August 29th 2008

This makes my 200th post!! Enjoy!!
Just some thoughts on the DNC, our future and Twitter.com
Thanks for watching my video!!

August 29th, 2008 from Sincere on Vimeo.

"The American Promise" By Barack Obama

Here is video and the full transcript from last night’s Democratic national convention as delivered be the presidential nominee Sen. Barack Obama.

To Chairman Dean and my great friend Dick Durbin; and to all my fellow citizens of this great nation;

With profound gratitude and great humility, I accept your nomination for the presidency of the United States.

Let me express my thanks to the historic slate of candidates who accompanied me on this journey, and especially the one who traveled the farthest – a champion for working Americans and an inspiration to my daughters and to yours — Hillary Rodham Clinton. To President Clinton, who last night made the case for change as only he can make it; to Ted Kennedy, who embodies the spirit of service; and to the next Vice President of the United States, Joe Biden, I thank you. I am grateful to finish this journey with one of the finest statesmen of our time, a man at ease with everyone from world leaders to the conductors on the Amtrak train he still takes home every night.

To the love of my life, our next First Lady, Michelle Obama, and to Sasha and Malia – I love you so much, and I’m so proud of all of you.

Four years ago, I stood before you and told you my story – of the brief union between a young man from Kenya and a young woman from Kansas who weren’t well-off or well-known, but shared a belief that in America, their son could achieve whatever he put his mind to.

It is that promise that has always set this country apart – that through hard work and sacrifice, each of us can pursue our individual dreams but still come together as one American family, to ensure that the next generation can pursue their dreams as well.

That’s why I stand here tonight. Because for two hundred and thirty two years, at each moment when that promise was in jeopardy, ordinary men and women – students and soldiers, farmers and teachers, nurses and janitors — found the courage to keep it alive.

We meet at one of those defining moments – a moment when our nation is at war, our economy is in turmoil, and the American promise has been threatened once more.

Tonight, more Americans are out of work and more are working harder for less. More of you have lost your homes and even more are watching your home values plummet. More of you have cars you can’t afford to drive, credit card bills you can’t afford to pay, and tuition that’s beyond your reach.

These challenges are not all of government’s making. But the failure to respond is a direct result of a broken politics in Washington and the failed policies of George W. Bush.

America, we are better than these last eight years. We are a better country than this.

This country is more decent than one where a woman in Ohio, on the brink of retirement, finds herself one illness away from disaster after a lifetime of hard work.

This country is more generous than one where a man in Indiana has to pack up the equipment he’s worked on for twenty years and watch it shipped off to China, and then chokes up as he explains how he felt like a failure when he went home to tell his family the news.

We are more compassionate than a government that lets veterans sleep on our streets and families slide into poverty; that sits on its hands while a major American city drowns before our eyes.

Tonight, I say to the American people, to Democrats and Republicans and Independents across this great land – enough! This moment – this election – is our chance to keep, in the 21st century, the American promise alive. Because next week, in Minnesota, the same party that brought you two terms of George Bush and Dick Cheney will ask this country for a third. And we are here because we love this country too much to let the next four years look like the last eight. On November 4th, we must stand up and say: “Eight is enough.”

Now let there be no doubt. The Republican nominee, John McCain, has worn the uniform of our country with bravery and distinction, and for that we owe him our gratitude and respect. And next week, we’ll also hear about those occasions when he’s broken with his party as evidence that he can deliver the change that we need.

But the record’s clear: John McCain has voted with George Bush ninety percent of the time. Senator McCain likes to talk about judgment, but really, what does it say about your judgment when you think George Bush has been right more than ninety percent of the time? I don’t know about you, but I’m not ready to take a ten percent chance on change.

The truth is, on issue after issue that would make a difference in your lives – on health care and education and the economy – Senator McCain has been anything but independent. He said that our economy has made “great progress” under this President. He said that the fundamentals of the economy are strong. And when one of his chief advisors – the man who wrote his economic plan – was talking about the anxiety Americans are feeling, he said that we were just suffering from a “mental recession,” and that we’ve become, and I quote, “a nation of whiners.”

A nation of whiners? Tell that to the proud auto workers at a Michigan plant who, after they found out it was closing, kept showing up every day and working as hard as ever, because they knew there were people who counted on the brakes that they made. Tell that to the military families who shoulder their burdens silently as they watch their loved ones leave for their third or fourth or fifth tour of duty. These are not whiners. They work hard and give back and keep going without complaint. These are the Americans that I know.

Now, I don’t believe that Senator McCain doesn’t care what’s going on in the lives of Americans. I just think he doesn’t know. Why else would he define middle-class as someone making under five million dollars a year? How else could he propose hundreds of billions in tax breaks for big corporations and oil companies but not one penny of tax relief to more than one hundred million Americans? How else could he offer a health care plan that would actually tax people’s benefits, or an education plan that would do nothing to help families pay for college, or a plan that would privatize Social Security and gamble your retirement?

It’s not because John McCain doesn’t care. It’s because John McCain doesn’t get it.

For over two decades, he’s subscribed to that old, discredited Republican philosophy – give more and more to those with the most and hope that prosperity trickles down to everyone else. In Washington, they call this the Ownership Society, but what it really means is – you’re on your own. Out of work? Tough luck. No health care? The market will fix it. Born into poverty? Pull yourself up by your own bootstraps – even if you don’t have boots. You’re on your own.

Well it’s time for them to own their failure. It’s time for us to change America.

You see, we Democrats have a very different measure of what constitutes progress in this country.

We measure progress by how many people can find a job that pays the mortgage; whether you can put a little extra money away at the end of each month so you can someday watch your child receive her college diploma. We measure progress in the 23 million new jobs that were created when Bill Clinton was President – when the average American family saw its income go up $7,500 instead of down $2,000 like it has under George Bush.

We measure the strength of our economy not by the number of billionaires we have or the profits of the Fortune 500, but by whether someone with a good idea can take a risk and start a new business, or whether the waitress who lives on tips can take a day off to look after a sick kid without losing her job – an economy that honors the dignity of work.

The fundamentals we use to measure economic strength are whether we are living up to that fundamental promise that has made this country great – a promise that is the only reason I am standing here tonight.

Because in the faces of those young veterans who come back from Iraq and Afghanistan, I see my grandfather, who signed up after Pearl Harbor, marched in Patton’s Army, and was rewarded by a grateful nation with the chance to go to college on the GI Bill.

In the face of that young student who sleeps just three hours before working the night shift, I think about my mom, who raised my sister and me on her own while she worked and earned her degree; who once turned to food stamps but was still able to send us to the best schools in the country with the help of student loans and scholarships.

When I listen to another worker tell me that his factory has shut down, I remember all those men and women on the South Side of Chicago who I stood by and fought for two decades ago after the local steel plant closed.

