Follow this link to find out more about the supreme court ruling for what many have called, "Obamacare." Americans will be mandated to get health insurance by 2014 or pay a penalty. The decision was split 5-4.
http://www.reuters.com/article/2012/06/28/us-usa-healthcare-court-idUSBRE85R06420120628
Let me know what you think! How does this affect YOU? Another thought is how will this affect health issues that are plaguing or communities in the long term? How does this landmark victory affect Obama in this election year?
Thursday, June 28, 2012
Wednesday, June 20, 2012
Birmingham Series: Final Post! A Must READ!
The Opportunity
Years passed and I entered Ramsay High School. At this school, I knew I would find quality instructors to teach me lessons, but I was set to learn life lessons as well. In my sophomore year, I joined SpeakFirst Debate team and learned more about how to articulate my point about a wide range of topics. This program was set to gear students towards college, but honestly that wasn’t something to which I was looking forward. I didn’t want to go anywhere I would have to embrace change. SpeakFirst was something that should have gotten more attention than the homicides and violence that graced the news headlines every day. This program sent my graduating class and will send future graduating classes of the program to any of the three colleges in the University of Alabama system on a full tuition scholarship. Birmingham has granted me so much opportunity. I talked to my mother about the announcement of the scholarship over the phone after the meeting. “Mom, they announced we would get full scholarships to college for SpeakFirst!” I could almost hear her smile through the phone, “I am so proud of you,” she said. At that point the tears from my heart used my eyes as a medium to come through and I cried. My heart smiled. This meant more to me than just a way to further my education. It was a way for me to do so without placing the financial obligations on my mom.
When I was freshman at UA, I was convinced after a month I just couldn’t stay. I felt like a speck of sand across the beach, because there were so many people. I wanted to go back to the place I called home, but then I would have been quitting the chance to see a more global world. I am very aware there is a world outside of my safe haven, and that is why I pursued my education. Birmingham has given me tears, photographic moments atop the mountain and beautiful people in my life. It has given me good friendships and bad breakups. It has granted me the opportunity to attend college through the SpeakFirst program, but most of all it has given me the desire to give to the city all it has given to me. I believe my grandmother’s statement encompasses the true essence of southern culture and hospitality. There is so much in a smile and a wave and that’s what you get here in Birmingham alongside some good food and even better stories. It took me going away to truly realize Birmingham is more than just a city, for me, Birmingham is home.
Tribute to my city!
Thursday, June 14, 2012
News: Chris Brown and Drake fight in NYC club
Chris Brown, Drake Fight At NYC Nightclub Over Rihanna - The Huffington Post
Can Rhianna really think this sends a good message? In this light, it makes her appear to get around a lot. I don't think this is great press for any of these celebs. What do you think?
Religious/ Inspirational: "The Course I'm Taking"
The Course I’m Taking
Although my weary eyes are cloudy and blurred by the tear drops that are trying to push their way out,
I still make every attempt to navigate down this road called life.
I know that if I wasn’t a child of God,
my life would be filled with so much more pain and strife.
So I continue with the course I’m taking.
The devil tries to gain an upper hand in the attempts of my soul’s breaking.
But, my story is not written by me.
I am merely an instrument of my heavenly father you see.
He has granted me a path and given me the navigation tools,
and when I am lost he reminds me of all of life’s rules.
Perseverance, prayer and a strong faith in the unseen
will navigate your course to a destination you won’t believe.
It happens to all of us, where we prepare to go toe to toe with life as our opponent in the battle ring,
and our adrenaline rushes as we hear the “ding! ding! ding!”
But, before we can stop life from its first swing to our cores
we must take off the boxing gloves - and realize the battle is not yours.
At times, you may make an attempt and find that discouragement is what you receive back,
you didn’t do it their way so talent you must lack.
At times, you may struggle through one of life’s situations and through numerous observations you come to the same realization that you are just tired...of life’s same results.
A wise person once said, “Insanity- is doing the same thing over and over and expecting different results.”
Well, if you just try God and let him navigate the course you are taking that seems so tough - and let him use you as his instrument to sound your trumpet of praise then maybe life wouldn’t be so rough.
Don’t do the same thing you been doing,
try God and I promise your life won’t be the same.
Everything around you will be rearranged.
