Sharing is Caring: Random facts about Memorial Day

Why? Because if you're going to celebrate it with parades, beaches, a 3-day weekend & a bbq you might as well know more about it.

Image source: http://networkyourlife.files.wordpress.com/2009/05/memorial-montage2.jpg
The first holiday:
Originally, the holiday was known as "Decoration Day." It was started by a Civil War general named Gen. John Logan, who was the Commander-in-Chief of the Grand Army of the Republic. General Logan sought a way to help the country come back together after the horrors and divide of the Civil War. The holiday was first observed on May 30, 1868.

The date:
Gen. Logan chose May 30 for two very important reasons:
1. The day did not mark the anniversary of a Civil War battle, and
2. Flowers would likely be in bloom all over the United States.

Its official!
Memorial Day became an official federal holiday in 1971, when Congress passed the National Holiday Act. This created a three-day weekend at the end of May. Prior to this, different states observed the holiday on different days.


Bonus: The "national moment of remembrance" takes place at 3 p.m. local time on Memorial Day and lasts one minute. It is an act of national unity in which all Americans, alone or with family and friends, honor those who died for our freedom.

Source: buzz.yahoo.com

Out the door...inspirational quotes to start your day

Happy Monday! Happy Memorial day! Happy last day of May! Can you feel my excitement? I finally got to see SATC 2 and I got Carrie'd away. The ladies inspired me to take my upcoming vacay a little more serious & allow myself to escape for a few days. Ok enough about my love for Carrie, Samantha, Miranda & Charlotte its time to get down to business.

In light of the holiday, I've decided to do away with the traditional OTD (get it? Out the Door?) quote and go with something a little more outside of the box. I'll let Ray Charles tell you (yes, I know the song is normally performed for Independence Day), take a listen below:





 A memorial day tribute after the jump.

HUSL Today Salutes

Kirk Whalum

Image source: http://www.freedomhill.net/jg/04-whalum/index/P1010087.jpg

Born July 11, 1958 in Memphis, Tennessee, Kirk Whalum was surrounded by music at an early age. Kirk began his musical career on the drums but later switched to the sax in junior high. Kirk began playing local functions and clubs while still in high school. A music scholarship brought him to Texas Southern University in Houston. When asked about his music Kirk responded,

"The music I like to play and write encompasses the four elements I grew up with: Memphis R&B, gospel, rock, and jazz. The emphasis, though, is on melody, period."

In the 1980s Kirk ventured out and started his own band. He became a go to guy for artists visiting Houston in search of an opening act. In 1983 he caught the ear of Jazz Pianist Bob James and Kirk ended up in New York soloing on Bob's album, Bob James 12. Kirk went on to become a member of James' touring band and landed a deal with Columbia Records, where he released 5 records. 

Thanks to his amazing skills on the saxophone, in the late 80s and early 90s Whalum landed a series of session and touring jobs, working with artists like Whitney Houston, Willie Norwood, Babyface, Nancy Wilson, Yolanda Adams, Take 6, BeBe & CeCe Winans, Barbra Streisand, Edwin Hawkins, Quincy Jones, Kevin Mahogany, Al Green, and Luther Vandross. He also has worked on a number of film scores, including those for The Prince of Tides, Boyz in the Hood, The Bodyguard, Grand Canyon, and Cousins (film).





Read more after the jump.

HUSL Today Salutes

Duke Ellington

Image source: http://rhapsodyinbooks.files.wordpress.com/2009/02/duke_ellington_03.jpg

Edward Kennedy Ellington was born April 29, 1899, in Washington, D.C. Ellington began piano lessons at the age of seven. He credits his childhood friend Edgar McEntree with naming him "Duke" proclaiming,"I think he felt that in order for me to be eligible for his constant companionship, I should have a title. So he called me Duke." Duke began performing professionally at the age of 17. 

Ellington played throughout the Washington, D.C. area and into Virginia for private society balls and embassy parties. The band included Otto Hardwick, who switched from bass to saxophone; Arthur Whetsol on trumpet; Elmer Snowden on banjo; and Sonny Greer on drums. The band enjoyed the rarity of performing for both African-American and white audiences. Such a feat was uncommon in the racially segregated times.

After moving to New York in 1923, Ellington became one of the figures of the Harlem Renaissance. Ellington played mostly in Broadway nightclubs and led a sextet that grew in time into a 10-piece ensemble. He made 8 records in 1924, receiving composing credit on 3 including Choo Choo. In 1925, Ellington contributed 4 songs to Chocolate Kiddies, an all-African-American revue which introduced European audiences to African-American styles and performers.
Image source: http://www.metroactive.com/papers/sonoma/11.04.99/gifs/ellington-9944.jpg

Check out his early hits “East St. Louis Toodle-oo” and “Black and Tan Fantasy”:

Read the rest for more hits, and more info on Ellington. 

RIP Gary Coleman

In the sad news of the day, Gary Coleman joined the ancestors today. The child star of Diff'rent Strokes became famous for his role and for his signature line, "Whatchoo talkin' 'bout, Willis?" which became a national catchphrase. Coleman was 42. Sources are reporting his death was caused by intercranial hemorrhage. Despite his off screen troubles, Coleman's place as an 80's TV icon cannot be denied.  I send my condolences to his family, friends and loyal fans.

In his honor, check out a few funny clips from his run on Diff'rent Strokes:




RIP Gary Coleman.

Music News: Yeezy is back!

I know I've been posting more music lately, but understand HUSL Today provides a plethora of information for young professionals on all subjects. How else could we become the premiere information source for young professionals? Trust when I say its worth a listen.