And when I hear a woman talk about the difficulties of starting her own business, I think about my grandmother, who worked her way up from the secretarial pool to middle-management, despite years of being passed over for promotions because she was a woman. She’s the one who taught me about hard work. She’s the one who put off buying a new car or a new dress for herself so that I could have a better life. She poured everything she had into me. And although she can no longer travel, I know that she’s watching tonight, and that tonight is her night as well.

I don’t know what kind of lives John McCain thinks that celebrities lead, but this has been mine. These are my heroes. Theirs are the stories that shaped me. And it is on their behalf that I intend to win this election and keep our promise alive as President of the United States.

What is that promise?

It’s a promise that says each of us has the freedom to make of our own lives what we will, but that we also have the obligation to treat each other with dignity and respect.

It’s a promise that says the market should reward drive and innovation and generate growth, but that businesses should live up to their responsibilities to create American jobs, look out for American workers, and play by the rules of the road.

Ours is a promise that says government cannot solve all our problems, but what it should do is that which we cannot do for ourselves – protect us from harm and provide every child a decent education; keep our water clean and our toys safe; invest in new schools and new roads and new science and technology.

Our government should work for us, not against us. It should help us, not hurt us. It should ensure opportunity not just for those with the most money and influence, but for every American who’s willing to work.

That’s the promise of America – the idea that we are responsible for ourselves, but that we also rise or fall as one nation; the fundamental belief that I am my brother’s keeper; I am my sister’s keeper.

That’s the promise we need to keep. That’s the change we need right now. So let me spell out exactly what that change would mean if I am President.

Change means a tax code that doesn’t reward the lobbyists who wrote it, but the American workers and small businesses who deserve it.

Unlike John McCain, I will stop giving tax breaks to corporations that ship jobs overseas, and I will start giving them to companies that create good jobs right here in America.

I will eliminate capital gains taxes for the small businesses and the start-ups that will create the high-wage, high-tech jobs of tomorrow.

I will cut taxes – cut taxes – for 95% of all working families. Because in an economy like this, the last thing we should do is raise taxes on the middle-class.

And for the sake of our economy, our security, and the future of our planet, I will set a clear goal as President: in ten years, we will finally end our dependence on oil from the Middle East.

Washington’s been talking about our oil addiction for the last thirty years, and John McCain has been there for twenty-six of them. In that time, he’s said no to higher fuel-efficiency standards for cars, no to investments in renewable energy, no to renewable fuels. And today, we import triple the amount of oil as the day that Senator McCain took office.

Now is the time to end this addiction, and to understand that drilling is a stop-gap measure, not a long-term solution. Not even close.

As President, I will tap our natural gas reserves, invest in clean coal technology, and find ways to safely harness nuclear power. I’ll help our auto companies re-tool, so that the fuel-efficient cars of the future are built right here in America. I’ll make it easier for the American people to afford these new cars. And I’ll invest 150 billion dollars over the next decade in affordable, renewable sources of energy – wind power and solar power and the next generation of biofuels; an investment that will lead to new industries and five million new jobs that pay well and can’t ever be outsourced.

America, now is not the time for small plans.

Now is the time to finally meet our moral obligation to provide every child a world-class education, because it will take nothing less to compete in the global economy. Michelle and I are only here tonight because we were given a chance at an education. And I will not settle for an America where some kids don’t have that chance. I’ll invest in early childhood education. I’ll recruit an army of new teachers, and pay them higher salaries and give them more support. And in exchange, I’ll ask for higher standards and more accountability. And we will keep our promise to every young American – if you commit to serving your community or your country, we will make sure you can afford a college education.

Now is the time to finally keep the promise of affordable, accessible health care for every single American. If you have health care, my plan will lower your premiums. If you don’t, you’ll be able to get the same kind of coverage that members of Congress give themselves. And as someone who watched my mother argue with insurance companies while she lay in bed dying of cancer, I will make certain those companies stop discriminating against those who are sick and need care the most.

Now is the time to help families with paid sick days and better family leave, because nobody in America should have to choose between keeping their jobs and caring for a sick child or ailing parent.

Now is the time to change our bankruptcy laws, so that your pensions are protected ahead of CEO bonuses; and the time to protect Social Security for future generations.

And now is the time to keep the promise of equal pay for an equal day’s work, because I want my daughters to have exactly the same opportunities as your sons.

Now, many of these plans will cost money, which is why I’ve laid out how I’ll pay for every dime – by closing corporate loopholes and tax havens that don’t help America grow. But I will also go through the federal budget, line by line, eliminating programs that no longer work and making the ones we do need work better and cost less – because we cannot meet twenty-first century challenges with a twentieth century bureaucracy.

And Democrats, we must also admit that fulfilling America’s promise will require more than just money. It will require a renewed sense of responsibility from each of us to recover what John F. Kennedy called our “intellectual and moral strength.” Yes, government must lead on energy independence, but each of us must do our part to make our homes and businesses more efficient. Yes, we must provide more ladders to success for young men who fall into lives of crime and despair. But we must also admit that programs alone can’t replace parents; that government can’t turn off the television and make a child do her homework; that fathers must take more responsibility for providing the love and guidance their children need.

Individual responsibility and mutual responsibility – that’s the essence of America’s promise.

And just as we keep our keep our promise to the next generation here at home, so must we keep America’s promise abroad. If John McCain wants to have a debate about who has the temperament, and judgment, to serve as the next Commander-in-Chief, that’s a debate I’m ready to have.

For while Senator McCain was turning his sights to Iraq just days after 9/11, I stood up and opposed this war, knowing that it would distract us from the real threats we face. When John McCain said we could just “muddle through” in Afghanistan, I argued for more resources and more troops to finish the fight against the terrorists who actually attacked us on 9/11, and made clear that we must take out Osama bin Laden and his lieutenants if we have them in our sights. John McCain likes to say that he’ll follow bin Laden to the Gates of Hell – but he won’t even go to the cave where he lives.

And today, as my call for a time frame to remove our troops from Iraq has been echoed by the Iraqi government and even the Bush Administration, even after we learned that Iraq has a $79 billion surplus while we’re wallowing in deficits, John McCain stands alone in his stubborn refusal to end a misguided war.

That’s not the judgment we need. That won’t keep America safe. We need a President who can face the threats of the future, not keep grasping at the ideas of the past.

You don’t defeat a terrorist network that operates in eighty countries by occupying Iraq. You don’t protect Israel and deter Iran just by talking tough in Washington. You can’t truly stand up for Georgia when you’ve strained our oldest alliances. If John McCain wants to follow George Bush with more tough talk and bad strategy, that is his choice – but it is not the change we need.

We are the party of Roosevelt. We are the party of Kennedy. So don’t tell me that Democrats won’t defend this country. Don’t tell me that Democrats won’t keep us safe. The Bush-McCain foreign policy has squandered the legacy that generations of Americans — Democrats and Republicans – have built, and we are here to restore that legacy.

As Commander-in-Chief, I will never hesitate to defend this nation, but I will only send our troops into harm’s way with a clear mission and a sacred commitment to give them the equipment they need in battle and the care and benefits they deserve when they come home.

