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What are your #2ndTermActionItems

1/22/2013

"Start where you are. Use what you have. Do what you can." ~ Arthur Ashe

By Monika

So the Inauguration is over. The Oath has been said (twice)... Speeches were made, twitter was broken because of "The Bangs seen around the world". The First Children stole the show by being, well, normal...Jennifer Hudson sang "Let's Stay Together" and Alicia Keys sang the worst adaptation of a song ever in the form of "Obamas on Fire..." No, I'm serious... That song exists...

So in the Armchair quarterbacking of the Inauguration speech, many a pundit talked about what an Obama Second Term would entail, What The Administration is planning on and the "agendas" of each interest group.. you know.. Gays, Latinos/Hispanics, Seniors, young people, oh and as an after thought, Black Folks... Although an agenda is up and I have not been to one meeting....I would just like to point that out

We have heard about the folks in government or the "Big" organizations talk about what they are going to do. Their list is huge and, for the most part, recycled. Did you know that The West Wing is on Netflix? Yeah I am totally addicted to that show, Like completely. I'm on Season 5. Its ridiculous really ... Anyway, every issue on the that show (Filmed from 1999-2006) from the Middle East to Internet Privacy to Gun Control, is on that show and people were fighting then in real life on the exact same things as now...

So I thought I would put a spin on things a little: What are YOU going to do during this Second Term?

What are you passionate about? What are you going to do to make to make things better? How will you encourage the people around you to create change?

No, I'm serious.. There is no radio show, "Commentator," or "Leader" that can do things any better than you can. Just Because they are what we have, they don't have to be ALL we have. There's you. The search for a leader stops at your address. You got this thing.

We all have gifts we can use to make things better. Just pick something, it doesn't have to be big, work towards getting it done. You can blog or Podcast like us. or even do community service by going to a library or a shelter. Anything you do to help will leave a mark and make where you are better... So What are you going to do? I'll go first:

I will help people develop their voices through a variety of Media Outlets
I will tell what I know in the areas of Autism and Education to underrepresented areas
I will teach my child how to be a benefit to our community

See, Simple... Now what's your #2ndTermActionPlan?

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As she "lispers" in my ear, "Grow a pair Reid!"

1/19/2013

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By Bruce

My nerd crush gets me. When she puts her words down on paper, she gets me even more! Yes...you guessed it. Melissa Harris-Perry.

In a letter to Sen. Reid she stated, "...senator, with all due respect–please grow a pair. Of ovaries. Maybe that’ll help you woman up and be more like your colleague, Sen. Dianne Feinstein."
Now, whether you are on the far right of gun control or to the far left you have to appreciate what's going on here.

1. How my wife MHP (in my mind of course) called out Harry Reid, and told him to grow a pair of ovaries
2. Calling out a democrat that has connections and close ties with the NRA (which I think is awesome because one party should not own anything)
3. Politics will never let you down when it comes to one thing - POWER!

So do you really think Sen. Reid will stick his neck out there for what the "party" believes is right but will make him unelectable? He barely won last time.

Overall, I am not here to dive into the gun control debate because it shows how people can be insensative on one side and totally innacurate on the other.

What I do want to dive into is how leaders need to be CALLED OUT! With that being said...do we have any leaders? Any leaders that can't be bought? Fearless when it comes to making the right decision? I know it's important to DO THINGS RIGHT, but we also need leaders that are ready to DO THE RIGHT THING?

I hope this movement begins today. When you get a chance, write down the contact information on a leader you follow or don't follow (or a so-called leader for that matter) and CALL THEM OUT!

If we do not keep our "leaders" accountable...WHO will? The NRA that uses the 2nd amendment as a defense even if it doesn't make common sense? Or the environmental groups that stop power projects that can create jobs and lower our energy costs?

It's 2013. Be heard. Don't be silenced. The Monikarchy is real...and if you don't know...you better ask somebody!

