Estella Wright (Mayhue-Greer)

MY PURPOSE  Thomas Dekker

To awaken each morning with a smile brightening my face;

To greet the day with reverence for the opportunities it contains;

To approach my work with a clean mind;

To hold ever before me, even in the doing of little things, the ultimate purpose toward which I am working;

To meet men and women with laughter on my lips and love in my heart;

To be gentle, kind, and courteous through all the hours;

To approach the night with weariness that ever woos sleep, and the joy that comes from work well done--

This is how I desire to waste wisely my days.

Kenneth Davis

     T H O U G H T   F O R   C O N S I D E R A T I O N   
TODAY'S WORDS - WELL BEING
 

     Exercise and sports are greatly affected by what goes into the mind, and the mind is greatly affected by sports and exercise as well. This is true among exercisers at all levels, despite their different goals. A major element in mental training is visualization ... Visualizing a positive outcome can create a pattern of success, as long as you set realistic and specific goals. Running gives, me a clearer perspective on the world, and it makes me feel special. I've never been a traditional tourist. I've always seen the world by running, and that has allowed me to view things in a different way. Places look different in the early-morning hours, when the streets are deserted.
     Too many people I meet believe that you can sit in a chair and be given motivation. With exercise and fitness, you get it by doing. The mental qualities you need are all linked like a chain. If you give exercise a try and see results, even if it's as simple as feeling good that you get out the door, you'll become motivated to repeat the exercise. Seeing results is inspiring. My basic philosophy can be summed up by an expression we use in Norwegian: hurry slowly. Get there but be patient. In terms of fitness and battling through cancer, exercise helps you stay strong physically and mentally. One day you are happy and laughing and the next you are crying. I am about to get involved with the biggest cancer hospital in Norway. They are building a fitness center to work with patients. I will be a consultant.
     In addition to the well-known benefits of health and well-being derived from exercise, there are other unique advantages to being a runner. You are more attuned to not only your body but also the world around you. The outdoor life you lead as a runner gives you a special relationship with your surroundings: nature, the climate, the seasons. As you depend on these things to accommodate your activity, you grow to understand and appreciate them. My goal has always been to introduce other people to running. They might accomplish something they never thought they could. I love running. It's as simple as that ... it has given me endless rewards: physical, emotional, and professional. The benefits of running are lifelong. I ran as a child, and I intend to run into my old age. Some people feel 'transformed' from the first day they begin running; others feel that it's just plain hard work. Most of us realize it is both. I know how great running can feel, but I also know it can feel not so great, even downright awful! It can be fun, but it takes work to have that fun.

     Grete Waitz (née Andersen, 1 October 1953 – 19 April 2011) was a Norwegian marathon runner and former world record holder. In 1979, at the New York City Marathon, she became the first woman in history to run the marathon in under two and a half hours. 

Kenneth Davis

WELLNESS WEDNESDAY

Here’s What It Means If You Have Ridges on Your Nails

By Marissa Laliberte
Medically reviewed by Elizabeth Bahar Houshmand, MD
Updated: Jul. 22, 2024

     They don't make for the prettiest of manicures, but are they something more than a cosmetic problem? Here's what a dermatologist and research have to say. Fingernails seem like a pretty uneventful body part. They grow. You cut them. Maybe paint them. And that’s about it. But in reality, your nails can give you a glimpse into your overall health. If something is going on in your body, your nails could start to change, sometimes developing ridges. Depending on what the ridges in fingernails look like, you might want to schedule a visit to the doctor.

What do vertical nail ridges mean?

     Lines running from the bottom of the nail to the tip are the most common form of ridges in fingernails, affecting about 20 percent of adults. In the vast majority of cases, it’s just a sign of aging, says Ivy Lee, MD, a board-certified dermatologist based in Pasadena, California. Fingernails are made mostly of keratin, a protein also found in the hair and outer layer of skin. In the same ways that the skin gets drier and the hair feels rougher, the nails also change with age because the body has a harder time retaining moisture.