I will end this war in Iraq responsibly, and finish the fight against al Qaeda and the Taliban in Afghanistan. I will rebuild our military to meet future conflicts. But I will also renew the tough, direct diplomacy that can prevent Iran from obtaining nuclear weapons and curb Russian aggression. I will build new partnerships to defeat the threats of the 21st century: terrorism and nuclear proliferation; poverty and genocide; climate change and disease. And I will restore our moral standing, so that America is once again that last, best hope for all who are called to the cause of freedom, who long for lives of peace, and who yearn for a better future.

These are the policies I will pursue. And in the weeks ahead, I look forward to debating them with John McCain.

But what I will not do is suggest that the Senator takes his positions for political purposes. Because one of the things that we have to change in our politics is the idea that people cannot disagree without challenging each other’s character and patriotism.

The times are too serious, the stakes are too high for this same partisan playbook. So let us agree that patriotism has no party. I love this country, and so do you, and so does John McCain. The men and women who serve in our battlefields may be Democrats and Republicans and Independents, but they have fought together and bled together and some died together under the same proud flag. They have not served a Red America or a Blue America – they have served the United States of America.

So I’ve got news for you, John McCain. We all put our country first.

America, our work will not be easy. The challenges we face require tough choices, and Democrats as well as Republicans will need to cast off the worn-out ideas and politics of the past. For part of what has been lost these past eight years can’t just be measured by lost wages or bigger trade deficits. What has also been lost is our sense of common purpose – our sense of higher purpose. And that’s what we have to restore.

We may not agree on abortion, but surely we can agree on reducing the number of unwanted pregnancies in this country. The reality of gun ownership may be different for hunters in rural Ohio than for those plagued by gang-violence in Cleveland, but don’t tell me we can’t uphold the Second Amendment while keeping AK-47s out of the hands of criminals. I know there are differences on same-sex marriage, but surely we can agree that our gay and lesbian brothers and sisters deserve to visit the person they love in the hospital and to live lives free of discrimination. Passions fly on immigration, but I don’t know anyone who benefits when a mother is separated from her infant child or an employer undercuts American wages by hiring illegal workers. This too is part of America’s promise – the promise of a democracy where we can find the strength and grace to bridge divides and unite in common effort.

I know there are those who dismiss such beliefs as happy talk. They claim that our insistence on something larger, something firmer and more honest in our public life is just a Trojan Horse for higher taxes and the abandonment of traditional values. And that’s to be expected. Because if you don’t have any fresh ideas, then you use stale tactics to scare the voters. If you don’t have a record to run on, then you paint your opponent as someone people should run from.

You make a big election about small things.

And you know what – it’s worked before. Because it feeds into the cynicism we all have about government. When Washington doesn’t work, all its promises seem empty. If your hopes have been dashed again and again, then it’s best to stop hoping, and settle for what you already know.

I get it. I realize that I am not the likeliest candidate for this office. I don’t fit the typical pedigree, and I haven’t spent my career in the halls of Washington.

But I stand before you tonight because all across America something is stirring. What the nay-sayers don’t understand is that this election has never been about me. It’s been about you.

For eighteen long months, you have stood up, one by one, and said enough to the politics of the past. You understand that in this election, the greatest risk we can take is to try the same old politics with the same old players and expect a different result. You have shown what history teaches us – that at defining moments like this one, the change we need doesn’t come from Washington. Change comes to Washington. Change happens because the American people demand it – because they rise up and insist on new ideas and new leadership, a new politics for a new time.

America, this is one of those moments.

I believe that as hard as it will be, the change we need is coming. Because I’ve seen it. Because I’ve lived it. I’ve seen it in Illinois, when we provided health care to more children and moved more families from welfare to work. I’ve seen it in Washington, when we worked across party lines to open up government and hold lobbyists more accountable, to give better care for our veterans and keep nuclear weapons out of terrorist hands.

And I’ve seen it in this campaign. In the young people who voted for the first time, and in those who got involved again after a very long time. In the Republicans who never thought they’d pick up a Democratic ballot, but did. I’ve seen it in the workers who would rather cut their hours back a day than see their friends lose their jobs, in the soldiers who re-enlist after losing a limb, in the good neighbors who take a stranger in when a hurricane strikes and the floodwaters rise.

This country of ours has more wealth than any nation, but that’s not what makes us rich. We have the most powerful military on Earth, but that’s not what makes us strong. Our universities and our culture are the envy of the world, but that’s not what keeps the world coming to our shores.

Instead, it is that American spirit – that American promise – that pushes us forward even when the path is uncertain; that binds us together in spite of our differences; that makes us fix our eye not on what is seen, but what is unseen, that better place around the bend.

That promise is our greatest inheritance. It’s a promise I make to my daughters when I tuck them in at night, and a promise that you make to yours – a promise that has led immigrants to cross oceans and pioneers to travel west; a promise that led workers to picket lines, and women to reach for the ballot.

And it is that promise that forty five years ago today, brought Americans from every corner of this land to stand together on a Mall in Washington, before Lincoln’s Memorial, and hear a young preacher from Georgia speak of his dream.

The men and women who gathered there could’ve heard many things. They could’ve heard words of anger and discord. They could’ve been told to succumb to the fear and frustration of so many dreams deferred.

But what the people heard instead – people of every creed and color, from every walk of life – is that in America, our destiny is inextricably linked. That together, our dreams can be one.

“We cannot walk alone,” the preacher cried. “And as we walk, we must make the pledge that we shall always march ahead. We cannot turn back.”

America, we cannot turn back. Not with so much work to be done. Not with so many children to educate, and so many veterans to care for. Not with an economy to fix and cities to rebuild and farms to save. Not with so many families to protect and so many lives to mend. America, we cannot turn back. We cannot walk alone. At this moment, in this election, we must pledge once more to march into the future. Let us keep that promise – that American promise – and in the words of Scripture hold firmly, without wavering, to the hope that we confess.

Thank you, God Bless you, and God Bless the United States of America.

