Introducing my online magazine…

I’ve been busy over the past couple of weeks working to consolidate all of my business ventures. As a result of this endeavor, I am integrating my blog into my online magazine. From now on, you will be able to read my daily editorial in my new online magazine. The magazine also features other news and information as well as free entrepreneurship training.

My goal in life is to help others achieve their dreams and accomplish their goals. For these reasons, I created leadmedianetwork.com, a one stop resource site. The focus of this magazine is entrepreneurship, technology and politics. Entrepreneurs must be informed in these areas to be successful. It is my hope that you will make reading the magazine a part of your daily routine. It is also my hope that you will find the information useful and helpful.

I am not ending my blog, I am simply moving it. Visit the new site (www.leadmedianetwork.com), create your free account and you can begin to enjoy all the good things it has to offer!

Old fashion views on sex are unpopular among Christians?

When did the moral fiber of American change? When did Christians become cowards and back down from defending their beliefs? I look around and see a country that is constantly deteriorating because it has some how lost its moral character. In a country where Lucy and Ricky used to sleep in two separate beds on TV, we now have shows like Desperate House wives where cheating on spouses and multiple sexual partners is glorified. Marriage is viewed as simply another level of dating that people can exit at will if they are “unhappy.” Many people even get married now for “convenience” or to “try it out.” No wonder the divorce rate is over 50%. Other couples are living together, having children and creating lives together, while refusing to get married. If you really want to spend your life together, why not prove it by making the ultimate commitment? Some people look to marry an “experienced” sexual partner and shun the people that wait for their spouses as if they are the ones that have it wrong. Why aren’t Christians providing alternative viewpoints or at least speaking out more against the views that are contrary to Biblical teachings?

Christians used to be respected for the integrity of thier lifestyle, now they are ridiculed for the same reasons. How can you tell them from others when they are living the same way? Pre-marital sex is just as rampant in the church among Christians as it is among secular cultures. What is really going on? We live in a society where over 80% of teenagers are sexually active. Pre marital sex in the church is statistically just as high as in secualur cultures. Children and teenagers are told to wait by hypocrites that are engaging in the same activity at older ages. Our children are falling by the wayside and in the middle of all of it, TV, music and society is teaching them by example that it is OK. Few people are taking a stand against the liberal views on sex in American society. We live in a society where people are comfortable enough to have sex with someone, but afraid to ask about their sexual history because they do not want to “offend” them. We live in a society where people engage in sexual intercourse before even being in a committed relationship. Did I mention this is the age of HIV?

Sex is taken lightly like it is no big deal, and it is no longer viewed as a bond between couples in love. It has merely become a tool of lust. Christians that have traditional views on sex are often ridiculed. Why isn’t any one speaking out about it? Why are churches scared to take a more aggressive approach to encourage traditional views on sex? Why aren’t TV shows displaying the real consequences and circumstances that come along with sex? A “hook up” is not OK. A one-night stand is not OK. Sex before marriage is not OK. Living together before marriage is not OK. Lack luster views on sex are not OK, not just for moral reasons. We live in the world of HIV. Why are old fashion views on sex unpopular even among Christians…that is not OK!

Would you marry again?

I was watching Fox News as I often do, and I was intrigued by a story they were reporting today. In America, marriage is on the decline. I reported months ago on marriage officially no longer being the majority choice for Americans. Divorce is on the rise, 53% of first marriages end in divorce and 60% of second marriages end in divorce. These numbers alone are startling, but a statistic I heard on the news is more startling to me.

Today, Fox News reported that 44% of married women said they would not remarry their husbands! What does this mean? If they had it to do all over again, they would not marry the spouse they have. In addition, the study discovered 75% of women keep secrets from their husbands and over half of them suspect their spouse is cheating. The large portion of the women in the study also admitted to repeated flirting. What is the root of this belief?

I think this type of logic steams from many things…

1. False Expectations-Realistic expectations of spouses can often reduce disappointments in a relationship. Many women and men enter into marriages thinking their spouse is “larger than life.”

2. Lack of Pre-Marital Counseling-Pre-marital counseling can help couples determine if they are marrying the right person. A good session of marriage counseling can bring everything “out in the open.”

3. Lack of commitment-Many people love the idea of marriage, but they do not want the commitment of it…this leads to divorce and a lot of broken hearts.

