Monday, August 28, 2006

AMERICA'S OLDEST TEEN



I’m not a big fan of award shows, but as a big fan of TV I do watch and appreciate the Emmy’s. Year after year, the Emmy's are delivered with extreme style and class (despite Sunday's airplane crash spoof).

During the airing, they gave tribute to Dick Clark. They proceeded to show dozens of clips from Dick’s American Band Stand series, clips of Dick in Time Square, & tons of historical guest appearances.

The tribute was delivered by a hairy “chested”, tacky lookin’ Simon Cowell. While attempting to be a beef-caked sex symbol, Simon was right about one thing; there are very few names that can spark recognition through three or more generations as Dick Clark can. After the video tribute and before Barry Manilow performed his tribute song, Dick Clark spoke.

Now I’m not the most sensitive dude, but I stopped what I was doing to look and listen to Dick. I was literally choked up. Dick Clark had a stroke in December 2004. All news reports referred to the stroke as mild. The affect the stroke had on Dick was nothing but mild. This is the man known for being charismatic, eloquent and well spoken. As he spoke last night, his words were slow, slurred and labored. He could not even walk out on stage or stand during his speech. He didn’t even look like Dick Clark. I haven't witnessed a contrast this dramatic since that of the great Ali.

Instantly I was in touch with my mortality. I will not live forever. As I start the work week, I will attempt to preserve this image of Dick Clark and his faltering health. Time is not on our side. I will not take my health and youth for granted; I will take each day to the limit and strive to get the most out of life. I will seize each opportunity to laugh, take every chance to turn up the music and dance to life. As I proceed to go about my weekly routine in a job that promotes suicide on an hourly basis, I will find the enjoyment and live life to the fullest.

No one is promised tomorrow, not even the Rich and Famous.

-MJL

Wednesday, August 23, 2006

THE THINKER







THE THINKER

As usual, I am busy as hell, and loving every minute of it. It's 1:49 AM and my mind still hasn't stopped. What goes on in there? You don't want to know, or do you? I had a meeting this morning at 10:00 and decided to write down my thoughts, exactly as I thought them in that meeting. No editing, pure raw thoughts.
At 10:03 AM they were as follows:
  • F'ck this damn meeting
  • F'ck Warranty
  • How come I'm not rich,
  • Did I get enough done this weekend?
  • Damn, everyone in this room has a fat gut.
  • If I let myself go like that, sneak up behind me and hit me with a 2x4
  • My V.P. Sucks
  • My job Sucks
  • How come our lady at the front desk isn't Hot.
  • Am I that shallow......Yes
  • Everything cost f'kin money
  • Damn my Mom is going to need help soon
  • If I had a Gallardo - I would drive it butt naked with a clown nose on and an afro wig.
  • How are all these fat bastards still married and I cant' make my marriage last 6 months
  • F' my ex wife
  • I should hit some golf balls today
  • I got to work harder
  • I need more money
  • Is my posture as shzitty as his
  • I need to get more customers for my small business
  • Damn, let me out of this damn room
  • Damn Pirates of the Carribean II made 136 million in it's first week
  • How much would Pirates in the Hood make, starring Dave Chapelle?
  • Snakes on a Plane - What the F'ck
  • I could be getting so much done if I wasn't sitting here
  • If I had a Gallardo, I would drive it butt naked with tube socks on.
  • I wish I could do crunches in this chair
  • I need a hot girl before I'm rich, before the Gallardo
  • HOW COME I'M NOT RICH
  • I wish I had an office
  • At half speed I'm twice as good as everyone in this room
  • Who in the hell is breathing that heavy
  • An office with a bathroom is the shzit
  • Run from MTV's Run's house, does he really have that much money?
  • I did 110 mph on I-75 on the way to work this morning, I have to put away that Mobb Deep CD
  • I need a hot car, I need a hot girl, Shallow Shallow..
  • Girls make me loose focus, I need to stay focused
  • Snifff, Sniff, Who's breath smells like butt and B.O. ?
  • That's "B" B.O., ha ha ha
  • Jerry Seinfeld has mad money
  • If I had a Gallardo I would pull up to the club in tighty whites and tap shoes, and do the running man.
  • I need to make more money
  • I'm so frustrated. I need to do some push ups.
  • Tiger was the shzit this weekend
  • He is focused, and professiona, and rich.
  • My golf game sucks, sucks
  • Why am I not Rich
  • Damn I only slept 3 hours last night
  • Nip Tuck is the shzit
  • I can't believe I ate a donut on Friday
  • The Jefferson's are on TV Land
  • I hate the new Lionel the old Lionel is hood
  • Who would win, The old Lionel vs Lamont Sanford?
  • Aww shzit I"m suppoed to be writing a recco letter for my boy!
  • I can't forget to get cat food,
  • Damn, I have to go to China again.
  • If I had a Gallardo, I would drive it butt-naked with glittery gold cowboy boots and a neck tie
  • 10:05 Damn fifty five minutes left.
-MJL
For your Reference: A Gallardo
No it's not mine, if it was I would be driving it butt naked.........Posted by Picasa

