tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-49371296566952776172024-03-08T13:12:39.376-08:00Mr. B's ReflectionsDifferent reflections and views on a variety of topics and discussions pertaining to education, finance, and daily life issues.Mr. Bhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15345225469367760982noreply@blogger.comBlogger18125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4937129656695277617.post-69714173283147726172015-06-27T00:59:00.005-07:002015-06-27T00:59:43.193-07:00The mission comes first...There are times at night, well just about every night, my mind can not seem to shut off. I have so many thoughts, projects, and interests going on because they all lead to one important objective, completing the over mission. I've been told I need to slow down , take a break, or perhaps cut somethings back, but if I do that my overall mission could be compromised and that is something I can live with. I have to say that I have indeed sacrificed a lot in every aspect of my life, but it is for a purpose, and isn't that why man lives, for a purpose? I would like for one day to sit back and truly enjoy life, but today is not that day, the mission comes first. I say this rant to merely state that one must remain focused in order to achieve, endure in order to finish and succeed, and evolve in order to reach a higher understanding.Mr. Bhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15345225469367760982noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4937129656695277617.post-75991122326150385862015-04-16T13:03:00.001-07:002015-04-16T13:03:35.478-07:00Time for change. Time for leaps of faith....As I get older I realize that I must embrace change, because whether I want to accept it or not, it is going to happen. I know that in my current way of life I need to evolve more and move on from my current station in life. Sometimes one has to take a leap of faith and at those times you may reap the rewards or consequences of those choices from either taking a leap or refusing. My life, just like everyone else's life, is full a schedules and chaos, without an end in current sight, even though it may be around the corner. I have come to realize that life is not going to be truly fair, but you still have to carry on and push through as best you can. I was talking to someone a few days back, I could tell this individual was weary, hardened, and shape by life, or rather the choices made in their life. This individual kept stating they should have did this or should have done that, all the while I am thinking why did this person just go and do the things they were speaking of? I know it is easier said than done, but if one can do the negative things in life with such ease, why not reverse those behaviors and use them In the positive aspects of life? If one truly wants change to happen , they must shed fears and just go for it, what is the worst that can happen? You fail? You go back to the position in life you are currently at? I would say that is an acceptable risk I would gladly take! My dad used to say that you were already born at the bottom, you have no choice to move to the top of you so choose to.Mr. Bhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15345225469367760982noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4937129656695277617.post-75395113012037222512014-12-19T20:42:00.003-08:002015-04-16T12:47:50.721-07:00Your Vision, your goals, your own road.As I get older, and wiser, I have come to the realization my vision is just that, my vision. At the end of the day no one truly cares why you set out to do the things you have outlined for yourself. I do not have the luxury of having a whole bunch of friends or ones I would consider die hard, nor do I really care for that matter, people, as I am told , come into your life for a season and then each party will move on with their respective lives and etc. With that being said one should always remember to take people's lack of understanding as a standard norm and continue on. I have had to remove several people from my life due to creating stressful situations or formulating how we should be in some crazy equation that never will include each individual's vision or goals, so to that I say formula rejected. I have no problem living within my own made up world if it will help me reach the goals I have set up for myself, we as individuals give up to much of ourselves at certain times in our lives and when given a second chance to correct those mistakes we shouldn't squander the opportunity to get whatever goals wanted to have accomplished long ago. So to those out their in the same situation I say, if you have to get rid of people or leave them behind in order to make progressive changes then by all means do so, chances are they may have never had your back to begin with or understand what your trying to accomplish, which is ok.<br />
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Respond with comments or opinions.Mr. Bhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15345225469367760982noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4937129656695277617.post-85648542092617708872014-12-07T09:18:00.001-08:002014-12-07T09:19:03.090-08:00Watching One's Back: Lessons Learn.I was brought up and trained back in a time where you were to have your colleagues back and In return they should or would have your back. But we now live in a reality that has proven this is not the standard norm for being a unit anymore, instead people would rather smile in your face and then stab you in the back if they feel threaten or have jealous underpinnings. The phrase that has been said so many times still sadly holds true today; keep your friends close, but your enemies even closer, but with that being said who can say is truly your friend or who is truly your enemy in our current societal make up. Of course people will talk a great game in your face just so there will not be any harsh feelings or a odd work environment, but why is it that people can not be honest with each other anymore? Why can't people explain to one another what needs to be done in order to make the unit a more effective one? Life is only as easy as an individual can make it, and with every other outside factor coming at us a whole why add to such a trying process? Don't get me wrong, I am not saying to defend someone who is in the wrong or has a negative disposition that only brings down the group, people like that are toxic in nature and should not be apart of anything productive until their attitude changes. But if you are a true person for change and doing things correctly, then instead of going behind someone's back and making statements or suggestions to hurt that person, take a more classy route and actually talk to that person on the side and help them grow, would you not want to be afforded the same courtesy? Now the question I send out into the world of cyberspace is how can we, in any situation, work as a functioning unit and give feedback or constructive criticism in order to meet the end goal as a team?