Other nail changes

     But if you see other changes in the nails, like splitting or a color change, you might want to consult a doctor, says Dr. Lee. In rare cases, ridges in fingernails could be a sign of anemia, rheumatoid arthritis, or cardiovascular problems, according to research in the Indian Dermatology Online Journal. A single ridge in the middle of the nail, for instance, could be a sign of a nutrient deficiency like protein or folic acid. Keep an eye out for these other 11 health secrets your hands are trying to tell you.

What do horizontal nail ridges mean?

     Ridges in fingernails that run side to side are less common and might give you more pause. Also known as Beau’s lines, they could signal disease or just be a remnant of an old injury, says Dr. Lee. “They arise because there is a temporary stop in nail growth in the proximal nail matrix, where the fingernail is made,” she says. “They are most often benign and due to mechanical trauma: manicures, jamming your finger in the door, etc.”
     Sometimes, though, they point to a skin disease like eczema, psoriasis, or chronic paronychia (an infection of the nail folds that makes the skin swollen and red), so inspect your skin and fingertips for signs of redness and rash. Your dermatologist might be able to offer a treatment option. While you’re at it, look into these things your nails can reveal about your health.

A symptom of bigger health issues

     Ridges in nails aren’t all about the skin—they can also be a sign of other systemic problems. For instance, an over or underactive thyroid can affect the hormones in charge of nail, skin, and hair growth, resulting in ridged nails in some cases. If all 20 finger- and toenails develop Beau’s lines at the same time, it could even be an infection like pneumonia, mumps, or syphilis, or even a problem with the heart, liver, or kidneys, per the research in the Indian Dermatology Online Journal. Particularly if your ridged nails have also become thinner, split, discolored, or misshapen, schedule a visit with your dermatologist pronto to get to the bottom of the problem, says Dr. Lee. In the meantime, read up on 42 other strange symptoms that can signal a serious disease.

     This is for information purpose only, and should not be considered as a substitute for medical expertise. These are opinions from an external panel of individual doctors. Please seek professional help regarding any health conditions or concerns.

Kenneth Davis

      T H O U G H T   F O R   C O N S I D E R A T I O N   
TODAY'S WORD - SERENITY  

     The journey of a thousand leagues begins with a single step. So, we must never neglect any work of peace within our reach, however small. There is...a spiritual hunger in the world today and it cannot be satisfied...by better cars on longer credit terms. It will be helpful in our mutual objective to allow every man in America to look his neighbor in the face and see a man - not a color. Those who corrupt the public mind are just as evil as those who steal from the public purse. Man is a strange animal. He generally cannot read the handwriting on the wall until his back is up against it. Man does not live by words alone, despite the fact that sometimes he has to eat them.
     On the plains of hesitation lie the blackened bones of countless millions who at the dawn of victory lay down to rest, and in resting died. You can tell the size of a man by the size of the thing that makes him mad. Change is inevitable, change for the better is a full-time job. We can chart our future clearly and wisely only when we know the path which has led to the present. It is not the years in your life but the life in your years that counts. Every age needs men who will redeem the time by living with a vision of the things that are to be.
     Your days are short here; this is the last of your springs. And now in the serenity and quiet of this lovely place, touch the depths of truth, feel the hem of Heaven. You will go away with old, good friends. And don't forget when you leave why you came. We travel together, passengers on a little spaceship, dependent on its vulnerable reserves of air and soil, all committed, for our safety, to its security and peace. Preserved from annihilation only by the care, the work and the love we give our fragile craft.
 