In a society where marriage is on the decline and divorce is on the rise, it is discouraging the women that are married do not value their spouses enough to marry them again if they could “do it all over again.” Although the men were not polled in this study, I do not think their responses would have been any better. Although a focus group of women were polled, I wonder how many women share the same beliefs that were not polled. I personally believe you should never marry a person unless you believe they are the best person for you that you would marry over and over again because you love them.

The reason I refuse to quit in 2007…

I refuse to quit in ‘07 because it makes you become everything but what you are worth,

I will not quit in ‘07, because my value is greater on the Earth,

Walking away from destiny only denies what is inside of me,

sent down from Heaven, there is strength and blessings in ‘07,

The struggle produces the tension like an orange must change its form to produce juice that can be consumed and provide better nourishment in its squeezed state,

The trial produces the triumph by way of the path that was laid before the foundations of your existence,

Where is your persistence?

To quit is to live in a life walking dead,

you could have climbed higher, achieved greater, produced more,

but you chose to quit instead…

I will not quit in ‘07 because its easier,

I am going to look forward, march like a soldier that knows the battle is won,

act like an instrument and produce the music I was designed for,

In my life I want more!

THE WIRE Pt.3: Are schools more focused on testing instead of meeting the educational, social and disciplinary needs of the students?

Under the Bush administration, education has become a “hot button” issue for politicians, educators, community activists, and school districts.  Although schools had problems and room for improvement before President Bush’s tenure in office, one of his policies has  escalated the problem.  What is this policy? It is called the “No Child Left Behind” (NCLB)  policy.  NCLB has set unbalanced testing standards, ineffective incentive programs, and taken the emphasis away from true teaching by forcing educators to be more focused on statistics.  What is the basic premise of NCLB? The philosophy of this program centers around the belief that increasing requirements for standardized tests will cause a trickle down effect…it is suppose to cause teachers to work harder and students to learn more because of this big test at the end of the year.  Oh, I forgot to mention, it also includes money for the teachers if they have the right percentage of students pass the test.

Are schools more focused on standardized tests than teaching? They are.  When the President of the United States demands statistic based results, it does cause a trickle down effect…not the one he expected. School Boards are pressuring Superintendents for numbers, Superintendents are pressuring principals, principals are pressuring teachers, and teachers are cheating. The X factor is the big pay day that trickles up. The better the teachers’ test results are, the more money all of their bosses get. The amount of money increases as you climb the ladder. It is not about education, it is about money. The test results are not credible, teachers spend the whole year teaching it, and we end up with students that are about to graduate and can not spell their name.

What is the solution? Education should not be based on standardized testing scores at all. If it is, teachers should not be paid for the success rate of thier students. It creates temptation to “fudge”numbers for a big payday. You want to give an incentive, pay them more! The only measure of success in the classroom should be the improvement of the students from the beginning of the school year to the end.  Education must go back to its simplest form….teaching.

THE WIRE Pt. 2: Do a large majority of children get involved in crime out of necessity to survive?

We often her about the drug dealers, street hustlers and members of various gangs, but we rarely get a chance to explore what caused them to head in that direction. Although their actions are not warranted on the streets, their pathways to those actions are often important to understanding why they are involved in their current situations. Their pathway to their lifestyle is critical to understanding how they got to the streets and how to get them off the streets. What circumstances can yield children to a life of crime and violence? What are the core underlying problems in their lives? I believe there are five things that can push a child to a life of crime:

1. Environment- Where a child lives can have a tremendous effect on their access to drugs, gangs, etc.

2. Socio-economic status- Not having enough money for your family is hard and it can tempt children to find “other sources” of income.

3. Lack of programs and social services in their communities- Positive mentoring and educational programs that discourage involvement in the streets are not prevalent enough in urban, inner city communities.

4. Lack of Parents, Single Parents, Bad Parents- Parents play an essential role in the development of children. Not having a strong parental influence is often underrated. This is the second most important factor.

5. Church involvement, church influence- Religion and the “fear of God” is the strongest deterrent to life on the streets. When children understand they are eternally accountable for everything they do, their perspective often changes. This is the most important factor.

These are what I believe to be the core reasons children result to life on the streets. I am not saying these are the only factors, but I do believe they are the most important factors. Although environment and economics has a lot to do with a child’s access to the streets, good parenting, programs, church involvement and mentoring can curve their desire to do so. Will these factors always stop them from getting involved in life on the streets? No. These areas are the strongest in directing their lives though. Some kids realistically go to the streets because that becomes their family, their mentors, their religion, their income, and their survival. We can not assume that every child on the street desired the pathway they are on, we can assume however that someone might not have shown them an alternative.

