60 Seconds of Meditation...Quotes to Contemplate and/or Incorporate

"You don't always need that which you want, but you should always want that which you need." - W. Rinpochet

How far is too far?

Logo for Hot Ghetto Mess

BET is set to release one of many new "hip series" this summer. The most controversial of these is called Hot Ghetto Mess, based on a website which displays pictures that are considered "ghetto", distasteful, or a "hot mess", as is commonly used in ebonical jargon. Is the show doing this in order to help dispel negative stereotypes about Black people or is it simply jumping on the latest bandwagon of Bafoonery Profiteering? We all watched as Dave Chappelle walked the tightrope of bafoonery and social awakening only to be knocked off by his own inner turmoil and slip on the racial residue perpetuated by those not looking for meaning, but ammunition for hate. I don't think there are many feelings worse than pursuing what you see as a noble cause only to have critics and others turn it into something completely different and opposite, despite your best efforts. What's your take on the show and it's intentions? The following link is to an article on Yahoo where Reginald Hudlin, president of entertainment for BET and director of such hits as House Party, Boomerang, and the Great White Hype, and "Jam Donaldson", creator of the Hot Ghetto Mess website, give an alternate, yet optimistic, point of view in regard to the show (http://news.yahoo.com/s/nm/20070710/tv_nm/mess_dc). The article also notes that two sponsors, Home Depot and State Farm, have already pulled their advertisements from the program. Can a show like this actually get a net positive result in the Black community and beyond? Are we as Black people now at a point where we must talk to our kids through comedy and silliness in order to convey substantive ideals? Are the president of BET and the founder of the site setting themselves up for a fate similar to that of Chappelle's or worse? I welcome your thoughts.

July's CD of the Month

This month's spotlight shines on my all-time favorite Jazz cd. It is the soundtrack from George Gershwin's esteemed play, Porgy and Bess. This CD is perfect for those new to Jazz or for the seasoned listener. It's waves of melodies and seemingly unending harmony will carry you through the entire spectrum of emotions and will deliver you back safely to your own piece of mind. New to Jazz or want to hear what true Jazz should sound like? This is definitely the cd for you.

July's Book of the Month

The Art of Happiness, by His Holiness The Dalai Lama, is an introspective journey into what makes us go as human beings. We find ourselves asking what it is that truly really makes us happy and what if anything can be done to achieve that happiness. The book transcends any particular religious doctrine and will definitely find a place to reside inside of you. For those looking to understand themselves and others better and more compassionately this is definitely the book for you.

If I find this offensive, am I being a hypocrite?

http://www.funnyordie.com/videos/df8207a6e7

In today's society, a fuzziness has developed between what is purely comical and what is considered purely offensive. It is my belief that actions and words within themselves are neutral, empowered only by the motivations of the agent of said actions or words. Where do we draw the line? When does something stop being funny and start being offensive? Is the above link simply comedy with a racial overtone or does it convey a negative image of an entire group of people using comedy as a camoflauge? If I laugh at a joke about Asian people am I wrong to be offended by this? Please visit the link below and let me know what your comments are below.

The state of relationships in the US....

Current statistics show that there is a 50% chance that marriages in the United States will end in divorce. High divorce rates are not uncommon to our society, but have and still pose an interesting question as to the reasons so many marriages fail and how such an ugly statistic can be lowered. Are the high divorce rates a reflection of the difficulties so many people face in regard to dating and relationships or are the diificulties faced by many in relationships due to the fear of marriages ending in divorce, which may sub-consciously cause individuals to shy away from fully committing themselves to their mates? All comments are welcome....