Are You Graduating?
What’s going on world, it’s one half of the dynamic duo checking back in with everybody. I know everybody is wondering where we been and if we even still do this. Well the answer is we do still talk about things going on in life, the writing not so much. I will admit it’s kind of hard to write when I write at my full-time job all day. I’m not going to give you my normal spill and apologize for not bringing something fresh, I feel like jumping right back in like I never left. As the season is under full swing, I was motivated by several of my friends, associates, colleagues, clients, whomever in their recent endeavors. Two close friends have recently obtained their master’s in their desired fields. With that said congratulations to them and everybody else crossing into that next step. As a spectator its great to see someone finally cross the finish line after a daunting and time-consuming race. As a competitor you begin to look ahead at your own finish line, plotting on your end goal. This thought of spectating verses competing raised the question, are you graduating?
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Smiles and Cries
A famous quote from the movie Training Day came from Ethan Hawke who played Officer Jake Hoyt. While having a convo with fellow Officer Alonzo Harris played by Denzel Washington and a drug dealer named Roger, he says “It’s all about smiles and cries. Yeah. You gotta control your smiles and cries, because thats all you have and nobody can take that away from you.” Now at that moment he was making reference to figuring out the streets, but after further thought, I feel like that could be applied to other aspects of life. It’s very true that you must learn to sometimes hide your feelings and release them when you feel as though the timing is appropriate. But what I am seeing and learning more and more nowadays is that sometimes it isn’t a good thing to always hide or control your smiles and cries. That its cool to release those feelings, because those same feelings might be the death of you if left unnoticed.
WHAT’S YOUR LEGACY?
Welcome back good people we have taken an EXTREMELY long hiatus. I know you guys probably say we always talk this, but this time was too long. I haven’t forgotten about you guys, just been extremely busy. I’m disappointed to say this is the first post of the year, but hopefully everybody still with us. I guess we are sticking true to our name!! As the month of February draws to a close, there has a few great things that have happen in the first two months of 2013. Interestingly enough one of major things consist of my city, Baltimore. As you well know, the Baltimore Ravens are the current Superbowl champions; LET’S GO WE DID THAT!!!. Took us long enough to get back there man. Sorry if you not a ravens fan you don’t understand. Even though I am highly ecstatic about our victory, this post is not dedicated to just the ravens. Coincidentally I figured I could talk to everybody since this post is WELL over due. I also should have done a black history month post that I am slipping on, yea I am a slightly behind with a couple posts. Thanks to everyone who continues to ask me about updating the site, it’s greatly appreciated. That said, back to the money. Throughout the Ravens quest to Superbowl, it was highly documented that Ray Lewis was retiring at the end of the season. During that journey, the conversation about legacy was tossed around daily.
It’s Real Out Here
What do you believe in? That is a question that I have asked people many times in my life. It’s funny the amount of different questions that you receive in return when you ask it though? Why did u ask me that? What do u mean what do i believe in? Are you asking me do I believe in God? It’s quite puzzling to me actually how confused people are by the question. But back to the question: what do you believe in? Do you believe in people? And how do you know if you truly believe in it? I’m here to challenge you today to truly figure that out.
I guess what i am really interested in knowing is do you believe in people? I am not looking at this from a religious aspect, but simply based off your personal experiences with people throughout your life. Are you the type of person that sees the good in every person no matter how bleak it looks? Or are you the type of person that has a skeptical viewpoint of all people until they prove you otherwise? Are you an optimist or a pessimist? Me personally I am an optimist to a fault at times. I believe that there is good in all people and that with the right guidance and love it can be displayed for the world to see. But I am not naive, I understand that there are people in the world that will just decide to not do good and just might not be able to be helped. I feel those type of people, along with pessimists are casting a dark and ugly shadow over the world right now.
As a living, breathing, highly functioning organism, we have the ability to build great things or destroy by the masses. Right now we are in a crisis worldwide. It took 20 children and seven adults being killed at Sandy Hook Elementary School for the nation to open its eyes about the tragedies that has been consistently going on all year. In one year, we have had the shooting at a Colorado movie theater which killed 12 people and injured 59. In one year, we have had a child killed another child at Perry Hall High School simply because he was bullied the year before. In one year, we have had 5 people shot on the south side of Chicago at a bus stop simply waiting for the bus. In one year, we have had a bus in Philadelphia shot at by an AK-47 and a handgun simply because a man on the bus felt as if a young lady was abusing her child and she felt the need to retaliate against the man.
The point that I am making is that world isn’t as safe as it used to be. Places that we would consider safe havens for our children, schools are no longer safe. Methods of transportation that we feel safe using are no longer safe such as the public bus system. Places of personal leisure that we would never think would become a source of fear has become one such as a movie theatre. But we cannot give up on people now, for they need us more than ever. Like I said earlier in the blog, I am an optimist to a fault. We have to work even harder to help those that have less than us. We have to work harder to lend an ear and listen to each other’s problems and offer our advice. We can’t just turn our backs on those we feel like we can’t help because they will be the same people that turn around and hurt people because they feel alone in this world. I challenge anyone that is reading this blog to go out and help someone, anyone please. Especially our children, because right now they are the most susceptible to the darkness casted along the world right now. 2012 was a dark year and in order for 2013 to be brighter, we have to do our part to make it better. The shadow casted on the world won’t leave in its own, it must be removed with hard work, love and faith. I still believe in people and I hope whoever is reading this blog out there does too. It’s real out here, so please be safe out here on these streets. Peace out until the next time everybody.
