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Big Brother Update: Day 34

2011-08-07T23:29:00.000-07:00

In a 5-2 vote in favor of eviction, Brendon Villegas became the fourth House Guest to exit the Big Brother house (at least for now; I'll explain later).

With Daniele winning the HOH, she followed through on her plan to get either Brendon or Rachel evicted; partly (or mostly) in retaliation for their role in getting Dominic evicted. Daniele's plan to backdoor Jeff & Jordan backfired in her face, effectively breaking up a "fail proof" alliance that was formed at the beginning of the season.

There is no doubt that Daniele is trying very hard to step out of the shadow that has been cast by her father, "Evel Dick". Dick himself criticized this move, feeling it will hurt his daughter's chances of moving further in the game. Dick and Daniele were a formidable duo during Season 8, and would have had a lot offer had it not been for Dick's early departure to attend to an undisclosed personal matter.

Brendon should probably consider changing his name to "Mr. Veto" or "Captain Veto", due to his prowess in the competition; winning it for the third time this season. Rachel does well in the HOH competitions, and had they not alienated fellow house guests last season, they could have easily ended up in the "Final 2". Unfortunately, with both being nominated for eviction, only one of them would be staying in the game.

In a not so surprising move, Brendon opted to save Rachel rather than himself. Other House Guests may have been taken by surprise including Rachel, but Daniele (who made a similar move when she took her father off the block in Season 8), determined to get either one out of the house, chose Jordan as the replacement nominee (what were the chances that Jordan would be voted out?). Just like last season, it was a combination of Brendon's strong play and his unpopularity that led house guests to vote in favor of his eviction. Still, I'll applaud Brendon for making such a selfless move. Rachel competes much better in HOH competitions, but gets easily rattled in the Veto competitions.

The day ended with Kalia winning the HOH competition and Rachel will be back on the block. This week gets a little more interesting, because yet another twist has been added to the game. Should Rachel be the one evicted, she'll have a chance to battle with any of the 4 previously evicted house guests (winner determined by the Viewers' vote) for a chance to get back in the house.

Expect the unexpected is what they say. Happy viewing.

Big Brother Update: Day 27

2011-07-30T10:24:00.000-07:00

Another Live Eviction and another member of "The Regulators" was sent packing, as the House Guests voted 7-1 to evict Dominic Briones. I haven't watched Big Brother for long (I'm into my 3rd season; I'm sure I've mentioned this before), but it's safe to say that "The Regulators" are officially the WORST ALLIANCE EVER!! Keith, Cassi and now Dominic; all gone. The reason Lawon has survived thus far is because he's done a good job flying "under the radar".

With Daniele pushing hard for Brendon & Rachel to " backdoor" Jeff & Jordan, Dominic ended up as "collateral damage" due to his association with her; a little something we like to call "guilt by association" (Strike One). Dominic was already low on numbers, and whatever deals he tried to make with "Brendon & Rachel" didn't matter as he was already the target for eviction. So you have to wonder why he agreed to throw the POV competition (Strike Two). The final nail in the coffin came when he confided to Shelly about the plan to backdoor "Jeff & Jordan", failing to take into account that Shelly and Jordan have bonded rather well (STRIKE THREE; YOU'RE OUT!!).

I'll give Dominic some credit, as he was the only newbie that at least tried to stand up against the alums, but couldn't really get help from anyone. Just like Keith, he found out what happens to strong competitors who just happen to be on the wrong side of the fence. It's like an unwritten rule, but the stronger players carry the bigger targets, unless they can win competitions; which puts them in a position to make deals, thereby ensuring their safety.

In hindsight, Dominic would have probably been better off working with Kalia instead of Keith when forming "The Regulators". Like Lawon, Kalia has managed to stay under the radar. That really comes in handy especially when you need the numbers to save you from eviction.

My opinion of this season just got a lot better when host, Julie Chen, announced that House Guests would no longer be playing in pairs. It would have been nice if the players receiving the Golden Key would have done more to earn it. As it is, Daniele, Porsche and Shelly all got free rides in the house. With players on their own now, things are bound to get more interesting.

The player to watch for, without any doubt, is Daniele. Unlike Rachel or Jordan, Daniele is not afraid to make big moves early in the game. What makes her dangerous is that she's not afraid of the power couples in the house, and unlike them, she REALLY knows how to play the game (finishing as runner up in Season 8). She's just as good a competitor, which adds that extra edge.

