Ask Willie Stylez - The Blog!

WHAT STYLEZ THINKS ABOUT => The FALL 2012 SMARTPHONE LINEUP from VZW! #Android #HTC #Motorola #iOS

2012-04-27T01:11:00.001-04:00

So What Does STYLEZ Think?

Recently The Boy Genius himself, Jonathan Geller at BGR (Boy Genius Report), reports that Verizon's new fall 2012 lineup is proposed to include such flagship-worthy, smartphone eye candy as:

Samsung Galaxy S3 - Exynos Quad-core processor, 4.7" HD display
Motorola RAZR HD - 4.3-4.7" HD display and Quad-Core processor
HTC's yet to be named phone-tablet - 1080P HD 5" display, Quad-Core KRAIT processor and HTC Scribe Pen
Apple iPhone 5 - redesigned body, 1080P HD 4" display and an Quad-Core A6 processor made by, get this, Samsung

First off, I'm tired of hearing about these "redesigned" Apple iPhones that always only come with a few updates and the world goes crazy! Its annoying at best. At this point in the phone game its all about the bigger and more dense, HD screens so until a REAL iPhone comes out with a screen bigger than my thumb, I don't want to hear it. At this point, Apple at least did prove with iPad 3 that its time ALL devices break the Full HD barrier!

I'm excited about the prospects of that 5" HTC model which should compete nicely with either the current or next generation Samsung Galaxy Note phone-tablet. And for anyone thinking QuadCore is unnecessary in a phone, must have never heard of (Motorola) WebTop or Ubuntu for Android. These next-gen smartphones will need laptop and desktop quality specs with the inclusion of these full desktop OS's built into their underlying ROM or app space. That's the future of mobile phones!

That is what Stylez thinks! So what will get you excited about the next-gen smarthphones? More cores, bigger screens, better Apps, etc? Let me know in the comments!

Posted via email from Ask Willie Stylez - The Posts

WHAT STYLEZ THINKS ABOUT => Where will Love take you!?

2012-03-21T04:34:00.001-04:00

One of my blog sisters, Ms Nikks, recently (well about an hour ago, as I write this), wrote a post where she asked, in so many words:

Do you think you can love two people at the same time?

It was based on a quote she read:

If you love two people at the same time, choose the second. Because if you really loved the first one, you wouldn't have fallen for the second."

So What Does STYLEZ Think?

That's a hard one! I have to say, he is partially right. I would have to say, you didn't love the 1st AS MUCH AS YOU THOUGHT, or you wouldn't have loved the 2nd. BUT, as Nikks brought out, I think it IS possible to love 2 people! You have to think about, what love is, and what makes people love one another. Love isn't a set, static, clearly defined thing! It is a dynamic emotion, shaped by life, by experience, by choices made and regrets of the heart. Love cannot be directed, sometimes it just attaches! And if you find that you are in love with 2, then you have to find what "Love Is" to you. Is it comfort, is it stabilty, is it excitement, etc. It is not easy, and there may be heartbreak at some point. But if you truly know what love is to your heart, it makes it easier to decide. Love is not easy. And you can't control where it may lead you. But YOU have to make that final decision of where you end up!

That is what Stylez thinks! What do you think?

Posted via email from Ask Willie Stylez - The Posts

WHAT STYLEZ THINKS ABOUT => Posterous Acquired By @Twitter ... WORSE News EVER!

2012-03-19T22:51:00.001-04:00

So, I was minding my own business, checking my email. Then I came across this HORRID news:

From: Posterous Spaces [mailto:no-reply@posterous.com]
Sent: Monday, March 19, 2012 6:03 PM
To: @WillieStylez
Subject: Posterous has been acquired by Twitter
Hi Willie,
I’m thrilled to announce that Posterous has been acquired by Twitter! The opportunities in front of Twitter are exciting, and we couldn’t be happier to bring our technology and expertise to hundreds of millions of users around the globe. Plus, the people at Twitter are genuinely nice folks who share our vision for making sharing simpler.
Posterous Spaces will remain up and running without disruption. We’ll give users ample notice if we make any changes to the service. For users who would like to back up their content or move to another service, we’ll share clear instructions for doing so in the coming weeks.
You can find more information answers to other questions you may have here.
Thanks again and I look forward to building great things for you at Twitter.
- Sachin

So What Does STYLEZ Think?

I know most of you don't realize this, but Twitter as a company, is EVIL! No, they aren't Illuminati (I guess), and no they don't trip old folks, or eat babies... but love to RUIN good technology! I mean, don't get me wrong, I love Twitter, the social networking site. I live for it. But Twitter the company, has a very bad habit of buying GREAT companies (Tweetdeck, BagCheck, AdGrok, etc.) and then ruining them! Or cannabilizing the talent!

It's OK for some companies I'm sure, especially when they are built on the premise of looking for the next big acquisition. But it just sucks for us regular folks looking for great software, services and apps. But then a big bully like Twitter comes along and decides the technology no longer needs to survive! I wouldn't care if they weren't so abrupt about flexing their preferences and likes and attitudes upon us (a la Apple Inc & Steve Jobs).

Case in point... TweetDeck. It was a great web service and application. Most people knew it as one of the best, if not THE BEST social network client (able to handle Twitter/Facebook/etc). But then Twitter came along, they not only cannabilized the talent, but then they forced the TweetDeck to remove signature and loved features; including long tweets and RT of any tweet. I mean the latter was a (very slight) security concern, since before Twitter got involved, we could RT anyone's tweets, including people who had locked their accounts. But to remove long tweets because you don't think people should be allowed to go outside of your small, limited box, of 140 characters is just assinine! I mean, where they do that at!? ... Oh yea... @ TWITTER! SMDH!

Anyway, I just hope Posterous workers/developers can influence some change at Twitter. But if things go the way it appears to be, we may have to say good bye to Posterous far too soon. FML!

That is what Stylez thinks! What do you think? Do you have any other beef with Twitter? Leave it in the comments!