Democratic National Convention – Day 4 The Finale

For the final day of the convention The convention was moved from the Pepsi Center (home of the Denver Nuggets) to Invesco field *otherwise known as Mile High stadium or the home of the Denver Broncos*. It can accommodate up to 76,000 people! So far it seems that every speaker has referred to Obama as Dr. Martin Luther King Jr the next generation. I get that this is the same day that the speech was delivered 45 years ago, but it seems people only remember those 4 words out of his entire legacy.
Congressman John Lewis had a great speech about equality and how the fight was just to be able to vote. “We have come a long way but still have a distance to go.” Next they showed a touching tribute to Dr King and other Civil Rights leaders as they chronicled and sort of compared Sen. Obama’s realization of the nomination (and possible win) to the dream that Dr King had. Dr. King’s daughter Bernice gave a great introduction for her brother Martin Luther King III. King III talked about how proud his father would be of what is happening. He encouraged us all to do more than just vote but do whatever we can to address issues such as poverty and racism.
Jennifer Hudson sang the National Anthem while Will.I.Am from the Black eyed peas along with John Legend and a choir dressed in African dress sang the song from his viral video “Yes we can”.
Governor Tim Kaine (Virginia) gave a rousing speech about how faith can move mountains.
Governor Bill Richardson(New Mexico) came out talking and spoke. In his speech he reemphasized how Sen. McCain thinks that democrats are electing a celebrity and not thinking for themselves. ” John McCain may pay $300 for his shoes, but we’re the ones who pay for his flip flops”. Ooohh still stings!
Stevie Wonder sang a song he wrote with Take 6 about Obama.
After a while former VP Al Gore came out to the roar of the crowd. He spoke on if you want things to stay the same vote McCain but if you want a change vote Obama/Biden. He was on his global/solar energy kick. “It is the common man that Barack Obama Exemplifies.” After his speech Michael McDonald sang “America, the Beautiful”
Joe Biden came out to promise us that when they get in the white house our voice will be heard. After some fluff it’s Obama time!!
The campaign video was really touching and followed his life from birth to now. *If I can find it somewhere I will post later* I honestly feel that this could have made the biggest O.G. gangster thug tear up a little. He took the stage to a roaring standing ovation that lasted for almost 3 minutes. He starts by thanking Chairman Dean and his fellow Democrats by accepting the nomination for president. My notes would not do this speech justice so I will post it as soon as it is available! he’s looking really presidential right now! One of the first highlights was when He said “I’m not ready to take a 10% chance on change.” referring to McCain agreeing or going along with Bush on 90% of his votes. The common man are his celebrities and heroes. He is really championing the small businesses and blue collar workers by cutting taxes and not raising them for the middle class. He is willing to ween us off of the dependence on oil. Invest in childhood education and if a child commits to serving their community then he will commit to making sure you get a college education. If you can’t afford health care, he will make sure that you get the same coverage afforded to congress. We need to take responsibility for our children and raise boys to be men. This election is not and has never been about him, it’s about the people like me and you. Change doesn’t come from Washington, it goes to Washington. At this moment, in this election, we must pledge once more to march into the future. Let us keep that promise – that American promise – and in the words of Scripture hold firmly, without wavering, to the hope that we confess.
This ended his speech as well as the Democratic National Convention. After his speech the fireworks went off crazy! Stay tuned for the full transcript coming soon. This was truly a historic moment!

I will be covering the Republican National Convention as well. It’s only fair that I show both sides of the coin.

Democratic National Convention – Day 3

There have been more speeches from congressman and senators that support Sen. Obama. From former Sec. Of State Madeline Albright to Majority Whip Sen. James Clyburn (repping for the palmetto state!). Tonight former president Bill Clinton gave his speech before introducing vice presidential candidate Joe Biden. He has pledged to do whatever he can to get Barack elected. He even goes as far as to say that he thinks Barack is presidential material. I honestly think that he is into Joe Biden being in the white house than Barack. He says that the choice was a “hit out of the park”. I thought he was fighting to get this wife that spot? Well I guess since that didn’t work out Joe will have to do. Overall his speech was on point, even at one point comparing what the republicans said about his him in ’92 to them saying the same things about Barack now in ’08. You know the whole inexperience thing. Which is what his wife has been screaming during her run for the nomination.
Sen. John Kerry also spoke after Clinton was done. he spoke on McCain’s downfalls. Not too much else, same old good vs evil type stuff.
This must have been military night because between the main speeches were little speeches by all these military related folks. Tom Hanks narrated a piece about war w/ interviews and monologues from war vets.
Speaker of The House Nancy Pelosi came out to give the official nomination for vice president to Joe Biden as a traditional ceremonial thing. He of course accepts and delivers his acceptance speech. He was introduced by a lovely emotional speech given by his son. The first thing he does is give props to Hilary. Why? I have no idea. his speech was about the economy and how families are struggling just to make ends meet let alone trying to save for retirement or to send kids to college. After his speech and before the ending benediction we were treated to a surprise. Senator Obama came out to talk about how proud and excited he is to have Joe Biden on his team. He goes on to thank his wife for her opening speech the other day, President Clinton for his speech and his supporters. The convention will be moving to Mile High stadium (home of the Denver Broncos) for the 4th and final night of the convention. Thus ending another night at the convention.

Democratic National Convention – Day 2

This session of the convention focused more on the common man so to speak. There were numerous ‘average hard working’ supporters of Sen. Obama that were able to tell their story and why they felt that he should be the next president. The governor of Virginia Tim Kaine gave the Keynote address tonight.
He spoke of family and coming together for the common good of the party. Not really a rebel rousing speech but it is what it is, I guess.
Next it’s Senator Clinton’s turn. her intro seems more like she is the Democratic nominee instead of Sen. Obama. I get that she has 18 million backers and all but a bit much. I’m not a big Chelsea fan anyway, met her before and she came off snobbish to me. She was introducing her mom.
Senator Clinton’s speech was pretty much more of the same. She did not really rally her “girl scout troops” (as my mom calls them) behind Obama. Seems more like she just geared them up to vote for her in 4 more years. Even though she says he’s her candidate it didn’t seem sincere *no play on my name though*. I guess all that mudslinging she threw makes her hard for me to believe. In her entire speech she only referred to Senator Obama two or three times. The rest of the time she spent talking about what she did and what her husband did. All about herself and not the party. She did raise a great question though “Were you in it for me or the soldiers”? My question for her is “were you in it for yourself or the good of the country”? She did give Michelle Obama and Joe Biden their due props towards the end when she was getting her ‘mojo’ back. Her speech overall was inspirational but in the beginning I was a little skeptical of her motives. By the end she had me hooked and waiting for more. She may have won over some of those voters that went republican when she lost.

Thus ending another night of the convention.

DNC- Day 1 Michelle Obama’s Speech

I was over at The Villager’s spot and saw that he posted Michelle Obama’s inspirational speech so I had to jack it and put it up here. don’t kill me I linked back and gave you credit!! Anyway,
Here it is:
As you might imagine, for Barack, running for President is nothing compared to that first game of basketball with my brother Craig.

I can’t tell you how much it means to have Craig and my mom here tonight. Like Craig, I can feel my dad looking down on us, just as I’ve felt his presence in every grace-filled moment of my life.

At six-foot-six, I’ve often felt like Craig was looking down on me too…literally. But the truth is, both when we were kids and today, he wasn’t looking down on me – he was watching over me.

And he’s been there for me every step of the way since that clear February day 19 months ago, when – with little more than our faith in each other and a hunger for change – we joined my husband, Barack Obama, on the improbable journey that’s brought us to this moment.

But each of us also comes here tonight by way of our own improbable journey.

I come here tonight as a sister, blessed with a brother who is my mentor, my protector and my lifelong friend.

I come here as a wife who loves my husband and believes he will be an extraordinary president.

I come here as a Mom whose girls are the heart of my heart and the center of my world – they’re the first thing I think about when I wake up in the morning, and the last thing I think about when I go to bed at night. Their future – and all our children’s future – is my stake in this election.