I already heard that she won the HOH competition, so some heads will be rolling come the next Live Eviction.

Big Brother Update: Day 20 (2nd Live Eviction)

2011-07-22T10:56:00.000-07:00

Cassi Colvin became the second House Guest to leave Big Brother after her fellow housemates voted 9-0 to evict her. Not even ONE sympathy vote? Not even from her "Regulator" buddies? It's not like she would have survived eviction, but it would have been nice to know that someone had her back.

With Keith having been evicted the previous week, Danielle and Rachel decided to pull a "roadkill" move; and who better to throw under the bus than Cassi. Rachel didn't like her (surprises, anyone?), and Danielle felt like it would be easier it manipulate Dominic if Cassi was absent.

Having survived eviction, Shelly also received a "Golden Key", meaning her summer stay in the BB house has been extended for another two weeks. Since she, Danielle and Porsche won't be the chopping block anytime soon, I have every reason to believe that Kalia will most likely be the next person gone.

Rachel once again became the HOH for the week, but I guess she still gets to eat slop? Interesting. Like I had mentioned in my previous articles, I'll do the best I can to stay away from the spoilers. Stay tuned.

Big Brother 13: First Eviction

2011-07-16T22:50:00.000-07:00

Things took an interesting turn after "Evil Dick" unexpectedly left the house to attend to a personal matter. The "alums" seemed to be in control of the game up until that point, but had to get back to the drawing board immediately. The numbers and momentum had swung completely in favor of the "newbies", so they needed to act fast.

Keith had the most to gain from Dick's departure, seeing as he was the main target for eviction. Even though he had his "Regulators" behind him, he didn't help himself when he called out Kalia and Porsche during a "team" meeting. That move ended up costing him a crucial vote.

His next best move would have been to try and win the Veto, but he threw the competition thinking he had votes. It was really funny to watch Keith and Porsche in the Diary Room trying to act like they were on the same page, but even they knew that they weren't fooling anyone.

When Brendon and Rachel, winners of the POV, opted not to replace Keith and Porsche as their nominations for eviction, they managed to convince to Shelly to vote against Keith. Of course, Kalia's vote was the nail in the coffin, and after 13 days in the house, Keith became the first House Guest evicted. By surviving eviction, Porsche received a Golden Key, joining Danielle (who received one due to Dick's departure) and they now get to enjoy a free pass for the next 3 weeks.

The "alums" retained power when Jordan won the HOH competition, so it will be interesting to see how things play out towards Day 20; the next live eviction.

I found Nemo!!

2011-07-13T08:57:00.000-07:00

Can you help me?

Spotted in an aquarium at the Rainforest Cafe located in Grapevine TX, was a clownfish whom I instantly named "Nemo". I am completely certain that I'm not the only person who thinks of the movie Finding Nemo whenever they see a clownfish. In my own defense, it wasn't too long ago that I finally watched that movie for the first time.

While waiting to be served, my friends and I decided to check out the numerous aquariums inside the restaurant. It was then that I came across "Nemo", and didn't hesitate to take a picture or two. Granted, the photo quality isn't the best, but I was not going to pass this opportunity. It took a little coaxing of course; for Nemo hid behind a rock at first before I could take a snap. Jokingly, I gently tapped the glass and pleaded, "Nemo, please come out." Sure enough, he came out swimming gracefully, and it was then I was able to take the pictures.

Now I too can finally say that "I found Nemo!!"

Fish are friends, not food.

I live in an-enenenomy.

Big Brother Update: First Nominations

2011-07-10T23:56:00.000-07:00

The first nomination ceremony of Big Brother 13 took place Sunday, with Porsche and Keith becoming the first house guests "on the block".

This is no surprise to the fans who follow the show online, get updates on "spoilers" and whatnot, and also watch "Big Brother: After Dark". I was really big on the online "spoilers", but since I'll be doing my best to blog about the show, I'll try to remain as clueless as possible. No spoilers for me... :-(

With the "Golden Key" up for grabs, Rachel (HOH for the week) and the rest of the alums had to try and find an ally among the "newbies". The alums, especially "Evil Dick", seemed to prefer Porsche, even though a similar approach had been made to Adam. So it looks like Porsche will play the "pawn"; a role that has been known to carry great risk should the primary target (Keith, in this instance) manage to win the Power Of Veto competition.

