whiskers_w

I'm twisted up about it for 2 reasons: I have seen his mom up close and personal, and knowing what I know about parents who have lost a child, (i'm one myself) I have seen that emptyness in her eyes -especially when we reminisce about Pac... On the other hand, Afeni was a trained actress, so I have been told, and all this stuff has the mark of study and intelligence written all over it. Pac was a genius, and genius expresses itself in many ways. Was his death another manifestation of his genius? Or are we simply reaching, wanting him to still be here among us even though he is long gone? Whatever the case, in reality Pac is immortal as an artist, and for that reason above all others, Tupac Amaru Shakur will never die! Rest In Peace, Tupac... Long Live Tupac.

Unstoppable--- You might start by checking your history, and then yourself. I say this because you obviously consider yourself to be a white American. Problem is: You are not the "original people". Your ancestors killed them and took their land. I hate to remind you of this, but until you take that into account, you're missing something. How could you call yourself a just human being without considering that fact, when making your statement about "people that emigrated to another country come and dictate the law..." What exactly are you whites doing? I'm not mad, but i'm not going to let you lie and pretend you are being honest. When it comes to this issue you appear to want to be the judge and jury. It is extremism on your part, whether you realize it or not, that allows you to feel that you are the rightful occupant of these lands (the Americas), and that the "minorities" are wrong or out of place when they demand that you share what you have commandeered for yourselves with others who happen to share the same geography and society with you. You want to define everyone else. Set rules and limits. Fake standards, then criticize or relegate people to certain status or lack or it based upon these standards. You allude to Muslims being angry because they can't wear their head dress while at work, and not being in favor of Christmas, but you have nothing but disdain for the Ramadan. You don't celebrate their holidays, and you should not expect them to celebrate yours. The issue is respect for your fellow man. Can you respect Islam or Judaism? Can you respect people who are not white? Ask yourself that, then ask those other questions.

Again, spoken out of context, ANYTHING sounds reasonable. Any quotas that exist for women exist because for far too long there was another quota. You could define that being a quota for men, or a quota for women, depending upon your perspective. For men the quota was 100% and for women it was 0%. In order to correct the original, corrupt quota a "just" quota was established. This is the reason for quotas. The context. It's like a pot of tea, served with no water. In order to protect the flavor and other attributes of the tea, water, lemon, sweetener, and other ingredients IN SELECTED PROPORTIONS OR QUOTAS must be added. Also, there is proof that the standards commonly used to determine who is "qualified" for a specific job or post are skewered towards white men. The proof is that whenever women and minorities are able to make moves on pure merit, they do far better. Look at Jay-Z or 50 Cent, Oprah, Tyra Banks, Reginald Lewis, Odie Donnell, and others. They do quite well without having someone from the good ol boy network evaluating them by standards that have nothing to do with achievement or performance. Remember, when tea is served as tea alone (just the leaves... no water, etc.) it becomes unbearable. The same with the workplace. Quotas ensure balance where there has heretofore been none.

Yo, D-There's cheating and then there is CHEATING. If you are still experimenting and experiencing new people as lovers to try to find out more about human nature in relationships, and want to have fun doing it, take it from an old geezer on this one... tell the ladies up front that since you are not yet married you want to keep things loosely committed. Then you both understand that when you deal with other people (what some may refer to as "cheating") it is part of the process. If, on the other hand you are representing that you and he/she are in an exclusive relationship, you are messin' up! Keep it real at all times, unless a circumstance comes up that demands loudly that you use extreme caution. Caution calls for discretion. Especially if it is a circumstance you find hard (for the moment, anyway) to avoid. Something like your stepmother or stepsister trapping you into getting it on with her.... or maybe your best friend's girl or husband if you are a woman. In these kinds of circumstances, where other people can be hurt besides you and the one you are CHEATING with (because these situations are real, bona fide cheating) you must be seeking to let it go before the situation gets out of hand. Also in these situations, while confession may be good for the soul, make sure you only confess to a priest or pastor. Never tell the person who would or could be most adversely affected by the situation, unless you are sure you can't stop cheating. Even then, you should make confession your absolute LAST RESORT! Only confess if you and the other CHEATER are in love, and intend to marry. Otherwise it may be best for all concerned to do as those you mentioned in your original posting did. Keep it concealed and keep it movin'.

