Just Think Vol.21: What Do We Really Want?
By A.Evans
http://twitter.com/AdotEVANS
What Do We Really Want ?
A few hours after writing Article 19 I began to watch Vicky, Christina, Barcelona, and immediately found myself inspired to write yet another article. In this film the two main characters Vicky and Christina are best friends with two totally different ways of viewing the world. Vicky is the practical, play it safe cookie cutter who claims to know exactly what she wants, while Christina is the radical spontaneous wild heart whose theory is "I don't know what I want, I only know what I don't want.
While watching this Woody Allen film I immediately identified with both characters and found myself wondering do any of us really know what we want or is it that we too only know what we don't want. No one wants to fail, lose a job or embark in a toxic relationship, but the truth of the matter is it happens. So do we play it safe like Vicky or go with flow like Christina? Is anything we choose really what we want or a safe decision be it planned or passive? We tend to change our minds with the seasons so...What do we really want? And when we get it are we really happy?
What Make Us Happy?
The pursuit of happiness appears to be the ideal goal in life, whether it is something of material value, a poetic concept of love, or something as remarkable as enlightenment. We all in the end want to be happy. I have to ask though, What really makes up happy? What do we really want? When people are asked "Where do you see yourself in five years?" you'll get millions of different answers. How many of those people changed their mind about what they want and where they would like to be with a year of making their initial statement? Lets be honest; numerous times we find ourselves not too thrilled about the things we thought would essentially make us happy once acquired. In this magic pill society our wants and desires change rapidly. For some its being married with 2 kids and a dog, to wanting a divorce. For others its as simple as changing shoes.
In the film Vicky, Christina Barcelona; Vicky, thought happiness would be marring her fiance who was safe and reliable, only to feel the total opposite after falling for someone who normally would not fit the mold of what she thought she wanted. How many times has this happened in relationships, where the person we thought would make us happy doesn't? How many times does this happen with a certain major while enrolled in school, career choice or just in life period? I wonder if it is the thought of what will make us happy that encourages pursuit to begin with? What if we were more like Christina who didn't know what made us happy and just hoped to stumble upon it, would we be more successful by indirectly seeking happiness with a passive attitude?
Is Being Open The Key?
Is it possible that structure can lead to unhappiness? What if you have life all planned out and nothing turns out the way you expected it? Should you have had a plan to begin with? Do we really get what we really want and do we really want what is meant for us? It makes you wonder are our choices and decisions really what determines our level of happiness?And if not then what does? Should we be open
to all possibilities instead of being selective?
What Do You Think?
For comments please visit www.ThinkGroupNewsletter.com
Marketing Buzz of the Week
By Max Rivers
http://www.Twitter.Com/MaxRivers
Presidente, USA True Live Inn
PRESIDENTE BRINGS THE CULMINATION OF ITS TRUE LIVE INN SUMMER PROMOTION TO THE MAGICAL CITY - TRANSFORMING MIAMI'S PREMIER LIFESTYLE VENUE INTO THE ULTIMATE CARIBBEAN-THEMED PLAYGROUND
Presidente Imported Beer will host the ultimate finale to its highly successful summer-long promotion - True Live Inn - with an exclusive VIP party on Friday, August 14, 2009 starting at 8:00 p.m. at Plunge at The Gansevoort South Hotel located on 2377 Collins Ave, Miami Beach, FL.
During the invitation-only event, Miami's top VIP's, celebrities, media and socialites will celebrate the culmination of the regional, summer-long 2009 promotion offering consumers the chance to win the True Live Inn Grand Prize: four days and three nights worth of red carpet VIP treatment at Presidente's luxury resort in the heart of the Caribbean.
The renowned rooftop pool area at Plunge at The Gansevoort South Hotel, infamous for its steamy soirées filled with South Florida's most beautiful people, will be transformed into Presidente's signature haven of Caribbean cool. Guests will be taken on a memorable journey inside an exotic playground featuring an eclectic mix of music and entertainment accented by the smooth golden taste of Presidente beer being offered as a complimentary taste of the tropics between 8:00 p.m. and 9:00 p.m. along with light hors d'ourves.
Up until August 16, consumers will have a chance to register for the opportunity to win the True Live Inn Grand Prize - the ultimate vacation at Presidente's luxury resort in the heart of the Caribbean. For more information on the summer promotion or to register, log on to www.trueliveinn.com
In true Presidente style, the music and entertainment for the night will reflect a taste of True Living in the Caribbean with eclectic beats provided by the impresario of smooth groove and Latin beats, DJ Brass King, with a special guest appearance by The Miami Heat Dancers and other surprise celebrity guests.
Presidente Beer is a proud sponsor of The Miami Heat as its official imported beer. As the Caribbean's favorite beer and the most prestigious brand in the Dominican Republic, Presidente beer has a pleasing golden color and refreshing flavor. Presidente Light Beer, introduced in the United States in 2007, is a top-quality, smooth and rich-tasting pilsner beer. CND exports Presidente throughout the United States, the Caribbean, Central America and Europe.
Friday, August 14, 2009
8:00 p.m. - 9:00 p.m. complimentary Presidente tasting
9:00 p.m. - VIP Party
Plunge at The Gansevoort Hotel
2377 Collins Avenue
Miami Beach, FL 33139
The Grub Report
By Ronnell Rock
Restaurant of the Month
Doll's Soul Kitchen
624 Southside Commercial Parkway
Jonesboro, GA 30236
This restaurant has been getting pub in the Think Group Media network for a couple of weeks. It's brand new, in our neighborhood, and owned by one of our homies. There it is the disclaimer.
Showing support was a strong motive for stopping by but my culinary curiosity was what pushed me to load up the kids on a Sunday afternoon and take the trek down to Jonesboro to see what all the fuss is about.
In route, I had to remind myself not to get too excited. In my three years living in Atlanta, I'd been disappointed on more than one occasion by the lack of quality soul food.
Luckily Southside Commercial Parkway was on the GPS, because this spot could easily get lost in the combustion of Tara Blvd. If you're from Jonesboro, you can find Dolls in the same plaza as the Howard Johnson, and Mr. Clean Car Wash. Outside of the city made famous by Gone With The Wind, you should take the Tara Blvd exit, pass Hooters make a U-turn and open the windows. Before you get to the door, you can smell the aromatic combustion of barbecue sauce, mac and cheese and traditional southern sides.
The sound of the fans blowing, soft leather booths and plastic covered tables stir up memories of grandma's kitchen. It's obvious this is a family restaurant. Everyone from the take out cashier, to the wait staff, and kitchen crew shares a noticeable resemblance to the restaurant's namesake Mrs. Doll.
I was immediately put at ease by the welcoming environment and preceded to a table to begin my analysis of the menu.
Doll's Soul Kitchen offered most of the traditional soul food items, fried chicken, fish, and oxtails (Sunday only) with choices of collards, mac & cheese, yams, green beans, corn on the cob, lima beans, yellow rice, cornbread dressing, etc.
I ordered from the kids menu for my kids and figured the Soul Kitchen Combo, collards and much would provide me with a fine sampling of a variety of menu items.
Noticing my food jacking by my kids, one of the owners came out and offered to fix me a sampling of some of the other items. I selected ribs (crazy!), green beans (awesome!), and yams and scarfed them down as if it would be my last supper.
I cleaned the last bone just as my phone was ringing. It was another buddy who was supposed to meet for dinner and couldn't swing by. That was fine; I figured I can at least grab another few pieces of fried tilapia, some German Chocolate cake and another half rack with the money I was going to spend on him.