<div><br></div><div>Please leave your comments and responses.</div>Mr. Bhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15345225469367760982noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4937129656695277617.post-52143522834466175122014-11-29T05:24:00.003-08:002014-11-29T05:24:19.721-08:00Connections and RelationshipsI may be a twin, but I am a loner, always have been, I feel most comfortable alone and in my own thoughts, and relationships elude me, I guess one can say I have lost my way in that aspect of my life of suffer from alexithymia. But at the end of the day i come to realize we all need someone to talk to and to bond with on some level, a connection we can call our own. It is said we all need affection and in return need to be affectionate. I understand this but then in aspects I do not, in my own opinion I feel like a stable adjusted person who has their own unique take on love and relationships, as do any person, that is why all relationships have there own unique take and hold their own unique value per individual or couple. I have time and time again that no man can be an island unto himself and I challenge back why not? <br />
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Leave your comments and opinions, I would like to hear your take.Mr. Bhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15345225469367760982noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4937129656695277617.post-8226876114891141142014-11-23T14:36:00.001-08:002014-11-23T14:36:10.171-08:00Fatherhood: The Gift/The ResponsibilityIt is 4:22pm, on November 23, 2014, I am patiently waiting at the airport for my son to land and check in so our week long bonding time can being. I have been excited for this opportunity since I began planning for it a couple of months ago, all of the headache and issues with getting him here up until this point has been well worth it. Whether some of us want to admit it or not, fatherhood is the greatest gift one could receive in life! Just think about it, you get to see apart of you grow up and teach that part of you lessons you learned growing up in some small way you get to have a second chance at life. They get to see life through your eyes and you get to do the same, it is your legacy, why would you not want to make sure it is secure, safe, successful. With the gift of fatherhood, you also must cognizant of the responsibility that comes with it. Help to lead the way for a better outcome or more advance outcome than your current situation, I could never understand or would want to for that matter how can a man have a seed in this world and not take measures to ensure that their seed is successful! I am not saying that if your seed makes conscious mistakes you should be held accountable if they are of adult age, I am only stating that as men we have to make sure we make the proper provisions as to help make sure they do not stray and look at other avenues as the direction to head.<br />
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I can say, without any doubt, I love my son, with every fiber that God has placed in my mortal form, I would give my life for his, as my father would do the same for me, this is what the cycle of a legacy, a positive legacy entails. I was told, by what I considered to be a wise sage on the street who was homeless, that one day it will make sense. As a kid I wondered what that meant or if the homeless guy was a bit crazy, but as I get older I can see what he was trying to convey to my young mind, and with that small amount of wisdom, I will impart it to my son, thus pushing on the cycle, that is my gift to my responsibility. Mr. Bhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15345225469367760982noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4937129656695277617.post-42313672863395002272014-11-21T06:53:00.002-08:002014-11-21T06:53:17.499-08:00The Measuring of A Man Sidney Poitier said it best in two quotes from his book, <i>The Measure of a Man: Spiritual Autobiography,</i> "A person doesn't have to change who he is to become better," and, "I am the me I choose to be." These two quotes have stood out for me because it sums up how a man should handle and carry himself. An individual, especially a man, has to understand that they are who they want to be and a man should want to be the provider, the protector, the leader, and foundation of their world they have made for themselves. A man has to know who they are before they bring others into the world they have made. I never could understand how a man, who has decided to make the wrong choices, consistently, would want to bring others into that world chaos and instability. Life can not be treated as a game or something that you figure out later on when you get to an age you feel is one of maturity, a man should with guidance and help from other positive men, should have a plan of action and a plan for success as early as a teenager. I am also not saying that success breeds the perfect man, that is not a reality, even though that man may have a successful career or make a lot of money, that still does not make him a man, it all falls in line with that man's actions. A man, a real man, has to use several areas of understanding, from wisdom (good wisdom) to humility to compassion in order to make judgement possible in every situation placed before them.<br />
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I can only speak for myself, I am a man that wants to be measured on my actions in life not my accomplishments or amount of money I have in my account, it doesn't make me who I am, that only gives me a standing or position in the eyes of others in life and at the end of the day that doesn't make for a productive, purposeful life, knowing who God is and who you are or could be as a real man is truly the key. I have witnessed so many men take the path of least resistance because life was "hard," but life will always have challenges, finding and figuring out how to properly manage and handle these challenges is the key to overcoming. If your a man who is reading this I make this challenge to you, become more than what you are currently, do things that advance you overall and never become complacent because things seem stable, let your measure as a man be one that is thought of in high regard.<br />
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Leave your comments and questions!<br />