Posted via email from Ask Willie Stylez - The Posts

Willie Stylez Weight Loss => What makes me lose weight!?

2012-03-04T14:01:00.001-05:00

I have been asked by many people... What is Willie Stylez doing to lose weight!?

What Does Stylez Think?

Well, to help with the weight loss, I'm mainly sticking to a few healthy staples. I believe these 5 things are the core of my weight loss success and may work for others as well. So here is the list.

Eat 4 to 5 times per day (2 meals, 3 healthy snacks)
- the biggest mistake overweight people make is thinking if they only eat once or twice a day they will lose weight. On the contrary, that is what makes you gain weight! If you starve your body, it will absorb everything you put in your mouth, literally!
- but eating 4 to 6 times per day, of course smaller portions, will make your body get into a metabolizing mode, where it will expel more waste in anticipation of more food to come. You have to train your body to expect more food every few hours for it to burn off the calories versus absorbing the calories as fat.
Excluding sugar, bread, high carb foods
- Personally, and for some people, carbs and sugar are my biggest downfall for weight
- excluding carbs and sugar from my diet immediately gives my body the ability to burn calories and lose weight
- this doesn't work for everyone but it's definitely worth the try
Drinking 8-12 cups (8oz each) of water per day. Also eliminating all other soft drinks (except occasional unsweetened or sugar free sweetner teas)
- this is another instance, like the eating food often, where your body retains when it thinks you are going to starve it. If you don't drink water enough, your body is going to retain the liquids you do take in. And most of those would be juice and pop, and that is all filled with sugar and high calories! Thus those calories will turn to fat!
- If you drink enough water, your body will be able to expel more water in anticipation of more water to come
- Give it a try, start drinking 8 to 12 cups and see how much weight you will lose in 7 to 10 days! You'd be amazed!
Workout 2 to 3 times per week, especially on cheat days
- Of course, when you are trying to lose weight, you can't avoid working out! You really should workout or get involved in a physical activity no matter what to live a healthy lifestyle. But when you are looking to drop the pounds, nothing better than good old fashion workout!
- I currently do a lot of aerobics (high-impact power walking) and light weight training
- Remember, you don't need a gym membership or a lot of fancy equipment. If you have a DVD player or Comcast On-Demand, there are plenty of workout videos out there to get you started!
- And again, no matter what your health level, physical activity is GREAT for everyone's health. Get out and play a sport, run, play with the kids, whatever... JUST MOVE!
Limit cheat days to 1 per week. Gives me a chance to enjoy foods I like but normally restricted from
- And finally, don't be afraid to have a day where you can just relax. No calorie counting, no menu watching, etc. Just enjoy foods you normally would have to restrict yourself from.
- Now, don't go crazy, a meal or two is ok. But try to stick to the diet the rest of the day! ;-)
- And it's BEST to workout on planned, and especially unplanned, cheat days. It may make the difference between feeling bad for breaking the diet, and feeling really bad for having gained a pound or two!

With these 5 core staples of weight-loss, you too may be able to see your results! I hope it helps someone else. And, of course, adjust for what's best for your lifestyle and weight-loss goal. And PLEASE KEEP IN MIND... not all programs work for EVERYONE! There is NO MAGIC PILL, or single regiment that works for everyone! Everyone's body is different and everyone has to find what works best for their own body!

That is what Stylez thinks. Any further questions? Leave them in the comments!

Posted via email from Ask Willie Stylez - The Posts

Willie Stylez Weight Loss => 40 Down, 45 To Go! #LetsGetIt

2012-03-03T04:16:00.001-05:00

So What Does Stylez Think?

Yesterday, I stepped on the scale... I had been doing fairly well with the diet, so I wasn't worried... and there it was...

285

I probably haven't been sub-290lbs since 2008-09 when I first went to the Bahamas! I have been doing pretty well on this second attempt in 2 years to get back down to my goal weight of 240lbs! I have lost 40lbs since December 2011 and am determined to keep it off. I am not as aggressive as I was 8 years ago when I was down to goal. Or even 4 years ago when I hit 278 and rebounded! But I think the method I am using now will promote a healthier and less stressful eating/exercise lifestyle that I can maintain into old age! That's the key right!? Well, 45lbs to go! I'm ready... I'm willing... LETS GET IT!

That is what Stylez thinks! What is your health goal? Feel free to comment!

Posted via email from Ask Willie Stylez - The Posts

What Stylez Thinks About => Android Updates (aka The Stop Your Whining Post!)

2011-12-29T15:09:00.001-05:00

So What Does STYLEZ Think?

I have been seeing SO many Google Android related articles about...

Am I getting Android 4.0 (Ice Cream Sandwich)
Why am I not getting another update
What's taking so long to get my update

Well! I'm tired of it! Most of these people paid all of $12 bucks for their phone and they are demanding updates! OK, yes I'm exaggerating a bit, but $100 retail is NOTHING for a phone! Especially since MOST people never pay retail! They usually get like $25-$50 off, if not more!

So seriously, when will the whining end! I'm tired of hearing the complaints about updates! If you want the new Android software SO BAD, then go to XDA Developers, learn how to unlock and customize your phone, then get the new updates! That's what I've done! Stop waiting on, and whining about, carriers and manufacturers! Google put the code out there for use and good XDA Developers are making use of it for most of the better phones! So there's no excuse for people to get off their lazy behinds and go get it!

If your device doesn't support a new update (or doesn't have XDA Dev support), then you probably shouldn't have gotten that weak piece of $50 crap that you bought 2yrs ago! Every Android (and some WinMo) phone that I have ever bought has cost AT THE VERY LEAST $200 AFTER rebates and each one of them have been upgradeable! I have a 2.5YO HTC HD2 that has Android v2.3.7 on it now (the most up to date phone OS available, outside of ICS)! If you actually pay something for a phone, then yes, I think you deserve updates (sorry Sony owners). But whining and crying about your FREE phone not getting updates... you get NO sympathy from me!