And I come here as a daughter – raised on the South Side of Chicago by a father who was a blue collar city worker, and a mother who stayed at home with my brother and20me. My mother’s love has always been a sustaining force for our family, and one of my greatest joys is seeing her integrity, her compassion, and her intelligence reflected in my own daughters.

My Dad was our rock. Although he was diagnosed with Multiple Sclerosis in his early thirties, he was our provider, our champion, our hero. As he got sicker, it got harder for him to walk, it took him longer to get dressed in the morning. But if he was in pain, he never let on. He never stopped smiling and laughing – even while struggling to button his shirt, even while using two canes to get himself across the room to give my Mom a kiss. He just woke up a little earlier, and worked a little harder.

He and my mom poured everything they had into me and Craig. It was the greatest gift a child can receive: never doubting for a single minute that you’re loved, and cherished, and have a place in this world. And thanks to their faith and hard work, we both were able to go on to college. So I know firsthand from their lives – and mine – that the American Dream endures.

And you know, what struck me when I first met Barack was that even though he had this funny name, even though he’d grown up all the way across the continent in Hawaii, his family was so much like mine. He was raised by grandparents who were working class folks just like my parents, and by a single mother who struggled to pay the bills just like we did. Like my family, they scrimped and saved so that he could have opportunities they never had themselves. And Barack and I were raised with so many of the same values: that you work hard for what you want in life; that your word is your bond and you do what you say you’re going to do; that you treat people with dignity and respect, even if you don’t know them, and even if you don’t agree with them.

And Barack and I set out to build lives guided by these values, and pass them on to the next generation. Because we want our children – and all children in this nation – to know that the only limit to the height of your achievements is the reach of your dreams and your willingness to work for them.

And as our friendship grew, and I learned more about Barack, he introduced me to the work he’d done when he first moved to Chicago after college. Instead of heading to Wall Street, Barack had gone to work in neighborhoods devastated when steel plants shut down, and jobs dried up. And he’d been invited back to speak to people from those neighborhoods about how to rebuild their community.

The people gathered together that day were ordinary folks doing the best they could to build a good life. They were parents living paycheck to paycheck; grandparents trying to get by on a fixed income; men frustrated that they couldn’t support their familie s after their jobs disappeared. Those folks weren’t asking for a handout or a shortcut. They were ready to work – they wanted to contribute. They believed – like you and I believe – that America should be a place where you can make it if you try.

Barack stood up that day, and spoke words that have stayed with me ever since. He talked about “The world as it is” and “The world as it should be.” And he said that all too often, we accept the distance between the two, and settle for the world as it is – even when it doesn’t reflect our values and aspirations. But he reminded us that we know what our world should look like. We know what fairness and justice and opportunity look like. And he urged us to believe in ourselves – to find the strength within ourselves to strive for the world as it should be. And isn’t that the great American story?

It’s the story of men and women gathered in churches and union halls, in town squares and high school gyms – people who stood up and marched and risked everything they had – refusing to settle, determined to mold our future into the shape of our ideals.

It is because of their will and determination that this week, we celebrate two anniversaries: the 88th anniversary of women winning the right to vote, and the 45th anniversary of that hot summer day when Dr. King lifted our sights and our hearts with his dream for our nation.

I stand here today at the crosscurrents of that history – knowing that my piece of the American Dream is a blessing hard won by those who came before me. All of them driven by the same conviction that drove my dad to get up an hour early each day to painstakingly dress himself for work. The same conviction that drives the men and women I’ve met all across this country:

People who work the day shift, kiss their kids goodnight, and head out for the night shift – without disappointment, without regret – that goodnight kiss a reminder of everything they’re working for.

The military families who say grace each night with an empty seat at the table. The servicemen and women who love this country so much, they leave those they love most to defend it.

The young people across America serving our communities – teaching children, cleaning up neighborhoods, caring for the least among us each and every day.

People like Hillary Clinton, who put those 18 million cracks in the glass ceiling, so that our daughters – and sons – can dream a little bigger and aim a little higher.

People like Joe Biden, who’s never forgotten where he came from, and never stopped fighting for folks who work long hours and face long odds and need someone on their side again.

All of us driven by a simple belief that the world as it is just won’t do – that we have an obligation to fight for the world as it should be.

That is the thread that connects our hearts. That is the thread that runs through my journey and Barack’s journey and so many other improbable journeys that have brought us here tonight, where the current of history meets this new tide of hope.

That is why I love this country.

And in my own life, in my own small way, I’ve tried to give back to this country that has given me so much. That’s why I left a job at a law firm for a career in public service, working to empower young people to volunteer in their communities. Because I believe that each of us – no matter what our age or background or walk of life – each of us has something to contribute to the life of this nation.

It’s a belief Barack shares – a belief at the heart of his life’s work.

It’s what he did all those years ago, on the streets of Chicago, setting up job training to get people back to work and afterschool programs to keep kids safe – working block by block to help people lift up their families.

It’s what he did in the Illinois Senate, moving people from welfare to jobs, passing tax cuts for hard working families, and making sure women get equal pay for equal work.

It’s what he’s done in the United States Senate, fighting to ensure the men and women who serve this country are welcomed home not just with medals and parades, but with good jobs and benefits and health care – including mental health care.

That’s why he’s running – to end the war in Iraq responsibly, to build an economy that lifts every family, to make health care available for every American, and to make sure every child in this nation gets a world class education all the way from preschool to college. That’s what Barack Obama will do as President of the United States of America.

He’ll achieve these goals the same way he always has – by bringing us together and reminding us how much we share and how alike we really are. You see, Barack doesn’t care where you’re from, or what your background is, or what party – if any – you belong to. That’s not how he sees the world. He knows that thread that connects us – our belief in America’s promise, our commitment to our children’s future – is strong enough to hold us together as one nation even when we disagree.
It was strong enough to bring hope to those neighborhoods in Chicago.

It was strong enough to bring hope to the mother he met worried about her child in Iraq; hope to the man who’s unemployed, but can’t afford gas to find a job; hope to the student working nights to pay for her sister’s heal th care, sleeping just a few hours a day.

And it was strong enough to bring hope to people who came out on a cold Iowa night and became the first voices in this chorus for change that’s been echoed by millions of Americans from every corner of this nation.

Millions of Americans who know that Barack understands their dreams; that Barack will fight for people like them; and that Barack will finally bring the change we need.

And in the end, after all that’s happened these past 19 months, the Barack Obama I know today is the same man I fell in love with 19 years ago. He’s the same man who drove me and our new baby daughter home from the hospital ten years ago this summer, inching along at a snail’s pace, peering anxiously at us in the rearview mirror, feeling the whole weight of her future in his hands, determined to give her everything he’d struggled so hard for himself, determined to give her what he never had: the affirming embrace of a father’s love.