Friday, August 18, 2006

Thomas' Tip Of The Day: August 18, 2006

On my way to the book store this weekend I saw a huge Garage Sale. Hardcover books for $.50 Cents. Why Not? I went and took a look, and found a book called Power Thinking. It basically gives insight to how the mind, and our thought processes set us up to fail before we even start playing the game.

One of the stories that really stuck with me was that of George Dantzig. From some internet snooping, I discovered this cat was a pioneer mathematician that did his thing. There are reports that some of Good Will Hunting was based off his life. George passed away last year; he was known as the inventor of the simplex algorithm and is considered the father of linear programming.

All that's nice, but the best story comes from his college days. Georgie boy was a student at Berkeley, right at the peak of the Great Depression. Soup lines and hard times for everyone. He was poised to graduate with a mathematics degree. George knew that it would be impossible for a mathematician to find gainful employment. He learned that the person who scored the highest in his mathematics class would get a job as an assistant teacher. Now this was motivation for "Dat Ass". All he had to do was kill this course and he would have an instant job.

Now Georgie boy knew he wasn't the brightest kid in the class but he had what we all have. The "Grind" factor. He was going to grind out the best grade possible. He grinded every night until he felt comfortable for the exam. In fact, he put in so much work that he lost track of time and ran late for the test. He ran to his desk and looked at the test. It had eight problems. "That's What's Up" he thought to himself ( or "Golly Gee Willikers, 8 Questions" I forgot he was a nerd). He knocked all eight questions out the box. Then he noticed that there were two additional questions on the blackboard.


He wrote them down and started working them. After trying to solve the first one he was at an impasse so he started working the second equation. No luck and time was running out. When the bell rang, he went to the professor and asked if he could have a little more time. "Sure G, You have until four o'clock on Friday, but your paper must be in by then."

George knew that there were crazy smart people in his class and that he had to solve these two problems in order to stand a chance at the teaching gig. He took the paper home and started grinding. He knew that he had know choice if he didn't want to be in the unemployment line. Tuesday & Wednesday he had no luck. Thursday afternoon, BOOOOYAH, he solved the first one. This gave him crazy confidence, and by Friday morning he nailed the second. He turned his paper in on time and went home wondering if he was going to have a job.

Early Sunday morning, George heard a knock on the door. "What the fu...", "Who Dat?" He opened the door and it was his Professor. 'What up Doc? " . The Professor said, George! George! You made mathematics history". George said, "What you talkin' bout Willis". The Professor said, "George, I was thinking as I came over here. You came to class late for the test, didn't you?" He continued, "Eight problems were on the test paper that you picked up off my desk. You solved them all correctly. The two problems I had written on the board were not a part of the test! I told everyone that if they had a love for mathematics to keep playing with these two famous unsolved problems for a lifetime of fun. Then I put those two problems on the blackboard. Even Einstein, to his death, played with those problems and couldn't solve them. You solved them, you solved them both. Not only have you made history, you also have the job". George gave a fist pump and started thinking about his future dough stacks.

That story shows you how we mentally beat ourselves. If George would have heard the statements made in the beginning of the exam, not only would he have not solved the problems, he probably wouldn't even have attempted. That's huge. I'm sure you can apply this to something in you past or present. Believe in yourself. You can achieve much more then you think. It's OK to fail but try again. It's Ok to be disappointed but don't be discouraged by it. Use it as motivation. If you have never been disappointed you were probably aiming too low or moving too slow.

-MJLPosted by Picasa

EINSTEIN WAS A PIMP

ARE THOSE 22 INCH SPINNERS?

