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Showing posts from March, 2012

365 Thought Provoking Questions. Answered: #130-145

130. Why do you matter? I matter because there are people that love, care, and value me for who I am. From my wife, my parents, my friends, those who I've come across in my life, and kids who I have coached. 131. How have you changed in the last five years? How have I not changed? Sorry for the rhetorical question-answer, but it is pretty obvious. I've graduated from college and grad school and have gotten engaged and married for starters. The most important change has been my maturity and growth as an adult. Also, I'm a little less naive in believing in others, and overall, much more confident in myself as a person. 132. What are you sure of in your life? I'm sure that I am not afraid of death. I'm sure of my home for eternity. Everything else, I'm learning and realizing on the fly.

Dome Pondering Movie Review: 50/50 (2011)

What is it about? The life changing process, struggles, and humor a young man goes through in his battle with a cancer diagnosis. Who is in it? Joseph Gordon-Levitt - Adam Seth Rogan - Kyle Anna Kendrick - Katherine

Pondering Picture #20

Courtesy: riveraveblues.com - I found this online and thought it was insanely hilarious.

Dome Pondering Celebrates 500!

It's quite amazing to believe that this is indeed the 500th post here on the DP. It seems like just yesterday (yes, I'm using that phrase) that the DP was jump started again in 2006 after a 2004 crash that wiped out several hundred previously posted thoughts. Posts that are now long gone, somewhere floating in blogger heaven, that will never be read again. Following the crash, I vowed to host this very blog on a site with the capability to not only withstand my vision for it, but archive in a way that such a catastrophe can never happen again. And with that came the Blogger era of Dome Pondering. An era that today celebrates 500 posts of bringing to you thoughts, reviews, debates, rants, pictures, imports, poems, and various other writings that I have found interesting in this race called life. An era, which I've mentioned before in Year in Reviews, has grown tremendously over the years in content, readership, Google searches, and overall interest.

The MF Life Rings Creativity, Anticipation, and Excitement

There are very few musical albums that I find myself anticipating these days. Gone are the days when I counted down the days, searched the internet for leaks, or simply would grasp every hearsay and rumor about impending releases, or as us urban kids would say, "when that album dropped". Now, I seem to take album releases in stride. No anticipation. No frenzy. No child-like excitement.  I'm not sure if this is due to the new age of iTunes and downloads or simply just a growing disinterest in today's music. I have found a significant changed in my listening from the days of intense hip-hop, to now finding artists like Coldplay, Adele, and Kings of Leon racking up hits on my playlists. Hip-hop, this urban kid's once go-to choice for expression, is now a river run dry. And I blame it much on today's artists that lack the creativity, originality, and heart hip-hop had in years past. Yes, I sound old, but part of me feel this is more fact than opinion.

2012 Bucket List - #16 Go On A Date With My Wife

#16 - Go On A Date With My Wife It has been forever ever since yours truly has went on a date. After almost seven years with the same woman, and now over six months of marriage, the concept of dating seems foreign. I know, I'm getting old. The thought of looking your best, being cordial, and doing whatever it takes to impress the other person now seem foreign. There aren't many layers to protect the real me from being revealed left in our relationship, and vice-versa. And while that is a good thing, some times the feeling of mystery, romance, and to be honest, an overall good time is now few and far between.  Somewhere along the way, that spontaneity and adventurous spirit is placed in a choke hold by life, responsibilities, and even the worries of the future. I met the tag-team partner, my nickname for my wife to those of you new to the DP, in college. And we all know, in college, dates aren't real dates. When you're poor, broke, insecure, and tr

Same Old Script With The Trayvon Martin Case

Sadly, it seems like these stories raise their ugly heads more often these days. Another young, black male dead. And the killer, off the hook without an investigation or any sort of stiff interrogation.  The story of Trayvon Martin is just another example of how racial injustice still exists in our communities, in our society, and even more worrisome, in our judicial system. In a nation where we strive every day to close the gaps between not just blacks and whites, but all racial groups, our government continues to send messages of our strides being insignificant.  The relationship between minorities and our law officials are a testament to this message. A relationship that is marred with disservice, betrayal, crookedness, injustice, and oversight for as long as we can remember has given and has entrenched a lack of trust between the two sides. And as a black male, I'd be the first person to admit several factors such as drugs in black neighborhoods and our failure to

Pondering Picture #19

Gallery Players Present, " A Rasin In The Sun "  A damn good performance that is very much recommended!

Jets Gain Role Model, Lose Fan's Confidence With Tebow Trade

I still don't get the trade for Tim Tebow.  As news broke yesterday morning that the New York Jets acquired the popular athlete, my first thought was, "why?" Now, twenty four hours removed, which included a minor setback, the announcement still leaves a question of intrigue, peculiarity, curiosity, and much head-scratching. After hearing Jets General Manager, Mike Tannenbaum, explain the expected role for Tebow - which involves several wildcat packages, and his reasoning for acquiring Tebow - to make it difficult for defenses to prepare for their varied offensive attack, I'm still left with a certain bewilderment.  Why?