Adlai E. Stevenson

Kenneth Davis

Kenneth Davis

   T H O U G H T   F O R   C O N S I D E R A T I O N   
TODAY'S WORDS - STAY FOCUSED

     We live in a culture where people are constantly telling us how to get what we want, and within that message is, 'You need to be something other than you are.' I feel like our culture is so good at pulling other people down and being so judgmental, but there's space for all of us to be who we are. There's space for us to celebrate each other and root for each other and not take each other down. I have started using the expression 'compassionate activism': It's about keeping my heart open so that I can understand the point of view of the other person. I think, for me, my goal is to continue to be teachable. I can't see around corners, but I want to be able to walk enough in my life where I go around more corners than I ever thought I could go around.
     Differences in experience, points of view and opinions aren't what pulls us apart. It's what pulls us together. I think it's possible to have a vision for your life that goes beyond any circumstance of anything that you've ever seen, and I encourage people to do that. But I don't think that any of us can do that in a vacuum. It was when I realized I needed to stop trying to be somebody else and be myself, that I actually started to own, accept and love what I had. I like to choose compassion over judgment and curiosity over fear. In some of the darkest and hardest moments, there is always a part of me that is okay. And I can always access that part of me.
     As a younger person, my philosophy was jump off a cliff. I realize now that there are stairs and elevators. I am learning every day to allow the space between where I am and where I want to be to inspire me and not terrify me. I can even ask for help! Not feeling that I have to know everything, and that’s where the growth comes in, in the not knowing. In my late 20s, I realized that I had a very clear social conscience and strong opinions about things like diversity, equality, and education, and while I tried to become more politically literate, I just couldn't catch on. It felt like I had walked into a movie that had already started, and no one would explain what had happened.
     Human rights, race relations, gender politics, health care, and foreign policy - it's a lot to keep track of, and yet all of these things affect us in our daily lives. Making sense of everything requires meticulous unpacking of feelings, delicate navigation of social norms, and a community of love to help along the way. Here is my wish and my desire and my pledge as well: that we remember our true nature and our womanhood. That we own and know that we are more than our bodies and yet our bodies are these sacred, beautiful, rhythmic houses for us. As I get older, the more I stay focused , on the acceptance of myself and others, and choose compassion over judgment and curiosity over fear. I want to be awake. I want to choose kindness, live & let live. I want joy, gratitude, and peace today. I don't always feel fierce and fearless, but I do feel like I'm a rock star at being human.

     I am learning every day to allow the space between where I am and where I want to be to inspire me and not terrify me.
Tracee Ellis Ross

Kenneth Davis

WELCOME TO 
SMOOTH
 CONTEMPORARY JAZZ 

Kenneth Davis

BIRTH ANNIVERSARY GREETINGS
 TO 
DE' CLAYBORN
 & 
C B JACKSON

     Do not wait for life. Do not long for it. Be aware, always and at every moment, that the miracle is in the here and now. We don't receive wisdom; we must discover it for ourselves after a journey that no one can take for us or spare us. 

Marcel Proust

Joycelyn Lacy (Somerville)

Kenneth Davis

   THOUGHT FOR CONSIDERATION   
TODAYS WORDS - WISDOM AND DIRECTION 

     There is no cramming for a test of character. It always comes as a pop quiz. People do not plan to mess up their lives. They just don't plan not to. Your greatest accomplishment may not be something you do, but someone you raise. Telling someone they're wrong is not the same as leading or inspiring them to do what's right. It's better to make a difference than to make a point. People who blame things rarely change things. Blame is an unassailable change-avoidance strategy. There will be very few occasions when you are absolutely certain about anything. You will consistently be called upon to make decisions with limited information. That being the case, your goal should not be to eliminate uncertainty. Instead, you must develop the art of being clear in the face of uncertainty.
     Asking doesn't mean you lack wisdom - it's evidence of wisdom. Lord, give me the wisdom to know what's right and the courage to do what's right-even when it's hard. Blessed is the man who gets the opportunity to devote his life to something bigger than himself and who finds himself surrounded by friends who share his passion. Your devotion to God is illustrated, demonstrated, and authenticated by your love for others. You have no idea the numbers of people that God may want to influence through you. Guilt rarely results in positive behavior. But gratitude? Great things flow from a heart of gratitude. Grace is the vehicle God uses on occasion to ensure that we get precisely what we dont deserve. 
     Direction, not intention determines your destination. It takes a habit to break a habit. You can pray every day for a generous heart, but until you start acting in that direction, nothing's going to change. Your friends will determine the quality and direction of your life. When happiness points in one direction while wisdom, truth, integrity, and common-sense point in another, that's when really smart people start doing really stupid things. Dreamers dream about things being different. Visionaries envision themselves making a difference.