My review of Doll's? I'm back here again being treated like a food critic and writing this review ;-)
Follow Doll's weekly dinner specials on www.Twitter.com/Dollsoulkitchen
Real Talk: Who Got Game?
By Cedric D. Shine
http://twitter.com/NativeNotes
Who Has More "G"
Thoughts take me to when we were close, addicted to your love feel I need another dose. -Common
G, game, mack, the Jones -- many have pondered the question Who Has More G; men or women? Societal myths paint us a picture of the articulate, spiritually fed, playboy bachelor whose knack for words, soft-spoken demeanor and inviting eyes make the ladies melt like Hershey Kisses in the palm of your hand. The arrogant male who has yet to realize that the true game comes from the woman who allowed him to believe that he and his suave approach are what sealed the deal has boasted this falsehood. Fellas we've been hoodwinked, run-a-muck, led astray for the true game, the real macks are the beautiful women whom we chase.
Law 21 of Robert Greene's 48 Laws of Power clearly states 'Play a Sucker to Catch a Sucker. Seem Dumber than your Mark'. What women have done is created this mirage where they allow us to lead. It's not because we're more intelligent, it's because when men think they are in control we are blinded to the fact that really we are being controlled. Think about how the inflection of their voice changes when they talk to us. How they look into our eyes and our ego tells us that we have them in the palm of our hands. It's not that they're not genuine but what they are doing is playing on our vanity. Making us love them because she's different, considerate and just makes him feel at home in his castle.
Think of how many wars have been started, how many men have slaughtered over women. We men have no claims to wars that we've started, maybe 3-way phone conversations that end up putting all our business in the streets, but no wars. If men really had more G, then said phone conversations and gossip would cease to exist because women would know their place in the overall scope of said situation. A woman's sidepiece never gets out of line. He's got too much to lose, if she gets caught out there he'll lie for her, now that's true G. Men's jump-off's always get out of pocket, why, because they can. Between the power of the p**** and their innate abilities to express love and reel us in a woman's jump-off could end up wifing her because she makes him believe that the other man didn't appreciate her not the other way around. Now that's G.
Here's an example of the G of women. Man walks woman through the forest as the moonlight shines through the trees. As they talk he tells her how he feels about her, they smile and laugh together. She caresses his face, looks into his eyes and assures him that what he thinks is weird is actually what makes him unique.
Now who had more G? The man with the fantasy walk through the dark forest while the moonlight shines onto her face. He told her how he felt, even if it was a lie, he set the mood for her and set himself aside from the rest of men who just wanted to bang her anywhere that they could.
Or did the woman have more G? Remember the guy created that dark, sexy walk but really she had subconsciously put that type of walk in his mind. Not just her but men's mothers and women in general who challenge men to treat ladies differently than the average dope. Point. She used her hands to caress his face while appealing to his vanity and making him feel as if at that very moment he was all that mattered.
The person with the game is the person who left the other feeling empowered. Having done that, that person has secured that this person will continue to act in a way that pleases them and pleases their inner beauty.
So the next time your laying in the bed, after some feel good sex, kool-aid smile and all like 'I just tore it up'. Pay attention to the conversation after the sex, see who empowers whom, see whose mood is natural and calm, comfortable and ready to discuss what ever comes to mind. If you're already asleep before all that then you my friend got G'ed not the other way around.
La Familia: You Are Who You Attract
By Shelli Tinae Price
http://twitter.com/ShelliTinae
www.themindofshellitinae.blogspot.com
A friend of mine had this status on Facebook recently: "I find myself attracted to the same type of women." My response to him was..."because you are the same man."
A good test to see yourself for who you REALLY are is just look at the people you date. The people we attract are a direct reflection of who we are - the good, the bad & the ugly. Most of us are stubborn and blind to our own fallacies and the only way to acknowledge them is to see them in someone else.
I dated a man who was so nonchalant about EVERYTHING - and that was me; he was my reflection because that's the way I've always treated men (and I think that's why men liked me because I was a challenge but that's another blog for another day). He was in my life to show me that my nonchalant attitude implies that I didn't care - and I really didn't, but how could I want a man to care if I never cared? I vowed never to treat men that way again - and I haven't...and in return I got a man who is attentive and far from nonchalant.
The subtle, positive changes we make within ourselves allow us to meet people with the same qualities. It's all about growth. Are you ready to grow? Then you will recognize your-self in others. That's the best way to denounce attributes that no longer suit you. It also allows you to give thanks for the positive characteristics you see in your loved ones. I look at my friends in my circle and I thank God for surrounding me with Good people. I'm like, "Hey, that's me - all of you are me!" So thank you God for showing my growth as a woman and a spiritual being by sending good people to share this journey with.
If you find yourself attracted to the same type of man or woman, first discover what it is they all have in common; then analyze whether those traits are still suitable for where you're at in your life; then see how those traits are directly connected to you. When you see THEM in YOU, you can praise them for being a life lesson. From there, you either embrace them or release them.
To listen to a podcast go http://www.blogtalkradio.com/ellableu/2009/07/08/Straight-Talk-with-Ella-Bleu
Artist On the rise: Danica The Morning Star
For more information and bookings visit www.myspace.com/stardanica
Purchase Danica's Album at www.itunes.com/danicathemorningstar
DON'T MISS OUT DOWNLOAD MY BEST I EVER HAD DRAKE DUET http://www.sendspace.com/file/min2dm
BORN OCTOBER 26TH IN LOS ANGELES, CALIFORNIA, DANICA THE MORNING STAR BEGAN DISPLAYING HER SCORPION-LIKE PASSION FOR THE ARTS AS A YOUNG GIRL. HER IMPROMPTU PERFORMANCES DURING FAMILY GATHERINGS LED TO A LIFE-LONG DESIRE TO ENTERTAIN. AT TWELVE YEARS OLD, DANICA SHOWED A UNIQUE INTEREST IN JAZZ AND BEGAN VOCAL LESSONS. UNLIKE MANY OF HER PEERS, DANICA KNEW EXACTLY WHAT SHE WANTED OUT OF LIFE AND SHE WAS ALREADY WORKING HARD TO ACHIEVE IT.
HER FIRST MAJOR OPPORTUNITY CAME IN ELEMENTARY SCHOOL SINGING BACKGROUND FOR VANESSA WILLAMS ON DAVID FOSTERS NBC CHRISTMAS SPECIAL. IN A PERSONAL CONVERSATION WITH WILLIAMS, SHE ENCOURAGED DANICA TO PURSUE HER PASSIONS AND GET HER EDUCATION. DANICA FOLLOWED HER ADVICE AND ATTENDED THE UNIVERSITY OF SOUTHERN CALIFORNIA FOCUSING HER EDUCATION ON THEATER AND CINEMA. DANICA MADE HER TELEVISION ACTING DEBUT AS A GUEST STAR ON THE WB NETWORKS MULTI-SEASON SHOW "SISTER, SISTER" ALONG SIDE TIA AND TAMARA MOWRY. SHE HAS MADE HER FILM DEBUT IN THE MOVIE "WALK HARD" DIRECTED BY JAKE KASDAN AND PRODUCED BY JUDD APATOW ALSO CO WRITING THE SONG "HARD" FOR THE FILM. SHE HAS ALSO WORKED ON TRACKS WITH MAJOR HIP HOP ARTISTS SUCH AS ALOE BLACC,OL DIRTY BASTARD, THA ALKAHOLIKS, AND IS CURRENTLY ON YUKMOUTH'S "MILLION DOLLAR MOUTH PIECE".