WELL SAID, OpaqUe! Now, that was fantastic! Somebody ought to get that little thing you just did to Dr. William Cosby, Jr. so he can lighten up in his assault on young African-Americans. I have always held that precise spelling is far less important than precise reasoning. It's never what you say or write or how you pronounce or spell your words, as Arnold Swartznegger and Henry Kissinger can attest... It's what you mean when you utter your utterances. If you say what you mean and mean what you say (unless you're joking), you've done your part in terms of communication. If people have to pause to decipher what you or I meant as distinct from what we said or wrote, that, to me is a good thing! Where communication and human interaction is concerned, anything that promotes or provokes thought has to be better than everything else that doesn't. That posting, OpaQue, was off da chain! Thanks.

The idea of more than one Universe is intriguing. I have spent a lot of time contemplating the issue, and have come to the conclusion that we attach more significance to ourselves as human beings, and Westerners in particular, than we really need to. I think we will soon discover irrefutable evidence that we are by no means alone, that the universe is boundless, and that there is only one all-encompassing universe. So, while it may seem that there is more than one universe, it appears as though one is more than enough. Besides, it's a contradiction in terms to say "more than one universe". My thought is that as we look up we see stars, solar systems, planets, galaxies, and all the other celestial bodies we've been introduced to over the years. At the same time, when we look down into the microcosm, we find atoms and molecules that make up the objects we use and cherish in this material world. At the same time, we also discover that there is no such thing as solidness. That there is more plasma than anything else. That the void of space is evident in the sub-atomic universe as well. With this being the truth, instead of being at the center of the universe, as early thinkers imagined, we may wind up being at the outer end of a table leg or a tire in someone's yard, riding on an electron orbiting around the nucleus of a rubber molecule, or the nucleus of something which in our world may be considered insignificant. Atoms and solar systems have a lot in common. They are held together by gravity. They have nuclei, and satellites. And the satellites move about them in relative independence. At the same time, their satellites are separated by similar distances in relation to their sizes. And clumps of atoms form molecules, which are akin to the galaxies formed by clumps of stars. They express themselves to the creator in similar fashion, whirling about in testimony to the tremendous energy possessed within them. Energy, which at all levels, can neither be created nor destroyed.When we look at the ring around the bathtub before we wash it, or a blade of grass growing in between the cracks in the sidewalk, we should be reminded that the pattern of life's energy is manifesting itself everywhere, in one huge and well orchestrated cosmic dance consisting of wonderfully intricate vibrations and boundless energy. There are no insignificances in God's universe. And just maybe, we are riding on an electron circling around the nucleus of a diamond molecule, or a fecal molecule. In either case, we are a part of a universe that is singular in nature and purpose, and a unitary testament to the creator and his boundless wisdom. Of course, we'll never really KNOW whether there is another universe or not. And that's what makes it even more beautiful to contemplate. Thirteen pages is hardly a beginning. Think about it.

And?

Hands down, the best sport to watch is basketball. You can never predict what will come next, even though there are essentially two outcomes under each basket. But, as they say, getting there is half the fun. With basketball, getting there is the reason for watching. And, there's always something exciting and different being tried or done on the court. Basketball has the most electrifying players on the planet. Not just because they dunk, but because they have no-look, behind-the-back passes, slick defensive moves resulting in exciting scoring plays, and more. Basketball is the most predictably exciting game on the globe when it's played freely by the players. They have such flair and flambouyance, they're always going to stand out among the rest of the world's athletes. Watch a game... any game, and see if there isn't something that happens to make you say "wow"!