I'm happier than a fat kid in the candy store. *smiles*

Out the door...inspirational quote to start your day

Good morning friends! Did you miss me yesterday? I overdid it on my morning jog yesterday so I rendered myself useless for the remainder of the day. I'm still in pain. Although I like to think of myself as a rare breed of superwoman, there is nothing like exercise to show me how human I am. I apologize for leaving you hanging but I promise to make it up to you.

Since I just reached a point where I have to make some big decisions, I decided to share some of the quotes I came across about decision-making. Whats even more exciting is that its Friday so Simon says put your hands in the air, do a little dance and then check out the quotes below: 

The hardest thing to learn in life is which bridge to cross and which to burn. ~David Russell

Using the power of decision gives you the capacity to get past any excuse to change any and every part of your life in an instant. ~Anthony Robbins

Good decisions come from experience, and experience comes from bad decisions. ~Author Unknown

Everything is something you decide to do, and there is nothing you have to do. ~Denis Waitley

 

You will have to make several decisions today and if you are anything like me you will wonder if you made the right decision. Have confidence in your decision making abilities and if it turns out you made the wrong choice then learn from it and move on.

In case you missed it...Janet Jackson on American Idol

Gotta love Janet!

Music Break

Maybe I'm a softee, and maybe its because I have friends and family serving our country but I got a little choked up watching it. I feel you judging me and I dont care.

Sending a special shout out to all of those who have served or are serving our country. I salute you and your family!

Out the door...inspirational quote to start your day

Goodmorning beautiful people! Congrats you've made it over the hump & into the home stretch. Before you gear up to steal 3rd base, take a moment to read  today's quote:

“Each time we face our fear, we gain strength, courage, and confidence in the doing.”

-Unknown 

Allow me to narrate: I had the opportunity to have a wonderful chat with my friends yesterday and I feel so much better. I vented; they nodded. I screamed in frustration; they listened. I did not have the strength to face my fears alone and I realized that I do not have to. I'm always weary of people who claim they do not have close friends. I believe in order to have good friends you must be a good friend. If you are someone who believes they do not have at least one close friend, it is time for you to reflect on the type of friend you are to others. Friends can be a missing link in our lives and provide the extra push we need to face our fears. My friends know my demeanor and they can tell when something is not right. They motivate me. They encourage me. They humble me. I love my friends near and far. I could not be the person I am everyday without the many (and there are many) late night chats, afternoon lunch dates, Sex & The City watch parties, ice cream breaks and daily check ups that you all provide. My friends are like my family away from home and I appreciate them. 

Live well.
Love hard.
Laugh often.

HUSL Today Salutes

Jimi Hendrix

Image source: http://www.kalamu.com/bol/wp-content/content/images/jimi%20hendrix%2030.jpg

Jimi Hendrix was born Johnny Allen Hendrix (later changed to James Marshall) on November 27, 1942, in Seattle, Washington. Hendrix played his first note on the guitar as a teenager and began his journey to rock and roll stardom. He got his first guitar at 15 and within 4 years he would drop out of high school and enlist in the military.

After suffering an injury in 1962, Hendrix was discharged from the military. He used his time to pursue his musical career & played back up for performers such as Little Richard, Sam Cooke, and the Isley Brothers. 4 years later Hendrix joined forces with musicians Noel Redding and Mitch Mitchell to create The Jimi Hendrix Experience; they  began their tour in London and amassed thousands of loyal fans.
Image source: http://art-battle.com/Resources/All%20Types%20Of%20Packs!/%5BMen%5D%20by%20.Syke/JIMI-HENDRIX-4-NYC-th.jpg

More (including footage of Jimi performing live) after the jump. 

Dance Break

When I grant you permission to dance on any day that ends in "y" this is what I hope to see. I've been known to do this in the mall once or twice, I encourage you all to try it at least once. I hear you wondering, no booze are involved I dance to my own beat all the time.

...and the winner is

Just in case you continued watching Dancing with the Stars once Ochocinco was dismissed but happened to miss the finale, Nicole Scherzinger took home the hideous coveted mirror ball trophy.


Nicole is a wonderful dancer and a great entertainer to watch. Congrats to the couple!

Sidenote: I thought the concept of the show was amatuer dancers coupled with professional dancers?? Has that changed? I know its not just me. Oh well, I'll be watching next season to see which celebrities take on the show next.

Out the door...inspirational quote to start your day

Good morning all! Welcome to Wednesday! I hope you arose excited and ready for what today has to offer. I awakened with enough for everyone and since sharing is caring, here is a little bit of sunshine to brighten up your day!

“If you will call your troubles experiences, and remember that every experience develops some latent force within you, you will grow vigorous and happy, however adverse your circumstances may seem to be.”
-John Heywood

I've said it before and I will say it a million more times-Life is what YOU make it. Label your phases as you please but keep in mind that every label will live up to its name. Hence, if you call your hard times things like "tests of faith," "learning experiences," or "lessons learned" you are more apt to overcome them than if you labeled them "the dark times," "the worst days of my whole life," or "things I won't ever overcome." Whenever you are presented with a challenge today (or any other day), give it a new name: "something else to conquer." Resist the temptation to sigh when it seems especially difficult and nearly impossible; instead, break down the challenge into small tasks and before you know it you will have painted a masterpiece!

Hit the ground running!

HUSL Today Salutes

Chuck "Father of Rock & Roll" Berry

Born in St. Louis on October 18, 1926 Charles Edward Anderson was destined for greatness. Berry gave his first performance while in high school and has been entertaining crowds ever since.