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Mr. Bhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15345225469367760982noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4937129656695277617.post-74241883699974798382014-11-19T10:15:00.000-08:002014-11-19T15:10:09.454-08:00"A Different World"-What television needs to place in the world today! Back in the mid 80's to early 90's there was a television show developed as a spin-off from The Cosby Show titled A Different World. The show revolved around the college experience at a historically black college. the show revolved around issues pertaining to being in college and what happens to some of the graduates after. I bring this topic up today because it was the first show of it's kind to show how being a full and well rounded college student show look and act like and what goes on daily while away at school. I can not see how the world has so quickly changed from having such a great program of its day into the garbage they overfill television with currently and call it entertainment. The youth of today need to see there is another way of living beyond their current situation, and to top it off it is fun! I loved every minute of my undergraduate experience, from the classes, the lectures, the parties, the organizations, to joining Masonry, to meeting the young ladies! It was a WELL ROUNDED EXPERIENCE!!!! One can not just study all day, or party all day, one must position their self to be that well rounded student who can balance their life, because at the end of the day you will have to balance life until you no longer walk this earth.<br>
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I am a firm believer of all young individuals going to college, especially young men! They need to learn and understand how to be on their own at some point and become self reliant and capable so they can in turn be a well-rounded individual for themselves and for their own families, I am sure no woman will disagree with that statement. I am tired of seeing young individuals want to portray all the negative aspects they see or hear in the media simply because they have been inundated with what they perceive on television as "the real world." Just like the title of the show, that was a spin-off of The Cosby Show, suggests there is a different world, and it is indeed different than from where any one has come from. My point centers around that if your situation is not great at the present moment, you want better, or just want to expand your knowledge base, what harm could come from attending college, even if for just one course? And when i say attend I mean attend the traditional setting of college so you can stimulate all of your senses to the other side of the spectrum of what one may perceive as life. <br>
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I have a son who presently is 8 years of age, and every time, and I mean EVERY TIME, I talk to him it is to ingrain in him that he will be attending college and I make him repeat that part of our conversation back to me and ask him to rely back to me as well why does he need to go to college, this should be apart of every man's daily discussion with their child/children, if you are truly wanting to see your off spring provided as well as afford an better opportunity in life. I have yet to see ignorance or lack of understanding make successful individuals, rather the opposite.<br>
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Feel free to share comments or opinions!Mr. Bhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15345225469367760982noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4937129656695277617.post-70996895581971543732014-11-13T11:10:00.004-08:002014-11-13T11:10:57.617-08:00Tailored Suits: Every Man Should Have One!I, at times, wonder why most people I work with or come into contact with ask the question, “Why are you wearing a suit? Do you have job interview?” To me this question is a bit silly but I still respond, “Because I can.” Why is it that people think a suit should only be worn for a job interview and why is that? I happen to like suits and I am a professional, so it is a win/win situation. I think the stance on what is considered professional has been skewed for so long, we are willing to accept brown Dockers and some form of a collared shirt. I like to have suits, especially tailored suits, if the cut is nice it makes you look more together and more presentable.<br />
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I have to admit, when I was younger I did not see the need to get a suit that was fitted or coordinate with the proper accessories and shoes. I thought back then one just needed a white shirt and black shoes and that was it. As I matured I saw the need to have the shirt, belt, shoes, cuff links, and suit match and flow in perfect unity in order to convey that you are a man of quality and with a bit of culture backing you, and you know what there is nothing wrong with being that way. Every man should have a suit, especially a tailored one, to me it signals the road to being a man and not staying in the mode of a boy. <br />
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I would urge the young men out there who go for a baggy suit look with a French cuff two tone shirt that looks like it came off the rack of a local outlet, put some time and effort into making your suit fitted and match correctly, the ladies will be glad you did!<br />
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Mr. Bhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15345225469367760982noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4937129656695277617.post-54053185138818808922014-11-11T06:12:00.004-08:002014-11-11T06:13:41.766-08:00Mentorship- Directing and Guiding For a Purpose.I remember when i was a young kid growing up I used to look up to some of the older guys around (Mom did not know) who did not so good things except for the progression of themselves. At the time I did not know you needed to do for others more than yourself, I only saw that they had new clothes and the nicest ride at the time and I wanted those things as well to show off to people. As I grew older and a bit more wiser, i understood that if you want to look up to someone, it should be someone of substance, someone of positive virtues that only wants others to see the right way to do things. My father was a great role model and still is, his advice has never been wrong and he also allowed me to grow into the man I was meant to be, not the one he wanted me to be. My father also help with other young men in molding them, not because he had to but because he knew he was needed and he also wanted to. When I was an undergraduate in college I met a man who was in an administrative position for the campus I was attending at the time. He was everything a young brother should want to strive to be, the young ladies adored him, he dressed professionally, and he had a position of importance. What I appreciate about this individual is he saw something in me enough to take time and help with molding me into the man I am today, so I will always owe he a debt which I will pay by doing the same thing for another young man growing up needing a role model. I have a young son, but that is not enough on my part to just mold him, he is my responsibility so that molding to me does not count, I will always mold and train my son in the ways of a young man that needs to be a driving force in society and make his mark. It is my job as a man to impart what knowledge I have to another young man who may be lost or needing the same guidance in order to progress.<br />
