To A Beautiful Person

If God had a refrigerator, your picture would be on it.

If He had a wallet, your photo would be in it.

He sends you flowers every spring.

He sends you a sunrise every morning.

Whenever you want to talk, He listens.

He can live anywhere in the universe, but He chose... your heart.

Face it friend, He is crazy about you! God didn't promise days without pain, laughter without sorrow, sun without rain, but He did promise strength for the day, comfort for the tears, and light for the way

You may be able to file your federal taxes online for free. Click here to get more details: Free File

RIP Nell Carter...CNN.com - Actress-singer Nell Carter dies - Jan. 23, 2003

I had sushi for lunch for the first time last week. I didn't like it. I think the biggest problem is that I don't like rice and I don't like seaweed - key sushi components. I was adventurous and tried various types even. The best was the spider roll - mostly because of the deep fried soft shell crab...hmmmm, soft shell crab. I even tried pulling the fish out of the roll and trying it...unfortunately I chose to do this with tuna...not even spicy tuna...just regular old tuna. Bad move! I might give it another try...but no time soon. Raw fish indeed!

If you have purchased a CD between 1995 and 2000 you have an opportunity to collect up to $20. This is legitimate. Anyone who bought a CD (or a record or a cassette) between 1995 and 2000 is eligible to claim his/her portion of the settlement by signing up before 3 March 2003; not even a receipt is necessary. Consumers can simply go to the CD MAP Settlement site, click on the link for filing a claim, and supply the requested information. Many people have balked at having to supply several items of personal information (home addresses, birth dates, and the last four digits Social Security numbers) fearing the site is a data-collecting scam, but the information is necessary in order to distribute the payment checks and ensure that no one files more than one claim. Good luck!

I've been fortunate enough to experience all the levels of friendship listed below. I'm blessed to have such great friends!

In kindergarten your idea of a good friend was the person who let you have the red crayon when all that was left was the ugly black one.

Infirst grade your idea of a good friend was the person who went to the bathroom with you and held your hand as you walked through the scary halls.

In second grade your idea of a good friend was the person who helped you stand up to the class bully.

In third grade your idea of a good friend was the person who shared their lunch with you when you forgot yours on the bus.

In fourth grade your idea of a good friend was the person who was willing to switch square dancing partners in gym so you wouldn't have to be stuck do-si-do-ing with Nasty Nick or Smelly Susan.

In fifth grade your idea of a friend was the person who saved a seat on the back of the bus for you.

In sixth grade your idea of a friend was the person who went up to Nick or Susan, your new crush, and asked them to dance with you, so that if they said no you wouldn't have to be embarrassed.

In seventh grade your idea of a friend was the person who let you copy the social studies homework from the night before that you had.

In eighth grade your idea of a good friend was the person who helped you pack up your stuffed animals and old baseball but didn't laugh at you when you finished and broke out into tears.

In ninth grade your idea of a good friend was the person who would go to a party thrown by a senior so you wouldn't wind up being the only freshman there.

In tenth grade your idea of a good friend was the person who changed their schedule so you would have someone to sit with at lunch.

In eleventh grade your idea of a good friend was the person who gave you rides in their new car, convinced your parents that you shouldn't be grounded, consoled you when you broke up with Nick or Susan, and found you a date to the prom.

In twelfth grade your idea of a good friend was the person who helped you pick out a college/university, assured you that you would get into that college/university, helped you deal with your parents who were having a hard time adjusting to the idea of letting you go...

At graduation your idea of a good friend was the person who was crying on the inside but managed the biggest smile one could give as they congratulated you.

The summer after twelfth grade your idea of a good friend was the person who helped you clean up the bottles from that party, helped you sneak out of the house when you just couldn't deal with your parents, assured you that now that you and Nick or you and Susan were back together, you could make it through anything, helped you pack up for university and just silently hugged you as you looked through blurry eyes at 18 years of memories you were leaving behind, and finally on those last days of childhood, went out of their way to give you reassurance that you would make it in college as well as you had these past 18 years, and most importantly sent you off to college knowing you were loved.

Now, your idea of a good friend is still the person who gives you the better of the two choices, holds your hand when you're scared, helps you fight off those who try to take advantage of you, thinks of you at times when you are not there, reminds you of what you have forgotten, helps you put the past behind you but understands when you need to hold on to it a little longer, stays with you so that you have confidence, goes out of their way to make time for you, helps you clear up your mistakes, helps you deal with pressure from others, smiles for you when they are sad, helps you become a better person, and most importantly loves you!

Thank you for being a friend. No matter where we go or who we become, never forget who helped us get there.

