Categories
Express Yourself

Let Us Agree…..We Agreed to This

handshake (1)We can be very disagreeable at times. Co-workers, friends, family and neighbors,we have all found ourselves at some point being disagreeable with one another. Heaven

knows anyone who has ever been married knows that. “Where ya going? Don’t go THERE, go HERE”. “Why are you driving THAT direction? Go THIS way”. “Why ya say TOMATO?, say

‘TO-MAH-TO.'” “My way or the highway.”

We’re disagreeable. Over time we hope that we can come to a consensus and find a happy medium or at least we hope that we can agree to disagree and keep on striding

forward. Or we simply sleep on the couch and say to hell with it.

As to ‘why’ are we so disagreeable… Since I know that I certainly can be disagreeable and since everything starts with self, I agreed with myself to give it some thought. As a man I am a result of my thoughts, my actions, my environment, decisions I’ve made,

the agreements that I’ve made with myself and the effects of those agreements. As a society we are as well, a product of our agreements. This morning somebody somewhere

decided that his pants should sag down below his buttocks and that this makes a good fashion statement and another one agreed and did the same.

Unfortunately, a person need not know from where a concept or idea originated to agree with it. For most of us all we need is to see it or hear it for us to agree with it and do it.

Where a concept or action comes from has influence on us who agree and follow that concept. So the root of an idea should be considered before we would agree. The root

idea of the above mentioned “fashion statement” of sagging pants originated in the prison culture where belts are confiscated upon arrival. We can clearly see by the condition of much our society that our collective belts of rational, clear thinking and individual ideas have been confiscated and we have agreed to let our mental and

moral pants sag all the way down under our asses.

The nasty origin from which the ideas we’ve agreed with is starting to show. Its time to make a new agreement with ourselves. What would happen if we agree to relearn

what love is and agree to love, and then agree to love even bigger on a broader scale and in deeper ways? What would happen if through our example another would agree and do the same? Over time the creative force of our collective mind can evolve a ‘new truth’ and a new reality. People who have heard of the 20th century artist Pablo Picasso

usually agree that his works of art are great. Maybe so. But when we study the pathology of how we come to such a consensus or agreement we’d find that somebody had an

opinion, someone else agreed, folklore grew around the artist and his work and as a result its generally excepted without question that such a subjective thing as Mr

Picasso’s art qualify as great, and they may very well be. But the question is from where does your agreement come? Those who don’t join in the chorus are dismissed as ‘uncultured’. What have we agreed to do with those who don’t follow the herd? Its time for a new agreement.

We have agreed as a society that small paper notes with numbers on them actually have value, now we literally spend our blood sweat and tears to attain these notes , we fight and kill each other over this. These notes stand as a daily reminder of the power of our collective minds when we agree. If you have

more of these notes the perception that others have of you changes whether you are of high moral standings or not. What if we made a new agreement about what is valuable? What if we valued a service and in turn received a service? A lesson for lesson? How would that affect our society? If I saw the beauty and benefit in something that comes

from your creative mind and soulful product how would that improve on what we value and how we value each other? How long would blood for oil wars last if a nation strive to develop its potential to have something to trade with oil rich nations? And oil rich nations who are poor in other areas did the same? Lets agree, its time for a new agreement. Those who are formally educated or religious, you are the leaders in a society where most aren’t conscious of their own ‘leader within’. What is it that you have agreed with? If its roots are pure you are at peace. If serenity and morality escapes you check the root of that with which you’ve agreed, because you are the excepted ‘gatekeepers’ and others will agree with you.

Somebody’s theory through constant repetition is accepted and eventually we agree that its truth. From this agreement we fashion reality and become emotionally attached to an idea that we have no idea from whence it came. As a result somewhere a black child is being shaped and fashioned in the image of a thought that he/she is worthless and will grow up to make it so. Somewhere a soldier who simply wanted to pay for school is now a murderer of his fellow man because of an agreement that he is facing an enemy. Somewhere a nurse is comforting a patient who once felt hopeless and somewhere a teacher is honing his/her craft because they have agreed that there is healing in their work.

The son of man says, let us agree… its time for a new agreement.
To those that have an ear let him/her hear.