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We live in a selfish world, were need for self out weighs the need to help others, we have turned being competitive into a way of life, and we need to get away from some of that thinking. It takes nothing to take some of your time and help another young man who is lost and needing a mentor who is about something guide them to the path of success and make the way they live a good one. I can not say I have not been blessed to receive such instruction because I have and in turn I need to give that instruction back to whoever so needs it or seeks it. I see how young men follow older men who do negative things and do not care about the people who look up to them. From rappers to some athletes they feel like they owe no one nothing, and to a point they do not, but again that falls back into selfish thinking, which is something society need to review and revise, this contributes to the problems of declining education and behavior issues, lack of positive mentorship. Please leave your comments or opinions.<br />
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<br />Mr. Bhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15345225469367760982noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4937129656695277617.post-8906199050216330432014-11-10T06:37:00.001-08:002014-11-10T06:44:41.428-08:00The Mis-Educated Young Black Male<br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%;"><span style="background-color: white;"><span style="color: black;"> <strong>As an educator I am privy to observe several areas
of education, from the implementation of certain curriculum designs to the
actually execution and results of those designs.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>One thing that remains constant in my time as
an educator is the decline of black males wanting to advance beyond high school,
if they accomplish that. It is are <span style="background-attachment: scroll; background-clip: border-box; background-image: none; background-origin: padding-box; background-repeat: repeat; background-size: auto; color: black;">deeply
embedded and thus difficult to remove the rationale some of the young black
males have on life and how they will survive it as they get older. The basic
things I hear range from being an athlete to being something in entertainment,
I have even heard of some wanting to start their own business (and that is
where the conversation stops).<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The
disservice comes in the form of not telling these young men that they have to
take certain steps beyond running fast, making a good rap from memory, and just
saying you want a “business”, we have to help them go beyond the juvenile thinking
and not help flourish such notions of fantasy without accurate and precise
plans of action attached to the back of them. I recall a book a read several
years ago called </span>The Mis-Education of the Negro. It is a book originally
published in 1933 by Dr. Carter G. Woodson which hit a lot of points we still
see today. If you control a person’s thinking you will not have to worry about
them being a threat at all, if you tell them this is all they can and will be,
then sooner or later they will have the programming to do whatever direction
you point them in.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>To me this is sad, as
parents and people that claim to want to see these young black men progress
further that their current station we need to help them by not sugar-coating
everything we tell them or become content when they fine a remedial job and
waste their talents for years. We need to take education and the concept of
role modeling back to the point where we expected nothing but excellence in
their academics and career choices. <o:p></o:p></strong></span></span></span></span></div>
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have my students make fun of me for wearing suits, I also have colleagues that
ask me why do I wear suits in the school environment, and for me it is very
simple, if I want change I must be that agent of change and make the first
steps, no matter how small, towards making an impression on our youth. When it
is all said and done we are professionals in education and should carry
ourselves as such and be the role models for the one who need it the most.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I enjoy being an educated, proper speaking,
well dressed, and driven black male, there is nothing wrong with that.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I do not promote ignorance of stupidity, I cannot
and will not tolerate it, and I just cannot. Even though I have heard several
times in my life from teenagers as well as adults that it seems I want to engross
myself into “white” culture, this is not the case but sad and disrespectful to
me and other black males in my position.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>It is not about talking “black” or being a certain way that will make
others believe I am a black male, I WAS BORN A BLACK MALE! The education, the
use of dictation, and the characteristics that make up me are just supplemental
and to hear such nonsense from other black individuals really bothers me to a
point.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Some may say I am taking this a
bit over the top or whatever the case, but I am not, we need to make better
decisions beyond watching reality television that promotes the negative aspects
of our culture for ratings.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I remember
seeing The Cobsy Show and A Different World, shows that showed the positive
side of the black experience, but today you hear people say, “That is not real
life.” Well I beg to differ, that can be real life because it is based off of real
life experiences just like shows that depict drug dealers, gangsters, athletes,
and convicts, it is just not glamorous enough.<o:p></o:p></span></span></strong></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%;"><span style="background-color: white; color: black;"><strong> The U.S. Department of Education states that the
national college graduation rate for black men is 33.1 percent compared with
44.8 percent for black women, with the total graduation rate at 57.3 percent
for all students across the country, which begs the question why is that?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The reasoning is quite simple we allow our