And for everyone that says... but I'm not a techy, I just want my phone to work and be updated when Google puts out new software... Then you know what, you've all been warned before! And here it is again...

BUY A GOOGLE NEXUS PHONE!

Every Nexus phone that has been released has been supported by Google with updates! NO EXCUSES! You all love your updates, so stop circumventing the process and buying OTHER phones. YES, Android is about choice, that's the beauty... but if you made the choice to go outside the Nexus line, then live with that choice and make it work for you! Go get your updates when you want them! Or stop your whining and wait for them to be released (or buy a new phone)!

That is what Stylez thinks! What do you think? Please share in the comments!

Posted via email from Ask Willie Stylez - The Posts

WHAT STYLEZ THINKS ABOUT => Remote Desktop control apps on Android

2011-12-17T13:40:00.001-05:00

I just received a request for recommendation of a good RDP or Remote Desktop control app on Android phones & tablets.

So What Does STYLEZ Think?

My first recommendation is 2X Client RDP/Remote Desktop!

It works on Android 1.6-4.0. I use it on my 4.3" touchscreen and it works AWESOME! It has great reviews on tablets too. It's free and uses true RDP (only problem there is only Pro or Ultimate versions of XP & Vista allow RDP, I think all versions of 7 allow it). And it works even better than Wyse PocketCloud (which is $25). And I see they just introduced an AMAZING new features... Published Apps! If you don't know what that is, think VMware ThinApp meets Android! You can run apps from a machine in your network as if they were natively running on your phone or tablet!

My second choice would be TeamViewer for Remote Control.

This app is also FREE! It runs on Android 1.6 and up (not sure if it has Android 4.0 support yet, but if not, I'm sure it's coming). It doesn't use true RDP, it uses a Host/Viewer (or Host only) service app on the desktop (which is great for people running Home versions of XP & Vista). It's an AMAZING app that works internally and externally when you're on the road, with NO router changes. I think you have to change a setting in the server portion of the software combo to allow internal network connections. But otherwise it works GREAT! I use it on friends and family PCs so that I can assist them remotely!

Posted via email from Ask Willie Stylez - The Posts

WHAT STYLEZ THINKS ABOUT => Business Use of Social Media

2011-12-04T19:20:00.001-05:00

I was on a professional social networking site again and a question was asked:

Where does a business cross the line from smart business development via social media to "over-social" behavior that scares prospects away?

So What Does STYLEZ Think?

I don't mind companies having a Facebook, Twitter, Youtube or other types of pages. However, it just bothers me when they lose sight of WHY they should have those kinds of pages. I don't want to visit your empty YouTube page, it should have your commercials or product sample vids or something! I don't want to follow you on Twitter just for you to pump the same advertisments down my throat that everyone spouts, give me useful info, announcments, tech/customer support, something of value. And I definitely don't want to "like" a Facebook page just for a banner ad or a few pictures of your magazine ads; there should be a fully interactive, media experience there to engage and enlighten the consumer! Without the right elements, social media can be incomplete or just plain annoying!

That is what Stylez thinks! What do you think? What companies do you think are breaking the rules and best practices of social media?

Posted via email from Ask Willie Stylez - The Posts

WHAT STYLEZ THINKS ABOUT => Being A Mentor

2011-12-02T08:49:00.001-05:00

Recently I was on a professional networking site and someone posed the question:

How many of us really have TIME to be a good Mentor?

This was a poll and at the time, 46% said they had the time, 15% said they didn't, 31% said only if the mentee was seeking relevant professional help and 8% were undecided!!! That's 23% of people who either wouldn't give their time or didn't know if they would have time to mentor someone! Keep in mind, these are answers given by PROFESSIONALS! People with good jobs, working for great corporations! That's a sad state of affairs I think!

So What Does STYLEZ Think?

I agree with the 46%, and I think that it doesn't take A LOT of time, because you don't have to dedicate an entire workday to being a mentor. But also I must say, it is a two-way street! There must be commitment from both parties, the mentor and the mentee, in order to add value! When I was younger, I had a mentor who spent about an hour a day (two hours on one day each week) helping me with life lessons and providing support for whatever activities I was invovled in. That was beneficial to me for the lessons I learned and the attributes I gained such as supporting others, caring and professionalism. It was beneficial for my mentor's time because I actually listened and applied the lessons and advice he gave me! The thing is, you don't always have to seek out a person to mentor and go to a special place, like my mentor did. Sometimes, being a mentor is just about helping and guiding the people around you that need your expertise and experience. It's about providing sound advice when asked and taking a few minutes out your day to lend a hand to person who needs your help! I try to do that with anyone I come across, because I wouldn't be where I am if someone had not done that for me! Get involved, lend a hand, give back, be sounding board, whatever it takes, because believe me, if you don't provide the positive; there's someone MORE THAN WILLING to give that person the negative! And that would be a sad state of affairs, indeed!

That is what Stylez thinks! What do you think!? Let me know!

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WHAT WILLIE STYLEZ THINKS ABOUT => "What Comes First?" via Ms. Nikks

2011-10-21T20:03:00.001-04:00

Do you think your spouse should come before your children or your children should come before your spouse? Do you think they can share the spot and everyone can come out on top?

via nikksd.wordpress.com

The above question was posed, along with the list a Christian (or church) marriage counselor gave as a list of people who hold importance in your life:
1. God
2. Spouse
3. Kids
4. Everything else...

Well, you know Willie Stylez had to answer the question!

Another blogger, TheDLife, stated a GREAT case for why they would put GOD and then THEMSELVES first! I loved TheDLife's response very much, so I would have to say my list goes as follows:

1. GOD
2. ME
3. Wife
4. Kids
5. Ext Family/Close Friends
6. Everything Else

I commented that why I chose #2 to be me is:

"The fact that we forget ourselves in the equation is POWERFUL! I have told people, time and again, that they must be happy and fulfilled by themselves before they can make someone else happy in a relationship with them!" I have to be right with myself, and have improved (and continue to improve) myself before I can be of any worth to my wife, kids, etc.