Most importantly, stay close to your friends and family, for they have helped make you the person that you are today and are what it's all about anyway. Pass this along to your friends. Let it make a difference in your day and theirs.

AIDS is definitely an epidemic. This site is geared toward addressing the situation in the Black community. BlackAIDS.org | Our People Our Problem Our Solution

Love House Music? Check out this site:
Gotta Have House

The Boondocks is one of my favorite comics. So much so I have it delivered daily to my email-box. Want it delivered to yours? Click below:

Newflash:

NAACP WINS
NAACP wins on "nigger" in dictionary
A. Small Victory...A Giant Step

There has been a change in Webster's Dictionary. Kweisi Mfume, President and CEO of the National Association for the Advancement of Colored People (NAACP), recently gave a speech at Virginia Tech.

Everyone was informed that a landmark decision was made last week with the people at Merriam-Webster Dictionary. They have recognized the error of their ways.

So, beginning with the next edition, the word nigger will no longer be synonymous with African-Americans. It shall be duly noted that it's a racial slur and not what African-Americans themselves are. Along with this, all racial and religious slurs will finally be indicated for what they really are - cruel and evil slurs too often used to degrade people.

Please pass this information on to others. This change should serve notice to people, corporations, etc., that when individuals stick together to right a wrong, a change is gonna come. This wasn't just a victory for African-Americans, but for everyone.

For those of you looking to for a some Christian entertainment alternatives...read on:

Talent discoveries today have taken on a brand new twist with shows like, American Idol, Star Search and The making of a Pop Star. Never has there been "such fire" way for artists to make their presents known to the music industry. However, all of the television shows mentioned are focused on secular music, making it almost impossible for aspiring Gospel artist to showcase their talent. ...Until now

IJN RECORDS
presents
PRAISE DISCOVERY 2003

A Christian and Gospel Television Series for all genres of religious music. PRAISE DISCOVERY is scheduled to conduct live auditions and tapings in New York, Georgia, Tennessee, Florida, and Texas thus far.

The New York location promises to bring new flavor and take praise to another level as they present CLUB PRAIZE. Club Praize is network of Christian Clubs now in New York, and soon to open in California and Philadelphia.

Judges are professional in the recording industry such as, Sony Records, GospoCentric Records label and many others. In addition to all of this exposure the winner will enjoy the opportunity to receive a 7-day cruise and the opportunity to perform with Hezekiah Walker and the Love Fellowship Choir April 6-13, 2003. The Final will be held in Atlanta.

You are invites to come along with us on this unique cruise for information log on to http://www.authenticevents.com/. The show is hosted by gospel recording artist LaTae' and co-hosted by DJ Lace. PRAISE DISCOVERY will broadcast in January on UPN, AIB and the Finals will broadcast on BET

After my recent pledge I've been thinking about things I want to post and then lo-and-behold I got this in my email box. Actually I get this email daily. It is generated in-house by my company and keeps me alert to the buzz around the country. This is one for the WTF categories...read on and comment:

DAILY DOSE
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v3.008 - January 14, 2003
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So-Called Chip-Hop

Along with the rap music connection to Posse Pops (1), the line of ice cream bars from Planet Ice Cream Inc., which feature rapper Ice-T (né Tracy Marrow, often credited as Morrow) as their national spokesman, which boast social and educational benefits, and which are marketed to inner-city children, hip-hop culture is now also available in a convenient potato chip format. James Lindsay, a resident of Philadelphia, Pennsylvania’s East Falls section, created the rapidly growing food brand, which debuted in 1995. Lindsay recognized that “inner-city kids didn’t have a lot of snack foods they could relate to,” and he saw a “void in the marketplace that needed to be filled.” The line has since expanded to include numerous potato chip flavors, popcorn, and cheese curls.

Originally, the front of the one-ounce bag of Rap Snacks, which are all priced at 25-cents, featured a picture of “M.C. Potato,” a cartoon image of a rapping potato, wearing a baseball cap turned backwards. Similar to Posse Pops, Lindsay devised Rap Snacks with the publicized goal of “promoting positive messages to urban youth,” adding phrases such as “Stay in School,” “Money equals Education,” and “Respect your Elders” to the packages. The bags of the newer Rap Snacks popcorn flavors include a toll-free telephone number for anti-violence counselors.

After establishing his company, Lindsay decided to move on from “M.C. Potato” to real hip-hop artists. He entered into a partnership with Universal Records, and now Rap Snacks feature images of rap artists, both emerging and top-sellers, signed to the Universal family of labels. Along with the affirmative messages, consumers can have packages with illustrations that are perceived to be more meaningful to them, along with brief biographies of the musicians that are included. This form of cross-merchandising offers Universal Records another advertising venue for their artists, and the packages also list store locations where these artists’ compact discs can be purchased. The record company will supposedly rotate new hip-hop artists into the Rap Snacks product line each quarter.