Berry played a major role in broadening the appeal of rhythm-and-blues music during the 1950s and he helped create rock and roll. Berry was signed to Chess Records and in the summer of 1955, and his first recording session yielded "Maybellene" which reached #5 on the Pop Charts and #1 on the R&B Charts. He drew upon a broad range of musical genres in his compositions. Berry continued his success with such hits as "Brown-Eyed Man," "Too Much Monkey Business," "Memphis," "Roll Over, Beethoven!" "Johnny B. Goode" and "Reeling and Rolling." Click here to find out how Berry's tunes fared on the charts.

"Of all the early breakthrough rock & roll artists, none is more important to the development of the music than Chuck Berry. He is its greatest songwriter, the main shaper of its instrumental voice, one of its greatest guitarists, possessing the clearest diction, and one of its greatest performers."

-Cub Koda

Maybelline.


Johnny B. Goode (widely considered Berry's masterpiece)

In the 1960s and 1970s, Berry's music was the inspiration for such groups as the Beatles and the Rolling Stones. Berry had a number of comeback recordings and in 1972 had the first and only #1 Pop Chart hit of his career with "My Ding-A-Ling. . In 1984 he was presented with a Grammy Award for lifetime achievement. 1986 fittingly saw him inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame as the very first inductee in history. As a tribute to his pervasiveness in the realm of rock, a clip of "Johnny B. Goode" was played in the Voyager I spacecraft on a copper phonograph record attached to the side of the satellite. 1987 saw  the publication of Berry's book Chuck Berry: The Autobiography.


Chuck Berry is in his 80s today and continues to rock out crowds with his signature "duck walk."



In December 2008, Cadillac Records, a film chronicling the rise and fall of Chess records and its artists was released. Mos Def portrayed Chuck Berry. Check out one of the scenes below:

HUSL Today Salutes Chuck Berry!!!

Commercial Break

*giggles*

Out the door...inspirational quote to start your day

Good morning friends! Its time for my favorite part of the day! You can't see my face right now, but I get really excited everytime I post these and today is no exception.

“Some people are afraid of what they might find if they try to analyze themselves too much, but you have to crawl into your wounds to discover where your fears are. Once the bleeding starts, the cleansing can begin.”

-Tori Amos

Do not be afraid to dig deep inside yourselves and discover your fears. The first step is to admit your fears such that you can begin the process of conquering them. By ignoring your fears you allow them to control you. You are holding yourself back, STOP IT! If you become apprehensive about a new writing assignment, challenge yourself to become a better writer by accepting more writing assignments. If you have struggled with your weight or are afraid of exercising, take baby steps and figure out a regimen that works for you. Life is too short not to spend every moment happy. Taking the time to soul search and discover new things about yourself is a wonderful experience. What is a better feeling than conquering something you were previously afraid of?  Instead of ignoring your instinct to discover your fears, answer the call and conquer your fears! 

HUSL Today Salutes

Louis "Satchmo" Armstrong

Image source: http://cyberextazy.files.wordpress.com/2007/02/louis-armstrong.jpg


Daniel Louis Armstrong was born in New Orleans, Louisiana on August 4, 1901. At the age of 12, he was sentenced to a boys home for waifs because he fired a gun into the air. It was there that he learned to play his first instrument, the cornet, & under the tutelage of Peter Davis Armstrong began to play the cornet at picnics and parades.  Armstrong was the first vital jazz soloist to attain world wide influence as trumpeter, entertainer, and show business personality. He was a strong force in spreading the influence of jazz throughout his life. Through his trumpet solos and vocal interpretations alike, jazz fans immortalize him. His “Hot Five” and “Hot Seven” recordings done in the mid 1920’s had no parallel in jazz. He is also a well-recognized Pop music figure by his personable and throaty, charming and guttural jazz vocals. His first record under his own name was “My Heart” cut November 12th 1925.

Random fact: He was known as Satchel Mouth as a young boy because he had a very wide mouth, and when he smiled, it was all the way across. So it was like a satchel. And that's where it came from Satchel Mouth turned into Satchmo.

In the late 1920s, while serving both as a band leader and actor in the broadway revue  “Hot Chocolates,” a team up with  Fats Waller would give Armstrong his first popular hit called “Ain’t Misbehavin’.”


As his career progressed, Armstrong's music was characterized by more of a "pop" sound . He spent most of the 1930s and 40s on tour so he didnt record as much as he had in the previous decades. 


More after the jump. 

Music Monday: TV theme song edition #2

Since I had so much fun putting together Music Monday posts from the past few weeks, I decided to make it a tradition. This time, we'll focus on our favorite tv shows with family oriented themes.

Lets take a trip down memory lane...

1. The Cosby Show. I grew up watching this, and I'll still catch a marathon every now and then. It was a grounbreaking show and the effects are still felt today.



2. Family Matters. One word: Urkel!



3. Full House



4. Sister, Sister. Gotta love Tia & Tamera!



More memories after the jump.

Out the door..inspirational quote to start your day

Good Morning friends! Was it just me or did it seem like a very long weekend? Rainy days always make the days go slower. Alas, I enjoyed my weekend and although I played many hours of Google pacman I managed to have a productive weekend. Today marks the beginning of salute to instrumentalists week so this week's quotes will be tied to music. As you all know, I love music and it is a big part of my life so here goes nothing.

Here are the quotes I think help sum up what music means to me. Feel free to share your favorite songs, musicians, quotes, and moments music has helped you get through.

My idea is that there is music in the air, music all around us; the world is full of it, and you simply take as much as you require.  ~Edward Elgar

Music is the universal language of mankind.  ~Henry Wadsworth Longfellow, Outre-Mer

Music expresses that which cannot be said and on which it is impossible to be silent.  ~Victor Hugo

Music has been my playmate, my lover, and my crying towel.  ~Buffy Sainte-Marie

 

Encourage yourself.