Not to be outdone, a few of the "newbies" decided to borrow a page from previous seasons and form their own "side alliance". Keith, Lawon, Cassi and Dominic banded to form "The Regulators". Last season, we watched as "The Brigade" - which comprised of Matt, Enzo, Lane and Hayden - dominate the game, with its members ending up in the "Final 3".

The reason "The Brigade" was able to succeed with relative ease was because Season 12 was made up of new faces. Everybody seemed to get along with one another, and the targets for eviction every week were Brendon and Rachel; who never really tried to get along with other House Guests. By the time other house guests caught on, they had either been or were about to be eliminated.

Unfortunately, "The Regulators" don't have that privilege. They are playing against a seasoned bunch that knows how to win when it counts. However, with the announcement that "Evil Dick" left the show, it might be the break they need if they are going to make an impact.

If you follow the spoilers, you probably already know how the POV competitions and Veto Ceremony have played themselves out. For the rest of us, we'll wait for Wednesday's episode.

Big Brother 13: Ol' School vs New School

2011-07-08T00:33:00.001-07:00

It was great to finally get the new season of Big Brother under way. A new season, new cast and the same old twists.

Keeping with the theme of "expect the unexpected", the house guests had barely even known each other before they were hit with the 1st twist; they had to "pair up". It seems like that would be the theme for the season; much like Season 11 where teams were thrown into "high school"-style cliques.

I'm really not a fan of this strategy at all. I feel like it prevents players from exploring their own opportunities; let the "alliances" form themselves. In Season 11, the "cliques" strategy leaned heavily toward one group, and whoever wasn't "in" was sent packing.

Another twist was the return of "power couples" from past seasons. I already suspected that there would at least be guys from yesteryear. I didn't think it would be like this. I wasn't surprised to see Jeff & Jordan, but was shocked when "Evil Dick" & Danielle entered the house. I didn't mind Brendon, but wanted to pop my eardrums the minute I heard Rachel's laugh.

As much as I would have loved more fresh faces, I understand why CBS throws in a twist or two, and brings back some alumni; it's all about ratings. If that's the case, why not bring back players who hadn't won? "Evil Dick" and Jordan are 2 players who don't really need the money.

CBS has promised to make this the "most exciting season" and so far, it looks like they'll deliver on that guarantee.

I'm definitely looking forward to see how the "new school" stacks up against the vets. Enjoy.

Sent from my Palm Pre on the Now Network from Sprint

Kira and the Classic 808

2011-07-07T19:41:00.000-07:00

If you are into the local neo-soul scene, be on the look out for "Kira and the Classic 808."

Performing at Urban Roots located on 322 NE 2nd St in OKC, Kira showcased her vocals, singing a few cover versions as well as some original work.

Be sure to follow her on facebook.com/Kira-Classic for more updates.

Grant Goldstein warming up before the show.

Love: "For here" or "To Go".

2011-07-07T15:20:00.000-07:00

This story ought to "take the cake" for this week. A woman was arrested for trying to sneak her common-law husband out of a Mexican prison.

A spokesman for police in the state of Quintana Roo said that Maria del Mar Arjona was stopped by guards to inspect her "unusually bulky" suitcase, as she left the Chetumal prison. What they found was not your usual suitcase luggage, but her boyfriend, Juan Ramirez Tijerina curled up in the fetal position.

Maria had just paid a conjugal visit, and it must have been then that they hatched this "incredible" escape plan. This story has a certain feel to it; the kind where you're out to dinner, and even though the meal is good, you decide you'll finish it at home.

What if their plan had actually worked?

Big Brother 2011: Let the games begin.

2011-07-07T13:18:00.000-07:00

It's that time of the year for America to indulge in drama and voyeurism; season 13 of Big Brother kicks off on Thursday evening. True to the theme "Expect the unexpected!!", only 8 House Guests have been revealed so far, with a total of 14 to be cast.

As in previous seasons, they got to respond to the top questions sent in by fans. I'm guessing that the remaining 6 contestants will probably be from past seasons, but who knows? The House Guests introduced are:

• Adam Poch: A 39 year-old Music Inventory Manager from Hoboken, NJ
• Cassi Colvin: A 26 year-old model from Nashville, TN.
• Dominic Briones: A 25 year-old college student from San Mateo, CA.
• Kalia Booker: A 30-year old writer from Los Angels, CA.
• Keith Henderson: A 32 year-old Human Resources Manager from Boilingbrook, IL.
• Lawon Exum: A 29-year old Legal File Clerk from Inglewood, CA.
• Porsche Briggs: A VIP Cocktail Waitress from Miami, FL.
• Shelly Moore: A 41-year old Outdoors Industry Executive from Prairieville, LA.