Andy Stanley

Estella Wright (Mayhue-Greer)

This is dedicated to the men of the Class of 70

Curtis Farmer

Estelle, your dedication by muddy waters was on point. I really enjoy all the music. 

Kenneth Davis

SMALL STRAWS IN A SOFT WIND by Marsha Burns

     September 8, 2024: Long standing wounds, both mentally and physically, will begin a healing process that will set you free from your agony. Believe it and receive it, says the Lord. You are not alone in your suffering. I am with you always. Psalm 139:7-10 Where can I go from your Spirit? Or where can I flee from Your presence? If I ascend into heaven, You are there; if I make my bed in hell, behold, You are there. If I take the wings of the morning, and dwell in the uttermost parts of the sea, even there Your hand shall lead me, and Your right hand shall hold me. 

   T H O U G H T   F O R   C O N S I D E R A T I O N   
TODAYS WOHRDS - HEALING PROCESS

     Haters gonna be haters, and there's nothing we can do about that. I think, when you value yourself and respect yourself, everything else just falls into place. When I went through my divorce, I decided that I was going to pray this time for someone. Then, God sent me someone. I prayed for the specific qualities I wanted in a man, and I wasn't going to settle for anything less. If you're going through something, just know that you're gonna come out on the other side. You're going through it - you're not stuck there forever.
     Sometimes people hear that you help somebody, or you said something that really resonated with them that they really needed to hear. Sometimes people get motivated to go and do stuff. That makes me feel really good because I feel like I'm affecting people in a good way. I'd like to reinforce that fact, that if you put out positive stuff that that's what you get back. If you hold onto stuff, it holds on to you. It just weighs you down, and it's a waste of energy. Why would I waste my energy on being bitter and hating when I could be using it to go out and do some really good stuff, you know?
     Everything in my life happened for a reason. Even when I thought they were the worst things in the world, they turned out to be the best things in the world. My 'Book of Prayer' is the most important thing I carry. If I'm tense about something or need to pray for protection for my kids, it always helps. I think that everybody, at one time or another, has been betrayed and lied to, and it's about the pain, and it's about the healing process, and it's about how do you get past that and move on. 
 

     If  you're going through something, just know that you're gonna come out on the other side. You're going through it - you're not stuck there forever.

Tina Knowles

Kenneth Davis

   T H O U G H T   F O R   C O N S I D E R A T I O N   
TODAY'S WORDS - CELEBRATED COMICS 

     My name is Charlie Murphy. I was born into this name, and I've been rolling how I've been rolling my whole life. I think I have had a remarkable and colorful life, so I decided to share it. I was a bodyguard for somebody I love. That's not a good combination. I was always ready to beat somebody up. As the older brother, I was expected to make sure no one messed with Eddie when he went to the park. He didn't have to deal with anyone saying, 'I'll get you after school.' I protected Eddie. He never had to fight, because people knew who his older brother was. Eddie had the perfect template of what not to do. His big brother did all the wrong things.
     I went to jail for a year when I was 17. When I got out, my mother took me to the recruiting office, and I spent the next six years in the Navy. In the Navy, you're around a lot of people from different parts of the country. There's a lot of racism when I was in the Navy, and I had to deal with that. They've got different accents, different upbringings. I learned to love country-western music. When you're in the military, you get accustomed to sleep deprivation. In the military, the reason you take the right path is they eliminate other choices. I needed that. They set me straight. I went into the military because I wanted to get an education, not because I wanted to fight anybody.
     I wasn't drawn to comedy: it was drawn to me - from fighting in school to going to jail, then joining the military and getting into Hollywood. I used to irritate people. I'd give them a hard time, and when it drove them crazy, that was funny to me. I was the dude you didn't wanna go to school with, because I would come to school and get on your shoes. If you had a hole in your pants, I'd talk about it all day long. If your hair was messed up, if you had buck teeth, I'd talk about it all day long. And I made people laugh doing it, but it wasn't like I thought I was a comedian. 
     When I first started doing comedy, I was 42 years old, and I was the brother of one of the most celebrated comics in history who made his name in the game 20 years earlier. I bombed in front of 5,000 people. Anybody that's ever stood in front of 5,000 people that don't like them can tell you, it's an energy associated with that. You don't want to feel that. You ask yourself, 'Do you really really want to do this?' Everything was a lot more challenging for me because of who my brother was. If I were in the film, someone would have said that I got the part because Eddie's in the film. If I wrote a script, folks would say that I didn't really write that: that Eddie did and I threw my name on it.
     If I look at my family tree and follow every generation before us, going all the way back to the slaves, then Eddie Murphy is the highest achievement as far as my bloodline is concerned. How could you be jealous? You can only be proud, unless you got some serious issues. I respect everybody. You don't have to earn my respect. You earn my disrespect. I've been called Mr. Eddie's brother, but I don't trip on that. Whether you realize it or not, that's a sign of disrespect. If you address me, call me by my name. You can't lower me or make me feel uncomfortable. At the end of the day, when Charlie Murphy ain't here no more, I'll have a body of work that people can laugh and remember me by.