IS THAT THE NEW ROCAWEAR BUTTON UP?

ALBERT, HOLLA AT YOUR BOY!

Monday, August 14, 2006

THE LAWS OF POWER II

NEVER PUT TOO MUCH TRUST IN FRIENDS, LEARN HOW TO USE ENEMIES

Our friend Robert Greene states, "Be wary of friends- they will betray you more quickly, for they are easily aroused to eny. They also become spoiled and tyrannical. But hire a former enemy and he will be more loyal than a friend, because he has more to prove. In fact , you have more to fear from friends then from enemies. If you have no enemies, find a way to make them".

Hmmm! I am very mixed on this one. I have frineds that I have hired and I have made friends with people that work with me and for me. I believe that the term friend is used loosley in this law. It is from my experience that a true friend with every sense of the word has your best interest in mind and heart. There is no way to really stop a friend from becoming jealous, but a true friend will be happy becuase you are happy. Your success and joys are shared. Jealousy is translatted to self improvement for that friend, not friend destruction.

Now, associates and friends are often used interchangebly. This person can use jealousy to fuel destruction. Associates are just that, they are associated with you through common circumstances, and have no problems watching themelves get ahead at your expense. The difference between an associate and a coworker is very little. You might occasionally eat luch with, or even attend a dinner party with an associate, but you are not or should not go to far in trusting them. Don't confuse daily conversation, and a Christmas card with friendship. Friendship goes much deeper then that.


Let's read more from the expert, "It is natural to want to employ your friends when you find yourself in times of need. The world is a harsh place, and your friends soften the harshness. Besides, you know them. Why depend on a stranger when you have a friend at hand? The problem is that you often do not know your friends as well as you imagine. Friends often agree on things in order to avoid an argument. They cover up their unpleasant qualities so as to not offend each other. They laugh extra hard at each other's jokes. Since honesty rearely strenthens friendship, you may never know how a friend truly feels. Friends will say that they love your poetry, adore your music, envy your tase in clothes - maybe they mean it, often they do not. When you decide to hire a friend, you gradually discover the qualities he or she has kept hidden. Strangely enough, it is your act of kindess that unbalances everything." " The more favors and gifts you supply to revive the friendship the less gratitude you recieve. "


I think being successful you have to have a talent for looking into peoples' personalities and spotting weaknesses. Once they are spotted they can be managed for your success. This is a tactic that I use, that I must use at work daily.


"Working with friends confuses the boundaries and distances that working requires. But if both partners in the arrangement understand the dangers involved, a friend often can be employed to great effect. You must never let your guard down in such a venture, however; always be on the lookout for any signs of emotional disturbance such as envy and ingrattitude. Nothing is stable in the realm of power, and even the closet of friends can be transoformed into the worse of enemies."


-MJL

Sunday, August 06, 2006

Race Relations




Race is something I try desperately to stay away from. Recently however, it's come up in a few discussions where people have made some absurd assumptions or statements and I must vent.

Friday a Black woman asked me out for a drink. I declined politely and she said, "You probably don't want me because you date white girls". Considering the source of the comment I laughed and shrugged it off. In reality, I declined her invitation because I don't date, 2 kid havin', 2 baby father juggling, bad weave havin, Sheneneh lookin, ghetto ass BIAACHES!


Sheneneh Jenkins
Age: 26

Occupation: Weave Technician

Status: Single and loves to mingle

Sheneneh says: "I'm very much a lady, and likes a Brother that's down. If he disrespects me though, I'll beat him like he stole something. I like to stay cute in the face, thin in the waist. Oh My Goooodness"




RACE & SUCCESS

To achieve a higher level of success you must eliminate race consideration in professional and personal relationships. Without doing this you will only be limiting yourself from having possible life enriching experiences. As a business person and future millionaire you should be trained to rely on personality, ethics, and intelligence. If you limit yourself to one race in your daily interactions you are greatly limiting the amount of resources you have in society.

Let's take Sean Puffy Combs. Look at Puffy's Making the Band 3 which airs on MTV. You might say that he selected the racial mixture of women to increase sales, as a marketing ploy, but if you watched from the beginning, he actually chose the most talented girls out of the applying field of women. He knows in order to produce the most talented band, he needs the best of the best regardless of race. Diddy even goes as far as to encourage each girl to stay true to herself, by not acting in ways that betrays their true identities, knowing that each girl will learn from the other's experiences and backgrounds.


