiste of the music festival, Estelle, a highly talented and respected R & B artiste.

Persons who wish to attend the 2012 BVI Music Festival and have to travel to get there need to plan in advance and book their flights, hotel and transportation. Tickets can be purchased in Tortola, Virgin Gorda and St. Thomas at a cost of $20 per night. VIP passes are also available for $250 for entry to the three nights along with food and drinks all night. From May 25 to 27, 2012, the BVI, and Cane Garden Bay in particular, will be full of activity. Performers from the BVI, the Caribbean region and international performers will be gracing the stage to give heartfelt performances that will leave the crowd thoroughly pleased. 

Tia Mowry Leaving The Game

Tia Mowry seems to be leaving The Game after five great seasons. I do love the show but I guess everyone has to move forward professionally and personally. The Game brought a lot of memorable moments for Tia's character, Melanie Barnett-Davis. The Game was a spin-off of Girlfriends, was cancelled, went into syndication and was relaunched by BET. It is a show that made history.

We saw Melanie grow from a college student into a wife, a stepmother and Sunbeam president. We saw her depressed, unsettled and lonely. Everyone was upset with Derwin for cheating on her and we were happy when they got married.

The Game has been enjoyable and it was nice to see one of the few remaining African-American sitcoms on television. Kudos to Tia for a great jon acting as Melanie - Ms. Boogey, Med School etc.

BET, you did not give a good closure to her leaving. She did not say goodbye to Tasha and there was no tearful departure from Derwin. I guess unforseen circumstances are the cause for this incomplete episode tonight but nevertheless, Tasha and Pookie kept us entertained.

All I can say is please let us not make this a show about Quan Kirkland because he is not in anything unless he's fighting with Derwin.

I have enjoyed my Derwin and Melanie drama from since the show started on CW. Thanks to all the writers and CW and BET for bringing us The Game.

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A Day for All Women - Mothers' Day

Today, we celebrate  segment of the women in the world. Because every woman is a mentor or nurtures someone - a man, another woman or a child - she is a mother. We should congratulate and appreciate all of our women.

Many struggle with having children and we must not discount this. It is so strange that those who really want children, sometimes have such difficulty. Those do not have the means to support children have many babies.

However, God is control of everything and I will not question his plan. Sometimes, he needs people to use people in other ways. We just have to be grateful for the life we have and be gracious to those around us.

Celebrate all the positive women in your life today.

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Latest Music Release from B'More - Forever Music

McKenzie Baltimore Jr., also known as R&B artist B'More, released his latest mix tape, Forever Music in 2012 with songs like "Hear My Cry" and "Speaker Love".

The artist B'More], formally known as McKenzie Baltimore Jr., is a diligent and hardworking young R&B artist who hails from Tortola in the British Virgin Islands] (BVI). B'More has an amazing musical talent and loves to share his music with everyone. He is also no stranger to the performing stage and was formerly a member of Genesis, a gospel group from the BVI. In early 2012, B'More released his mix tape Forever Music.

Who is the Artist B'More

 McKenzie Baltimore has performed locally in the BVI at various events while in Genesis, but he is most recognized as a solo artist. According to his biography, B'More performed regionally in the Caribbean and in Florida, Connecticut and other places in the USA. B'More is also a model and actor who performed in several plays in the BVI.

The Mix Tape – Forever  Music

The mix tape Forever Music brings a range of music and spoken word that displays B'More's emotions, while evoking the thoughts of the listener. Fifteen tracks compose this mix tape including "On and On", "Let it Go", "Last One" and "Hear My Cry". The intro and outro tracks are both expressive spoken word pieces. Featured also on this mix tape are other upcoming artists such as Xcel Tha Don, Aaron Da Jedi, Epic, Neekz and Robert Swain. There is also a bonus track titled "Alicia Keys" featuring Aaron Da Jedi. Forever Music easily appeals to anyone who enjoys R&B and Hip Hop because it has an energetic urban vibe.

• "Speaker Love": This song has the perfect title even though it is a short track that is just under three minutes. "Hear my love through these speakers/ can you hear my love go boom?" is the first line of the hook. "I wrote this song so you can hear me through your radio" and "turn the heights down, leave the treble so/ listen to my heart beating like a drum" are some of the creative and metaphoric lyrics that show the singer's lyrical talent.
• "Let It Go": "Let It Go" is song that gets people moving as the artist sings "DJ, turn it up, let the music take control". The beat has a great dance vibe and bass line that would be perfect for the club or for an energetic fashion show.
• "Hear My Cry": This song has a reggae vibe and opens with "order my footsteps in your ways/ Jah-Jah please guide me through this days". Other lyrics in this inspirational song include "no matter what they say or do, always be pure and true/ never let them tear your dreams away."
• "On and On": This is definitely a catchy and mellow track. It has a very modern instrumental and the artist gives an enticing performance as he repeats "I can't get enough of your love/ I can't get enough of your touch/ I can't get enough of you baby" at the beginning of the hook.
• "More and More": This is one of the softer and slower tracks on Forever Music. The entire composition is perfectly put together with its seductive lyrics, sultry melody and engaging performance. In this song, B'More also showcases his vocal range while delivering lyrics like "the simple smile, hello/ the way her body flows/ the art of independent/ the glow in her eyes, I can't be resistant" in the first verse.

B'More has a lot of creative energy and he showcases it through his lyrics and vocal performance. The 2012 mix tape Forever Music is only a small sample of this artist's work. He is an R&B artist who is very dedicated to his music and shows this through his engaging stage presence. We can be sure to look forward to more great releases coming from B'More in the future.