And as I tuck that little girl and her little sister into bed at night, I think about how one day, they’ll have families of their own. And one day, they – and your sons and daughters – will tell their own children about what we did together in this election. They’ll tell them how this time, we listened to our hopes, instead of our fears. How this time, we decided to stop doubting and to start dreaming.

How this time, in this great country – where a girl from the South Side of Chicago can go to college and law school, and the son of a single mother from Hawaii can go all the way to the White House – we committed ourselves to building the world as it should be.

So tonight, in honor of my father’s memory and my daughters’ future – out of gratitude to those whose triumphs we mark this week, and those whose everyday sacrifices have brought us to this moment – let us devote ourselves to finishing their work; let us work together to fulfill their hopes; and let us stand together to elect Barack Obama President of the United States of America.

Thank you, God bless you, and God bless America.

*Update* Here’s the video of Michelle Obama’s speech

Democratic National Convention – Day 1

I know that ‘I want to work for Diddy’ and ‘The Hills’ are on tonight and recaps are coming but for the next few days I need you guys to witness history in the making. The DNC convention.
On the first night alone I have been inspired to go out and make more of a difference in my community and eventually in my world. I started viewing a little late but just in time to catch House speaker Senator Pelosi almost bore me to death. I honestly couldn’t tell you what she was talking about. But the highlights of the night for me were:
Senator Ted Kennedy coming out after a beautiful tribute. He spoke of his family’s long history of making change. I’m telling you great health care will do wonders! You would never know that he has brain cancer let alone is not doing well with the treatment.

And then After some more blah blah speeches from Senators and congressmen that support Barack it was Michelle Obama’s turn to take to the podium.. After a very touching and emotional tribute video in which her and Barack talked about how they met, she took to the stage. Looking beautiful she delivered one of the most inspiring speeches I have heard in a long time!

More to come with the video blog. Time for a change has come!
Peace
Sincere

August 20th 2008

My video blog for the 20th of August 2008. I just basically talk about The olympics and what’s been happening with me lately. A lot of rambling… The more I do this the better I will get. Hopefully…

August 20th 2008 from Sincere on Vimeo.

Making The Band 4 Season 3 Episode 1 Recap

And so a new season of making the band has started. Let’s get right into it;
This season opens with Diddy’s announcement that Donnie is coming out on September 2nd. Told you in the fall!!! This season we follow them as they prepare and go on tour. Twitter was buzzing with activity during the airing. Should have saved some of them to intertwine but didn’t think of it until it was too late * shouts to @shercole for the idea, maybe next week*. I thought about live blogging but it would have been too much work to twit & live blog at the same time.
We start off with Danity Kane, the headliners, at the first rehearsal. I am not really feeling D. Woods’ hair. Either short or long pick one, but not both okay? Okay. In another part of the dance studio Donnie is preparing for his 10 minute show. He’s gonna do three songs “Intro” to the album, “Dr. Love” and “Take you there”. He talks about how last year he was in school just being ‘regular Donnie’. whatever, dude you’re still regular Donnie. Next we’re off to the guys Day 26. When they walk into the studio who’s there to greet them? None other than Miss ‘Boom kat’ herself Laurie Ann Gibson. Looking quite cute if I might add. Brian seems a little too overly excited to see her while the others seem shocked and a little scared that she is back. * note to Will and Brian, take the stocking cap and du rag off please!!* Akward moment follows.. Time to get busy!! She asks to see some moves and ummerra… Let’s just say it was less than stellar! more like horrible. Q is not there because he had a tonsillectomy.
During the break between seasons I guess Diddy was feeling himself so much that he took up a second job as a stripper and notices that he has a gut! So now this season of making the band will also be ‘Diddy’s fit club’.. Hilarious at diddy talking to himself in the third person and answering back! Now back to the action. Laurie Ann is actually laughing in their faces as she watches them perform. Everybody is more concerned with her being there instead of actually focusing on learning the choreography. So after rehearsal the guys go out to eat and talk about her return. I don’t see the big deal in her coming back but I guess to them it is.
Next stop is Danity Kane. they are learning how to do flips. Wait flips? Yes flips. I see a disaster happening. Laurie Ann decides to stroll on over and pay a visit to the girls. More nervous fake smiles. They really think that she would be back without Diddy knowing? come on seriously?
On to Donnie. Wackness abounds!!! During his rehearsal Aubrey comes in and bothers him basically.
The guys are on the way to the second day of rehearsal looking salty. Suck it up and get ready for the show. Always be professional no matter who or what you’re dealing with. I can’t front, she is good at what she does. Since Q is not there to her he is not in the group. she can’t work with air.. I feel her. So the guys call Q to see what’s going on. He tells them that the doctor has him on strict orders not to do anything until the 15th and the tour starts on the 24th. That could be a problem. Of course in true television style, when the guys go to the studio Q magically appears against the Doctor and his family’s wishes. He caught on to the steps pretty quickly.
During Day 3 of rehearsals with the guys who walks in? Diddy himself. Let the fireworks begin! He clears the room so they can talk. They have a little stare down for a few and then go into the whole kiddie thing with ‘you first, no you first’. Grow up! Once they finally get it all out and clear the air, nothing much to clear- she was not going to be bullied by him and he couldn’t take it, they make up and move on. At the end of the day it is business. Agree to disagree and let it go. Thus ending the first episode of the new season. I will try my best to do a live blog and twitter at the same time. Until next week…