Certain video games are preparation for hi-tech warfare. They provide practice for quick and accurate pattern recognition, cognitive friend/foe distinction, and the mentality necessary for killing. They are not designed to make you a better person. They are designed to make you a warrior, immensely prepared for the challenges of intergalactic warfare and conquest, when the day arrives. Remember who we are. Remember that shortly after Columbus proved to himself and Isabella that the world is indeed round, he was followed by invaders who came to conquer, rape, pillage the new world for all they could get. They shot and killed their way from east to west, and in the northern and southern hemispheres. Video games are preparing the next wave of conquistadores for conquest of the first planet they find in outer space. So, teach your children well. History repeats itself.

********************* Sean, my man... TRUTH OUT OF CONTEXT IS STILL A LIE In order to come to an understanding about any issue, you must deal with it in its true context. Without proper context, any half truth can masquerade as a complete truth. This is dangerous, because it allows a misrepresentation to displace the real facts in a situation, and cause people to take actions based upon misrepresented information. Real truth can only take place where the full context of the events or issues being witnessed or discussed. Let me give you an example that has nothing to do with race: Let's say you are invited by a friend to meet at Madison Square Garden to watch a basketball game. When you arrive the game is in progress. The action is so exciting and compelling that you are immediately fully engaged in the game, almost impervious to your surroundings. You watch a hard fought battle by two apparently evenly matched teams. In the end, a close and well played game unfolds in front of your eyes, with the "best team" winning in the end. If you left immediately following the game you would be leaving without learning the truth, totally misled by what you were witnessing. Suppose you found out the true context of the game. The part you missed, which was that the starting players for the losing team were detained by the police for almost the entire first three quarters, for something everyone now could agree was unjust. Suppose you found out that they started the game almost 100 points behind, after releiving some diehard fans who stood in for them in their period of detention and containment by the police. You would then realize that in its proper context, the game was not as close as it looked, and that the losing team only lost on paper... You would suddenly realize that the most qualified BY FAR lost because of being systematically held back! Now, back to the NAACP! The context of the NAACP is important because it allows us to view it in its proper light. First, because the organization was formed when the entire United States of America functioned as the FIRST NAACP, the "National Association for the Advancement of Caucasian People" you referred to so mockingly in your initial posting. At various times and places throughout our history and geography here in the U.S., it was illegal for blacks to be taught to read, vote, own property, read the Bible, inherit property, go into certain buildings via the main entrance, gather in greater numbers than 3 at a time, and a whole host of other things that you take for granted. It was within the context of these and other issues blacks faced as outsiders in the original NAACP, that the second NAACP was formed for colored people. There were quotas then, but they were largely okay with most white people. The quota was zero for blacks. The tax was 100% for 361 years, from King Charles V's original edict in 1502 allowing trade in Africans in the New World, until the Emancipation Proclamation in 1863. During that time millions of less qualified whites surpassed blacks for paying jobs with no complaint from an overwhelming majority of whites. These were non-issues but for the persistence of the "losing" team in struggling to make it despite the deck being stacked against them... Despite police (government) detention for unjust causes. Today, when you mention the NAACP, the United Negro College Fund, and various other "black" organizations you come across, without this context, you are perpetuating a bold-faced lie! Today, blacks still own less than 1% of this nation's wealth, so the original NAACP is still alive and well. It's just cloaked in lies, instead of sheets. Whether you are aware of the context, or you are joining the bandwagon of bigots in thin disguises who choose to ignore it, the act is the same. It doesn't escape us, though... We know you are lying. We know you are full of it. And, if you are a New American, we know you have not yet qualified to speak on the issue, as you are speaking of things you know nothing about. No matter how you try to sugar coat it, you are still fudging. I'm not mad at you. And, I could care less about making you feel guilty. Your lies are an indication that you already feel guilty without me saying anything. That you don't care if you lie to your friends and the New Americans has nothing to do with my view of the subject. Keep fudging. But remember: If you keep fudging with fudge, you might wind up getting fudged up. Peace. You're treating racism like a subject for a thesis, which at the student level, may have some validity. But in terms of the realities on the ground, racism is quite a different animal. Dark people the world over have been subjected to the most brutal form of racism, racial superiority, and racial hatred imaginable. You alluded to technological superiority as the reason whites had a tactical advantage over dark folks. In truth, it was whites' willingness to wage violence against human beings (a characteristic dark people never possessed until coming into contact with whites) that gave them an advantage. The technological advantage is largely a myth. But, as we see unfolding in Iraq and anywhere else unites dominate, it is violence that rules the day. Racial hatred allows us to view the violence in Iraq and think only of our soldiers' well being. As violent invaders, we have killed untold thousands of innocent people who meant us no harm, yet there are many among us who have never shed a tear or said a prayer for any of them. Why? If not racism and racial hatred, then what? As powerful as racial hatred is racism. In the real world context, racism actually causes more damage because its effects are systematic. Invisible quotas guard the racist society against its outcasts. Selective admission divides and conquers the outcasts from within their own ranks... Racism costs people opportunities for centuries, while racial hatred can take hundreds, thousands, possibly millions of lives in an instant. There is no doubt that these forces are destructive to the will of God, no matter how they are disguised. Despite that, they will live on until something catastrophic takes place. Fight racism wherever you see it. Don't hate da playa (the racial bigot). Hate da game (racism)! Notice from jlhaslip: Merged Posts. Board Rules Please use the Edit feature to avoid double posting. Excellent comments and quite eloquently stated. Thanks for sharing your views.

