Can We survive without a Blackberry?

Can We survive without a Blackberry? I asked this startling question, not as a person who is trying to take away a toy from a 5 year old, but as a person who debates at times how technology intrigrates our lives instead of with our life! One would probably be asking, "well, if you won the lotto, would you give up the winning ticket if it meant....?"

I asked this type of question because of my niece and the situation she has no choice to be in at the moment. She is caught in a predicament between two people who can't get along, and Ali has to come along for this unfortunate ride regardless. Amy*, the mother, loves and cradles her daughter dearly, but doesn't realize yet the importance of the situation at hand as the approaching court date looms. The father, ex-boyfriend, (and I am only speculating) probably also doesn't see the World as it should be, and wants to gain the assets, the children, if only for the power like that of a Blackberry which sits comfortable in the palm of your hand. Amy would be the type of person to let the device rule her, and not realize the consequences it holds. She will let it make the decisions for her as if this were a computer from the 1960's-1970's that talks and rules the World. I say this also because her daughters birthday comes 10 days after the expected court date. Amy is not seeing, nor realizing that the technology of today doesn't fix all problems, and if she expects everything to be all right, well, that actual part isn't written yet (but my suspecious thoughts are opinions of mine-that Amy will see the depths of Hell come October 6th).

I pick on this product for the simple comparison of example. I don't want to misinterpret my thoughts or give the wrong impression to you within the lines of this blog. I am sure a Blackberry is a very fine product, it is that I don't want one because of the power it wells within the tiny postcard size length. From time to time, I become a people watcher. I can tell you this, it is not that hard to find people who have a Blackberry in hand or attached to them like a barrel of lollipops. This device is like that of a child, neither can't be put down, and one can't put it down at anytime for the next 18-21 years. It is with you wherever you go, it calls to your attention day and night, and it can't be left alone. True too, one is also a phone, so in times of need, it does come handy. However, what is/are the important things in life?

How can preparations not be made in anticipation of an expected day? As pointed out by the pictures of Ali that grace my Facebook site, my nieces smile can reasonate with anyone-even if she knew you for five minutes. Amy is avoiding parts of life and expecting the Blackberry to fix the rest of her problems. When Amy walks into court on October 6, does she expect everything to be taken care of? I look at the smile of a soon to be 1 year old, Ali, on October the 16th, and say to myself, "Ali, welcome to the REAL World!" It is hard to believe that a year has gone by that quick like the speed of sound and light. When something so precious is treasured, like that of a child, do we overstate our expressions of gratitude, and forget the true meaning of its existence? This is probably material for another blog down the road, but comparing Amy to Nadya Suleman does come to mind. Amy has of one child, and Ms. Suleman has 14, so I can understand your puzzlement and disdain. However, the point being is that the Hollywood lights soon fade, and the real work begins raising the offspring......the story never ends!

Grown Up?

Does the thought of a court date appearance make a child/adult grow up immensely fast? That, and probably many other accounts I don't have answers for, but it is a question that peeks interest.

Amy*, my sister, will be facing another court appearance come tomorrow (the first of two), and I doubt very serious she is looking forward to it. Yet still a child at 20, she is forced to see life in a shade of rose colored glasses not wanting to be worn. I would like to offer my small, but accessible support, but again, she is an adult, and I am just an outsider looking in at the perimeter of "this" choas. Unfortunately, the choices one makes in life, one must now see the World differently, correctly, because what makes this very vulnerable, is that a child who will be turning 1 shortly depends on a favorable outcome. The custody of a child, or this case, any other case presently now somewhere in the World; they all seem to have that varience that is so common among custody hearings. It is not a fight about who is doing what for the child, it is a disagreement about what is handed down within the Court approved documents both parties were/are to agree. Simply put, it is a fight over property, the child, and usually, these cases don't turn out respectively.