I Want To Work For Diddy Season 1 Episode 3 Recap

This episode opens with the crew at the house and Boris and Mike playing a joke on Deon. An innocent joke but Deon saying that if it happens again he’s gonna kill someone.. Calm down tiger!! It was just a joke. But I feel him on respecting his personal space though. While everyone is eating breakfast the bat phone rings and everyone looks around in shock and awe. The message reads as follows: “Laverne and Boris, you have five minutes to pack your toiletries and get downstairs!!!” next message is “Kim and Suzanne you have five minutes to pack your toiletries and get downstairs!!!” and the two groups are out! No explanations just get downstairs and see.
Next is a typical Diddy interlude about how working for him is like a roller coaster ride.
The teams receive their assignments and find out that they are going to Paris, France!
Red finds out that Boris took his toothbrush instead of his own.. Nasty! AND he forgot his cell phone! How can you forget your cell phone when doing something that important to you. I keep my cell phone on me even walking around the house. Laziness and stupidity abound!n Boris you ARE the weakest link!
They arrive in Paris to get their assignments from the concierge that they have to find some model and convince them to come back to New York for an original print ad for Sean John eyewear. but his has to be done 4pm the next day. They have no name, or anything for this model just a phone number on a paper. Boris and Laverne (Downtown team) make the first contact and meet with a connect and he gets the model on the phone but she is somewhere else. Kim aka PoPrah and Suzanne (Team Uptown) have 3.5 hrs left and they are calling the number they were given trying to get in touch with someone and agree to meet them in half an hour. This connect sends them to two boutiques that she may be at.
Downtown team is not agreeing on anything. Laverne is trying to school him on simple stuff and he’s not trying to hear it. Meanwhile, Team Uptown is lost somewhere in Paris looking for the boutiques.
Team Downtown arrives at what looks to be a big downtown area and they are searching for this model. I don’t think it’s gonna happen. There’s like at least 30-40,000 people there easy.
Team Uptown only have 1.5 hrs left and are lost. They check in with the team back home and Poprah is all over the top. They meet up with the model at one of the boutiques and she decides to go.
Back in the states the two teams are hashing out ideas about the ad. BTW I am definitely crushing on Kendra. Now back to the story… Deon says that glasses are the new skyline? What is he smoking?
Team Downtown finally find their model but she seems a little hesitant to go. I would too if two complete strangers come up to me talking about going back to New York. She agrees to go.
the teams are both running around New York getting things together for the shoot. Another BTW: Brianna has a big head! I mean big!!
With 27 minutes left Uptown arrives at the airport while Downtown arrives with only 9 minutes left.
They all arrive back in New York to help their teams with the remainder of the ad campaigns. Laverne arrives and hates everything that they have done so far, pissing Mike off.
Another Diddy interlude about how his his clothing line is not about money but about his name.
The day of the shoot team downtown used their money to hire a professional to do hair and makeup while Poprah does it for uptown. While Boris and Mike leave to run errands the team changes the tag line from ‘the final touch’ to ‘see yourself’.
Team Downtown chose to shoot on the Bad Boy roof but the chair wouldn’t fit so they chucked the chair and kept it moving. Boris is being lazy and not wanting to do anything at the shoot because he felt like since he found the model his job is over. Mike is being overbearing and getting on my nerves and so was Omatoni aka Laverne.
Team Uptown spends a lot of time just trying to find a location. Once they found it, Poprah took over even though she said she would let Suzanne lead. How are you telling a professional how to take pictures? Girl, sit down! just because you have a digital camera does not make you a photographer!
Back to team Downtown… Deon is in his own little world. Talking about he’s a listener or whatever. Looking awkward as hell. “What you see is what you don’t get”… What the hell you talking? After the shoot they work with a graphic designer to set everything up.
Another Diddy Interlude about how Sean John is a dream and he wants it to be the no. 1 line in the world.
The teams meet in the board room to meet with Capricorn and Sean John VP Jeff Tweedy. The first team they discuss is Downtown. The tag line ‘see yourself’ pretty much goes over flat and the picture is not that stunning either. Mike has this ‘I told you so’ look on his face. Next up is Uptown. The tag line ‘from day to dark’ is a hit. Looks like team uptown has won this challenge. Finally!
Team downtown returns to the house in a funk while team uptown celebrates their win and new glasses as a reward.
As the team gets prepared for elimination everyone seems nervous. Especially Omatoni. Boris says that the model told him that she was intimidated by Omatoni. She strikes back by telling on his flirting. Deon says the ad was flawless, while Capricorn points out the flaws. He drops that he worked in billboard advertising. Why the hell did you just sit there and let your team present that than? El Stupido!!! Boris is put up for elimination by a unanimous vote and he decides to put Deon up for elimination as well.
Time for eliminations! They face Capricorn, Kevin Liles and Phil Robinson. Deon rips into Boris about just about everything!! Boris says that he found the model when Omatoni really did. And the one to be eliminated is…… *Cue the fake security guards* Deon.. Wow kind of a shocker seeing as Boris did nothing and was unanimously picked. Deon was sent home because he couldn’t answer a question directly. That’s the end of this episode. See you next week!

I Want To Work For Diddy Season 1 Episode 2 Recap

This episodes opens with Diddy talking about how Bad Boy has grown into an empire, while the teams are back at the house mingling and getting to know each other. Omatoni schools them to what a transgender is. Transgender = “A blanket term for anyone’s who’s gender is nonconforming, Drag queens, transsexual, and cross dressers are all transgenders” per Omatoni. Seems that everyone in the house isn’t as comfortable hearing the discussions about it as others. So as he/she (Shim) is doing a dance shim breaks down into a full cheerleading/legs splitting/testicle crunching split! WooooW! I’m hurting just watching it! The next thing they decide to talk about it dating. They ask Rob and it seems the women are probing because they make be attracted only to find out that HE lives in the east village! Ha he’s gay too! So now we have a black dude that dresses and thinks shim’s a girl (also dates guys) and another black dude that is gay. Well well well.. Do you see a little gay love connection forming? So Anyway, When Rob drops that he’s gay the girls go crazy and he states that he had to deal with the ‘Don’t ask don’t tell’ policy while on active duty in the army.
Next Diddy talks about how sleep is forbidden and he’s in love with work and can’t wait to get up and go to work in the morning (probably because he has to support all those kids he keeps having).
While the kids are tucked in their beds fast asleep, in comes some crazy dudes talking about ‘get up! you’ve got 5 minutes to change, no talking!’ How you gonna tell me I can’t talk? what? reminds me of basic training. So everybody is scrambling around the house getting themselves together and ready to jump in the van and leave for God knows where. They end up at some airport and each team jumps in their own helicopter off to Diddyland. they end up at Fort Dix (it’s in Jersey) where they learn how to navigate a map. team Downtown might be in a bit of trouble because they have Omatoni, PoPrah and fat boy(Boris) on their team and they don’t look umm.. how can I put this? ummerra.. physically fit? yeah or I’ll just say up to the physical challenge. The teams are each given a different course on the map and have to find their way through. At different points on the course there is a question about Diddy that they must answer correctly in order to get the coordinates for the next location on the course and so on until someone reaches the finish line first.
Diddy goes into a little spill about being resourceful. “If you can’t see the forest through the trees, than you need to chop them Muthaf***as down.” – Diddy
Former assistans talk about how when Diddy gives you a task you have to figure it out on your own, no bitchassness. Blah blah.
So they start out at the same time with 8 hrs to complete the challenge. 8 hours? I’m saying that’s a long time for a course isn’t it? They’re at the first obstacle and Kim AKA PoPrah is coughing bad already! With the inhaler in hand and all. She says it’s an allergic reaction to the pollen/ asthma but of course her teammates don’t believe and think she’s crying wolf. It may be an allergy or she may be faking I can’t tell. I’ve seen people with allergies outside running and it’s not pretty. But only time will really tell if it’s the truth or not. She decides only to compete if they run the risk of being disqualified if she doesn’t, but if not then they will be SOL because she is gonna sit this one out. She ends up getting checked out by the EMS and sent away somewhere. The team goes on without her to “slow them down”. I already see too many chiefs and not enough Indians. so Rob’s ( the gay ex army dude) team (uptown) is breezing down the road following him blindly and getting lost. But Downtown is just as lost. Mike is running them around in circles. It’s like neither team even paid attention during the class. So Greg (team uptown) is the dude that got them lost in his home city of NY is running around like a crazy man getting on people’s nerves. At this point both teams are still looking for the FIRST point on the course! like at least 1 hour to 1.5 hours in, mind you they only had to go like 300-350 meters to the spot.
Diddy talks about going the extra mile and how bitchassness will make you want to stop. “We march forward. We don’t retreat at bad boy” – Diddy
Team Uptown can’t figure out where to go so they decide to go back and start at the beginning. Team Downtown, by some stroke of luck, finds the first question:
How many Grammys has Diddy won?
A) One
B) Two
C) Three
The correct answer is three
each answer corresponds with a box that has coordinates to the next spot. If the answer is correct than they go straight to the next location. If incorrect they have to take a detour. Got it? Good. Team Uptown is like 4 hours in and still haven’t found the first point. Now they are all getting frustrated. Team Downtown is on to the next point and question:
At what age was P. Diddy names Uptown Records Vice President of A & R?
A) 18
B) 19
C) 20
The correct answer is 19.
With 3.5 hours remaining Team Uptown finally make it to the first point. Of course these idiots are listening to Rob and on the trust of Wikipedia (which has him listed with the correct answer of three BTW) they answer the first question wrong and get sent to a detour.
At this point team Downtown has 1.5 hrs left when they reach their final question:
In what year did he change his name from Puffdaddy to P. Diddy?
A) 2000
B) 2001
C) 2002
The correct answer is B) 2001.
Now Team Uptown leave the detour only to get lost once again and have to go back to the detour to figure it out. Way to go Army man!! should have done the Air Force like me I can read a map perfectly!!
Before any team can reach the final point the time is up and head to the end. Capricorn (yeap that’s her name) and Derek tell them that they performed miserably and that they sucked. Basically. The Downtown team won because they got to all three points but didn’t finish. Uptown lost and are headed to elimination.
Back at the house while stewing about their loss Boris and Greg plot to put Kim up for elimination. I think she’s kind of feeling herself like they lost because she wasn’t there to give them the answers. Greg confronts her for her bitchassness and they start arguing about foolishness.
Back in the boardroom Team Uptown passes the blame on each other while Capricorn looks on. They end up putting Kim in the hot seat on a 3-2 decision. She decides to add Rob to the hot seat as well. Now comes the jury of Phil Robinson, Kevin Liles and Capricorn. Kim Talks about how Rob played her saying he has all this experience from the Army and that they didn’t need her. Rob claims he spent 4.5 years in the Army and didn’t get land navigational skills. What Army was he in? I mean seriously, you learn that in basic training! Come on Rob, we don’t believe you. you need more people!! He says that the most the Army has taught him was determination.. Blah blah, yeah be a good recruiter for the yungin’s watching the show. Kim talks about how incompetent her team is. Just bad mouthing them. Time to vote. Oh wait! Before the vote PoPrah says that they betrayed her while comparing herself to Jesus, Martin Luther King and other great leaders. My question is who betrayed Martin Luther King?
So Rob gets sent home because he had military training that he wasn’t able to use to complete the challenge. Wow. Kim sits out the competition (fake asthma or real we’ll never know), bad mouths her team and still stays…