Those people who tried to discourage you will be your footstool
as you navigate to your heavenly destination.
Those life’s struggles won’t be stumbling blocks,
they will be building blocks when you reap the rewards of determination.
Your situation on the course you're taking is going the way it is now,
because you are trying to navigate.
Instead, sit back...let Go of the wheel and let God drive....and watch how quickly you dry those weary eyes.
Although my weary eyes are cloudy and blurred by the tear drops that are trying to push their way out,
I still make every attempt to navigate down this road called life.
I know that if I wasn’t a child of God,
my life would be filled with so much more pain and strife.
So I continue with the course I’m taking.
The devil tries to gain an upper hand in the attempts of my soul’s breaking.
But, my story is not written by me.
I am merely an instrument of my heavenly father you see.
He has granted me a path and given me the navigation tools,
and when I am lost he reminds me of all of life’s rules.
Perseverance, prayer and a strong faith in the unseen
will navigate your course to a destination you won’t believe.
It happens to all of us, where we prepare to go toe to toe with life as our opponent in the battle ring,
and our adrenaline rushes as we hear the “ding! ding! ding!”
But, before we can stop life from its first swing to our cores
we must take off the boxing gloves - and realize the battle is not yours.
At times, you may make an attempt and find that discouragement is what you receive back,
you didn’t do it their way so talent you must lack.
At times, you may struggle through one of life’s situations and through numerous observations you come to the same realization that you are just tired...of life’s same results.
A wise person once said, “Insanity- is doing the same thing over and over and expecting different results.”
Well, if you just try God and let him navigate the course you are taking that seems so tough - and let him use you as his instrument to sound your trumpet of praise then maybe life wouldn’t be so rough.
Don’t do the same thing you been doing,
try God and I promise your life won’t be the same.
Everything around you will be rearranged.
Those people who tried to discourage you will be your footstool
as you navigate to your heavenly destination.
Those life’s struggles won’t be stumbling blocks,
they will be building blocks when you reap the rewards of determination.
Your situation on the course you're taking is going the way it is now,
because you are trying to navigate.
Instead, sit back...let Go of the wheel and let God drive....and watch how quickly you dry those weary eyes.
Wednesday, June 13, 2012
Tuesday, June 12, 2012
NEWS UPDATE: Auburn Suspect still not found
Authorities in Montgomery, Ala., on Tuesday defended their hunt for Desmonte Leonard, the man charged with fatally shooting three people at a party near Auburn University, NBC station WSFA in Auburn reported.
"We have not rested, we will not rest," Auburn Police Chief Tommy Dawson said at a news conference Tuesday. "If he's out there watching today, I implore him, this has gone on long enough."
Read more about this developing story at:
http://usnews.msnbc.msn.com/_news/2012/06/12/12186053-police-on-auburn-shooting-suspect-were-going-to-apprehend-him?lite
Thursday, June 7, 2012
Short story: I know him!
Prelude
“Run! Run! Move! Move!” The EMT yelled at the patients in the hallway.
The ambulance pulled into the back of the hospital and the EMT’s ran with the stretcher to the operating room to get the bullet out. It was a toddler. He couldn’t have been more than five. I stood there watching and the bullet penetrated my heart as well. My heart bleed for that kid even though I sat in the waiting room awaiting my own fate.
“Move out of the way!” Another EMT yelled.
The little boy screamed from pain and it saddened me even more and then I saw them take him into the operating room. I didn’t know him, but for some reason I just had to know if he was ok. I went and talked to the lady at the desk, who had become my friend after I had been so in and out of the hospital in the past month.
“Stacey, what happened to that kid? He looked like he was five at the most,” I said with concern.
“Girl, he was five. He was shot,” she said in her typical hospital tone. She said it so calmly and without emotion it seemed as though working in the hospital had made her unsusceptible to the fact that this happened. For her, it seemed like since she had seen this so much it was a typical reality she accepted. I couldn’t accept it.
“What happened? Does it say?” I said.
“I’m not really supposed to say, but it seems like the home issue was domestic. The father fired at the mom and the toddler got in the line of fire,” she said.
“That’s horrible, Oh my God!” I said.
“It is, but sadly enough it happens. Why are you so concerned though? Do you know him?” she said.