young black males to become programmed that getting a basic job is all they
will need to do and they will be fine.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>You will see more parents reward a black male student clothes, shoes, video
games, and money just to show they are a cool parent or on some level boost the
ego of the young black male because they are not doing well in school and are
becoming behavior problems in class. Instead of rewarding them for bad behavior
we need to instead train them for positive behavior, they are a reflection of
us so they should reflect good things, not things that involve looking like the
hardest person to walk around. I never can understand why some parents will
allow their teenager to get tattoos across their necks, arms, and etc, but when
it comes down to talking about them doing better academically and behavior wise
they will blame the school system for not doing their job. The job starts at
home! If you want a young black male to have the best education or
opportunities for advancement in life, regulate how they carry themselves in
public, help them to understand the academics and help them to be the young,
educated, driven black males they were destined to be, the time for correctly educating
black males is right now it is needed. Feel free to leave comments or remarks.</strong></span></span></span></div>
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<span style="color: black;"></span><br />Mr. Bhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15345225469367760982noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4937129656695277617.post-59705222020080739972014-11-07T08:00:00.002-08:002014-11-07T08:00:25.794-08:00Investing in DRIPs: Starting from somewhere instead of nowhere!
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<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%;">A DRIP, or Dividend
Reinvestment Plan, is a pretty simple and good way to break into the investing
world without having a whole lot of know how or expertise. With DRIPs you can
learn how to invest while making a small portion of money, which if done
correctly will grow over time. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Companies
offer people with direct opportunities for current and new investors to join
their programs with a small or even no initial investment at all, which is
great for the novice investor want to get their feet wet. This is also a way to
invest without paying brokerage fees for each transaction you make, when I
first starting researching a big hindrance for me was the paying additional
money to an outside source on my money. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>With patience, and time, one just has to read
up and learn how to invest in DRIPs in order to secure a more stable future for
themselves and loved ones. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%;">I was at the barber
shop awhile back and heard a few young men talking about how they felt their master
plan for saving money was going to keep them rich in the long run. From what I
heard they were going to basically save up ten thousand dollars, buy a safe,
then go to a backyard of a house they would have and dig a big hole.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>In this hole they would place the safe in and
then mix some concrete and pour it over the safe (security reasons) and let it
harden. They would then come back in ten years and dig up ten thousand dollars,
thus remaining rich for that cycle of their lives. Now being the person that I am
I had to respond by telling them that the scenario they just described was the
dumbest thing I have heard of, for that day. Of course we all laughed and about
the story, but when I when I followed through with follow up questions, I began
to realize these young men were serious, and what scared me the most was that
they were in their mid-twenties with children! I bring up this story to say
that we need to get into different realms and modes of thinking that are
realistic and hold substantial value. We can all have a plan as the one I just
described, but in the long run how effective is that plan? While they may have
ten thousand dollars that was placed away and buried for ten years, there is
another person who would have the same ten thousand dollars and actually plan
for smart investing and within that same ten years’ time turned that into one
hundred thousand dollars.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>If these young
men just simply planned and actually did some research into thing like DRIPs,
they would understand that would secure a better future for themselves and
their families.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%;">We all have to learn to
research the companies that interest use when investing or trying to invest on
our own. It's always a practice to research about the business of the company that
caught your interest, this also including reviewing the companies past
performance with its stacks as well as looking at its future forecast. You
always want to invest soundly and wisely in order to increase your money and
keep a diversified portfolio. There are many websites you can research in order
to see what best fits your personal situation, one website that I like is <a href="http://directinvesting.com/"><span style="color: #0563c1;">http://directinvesting.com/</span></a> , they give
you everything you may be looking for as well as definitions to terms you may
not be familiar with. It is time to seize opportunities for growth and prosperity,
if you so desire to! Please feel free to leave comments or questions and I will be happy to respond!</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%;"><o:p> </o:p></span></div>
Mr. Bhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15345225469367760982noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4937129656695277617.post-18510731268016141482014-11-06T19:48:00.001-08:002014-11-06T20:10:08.114-08:00The Visible Father, The Observant Son, and The Obstacles.Many discussions have been produced on this topic. I am a proponent for fathers being in the lives of young males. My son, knows I love him, will support him, will guide and instruct him. I am the visible father, I don't say this for accolades or recognition, I say this because this is my duty as a male who had strong males in my life. I have an observant son, he views and absorbs information in order to process and grow from his current position. In me knowing this I have to keep diligent in my role to make sure that the things observed are things that make him a productive person and well adjusted individual. In my position of being the father to my son he once told me he wanted to be smart as me, this simple statement carried so much weight, it allowed me just a