Categories
Food And Recipes

Pasta with Tomatoes and Mozzarella


 Recipe Time

Cook Time: 15 Minutes
Prep Time: 5 Minutes

Nutritional Information

Amount per serving

  • Calories: 742
  • Fat: 30g
  • Saturated fat: 11g
  • Protein: 30g
  • Carbohydrate: 88g
  • Fiber: 5g
  • Cholesterol: 50mg
  • Sodium: 750mg
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Ingredients

  • 1 pound bow-tie pasta
  • 1 pint cherry tomatoes, each cut in half
  • 1/2 cup prepared pesto
  • 8 ounces fresh mozzarella, cut into pieces
  • 1/4 cup olive oil
  • Salt and pepper
  • 1/2 cup torn fresh basil
  • 1/4 cup grated Parmesan

Preparation

  1. Prepare pasta according to package directions, undercooking by 1 minute. Drain pasta and return to pot. Add tomatoes, pesto, mozzarella and olive oil. Season with salt and pepper.
  2. Mix well, cover and set aside off heat until cheese has started to melt, about 2 minutes. Stir in basil and Parmesan. Serve immediately.
Categories
Food And Recipes

Garlicky Angel Hair with Roasted Broccoli


Recipe Time

Cook Time: 15 Minutes
Prep Time: 15 Minutes

Nutritional Information

Amount per serving

  • Calories: 357
  • Fat: 19g
  • Saturated fat: 5g
  • Protein: 13g
  • Carbohydrate: 33g
  • Fiber: 3g
  • Cholesterol: 15mg
  • Sodium: 657mg

Ingredients

  • 1 12-oz. package fresh broccoli florets
  • 6 tablespoons olive oil
  • 1 tablespoon Italian seasoning
  • Salt
  • 8 ounces angel hair pasta
  • 10 cloves garlic, thinly sliced
  • 1/2 teaspoon crushed red pepper
  • 1 cup grated Parmesan
  • 2 tablespoons chopped fresh basil

Preparation

  1. 1. Preheat oven to 450°F; line a large, rimmed baking sheet with foil. Combine broccoli, 1 Tbsp. olive oil and Italian seasoning in a large bowl; toss to coat. Place broccoli in a single layer on baking sheet. Roast, stirring once or twice, until broccoli is crisp-tender and beginning to lightly brown, about 15 minutes.
  2. 2. Bring a pot of salted water to a boil. Cook pasta until al dente, about 4 minutes or as package label directs. Drain, reserving 1 1/2 cups pasta cooking water.
  3. 3. Warm 3 Tbsp. olive oil in a Dutch oven over medium heat. Sauté garlic until just golden brown, about 2 minutes. Remove from heat; stir in crushed red pepper, 1 tsp. salt, 1 1/4 cups reserved pasta water and remaining olive oil. Add pasta and 1/2 cup cheese; simmer over medium heat, tossing gently, until sauce thoroughly coats pasta (add remaining 1/4 cup pasta water if needed), 2 to 3 minutes. Remove from heat and toss in broccoli, remaining cheese and basil. Serve immediately.
Categories
Education Health

With Loss of Fat comes Amazing Health Benefits

Have you ever wondered why, exactly, it is so detrimental to your health to be carrying around 50 extra pounds? Or more? With loss of fat comes amazing health benefits, including, but not limited to, improvement of sleep apnea, improvement of asthma symptoms, venous health, improvement of PCOS symptoms, and so many more. Check out this poster for some facts and figures, on improving your figure:

Categories
Featured News

George Zimmerman’s Lawyer Scolds Him For “Inappropriate” Gun Factory Visit

This week, a picture surfaced of George Zimmerman at a gun factory in Texas which definitely put salt on the wound for Trayvon Martin supporters.

It turns out some people in Zimmerman’s camp are not as pleased with the picture as we might like to think either.

According to Reuters, a spokesperson for Zimmerman’s lawyer has said of the picture:

“We understand how George visiting the factory that produces the gun used to shoot Trayvon Martin is seen as inappropriate.”

The picture was first posted by TMZ, in which tons of Trayvon Martin supporters were riled up even more to find that Zimmerman was not only coming out of hiding, but trying to purchase a gun.

Do you guys think Zimmerman should be able to buy a gun?

 

Categories
Featured News

Brooklyn Man Claims Jealous Cop Arrested Him For Being Sexy


Josue Pierre-Louis

A Brooklyn man suing the NYPD claims he was unjustly arrested by a jealous police officer who failed to match his sexiness. Josue Pierre-Louis, 24, was driving to a friend’s house on Feb. 27th when he was stopped by officers at the corner of Rockaway and Belmont Avenues in Brownsville. As he was about to give his license and registration to Detective Frank Sarrica, Pierre-Louis says an unknown woman walking by made “a cat-like, hissing sound.” It seems the woman found him sexy enough to catcall him, but Pierre-Louis believes the cop was jealous and took it out on him.

h/t – gothamist

Categories
Education

18 Everyday Products You’ve Been Using Wrong

1. You’ve probably been ignoring this feature.

Most aluminum foil boxes have press-in tabs that secure the roll in place, so you don’t have worry about it flying out every time you rip off a sheet.