As I have blogged extensively on this topic, I want to emphasis I am not wanting to gain attention for myself. The Bloggist of the World have an avenue to express their thoughts, opinions, and in a sense, I feel I am apart of that World. Right now, it is the only item I have to offer my support. To write out my thoughts into words, and creating the masterpieces, the works of Art expressing the light, and the dark sides on a canvas. My support is to the child, Ali, soon to be 1 year old (and frankly, what a Birthday Gift this will be sadly!!!!!!), yet, I do not want to forget someone else I grew up with from 1989 onward. I do want to state, support is for Amy, but the real focus should be on the child, the child that will most certainly be obviously caught between the old saying, "Rock and a Hard Place."

Time will tell, or Time will be told! I do not know the outcome, nor do I wish to faciously place a bet on the ending results. It is the thoughts of this writer to try and stay as Independent as possible, although, I will say it is extremely difficult. When one wants to go to bat for someone special, like Babe Ruth hitting a homerun for a sick child in the hospital, that in a sense is something I feel like right now. The Game of Life, the baseball game at hand, it is such a trival entertainment sport, but at times can seem real. It is the bottom of the 9th, the home team is down, the score is 5-5, two on, two outs, and a single into centerfield, or more less a homerun would surely win the game. As the pictures on my Facebook page show, I am going to bat for my niece. I am a Uncle, and I am proud to carry that title......forever.

To share a bag of M&M's with Kanye West

Why is it the most notorious people seem to draw our attention in today's news? Maybe is it because they are a celebrity, therefore they are allowed that privilage, then again, maybe it is better them instead of us, the Joe and Jane Public's! One thinks with the power, prestige, the notority, that it would be enough because of their name recognition.

The infactuation with this event between Kanye West and Taylor Swift has become of volcanic proportions. If one has ever thought Mr. West was doing this for publicity, well, that will have to wait for awhile till the dust settles. Should it hurt Ms. Swift....are you kidding! Now, don't get me wrong, I am not really a big fan yet of Ms. Swift's music nor do I know even one song of hers. But, with the southern heritage one has for someone like her, one has to stand by the principle of the matter at hand. To place the South's values right up against with a bag of M&M's would be a better example. We here in the South take pride in our College Football, Church, and close knit families. I doubt very seriously this would even register with Kanye, eventhough according to his bio, he did grow up in Atlanta before moving to Chicago right as his parents were divorcing.

What is really intriguing with this whole awards show flubber gone bad with Kanyack, is that need for reality publicity. As I watch his short so-called yet feabile apology speech tonight on "the Jay Leno Show", one would have thought he would have practiced time and time again (and had the routine pattern down to a 'T'). According to Wikipedia, this flare for drama he savors has not been the first time, and after the awards show, one wonders when the next time will come. It reminds me though of today's flavors of reality television shows that dot the landscape of entertainment. As sick as one is, at least with this writer, of the salad variety of Reality Programming, one has to think, "when will the dam break and flood this arena of guilty pleasure?" Reality television mirrors so much of our life as played out on the shows themselves, that I begin to wonder really if the shows dictate somewhat how our lives pattern after an episode has already been aired.

Does Kanye West need a hug? Does he show agression because he thinks no one loves him? It would be interesting to gauge a timeline from before his mother passed away right up to now. Somehow, unless one is on the inside of his World, we may never know what's the answer. There are many colors and sides of Kanye, and there is little doubt anyone can still figure him out. Beyonce looked surprised, and one wonders what the expressions were with the rest of the audience. In the next few days, weeks, yet hopefully not months, we will see how Kanye redevelopes himself again? Should someone in his posse' keep a bag of M&M's and or Jellybeans handy just in case? It probably wouldn't be a bad idea! He may be a great entertainer, yet I don't value his music enough to put into my CD rotation. The colors of the wind blew that night, yet, they weren't the colors of a bag of the chocolate candy. Kanye, should he seek and find guidance?

Technology + Comedy = ?

Do we really live in a competitive world? Have we lost the values we were taught as kids and turned into those just like on Wall Street?

I ask these realitive tough questions because of the way technology is at this present moment. Oh, I could ask more, but I would be oversimplifying my statement. You have a world where as many as a dozen jobseekers are inquiring about one job listing, and the only way it is done is on the internet. One would think how in the sand hill did slice bread ever get invented! When did going in person to apply for a job position make one feel like they were Ozzie Osborne ever go away? How could taking care of the family household budget be that convenient online?