Hit the ground running!

HUSL Today Salutes

Muhammad Ali

Only a man who knows what it is like to be defeated can reach down to the bottom of his soul and come up with the extra ounce of power it takes to win when the match is even.

Muhammad Ali was born Cassius Marcellus Clay Jr. in Louisville Kentucky on January 17, 1942. In his early years, Ali was trained by Fred stoner who guided him through 6 Kentucky Golden Gloves titles, 2 national Golden Gloves titles, an Amateur Athletic Union National Title, and the Light Heavyweight gold medal in the 1960 Summer Olympics in Rome. Clay's amateur record was 100 wins with five losses.

 Ali won his first professional bout on October 29, 1960. In his first title on February 25, 1964, Ali beat Liston and  became the youngest boxer (age 22) ever to take the title from a reigning heavyweight champion, a mark that stood until the mid 1980s. Ali also won the rematch in May of 1965.  In March 1967 after defending his title several times,  Ali was stripped of his title for refusing to be drafted into the Army for religious reasons and had his professional boxing license suspended.

Ali famously said in 1966: "I ain't got no quarrel with them Viet Cong ... They never called me nigger."

In the mean time, Ali appealed his case and fought Jerry Quarry in Georgia, the only state without a boxing commission.  Nicknamed "The Greatest," Ali was involved in several historic boxing matches. After the 1970 decision of the NY Supreme Court ruling that Ali had been unjustly denied his boxing license, he fought Oscar Bonavena at Madison Square Garden in December 1970. Ali stopped Bonavena in the 15th round. His next bout was "The Fight of the Century" against Joe Frazier on March 8, 1971. The fight would result in Ali's first professional loss. After fighting Ken Norton twice losing the first time and winning the rematch, Ali went on to win the non-title rematch  against Joe Frazier on January 28, 1974.

He was also known for his pre-match hype, where he would "trash talk" opponents on television and in person some time before the match, often with rhymes. Ali once said "Frazier is so ugly that he should donate his face to the US Bureau of Wild Life."  He descibed his own fighting style as "float like a butterfly sting like a bee."

More after the jump.

Why do you want THAT skin color?

Please watch the video before you read on.

In case you haven't heard by now, Anderson Cooper sat down with school-aged children to talk about race. He asked the children to pick a skin color they want & followed with "why do you want that skin color?" I have viewed the video at least a dozen times and although I struggled to find the words to describe my feelings the first few times, I have settled on one: disturbing. My first reaction was heartbreak because I saw myself in the black children. I immediately wondered if I would have pointed to the white face before I recognized the value of my brown tones of my people. I like to think I grew up color blind as remember  treating white dolls with the same love as my black dolls. Some of my oldest memories are polluted with situations where I was constantly asked "are you mixed?" Some were nice, some ulterior motives were subtle but most were not. You would not believe the reactions I've gotten when I proudly answered the question.

"See I can kinda recall

Little ways back small tryin' to bawl

Always been black and my hair I tried it all

I even went flat, had a gumdee curly top and all the crap, now

Tryin' to be appreciated

Nappy headed brothers never had no ladies

Then I hit by the barber shop real quick

Had em give me little twist and it drove them crazy

And then I couldn't get no job

No corporate wouldn't hire no dreadlocks

Then I thought about my dogs on the block

Kinda understand why they chose a stealin' rock

Was it the hair that got me this far? (uh-huh)

All these girls these cribs these cars (uh-huh)

Hate to say it but it seem so flawed

Cause success didn't come 'till i cut it all off (uh-huh)"

-Akon (I am not my hair)

Black is bad.
White is good.
Africa is bad and savage.
Europe is pure and civilized.

There is no gray. People do not process gray. People do not understand gray. People lose their minds when they can't decide what you are. They are more comfortable with you once they are able to put you in a box.
Think about the other boxes where we are asked to check one: Girl/boy. Man/woman. Gay/straight. Short/tall. Pretty/ugly. Smart/dumb.
You MUST be black or white.
You MUST pick a side.
You MUST be placed in your proper box.
How dare you check both or niether.
How dare you tell me you're not mixed but you have curly "good" hair.
How dare you tell me your white ancestors raped mine and THAT is the only reason I have "good" hair.
How dare you start an initiative to make me feel "less than" by reiteratating how I'm not light bright and d*mn near white.
The next time you struggle to put someone in a box, take a step back and reflect on why you deemed it necessary for them to be placed in one.

"My president is black in fact he`s half white
so even in a racist mind
he`s half right
if u have a racist mind
u be aiight
my President is black
but his house is all WHITE
Rosa Parks sat so Martin Luther couLd walk
Martin Luther walked so Barack Obama could run
Barack Obama ran so all the children could fly"

-Jay Z

More after the jump.

Music Break

Jay Electronica-Exhibit C

Out the door...inspirational quote to start your day

 Good morning ladies & gents. TGIF!

"Fans don't boo nobodies."
Reggie Jackson

Remember this when someone is working against you or exerting an extraordinary amount of energy aimed at forcing you to fail. If you were a nobody they would not care about your failure. If someone is throwing shade your way, grab your sunglasses and dig for the light at the end of the tunnel. Dont allow the booing of others to damage your determination to win. Think of all of such people as fans and you win because they pay to see you play while sitting on the sidelines heckling!