While it's not easy picking a favorite at this moment, I will nominate Lawon for "most entertaining House Guest". He reminds me of Kevin (Season 11) and Enzo a.k.a "Meow-Meow" (Season 12). I'll have Cassi penciled in as my "favorite" to win, but I've never been good at predicting these shows. I predicted that Kathy Hillis would win season 12, while Hayden Moss would be the first one voted off; that worked out really well.

Best of luck to all the contestants.

Born on the 4th of July.

2011-07-04T16:03:00.000-07:00

While we take time to celebrate all things Americana on this day, please allow me to send birthday wishes to one Matthew Bartlett, a TGIF waiter from Orlando, Florida.

Flipping the bird, yet it ain't "Thanksgiving"

Bartlett came to the nation's attention when he flashed a middle finger in the direction of prosecutor Jeff Ashton, during courtroom proceedings in the Casey Anthony trial. His gesture wasn't seen by any of the jurors present, nor Ashton himself; but it didn't escape the numerous TV and photo cameras that were present. A local TV station notified the court and Bartlett was summoned before Judge Belvin Perry after recess.

After a brief Q&A that included a humiliating verbal beatdown, Bartlett was found guilty of "contempt of court", and sentenced to 6 days in jail. Judge Perry added that Bartlett's gesture could have jeopardized the whole trial had it been seen by members of the jury. Along with the sentence, Bartlett was also slapped with a $400 fine, and an additional $223 in court costs (some might call it "gratuity").

Judge Perry don't take no mess!!

Bartlett said that he planned to appeal the decision. Last I heard, a motion filed by Bartlett's attorney to stay the sentence was denied by Judge Perry, meaning that Bartlett spent Friday evening in jail and would be there through his 29th birthday.

If I had to summarize this in my own words, it would be like this; Matthew Bartlett flipped the courtroom, and the courtroom flipped him back.

The Amazing Race Leg 9: (Cowboy down)

2011-04-28T00:34:00.000-07:00

Week 9 of "The Amazing Race: Unfinished Business" saw Jet & Cord (a.k.a the Cowboys), the overwhelming fan favorites, get eliminated at the hands of the dreaded Double U-Turn. It was rather sad, because I wanted them in the Final 3, but it wasn't meant to be.

After reading through some forums, just about everybody is up in arms over the manner in which the Cowboys exited the show. Most think that the Globetrotters, the team ahead of them, shouldn't have turned back the Cowboys. However, if you were in a similar position like the 'Trotters, what would you have done? Actually, what I should ask is, had the Cowboys been in the Globetrotters' position, what would they have done?

Jet & Cord McCoy; brothers and Cowboys from Oklahoma

When this current season of Amazing Race started, my "dream Final 3" was Zev & Justin, The Globetrotters (Flight Time & Big Eazy) and the Cowboys. I like Zev & Justin, just because they have the smarts to overcome any athletic shortcomings. I like the Globetrotters because despite being good guys, some fellow contestants and most viewers have branded them the "dumb jocks" and they are the team most people would love to see eliminated. I like the Cowboys because no matter the obstacle, they have always found a way to avoid elimination.

So let's recap this episode. A lot of people have singled out the Globetrotters for cheating during a certain portion of the race. The task in question required contestants to take a bike ride from Schaanwald to Balzers. At the end of the ride, they were required to write on a postcard the correct distance (22 kilometers) that they had travelled and hand in the answer to Marco Büchel (an alpine skier). An incorrect answer would require the player to go back and start over from Schaanwald.

Justin seemed to have got lost, while Kisha lost her map along the way. They worked together and correctly came up with the right distance. Since they worked together, I didn't see anyone accuse them of cheating. Jet, who was riding along and appeared to be working with Gary, left him and somewhat got lost. He reached the end, but had the incorrect answer and ended up starting over. Flight Time took the wrong turn and on his way back, he ran into Justin who told him the answer. Flight Time was going to guess 20 km; his answer wasn't that off, but being incorrect, he would have had to start over. He ran into Gary and shared the answer with him. So as we can see, neither Flight Time nor Gary had been to the finish line at that point.