Well we’ll have to stay tuned to see what goes down next week. Until then…

I Want To Work For Diddy Season 1 Episode 1 Recap

Okay so I was pegged by my Twitter fam to do the recap of this “show”, if you can call it that. After watching the first episode I was really rethinking my decision. Way too confusing, but since my homie Cassie over at Celeb-blitz.com put me on the spot I decided to do it anyway. You know I got nothing but love for ya baby!! Haha! anyway here goes;
Okay so it starts with like 13 people vying for a position as Diddy’s assistant. They met with 3 of Diddy’s former personal assistants that he trusts the most to pick a good assistant for him. They were all wack to me! So after they come with some of their presentations and dumbest answers to the simplest interview questions, they are split into two groups “Uptown” and “Downtown”. the Dude that didn’t get picked came in break dancing like he was auditioning for Electricboogaloo 3 or something.. A shame these people don’t realize that just because he’s in the entertainment business doesn’t mean that you are in the entertainment business. so the show goes on. After they are split into the two teams they are given 50 (yes 50!!) tasks in 24hrs! The twist is that while they are completing these tasks they also have to do these things that Diddy will text them to do for him. If they don’t do it then two of the tasks already completed will be taken off the list, if they do it I guess it’ll count as double? not sure, I was a little confused on the rules. Anyway, so they are running around doing the stuff and this is where I got lost. I was never sure who was on what team and they were jumping around a bit. From the street scenes to the people telling them where to go to cut ins of Diddy talking about… well… himself. A little too confusing. Reminded me of those long teasers where they combine all the promos to get you interested but you never really know what’s going on. I was too confused to fully understand it. Mind you, by now I’ve seen it on reruns about 3 times and still don’t understand who is what.
Here are some highlights:
There’s a chick from ATL named Kim aka PoPrah (her word not mine) and she is bossy as hell!
There’s a tranny named Laverne that we have dubbed as a cross between Toni Childs (from Girlfriends) and Omarosa = Omatoni! Now she/he is really on top of her game though.
There is a Mortgage broker that caused her team to lose, subsequently getting sent home, because she can’t count. How you gonna be a mortgage broker and can’t count? What the hell? No wonder there’s a mortgage crisis!
There’s this guy named Deon who is supposedly an Executive Assistant already yet he can’t multitask… My 2 year old can multitask, what’s his excuse?

Overall the show is pretty entertaining, I mean it’s Diddy so it’s at least good for a laugh right? Next time I will do a live blog that I can keep up easier. Hopefully. Check it out Mondays on  VH1   at 9pm est.

And don’t forget Making The Band 4 Season 3 starts on Aug 12th @ 9pm est on MTV.

Until next week..

Peace
Sincere

Closing Doors, Opening Windows

This is just a little update as to what’s been going on lately. Let’s see… I let my emotions get the best of me on last Wednesday and quit my job. If you’ve been following me for a while than you know that it wasn’t the best of situations to work in. From the racist customers and administration not having my back to condescending doctors that think that just because I didn’t spend umpteen years in school than I’m an idiot. It all came to it’s boiling point when I got written up for something I didn’t even do. when I brought it to my supervisor’s attention that I didn’t do it and who really did it, I was told it didn’t matter who did it because I was getting written up for it. “Really, Well fuck it I’m done with this I quit!” *my exact words* Well luckily that wasn’t my only source of income or I would’ve been in the dog house when I got home. Literally… So I quit on Wednesday and I get a call from another company, that I submitted my resume to like I know at least 4-5 months ago, asking if I was still interested in a position with them and if so could I come in that day for an interview. Talk about a blessing! I started on Monday! It’s more pay, better hours, benefits and work environment.
I have been really busy lately with moving and trying to write as much as possible for some ventures I’m trying to get going. Can’t reveal it all just yet because they are still in the works.
I went home to South Carolina this past weekend for a family get together. I haven’t seen my entire family like that in at least 2 1/2 years. It felt really good to connect with my people again. I really need to visit more often. I also learned that my great great grandparents, my mom’s great grandparents, were the first to come over from Nigeria. What up Tayo!
Ummmerra.. That’s about it.

Peace
Sincere