Charlie Murphy

Kenneth Davis

IT'S TIME FOR 
JUST JOKING MONDAYS

Joycelyn Lacy (Somerville)

Kenneth Davis

SMALL STRAWS IN A SOFT WIND by Marsha Burns

   September 10, 2024: These are days when it will be necessary to find a place of spiritual stability where you know absolutely and without a doubt that you belong to Me, says the Lord, and that I will lead, guide, and direct your steps. Release yourself from all doubt and fear and put your trust completely in Me. Psalm 46:1-3 God is our refuge and strength, a very present help in trouble. Therefore, we will not fear, even though the earth be removed, and though the mountains be carried into the midst of the sea; though its waters roar and be troubled, though the mountains shake with its swelling. Selah

     T H O U G H T   F O R   C O N S I D E R A T I O N   
TODAY'S WORDS - SPIRITUAL STABILITY 

     In a world of noise, confusion and conflict it is necessary that there be places of silence, inner discipline and peace. In such places love can blossom. Our job is to love others without stopping to inquire whether or not they are worthy. That is not our business, and, in fact, it is nobody's business. What we are asked to do is to love, and this love itself will render both ourselves and our neighbors worthy. A faith that is afraid of other people is no faith at all. The beginning of love is to let those we love be perfectly themselves, and not to twist them to fit our own image. Otherwise, we love only the reflection of ourselves we find in them. To say that I am made in the image of God is to say that love is the reason for my existence, for God is love. Love is my true identity. Selflessness is my true self. Love is my true character. Love is my name.
     The greatest need of our time is to clean out the enormous mass of mental and emotional rubbish that clutters our minds. Let us come alive to the splendor that is all around us and see the beauty in ordinary things. The purpose of our lives is to find the purpose of our lives. Do not look for rest in any pleasure, because you were not created for pleasure: you were created for joy. And if you do not know the difference between pleasure and joy you have not yet begun to live. You do not need to know precisely what is happening, or exactly where it is all going. What you need is to recognize the possibilities and challenges offered by the present moment, and to embrace them with courage, faith and hope. For although God is right with us and in us and out of us and all through us, we have to go on journeys to find him.
     To be grateful is to recognize the Love of God in everything He has given us - and He has given us everything. Every breath we draw is a gift of His love, every moment of existence is a grace, for it brings with it immense graces from Him. Gratitude therefore takes nothing for granted, is never unresponsive, is constantly awakening to new wonder and to praise of the goodness of God. For the grateful person knows that God is good, not by hearsay but by experience. And that is what makes all the difference. We are living in a world that is absolutely transparent and God is shining through it all the time. God manifests Himself everywhere, in everything - in people and in things and in nature and in events ... The only thing is we don't see it ... I have no program for this seeing. It is only given. But the gate of heaven is everywhere.
     Life is this simple: we are living in a world that is absolutely transparent and the divine is shining through it all the time. This is not just a nice story or a fable, it is true. The spiritual life is first of all a life. It is not merely something to be known and studied, it is to be lived. Before we can realize who we really are, we must become conscious of the fact that the person we think we are, here and now, is at best an impostor and a stranger. The peace produced by grace is a spiritual stability too deep for violence — it is unshakeable. In silence God ceases to be an object and becomes an experience. When you see God in everyone, then they see God in you. For each one of us, there is only one thing necessary: to fulfill our own destiny, according to God's will, to be what God wants us to be.
 