I put my wife above my kids only because, in front of GOD, I declared an everlasting love and commitment to my wife! I also declared, by default and following HIS guidance, that I would:

"Train up a child in the way he should GO; even when he is old he will not depart from it."

And then

"a man leaves his father and mother and is united to his wife, and they become one flesh"

So because I am ONE FLESH with my wife, and I feel that my children will learn from my teaching and go out and become one flesh with their own spouses, then I have done my job for them! I am not saying I will stop loving and assisting them, but I have to let them go and let them lead their own lives!

We get so caught up in that VERY SHORT 18-years we have a child with us, that we forget the LIFETIME we're supposed to spend with our spouse. It's true, marriage is not guaranteed (especially in these horrible times) BUT if you truly work at making the marriage and family successful, then it can be! It's sad that many marriages end because of that "stranger-danger" (the problem of spouses becoming "strangers" because they spend so much time taking care of kids/career/etc and forget to take care & continue to know their spouse)! But it's avoidable if you put the work into sharing the family workload, as well as share in the work of being ONE FLESH!

My wife and I make it a point to talk about our day, our lives, our fears/goals/dreams, we go out on dates (together, of course, LOL) and take a (no kids) vacation each year, among other things. That way we can connect and re-connect on a regular basis. All the while, as we raise our family!

That's what Stylez thinks! What do you think?

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WHAT STYLEZ THINKS ABOUT => Finding Solutions! #AdaptOrDie

2011-10-02T01:39:00.001-04:00

So What Does Stylez Think?

[[posterous-content:pid___0]]

I was on Facebook this EARLY morning and ran into a quote on a friend's status:

"If you can't solve it, it's not a problem--it's reality." -B. Colorose

Now, I may not fully understand what this means. And I surely don't know who "B. Colorose" is in order to put the quote into perspective. But at first (and second) read, I knew I had a problem with this quote.

In my estimation, it almost sounds like it's saying "if YOU can't figure it out, just give up and settle!!!" But that is not always true in life. Sometimes people need to just look for external resources, the help/advice/inspiration of other people, and to keep looking for solutions or ways to adapt! Adapting is not giving up, it is the solution of working with what you have available! And that is one thing people need to realize, you may not be successful in your current situation; but if you adapt then use your current situation as a catapult, you can still excel and be successful!

I have never been one to settle for what was given to me, unless I was satisfied. Satisfaction in life, love, family, career, etc, should be of the utmost importance. But just accepting something as "it's reality" or "it is what it is", is no way to live life!

That is what Stylez thinks! What do you think?

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WILLIE STYLEZ EMAIL BAG => Some Things To Think About #LifeLessons

2011-09-26T16:48:00.001-04:00

I think the following email I received would have been a fitting piece in my series on AGE that I just finished. Take a look at this wonderful post that I received from my good friend, Clarence Clavon! It's definitely written by someone who has EMBRACED THEIR AGE and found Wisdom (and some great experiences) in their LIFETIME!

Too many people put off something that would bring them joy just because they have not planned for it, don't have it on their schedule, didn't know it was coming or are too rigid to depart from their routine.

I was thinking one day about all of those people on the Titanic who passed up dessert at dinner that fateful night in an effort to cut back. From then on, I've tried to be a little more flexible. How many women out there will eat at home because their husband didn't suggest going out to dinner until "after" something had been thawed? Does the word 'refrigeration' mean anything to you? Cook it tomorrow! How often have your kids dropped in "to talk" and they sat "in silence" while you watched 'Jeopardy' on television or a football game? I cannot count the times I called a girlfriend and said , 'How about going to lunch in a half hour?' She would choke up and stammer, 'I can't". I have clothes in the washer. My hair is dirty. I wish I had known yesterday, I had a late breakfast, It looks like rain' And my personal favorite: 'I'm too tired.' My friend died a few years ago. We never did have lunch together. She never found the "time".

Because Americans cram so much into their lives, we tend to even "schedule" our headaches.. We live on an unrealistic diet of promises we make to ourselves to do "when all the conditions are perfect"? We promise ourselves to go back and visit the grandparents when we get Chris toilet-trained. We'll entertain our friends when we replace the living-room carpet. We'll go on a weekend get away or a second honeymoon when we get the kids out of college.

Life has a way of accelerating as we get older. The days get shorter, and the list of promises to ourselves gets longer. One morning, we awaken, and all we have to show for our lives is a litany of 'I'm going to,' 'I plan on,' and 'Someday, when things are settled down a bit. and "where are all my family and friends"?'

When anyone calls my 'seize the moment' friend, she is open to adventure and available for trips. She keeps an open mind on new ideas. Her enthusiasm for life is contagious. You talk with her for five minutes, and you're ready to trade your bad feet for a pair of Rollerblades and skip an elevator for some stairs.. Her number one priority is to Keep God the center of her life.

My lips had not touched ice cream in 10 years. I love ice cream. It's just that I might as well apply it directly to my stomach with a spatula and eliminate the digestive process. The other day, I stopped the car and bought a triple-decker. If my car had hit an iceberg on the way home, I would have died happy.

Now...go on and have a nice day. Do something you WANT to...not something on your SHOULD DO list. If you were going to die soon and had only one phone call you could make, who would you call and what would you say? So, why are you waiting?

Have you ever watched kids playing ball or listened to the rain lapping on the ground? Ever followed a butterfly's erratic flight or gazed at the sun into the fading night? Do you run through each day on the fly? When you ask 'How are you?' Do you really hear the reply?

When the day is done, do you lie in your bed with the next hundred chores running through your head? How often have you told your child or your mate, 'We'll do it tomorrow.' And in your haste, not see their face full of sorrow? Ever lost touch with yourself and life? Always too busy and let a good friendship die? Too busy to Just call to say 'Hi'?