DANICA HAS ALSO WRITTEN AND DEVELOPED SONGS IN COLLABORATION WITH VARIOUS PRODUCERS. HER UP AND COMING R&B/ HIP HOP ALBUM "THE GOOD, THE BAD, AND THE LOVE~LY" PRODUCED ENTIRELY BY BOSS BEATS (WHO YOU CAN FIND ON TIMBALAND'S SHOCK VALUE) WAS WRITTEN ENTIRELY BY DANICA ROZELLE, TELLS OF HER STRUGGLES WITH LOVE AND LIFE, AND EXPOSES HER DEEPEST EMOTIONS AND FEELINGS OF DANICA ALL GROWN UP. SHE ALSO PRODUCED THE VIDEO FOR HER SINGLE FABULOUSITY WHICH YOU CAN FIND ONLINE ON YOUTUBE AT http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RR2RiUJn2H4 . HER MUSICAL WRITING TALENTS HAVE LED HER TO PLACEMENTS ON TELEVISION AND FILM, "THE SECRET LIFE OF AN AMERICAN TEENAGER" AND THE NEW FILM "THE MESSENGER" WITH WOODY HARELSON. DANICA'S TREMENDOUS SKILL IN CREATING CAPTIVATING MUSIC IS A TALENT BEYOND HER AGE, BUT IS DEFINITELY INDICATIVE OF THE TIME AND EFFORT SHE PUTS INTO HER LOVE OF MUSIC AND LIFE.
For more information and bookings visit www.myspace.com/stardanica
Purchase Danica's Album at www.itunes.com/danicathemorningstar
YouTube Interview on IHipHop.com http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XevnDTzqR7g
DON'T MISS OUT DOWNLOAD MY BEST I EVER HAD DRAKE DUET http://www.sendspace.com/file/min2dm
Don't Waste Ink...Think
Sincerely,
Steve Canal
CEO
Think Group Media, Inc.
www.ThinkGroupMedia.com
Think Group Media Just Think... Vol.20
Just Think Vol.20: Relationships?
By A.Evans
http://twitter.com/AdotEVANS
While browsing through the latest Vibe Magazine, which featured one of the hottest new couples Christina Milian and The Dream. I started to reflect on past relationships and how they lead us to our current ones. We all have been through it, you're in a relationship, things are going swell and then boom red flags everywhere. With this piece I just would like to ponder around the things that help and hurt a relationship, when does the relationship reach its peak and can the relationship itself
be a hidden agenda for the future?
What Helps & What Hurts?
No two relationships are ever the same, certain methods and tactics that help one relationship can destroy another. Prime examples Will Smith and Jada vs Ben Affleck and Jennifer Lopez. I wonder what takes place in Will and Jada's relationship that enables them to last while a couple like Ben and Jennifer can fall apart? Some relationships require the glitz and glam of a scene from Casino, while simplicity is key in others. Personally I have experienced situations where the more of a jerk I am the more the person is drawn to me, however, there have also been scenarios where I put my ego to the side, let down the walls, put in the security code and spoil her and it's like I'm dating a female Hitler. This makes me wonder what shapes a relationship? What causes relationships to reach a peak, What causes them to last, When does doing the right thing become a problem and doing the wrong thing become a benefit? Is communication or lack thereof the most important factor to having a successful relationship? What if you do communicate but are still misunderstood? What happens when the things that used to work, no longer do? When do you walk away even if you both wanted it to work?
Who's Next?
You ever find yourself asking "I wonder how long this is gonna last?" I mean it seems nowadays we all tend to go through relationships like a 25 cent bag of potato chips a few good bites and it's all over. Is it possible that one relationship can be preparation for someone else? Maybe the purpose of one relationship ending is to learn from it, grow and have an even better one than before. Perhaps Christina had to be cheated on by Nick to end up with The Dream who adores her. Perhaps Rihanna's next man will be perfect for her. Who knows, all I know is relationships come and go so enjoy them while they last and if you're lucky it won't ever end.
Marketing Buzz of the Week
By Max Rivers
http://www.Twitter.Com/MaxRivers
LOCAL CHILDREN'S PAVILION OFFERS A NEW LOOK AND A NEW LIFESTYLE
Owner creates an greener approach to fashion for kiddies
Atlanta is proud to welcome GROW; a children's pavilion housing an emporium of services dedicated to the fundamental element of childhood. Growing!
Nestled in the quaint yet metro-urban neighborhood of Glenwood Park, GROW will offer half-day nursery, group activities and birthday parties. The grand opening for this breath of fresh air will be August 1, 2009 from 10-2pm at 928-A Garrett Street, Atlanta, GA 30316.
The Glenwood Park community supports the idea as a strategy to open parents' minds to a new alternative for busy mom's (and dad's) lifestyles. Once you enter, you think you have stepped in to a small garden in the middle of the city as large flowers and butterflies encompass the space like a scene from Alice in Wonderland. GROW's space is filled with play groups, story time, finger painting and plans for a host innovative offerings in to the future.
"As a mom, I want all kids to have fun but offer a place for them to truly blossom," said Tiffany Rock, owner and creator of GROW. Rock plans on having a drop-in service, so busy parents can tend to work or social events, while their kids interact and play in colorful rooms. It will be a one stop location for many of the things that have traditionally taken parents all over town. Strategically located in a re-developed area of the city, GROW's target location is laden with young and modern parents that prefer urban in town appeal but require solutions to the needs of their growing families. Whether your baby needs a new pair of shoes or you just want time to yourself GROW is the solution to all your "growing pains". Stay at home moms will find the space captivating since they don't have to shop in the hustle and bustle of a mall. This gives children a chance to interact with their peers in a safe and fun environment.
"With this new shop, we will enhance not only the shopping experience but a mother and child's entire day," said Rock. "The important parts of a child's life are when they are growing. GROW is not just another Atlanta upscale boutique but also a socially enriched one-stop shop.
The Grub Report
By Ronnell Rock
Restaurant of the Month
Doll's Soul Kitchen
624 Southside Commercial Parkway
Jonesboro, GA 30236
This restaurant has been getting pub in the Think Group Media network for a couple of weeks. It's brand new, in our neighborhood, and owned by one of our homies. There it is the disclaimer.
Showing support was a strong motive for stopping by but my culinary curiosity was what pushed me to load up the kids on a Sunday afternoon and take the trek down to Jonesboro to see what all the fuss is about.
In route, I had to remind myself not to get too excited. In my three years living in Atlanta, I'd been disappointed on more than one occasion by the lack of quality soul food.
Luckily Southside Commercial Parkway was on the GPS, because this spot could easily get lost in the combustion of Tara Blvd. If you're from Jonesboro, you can find Dolls in the same plaza as the Howard Johnson, and Mr. Clean Car Wash. Outside of the city made famous by Gone With The Wind, you should take the Tara Blvd exit, pass Hooters make a U-turn and open the windows. Before you get to the door, you can smell the aromatic combustion of barbecue sauce, mac and cheese and traditional southern sides.
The sound of the fans blowing, soft leather booths and plastic covered tables stir up memories of grandma's kitchen. It's obvious this is a family restaurant. Everyone from the take out cashier, to the wait staff, and kitchen crew shares a noticeable resemblance to the restaurant's namesake Mrs. Doll.
I was immediately put at ease by the welcoming environment and preceded to a table to begin my analysis of the menu.
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Doll's Soul Kitchen offered most of the traditional soul food items, fried chicken, fish, and oxtails (Sunday only) with choices of collards, mac & cheese, yams, green beans, corn on the cob, lima beans, yellow rice, cornbread dressing, etc.