Thomas Merton

Kenneth Davis

   T H O U G H T   F O R   C O N S I D E R A T I O N   
TODAY'S WORDS - BEGIN AGAIN 

     The difference between misery and happiness depends on what we do with our attention. Whatever life presents us, our response can be an expression of our compassion. We spend our lives searching for something we think we don't have, something that will make us happy. But the key to our deepest happiness lies in changing our vision of where to seek it. We can't control what thoughts and emotions arise within us, nor can we control the universal truth that everything changes. But we can learn to step back and rest in the awareness of what's happening. That awareness can be our refuge.
     We can travel a long way in life and do many things, but our deepest happiness is not born from accumulating new experiences. it is born from letting go of what is unnecessary and knowing ourselves to be always at home. Restore your attention or bring it to a new level by dramatically slowing down whatever you're doing. Mindfulness allows us to watch our thoughts, see how one thought leads to the next, decide if we're heading down an unhealthy path, and, if so, let go and change directions.
     It is never too late to turn on the light. Your ability to break an unhealthy habit or turn off an old tape doesn't depend on how long it has been running; a shift in perspective doesn't depend on how long you've held on to the old view. When you flip the switch in that attic, it doesn't matter whether its been dark for ten minutes, ten years or ten decades. The light still illuminates the room and banishes the murkiness, letting you see the things you couldn't see before. Its never too late to take a moment to look.
     The critical element in meditation practice is beginning again. Meditation is not a matter of trying to stop thinking or make your mind go blank but rather to realize when your attention is wandering and to simply let go of the thoughts and begin again. It is a way of changing our relationship to our thoughts, so we're not so consumed by them, with no sense of space. Having a newly spacious relationship to our thoughts brings both peace and freedom. Everyone loses focus at times, everyone loses interest at times, and everyone gets distracted over and over again. What is essential, and also incredibly transforming, is realizing that we have the ability to begin again, without blaming or judging ourselves, without thinking we have failed, without losing heart, we can, and need to, constantly be beginning again. If you go deeper and deeper into your own heart, you'll be living in a world with less fear, isolation and loneliness.
 

Sharon Salzberg

Kenneth Davis

Instead of sprinkling it on potatoes, add it to your coffee. It will strengthen you and improve your memory.
https://essanews.com/

     We use a whole host of spices and herbs in the kitchen every day. But did you know that there is a certain addition that deserves special attention? This knowledge will definitely come in handy for you! When preparing meals daily, we very often operate on so-called autopilot. We don't consider the properties of the herbs and spices we use each time. We simply add them to enhance the flavor and aroma of home-cooked meals. And of course, there's nothing wrong with that. On the other hand, it's worth taking a few minutes from time to time to get to know kitchen additions better. Why? Because not only do they have valuable health benefits, but you can also use them in an unusual and original way!