Granted, they both benefited from receiving the answer, but it's not like they had been sent back to start over. So if the Globetrotters were "cheaters", then Gary too was a cheater because had he not received the answer, it is more than likely that he and Mallory (his daughter) would have been eliminated. So the accusations should not be one-sided against the Globetrotters.

Then of course comes the "controversial" part of the game; the "Double U-Turn". Four of the teams that came upon it chose not to use it. However, when the Globetrotters came upon it, they opted to use it knowing that the Cowboys were not too far behind. If anyone can remember the previous leg (Leg 8), the 'Trotters were in the lead heading toward the pit stop. Unfortunately, they took a wrong turn only to come in second behind Zev & Justin. Whether they would have encountered the same problem, we'll never know. What we do know, is that they did what they needed to do in order to survive and stay in the game. The theme of the game is to "race around the world for $1 million". There is no prize for second or third placed teams, only the winner gets the prize money.

I'm going to clarify myself. I like the Globetrotters, but do I like the fact that they got the answer without completing the task? No, I do not. Do I like the fact that teams are often sharing answers during the race, or working together to complete certain tasks? No, I do not. This race is not run individually, even though certain tasks have to be completed individually. Do I think that future races should bar teams from "working together" or even "sharing answers", and possibly even penalizing teams that do so? I'm all in favor of that. As it is, you already have a teammate. If that's not enough, off with you then.

Now back to my question; had they Cowboys been in the Globetrotters' position, what would they have done? Just going by most people's reactions, I don't think there would have been much argument should they have chosen to "U-Turn" the 'Trotters. In fact, I have a feeling that these same people crying "foul" would have applauded them and gladly stated "that it's all part of the game". Like I mentioned earlier, the Globetrotters have few fans and won't be attaining "cult status" anytime soon. However, since it was their favorite team that got eliminated "within the rules of the game", we suddenly have a problem; the game is "unfair", too much "cheating" going on and the laundry list of grievances just keeps growing.

All teams are always notified whenever a Double U-Turn is present during a certain leg of the race. Therefore, the faster you complete your task, the less likely you are to be turned back. The Cowboys, by their own admission, have always stumbled during portions of the races, leaving them in a position where they have to hustle just to make the cut. This leg of the race was no different, and even though they managed to catch up to most of the teams, it unfortunately just wasn't meant to be this time.

I can understand why most viewers, including myself, love these guys. They are classy, play fair and always keep a good sense of humor. I don't ever recall hearing them say anything bad regarding their fellow contestants. They proved to be worthy competition and earned the respect of their peers. It's sad that they are out of the race, but show must continue.

What makes "The Amazing Race" stand out from other reality/game shows, is that your progress in the game depends on how you adapt both mentally and physically. Unlike other shows where situations are dramatized, and participants are sacrificed for the sake of ratings, such isn't the case here. This is why The Amazing Race has managed to be and hopefully, will continue to be successful.

Maybe in the future, the producers will work toward creating a more even playing field. Until then, the rules remain what they are and if your favorite team doesn't make it to the next round, tough luck. Life goes on.

One of the best soundtracks EVER!!

2011-04-12T20:05:00.000-07:00

Not too long ago, a video of the song “Count on me”, performed by Whitney Houston and Cece Winans, appeared on my facebook page (Thank you, Cierra!!). The song was featured on the soundtrack of the movie “Waiting to Exhale”; a movie that was an adapted from a book of the same name, written by Terry McMillan.

The movie featured four African-American women in leading roles – a Hollywood first – and was directed by Forest Whittaker. It’s really a great a movie and I’d highly recommend you watch it. Go “redbox” or “Netflix” or whatever you use; it’s a must watch. As good as the movie is, the soundtrack is a classic.

The album was released in 1995 and it featured some of the biggest names in the music industry at the time. You want to talk about "Star Power"? This record had it. It featured Whitney Houston when she was still Whitney Houston!!! Mary J. Blige when she was still a “diamond in the rough”, Toni Braxton, a young “up and coming” Brandy, TLC (fresh off the release of “Crazy, Sexy, Cool”), SWV and even Faith Evans (say whaaaat???). Then to kick it up a notch, there was Patti LaBelle, Chaka Khan, Aretha Franklin.