I ordered from the kids menu for my kids and figured the Soul Kitchen Combo, collards and much would provide me with a fine sampling of a variety of menu items.
Noticing my food jacking by my kids, one of the owners came out and offered to fix me a sampling of some of the other items. I selected ribs (crazy!), green beans (awesome!), and yams and scarfed them down as if it would be my last supper.
I cleaned the last bone just as my phone was ringing. It was another buddy who was supposed to meet for dinner and couldn't swing by. That was fine; I figured I can at least grab another few pieces of fried tilapia, some German Chocolate cake and another half rack with the money I was going to spend on him.
My review of Doll's? I'm back here again being treated like a food critic and writing this review ;-)
Follow Doll's weekly dinner specials on www.Twitter.com/Dollsoulkitchen
Real Talk: Dying Flower
By Cedric D. Shine
http://twitter.com/NativeNotes
You ever notice the beauty of a flower in bloom. It's comparable to a bald eagle when it spreads its wings and soars through the sky, its destination unknown to the naked eye. I think flowers have the same energy as they are maturing into their most beautiful state.
Just think of a full grown flower and how pretty its petals are, how soft they feel, the sweet scent that attracts the world. Think about a flower in bloom, it can be one of the most magnificent sights for one to see.
Well you nurture the flower, but you cannot prevent its death. Some live longer than others; some are prettier than others. They all give off different scents and attract different people.
The saddest thing in the world is to watch a flower that you planted wither away right before your eyes. You slowly watch those petals turn hard and change colors. Some crinkle, the magnificent smell that was once a delight to your nose is no more. The petals begin to fall off the stem right before your very eyes.
For some reason you thought this flower was different, you thought this
flower would live forever because you were so nurturing towards it. But as the saying goes "all things must conclude", so here you are!
If you could be a piece on the chessboard what piece would you be? A man asked me this once, well I'll rephrase it, if you could be any flower in the flower bed which would you choose. At first I said I'd be the gardener because then I would control the garden.
Well after a few of life's experiences I too know the beauty of the garden but I have learned the pain as well. A gardener has a green thumb and handles every aspect of his craft with care, of course he learns from his mistakes but often at the expense of his own garden. Sadly he has to watch each and every one of his masterpieces pass on. How painful a job to nurture something and then have to be the one who watched it die and be forced to put it to rest, mentally!
However maybe the individual flower is not the main focus and we have placed too much emphasis on the single flower. Life is a garden; there are roses, lilies, begonias, impatience, and tons of other assortments. The roses may be your love life while the sunflowers may be your family, everything is held in moderation. The roses will bloom again, fear not while one flower is dying you must work to replenish that flower but be careful not to neglect the whole garden, for the garden represents the overall beauty, the roses are just an aspect.
La Familia: LOVE IS A DECISION
By Shelli Tinae Price
http://twitter.com/ShelliTinae
www.themindofshellitinae.blogspot.com
I had the pleasure of being a bride's maid over the weekend for my dear friend Marisa. Congratulations to her and her new hubby!
The minister performing the ceremony said something that really hit a nerve. To paraphrase he said, love is more than a feeling, love is a decision. You have to decide to love someone; you have to decide to make it work; you have to decide to get through the hard times...together. The feeling will get you nowhere without the mutual understanding and decision to make it work. Often we forget to nurture the decisions we've made - and in doing so we relinquish control over the things we truly desire. I believe love is a birth right - we are all love beings, but only we can decide to reach the depths of loves treasures. So yes, love is a decision and a discipline we should honor and cherish every moment.
To listen to a podcast go http://www.blogtalkradio.com/ellableu/2009/07/08/Straight-Talk-with-Ella-Bleu
Artist On the rise: Danica The Morning Star
For more information and bookings visit www.myspace.com/stardanica
Purchase Danica's Album at www.itunes.com/danicathemorningstar
DON'T MISS OUT DOWNLOAD MY BEST I EVER HAD DRAKE DUET http://www.sendspace.com/file/min2dm
BORN OCTOBER 26TH IN LOS ANGELES, CALIFORNIA, DANICA THE MORNING STAR BEGAN DISPLAYING HER SCORPION-LIKE PASSION FOR THE ARTS AS A YOUNG GIRL. HER IMPROMPTU PERFORMANCES DURING FAMILY GATHERINGS LED TO A LIFE-LONG DESIRE TO ENTERTAIN. AT TWELVE YEARS OLD, DANICA SHOWED A UNIQUE INTEREST IN JAZZ AND BEGAN VOCAL LESSONS. UNLIKE MANY OF HER PEERS, DANICA KNEW EXACTLY WHAT SHE WANTED OUT OF LIFE AND SHE WAS ALREADY WORKING HARD TO ACHIEVE IT
HER FIRST MAJOR OPPORTUNITY CAME IN ELEMENTARY SCHOOL SINGING BACKGROUND FOR VANESSA WILLAMS ON DAVID FOSTERS NBC CHRISTMAS SPECIAL. IN A PERSONAL CONVERSATION WITH WILLIAMS, SHE ENCOURAGED DANICA TO PURSUE HER PASSIONS AND GET HER EDUCATION. DANICA FOLLOWED HER ADVICE AND ATTENDED THE UNIVERSITY OF SOUTHERN CALIFORNIA FOCUSING HER EDUCATION ON THEATER AND CINEMA. DANICA MADE HER TELEVISION ACTING DEBUT AS A GUEST STAR ON THE WB NETWORKS MULTI-SEASON SHOW "SISTER, SISTER" ALONG SIDE TIA AND TAMARA MOWRY. SHE HAS MADE HER FILM DEBUT IN THE MOVIE "WALK HARD" DIRECTED BY JAKE KASDAN AND PRODUCED BY JUDD APATOW ALSO CO WRITING THE SONG "HARD" FOR THE FILM. SHE HAS ALSO WORKED ON TRACKS WITH MAJOR HIP HOP ARTISTS SUCH AS ALOE BLACC,OL DIRTY BASTARD, THA ALKAHOLIKS, AND IS CURRENTLY ON YUKMOUTH'S "MILLION DOLLAR MOUTH PIECE".
DANICA HAS ALSO WRITTEN AND DEVELOPED SONGS IN COLLABORATION WITH VARIOUS PRODUCERS. HER UP AND COMING R&B/ HIP HOP ALBUM "THE GOOD, THE BAD, AND THE LOVE~LY" PRODUCED ENTIRELY BY BOSS BEATS (WHO YOU CAN FIND ON TIMBALAND'S SHOCK VALUE) WAS WRITTEN ENTIRELY BY DANICA ROZELLE, TELLS OF HER STRUGGLES WITH LOVE AND LIFE, AND EXPOSES HER DEEPEST EMOTIONS AND FEELINGS OF DANICA ALL GROWN UP. SHE ALSO PRODUCED THE VIDEO FOR HER SINGLE FABULOUSITY WHICH YOU CAN FIND ONLINE ON YOUTUBE AT http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RR2RiUJn2H4 . HER MUSICAL WRITING TALENTS HAVE LED HER TO PLACEMENTS ON TELEVISION AND FILM, "THE SECRET LIFE OF AN AMERICAN TEENAGER" AND THE NEW FILM "THE MESSENGER" WITH WOODY HARELSON. DANICA'S TREMENDOUS SKILL IN CREATING CAPTIVATING MUSIC IS A TALENT BEYOND HER AGE, BUT IS DEFINITELY INDICATIVE OF THE TIME AND EFFORT SHE PUTS INTO HER LOVE OF MUSIC AND LIFE.