365 Thought Provoking Questions. Answered: #114-129

114. How do you define success? I define success as being content with the person you are, your contribution to society, and your overall life. In no way does money, material things, status, and reputation define success. In some way, success and peace is relative. 115. If someone could tell you the exact day and time you are going to die, would you want them to tell you? I have a feeling the general consensus would be no from most people. However, part of me would indeed like to know. If I knew, I would cut through the fodder that we participate and endure in life, and truly live with the ones I love before my expiration date. Once again, we should live every day like our last, but sadly, we take it for granted. 116. If I could grant you one wish what would you wish for? I would wish that our society and human relations became more selfless and understanding.

Dome Pondering Movie Review: Blue Valentine (2010)

What is it about?  The journey of a married couple, their present, and how their past ultimately formed their relationship's future. Who is in it?  Ryan Gosling - Dean Michelle Williams - Cindy

2012 Bucket List - #8 Do Something I am Afraid Of

#8 - Do Something I am Afraid Of I've never explained my fear of mice here on the DP in great detail before. I've briefly mentioned it before in several posts including Unity Road Writings - Pre-Show Butterflies . I've never liked the little critters for several reasons, and I absolutely hate anything dealing with them. How the heck can a six foot - five inch grown man be afraid of such a tiny rodent? I can understand the judgmental, and yes, I admit, logical reasoning behind that question. It is quite ridiculous.  However, as someone that has gone through grad school labs here is my reasoning on mice:  Despite being blind, they are incredibly intelligent, which is why mice are experimented on so much.  They have an insane amount of fast twitch muscles, which is the cause for their insane quickness. They carry many diseases that can be contagious by close proximity alone.  So with the facts of them being smart, fast, and dangerous, I hope you can now

All Eyes Now On Carmelo

Credit: Ben Solomon; New York Times So here we go again. Another year. Another dilemma. More reasons to rant.  This time, my beloved New York Knicks have decided to part ways (I know you don't believe D'Antoni resigned) with Mike D'Antoni as their head coach. Following D'Antoni out the Garden door are his close friends and assistant coaches, Dan D'Antoni (his brother) and Phil Weber.  Now of course, this all follows the recent news this morning of Carmelo Anthony claiming to want a trade, and then pushing for the removal of D'Antoni and his infamous offensive system.  It is no secret that the Knicks have been playing atrociously as of late. 

Dome Pondering Movie Review: Crazy, Stupid, Love (2011)

What is it about?  After his wife asks him for a divorce, a middle-aged man looks to rediscover himself and pick up women with the help of a womanizing younger man.  Who is in it?  Steve Carrell - Cal Weaver Ryan Gosling - Jacob Palmer Julianne Moore - Emily Weaver Emma Stone - Hannah

Dome Pondering Movie Review: A Better Life (2011)

What is it about?  In an attempt to provide a better life for his son, an illegal immigrant in East L.A. struggles amidst issues of immigration, neighborhood gang life, and financial woes.  Who is in it?  Demian Bichir - Carlos Galindo Jose Julian - Luis Galindo

365 Thought Provoking Questions. Answered: #98-113

98. What is the most important thing you could do right now in your personal life? The most important thing I could do is continue to improve and not settle for mediocrity and complacency. Continuing to find that personal drive to take steps forward spiritually, physically, mentally, and emotionally is very important overall. 99. If you could ask one person, alive or dead, only one question, who would you ask and what would you ask? My one question would be to the Reverend Dr. Martin Luther King Jr., and I would cheat by asking him a two part question. Has your dream been realized? And if not, how can we continue to get there?  100. If happiness was the national currency, what kind of work would make you rich? Any type of work that involves serving the general public and enhancing their life through physical activity and/or athletic participation. Hmmm...sounds like a resume objective headline.

Lohan, LINspired or Scared Straight?

So Lindsay Lohan is attempting a comeback?  After viewing her sit-down interview with Matt Lauer on The Today Show , Lohan announced her desire to resuscitate her career in a way that is productive, and not the tabloid covered, TMZ filled, and head-shaking reputation she has earned over the last few years.   Whether you cared or not, it's very hard to neglect not being aware of this young adult, who began this descent at the still-young-age of eighteen. We all remember hearing about her on the nightly news or even CNN with the pictures of fall. Her descent due to drugs and jail, which is co-signed by her sudden change of went being debated amongst every teenage boys top ten list to becoming grossly unrecognizable, is borderline tragic.

Dome Pondering Movie Review: Casino Royale (2006)

What is it about?  In his first mission, James Bond must enter and win a high stakes poker tournament  at Casino Royale in Montenegro in order to get a lead on the funding of worldwide terror organization.  Who is in it?  Daniel Craig - James Bond Eva Green - Vespa Lynd Mads Mikkelson - Le Chiffe