small glimpse of how I am perceived by my own flesh and blood. I was placed on a pedal stool as a superhero in the eyes of a great kid, which brings me to the other side of spectrum of this conversation, which is the obstacles. Obstacles such as ignorance, deceitful nature of others, and sorting out through lies and truth, this is the most challenging aspect of developing a young man. We as fathers, true fathers, have to bear such weights and remain stable but also transparent for our sons in order to allow them to have something to hold steadfast to and get the prepared for life. I understand that life has to teach us all, but it is always good to give them a hand in the right direction.Mr. Bhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15345225469367760982noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4937129656695277617.post-48951170591217063682014-10-31T17:36:00.001-07:002014-10-31T17:37:33.416-07:00Complacency or growth?As an educator I often ask this very question to my students. The responses have varied over the years but I have come to find that most people are complacent out of some perfectly structured fear and the need to have constants in their life. I get it, I really do, whether If an individual has adopted this concept because of commitments , obligations, or perhaps feeling as if they have reach the goals set out, I often wonder wat makes a person sty in that mode. I for one never have been a complacent person, I consider myself driven no motivated by just wanting to evolve beyond my current situation and station in life, that I why I keep myself abreast in my areas of education, research, and things that will improve my life so in turn I can improve others around me. This way of thinking has at times placed me in the perception of others as either "cocky" or arrogant. But I can say that I am not the least bit ashamed for making a conscious decision and taking the necessary steps to keep moving in a direction that is one of enrichment and fulfillment. I love learning and getting into other pursuits that make me better, if not then those who know me by my nickname of " Mr. B." really don't know me. At times while others sleep I am up researching, reviewing, and strategizing plns for future goals, this could lead into why I get very little sleep. I like to attribute the little sleep I do get to that of me not wanting to miss out on a learning opportunity, because even though learning opportunities are not rare, One still has to sort out the more meaningful ones in order to commence the application of of the learned experience.<div><br></div><div>I think growth is essential and something everyone should strive for. At times it breaks my spirit to see individuals, so full of talent and promise, leave themselves in one mode simply because they have "mastered" that particular mode, so in a sense they come across as a person well versed on that subject. I would rather venture out beyond what I know so I can process all the gleaned knowledge I have accumulated in my time on earth. I was once told my a person I considered a mentor that life is a process, and with that simple yet complex phrase I have carried myself into realm of growth that will only linearly progress in a positive direction. </div>Mr. Bhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15345225469367760982noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4937129656695277617.post-69799390352887245322012-06-19T16:32:00.002-07:002012-06-19T16:33:18.503-07:00Great Educator<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%; margin: 0in 0in 10pt; text-indent: 0.5in;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", "serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 200%;">Social influences are in fact the great educators of our current generation of students who imitate everything they see on television; from their style of dress to the way they behave one must realize that that school is indeed only a secondary agency that is desperately fighting to keep the children of America abreast with the rest of the world. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The educational problems and possibilities that are presented to teachers by cultural contexts such as media, family, and neighborhoods is basically influence. With more and more parents working longer hours, some taking a back seat to their children’s education in favor of settling their financial situations, most children are not reinforced about the importance of education. It is also generational, some of the parents today are young parents who may have not finished their education and may have valid reasons to not trust the educational system in America, so what happens is that these parents instruct their children on how to not trust the system as well and the cycle of not wanting to learn is then established. With a child’s neighborhood, it can be difficult; depending on the area to get some children out of a life of negativity if that is all they have seen growing up. It is easy for a person in a better standing to give advice and tell children in a<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>not so good situation that it is ok to want to learn and move up, but if they hear from people in their own environment that it is not then they will tend to listen to the people they can best relate to<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>rather than someone considered and outsider. With the media, the real war is getting them to help with the problems of education rather than trying to make money off of the young masses, it has become so economically driven that the media will show more advertisements and ridiculous shows telling you had to think and act, that the children of America do not stand a chance of making proper choices if all they have to go on is the media. Media could have so much more purpose in getting out more educational shows and showing children that it is ok to want to learn and be smart. We see on the kids shows that try to say they are kid friendly how they make fun of the smart kid while showing the student who is considered not as smart getting all of the perks of having a lacking education.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", "serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 200%;">A difference that teachers can and should make for their learners if schools are deemed secondary to the wider society in regards to influence is to become a better voice, teachers too have somewhat throw in the towel when trying to deal with a more challenging individual in their class due to lack of support and funding to get the services that child may need. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I do not want to sound like I am against teachers, they do a fine job of helping the majority of children succeed as best they can in the world they currently live and function in, but there needs to be a bigger voice from this group of people and the voice should not go through a type of retaliation from their district if they say something that may not align with that districts steps in helping children. And we cannot blame just poor neighborhoods for the problem, most affluent and middle class neighborhoods are to blame for the fact that they want to exclude the poor students from receiving a good education as well, we need to find solutions together because this is an all-around problem not isolation to some parts of the country.</span></div>Mr. Bhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15345225469367760982noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4937129656695277617.post-275424353277558712012-06-06T18:28:00.002-07:002012-06-06T18:28:27.554-07:00Blog 4: Hidden curriculum and the role of schools in cultural hegemony<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%; margin: 0in 0in 10pt; text-indent: 0.5in;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", "serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 200%;">Before one delves into the relationship between the meaning of hidden curriculum and the role of schools in cultural hegemony, one must understand what they mean first. For defining cultural hegemony, it simply states that a certain class of people believing the theory that a society that is considered diverse can be ruled by a dominating social class who is not above using tricks and maneuvers the achieve the level of rule they want for their type of inner circle.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>When defining hidden curriculum, it basically is the teaching of lessons that are not out in the open but more implied and learned from perceptions and actions not forwardly outlined. Now in understanding what each of these statements mean the relationship between the two can be seen by anyone. Basically a certain group may feel superior or above others and without trying to come out and saying it, they instead imply and make hidden or secret steps in the direction of advancing their own class of people. Cultural hegemony does cause surprising effects on the inter-workings and what happens in public school classrooms. Some teachers are even performing this act without even knowing it sometimes. From having advanced courses to remedial courses, teachers are putting out the perception that smarter kids get better course<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>and chances to achieve while the kids label challenged get the minimal when it comes to education. This may not have been the intention, but on some level this is the case. You even get the sense from the teachers who only want to have advance classes over remedial that teaching a certain class of student can place you in a certain social class as well.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", "serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 200%;">Understanding the concepts like cultural pluralism and assimilation can help to impact how we think about education and marginalized groups within it in contemporary society, by simply allowing these types of groups need to exist in order to help build acceptance of unique cultural identities that can in fact assimilate into our already large blended culture without being an elitist culture. In regards to applying this reasoning to education, you want to have a diverse background in your education, keeping instruction on the thinking of just having an unsaid way of handling choosing what students learn or which people learn what is not the true definition of a unified nation. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I can see from debates about education for its own sake versus education for a particular role in society being played out on the political trail and in other sectors. While some will agree the need to somehow govern the who and the way education is being carried out in today’s educational environment, others will debate that it should be for all and made equitable. We can see how some political figures do not want illegal immigrants to have basic education, while some are fighting to have this as a reality. In all honesty there should not even be a concern with having everyone receive education and get the most benefits , it should not be a selective group of individuals who have hidden agendas with education and learning, that is so ridiculous on so many levels, but yet in still we are having discussions on why such occurrences are happening and why the general population seems to either want to ignore the matter or simply leave the system the way it is for fear of making too many waves and cause some type of<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>upheaval.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span></div>Mr. Bhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15345225469367760982noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4937129656695277617.post-729824157966983712012-05-31T17:36:00.002-07:002012-05-31T17:36:30.511-07:00School Reform<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%; margin: 0in 0in 10pt; text-indent: 0.5in;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", "serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 200%;">When one thinks of school reform, the vision and interpretation always has a varied view from all parties, whether they are vested and involved or not. In my opinion the true voices that should be considered in the process of school reform should be that of the stakeholders that are always involved in the process such as students, parents, school administrators, teachers, community members, and local school board members. I think they have the greatest impact on school reform simply because they are involved in it the most and know what actually needs to change or what need s to be better in this area. We all know that the systems is flawed and needs constant revision, but what I cannot understand is how, as an advance society instilled with common sense, how do we not noticed the need to have certain groups focused on what would be the best course of action instead of choosing certain consultants who can only give their point of view as oppose to knowing what actually needs to be done. I can see that the voices of those of state- and/or federal-level politicians would not make a better decision over people who deal with school reform on a more regular basis and have the necessary time to actually deal with the issue, it is always alright to say they can help or add input but to throw or have them thrust their selves on the issues of school reform would not help anyone involved succeed or make it better to say the least. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", "serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 200%;">The moral, philosophical, and social ramifications of the power that is behind people who deal with school reform is tremendous, this issue does carry a substantial amount of weight and can also jump start or end careers of people who want to use this issue as a device for their own gain. Even though this issue carries power it still has to be heard from a particular party of interest group to carry weight so the lack power each of the voices actually involved, from a stakeholders<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>point of view, can be frustrating. When looking at the Documentary about the Davis School, the voices that are present at the David School are the ones of teacher and students, and some of the community, but this to me seemed accomplished only because of the documentary that was being made and the emphasis was placed on these stakeholders who may not have otherwise had any sort of say to begin within the small community from which they reside in. I am a realistic person; first and foremost, we have to understand that no campus let alone a school district want to look like they are not making a conscious effort to make school reform, but I can’t understand why every school district has to make themselves look good in a positive light when results always come back negative at times, it would be refreshing that a school district would admit it needs help and it is not functioning to the best of its capacity or that they know they could do better, being politically correct at times can only add to the academic decay we now face as a nation.</span></div>Mr. Bhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15345225469367760982noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4937129656695277617.post-44077496925227976482012-05-24T14:12:00.000-07:002012-05-24T14:12:41.520-07:00Gender Equity<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%; margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", "serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 200%;"> As a male I can only say that I have not felt the full blown experience of gender bias on a negative level, even though I know it exists in our culture. I can remember hearing from other perspectives about how genders are “built” for certain roles and that it must be accepted in order to have a balance that all can live with. The truth of the matter people are “made” to handle certain instances, for example child birth from the side of a woman, and heavy physical labor from the side of a male, but this does not serve as a basis for having the views of which gender should be considered more superior over another. I think the problem of gender bias is not overblown, in fact I think it has been one of those known but placed into a category of being easily to deal with or just mainstream and this makes it to where<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>people just tolerate this kind of behavior to a point. I believe because of old school thinking, if one were to complain about the situation or if they have observed some form of gender bias then their own career in turn would either halt or become nonexistent with time, so many people either learn to deal with it or find a reasonable solution to make the work environment tolerable. Many people hate to bring up that there may be some form of gender bias within their company because it is an ugly truth they do not want to face or it might show that their leadership and delegating abilities are coming into question in a negative light.</span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", "serif";"> </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", "serif";"> </span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", "serif";"> </span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", "serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 200%;">There is some merit to the argument that boys lose out as much as girls do, just in different ways in schools today, simply because for fear of interacting the wrong way with the genders by<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>their teacher.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>With so many threats of lawsuits and pending litigation that are really against your school districts in favor of parents and students, many instructors are trying so hard to make everything politically correct that no one can really know for sure what is deemed appropriate to teach the genders. We have to understand that we all have a certain purpose but this does not mean that the genders should keep stereotypical views that misguide decision making processes and make the environment hard to deal with for others.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>In my own school district or If I have the privilege to run my own campus, I would approach the issue of gender with an informed point of view driven by facts and research. I would make sure that my campus has implemented the proper procedures and guidelines to ensure that we are compliant and doing what needs to be done in order<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>to have a smooth flowing campus environment.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", "serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 200%;"> </span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", "serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 200%;">The issue of gender bias or the lack thereof is illustrated at the David School, from the<i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"> </i><em><span style="font-style: normal; mso-bidi-font-style: italic;">Country Boys</span></em><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"> </i>video, in my opinion by how the male students seems to show a lack of respect to their female teachers, One of the students replied earlier on in the video that he felt that his female teacher gave the impression that she was better than people in that area because of her college degree. This part stayed with me from the video simply because weren’t all the teachers that were employed at Davis school required to have degrees? So why was the mention of a degree by this female teacher a problem and why did the student feel he did not need to talk or listen to her? Just by the student’s demeanor and conversation with this teacher I assumed, from my observation that he was not inclined to take orders from a woman that he perceived had too much power or authority over a predominately male run mining town. A the issue I had with this was that in our smaller areas in America we have to take measure to help facilitate some type of change or we will miss pocket of individuals who will carry with them the same jaded views of how genders should be.</span></div>Mr. Bhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15345225469367760982noreply@blogger.com0