2. You’ve been dispensing Tic Tacs the hard way.

You know how when you violently shake a container of Tic Tacs into your palm it seems as though you always end up with zero or seven? Avoid that altogether by letting a mint gently glide into the tiny lid crevice.

3. Forget to pack a spoon with that applesauce? No problem.

Ever find yourself with an individual cup of applesauce or yogurt and no spoon? Instead of slurping and probably getting half of your snack on your shirt, turn the foil lid into a makeshift spoon.

Obviously, don’t try this if you’ve got a mouth full of metal fillings.

4. You’ve been storing peanut butter the wrong way.

Never arm wrestle with a jar of peanut butter, just to make sure it’s not oily on top and crumby on the bottom, again. Store it upside down, so the oils distribute evenly.

5. You haven’t been using ketchup cups to their full potential.

Instead of grabbing multiple cups of ketchup, simply pull apart at the edges for twice the space.

6. You’re probably using the wrong plunger.

This is easily the most recognizable plunger. Chances are you have one lying around the house. BUT, did you know it’s only meant to be used on clogged sinks?

To unclog a toilet, you need a flange plunger, which doesn’t have a flat bottom.

7. Chinese takeout containers are actually made to fold out into plates.

The containers actually are meant to unfold into a makeshift plate, which you can easily reassemble into a box for storing leftovers.

More info here.

8. You’re brushing with too much toothpaste.

You only need to use a pea-sized amount of toothpaste for effective cleaning. Most ads feature globs of toothpaste the size of the brush because a.) it looks nice and b.) it makes you use up more toothpaste.

9. Greek yogurt containers are meant to be folded in half.

Chances are you’ve been scooping the toppings with your spoon onto the yogurt.

But, have you realized, the topping holder folds over, so you can pour the toppings DIRECTLY ON TOP?

10. You’ve probably been placing toilet seat covers in the wrong direction.

The flap is meant to be placed toward the front. This prevents the agony of sitting down on a toilet seat, only to realize you’ve dragged the cover down into the bowl.

11. Soda tabs double as straw holders.

Turn the tab around so that it acts as holder that can stop the straw from raising out of the can as the soda fizzes.

12. There’s a foolproof way to keep your extension cords from coming undone.

Plug the cords into a loop to avoid disconnection.

13. Pipe cleaners can be used to clean..ACTUAL PIPES.

OK, sure, you can use them to make mess free crafts with your kids, but did you know you can also use them…

…for this.

Instructions here.

14. You’ve been serving juice boxes the wrong way.

Pull the sides out so you child has something to grasp onto, stopping them from spilling.

15. Never break off more chocolate than you can chew again.

To easily break off a single piece of Toblerone, pull toward the bar, not away from it.

16. You probably don’t realize it, but your pots come with built-in spoon rests.

That hanging hole doubles as a spoon rest, in a pinch.

17. There’s a much easier way to floss.

Tie floss into a loop and never strangle your fingers again.

18. Soft-drink lids can double as coasters.

Take the lid from the top of cup (or grab an extra) and use it as a perfectly sized coaster.

Categories
Politics trayvon martin

Unlike The Average Republican, Colin Powell Calls Zimmerman’s Verdict “Questionable”

Why Colin Powell still label himself a Republican is beyond my understanding. In yet another vast contrast between him and his party, Powell is siding with the majority of sensible Americans, calling out the injustice of the George Zimmerman verdict.

WASHINGTON (AP) — Former Secretary of State Colin Powell says the jury verdict that freed the killer of Florida teenager Trayvon Martin was “questionable.” But he isn’t sure it will have staying power in the public consciousness.

Speaking on CBS’s Face the Nation, Powell said cases like Martin’s “blaze across the midnight sky” and are forgotten.

The first black chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff and first black secretary of state, Powell says America has come a long way toward racial equality 50 years after Martin Luther King Jr.’s “I Have a Dream” speech. Powell recalled being refused service when trying to buy a hamburger before the Civil Rights Act of 1964.

Minorities have many more opportunities today, but Powell says King would still demand work on education, housing and economic opportunities.

And amazingly, it is his party, the Republicans, who are working their hardest to deny minorities education, housing and economic opportunities.

Categories
News

Obama Meets With Top Advisers on Syria, Calls UK’s David Cameron

WASHINGTON — Three days after an alleged, large-scale chemical-weapons attack in Syria, President Obama spent much of today meeting with his highest-level national-security and intelligence advisers, grappling with what to do if Syria has crossed the “red line” of chemical-weapons use.

The U.S. intelligence community is still gathering evidence about Wednesday’s attack in a suburb of Damascus that sent thousands to hospitals and left hundreds reported dead, the White House said.

 

h/t – abcnews

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