When you worry and hurry through your day, it is like an unopened gift from God. Thrown away.... Life is not a race. Learn to take it slower. Hear the music, smell the roses, listen to the rain drops learn to enjoy each minute, hour, day, and year before it is too late, before your song is over.

“Life may not be the party we hoped for... but while we are here, we might as well enjoy the dance!”

"Sometimes we are so busy adding up our troubles that we don't have time to count our blessings.
Proverbs 4:6. "Forsake not Wisdom, and she will keep, defend, and protect you. Love her and she will guard you.

Proverbs 4:7, 8, 9, &10. The beginning of Wisdom is: get Wisdom (skillful & Godly Wisdom). And with all you have gotten, get understanding. Prize Wisdom highly and exalt her, and she will exalt and promote you, she will bring you to honor when you embrace her. She will give to your head a wreath or gratefulness, a crown of beauty and glory will she deliver to you. Hear, O my son, and receive my sayings, and the years of your life shall be many.

Posted via email from Ask Willie Stylez - The Posts

I EMBRACE MY AGE (The Complete Series)

2011-09-25T00:00:00.001-04:00

A series on AGE by Willie Stylez
(Inspired by Mr. Tramuel at http://mrtramuel.wordpress.com)

Definition of AGE (according to Merriam-Webster)

1. the time of life at which some particular qualification, power, or capacity arises or rests (the voting age is 18); specifically : majority
2. one of the stages of life
3. the length of an existence extending from the beginning to any given time (a boy 10 years of age)
4. lifetime
5. an advanced stage of life

Age is such a relative term! I am AT AN AGE where I feel wise, humble, tolerant and successful. But MY AGE is an ever increasing number; technically I get older minute-by-minute, day-by-day! Unfortunately, with each passing second, I don’t seem to noticeably grow any wiser, my humbleness doesn’t get any more apparent, I don’t display any additional tolerance, and I don’t find any additional successes in those short moments. All of those attributes, and GIFTS OF AGE (as I shall call them), take time! Luckily, it doesn’t take a LIFETIME! But it does take an ADVANCED STAGE OF LIFE to achieve, or continue to gain those gifts of age! As some get older, they shun their age. They don’t look to the future; they look back on the past. I feel that I had a great life in the past. I enjoyed my early youth (hey, I think I am still in my youth)! But in order to truly gain and appreciate the gifts of age, you have to embrace it. And with that, I EMBRACE MY AGE.
Growing up, my dad always said he had a special power… he called it “mother wit”. Mother wit is technically another name for common sense. It is something most people feel that we are either born with or attain at an early age. Now wisdom is an attribute that we’ve come to know is gained from increasing knowledge and experience. As time has pressed on, I think I have shown an innate ability to exercise mother wit, but I think through all the trials, all the good times, all the bad, is how I gained my wisdom! It has taken years to experience the loves, the hates, the awkward moments, the adventures in life! And with that I embrace my age.
I didn’t grow up rich, or in a nice neighborhood. I think I had my fair share, if not more than my fair share, of struggle. Early on, you could have said I was humble, but I didn’t even know what that meant. I just dealt with what life gave me. Until I got to that age, where I knew more, wanted more and did more to try to get better things. I worked hard and made a way out. But as I got older and realized that I may have had a hard life by my standards & definition, but there are others who suffer. As I traveled, as I went to school and as I interacted with more people in different situations and cultures, I gained a humbleness that just being poor didn’t provide. I gained the insight to a bigger picture, to understand the world revolves around no man. We are here to help and advance one another. To help our fellow human being, pull themselves up from the bootstraps and move mountains! That is the humbleness I gained with experiences I had throughout my life. And with that I embrace my age.
Growing up in a poor, black neighborhood, on the west side of Detroit, you get exposed to “a culture”. Unfortunately, it is a self-centered culture. You don’t learn anything, or feel that there is anything, outside of that culture. But as part of my journey, through my travels, through my education and through my thirst for knowledge, I learned that we live in a world rich with culture and diversity. I learned that other cultures, religions, sexes, ways-of-life and people in general have a right to be respected. I have gained a tolerance for religions and cultures no matter how different from my own they are. They are still able to provide knowledge and tradition that I surely can’t gain by shunning and shutting them out. In all my years, I have learned so much from so many people of this world, that it has made me a much stronger and wiser individual. But it took that time, and that culmination of energies to get to that point. The older I’ve gotten, the more I’ve been able to appreciate and use that knowledge and those experiences. And with that I embrace my age.
Everyone wants to be happy. Everyone wants to be rich, or at least financially stable. Everyone wants to have good friends and maybe even a great family. Some people even want to have a dream career! Whatever the case may be for our wants, needs and dreams, all these things can be attributed to our view of success. I don’t feel that just one of those desires can make a person successful. I think that achieving your goals and gaining some (or all) of your desires is what brings success to mind. Therefore, in order to achieve such successes, a person has to collect all the necessary attributes, experiences, wisdom, tolerance and maybe even a sprinkle of humbleness!
With age, a person grows their attitudes and their habits, and hopefully all those align in such a way that they become a person desirable to others. Desirable in work, love, family and friendship. With age, a person learns how to interact with others. With age, a person learns to achieve goals and get things done. With age, a person has experiences that shape who they are and what they will become. It is not an overnight process, it takes years. And with that time, a person is able to get through this life and make the decisions necessary to be successful.
To gain the friendships they can cherish for years to come. To achieve a level in their career, that can make it fulfilling. To get to that point in life where you are happy with yourself, and become a treasure to others! That is the time in life where experience and life lessons will seem to come together! When you can get to that age, and say “Look, I made it, I’ve come this far and I am better off (and successful) for having done it”, it’s at that moment, when YOU can embrace your age!
Thank you for going on this journey with me, as I explored AGE and some of the important aspects of it. Embrace your age, embrace your trials, embrace your experiences, embrace this thing we call life!