This was a great collection of the Old School and the New School, when hip-hop and R&B were reaching heights that have yet to be paralleled. Even the lesser known artists in this album held it down. This was an All-Star lineup that needed an All-Star producer; and that man was Kenneth Edmonds, better known as Babyface.

In the 90s world of R&B, producers didn't get much bigger than Babyface. If he penned a song for you, it was a guaranteed hit!! He had a hand in just about everything in album. The instruments, arrangement, production and wrote (or co-wrote) every song except for “My Funny Valentine”. In my opinion, this soundtrack was his best work, his masterpiece; nothing could even come close.

All the songs were great; from the lead off track, “Exhale (Shoop Shoop)” to “Count on me”, and everything else in between. The CD had a booklet with the lyrics, so you could “sing along” if you liked (I know I did). If there was anything that could be described as perfection, this had to be it. All the pieces fell in place; everything came together at the right time. There have been over 5.1 million copies sold to date, and songs such as “Exhale (Shoop Shoop)”, “Not gon’ cry”, and “Count on me” did just fine when released as singles. The album was nominated for and won a host of awards and was certified multi-platinum.

Following the album’s success, I was really looking forward to what some the younger artists might do with regard to their future projects. Other than Brandy - who had just broken through - and the older generation of singers, some the younger artists had hit their peak and were never really the same. Toni Braxton, TLC, SWV, Faith Evans etc, still had some hits but by the time the 90s came to an end their careers went with it.

Due to the current generation shift, we may never again witness such a combination of talent and creativity. For those that consider themselves connoisseurs of all things R&B, this is definitely an album to savour. There's some good soundtracks out there, but this has to be the best of them all.

Pants on the ground??

2011-04-12T14:55:00.000-07:00

I saw this during an outing at Heritage Lanes, a bowling alley in Northwest Oklahoma City. I couldn't help but take a picture. When General (Retired) Larry Pratt stepped onto the audition stage of American Idol, he created on those unforgettable "Idol" moments with his song "Pants on the ground".

At 62, he was well over the maximum audition age (28), but was able to get his message across; pull yo pants up. Some schools, counties and even certain establishments have passed measures against "saggin' pants".

Word to the young men out there, "Pull yo' pants up!!"

And the Oscar goes to.....

2011-02-24T10:56:00.000-08:00

With the Oscar Awards being presented this Sunday, and all the nominees announced, there is one person out there who is making a late push for his consideration.

Chilean player Bryan Carrasco ought to earn an honorable mention for his antics. With Chile trailing Ecuador 1-0, Carrasco grabbed his opponent's arm, using it to smack himself in the face; his sole intention of course was to get the guy sent off. Unluckily for him, the referee was not impressed by his act, and gave free kick against him instead. Ecuador went on to win the game.

Whatcha say about my mama?

Carrasco should have got tips from Italian player Marco Materazzi on how to get someone sent off. For those unfamiliar with the story, Materazzi "provoked" French star Zinedine Zidane into headbutting him during the 2006 World Cup Final, by saying some not so flattering things about Zidane's mother and sister. Zidane earned a red card and Italy went on to win the World Cup.

Maybe when his football career is over, he should consider switching to acting; he looks like he's got some talent. For your entertainment, check out the video below.

The real King of the Hill.

2011-02-22T08:54:00.000-08:00

Brady bunch ain't got nothing on this dude

Now I had thought that I had seen it all; but to quote Frank Sinatra, " you ain't seen nothing yet!!" You've seen the sitcoms The Brady Bunch and Step by Step which was kind of like a Brady bunch with a twist on it. You've also heard of King Solomon with his 700 wives and 300 concubines.

The kind of lineup that would the Bachelor blush.

However in this modern day and age, I've got to hand it to Mr. Ziona Chana from Baktwang village in Mizoram, India. This man has 39 wives, 94 children and 33 grand children. There's a reason why they would never cast him on The Bachelor; because he'd probably marry all the 25 contestants. I'm speechless, so I'll let you read his story and come up with your own conclusion.

Enjoy.

Why it REALLY helps to read your Bible.

2011-02-22T08:11:00.000-08:00

I'm sure I won't be the first person to write about this story, nor will I be the last one. I'm only writing because I just happened to see it not too long ago, so I might as well have a go at it.

The gentleman pictured above, decided to let the world know about his feelings on homosexuality by tattooing the Bible verse Leviticus 18:22 (which speaks against the act) on his arm. I'm sure there's more to the story as to how he came about that decision, but since I don't know what it is, I won't get into it. However, to quote the verse via the New International Version (I usually read the King James Version), it says:

Do not lie with a man as one lies with a woman; that is detestable.

