GENETICS: You Look Just Like...

Genetics. Now this topic, I would venture to say that I'm pretty familiar with. I mean, I took science class. I know that you get some of your genes from your mom, some from your dad, all that stuff. But I will admit, that this topic was one of the most interesting that I heard. THe presenters talked about how your genes could determine whether you were going have certain diseases, as well as a ton of other thigns. It got me to thinking: What could my parents have handed down to me. I already know that I had to get this crappy immune system from my mom. (My dad never gets sick.) I also got the majority of my looks from my mom. I've been told that me, my mom and my sister look like triplets. (Moreso when I was younger, but whatever.)

I've never been a science buff, but I guess this genetics thing is pretty again. I mean, when you think about it, genetics are only the building blocks of your entire being, so I guess they're kinda hot. But at the expense of sounding like a science geek, I think I'll cut this discussion off right here.

Livin My Life In High Definition
-The 4th

CULTURAL IDENTITIES: Is Anyone In Your Family A Terrorist?

As harsh and insensitive as it sounds, I've definitely heard the title of this blog come out of peoples mouths before. I find it so interesting sometimes how people automatically assume that just because something is different from what they believe, or what their heritage says, then it's wrong.

True story: I'm back in high school, shortly after 9/11. There was a kid that I went to school with whose first name was Osama. I was so shocked that people actually did not want to have anything to do with him. As a matter of fact, I didn't even know who the boy was before Sept. 11, 2001, but I ran into him shortly thereafter, and knew who he was because I had heard people talk about them. It's interesting to note that the terrorists who killed so many people that day were driven by the same hatred and fear that the kids at my high school were showing. People really need to get over themselves and try to see things from a different perspective. Instead of rejecting the unknown, how about we try and learn something from it? I guess maybe that just makes too much freakin sense. Then again, what do I know right? I'm just a skinny black dude who's lived on 2 continents, a few countries, and visitied dozens of cities. Little sheltered, old me.

Livin My Life In High Definition
-The 4th

SOCIAL NETWORKING: All Up In My Biz-Nass

Facebook. Myspace. You Tube.
Why does it seem like people always wanna be up in your business these days?
Billie and J-Bake (don't really know why that's the first thing that popped in my head while I was thinking about who else was assigned that topic, but I digress.) Anyway, on the topic of social networking sites, I guess I can't really say that I'm against them because I'm a member of all three of those sites. I check my Facebook more often than I check my email. What can I say, the good folks at the 'The Books' headquarters knew what they were doing. They created the electronic equivalent of drugs. Kids all over the world are facebooking like never before, and lovin it.

I found myself thinking about this very topic a few days ago. In particular, I was thinking about how when Facebook first introduced the mini-feed and news feed, the Facebook nation went CRAZY. There was so much of an outrage that major media outlets like USA Today, The New York Times, and even Time magazine wrote about this massive uprising of college students. I even wrote an editorial about it for the The Famuan newspaper. (A pretty good one might I add.)

But that was a long time ago. Now it seems like Facebook is really, as my cousin would say, "doin the most." They've invited almost anybody with an email address, business can log on and check out potential employees, you can buy party tickets, post videos, and anonymously confess to your secret crush all the crazy things you fantasize about. Does it really take all of that? Nope.

And what about Myspace. Oh, myspace. That's a funny one. I check my Myspace page much less frequently than my Facebook. Mainly, because I know there's not that much happening on it. Most of my MySpace friends are on Facebook anyway. On top of that, every amature stripper and wannabe rapper is on MySpace trying to befriend me, so what's the point. I DON'T KNOW YOU AND I DON'T REALLY SUPPORT YOUR CAREER EITHER! Harsh. Maybe. Call me crazy but sometimes I wish we could just go back to the days when only your college peers could stalk you through the computer and poke you numerous times. I guess it's just so much worse when strangers do it.....

Livin My Life In High Definition
-The 4th

BODY IMAGE: Just Me and The Mirror

My classmates Janai Kelley and Shaquana Harper had the topic of body image. I immediately thought, "oh great, now I have to hear about how men make women feel like crap... blah, blah, blah." I mean, and why wouldn't I think that? The first thing that popped into my head was TLC's "Unpretty." Of course, it was probably the guy who made the girl get breast implants, and its been said that girls often buy there hair to look nice for the opposite sex. But why does it have to be that way? Why can't chicks just be happy with who they are?

But I will admit that it was interesting getting my classmates perspective on body image. There was a little bit of "men vs. women-ness" going on (of course guys won) but it wasn't too bad. I got the opportunity to see things from a different perspective. The way a person perceives themself can have a paralyzing affect on the way that they live their life. A person who is not confident about their body can lead a life of fear and unacceptance. It was also interesting to hear some of the statistics about what people go through to make their body "perfect." That includes surgery, crash diets, and even starvation. I never really thought about the way that I view myself until after Janai and Shaquana's presentation. I guess it's a good thing I could care less about what other people think. lol.

Livin My Life In High Definition
-The 4th