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What's eBeef? Confrontation in the Social Network

1/8/2013

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By Monika

OK, So here's the thing... I LOVE to watch electronic sparring on Social Media... I swears I do! Shoot, I love to engage if there is an issue I am passionate about. I have done it many times... Like a BAWSE.. The Black Enterprise Article about How Working Black Women can't get a Man? Many beefs were started because of that and I was all over it... Celebrities resurrect their careers eBeefing and making up by the next award show or record release all things depending...

Although I do enjoy Beefs in the Social Network, The Social Network in my opinion, is either supposed to Be Fun, Entertaining or Informative. If you can't get a point across, what's the point right?

So I thought of some ways eBeefs can be more productive, entertaining and informative for the participants and the audience. I am guilty of many of these so I will try to be better when eBeefing:

1: Do You Even Have The Time For this: Its ridiculous for a participant to start a beef and then come back 5 hrs later thinking someone remembers what you were saying or who you were talking about. I remember discussing something (It wasn't beefing because I think we were just trying to get each other to understand), I left had a full day of activity and the person responded, like 7 hours later. By that time I had forgotten what we were even talking about.

2: Don't Go JackAss on Folks: The Worst thing you can do is have a bout of Jackassery and become completely disrespectful. For example: Dear Men, Stop stating how Bitter Women are (Which generally isn't true) to try to get your point across. Women aren't bitter because they disagree, they just don't agree. I see this a lot when the "Why Black Women Can't Get a Man" articles come out. Just stop it, OK? Good...

3: Don't come in from left field on other folks' eBeefs: I saw some dude this week go all on the 11th Hour in on a eBeef where he didn't belong in the nor was he needed. He was disruptive, Broke rule #2 and seemed generally uninformed and it showed. Its an indication that you readily go into things unprepared and shouldn't be relied upon.

4: Know that Celebrities will go In: Sometimes, we forget that before celebrities were supposedly "Above Some things," they had sharp tongues just like us... Recent pre-beefs with Yvette Nicole Brown and Chris Brown have shown that you going left on celebrities will get you the same response you give when someone goes left on you. They don't have to be "Above" these things. we aren't...

5: Remember that tomorrow is another day: eBeefs are awesome, but to extend frustration past the time of the actual eConvo will stress you out... Breathe, have some wine (or in my case, some Red Vines), and enjoy what's around you. In most cases, you will NEVER see that person in real life (IRL), and you can count that as a blessing.

M

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I'm on a MISSION...it's not a part time thing!

1/5/2013

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Written by: Bruce

We all need a purpose to do what we want to do. Without purpose, typically we fall short of our goals or go on to the next goal without completing the prior one. It's like signing up for a missions trip for your church because it sounds good but you never evaluated the purpose or whether its even your calling. In the end you decide to cancel on the trip or go on the missions trip and come back unfulfilled.

Now, according to Stephen Covey, author of Highly Effective People, states that "you will be off course 90% of the time."

With that being said, creating a MISSION STATEMENT, a written document full of collaboration, energy, & vision, is necessary to keeping us on track. We have values that we hold near. We need something to remind us of our values when we are confronted with confusion, indifference, fear, anger. For example, I have been a husband for 10 years and a father for 8 years now and I live solely for them. So when I come home, I see our family mission statement on the wall of my front entrance. On those days when I feel like going straight to the man room to turn on ESPN, I look at our creed, walk straight to my wife and kids, and hand out hugs, kisses, and admiration.

So. What is Big Daddy Bruce's blog mission statement you may ask? Well since this is my 1st "official" blog of 2013 (and my life in general), I will share my BD Blog Mission Statement so I can stay on track while the blogosphere holds me accountable.

The mission of the BD Blogs is to educate, inspire, and encourage young adults all around the world in their spiritual growth, leadership development, and family values.

Everything I do is for YOU...my people...which I feel is my calling. So...what is your mission? Your calling?

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What are your #2ndTermActionItems

As she "lispers" in my ear, "Grow a pair Reid!"

What's eBeef? Confrontation in the Social Network

I'm on a MISSION...it's not a part time thing!

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