Rap Snacks are primarily sold at bodegas, corner stores, and “mom-and-pop” convenience stores in metropolitan neighborhoods, including those in some of the country’s most underprivileged regions. They are widely available along the East Coast, from Maine to Florida, and they can also be found in such cities as St. Louis, Memphis, Houston, and, most recently, Los Angeles. With approximately fifteen distributors in place, two million bags of Rap Snacks are reportedly sold each week.

The Rap Snacks products currently listed on the brand’s website include: Bar-B-Quing with my Honey (featuring Lil’ Romeo), Platinum Bar-B-Que (featuring Master P), Sweeties (featuring Ms. Toi), Back at the Ranch (featuring Bell Biv DeVoe), Cheezie Nacho (featuring Warren G), Salsa & Cheese (featuring Pretty Willie), Sour Cream & Dill (featuring Big Tymers), Red Hot Cheddar (featuring Mack 10), Hot Cheezie Popcorn, and Honey BBQ Popcorn. The website also features a small selection of essays written by Wise Intelligent, the lead vocalist of the critically acclaimed rap group, Poor Righteous Teachers. The site further includes a link to a message board that allows visitors to comment on the articles by the thought-provoking vocalist.

Following mentions in such diverse magazines as “Maxim,” “People,” “The Source,” and “XXL,” Rap Snacks’ Lindsay has been quoted as saying that he next hopes to conquer the suburban market, cynically, but in all probability correctly stating: “Suburban kids will buy whatever city kids think is cool.” He is also developing a line of clothing and accessories, such as backpacks, which feature the Rap Snacks packaging designs.

Rap Snacks are not alone in the snack food category. Two other brand names, Chumpies and Homegirls Potato Chips, target urban youth who are immersed in hip-hop culture. Both brands are made by King’s Potato Chips, who also manufacture Rap Snacks, for the Philadelphia-based company, It’s a Winner. The chips are made at King’s Bowmansville, Pennsylvania plant, intriguingly located amid Lancaster County’s Amish countryside. Each week, a reported 90,000 bags of Chumpies and Homegirls are sold in retail outlets in Philadelphia, Baltimore, and parts of New Jersey.

(1) (also see DAILY DOSE September 05, 2002 “Posse Pops”)

© 2003 DraftWorldwide. All rights reserved.

http://www.rapsnacks.com/ (The Rap Snacks website)
http://www.universalrecords.com/ (The Universal Records website)
http://www.exit7a.com/ (The Exit 7A Entertainment, Inc. website, featuring Poor Righteous Teachers)

I'm dedicated to posting frequently and often I just don't have that much to talk about. At least I didn't think so but someone with much more time on his hands and nothing to do at work advised me to just write about everyday stuff. I'm going to try it and see. I mean I have a background in science and engineering so there is nothing wrong with a little experimenting. See there an interesting tidbit right there. Stay posted.

I had my first belly laugh today and I have to thank Carlos Butler for it. Sometimes he has that perfect sarcastic remark and I love him for it. Even if I'm not supposed to hug him. :)

I haven't posted in a while and I apologize. The bad thing is that good things have been happening to me and I haven't been sharing. I'm going to make a concerted effort to keep everyone up to date on my life. There is nothing like living vicariously through others. Let's see what develops!

Read Each One Carefully and Think About It a Second or Two
1. I love you not because of who you are, but because of who I am when I am with you.
2. No man or woman is worth your tears, and the one who is, won't make you cry.
3. Just because someone doesn't love you the way you want them to, doesn't mean they don't love you with all they have.
4. A true friend is someone who reaches for your hand and touches your heart.
5. The worst way to miss someone is to be sitting right beside them knowing you can't have them.
6. Never frown, even when you are sad, because you never know who is falling in love with your smile.
7. To the world you may be one person, but to one person you may be the world.
8. Don't waste your time on a man/woman, who isn't willing to waste their time on you.
9. Maybe God wants us to meet a few wrong people before meeting the right one, so that when we finally meet that person, we will know how to be grateful.
10. Don't cry because it is over, smile because it happened.
11. There's always going to be people that hurt you so what you have to do is keep on trusting and just be more careful about who you trust next time around.
12. Make yourself a better person and know who you are before you try and know someone else and expect them to know you.
13. Don't try so hard, the best things come when you least expect them to.
REMEMBER: WHATEVER HAPPENS, HAPPENS FOR A REASON.