Sharing is Caring: A lesson in political correctness

Lets face it, everyone has at least one guy or gal who has more "blonde" moments in a day than you care to count. They dont have common sense, which is not so common.You can always count on them to say something out of line that makes you question how they got their job its not what you know its who you know. They have "George Bush" syndrome when it comes to commnicating ideas. If you dont think you work with such a person, chances are the person is YOU! *giggles* While I admit calling someone stupid is not be the nicest thing to say, I live in a place called reality where Einsteins are few and far between. Hence, below you will find 30 Politically Correct Ways to Say Someone Is Stupid.


*A few clowns short of a circus

*A few fries short of a Happy Meal

*An experiment in Artificial Stupidity

*A few beers short of six-pack

*A few peas short of a casserole

*Doesn’t have all his cornflakes in one box

*The wheel’s spinning, but the hamster’s dead

*One Fruit Loop shy of full bowl
*One taco short of a combination plate

*A few feathers short of a whole duck

*All foam, no beer

More after the jump.

HUSL Today Salutes

Tony Dungy

Anthony Kevin "Tony" Dungy was born October 6, 1955 in Jackson, Michigan.  Dungy attended Parkside High School, where he played guard position on the basketball team and the quarterback position on the football team

Dungy was recruited by University of Minnesota coach Cal Stoll. Dungy played for the Golden Gophers from 1973 to 1976. He entered the starting lineup as a quarterback during his freshman year and after playing for four years finished as Minnesota's career leader in pass attempts (576), completions (274), touchdown passes (25), and passing yards (3,577). He also finished fourth in career total offense in the Big Ten Conference. He received Minnesota's Most Valuable Player award twice. Dungy also played basketball as a freshman.

Dungy's career has included several notable firsts. Among them, Dungy is the first NFL head coach to defeat all 32 NFL teams.He was also the youngest assistant coach at age 25 and the youngest coordinator at age 28 in NFL history. Dungy was the 1st black head coach to win the Super Bowl (with the Colts' victory over the Bears in 2007). He was however the 3rd black head coach to win a pro football championship in North America, behind Darren Arbet of the San Jose Sabercats (Arena Football League) who won ArenaBowl XVI in 2002 and Pinball Clemons of the Toronto Argonauts (Canadian Football League) who won the 92nd Grey Cup in 2004.

Check out the footage below of the Colts bringing home the championship.

Check the footage below where Dungy becomes the first African American coach to answer "I'm going to Disney World" when asked the now-traditional post superbowl win question:

Dungy also became the 6th man to play in a Super Bowl and be the head coach of a Super Bowl team. He joins Dan Reeves, Sam Wyche, Mike Ditka, Forrest Gregg and Tom Flores. After the win in Super Bowl XLI, Dungy became the 3rd man to win Super Bowls both as a player and a head coach, following Ditka and Flores.

"Our young men today are falling into a trap... Society is telling them material success is what's important, but if we buy into that idea, we can spend a lifetime chasing that success and never really have the positive impact on people that would make our lives truly significant."

 More inspiration when you read the rest.

Out the door...inspirational quote to start your day

Good morning friends! Happy Thursday! 

"In the end, it’s extra effort that separates a winner from second place. But winning takes a lot more that that, too. It starts with complete command of the fundamentals. Then it takes desire, determination, discipline, and self sacrifice. And finally, it takes a great deal of love, fairness and respect for your fellow man. Put all these together, and even if you don’t win, how can you lose?"

-Jesse Owens

Meditate on these words. Read them more than once if you have to. Dig deep inside your spirit to find personal meaning in them.  Hold on to that meaning and keep it with you throughout the day. As you meditate, keep in mind that you determine what winning means to you and it does not always mean breaking the finish line ribbon.

Political Flashback: The scream heard around Iowa

When I saw this news conference I didn't see anything wrong with Dean's scream. Before the Iowa caucus, Dean enjoyed at least a 30% lead on John Kerry & John Edwards. The loss in Iowa dealt a blow to Dean's campaign but it was the constant replay of Dean's "I have a scream" speech that is believed to have had a devastating impact on the campaign. Footage of the scream was played an unprecedented 633 times over the course of 4 days. The scream was characterized as primal & unpresidential, a description that all but halted Dean's pursuit of the DNC's nod for POTUS.  After losing in the Wisconsin primaries, Dean ended his campaign. Despite this, his Vermont supporters stood by him on Super Tuesday and voted him to victory in their primary.

On a lighter note, check out Dave Chappelle's version of Dean's speech.

Chappelle's Show
Black Howard Dean
www.comedycentral.com
Buy Chappelle's Show DVDs Black Comedy True Hollywood Story

Gotta love Chappelle.

Sidenote: I guess Pennsylvania voters didn't think saving Senator Spector's historic 30 year Senate career was reason enough to keep him in office. Although his run has ended, his service was appreciated and his Senate legacy is one for the record books.

Music Break

Craig David-Seven Days

Clever Video+Great Melody=a great escape!

ENJOY!

HUSL Today Salutes

Jackie Robinson

 Image source: http://hardballtalk.nbcsports.com/Jackie%20Robinson%20sliding.jpg

Jack Roosevelt Robinson was born in Cairo, Georgia in 1919. By 1935, Robinson had graduated middle school and enrolled in high school at Muir Tech High School. At Muir Tech, Robinson played several sports at the varsity level and lettered in four of them: football, basketball, track, and baseball. He played shortstop and catcher on the baseball team, quarterback on the football team, and guard on the basketball team. With the track and field squad, he won awards in the broad jump. He was also a member of the tennis team.  Robinson graduated high school and enrolled at Pasadena Junior College.