For more information and bookings visit www.myspace.com/stardanica
Purchase Danica's Album at www.itunes.com/danicathemorningstar
DON'T MISS OUT DOWNLOAD MY BEST I EVER HAD DRAKE DUET http://www.sendspace.com/file/min2dm
New Music Release
http://www.sendspace.com/file/qokc7k
Upcoming Events
Presidente Beer Club Promotions Tampa June-Aug, 2009
McCafe Experience Aug 7, 2009 Wash DC
Fashion 40 "Photo Shoot" Party Aug 7 ,2009
New York, New York
Sol Fusion Presented by Coors Aug 22, 2009
Atlanta, GA
McCafe Experience Sept 4, 2009 New York, NY
Southern Heritage Classic Sept 12, 2009 Memphis, TN
Atlanta Football Classic Sept 26, 2009
McCafe Experience Oct 2, 2009 St. Louis, MO
Magic City Classic Oct 31, 2009 Birmingham, AL
Trina Album Release Tour 2009 GLOBAL
Brand Ambassador Resumes Accepted at www.Thinkgroupmedia.com
Don't Waste Ink...Think
Sincerely,
Steve Canal
CEO
Think Group Media, Inc.
www.ThinkGroupMedia.com
By A.Evans
http://twitter.com/AdotEVANS
While browsing through the latest Vibe Magazine, which featured one of the hottest new couples Christina Milian and The Dream. I started to reflect on past relationships and how they lead us to our current ones. We all have been through it, you're in a relationship, things are going swell and then boom red flags everywhere. With this piece I just would like to ponder around the things that help and hurt a relationship, when does the relationship reach its peak and can the relationship itself
be a hidden agenda for the future?
What Helps & What Hurts?
No two relationships are ever the same, certain methods and tactics that help one relationship can destroy another. Prime examples Will Smith and Jada vs Ben Affleck and Jennifer Lopez. I wonder what takes place in Will and Jada's relationship that enables them to last while a couple like Ben and Jennifer can fall apart? Some relationships require the glitz and glam of a scene from Casino, while simplicity is key in others. Personally I have experienced situations where the more of a jerk I am the more the person is drawn to me, however, there have also been scenarios where I put my ego to the side, let down the walls, put in the security code and spoil her and it's like I'm dating a female Hitler. This makes me wonder what shapes a relationship? What causes relationships to reach a peak, What causes them to last, When does doing the right thing become a problem and doing the wrong thing become a benefit? Is communication or lack thereof the most important factor to having a successful relationship? What if you do communicate but are still misunderstood? What happens when the things that used to work, no longer do? When do you walk away even if you both wanted it to work?
Who's Next?
You ever find yourself asking "I wonder how long this is gonna last?" I mean it seems nowadays we all tend to go through relationships like a 25 cent bag of potato chips a few good bites and it's all over. Is it possible that one relationship can be preparation for someone else? Maybe the purpose of one relationship ending is to learn from it, grow and have an even better one than before. Perhaps Christina had to be cheated on by Nick to end up with The Dream who adores her. Perhaps Rihanna's next man will be perfect for her. Who knows, all I know is relationships come and go so enjoy them while they last and if you're lucky it won't ever end.
Marketing Buzz of the Week
By Max Rivers
http://www.Twitter.Com/MaxRivers
LOCAL CHILDREN'S PAVILION OFFERS A NEW LOOK AND A NEW LIFESTYLE
Owner creates an greener approach to fashion for kiddies
Atlanta is proud to welcome GROW; a children's pavilion housing an emporium of services dedicated to the fundamental element of childhood. Growing!
Nestled in the quaint yet metro-urban neighborhood of Glenwood Park, GROW will offer half-day nursery, group activities and birthday parties. The grand opening for this breath of fresh air will be August 1, 2009 from 10-2pm at 928-A Garrett Street, Atlanta, GA 30316.
The Glenwood Park community supports the idea as a strategy to open parents' minds to a new alternative for busy mom's (and dad's) lifestyles. Once you enter, you think you have stepped in to a small garden in the middle of the city as large flowers and butterflies encompass the space like a scene from Alice in Wonderland. GROW's space is filled with play groups, story time, finger painting and plans for a host innovative offerings in to the future.
"As a mom, I want all kids to have fun but offer a place for them to truly blossom," said Tiffany Rock, owner and creator of GROW. Rock plans on having a drop-in service, so busy parents can tend to work or social events, while their kids interact and play in colorful rooms. It will be a one stop location for many of the things that have traditionally taken parents all over town. Strategically located in a re-developed area of the city, GROW's target location is laden with young and modern parents that prefer urban in town appeal but require solutions to the needs of their growing families. Whether your baby needs a new pair of shoes or you just want time to yourself GROW is the solution to all your "growing pains". Stay at home moms will find the space captivating since they don't have to shop in the hustle and bustle of a mall. This gives children a chance to interact with their peers in a safe and fun environment.
"With this new shop, we will enhance not only the shopping experience but a mother and child's entire day," said Rock. "The important parts of a child's life are when they are growing. GROW is not just another Atlanta upscale boutique but also a socially enriched one-stop shop.
The Grub Report
By Ronnell Rock
Restaurant of the Month
Doll's Soul Kitchen
624 Southside Commercial Parkway
Jonesboro, GA 30236
This restaurant has been getting pub in the Think Group Media network for a couple of weeks. It's brand new, in our neighborhood, and owned by one of our homies. There it is the disclaimer.
Showing support was a strong motive for stopping by but my culinary curiosity was what pushed me to load up the kids on a Sunday afternoon and take the trek down to Jonesboro to see what all the fuss is about.
In route, I had to remind myself not to get too excited. In my three years living in Atlanta, I'd been disappointed on more than one occasion by the lack of quality soul food.
Luckily Southside Commercial Parkway was on the GPS, because this spot could easily get lost in the combustion of Tara Blvd. If you're from Jonesboro, you can find Dolls in the same plaza as the Howard Johnson, and Mr. Clean Car Wash. Outside of the city made famous by Gone With The Wind, you should take the Tara Blvd exit, pass Hooters make a U-turn and open the windows. Before you get to the door, you can smell the aromatic combustion of barbecue sauce, mac and cheese and traditional southern sides.
The sound of the fans blowing, soft leather booths and plastic covered tables stir up memories of grandma's kitchen. It's obvious this is a family restaurant. Everyone from the take out cashier, to the wait staff, and kitchen crew shares a noticeable resemblance to the restaurant's namesake Mrs. Doll.
I was immediately put at ease by the welcoming environment and preceded to a table to begin my analysis of the menu.
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Doll's Soul Kitchen offered most of the traditional soul food items, fried chicken, fish, and oxtails (Sunday only) with choices of collards, mac & cheese, yams, green beans, corn on the cob, lima beans, yellow rice, cornbread dressing, etc.
I ordered from the kids menu for my kids and figured the Soul Kitchen Combo, collards and much would provide me with a fine sampling of a variety of menu items.
Noticing my food jacking by my kids, one of the owners came out and offered to fix me a sampling of some of the other items. I selected ribs (crazy!), green beans (awesome!), and yams and scarfed them down as if it would be my last supper.
I cleaned the last bone just as my phone was ringing. It was another buddy who was supposed to meet for dinner and couldn't swing by. That was fine; I figured I can at least grab another few pieces of fried tilapia, some German Chocolate cake and another half rack with the money I was going to spend on him.
My review of Doll's? I'm back here again being treated like a food critic and writing this review ;-)
Follow Doll's weekly dinner specials on www.Twitter.com/Dollsoulkitchen
Real Talk: Dying Flower
By Cedric D. Shine
http://twitter.com/NativeNotes
You ever notice the beauty of a flower in bloom. It's comparable to a bald eagle when it spreads its wings and soars through the sky, its destination unknown to the naked eye. I think flowers have the same energy as they are maturing into their most beautiful state.