However, I'm sure someone should have pointed to him (or maybe has by now) that he should have kept on reading through to Leviticus 19:28 which states: (American King James version)

You shall not make any cuttings in your flesh for the dead, nor print any marks on you: I am the LORD.

In summary, that verse forbids tattoos; I don't think that it can get clearer than that. When you're reading the Bible, you don't "pick and choose" what you'll obey and what you won't. I don't think I need to explain any further.

For the love of Lara!!

2011-02-15T22:31:00.000-08:00

My sympathies go out to CBS reporter Lara Logan, who suffered a brutal beating and sexual assault at the hands of a "dangerous element" within a mob in Tahrir Square. It is my understanding that this incident happened last Friday. I'm glad that she is back and recovering in the U.S.

This is, unfortunately, one of about 140 incidents of attacks on reporters since the protests in Cairo began. It is really sad because these people are only trying to do their jobs. They were only trying to shed light to the plight of the Egyptian people. What makes things worse is that journalists are usually an easy target, because they almost always have to be in the crowd when covering a story.

I really wish CBS wouldn't have allowed her to go back, especially after she and two CBS cameramen had been detained by the Egyptian military during their initial visit. You obviously don't hope for things like this to happen, but she's reported from the streets of Baghdad and came back alright. So maybe you'd expect a little more from the Egyptian crowd, whom among many of their grievances, was "freedom of the the press", or lack thereof.

It is really shameful and I hope that sooner or later, preferably sooner (REAL SOON!!), justice will be served on behalf of all these reporters who suffered in the line of duty.

GET WELL SOON, LARA LOGAN!!!

R.I.P Ahmed Mohammed Mahmoud (36)

The Ripple Effect: No misery in Misri.

2011-02-11T18:38:00.000-08:00

The sound of one man's cry gave voice to a revolution that started in Tunisia, toppling the reign of Abidine Ben Ali, and spread through into Egypt, culminating in the sudden end of Hosni Mubarak's 30 year reign.

Tahrir Square

The 21st century calls for not only a new style leadership, but a more modern style of thinking. Autocracy has no place in this new era; never has and never will.

The MOST important message is that you can not hold on to power when the masses are starving, jobless and homeless. You can do the right thing, give people their freedoms and inalienable rights.

Give them jobs, raise their standard of living, educate them for crying out loud. When you die, you die a hero.

Ben Ali & Mubarak a.k.a The Playa haters.

Or you could suppress the masses; and live long enough to become a villain. What's your pick? Door #1, or Door #2.

R.I.P Mohamed Bouazizi (1984-2011)

Give the people a voice, listen to them when they speak; and maybe they will listen when you speak.

Fail to study your history, and you will fail; period. When the people rise together as ONE, they become an unstoppable, immovable FORCE!! The will of the people can not be defeated, for it is mightier than any weapon!!

To Mohamed Bouazizi: even in death, your memory will live on. In the years to come, people may forget you (as some are bound to), but history will NEVER forget you.

Lee-ving so soon?

2011-02-11T15:25:00.000-08:00

Rep. Chris Lee (NY)

Happy trails to Representative Chris Lee, from New York's 26th congressional district. Lee, resigned from his post earlier this week when it was discovered that he had responded to a personal ad on Craigslist, in which he sent a shirtless photo of himself.

In his response, he claimed to be a 39 yr old divorced father of one and a Washington lobbyist. However, he still used his real name. The female recipient who searched his name and discovered his true identity; a 46 yr old married congressman and father of one. She turned over her correspondence with him to New York gossip blog, Gawker, who confirmed the facts, then let 'er rip.

I'm not the one to begrudge Mr. Lee a dual identity should he choose to seek one. He can do whatever he wants to in his spare time. He's accountable to his family and the people he represents. I'm no judge, so I'm passing on this. I also don't know what the etiquette is when responding to any dating ads for that matter, particularly on Craigslist. Come to think of it, is there anything good that comes out of Craigslist? Also, why not use a fake name or something? I'm just wondering. I mean, if you're going to do the "dual identity" thing, you go covert all the way.

A hunka, hunka burning love!!