Robinson continued his sports career at Pasadena Junior College, Robinson graduated in 1939 and transferred to UCLA. While enrolled, Jackie became the first athlete to win varsity letters in four sports: baseball, basketball, football and track. In 1941, he was named to the All-American football team. Due to financial difficulties, he was forced to leave college, and eventually decided to enlist in the U.S. Army. After two years in the army, he had progressed to second lieutenant. Jackie's army career was cut short when he was court-martialed in relation to his objections with incidents of racial discrimination. In the end, Jackie left the Army with an honorable discharge.

Image source: http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/en/f/f7/Jackie_robinson_ucla_track.jpg

In 1945, Jackie played one season in the Negro Baseball League. In 1947, Brooklyn Dodgers president Branch Rickey approached Jackie about joining the Brooklyn Dodgers. The Major Leagues had not had an African-American player since 1889, when baseball became segregated. Because of this feat, Robinson is sometimes referred to as baseball's barrier breaker.

At the end of Robinson's rookie season with the Brooklyn Dodgers, he had become National League Rookie of the Year with 12 homers, a league-leading 29 steals, and a .297 average.


  
Watch Robinson in action as he steals home!

Over ten seasons, he played in six World Series and contributed to the Dodgers' 1955 World Championship. He was selected for six consecutive All-Star Games from 1949 to 1954. In 1949, he was selected as the NL's Most Valuable player of the Year, the first black player so honored,  and also won the batting title with a .342 average that same year.

Robinson also found success outside of the diamond. He was the first African-American television analyst in Major League Baseball, and the first African-American vice-president of a major American corporation. In the 1960s, he helped establish the Freedom National Bank, an African-American-owned/controlled financial institution based in Harlem, New York. In recognition of his achievements on and off the field, Robinson was posthumously awarded the Presidential Medal of Freedom and the Congressional Gold Medal.

More footage of the Hall of Famer

Check out Robinson reciting the alphabet with the muppets.



The southern belle side of me loves that he says "dubya" *smiles*

Robinson was inducted into the Baseball Hall of Fame in 1962. In 1997, Major League Baseball retired his uniform number, 42, across all major league teams. Robinson joined the ancestors on October 24, 1972. His legacy lives on in the baseball players we know and love today sans the steroids.

HUSL Today Salutes Jackie Robinson!

Out the door...inspirational quote to start your day

Good morning friends! Happy Hump Day!

“In order to excel, you must be completely dedicated to your chosen sport. You must also be prepared to work hard and be willing to accept destructive criticism. Without 100% dedication, you won't be able to do this.” -Wilson Mizner 

 Read the rest for more inspiration.

HUSL Today Salutes

Its another athlete salute today. The twist is you will have to read on before I tell you who it is.

Countless buzzer beaters
Epic dunks
Incredible endorsements
Electric performances


What you should know now:
Birthdate: February 17, 1963
Birthplace: Brooklyn, NY
Position: Shooting Guard
3 retirements
2 Olympic Gold Medal Basketball teams

Here's a hint (ok a blatant giveaway): His individual accolades and accomplishments include:
5 MVP awards
10 All-NBA First Team designations
9 All-Defensive First Team honors
14 NBA All-Star Game appearances
3 All-Star Game MVP awards
10 scoring titles
3 steals titles
6 NBA Finals MVP awards
1988 NBA Defensive Player of the Year Award
He holds the NBA records for highest career regular-season scoring average (30.12 points per game) and highest career playoff scoring average (33.45 points per game). In 1999, he was named the greatest North American athlete of the 20th century by ESPN, and was second to Babe Ruth on the Associated Press's list of athletes of the century. He was elected to the Basketball Hall of Fame on April 6, 2009 and was inducted on September 11, 2009.

Read on to find out who it is.

Out the door...inspirational quote to start your day

Good morning ladies and gents! Happy Tuesday!

"Don't be afraid to give your best to what seemingly are small jobs.  Every time you conquer one it makes you that much stronger.  If you do the little jobs well, the big ones will tend to take care of themselves."
-Dale Carnegie

Instead of trying to climb a mountain today, start with avoiding pesky pebbles. Smart mountain climbers dont start with Mt. Everest. I challenge you to take on small tasks first and build your momentum in preparation for the larger tasks. Doing so will make the larger obstacles seem less intimidating. Let it marinate. 


Hit the ground running!


Feel free to chime in...

Happy Birthday "Sugar Ray" Leonard!

This week HUSL Today will feature a salute to a different athlete everyday. Hence, this week is officially "Athlete week." Remember the box? I'm stepping outside of it.  

"Sugar Ray" Leonard

Consider this another two-fer: A happy birthday wish, and a salute. Efficiency is key. "Sugar" Ray Leonard was born Ray Charles Leonard on May 17 1956, in Wilmington, North Carolina. Ray started boxing at the recreation center in Palmer Park in 1969 in a boxing program his older brother helped launch.

It didn't take long for Ray's talent to shine. In 1973, Ray won the National Golden Gloves Lightweight Championship, but lost to Randy Shields in the lightweight final of the National AAU Tournament. The following year, Leonard won the National Golden Gloves and National AAU Lightweight Championships.

During his career, Ray defeated such men as Thomas Hearns, Roberto Duran, Donnie Lalonde, Wilfred Benitez, Floyd Mayweather, Ayub Kalule, Dave Green, Armando Muniz, Tony Chiaverini and Pete Ranzany.

Check out footage of his bout against Davey Green.



More footage of Leonard in action (Leonard is in the white shorts)!
Leonard v. Hagler:


Leonard v. Hearns:

More info when you read more.