Just think of a full grown flower and how pretty its petals are, how soft they feel, the sweet scent that attracts the world. Think about a flower in bloom, it can be one of the most magnificent sights for one to see.
Well you nurture the flower, but you cannot prevent its death. Some live longer than others; some are prettier than others. They all give off different scents and attract different people.
The saddest thing in the world is to watch a flower that you planted wither away right before your eyes. You slowly watch those petals turn hard and change colors. Some crinkle, the magnificent smell that was once a delight to your nose is no more. The petals begin to fall off the stem right before your very eyes.
For some reason you thought this flower was different, you thought this
flower would live forever because you were so nurturing towards it. But as the saying goes "all things must conclude", so here you are!
If you could be a piece on the chessboard what piece would you be? A man asked me this once, well I'll rephrase it, if you could be any flower in the flower bed which would you choose. At first I said I'd be the gardener because then I would control the garden.
Well after a few of life's experiences I too know the beauty of the garden but I have learned the pain as well. A gardener has a green thumb and handles every aspect of his craft with care, of course he learns from his mistakes but often at the expense of his own garden. Sadly he has to watch each and every one of his masterpieces pass on. How painful a job to nurture something and then have to be the one who watched it die and be forced to put it to rest, mentally!
However maybe the individual flower is not the main focus and we have placed too much emphasis on the single flower. Life is a garden; there are roses, lilies, begonias, impatience, and tons of other assortments. The roses may be your love life while the sunflowers may be your family, everything is held in moderation. The roses will bloom again, fear not while one flower is dying you must work to replenish that flower but be careful not to neglect the whole garden, for the garden represents the overall beauty, the roses are just an aspect.
La Familia: LOVE IS A DECISION
By Shelli Tinae Price
http://twitter.com/ShelliTinae
www.themindofshellitinae.blogspot.com
I had the pleasure of being a bride's maid over the weekend for my dear friend Marisa. Congratulations to her and her new hubby!
The minister performing the ceremony said something that really hit a nerve. To paraphrase he said, love is more than a feeling, love is a decision. You have to decide to love someone; you have to decide to make it work; you have to decide to get through the hard times...together. The feeling will get you nowhere without the mutual understanding and decision to make it work. Often we forget to nurture the decisions we've made - and in doing so we relinquish control over the things we truly desire. I believe love is a birth right - we are all love beings, but only we can decide to reach the depths of loves treasures. So yes, love is a decision and a discipline we should honor and cherish every moment.
To listen to a podcast go http://www.blogtalkradio.com/ellableu/2009/07/08/Straight-Talk-with-Ella-Bleu
Artist On the rise: Danica The Morning Star
For more information and bookings visit www.myspace.com/stardanica
Purchase Danica's Album at www.itunes.com/danicathemorningstar
DON'T MISS OUT DOWNLOAD MY BEST I EVER HAD DRAKE DUET http://www.sendspace.com/file/min2dm
BORN OCTOBER 26TH IN LOS ANGELES, CALIFORNIA, DANICA THE MORNING STAR BEGAN DISPLAYING HER SCORPION-LIKE PASSION FOR THE ARTS AS A YOUNG GIRL. HER IMPROMPTU PERFORMANCES DURING FAMILY GATHERINGS LED TO A LIFE-LONG DESIRE TO ENTERTAIN. AT TWELVE YEARS OLD, DANICA SHOWED A UNIQUE INTEREST IN JAZZ AND BEGAN VOCAL LESSONS. UNLIKE MANY OF HER PEERS, DANICA KNEW EXACTLY WHAT SHE WANTED OUT OF LIFE AND SHE WAS ALREADY WORKING HARD TO ACHIEVE IT
HER FIRST MAJOR OPPORTUNITY CAME IN ELEMENTARY SCHOOL SINGING BACKGROUND FOR VANESSA WILLAMS ON DAVID FOSTERS NBC CHRISTMAS SPECIAL. IN A PERSONAL CONVERSATION WITH WILLIAMS, SHE ENCOURAGED DANICA TO PURSUE HER PASSIONS AND GET HER EDUCATION. DANICA FOLLOWED HER ADVICE AND ATTENDED THE UNIVERSITY OF SOUTHERN CALIFORNIA FOCUSING HER EDUCATION ON THEATER AND CINEMA. DANICA MADE HER TELEVISION ACTING DEBUT AS A GUEST STAR ON THE WB NETWORKS MULTI-SEASON SHOW "SISTER, SISTER" ALONG SIDE TIA AND TAMARA MOWRY. SHE HAS MADE HER FILM DEBUT IN THE MOVIE "WALK HARD" DIRECTED BY JAKE KASDAN AND PRODUCED BY JUDD APATOW ALSO CO WRITING THE SONG "HARD" FOR THE FILM. SHE HAS ALSO WORKED ON TRACKS WITH MAJOR HIP HOP ARTISTS SUCH AS ALOE BLACC,OL DIRTY BASTARD, THA ALKAHOLIKS, AND IS CURRENTLY ON YUKMOUTH'S "MILLION DOLLAR MOUTH PIECE".
DANICA HAS ALSO WRITTEN AND DEVELOPED SONGS IN COLLABORATION WITH VARIOUS PRODUCERS. HER UP AND COMING R&B/ HIP HOP ALBUM "THE GOOD, THE BAD, AND THE LOVE~LY" PRODUCED ENTIRELY BY BOSS BEATS (WHO YOU CAN FIND ON TIMBALAND'S SHOCK VALUE) WAS WRITTEN ENTIRELY BY DANICA ROZELLE, TELLS OF HER STRUGGLES WITH LOVE AND LIFE, AND EXPOSES HER DEEPEST EMOTIONS AND FEELINGS OF DANICA ALL GROWN UP. SHE ALSO PRODUCED THE VIDEO FOR HER SINGLE FABULOUSITY WHICH YOU CAN FIND ONLINE ON YOUTUBE AT http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RR2RiUJn2H4 . HER MUSICAL WRITING TALENTS HAVE LED HER TO PLACEMENTS ON TELEVISION AND FILM, "THE SECRET LIFE OF AN AMERICAN TEENAGER" AND THE NEW FILM "THE MESSENGER" WITH WOODY HARELSON. DANICA'S TREMENDOUS SKILL IN CREATING CAPTIVATING MUSIC IS A TALENT BEYOND HER AGE, BUT IS DEFINITELY INDICATIVE OF THE TIME AND EFFORT SHE PUTS INTO HER LOVE OF MUSIC AND LIFE.