MYTH: "BLACK CHICKS ARE FAT, AND DON'T WORK OUT"
I have heard this more then once or twice. This is not a black thing or white thing. It's an income an upbringing thing. It is harder for lower income families to lead healthy lifestyles. They are often single parent households resulting in a shortage of money and time.

You have just worked 12 hours at "Fashion Barn" rode the bus home, cooked dinner and helped junior with his math. Do you think you're going out for a jog after that? Heeeell no, you are going to kick back and watch some Judge Mathis, and dose off, so you can do it all again in 7 hours.

On a limited budget the family is forced to eat what is on sale and fattier cuts of meat. With limited time, the appeal of fast food is greater, for it's cost and convienence. Growing up broke health isn't stressed, the focal point is survival.


MYTH: SUCCESSFUL BLACK MEN AND WHITE WOMEN

"Girrrlll, that's what they all do: Cling to a sista while they're broke and in school. Then get a good job or a contract and put a ring on the white girls hand".

This might appear to be the case, but in my opinion it has less to do with race, and more to do with available options, and development of one's opinion of outer beauty.

Typically as a lower income black man attends grade schools and middle schools, he is surrounded by girls from the neighborhood, his family, and his mothers friends. His idea of beauty is nurtured from these examples of strong black woman. As he becomes increasingly successful, there are less black women or women of color that he interacts with on a daily basis. He is surrounded by more financially secure, physically fit, often slimmer type woman. When in Rome you are attracted to Romans. Does the successful black man go back to the hood and look for a date? That's how you get hood rats. Instead of going back to the hood you develop newer social circles and date within.
My current circle of friends all have the same things in common: a sense of humor, aggressive, intelligent, caring & thoughtful. Those are traits that can be found in people any age, race or gender. This new circle is often mixed races and backgrounds, and the successful black man's future partner is chosen from this diverse selection of equally successful people. If she happens to be white, it draws attention in society. If she is black it seems to blend in and doesn't get mentioned because it doesn't support the stereo-type.

Let's take a quick look at the most widely criticized group for this behavior The NBA:

Allen Iverson ................Married to African-American woman
Tracy McGrady ............Married to African-American woman
Alonzo Mourning .........Married to African-American woman
Vince Carter .................Married to African-American woman
Grant Hill ....................Married to African-American woman
Allan Houston ..............Married to African-American woman
Stephon Marbury ......... Married to African-American woman
Anthony Mason .............Not married
Dikembe Mutombo .......Married to African-American woman
Theo Ratliff .................Married to African-American woman
Glenn Robinson ...........Married to African-American woman
Latrell Spreweel ............Engaged to African-American woman
Jerry Stackhouse ...........Married to African-American woman
Jason Kidd ..................Married to Arabic-Indian woman
Kobe Byrant .................Married to Hispanic-Caucasian
Shaquille O'Neal ...........Married to African-American woman
Tim Duncan ................Married to Caucasian
Chris Webber ...............Not married
Kevin Garnett ..............Not married
Karl Malone ................Married to Philippino woman
Gary Payton ................Married to African-American woman
David Robinson ...........Married to Hispanic woman
Rasheed Wallace.......... Married to African-American woman

Aha, the list, although true, is a trick.

If you found yourself actually reading the names above to see who was married to who, then you care way too much.


There is no noticeable trend, you have successfull people married to those who they have chosen to spend the rest of their life with. PERIOD!



Kobe's Wife could be a martian from
the planet -babygotbackalon for all I care.
She is still smokin HOT!












MYTH: "Black people are good in football and basketball, not golf and hockey"

This too becomes a study of income levels. A young kid in the hood can play basketball all day long. He doesn't even need a ball. The local park just needs a rim, no net necessary. Most have chains instead of nets. You show up at the park and chill with your friends until the one kid in the neighborhood with the ball shows up. Then you play until either he has to go home or he takes his ball because he's losing. Playing football, you don't even need a rim or a park. A ball and open space is all you need for two hand touch.

Golf is out of the question. The only time a kid in the hood sees a golf club is the four iron his dad keeps in the back seat for protection. I didn't swing a golf club until age 30. A kid would need an adult to take them to the course, a set of clubs, a glove, shoes etc.
I would be stuck at the adult part. Nobody had the time or the money to take me to a golf course, let alone buy me a set of clubs.