Music Monday: Jingle Edition

I had so much fun putting together last Monday's post that I decided to highlight some of my favorite commercial jingles. The lyrics are catchy and the images made me want to run out and buy the product asap! Note: This does not mean that I actually liked the product. It means the commercial was good enough to make me say to myself "hmmm maybe I will give product X a try. The perfect jingle is every advertiser's dream. This one is for all of my business majors (past, present and future).

Also, this is to make up for missing YouTube's 5th birthday. In just 5 years, the service has changed the world & the way we share information. With over a billion views every day I cannot imagine what the internet was like without it. Here in the U.S., 134.4 million viewers watched more than 13 billion videos on YouTube in December 2009, according to the latest data from comScore Video Metrix. In the U.K., 18.5 million unique visitors watch 2.4 billion videos on YouTube a month.

Happy 5th birthday YouTube! 

1. Mentos.

The fresh maker! 

2. Pepsi. From their numerous "taste battles" with Coca Cola to their unique features of our favorite celebs, Pepsi's marketing team has managed to keep my interest. Although I love all of their celeb commercials for different reasons, I'll have to give my top honors to a little girl with dimples.  I genuinely enjoyed watching her commercials and I was sad (in a "I wonder what crap they are gonna throw at me now" kinda way) when her commercials stopped.



Just because I love MJJ:


Tied for second are the following Pepsi ads:
Click here for Beyonce, Pink & Britney's Pepsi Ad
Click here for Beyonce's Pepsi Ad
Click here for Beyonce & J.Lo's Pepsi Ad

More when you read the rest.

Tequila and Salt

I received this email from my mom (who sends such messages very often, thanks mommy!) and I found it inspirational. It may be one you have received before but who says there is a limit on the number of times you read a positive message?

1. There are at least two people in this world that you would die for.

2. At least 15 people in this world love you in some way.

3. The only reason anyone would ever hate you (unless you're an evil person) is because they want to be just like you.

4. A smile from you can bring happiness to anyone, even if they don't like you.

5. Every night, SOMEONE thinks about you before they go to sleep.

6. You mean the world to someone. 

7. You are special and unique.

8. Someone that you don't even know exists loves you.

9. When you make the biggest mistake ever, something good comes from it.

10. When you think the world has turned its back on you take another look.

11. Always remember the compliments you received. Forget about the rude remarks.


... when life hands you Lemons, ask for Tequila & Salt and call your friends over!

Good friends are like stars...
You don't always see them,
But you know they are always there.

Don't just hold on to these inspirational words, pass them on!

Out the door...inspirational quote to start your day

Good morning ladies and gents! Happy Monday! I hope your weekend was productive, restful and invigorating. Its time to get back to work. Start by meditating on today's quote:

When in doubt, make a fool of yourself.  There is a microscopically thin line between being brilliantly creative and acting like the most gigantic idiot on earth.  So what the heck, leap. 
-Cynthia Heimel, "Lower Manhattan Survival Tactics"

Today's advice is simple: LEAP. If you have been teetering on the border, flirting with the border, its time to stop. Take a leap of faith today and see where it takes you!

Farwell Law & Order *tear*

You read it right, Law & Order has been cancelled after 20 seasons. Don't believe me? Click here. I've loved Law & Order since the first time I saw it roughly 7 years ago. I have been known to sit in my bed for hours with popcorn and chips by my bedside watching Law & Order marathons like nobody's business. No matter how many times I told myself I'd pull away, I was subsequently emotionally invested into another episode. I've also participated in debates where we tried to describe and mimic this sound with words. Further, my legal education thus far has allowed me to watch each episode with a newfound perspective.

"The full measure of the collective contributions made by Dick Wolf and his 'Law & Order' franchise over the last two decades to the success of NBC and Universal Media Studios cannot be overstated. The legacy of his original 'Law & Order' series will continue to make an impact like no other series before."

-Jeff Gaspin, Chairman of NBC Universal Television Entertainment.

Executive producer Dick Wolf had only this to say: "Never complain. Never explain."
Take a moment and reminsce with me.


I get a happy feeling when I hear:

"In the criminal justice system, the people are represented by two separate yet equally important groups. The police who investigate the crime and the district attorneys who prosecute the offenders. These are their stories."

'Law & Order' will have its series finale on Mon., May 24 at 10PM ET.

Farewell old friend.
Feel free to suggest another show to fill my void. Dont dare recommend CSI.
Bonus: Did you know NBC is owned by General Electric Co but it is expected to be folded into a $30 billion joint venture with No.1 U.S. cable operator Comcast Corp in a deal awaiting U.S. federal government approval?? Well you know now.

Friday Amusement

If you have ever been to a southern black Baptist church, you should find this amusing. If you havent, you should still find this amusing and follow up with at least one visit to a southern black Baptist church. It will change your life. Tell them I sent you.






Rickey Smiley is one of my favorites. I love his prank calls too.

Out the door...inspirational quote to start your day

TGIF
TGIF
TGIF!
Wooooo good morning folks! I'm in a great mood today and its mostly because its Friday and I'm a day closer to the SATC 2 premiere! I have hardly worked worked hard all week and I vowed to reward myself today if I ended the week with a genuinely positive attitude. My reward you ask? An extra mile on the treadmill.  I encourage all of you to start a cycle of challenging yourself to step outside of your comfort zone followed by positive rewards for a job well done. Since I feel you judging me, I'll admit on the page it sounds a little "Scooby doo" but it works. Some day you will understand. Moving on. As we approach the weekend, I have decided a longer out the door quote necessary:

Life is too precious to worry about stupid things.
So have fun, get drunk, and fall in love.
Say what you feel and do what you want to do.
Regret nothing and don't let people who don't matter
Bring You Down

Its simple. Life is too short to spend it unhappy and stuck in a box. Step outside of your box, live your life and focus on what makes YOU happy. In the end, your obituary will feature things about how you lived your life not how others would have wanted you to live. Dont waste time holding grudges or dealing with drama. Remember for every minute you spend upset, you lose 60 seconds you could have spent smiling. Put a thin coat of vaseline on your teeth if you need help continuing to smile. Word to beauty queens.