Posted via email from Ask Willie Stylez - The Posts

I EMBRACE MY AGE - SUCCESS (Part 5 of 5)

2011-09-24T05:12:00.001-04:00

Part 5 of 5 in a series on AGE by Willie Stylez
(Inspired by Mr. Tramuel at http://mrtramuel.wordpress.com)

Everyone wants to be happy. Everyone wants to be rich, or at least financially stable. Everyone wants to have good friends and maybe even a great family. Some people even want to have a dream career! Whatever the case may be for our wants, needs and dreams, all these things can be attributed to our view of success. I don’t feel that just one of those desires can make a person successful. I think that achieving your goals and gaining some (or all) of your desires is what brings success to mind. Therefore, in order to achieve such successes, a person has to collect all the necessary attributes, experiences, wisdom, tolerance and maybe even a sprinkle of humbleness!

With age, a person grows their attitudes and their habits, and hopefully all those align in such a way that they become a person desirable to others. Desirable in work, love, family and friendship. With age, a person learns how to interact with others. With age, a person learns to achieve goals and get things done. With age, a person has experiences that shape who they are and what they will become. It is not an overnight process, it takes years. And with that time, a person is able to get through this life and make the decisions necessary to be successful.

To gain the friendships they can cherish for years to come. To achieve a level in their career, that can make it fulfilling. To get to that point in life where you are happy with yourself, and become a treasure to others! That is the time in life where experience and life lessons will seem to come together! When you can get to that age, and say “Look, I made it, I’ve come this far and I am better off (and successful) for having done it”, it’s at that moment, when YOU can embrace your age!

Thank you for going on this journey with me, as I explored AGE and some of the important aspects of it. Embrace your age, embrace your trials, embrace your experiences, embrace this thing we call life!

To read my series in it's entirety, check out my next post. FIN!

Posted via email from Ask Willie Stylez - The Posts

I EMBRACE MY AGE - TOLERANCE (Part 4 of 5)

2011-09-22T04:37:00.001-04:00

Part 4 of 5 in a series on AGE by Willie Stylez
(Inspired by Mr. Tramuel at http://mrtramuel.wordpress.com)

Growing up in a poor, black neighborhood, on the west side of Detroit, you get exposed to “a culture”. Unfortunately, it is a self-centered culture. You don’t learn anything, or feel that there is anything, outside of that culture. But as part of my journey, through my travels, through my education and through my thirst for knowledge, I learned that we live in a world rich with culture and diversity. I learned that other cultures, religions, sexes, ways-of-life and people in general have a right to be respected. I have gained a tolerance for religions and cultures no matter how different from my own they are. They are still able to provide knowledge and tradition that I surely can’t gain by shunning and shutting them out. In all my years, I have learned so much from so many people of this world, that it has made me a much stronger and wiser individual. But it took that time, and that culmination of energies to get to that point. The older I’ve gotten, the more I’ve been able to appreciate and use that knowledge and those experiences. And with that I embrace my age.

To be continued...

See Part 1 here at http://mrtramuel.wordpress.com

Posted via email from Ask Willie Stylez - The Posts

I EMBRACE MY AGE - HUMBLE (Part 3 of 5)

2011-09-20T08:36:00.001-04:00

Part 3 of 5 in a series on AGE by Willie Stylez

(Inspired by Mr. Tramuel at http://mrtramuel.wordpress.com)

I didn’t grow up rich, or in a nice neighborhood. I think I had my fair share, if not more than my fair share, of struggle. Early on, you could have said I was humble, but I didn’t even know what that meant. I just dealt with what life gave me. Until I got to that age, where I knew more, wanted more and did more to try to get better things. I worked hard and made a way out. But as I got older and realized that I may have had a hard life by my standards & definition, but there are others who suffer. As I traveled, as I went to school and as I interacted with more people in different situations and cultures, I gained a humbleness that just being poor didn’t provide. I gained the insight to a bigger picture, to understand the world revolves around no man. We are here to help and advance one another. To help our fellow human being, pull themselves up from the bootstraps and move mountains! That is the humbleness I gained with experiences I had throughout my life. And with that I embrace my age.

To be continued...

See Part 1 here at http://mrtramuel.wordpress.com

Posted via email from Ask Willie Stylez - The Posts

2011-09-18T22:33:00.001-04:00

Roku

Roku 2 XS Streaming Player

Stop dreaming of instant television, start streaming with the Roku 2 XS Player. #Calyp

I EMBRACE MY AGE - WISE (Part 2 of 5)

2011-09-18T03:51:00.001-04:00

Part 2 of 5 in a series on AGE by Willie Stylez
(Inspired by Mr. Tramuel at http://mrtramuel.wordpress.com)

Growing up, my dad always said he had a special power… he called it “mother wit”. Mother wit is technically another name for common sense. It is something most people feel that we are either born with or attain at an early age. Now wisdom is an attribute that we’ve come to know is gained from increasing knowledge and experience. As time has pressed on, I think I have shown an innate ability to exercise mother wit, but I think through all the trials, all the good times, all the bad, is how I gained my wisdom! It has taken years to experience the loves, the hates, the awkward moments, the adventures in life! And with that I embrace my age.

To be continued...

See Part 1 here at http://mrtramuel.wordpress.com

Posted via email from Ask Willie Stylez - The Posts

WHAT STYLEZ THINKS ABOUT => Bad Relationships! Who's to blame?

2011-09-11T17:25:00.001-04:00

So What Does STYLEZ Think?

I was reading through some statuses on Facebook and came across a friend who stated:

I dont think men realize how much influence they have on the wellbeing of a woman. Is it a sense of immaturity or a case of ignorance? I hate seeing other women hurt when they don't have to be! No wonder why so many black women are excelling professionally and dating out of their race!

- my FB Friend

Of course, I had a comment and felt that something had to be said!