Hockey, where the hell is the ice? You need like $400 in pads, and how much is that big ass jersey. If you get that hockey Jersey you not playing in it, you're wearing that to school. That thing is too fresh to get sweaty.


definitely lower income families are challenged in society. This world is survival of the fittest and I think it's great. The lower income kid does not get a chance to see Mr. Jones leave for work every morning, in his BMW. Doesn't see him kiss his loving wife, and raise his kids properly. Instead he sees Tyrone on the corner dealing drugs, smoking weed, with the newest sneakers on. He sees Milo going to college on a basketball scholarship, or sees rap stars that look like him on TV. These are hood heroes; people who the young women and men are attracted to and aspire to be like. Children hear how unfair life is by his Mom, and Dad if his parents are still together. "The Man will Never Let Us Get Ahead". Kids hears how impossible it is to get out of the hole that has been dug. When heard over and over again, this starts to become reality.

My sisters and I were able to overcome these pit falls. As a printer by trade my Dad would bring home books every day that me and my older sister would read by the dozens. They always depicted a life similar to that on TV. These ideal images of American life became our reality, forcing us to believe that there are other avenues to success. My older sister paved the way by breaking ground and going to college. A good college. Then law school. I soon followed in her footsteps.

Would I be where I am without her influence? I can say probably not, but life is unfair, and I was lucky to have my older sister. We did the same for my younger sister as we will do for my future nephew. This little guy will be starting from a better playing field then we have. If he wants to play golf or hockey, he has an Uncle who can get him started in anything he wants, an intelligent (streetwise & business wise) father with connections throughout New York and New Jersey and a mother who is an Attorney. THIS KID WILL BE SOMETHING ELSE - THE TRUE MEANING OF LIFE.

-MJL

Wednesday, August 02, 2006

Thomas' Tip of the Day: August 3, 2006

BEFORE MAKING DECISIONS, COUNT YOUR MONEY

Remember the goal people, we want to be rich. Before making any decisions, big or small, stay focused and think, how does this affect my income.

This can be applied to almost every area in your life. Sex....Do I use protection or not, is this person worthy of having my child, or am I going to be paying for a kid that I can't raise for the next 18 yrs. Shopping.....Do I need another set of irons do I just want seem cool like my friends?

Lets be a little more specific shall we?

You are speeding on your way to work. You and I both know that speeding doesn't get you to work any earlier becuase the most annoying light in the universe lives at the end of your exit and it's always red. Then why are you speeding? Just becuase you love the feeling of power and control! You love waving to these candy asses on their way to work while you zip by. Look Mom...I'm doing 90 with my knees!

But wait....Count your money...Can you afford a ticket? Can you afford an increase in your insurance for the next three years? What if the cop finds something else wrong with you car while you're pulled over? Can you afford to take time out and go to court? The answer is probably NO. Count your money and slow your punk ass down.


Let's say you're at a bar with your friends. Some little 22 year old punk bumps you, and looks at you like you're his Bitch. You think to yourself, " I bitch slap kids like this for breakfast". You want so bad to show him your "Goon" hand. You want to Bitch slap this punk like Ike did Tina!

But wait.....Stop..Count your money. Can you afford a law suit, a fine, or even a court appearance? What if this little bastard is the punk son of a future client? What if he sucker punches you and does some permanent damage?
Can you live to you full potential with impaired eyesight, a limp or some brain damage. The answer is probably NO, Count your money, and tell the guy "My Bad". You have nothing to prove, keep it moving and enjoy the rest of your night.


Last but not least....

You are at work late, and you remember that you are out of paper at home. Staples and Office Max are closed and you have to print out some faxes for your small business. Over by the office copy machine there are 20 stacks of paper, all white and fluffy, 500 sheets in each stack! Smell that paper.......MMMmmmmm....bounty fresh. You swear the stack on top is calling your name.

Before you put your theiving hands on one bundle. Stop...Count your money. Can you afford to lose your job over a $4.99 stack of papaer. Is it worth losing a potential promotion because you didn't want to drive 15 extra minutes somewhere that is open 24 hrs a day. The ansewr is probably NO.
Instead just steal like 10 sheets.....That's what I did :)