Money, Power, Respect: The Key to Life?

I went to the fast food restaurant "The Five Guys" for the 1st time today. If it sounds familiar, it's the place President Obama took Brian Jennings to during his "Inside the Obama White House" special on NBC (or ABC) a little while ago. The burgers are OFFICIAL by the way and the whole vibe of the place is very reminiscent of "In N Out".

Anyways, while I was thinking about Obama and his trip to get burgers for everyone, I thought about the President of the US being the most powerful man in the world, but the most powerful man in the world only makes $200,000 per year (I say only purely in comparison to the salary you might expect one who wields that kind of power would make. In NO WAY am I implying that 200 stacks isn't a lot of money). Then I thought about Bill Gates, who is currently worth an estimated $40 billion dollars. Which one would you rather be, the most powerful man in the world (Obama) or the richest man in the world a la Bill Gates?

While my first thought was Obama, whose influence is felt by every person on the planet, I had to ultimately go with Mr. Gates. If you are one of those who ascribe to the theory that money is power (like moi) then $40 billion is a WHOLE LOTTA POWER. Now while Bill Gates doesn't have the power to draft new healthcare legislation, he does have the power to decide to offer universal healthcare to the entire eastern seaboard. Game. Set. Match. Mr. Gates. Your thoughts?

Music: The Universal Language

Today I went with my mom to the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in Cleveland. Now I usually pride myself on the diversity of my musical tastes, but they had an exhibit for Bruce Springsteen and I just couldn't get into it. Now I appreciate songs like "Born in the USA", but I won't go as far to say that I am a fan of "The Boss". And while I do appreciate the greatness of The Rolling Stones and The Beatles, I just wasn't too interested in different wardrobes Mick Jagger wore while on tour in 1872 (a joke people) or a piano John Lennon played on (God bless the dead). I was feeling a little "left out" until I came upon a small section dedicated to Hip-Hop's place in music history. While I understand that Hip-Hop as a culture is still very very new, I was happy to see something that was familiar. It was funny to see some Air Forces that Jay-Z wore in the 90's in a museum exhibit, but they guy is a living legend whether you wanna admit it or not. I think the best part of the museum was a movie you can watch that goes through all of the inductees in the HOF and plays excerpts of their music. I got goosebumps watching Woodstock footage of Joni Mitchell and watching 9 year old Michael sing his heart out in front of the Jackson 5. That movie reminded me of the power of music. It is a virtual timestamp. It can transport you to specific times and places with only a few notes. It took me on an emotional roller coaster, enjoying the timeless music of Jefferson Airplane, but also lamenting at the circumstances of their untimely deaths. The video reminded me why so many people want to be in the industry and why, even in the situation I am in, I feel blessed to be a small part of "the industry". I absolutely love love love music.

Hilarious

I just thought about this video today...had to post it...warning: there is cursing

Death

This recent spree of celebrity deaths (MJ, Farrah Fawcett, Billy Mays, Steve McNair) has really got me thinking about how fragile life is. I think about what I have done with my life to this point and how many, if any, lives I have touched with my time here. I wonder what people would say about me if I were to not wake up one day (knock on wood). I cannot without a doubt say that most people would have great things to say and that troubles me. I have always felt there is something really great I am supposed to do on this Earth before I go, but I pray I figure that out before it is too late. I pray that everyone I call a friend would call me the same, and that I become better at truly showing gratitude to those who saw the potential for greatness within me and helped me without asking for reciprocation. I pray one day that potential that those people have recognized becomes realized. I pray to one day become a blessing to this world and not someone who merely "exists". Amen.

Current Music Playlist

Just a few that I'm really feelin right now

Maino ft. T-Pain - All The Above
Mary Mary - God In Me
Jeremih - Break Up to Make Up
Jeremih - Imma Star
Fabolous ft. Jeremih - It's My Time
The Dream - Fancy
Michael Jackson - EVERYTHING

Family

I'm currently in Ohio seeing my family (most of us are in Ohio). Everytime I come back, I get an overwhelming sense of self-confidence and reassurance. As far as self-confidence, I don't think outwardly I have any problems with it, but I know that sometimes my self-confidence comes across as arrogance and that is an internal issue of self-confidence. Internally, self-confidence isn't spoken, it's felt. I know we could always use reassurance, especially when we are at somewhat of a crossroads in our lives, which I feel like I'm in right now. Seeing family reminds me that no matter what, whichever path I choose, however I may feel about myself, there are those that love me absolutely unconditionally. It is my goal for this year to strengthen my communication with them while I'm away so I can tap into those feelings when I'm not around. When I see them, I see me. I see six of us sleeping feet to head in a twin bed. Baths in the kitchen sink. I see times where all we had was our love for each other and us being together to make it through. I see how my cousins' faces light up when they see me, the one in Atlanta "doing big things." I feel my need to make it happen not only for me, but for them. I see my little brothers, who are so excited to have an older brother and want to follow me everywhere I go and never want me to leave. I see a lot of things. But the most important thing I see is the love we all have for each other and how I know that love is NEVER going anywhere.

"What greater thing is there for human souls than to feel that they are joined for life - to be with each other in silent unspeakable memories." ~George Eliot

Introduction

I've decided to make this my only real outlet on the internet for whatever I feel like I want to blog about at the time...I've shut down myspace, facebook, twitter, linkedin, etc...I think it's time for me to spend some serious time working on self (and bringing whomever reads these along with me) and my social networking persona was getting a little shall we say "out of hand". Social networking sites allow people to be whomever they want to be and to create their own virtual world that can, if abused, be confused for reality. Now to let me start off (again) on the right note, a little about me:

Born in Ohio, spent a little time in Indiana, then spent most of my formative years in sunny Southern California. So if you ask, I'm from Cali. Currently living in Atlanta. College graduate that has gone on to become one of the many people in Atlanta who say "I'm in the music industry" when asked the question, "What do you do?" This also, as many in Atlanta would logically presume, means my financial situation isn't in the best shape, thus creating a daily psychological war between the logical self which asks, "What if it doesn't pan out?", and my "dreamer self" which is asks, "What if it does?" (My plan B is law school and I'm giving myself until Fall 2010 for this music thing to work or it's back to the classroom.)

I'd like to think I'm somewhat good looking, a lil' bit charming, and might I even say I have a sense of humor when I want have one. I have the ability to be extremely likeable (again, when I want to be). In general temperament, I will admit that I can sometimes be two VERY different people (which I will also admit is usually due to me not being very sensitive to my own emotions). As far as faults, I have a tendency to not let the people that I care about know just how much I care about them, something I am working on. Also, my biggest fault is I have been known to lie to people I care about. There I said it. I have been less than truthful to everyone that I have found truly important in my life and absolutely brutally honest to those that I don't. And on top of that, I'm not a very good liar, so I always get put on blast sooner or later. I can't really explain why I do it, although much of it is to avoid accountability, but my mom says I have inherited it from pops and it's something he took with him to his grave. I am extremely fearful of meeting the same fate. I'm trying to take it one day at a time, but honestly, it's rough...

Well that's me. Now you know more about me than a lot of people I know. I don't like to talk about myself that much. Introspection can be painful sometimes. Consider yourself properly introduced :)