I'm just going to say, women need to stop messing with BOYS trying to play the role of a grown MAN! Age ain't nothing but a number, if you're actions can't attest to your maturity! That is the main problem with these “little boys lost”! I have to admit, there are a lot of "brothers" (black, white, Puerto Rican, Asian, and other) that are screwing up, but there are plenty that show up! It's like anything else in life; you are only going to hear the complaints. You rarely hear the accolades! Dating out your race is fine if love is what placed you there, but writing a race off because of the actions of a few is no way to live your life!

One thing PEOPLE need to learn to do is COMMUNICATE before they CONSUMMATE! Without understanding one another and REALLY getting to know your mate, before placing the trust of your heart & soul in that person, you set yourself up for failure! It's true some people are patient and do the right thing, and still get hurt; but 75 - 85% of the time, it’s that lack of patience and rushing things along that causes good people to have bad relationships! It is that lack of patience that buries us too deep, too fast! Love is a two way street. Be patient, let common sense guide you and you will be protected from MOST heartache! If a "boy" can't respect that, then you know you haven't found a "man" worthy of your heart!

Don't get me wrong, I don't blame women for their own heartache, there is no denying that men can really SUCK sometime! I think it's a team effort! And if people can work together to make a relationship what it's supposed to be, communicating and compromising, then a lot of these heartaches & headaches can be avoided! At least that is what Stylez thinks! What do you think? Please comment or tell your story!

Posted via email from Ask Willie Stylez - The Posts

WILLIE STYLEZ FEATURED ==>> Forty One Years To Life … W. Stylez « It's Me … Mr.TramueL

2011-09-10T08:36:00.001-04:00

Forty One Years To Life … W. Stylez

Posted by Mr.TramueL on September 5, 2011 · 1 Comment

I EMBRACE MY AGE
Part 1 of 5 in a series on AGE by Willie Stylez

Definition of AGE (according to Merriam-Webster)

1. the time of life at which some particular qualification, power, or capacity arises or rests <the voting age is 18>; specifically : majority

2. one of the stages of life

3. the length of an existence extending from the beginning to any given time <a boy 10 years of age>

4. lifetime

5. an advanced stage of life

Age is such a relative term! I am AT AN AGE where I feel wise, humble, tolerant and successful. But MY AGE is an ever increasing number; technically…

...to be continued on http://blog.AskWillieStylez.com

via mrtramuel.wordpress.com

So What Does STYLEZ Think?

I am currently featured on the blog "It's Me... Mr. Tramuel" as a guest blogger. I am honored to join a select group of AMAZING bloggers who are all wishing Mr. Tramuel a happy birthday, by discussing the topic of AGE on his blog! An excerpt of my post is above, and I hope that you click that link and read the rest of PART 1 of my 5 PART series! The rest of the series will be here on my blog! Also check out the other bloggers' postings on Age!

That is what Stylez thinks! I hope you enjoy, and let me know in the comments what you think about the series!

Posted via email from Ask Willie Stylez - The Posts

WHAT STYLEZ THINKS ABOUT => Taking the Name! Should a woman change her name when she marries?

2011-09-06T11:33:00.001-04:00

So What Does STYLEZ Think?

I was reading a post from my blog sister, Sunny Delyte, and she posed the two questions:

Fellaz, how would you feel if you soon-to-be wife didn’t want to take your name or hyphenate her name?
Ladies, would you take your soon-to-be husband’s last name? If not, why?

Before I was married I felt that I wanted my wife to take my last name. Like you, I was thinking of tradition. I think also that because of religious teachings, the woman and man become one, and essentially the man is the head of the household, so the household get's his name. But now that I'm in the "real world" (LOL!), I realize there's other ways to do it.

What is really in a name? And that is the question that goes to how the decision should be made. In some cases, a woman may have a career or reputation built around her name. Should she have to sacrifice that because of marriage. True, she could change the name legally, but maintain the former name in common usage. But how do you draw that line. Or as the previous commentor mentioned, what if the name is sentimental. Or worse yet, what if the husband's name is god-awful! LOL! I had a classmate that got married and she was undecided because her husband had a very long polish name that started with Z! So can you really blame her!?

In my marriage, my wife uses my name in common usage, however, her legal name is still her maiden name. It's satisfactory to me (although, I do tease her sometimes that she's using a fake name, but believe me, its all in fun), and it allows her to continue to honor her own father. I think, in the "real world", you have to be sensitive to the wants and needs of your partner. If you, as a woman, are adamant about keeping your last name, I say keep it. Because, when it all comes down to it, your legal name should not affect your love for each other.

That is what Stylez thinks! What do you think? Please comment, or go over to Sunny's Spoken Words & Thoughts to see what they're saying!

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WILLIE STYLEZ TECH REVIEW => BlackBerry Bold 9650 - Hands-on with Verizon's BB6 Qwerty by RIM

2011-08-19T00:32:00.001-04:00

So What Does STYLEZ Think?

Recently I changed jobs and as part of my new job I am on call 24/7 for support. Thanks to that job specification, I got some new toys... I mean work peripherals that will assist me in my ... job...yeah! LOL! Anyway, I chose to get a Verizon BlackBerry Bold 9650 by RIM back at the beginning of August. It sports a 2.8" screen, optical trackball, and BlackBerry OS v6 (BB6).