The Barack Obama scandal: Much ado about nothing…

Barack Obama is often considered as a clean cut, polished, eloquent and charismatic politician. He is viewed as one of the few politicians in America that has managed to campaign and get elected to office without a major scandal. In his few years in office with the Senate, he has managed to become one of the bi partisan leaders garnering prominence in the Democratic party and respect from the Republican party. Due to his reputation as a fair and balanced politician, he is considered to be the most likely Democratic candidate for the presidency. With this prestige comes an equal level of scrutiny. Due to his “squeaky clean” image, things that normally would not garner any media attention are. For instance, questions are being raised about a real estate deal Obama was involved in.

What is the story? Here is what happened according to Slate Magazine (a magazine that I consider to be credible, fair and balanced)

“The Chicago Tribune broke the story back in November. It begins in 2004 with Obama’s $1.9 million book advance for The Audacity of Hope. In June 2005, Obama used the money to purchase a $1.65 million Georgian revival home on Chicago’s South Side—$300,000 less than the asking price. On the very same day, Rezko, a Democratic Party fund-raiser and developer, bought the adjacent empty lot at the asking price from the same owner (the house and the lot were previously owned by the same person). Rezko, who had raised money for Obama and known him since the senator attended Harvard Law School, did not develop the empty lot. In January 2006, he sold a 1,500-square-foot slice of it to Obama for $104,000, a fair sum in that market.”

What is the big deal? People are questioning whether Obama got the property at the reduced price because of Rezko’s purchase of the adjacent lot on the same day. The second question being raised is the second purchase of land back from Rezko in early 2006. Should politicians negotiate deals with members of their campaigns? Probably not. The “scandal” centers around Obama’s level of knowledge of Rezko’s same day purchase. Rezko is being investigated for allegedly trying to obtain “kick backs” from companies seeking state business in Illinois.

What is the real story? This story would not have made it to any front pages if it had not been for Rezko’s shaky history. This is not a story about Obama’s integrity, it is a story about trying to connect the politician to his associate’s integrity. Obama has openly stated that, if anything, it was a “bad judgement call.” I believe Obama for two reasons. He has been open and honest with disclosing all information surrounding the deal, and he has not changed his story at all since the story broke. Consistency and honesty go a long way.

In the future, I think Obama should do what he has vowed in response to this “scandal” and be extra careful about doing deals with campaign fundraisers in the Democratic party. The legality of the deal is not in question because nothing about the deal was illegal. Rezko is the one under investigation, not Obama, however I do think Obama needs to distance himself from this guy. This is a another case of the news media trying to create a story about a politician through association. Should Obama be scrutinized for doing deals with Rezko? Yes, to an extent for his involvement with Rezko to determine the nature of thier relationship, but Rezko is the one in question right now.

Obama has just learned one of the first lessons in political battle, it is not who you know, it is who you are known to be around that can get you in trouble in Washington. At the end of the day, this is “much ado about nothing” and it is being blown out of proportion because there isn’t any other newsworthy scrutiny of Obama’s character. If this would have been Tom Delay, it would have never made the papers.

THE WIRE Pt. 1: Are there adequate social services and community programs to protect children from the streets or deter their involvement on the streets?

 

 

When I was growing up in the Dallas area, my mother would “adopt” other children and treat them as her own. She would often be the only positive parental influence in their lives. We treated them like siblings. Her goal was to impart Christian principles, educational standards, life skills and love into their lives. I often view my mother’s life work as a grassroots campaign to save every child she can from the streets and the wrong pathway. There are many individuals like her in the community that make concerted efforts to make an impact one child at a time. The most frustrating reality, however, is the social systems that run contrary to the work of individuals like my mother. Many members of my immediate and extended family are involved in and have been involved in education. We all agree on one thing…there are not enough viable social services and community programs to meet the needs of at-risk youth in the inner city.