To his credit, it looks like Chris Lee works out and takes good care of himself. He's not looking too bad for his age; in fact he's in a much better shape than kids half his age. That's just real talk. While I'm not condoning his actions, I think that there's a lot of people who could learn something from him. The big lesson here is that if you're going to be caught in a compromising situation, at least look good while you're at.

Hats off to you Mr. Lee, go on with your bad self!!!

Cometh the Super Bowl, cometh the commercials.

2011-02-08T11:22:00.000-08:00

As football fan, I'm always looking forward to the Super Bowl. I join some friends of mine who put together a cook out, y'know, all that good stuff. Then I sit back and enjoy the game. In between that, I'm looking forward to the commercials. Not all the commercials are great, but every now and then, there will be some good ones. I would vote "Volkswagen Commercial: The Force" as the best one this year, bar none. Just watch.

Tit for tattoo.

2011-01-18T23:23:00.000-08:00

Ain't no doubt who she's rooting for.

Every now and then, people tend to get creative with body art, getting all sorts of piercings and tattoos. Sports fans are no exception. Kat Steward, a lifelong Kansas Jayhawks basketball fan, found an interesting way to show love for her team. As you can see from the picture above, she got a mural style picture of Allen Field House - Jayhawk's home court - displayed across her back, from shoulder blade to shoulder blade. She got the tattoo in 2007 (15 hours of work) and had a standing appointment to add "2008 National Champions", just in case Kansas went on to win the tournament. They did win and it took another three hours for the extra addition.

For Pete's sake, put on a shirt, will ya?

Steward's story reminded me of a gentleman by the name of Felipe Alvarez, from Colombia. See, Felipe decided to show love for his team, Atletico Nacional, by having a full size replica jersey tattooed onto his torso. On his back, he added the number 2, in honor of Andres Escobar; a former Nacional and Colombia national team player, who was murdered a fortnight after Colombia was eliminated from the 1994 World Cup.

The way I see it, it might have probably been easier (and cheaper too) to buy a jersey or t-shirt; but who am I to judge. Oh well, to each their own, I guess.

Gotta love commercials.

2011-01-13T19:02:00.000-08:00

Lately, it's like a lot of these companies just keep coming out with commercials that kill, for real. Ally Bank has a couple of them. The first one is "studio session" and the other one is an "interview" commercial. I gotta hand it to the actors. They nailed this from the git.

Another commercial that gets me ALL the time is the "Office Taco Party" by AT&T. The "Clown commercial" from Walmart is probably the best from Walmart in a while (This one's for you Lori; I'm not sure that you've seen it yet). Gotta keep 'em coming.

Remembering Eli.

2010-12-20T00:56:00.000-08:00

As Christmas draws near, like everyone else, I'm really excited at just about everything. The good thing about being a grown up is that I get to buy my own toys; just to make up for the ones I didn't get as a kid.

In loving memory

This year, I'll take time to remember a dear friend of mine. I've been friends with the Davis family for as long as I can remember, and so when Eli was born, I accepted him just as his family had accepted me.

His start was not easy by any means; he had a heart condition and was not even supposed to make it. By the grace of God, he made it and I finally got to meet him when his family brought him to church.

I remember holding him in my arms; it seems like it was only yesterday (why don't I ever have a camera for moments like these?). Just getting to bond with him, and looking forward to watching him grow. That was really neat.

So about 4 years ago on Christmas Eve, all of us who knew him were saddened to learn of his passing the day before. Some things just don't ever seem right. In my mind, I'm wondering, "why so soon?" I flashed back to the when I was holding him in my arms, and I wasn't even thinking that it would be the only time I'd ever see him.

When I think of him, I'll remember how at such a young age, he was fighting for his life; but he was not alone in his fight. His time here was short, but he left us with memories to last a lifetime. He is in a much better place now, so we need not worry.

This is a trying time for the Davis family, but I would want them to know that they are not alone. Eli Ryan Davis lives!!

Santa Claus at the airport.

2010-12-19T22:16:00.000-08:00

With all these complaints about the TSA patdowns at airports, a local businessman (here in OKC) decided to have a TSA style themed decoration this christmas. Basically, it's what good ol' Saint Nick would endure should he need to get on a plane. If a picture is worth a thousand words, I wonder how much these would cost. Enjoy.

I wonder how they can tell.

Now we'll know why Rudolph's nose is always red.

No exceptions!!

How much for the extra luggage?

Bear with me Santa, but it's standard procedure.

Anything up your sleeves?