Rosemary and its properties
     You'll definitely agree with me that rosemary has a very wide range of uses in the kitchen. It works great as an addition to meat marinades, a valuable ingredient in many soups, and ultimately an indispensable element of roasted potatoes. And these are still just a few examples. However, it turns out that rosemary, in addition to enriching the taste of our dishes, can also have a positive effect on our health. How? First of all, its anti-inflammatory, antiviral and antibacterial properties should be mentioned, thanks to which rosemary helps fight various types of infections. Furthermore, the star of today's article helps to regulate blood sugar and cholesterol levels and has a beneficial effect on digestion and our memory. It is also said to have a positive effect on the condition of our skin.
Add rosemary to the coffee
     I know, initially this idea might seem like a pure absurdity. But give me a moment, and everything will become clear. Adding rosemary to coffee not only has health benefits, which I've already described above. This new method will also interestingly affect the black drink itself. Thanks to such an addition, it will become even more interesting and vibrant. Without a doubt, rosemary will positively influence both the taste and the aroma of the coffee. Furthermore, rosemary is also attributed with relaxing properties. Therefore, a southern cup of coffee with such an addition will put you in an even better mood. 
     How to prepare coffee with rosemary? The whole process is fabulously simple. All you have to do in this case is to brew the coffee and add a fresh sprig of rosemary to it. Then wait a few minutes for the rosemary to start working, remove the herb from the coffee and savor the taste and aroma of exceptional coffee. 

     This is for information purpose only, and should not be considered as a substitute for medical expertise. These are opinions from an external panel of individual doctors. Please seek professional help regarding any health conditions or concerns.

Kenneth Davis

BIRTH ANNIVERSARY GREETINGS
 TO 
JACQUELINE FRANKLIN DANIELS

     Don't wait for miracles, your whole life is a miracle. Do not grow old, no matter how long you live. Never cease to stand like curious children before the Great Mystery into which we were born. Our lives will be measured by what we do for others.

Albert Einstein

Joycelyn Lacy (Somerville)

Estella Wright (Mayhue-Greer)

Frankie Beverly is now enjoying the golden time of the day!

Kenneth Davis

  T H O U G H T   F O R   C O N S I D E R A T I O N  
TODAY'S WORDS - YOUR REDEMPTION

     Passion makes the world go round. Love just makes it a safer place. Real men hold themselves accountable for stuff. When I was in the 12th grade, I got my girlfriend pregnant. I just got out of school; she was a 10th-grader. I'm a teen parent, and I'm at a point where I'm like, 'Man I've got to do something.' I'd say people are victims of circumstances and they're limited to the opportunities that they see. Even though there might be more opportunities, you might not see them. You might just think, "I don't have any options." You usually go to the dark side, in that situation. Well, I am very happy that I was able to play a part in bringing music from the streets onto the radio and into modern culture, I worked very hard and always believed in the sounds I was creating.
     I didn't start off with the responsibility because I didn't think anybody would care. But as you do meet these people influenced by your music, then you start to understand you have a responsibility. I don't think you initially know it until you feel the power of what you're really doing. As an artist, you need the naysayers and the nonbelievers to add fuel to your creative fire. You can't just sing the song and live another life, you know. It's really difficult now because that's not what it's about. It's pop and pop just says that we could be actors. We could sing about stuff and not believe in it. It could be absolutely fraudulent, and it doesn't really matter. I make an effort to keep it as real as I possibly can.
     You know, the radio never wanted you to speak about anything, so the music is kinda influenced by the hands of the radio which wants to homogenize it and dilute it and sanitize it. And for the most part, nobody's takin' the time to seek out the cats that are still tryin' to talk, so they have a difficult time being heard. I've evolved, but I'm the same dude, I'm just in a different place. We all change, we all grow. I shouldn't be in the same place that I was 30 years ago; I should be more intelligent, you know. I'm normal. I just had a different occupation for a while, and when you're in a different occupation, you have to carry yourself a different way. Most of my art is me bringing you stories from that era of my life. My life now is kind of boring. I think everybody wants to redeem themselves after they've done something that might be considered negative. I don't think anyone wants to go to the grave negative. Redemption just means you just make a change in your life, and you try to do right, versus what you were doing, which was wrong.

 
Ice T

Kenneth Davis

 TIME FOR ANOTHER 
THROWBACK
 THURSDAY

Kenneth Davis

BIRTH ANNIVERSARY GREETINGS
 TO 
LYDIA GRAY

     The true secret of happiness lies in taking a genuine interest in all the details of daily life.  It took me years to understand that words are often as important as experience, because words make experience last. The past is not dead, it is living in us and will be alive in the future which we are now helping to make.

William Morris