Many children in the inner city do not live in dual parent households, live below the poverty level and attend schools that lack adequate resources. Many children in the inner city are forced into the foster care system because of unfavorable living conditions. Many children in the inner city are forced to be their own parents and support their families at a young age. When their circumstances are pointing them in the direction of the streets, what role should the federal government play in prevention? What role should cities play in prevention? What current programs help to keep children off the streets by providing programs and alternatives? What current programs are missing the mark? I want to address two categories of social services and programs:

The leaders: These are national programs that have a proven history of working hard to prevent children from getting involved in the streets

1. Boys and Girls Clubs of America-They are an example of what happens when you seek to provide services and programs to inner-city youth and use the youth as service providers. The impact of this organization is far reaching. I worked for a local club in college and realized on a large scale how important these clubs are to the inner city. The organization has over 4,000 autonomous local clubs. They primarily service youth between the ages of 6 and 18. There are nearly 47,000 professional staff members that help to service approximately 4.6 million children in all 50 states, Puerto Rico and the Virgin Islands. A large majority of the clubs are strategically located in the inner city. In my opinion, they are the best program for inner city youth.

2. Big Brothers, Big Sisters- Studies have shown that positive mentoring can prevent inner-city youth from being involved in the streets. This program is the example and pattern of an effective mentoring model. They serve approximately 200,000 youth in 5,000 communities in all 50 states. Their goal is to reach one million.

The Meltdowns: National programs that are missing the mark or dysfunctional.

1. The Administration for Children and Families(ACF)- Often times when dealing with governmental agencies, it is hard to find out who is at the top. The foster care system in America is dysfunctional. You cannot even trust the national statistical data on foster care because the agency responsible for gathering it (The Adoption and Foster Care Analysis Reporting System-AFCARS), is a subsidiary of ACF. This agency is the parent agency that oversees foster care programs on the national level. Group homes often hurt the children more than help them and the “red tape” that prevents deserving foster parents from getting children is ridiculous. Once foster parents do get an opportunity to house children, there are not adequate resources for them.

2. D.A.R.E.- I know many people will not like what I am about to say, but this program has become more of a t-shirt than a deterrent. In the beginning D.A.R.E. was effective, but that was also the 80s. Here we are 20 years later and they are still functioning in the same manner. D.A.R.E. needs to take a more aggressive approach to fighting drugs in the inner city, in my opinion, by providing more programs in the inner city community centers and schools. D.A.R.E. needs to be more than a t-shirt and a guest speaker, it needs to provide counseling, rehabilitation, and more community involvement. They need to go into the neighborhoods and partner with churches, community centers and housing units to reach the most at-risk youth. They have a good mission and have done a lot of good in the community, but I would like to see them expand the program to the next level.

3. The Churches- Churches need to quit preaching prosperity, pastors need to quit trying to live like rappers and athletes and they need to begin preaching the original Christian message of salvation. Why aren’t they taking a more proactive approach in saving children from the streets? 50% of churches are simply businesses now masked under the umbrella of Christianity (this will be another blog entry). What is more disappointing is they often see the most at-risk youth on a weekly basis by way of their families going to church. They have ongoing access to the children and their respect, but fall short of utilizing that positioning in the community. There are some churches that are doing it right though. I applaud the churches that have taken a proactive approach by opening their own schools, providing counseling, and utilizing Biblical principles and teachings as a means of deterring children from the streets. Churches as a whole need to and should be leading the fight because they are located in the communities where the problems originate.

There needs to be more aggressive programs in the community to prevent children from getting involved in the streets. There needs to be less politics in governmental social services.

 

The WIRE: The Children, the streets, the schools, the politicians, and the police in the inner-city

There is a series on HBO called THE WIRE that explores the lives of young people, schools, drug dealers, police, and politicians in the City of Baltimore, Maryland. The show is compelling for several reasons. It raises critical questions about politics, schools, and social systems and the way they all tend to break down when it comes to fighting against drugs in the community and saving children from the streets. It addresses the inner fight politicians have to be loyal to the community while staying focused on their political aspirations. It shows the love/hate relationship police officers must have with drug dealers to catch the leaders. It addresses the daily battle in schools to educate children while being forced to meet testing quotas. The show also vividly displays the reality that many kids resort to the streets to survive the only way they know how. In a series of blog entry’s, I want to address what I personally feel are the most important themes from this show.