These and other thoughts creep into my mind as I watch the news of the world fly daily either online or on television. Yes, it is a VERY stressful time either way one looks at it. But, somewhere or other comedy has to come into the daily realm of scope or one will just simply breakdown. Technology, no matter how one looks at it on the broad spectrum, it will run our lives forever from a blackberry all the way to the automatic coffeemaker. To my amazement, I am still startled that we don't have flying cars yet. I am even more shocked that we don't have some of the accessories already in place that one would see on a Star-Trek episode (or a science fiction movie).

All in all, it is well with my soul. But, no matter where one is at their stage in life, it could be worse. There are so many no's and yes' in life, one probably is wondering why the phrase, "In the Good Ol' Day's" has not been retired. Why, as I scan Channel 4's news, I see two legislature proposal's in Kentucky banning Text Messaging; probably making it a federal offense in that state.

Oh well, the National Football Season is 13 games in the books, with two more tomorrow night. The National Hockey Season kicks off in about 5 weeks. Between the Indianapolis Colts, and the Nashville Predators, it is going to be an exciting, nail biting Fall/Winter season. No matter what team or sport you follow, if you do, buckle up, "It's Showtime!"

Light, Darkness: "a" Child

Why is it I have a heavy heart that aches with and oozes poo. Feelings rush like a sonic boom and race around my mind going faster than a Nascar Driver at near 140 miles an hour. There are demands for the World to change, yet when routine is regiment, change doesn't happen over time, night, day, hour, week, month, to even a year?

By now you are wondering just what is he pulling out of a Edgar Allan Poe book, to a infamous line say from a Tim Burton movie! I am speaking about the trauma that ensues here very shortly in the court system we call our Judical Courts (in America). My sister, Amy*, who is 20 years old, is still in that stage in her life finding that fork in the road that detours her again and again. She has a great support system, so she is not without people, friends, family, who want and care for her to get going onto her/the next stage in life. She had a baby, so as you will see shortly, the pictures I have on my Facebook page tell of my love to my niece. So, in the fast pace life, it should not detour her for very long (and then she can get back up and running again). Ali, my niece, is the most precious being I have ever gotten to enjoy as an Uncle, and pouring great amounts of love to her (to be able to teach, keep her morale up, to showing her that someone cares, is an experience I want to savor each and everyday). My really big stance is that she needs to know as she gets older, that she is not a throw-away kid inconvenienting my time or others.

Where is all this going, and leading, you may ask? Well, the obvious won't be answered till after the court appearance on October 6, 2009. Now, my thoughts and opinions are solely based of myself, so if ya'll read this, don't be upset at what is written or what will be written in the following days. Amy more than likely will have the baby, my niece, taken away from her because the father, the 2nd boyfriend of Amy, wants power and will not cease till He wins. I can't give his name out, because He is known in Portland, etc, but I can say that he is 19 years old. This person has 4 other kids by 3 different women, so as you can see, there will be an object lesson learned her very shortly if this man wins the DCS case. It is a sad tragic moment should it occur, so therefore, how can one have forgiveness, not for the harden heart he possess, but empathy and sympathy for a now 11 month old child (young adult) who has no rights at all (simply put, she is just an object of power like money, and never enough can be had).

Ali, or Aaliyah, is a adorable, sweet person with handicaps that must be worked on by the medical community from here on out till she becomes a grown adult. God, Jesus, is the only person with power, of power that is on here side now (again, if this scenerio plays out) who can intervene on behalf of the judge, or court appointed advocate; who can see through the cloudiness and show the faults of this 19 year old man. The power of prayer can stop this tragic moment in the making, as it is out of this writers hands. If I were to have a full pledged blog, would I be labeled a racist, or a person who is bringing light to a controversial topic as only an amateur writer can? Time will tell, and in a matter of a short 2 weeks from today, it will be seen much sooner than needed.