For more information and bookings visit www.myspace.com/stardanica
Purchase Danica's Album at www.itunes.com/danicathemorningstar
DON'T MISS OUT DOWNLOAD MY BEST I EVER HAD DRAKE DUET http://www.sendspace.com/file/min2dm
New Music Release
http://www.sendspace.com/file/qokc7k
Upcoming Events
Presidente Beer Club Promotions Tampa June-Aug, 2009
McCafe Experience Aug 7, 2009 Wash DC
Fashion 40 "Photo Shoot" Party Aug 7 ,2009
New York, New York
Sol Fusion Presented by Coors Aug 22, 2009
Atlanta, GA
McCafe Experience Sept 4, 2009 New York, NY
Southern Heritage Classic Sept 12, 2009 Memphis, TN
Atlanta Football Classic Sept 26, 2009
McCafe Experience Oct 2, 2009 St. Louis, MO
Magic City Classic Oct 31, 2009 Birmingham, AL
Trina Album Release Tour 2009 GLOBAL
Brand Ambassador Resumes Accepted at www.Thinkgroupmedia.com
Don't Waste Ink...Think
Sincerely,
Steve Canal
CEO
Think Group Media, Inc.
www.ThinkGroupMedia.com
Think Group Media Just Think... Vol.19
Just Think Vol.19: Nas and Kelis
By A.Evans
http://twitter.com/AdotEVANS
By now we've all heard and we've all formulated opinions about the controversy between NaS and Kelis. Being that men and women tend to have different perspectives I've notice that conversations revolving around this topic have definitely been divided by sex. In fact I hosted an online show via Ustream to find out what all my twitter people thought about the amount that Kelis will be receiving on a monthly basis and received some pretty good feedback. For the most part it's obvious the majority of men sided with NaS while the majority of women sided with Kelis, however there were a few occurrences where some women sided with NaS. Lets discuss the 55K settlement.
Is 55K Really Necessary?
I guess when you are a celebrity or married to one you become accustomed to a certain lifestyle, and this lifestyle then rubs off on your children, not in all cases but its safe to say in most. The divorce between NaS and Kelis left me wondering how much does one really need to live and/or to support a child for that matter. I have a really hard time grasping the fact that NaS has to pay 55K a month to Kelis, in addition to lawyer fees, medical expenses etc. There are people with degrees who work on Park Avenue and barely make that annually let alone monthly. 55K a month roughly equates to about 660,000 a year now I'm not one to say give your kids the world but seriously Kelis need 660,000 a year to raise a child, or is this to maintain her Evian bath water? In addition to child support and alimony NaS also has to pay the mortgage on their California home that Kelis will be living in of course.
Now there are rumors as to why they decided to get divorced to begin with, the most common rumor is that Kelis has a sex tape out, and NaS has a problem with that. This is where things get divided based upon sex, most women I've engaged in conversation with feel NaS should suck it up, it's in the past let it go and move on, while most men feel Kelis should have told him while they were dating, enabling NaS to think before marrying her because lets be honest marriage and dating are two different things. The most common comparison women tend to use to justify the alleged Kelis sex tape and letting it go is Reggie Bush and Kin Kardashian, what they fail to realize is, Reggie Bush found out when the whole world found out and still chose to date Kim, he didn't find out after they were married. If this sex tape were the grounds for NaS wanting the divorce I can understand but if that's your wife and you love her, for better or for worse, then tough it out Esco. Who knows what is the real cause of the divorce, all I know is that is one expensive tattoo on his forearm, I guess that's what happens when you marry a jump off, I might not ever get married (sigh)
What Do You Think?
For comments please visit www.ThinkGroupNewsletter.com
Marketing Buzz of the Week
By Max Rivers
http://www.Twitter.Com/MaxRivers
HBO Lets 'Entourage' Fans Live It Up Like Vince and the Boys:
Partners With Starwood Hotels' W South Beach to Offer Branded Bungalows
Today the newly opened W Hotel in South Beach, Fla., will debut five "Entourage"-themed bungalows, the hotel's first branded suite created for a marketing partner. The bungalows are heavily inspired by the HBO comedy and come equipped with such amenities as a stainless-steel pool table, an outdoor barbecue and stove, a private plunge pool, and artwork from rock
The $5,000-a-night package is designed for four, to mimic the quartet in "Entourage," and also includes a personal driver; an afternoon of yachting; a personal poolside cabana and jet skis; dinner for four at South Beach hotspot Solea, followed by table service at W South Beach's Wall nightclub; not to mention a PlayStation 3 and complimentary booze from Grey Goose and Heineken.
It seems a little extravagant for a recession, but Chris Spadaccini, HBO's VP-advertising and promotions, said the network and W set out to create the "ultimate bachelor pad" for "Entourage" fans while still creating value, with extra perks that fit the show's brand and story lines about actor Vince Chase; his brother, Johnny Drama; and their friends Eric and Turtle. "We really wanted to create a property where, if Vince and the boys were to jet to Miami, this is the place they would stay," Mr. Spadaccini said.
HBO and W Hotels will also be offering a more affordable alternative for guests at the 22 W Hotels across the country, called the Entourage Package. W guests can upgrade to a suite with complimentary champagne and an "Entourage" season-five DVD. All W guests will also have access to a free on-demand selection of "Entourage" episodes from seasons four and five as well as behind-the-scenes footage from the upcoming sixth season.
Real Talk: I'm Not My Brother
By Cedric D. Shine
http://twitter.com/NativeNotes
A young black man drives through the "bad" side of town late one night in a Toyota Avalon, he stops at the local gas station because he craves a Reese's pieces peanut butter cup. After pulling off he notices the police are following him, next the sirens blare and he is pulling over. He knows this routine all too well. When the cop approaches, he must remain calm, no sharp movements of any kind or his life could be ended. The police officer asks for his license and registration, he quickly hands over his license, registration, and college id. As if to say I'm not "that black man", the drug dealer, the burglar, à the one who participates in criminal activity.
The man in the car is not totally at fault. These are skills of survival, he's witnessed the Sean Bell's, Oscar Grant and countless others. He understands that blacks are profiled at a disproportionate rate to their white counterparts and if showing his college id will stop him from getting shot, he'll do it.
The one good thing about Skip Gates getting arrested for 'disorderly conduct' a few weeks ago is that it has created a very interesting dialogue about race, the boys in blue and how racial oppression is internalized. While reading 'Skip Gates please sit down' by Phantom Negro he discussed how it was possible that Skip Gates wasn't mad that he was profiled for being black but angry that he might have been mistaken for "that black man", the one who participates in criminal activity.
We can't begin to have an honest dialogue about race until everyone at the table is honest about their ill-conceived prejudices. Men of color who have moved out of the community, feeling less likely to be accused of that 'black man' status can not fight racial profiling with their right hand, while showing their college id to police officers with their left. Our action of disassociating ourselves from other black men whether wrongly profiled or not only further validates the police officer who has made racial profiling his routine.
If I'm not my brother then who am I?
Have we bought into the idea that the name emboldened on our degrees places us in a different stratosphere than black people who were not fortunate enough to graduate from institutions of higher learning? I hope not because if my memory serves me correctly, this ever growing middle class of African Americans exists on the backs of people of color who fought so that we could have said opportunities, some educated, some not.
Malcolm X said "Education is our passport to the future, for tomorrow belongs to the people who prepare for it today." In many instances it has also become a one-way ticket out of the ghetto, with creative lenses that allow us to never look back at some of the conditions we made it out from, unless it's some academic discussion where our hood pass deems us worthy to discuss such issues. Why should the black man in the earlier scenario validate the police officer's suspicions by showing there is a difference between him (college educated) and someone who is not? Both are men of color, my father never went to college and he is not the black man who participates in criminal activity.
Maybe you have never pulled your college id out for the police, but you let your white colleagues joke that you're different than the others. Your classmates who discuss the tacky, angry ghetto woman who comes on campus ever so often and scolds them for acting as if they own the community, that your school sits in. No, you're special; you're different than the others. What others? Your brother, your best friends back home, Sister Mary at church. Who?
If it took Skip to get harassed for people of color to look at themselves and ask whether or not they are profiling their own people or assisting in validating the profile and stereotypes of their own, then his disorderly conduct charge was well earned. Black scholars have exclaimed, "Can you believe it happened to him"? As if his education credentials overshadow his blackness. If that's the case then we should stop having discussions of race and start discussing class. But the truth is we have to discuss both, how they impact our decisions, our prejudices and how America as a whole can move away from the dirty stains of racism and classism.