Although this drama is based on one particular city, the themes in the series are conducive of all cities in America. The problems addressed are real situations children and teenagers face in the inner city. This is the first season I’ve watched the show, and it made me want to buy all of the series. The news-media has taken notice of this series as well, particularly this season. Although there is harsh language and violence on the show, the message is not compromised. Some of the characters on the show remind me of people I knew growing up and I know there are many other people that can relate to them as well. Here are the common themes I want to address from the show:

Issue 1: Are there adequate social services and community programs to protect children from the streets or deter their involvement on the streets?

Issue 2: Do a large majority of children get involved in crime out of necessity to survive?

Issue 3: Are schools more focused on testing instead of meeting the educational, social and disciplinary needs of the students?

Issue 4: Are the police more concerned about numbers and politics than solving crimes? Do police officers care about the “insignificant” individuals that were engulfed in a life of crime and killed on the streets?

Issue 5: Do politicians always put their political aspirations above their desire to serve and meet the needs of the community through their position?

My goal is not to answer these questions, however my goal is to ask them and provide supporting data that will allow you to be an informed reader. The WIRE is fictional, but the themes expressed in the show are very real in every major city in America. Can children that are historically raised to live a life of crime be saved from it? I think they can be, but it will require a huge sacrifice from the children, the streets, the schools, the politicians and the police. The debate over the authenticity of the themes expressed in THE WIRE is pointless, because they are true themes and real questions that need to be answered. The only people that view the show as “over the top” or “far from reality” are the ones in denial. The sad reality is the show displays vividly the true depth of the fight to save this generation. It is my hope that this series of blogs will compel people to fight harder in the battle we are losing to the streets.

Here are some clips from The Wire that show how the kids are indoctrinated into the system of the streets. Some of the language and subject matter in the clips may not be suitable for all viewers.

 

 

 

3rd World Country, Super Power Hustle: Internet Scammers from Nigeria

There aren’t many times when I see a story on the evening news I find so compelling I want to report it again. Today, however, I ran across such a story. We often hear the stories about members of other countries being involved in illegal drug trafficking, cartels, and money laundering, but we rarely hear of scams from other countries so intricate that it effects many Americans. People often assume that third world countries are just that, sub par nations. The reality is very different. This perception is what I believe makes Americans even more vulnerable to foreign scams. No one can possibly trick the intelligent Americans out of millions of dollars, especially not anyone in a third world country…right? Who would expect one of the most intricate computer scams to come out of Nigeria, definitely not egotistical Americans.

One computer, one email and an intricate letter has wreaked havoc on many Americans. Here is a breakdown of the scam:

The most compelling fact surrounding this scam is people are still falling for it. I think it is important for the public to be informed. In one news spot, they spoke with an American doctor that lost nearly $350,000 to this scam. They spoke with professionals, teachers, and many ordinary people that you wouldn’t believe fell for this hoax. Why did they then? There are two reasons:

1. Greed. Many people are so hungry for money, the reality of winning a “lottery” or gaining an “inheritance” from a relative in a land far off is attractive

2. Perception. I believe many of these individuals assumed if it was coming from Nigeria, it could not be a hoax because they would not be smart enough or have the resources to pull it off. NEWS FLASH: AFRICA IS ONLY THIRD WORLD IN THE EYES OF AMERICANS! It has more natural resources than any other country in the world and is just as technologically sound as other countries. The news media only shows the ravaged parts of the country. (an explanation of this requires a whole blog entry) It is what I refer to as reverse perception, the belief in someones incompetence that is so great an individual does not see their intelligence coming.

This is a case of reverse perception and greed. The letter takes on many forms. There are not many ways to get rich quick, short of taking a billion in one chance at winning the lottery while wasting your hard earned money or going to Vegas and getting caught into the illusion. Why are these illusions? When it comes to “quick money,” people always look at the one chance they might win, they never look at the million chances they are statistically set up to lose. You must be mindful of these things.

Here are some tips to help you from being tricked:

1. Do your research…make sure it is legitimate. Use the Internet.

2. Never send money to receive money…I have yet to hear of a case where you have to send money to receive money. Ask your self the question, “Why don’t they take the processing fee out of the balance of the winnings?”

3. Do not trust lotteries from other countries…other nations have very different laws and most of the time those laws will not protect your interests as it relates to you living in America.

4. There is no quick money…This is a sad revelation, but 99% of money earned comes the hard way through work

“Money often costs too much.” –Ralph Waldo Emerson

“You have reached the pinnacle of success as soon as you become uninterested in money, compliments, or publicity.” –Thomas Wolfe