It’s Our Anniversary
What’s going on good people, been a minute but we haven’t forgot about everybody. I will admit several interesting topics, have slipped through the cracks. Trust and believe people get on us about this. Don’t worry we are really just beginning though, 2013 will be bigger and better. On that note it’s almost the end of 2012. For us this month embarks on our one year existence. I personally have been pleased with the progression of “backlikeweneverleft” but we wouldn’t have made a year without the support of everyone who continues to keep up with us. On that note thank you for your support, it’s greatly appreciated. As I reflect on our year as a site, I realized this is about the time people reflect on their own year.
People are currently battling with themselves trying to determine what to “change” in the new year. December is probably the most reflective month of the year, everyone is thinking about what went right and what went wrong. Rightfully so; as you complete the full calendar year, you either hope to forget or wish duplicate moving forward. Unfortunately during this season people suffer strongly from points of depression. As I look at the psyche that goes into this month, this time of the year, this season; it may be easy to embrace the negativity. We as a people tend to do that far too often, accepting the negative as the full picture; overlooking the brighter side of things. For many this is the perfect time to rid one’s self of the things holding them back. At this very moment I’m sure people are looking forward to the new year and the new found life. A major number of people are aimlessly picking their brains, with attempts to gain some form of new gratification.
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Crying Wolf ?!!?
“What’s going on good people, we have a guest blogger who wanted to contribute to Backlikeweneverleft.com. Given the subject matter and recent occurrences I felt it was a good topic. This is from our first female guest writer, so on that note back to money.” So Puff and I have been discussing the recent news of Kevin Clash, who many know as the voice of Elmo, and his recent troubles. Let me start out by saying I’m a frequent reader of this this blog. I’m a Kevin Clash fan, especially after watching “Being Elmo: A Puppeteer’s Journey” because it showcased his talents, his humble beginnings from Baltimore and his professional relationship with the late Jim Henson (creator of the Muppets and original voices of various Sesame Street characters). Also I currently work in the media industry.
Burst Pipes or Made Diamonds???
As the presidential election is knocking on our doors, I thought about how much pressure is surrounding this election. Pressure for the candidates and pressure for the voters. It’s probably an equal amount on both sides of the fence. Everyone involved is anticipating the outcome . Looking into the complexities of this election, and given many of the things people deal with on an everyday basis; I really wanted to focus on the concept of pressure. Scientifically speaking the definition of pressure is the effect of a force applied to a surface. Relatively simple, then a few old heads came up ways to measure pressure in different terms, blah blah blah. As I look at life in general, and reflect on conversations recently had; I have really been looking how people tend handle pressure. The thought of pressure is viewed as both a positive and a negative thing. The phrases most commonly associated are one of two things, “pressure busts pipes” or “pressure makes diamonds.” Read More…
I’m Close To the Edge…
What’s good world?? So my co-blogger has been genuinely killing me on the blog tip lately, so I have to step my game up. With that being said… Yeaaaa it’s crunch time baabaay!!! Haha but the topic of discussion for today will be taking risks and how it goes both ways in the dynamic of the male-female relationship. If you are not willing to take risks, how can you ask for risks to be taken on yourself? Or another question to be asked can be are risks worth being taken from either side? These two questions to me are the most dynamic when it comes to how males and females interact with each other when first meeting. I feel these two questions are some of the most important when a man is interested in a woman and vice versa. Lets delve into this issue a little deeper.
KEEPING UP WITH THE JONESES
Hey good people, we haven’t forgotten about you guys. We have just been keeping our conversations amongst ourselves, constantly challenging people in the more literal sense. My co-blogger and I have engaged in some very interesting arguments and debates with ourselves and friends. So much so that haven’t been able to post all this good stuff. Recently we were having a conversation that really got my gears grinding. Then earlier today another close friend and I had a very similar conversation. So I took that as my key to hit the labs and get back to writing. Both conversations we very interesting and definitely thought-provoking. Essentially we discussed the concept of keeping up with others, how friends keep up with friends. This is a notion that has been around for decades, most normally coined as “KEEPING UP WITH THE JONESES”. Read More…
THE GRAND RE-OPENING!!!
It may seem that the duo here may have taken a hiatus in recent months, (and we have.) But things have been a little crazy here lately. As my co-writer stated in his post, we had to take a break, clear up some mental space for a while. Even though we may not have written, we are still challenging whomever in good conversation as much as possible. Thanks to all who continue to bother us about our next post, stay on us we welcome it. With that said let the story begin. I have sat back looking into many things, doing some research, and just challenging my peers. I have a couple of topics that I want to touch base on the upcoming weeks, so check me out as they drop. I will admit that this is not one of those post, what caught my attention is something a little left of my normal topics. In lieu of the Iphone 5 releasing on Friday Sept 21st, my gears got grinding again.
There has been major hype and anticipation for the release of this new piece of technology from the beloved Apple corporation. I will admit Apple is making a killing, I read a reported stat that over 2 million orders were placed for pre sale. So before the phone even hit the stores it getting sold out, and is the new must have item of the year. Matter fact people have anticipated this specific phone for over a year now. People stand in lines for hours, even days, just to get their hands on the hottest of the hot. The interesting thing is that the Iphone 5 is selling out quick, but has not made too many improvements from the most recently released Iphone 4s. Now I am by no means about to get to compare with Iphone vs other phones, I am simply looking at the concept of marketing vs consumers. Read More…
