Can you believe that in many of our favorite pastimes the reason why the participants aren’t as diverse as we wish is because of an invisible color barrier? One would think that it was due to some bullies keeping it “pure” or a general disinterest by the other side but unfortunately the reason why these activities remain largely monotone is due to people’s fear of being “the token” or “the first” or a Twinkie, an Oreo, or an… wait there isn’t one for white people is there? -__- Let’s take Hip Hop legend and rapper Eminem as a large example of this. Eminem was as big a hip hop head as any kid growing up in his time and broke down a ton of barriers to become what he has in Rap history. With the stigma of a white boy doing urban Hip Hop that for the most part is an expression of street-level Black… [Read more]

I’ve come to realize that after we turn 30 there becomes 2 distinct paths that we can take when it comes to fitness. The gravity of life and the world seeks to pull us down, bend our backs and extremities to make us old, slow, and helpless – this is of course if you let it. While some health factors and situations that affect random members of the human race may cause this to be inevitable, the rest of us are able to fight it and maintain a great quality of life well into our 70’s (Studies have shown this to be true). This is why I call it the fork in the road; life rewards those who break laziness in lieu of fighting for a better quality of life and even though luck plays a factor into this when it comes to finances, when it comes to physical fitness it will always pay off…. [Read more]

This version of Vodka and Lime looks real pretty, but has a little too much bite for me. However, the man in my life was cool with it and asked for another. If you find it too much for you, add more of the sugar to take the edge off. Honey also works, but make sure you add it before you add the ice or it will be harder to mix into the drink.  Ingredients: 1 lime, cut into 6 pieces 3 tsp powdered sugar Your favorite vodka Crushed or cubed ice Directions: Mash the lime and sugar in a cocktail glass to get the sugar to mix well with the lime. Fill the glass with ice. Pour your vodka over the mixture leaving just a little space for sipping on top. Enjoy.

What would happen if the zombie apocalypse occurred while you were at work and you were stuck with 3 coworkers to survive and possibly find a livable future for the world? My coworkers and I started a game of this awhile back and it amazed me how it forced us to focus on the strengths of everyone in our office in order to pick our individual teams. The breakdowns were amazing as some people even chose one person to be possible zombie bait in case the camp got overrun. Some chose the office hawte (in case they needed to repopulate the earth) and quite a few picked people who they knew hunted, fished, or loved the great outdoors in general. The interesting part about this exercise was that all of us remembered who it was we picked for our teams and why, even months down the line. It revealed a bit of who certain people… [Read more]

You go to a house party and are having fun when the host breaks out the Karaoke machine and everyone is excited. One of your friends steps up, grabs the mic and belts out some lyrics–poorly–and everyone is with it; singing along and cheering him on with much laughter. You wonder why he has the courage to do it and why he doesn’t care that others may laugh at him… after all it’s normal to make fun of people who are acting the fool right? So why is everybody into this Karaoke thing? If this has been you in the past then you misunderstand the art and the point of Karaoke. It isn’t a talent competition, and unlike your lady friend with the professional singing voice believes, it isn’t a platform for showcasing your skills either. Karaoke is simply a party for you and yours that uses song as it’s main stage. Some may even… [Read more]

Sometimes its good to treat yourself (or a date) to a night of fine wine and good food. Even though it’s not cheap (usually around $60 or more per person) it’s a great experience to have at least once in your life. Let’s face it, average Joe may not have the funds to frequent the wine dinners on a regular basis, or even think of it as something that may turn out great. Average Jane may want to go, but “has no one to go with” (you know women tend to like to travel in packs). Since the experience may be new to you, it is important to know what to expect so you don’t find yourself embarrassed or feeling like you don’t belong. Dress like a champion This is definitely a casual event, but leave your sneakers and frayed cuff jeans (you know, the ones that have been scooted across the concrete so much you’ve bore holes… [Read more]

Why do we as a society act as if mediocrity is such a shameful thing? Most people are average—by a huge margin—yet we pretend as if everyone has the potential to become “great”. Children are pushed to maximize their efforts in the pursuit of material bliss only to grow into miserable adults when life comes back mundane.   We Can’t All Be At The Top The irony in our average-shaming society is that the ones who ascend need the average people in order to maintain position. People who become rich use the money of the average populace to amass wealth. I have always said that the quickest way to wealth Is to find the best way to exploit the ignorant and it is very true of a lot of successful businesses. Athletes, their coaches, and the team’s owners and general managers make ridiculous salaries because average people pay for season tickets and buy the team’s… [Read more]

Music and food are two of the most important elements to truly experiencing another culture when you travel. This is why it always surprises me when someone goes to another country or region and skips out on the food for fear of any number of things. You cannot truly experience if you don’t taste what the locals taste and this is why the most studied and the most adventurous have the best times. When you go to a new place it is very important to study up on the customs, methodology and the history of the place you are going to. While there, engage in conversation with your travel guide, taste foods from the street vendors who are most popular–the vendors with a line around the corner–and make sure you try some of the local fruit while you’re there. Many of us see the globe trotting foodies on the Travel Channel partaking of homemade meals made… [Read more]