SN: A true fan doesnt jump ship after a bad game. #TeamLebron!

HUSL Today Salutes

Charles Hamilton Houston

Image source: http://chhlawinstitute.org/images/CharlesHamiltonHouston.jpg

Charles Hamilton Houston was born on September 3, 1895 in Washington, DC. Houston started at Dunbar High school and then matriculated to Amherst College in 1911. He was elected to the Phi Beta Kappa honor society,and graduated as valedictorian in 1915. He returned to DC to teach at Howard University. As the US entered World War I, Houston joined the then racially segregated U. S. Army as an officer and was sent to France. He returned to the US in 1919, and began attending Harvard Law School. As a member of the Harvard Law Review, Houston became the review's first African American editor; he graduated Harvard cum laude.

[The] Negro lawyer must be trained as a social engineer and group interpreter. Due to the Negro's social and political condition . . . the Negro lawyer must be prepared to anticipate, guide and interpret his group advancement. . . . [Moreover, he must act as] business advisor . . . for the protection of the scattered resources possessed or controlled by the group. . . . He must provide more ways and means for holding within the group the income now flowing through it.

In 1924 he began to teach part time at Howard University School of Law, then a part-time night school. In 1929, the Howard University Trustees recreated Howard University School of law as a full-time day school and put Houston in charge as the Resident Vice-Dean. Since Houston had the responsibilities of a dean he was dean in all but title. During Houston's six year tenure, he oversaw the process that led to the school being accredited by the American Bar Association and meeting the standards for being admitted to the the Association of American Law Schools.Additionally, Howard Law had become a premiere law school for African American training almost a quarter of the nation's black law students. Houston was also a mentor to Thurgood Marshall, who argued Brown v. Board of Education and was later appointed to the Supreme Court.

Houston is the brains behind the strategy to end Jim Crow by first attacking unequal education. By demonstrating the failure of states to even try to live up to the 1896 rule of "separate but equal," Houston hoped to finally overturn the Plessy v. Ferguson ruling that had given birth to that phrase.

(My favorite part-as if you asked) Houston designed a strategy of attacking segregation in law schools — forcing states to either create costly parallel law schools or integrate the existing ones. The strategy had hidden benefits: since law students were predominantly male, Houston sought to neutralize the age-old argument that allowing blacks to attend white institutions would lead to miscegenation, or "race-mixing". He also reasoned that judges deciding the cases might be more sympathetic to plaintiffs who were pursuing careers in law. Finally, by challenging segregation in graduate schools, the NAACP lawyers would bypass the inflammatory issue of miscegenation among young children.

Image source: http://www.law.harvard.edu/news/images-cms/king.jpg
Find out more when you read the rest. 

Tell us how you REALLY feel...has King James' rep taken a hit?

On TNT’s post-game show, Charles Barkley had this to say:

“I’ve got to wonder about LeBron James’ mindset...Remember how he played in Game 3 – attack, attack, attack? This [should’ve been] an attack game. … I’m 100 percent disappointed, not by the fact he didn’t have a good game but because of his mentality. Tonight was the biggest game of the season, and I didn’t see the aggression I needed from an MVP at all.”

Let me start by saying I've been a huge Lebron fan (granted it started with a crush, I feel you judging me and I dont care) since he was drafted into the NBA in 2003 at age 18. I remember the press swirling around him calling him the $100 million man. My mom to bought me his shoes. I received his Cavs jersey for my birthday. I found myself watching more basketball because it was more interesting to me. Lebron was a fresh face (along with Melo & others, but this post isn't about them) and he was exciting to watch. You get the point. Analysts combed over his every play and I remember his first triple double like it was yesterday. It seemed like he would never escape the Jordan comparisons.

He dons the number 23.
He is faster than guards.
He outweighs centers.
He has scored 43 points while also putting up 12 rebounds and 11 assists.

Granted, I've always felt like Lebron's supporting cast has held him back. For the record, this is the reason I do not entertain comparisons between Lebron &Kobe. As bad as Game 5 was with the Cavs losing 120-88 on their home floor, I think James can still salvage this season by doing what he does best - drive to the hole with reckless abandonment and dictate the game. Although he has been compared to many of the NBA greats like Jordan and Bird, I think the comparisons fail to admit King James still has a lot to learn.

I can see his frustration but I cannot hide my disappointment in his performance during game 5.

The kid wants a ring. I wonder if he will get one playing with the Cavs? Should he stay or should he go? I think about the lessons I've learned about sticking through adversity to see better days. I think about  my favorite player of all time Mike Jordan who played for the Bulls from 85-98 and although he had some tough times, he stuck it out.

There is no doubt in my mind, James will still get a great contract & his career is still at a high considering all of his accomplishments and his potential. With everyone taking a shot a King James, I'm starting to wonder if his performance in the finals has damaged his reputation as the King.

Its your turn to share your thoughts. Has King James stumbled from his throne? OR Is this just another severe case of the sports analyst blues? Tell us how you REALLY feel. Inquiring minds want to know.


Note: I cannot continue to hold back. I let this post sit in my draft folder because I am in no way a sports analyst nor do I claim to be an expert on sports. That doesnt stop me from having an opinion. I welcome yours.