And well, I’ve had the Bold 9650 for about two weeks and it was finally activated on BES (BlackBerry Enterprise Server, used for company email) about 4 days ago. So far, kinda good. It’s a good phone, don’t get me wrong, but some things that I find troublesome or don't like are:

Keys are just too small for large hands, I find myself using my nails more than anything to type
The keyboard layout is classic BB, but some special characters are oddly placed or only accessible from the SYM key’s submenu! Namely the Ampersand (&)! I use ampersands quite often to sub for “and” but having to press SYM and then finding it on the keymap really sucks. And I swear the changed the placement of @, ! and ?
Screen size is horribly small for some apps. Just big enough for others … if you have extremely good vision! I luckily have a great vision, but I still find myself wishing I had about 0.3-0.5 inches more screen!
The key lock (upper right hand corner of phone) is terrible. It locks the phone but sliding the phone out of the stock belt case immediately unlocks it! So just trying to pull it out the case I misdial about 5 or 6 people! Or even when I’m holding it in my hand it has a nasty habit of coming unlocked from the slightest of touches on the lock button
BB6 software is smooth until it freezes! Which is A LOT! It’s not really glitchy or suffering from crashes, it’s just constantly skipping and/or freezing!
Facebook app (v.2, the phone only comes w/ v.1.x) is always having a weird issue with phantom notifications
As always with BB’s, the menu’s and options are MASSIVE, you can get lost trying to find the right option you’re looking for!

Some of the things I like about the phone include:

It’s very light and thinner than my last BB. Does it count that my last BB was that Nextel BB I had at PFI 7 years ago!? LOL!
Outside of its size and odd special key layout, It’s nice having a physical keyboard
The app offering for BB’s is not at Android numbers of course, but it’s got more than the HP TouchPad, so it’s a nice selection. My faves are Twitter, Facebook, Cisco Webex, GetGlue, Expensify and BBM.
Camera takes good pictures. At full size they are even better (see below)
Notification system is pretty nice. I can’t remember what the old BB4 or BB5 system was like but the current system is pretty good
Multitasking is pretty good, no glitches, crashes, etc. (just that nasty freeze occassionaly)

With that said, I am not 100% happy with this phone, so I am switching over to one of the new touchscreen plus Qwerty BB7 phones (Bold 9930 or Torch 9810). So another review will be coming to you soon!

That is what Stylez thinks, tell me what you think in the comments!

Posted via email from Ask Willie Stylez - The Posts

WILLIE STYLEZ HOT MUSIC REVIEW => DRAKE - HEADLINES (New Single from the upcoming album TAKE CARE)

2011-07-31T11:45:00.001-04:00

What Does STYLEZ Think?

I am sorry to say, but this single is not even single worthy, let alone a precursor to what SHOULD be a great sophomore album (Take Care - drops Oct 24, 2011) from one of the best artists and entertainers on the commercial market right now. The beat is ok. The lyrics are good. But the song doesn't get you excited to hear "what's next". I have to hope this is an unfinished mix, or a diversionary tactic! Drake fans (and I admit, I'm one of them) have come to expect more (just listen to Marvin's Room, that song by anyone else would have been inadequate, but only Drake could make it great). Let's just hope this a just another track to get us by until October!

Dear Drake,
I don't want to hear anymore mediocre tracks! That is all!
Ya boy, Stylez! ONE!

That is what Stylez thinks, what do you think? Let me know in the comments!

Posted via email from Ask Willie Stylez - The Posts

WILLIE STYLEZ TECH REVIEW => First Look at Windows 8's New Interface for Tablets and PCs

2011-06-01T20:46:00.002-04:00

via lifehacker.com

So What Does STYLEZ Think?

One of the comments on the site I got this video from mentioned they did not think it made sense for the Desktop version of the OS to have touch and tile interface. And I FULLY agree with them... to a point! The touch interface being "forced" upon the user is kinda over the top. BUT the one thing is, a lot of manufacturers are moving to touch-able desktops and laptops, so it really only makes sense (in the grand scheme of cross-compatibility) for the OS to fully exploit that AND (as it's pointed out in the video) give others the option of a more mouse-centric, non-touch interface as well. Previously it has been quite silly for M$ to think that their other OS's should have even been allowed to be called Tablet OS's JUST because they had an on-screen keyboard!

So, I must say, I LOVE the new interface. I don't have a touch-able desktop, but I do have a feeling that OS's like this will make it more appealing to own one. I mean, right now, using Win7 on a touchscreen is asinine! Just like Vista and XP before it, Windows has never been a touch friendly OS! But seeing where they are going with Win8 is very promising and so long as they learn to control memory and resource usage, and keep it fast & agile, then it will be A-1!

That is what Stylez thinks! What do you think? Check out the video and comment!

Posted via email from Ask Willie Stylez - The Posts

WILLIE STYLEZ TECH REVIEW => Sony's Android Tablets: Sony S1 & Sony S2

2011-05-27T18:55:00.001-04:00

via pcworld.com

So What Does STYLEZ Think?
These Sony Android Tablets look pretty cool! Although the S2 reminds me of the Sprint Kyocera Echo, it has a sexier look and additional functionality that the Echo appears to be lacking. I am very interested to see how these fare in the real world!
The S1 is a 9.4in, slate-style, tablet with a custom Sony user interface on Android 3 Honeycomb, Nvidia Tegra 2 on the board, DLNA functionality, WiFi and 3G/4G capabilities. It appears to have a sleek glass look and feel in a wedge-shaped device. It is supposed to look like a folded magazine. It features an infrared sensor (dubiously missing from phones, tablets and other mobile devices over the past 2 or 3 years) which will allow it to control other devices in the house such as Sony Bravia TVs or Blu-Ray players! That is a huge plus! It is also Playstation certified so it will play 1st Gen Playstation games! And it also features dual-cams for snapshots, videos and making video calls.
As I stated before, the Sony S2 is a folding clamshell device with two 5.5-inch displays at 1024x480 pixels! It also runs Nvidia Tegra 2, a custom dual-screen interface on Android 3 Honeycomb, WiFi, 3G/4G, DLNA and is Playstation certified. The dual-screen interface allows you to do things like display messages on top and enter text on bottom screen. Or show a PS ONE game on top and control and manipulate the game from the bottom screen. It is purported to be small enough to fit inside a jacket pocket when folded despite its bulky appearance! The only downfall so far is this device only has one camera on the back for taking pics and video!
Look for these two sexy devices coming from Sony in the fall of 2011!
That is what Stylez thinks! What do you think?

Posted via email from Ask Willie Stylez - The Posts