La Familia: MAKE LOVE WITH ME...NOT TO ME
By Shelli Tinae Price
http://twitter.com/ShelliTinae
www.themindofshellitinae.blogspot.com
I've often wondered where the term "make Love" came from. People, especially women, always want someone to "make Love" to them. This thought just popped in my head the other day: THE ONLY WAY TO "MAKE LOVE" IS TO MAKE A BABY. Maybe the root desire for men and women to want to "make Love" is because instinctively they are ready to procreate. It's an animalistic desire we're all born with; the need to leave a legacy.
Follow me for a second. I believe God is Love and Love is God and as a child of Love and God, I am incarnated and created in the likeness of Love and God. So the only way for me to "make Love" is for the semen of a man to fertilize one of my eggs. The initial contact of the two is a cosmic divine creation and the only way the two of us can"make Love".
Now love can be shared and I would never deny that. Depending on the energy between the two people, I believe a man and woman can have sex and can actually EXPRESS and EXTEND Love but Love was made the day you were born. People need to know that sex and making Love are not one and the same; you can have meaningless sex, sex with extensions of Love, or sex that leads you to make Love by way of producing a child.
There are a lot of people making babies but not realizing they are "making Love" ordained by the most high. All human being on this Earth are perfect and in the likeness of God and Love. We are born with the ability to create an abundance of any and everything we could ever dream of because we ARE Love...we are God.
A MAN OF LOVE
PLUS
A WOMAN OF LOVE
PLUS
THE DISCOVERY (OR REMEMBERANCE) THAT THEY ARE SOULMATES
EQUALS
THE BIRTH OF THE MOST SUPREME BEINGS
"Make love" with one you LOVE.
To listen to a podcast go http://www.blogtalkradio.com/ellableu/2009/07/08/Straight-Talk-with-Ella-Bleu
Artist On the rise: Danica The Morning Star
For more information and bookings visit www.myspace.com/stardanica
Purchase Danica's Album at www.itunes.com/danicathemorningstar
DON'T MISS OUT DOWNLOAD MY BEST I EVER HAD DRAKE DUET http://www.sendspace.com/file/min2dm
BORN OCTOBER 26TH IN LOS ANGELES, CALIFORNIA, DANICA THE MORNING STAR BEGAN DISPLAYING HER SCORPION-LIKE PASSION FOR THE ARTS AS A YOUNG GIRL. HER IMPROMPTU PERFORMANCES DURING FAMILY GATHERINGS LED TO A LIFE-LONG DESIRE TO ENTERTAIN. AT TWELVE YEARS OLD, DANICA SHOWED A UNIQUE INTEREST IN JAZZ AND BEGAN VOCAL LESSONS. UNLIKE MANY OF HER PEERS, DANICA KNEW EXACTLY WHAT SHE WANTED OUT OF LIFE AND SHE WAS ALREADY WORKING HARD TO ACHIEVE IT.
HER FIRST MAJOR OPPORTUNITY CAME IN ELEMENTARY SCHOOL SINGING BACKGROUND FOR VANESSA WILLAMS ON DAVID FOSTERS NBC CHRISTMAS SPECIAL. IN A PERSONAL CONVERSATION WITH WILLIAMS, SHE ENCOURAGED DANICA TO PURSUE HER PASSIONS AND GET HER EDUCATION. DANICA FOLLOWED HER ADVICE AND ATTENDED THE UNIVERSITY OF SOUTHERN CALIFORNIA FOCUSING HER EDUCATION ON THEATER AND CINEMA. DANICA MADE HER TELEVISION ACTING DEBUT AS A GUEST STAR ON THE WB NETWORKS MULTI-SEASON SHOW "SISTER, SISTER" ALONG SIDE TIA AND TAMARA MOWRY. SHE HAS MADE HER FILM DEBUT IN THE MOVIE "WALK HARD" DIRECTED BY JAKE KASDAN AND PRODUCED BY JUDD APATOW ALSO CO WRITING THE SONG "HARD" FOR THE FILM. SHE HAS ALSO WORKED ON TRACKS WITH MAJOR HIP HOP ARTISTS SUCH AS ALOE BLACC,OL DIRTY BASTARD, THA ALKAHOLIKS, AND IS CURRENTLY ON YUKMOUTH'S "MILLION DOLLAR MOUTH PIECE".
DANICA HAS ALSO WRITTEN AND DEVELOPED SONGS IN COLLABORATION WITH VARIOUS PRODUCERS. HER UP AND COMING R&B/ HIP HOP ALBUM "THE GOOD, THE BAD, AND THE LOVE~LY" PRODUCED ENTIRELY BY BOSS BEATS (WHO YOU CAN FIND ON TIMBALAND'S SHOCK VALUE) WAS WRITTEN ENTIRELY BY DANICA ROZELLE, TELLS OF HER STRUGGLES WITH LOVE AND LIFE, AND EXPOSES HER DEEPEST EMOTIONS AND FEELINGS OF DANICA ALL GROWN UP. SHE ALSO PRODUCED THE VIDEO FOR HER SINGLE FABULOUSITY WHICH YOU CAN FIND ONLINE ON YOUTUBE AT http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RR2RiUJn2H4 . HER MUSICAL WRITING TALENTS HAVE LED HER TO PLACEMENTS ON TELEVISION AND FILM, "THE SECRET LIFE OF AN AMERICAN TEENAGER" AND THE NEW FILM "THE MESSENGER" WITH WOODY HARELSON. DANICA'S TREMENDOUS SKILL IN CREATING CAPTIVATING MUSIC IS A TALENT BEYOND HER AGE, BUT IS DEFINITELY INDICATIVE OF THE TIME AND EFFORT SHE PUTS INTO HER LOVE OF MUSIC AND LIFE.
For more information and bookings visit www.myspace.com/stardanica
Purchase Danica's Album at www.itunes.com/danicathemorningstar
DON'T MISS OUT DOWNLOAD MY BEST I EVER HAD DRAKE DUET http://www.sendspace.com/file/min2dm
New Music Release
Nicatene Deejay
Radio Waves Pt. 6 TrendsetterNY.com
Radio Waves Pt.6
Young Face
Download Link
Firework Ent Co. Presents R&B= Sex Pt.1 Starring London
DJ Christion
OVERTIME NOW AVAILABLE FOR DOWNLOAD!!!
DOWNLOAD LINK - DJ Christion Overtime Mixtape Album
Danica
DON'T MISS OUT DOWNLOAD MY BEST I EVER HAD DRAKE DUET Link -
Best I Ever Had Drake Duet
Upcoming Events
Presidente Beer Club Promotions Tampa June-Aug, 2009
Housewives of Atlanta Red Carpet Premiere
July 28, 2009 Atlanta, GA
McCafe Experience July 31, 2009 Houston, TX
Presidente True LIVE inn July 31, 2009
New York, NY
McCafe Experience Aug 7, 2009 Wash DC
McCafe Experience Sept 4, 2009 New York, NY
Trina Album Release Tour 2009 GLOBAL
Southern Heritage Classic Sept 12, 2009 Memphis, TN
Atlanta Football Classic Sept 26, 2009
McCafe Experience Oct 2, 2009 St. Louis, MO
Brand Ambassador Resumes Accepted at www.Thinkgroupmedia.com
All Previous Newsletters Can Be Found At www.ThinkGroupNewsletter.com
Don't Waste Ink...Think
Sincerely,
Steve Canal
CEO
Think Group Media, Inc.
www.ThinkGroupMedia.com
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