Sometimes, you just have to DO IT, like Nike says. Naturally, any new course of action, especially in the business world should be well thought out. Thinking, of course will lead you to consider both sides of the equation, and the risks are always scarier than the rewards. If you are averse to risk, you might consider getting a better job somewhere, because most small businesses start amid a climate of risk. Unless you are starting with hordes of cash, the hardest thing to get used to is managing business cash flow. Business cash flow needs often dictate irregular paydays, and sometimes even postponing paying household bills in order to meet business obligations. Most small business owners credit scores will drop by more than a few points in the first year of business. The risk of loss is real, and really nerve wracking when the losses can haunt your credit rating for years. Next, no matter what you do or how good you do it, there are always uncertainties in business. As an employee you are for the most part, shielded from it. But, as a business owner, uncertainty comes knocking early on, and with it comes a disruption of your schedule. If you are like most of us, when we leave the gate or the parking lot at the job, we leave the job behind us. Being a business owner, however, you find that you take your job home with you virtually every night. Weekends are often sacrificed to satisfy customers, who become like additional children in your family. Not so because they are immature, but because customers are demanding and needy all the time. They come to you as a business person as a means of satisfying their needs, and if you leave their needs unaddressed or partially unmet, you will find them going elsewhere to have them met. So if you are going into business to be your own boss... Forget it. Your customers will replace your boss. They won't stand there and watch the clock on you, but they will be highly demanding. If you are thinking of going into business in order to spend more time with your family... Think again. The demands of starting a new business can be really hard on families -especially those with very young children. All said, business is definitely NOT for everyone. But for those who love taking on a challenge and meeting it head on... what better way could there possibly be than starting a new business from scratch! Good luck. Fear not. & Have fun.

When considering a web design business, I think it is important to learn design from the standpoint of functionality. By that I mean, a website or page should always LOOK attractive, but its design entails more than looks. Just like a good mate, a website should have attributes and qualities other than just good looks. A web design should be robust and engaging to the user, and functional, informative, productive, and efficient for the owner. A good design will attract users, and retain the by informing, entertaining, dazzling, or empowering users, among other attributes. At the same time, it will provide useful information, strong revenues, user statistics, and other data to assist the owner in making business decisions. These are some of the qualities of good web design. Designers proficient in these disciplines will find a competitive edge.