“No, I don’t, but I have to though. I just have to after knowing what happened.” She was definitely lying about not knowing this family.
“Run! Run! Move! Move!” The EMT yelled at the patients in the hallway.
The ambulance pulled into the back of the hospital and the EMT’s ran with the stretcher to the operating room to get the bullet out. It was a toddler. He couldn’t have been more than five. I stood there watching and the bullet penetrated my heart as well. My heart bleed for that kid even though I sat in the waiting room awaiting my own fate.
“Move out of the way!” Another EMT yelled.
The little boy screamed from pain and it saddened me even more and then I saw them take him into the operating room. I didn’t know him, but for some reason I just had to know if he was ok. I went and talked to the lady at the desk, who had become my friend after I had been so in and out of the hospital in the past month.
“Stacey, what happened to that kid? He looked like he was five at the most,” I said with concern.
“Girl, he was five. He was shot,” she said in her typical hospital tone. She said it so calmly and without emotion it seemed as though working in the hospital had made her unsusceptible to the fact that this happened. For her, it seemed like since she had seen this so much it was a typical reality she accepted. I couldn’t accept it.
“What happened? Does it say?” I said.
“I’m not really supposed to say, but it seems like the home issue was domestic. The father fired at the mom and the toddler got in the line of fire,” she said.
“That’s horrible, Oh my God!” I said.
“It is, but sadly enough it happens. Why are you so concerned though? Do you know him?” she said.
“No, I don’t, but I have to though. I just have to after knowing what happened.” She was definitely lying about not knowing this family.
The Marks...
She uses her rag to ice the bruises from last night,
it was a horrible fight.
She walked in from a good night with the girls,
just a little too late,
and upon shutting the door
she walked into her fate.
He yelled, she screamed.
and his target was her face.
She tried to fight back,
but his strength dominated that place.
She cried.
Her eyes filled with tears.
It was only the first time,
I mean they argued before, but him hitting her never crossed her mind.
After they pulled and tugged
and she screamed in agony and pain.
He laid in bed and said, " I love you."
And she said, "I can't say the same."
He hit her one last time, for that last remark
and she laid there, until it was no longer dark.
When she woke the next morn,
he began to nurse her wounds.
She couldn't understand how he could change so soon.
Until one day she tried to leave because it was what she had to do.
The make-up could only cover so much,
there was not just a bruise on one eye but two.
She dried her tears and faced her fears
and then she left town.
No looking back.
He looked for her far and near, but
she could not be found.
Now...she's happily married who put back together the pieces of her heart,
and him? he's behind bars where he should have been from the start.
No man- or woman - should harm the one they claim to love
with such domestic abuse.
So now she tells her story to others about her love's misuse.
She warns women of the signs of control,
"Why are you wearing that dress?" "You don't need that hairstyle, why you trying to look the best?"
She tells her story,
and she counts her victories when she is able to see.
The look in women's eyes when they realize... "Hey, she's talking to me."
~BK
it was a horrible fight.
She walked in from a good night with the girls,
just a little too late,
and upon shutting the door
she walked into her fate.
He yelled, she screamed.
and his target was her face.
She tried to fight back,
but his strength dominated that place.
She cried.
Her eyes filled with tears.
It was only the first time,
I mean they argued before, but him hitting her never crossed her mind.
After they pulled and tugged
and she screamed in agony and pain.
He laid in bed and said, " I love you."
And she said, "I can't say the same."
He hit her one last time, for that last remark
and she laid there, until it was no longer dark.
When she woke the next morn,
he began to nurse her wounds.
She couldn't understand how he could change so soon.
Until one day she tried to leave because it was what she had to do.
The make-up could only cover so much,
there was not just a bruise on one eye but two.
She dried her tears and faced her fears
and then she left town.
No looking back.
He looked for her far and near, but
she could not be found.
Now...she's happily married who put back together the pieces of her heart,
and him? he's behind bars where he should have been from the start.
No man- or woman - should harm the one they claim to love
with such domestic abuse.
So now she tells her story to others about her love's misuse.
She warns women of the signs of control,
"Why are you wearing that dress?" "You don't need that hairstyle, why you trying to look the best?"
She tells her story,
and she counts her victories when she is able to see.
The look in women's eyes when they realize... "Hey, she's talking to me."
~BK
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