Today's word is depauperate.
The word depauperate is an adjective and means poorly or imperfectly developed.
No one wants to live a depauperate life. Let us then strive for excellence and enjoyment. After all, it is just one we get.
Sunday, January 30, 2011
Sunday, January 16, 2011
United We Stand
There are times when I think about my university experience and I am saddened that it will be over soon. And then there are times when I think about it and I am glad I don't have much time left here.
Racism in any form shape or fashion is not okay. It's terrifying knowing that you're a student millions of miles away from home with no one to turn to in the event of something horrendous happening. It's terrifying, although not surprising when you see the great lengths that are taken to ensure oppression still exists and is being practiced. We say slavery ended but has it really? What is a "coloured" person suppose to do when in a predominantly white society/community and the persons who are suppose to be there to keep you safe are racist towards your race? So many questions run through my mind about what can be done, what should be done, how things should really be.
It's not okay to sit on a bus regardless of your race and say nothing when drunk white people start chanting "White Power." It's not okay when you're in the bar and someone passes by and recites a racial slur. It's not okay to say nothing. United we stand and if we all band together, putting race aside, and say this is not acceptable regardless of whether it's done to a black person, a white person, an Asian person, an Indigenous person.
Racism is never okay. Stand up to racism today.
Racism in any form shape or fashion is not okay. It's terrifying knowing that you're a student millions of miles away from home with no one to turn to in the event of something horrendous happening. It's terrifying, although not surprising when you see the great lengths that are taken to ensure oppression still exists and is being practiced. We say slavery ended but has it really? What is a "coloured" person suppose to do when in a predominantly white society/community and the persons who are suppose to be there to keep you safe are racist towards your race? So many questions run through my mind about what can be done, what should be done, how things should really be.
It's not okay to sit on a bus regardless of your race and say nothing when drunk white people start chanting "White Power." It's not okay when you're in the bar and someone passes by and recites a racial slur. It's not okay to say nothing. United we stand and if we all band together, putting race aside, and say this is not acceptable regardless of whether it's done to a black person, a white person, an Asian person, an Indigenous person.
Racism is never okay. Stand up to racism today.
Monday, January 10, 2011
Motivation
I went to class today and found out that I had two options in regards to this mandatory course for my degree: take the half credit course and drop a whole credit course that I have been doing for one semester, or drop the mandatory course and do it next academic year and find another course to do.
Feeling a bit discouraged and frustrated I walked out of the classroom and went to catch the bus. I decided that this minor set back was not going to stop me and my going pretty good academic year. I can't register for a number of courses online because I don't meet the 10.0 credit requirement (I have 9.0...and yes I know I'm behind) and still not even that is going to stop me. By the hook or the crook I AM going to do those two other courses I want to do this semester. One of those courses is a fourth year course and the other is a third year course. I'm telling you people, I AM GETTING IN! There's no stopping me. This is my goal, my mission, my have to have thing and I am going to get it.
Let this be inspiration and/or motivation for you to not complain or feel sad about things not working out and instead changing the plan and getting back up on the saddle. Nothing is impossible if we work hard for it. We can and we shall.
Have a great day!
Feeling a bit discouraged and frustrated I walked out of the classroom and went to catch the bus. I decided that this minor set back was not going to stop me and my going pretty good academic year. I can't register for a number of courses online because I don't meet the 10.0 credit requirement (I have 9.0...and yes I know I'm behind) and still not even that is going to stop me. By the hook or the crook I AM going to do those two other courses I want to do this semester. One of those courses is a fourth year course and the other is a third year course. I'm telling you people, I AM GETTING IN! There's no stopping me. This is my goal, my mission, my have to have thing and I am going to get it.
Let this be inspiration and/or motivation for you to not complain or feel sad about things not working out and instead changing the plan and getting back up on the saddle. Nothing is impossible if we work hard for it. We can and we shall.
Have a great day!
Sunday, January 9, 2011
Simple Conversations
I love my friends, the persons that I know I can call up, text up, tweet up, Facebook up, instant message up and have a conversation with.
I think the friends I love speaking to are those from "developing countries." Business majors, IDS majors, Environmental Science/Studies majors having a conversation aboutt heir hopes and dreams is so much more fulfilling any day than listening to what Chris Brown did or Stookie on whatever show she's on (is her name even Stookie? Snookie? That just shows you). Conversations with such people stimulate me, they stimulate my mind, the make me feel like I have a responsibility to myself, to my country, to my ancestors to become something, to make a difference.
I tweeted this recently and I really love it.
The reason why I love this tweet is because being famous, well known, followed, stalked doesn't do anything for me. The attention I get from that doesn't make the world a better place. It's just another obsession persons have. But to be inspirational, even to one person means I'm making a difference. I am doing something good. I am making somebody stop and think yes I'm on the right path, or this is what I need to be doing, this is how I need to be living.
"I don't want to be famous. I want to be an inspiration"
I think the friends I love speaking to are those from "developing countries." Business majors, IDS majors, Environmental Science/Studies majors having a conversation aboutt heir hopes and dreams is so much more fulfilling any day than listening to what Chris Brown did or Stookie on whatever show she's on (is her name even Stookie? Snookie? That just shows you). Conversations with such people stimulate me, they stimulate my mind, the make me feel like I have a responsibility to myself, to my country, to my ancestors to become something, to make a difference.
I tweeted this recently and I really love it.
I don't want to be famous. I want to be an inspiration.
The reason why I love this tweet is because being famous, well known, followed, stalked doesn't do anything for me. The attention I get from that doesn't make the world a better place. It's just another obsession persons have. But to be inspirational, even to one person means I'm making a difference. I am doing something good. I am making somebody stop and think yes I'm on the right path, or this is what I need to be doing, this is how I need to be living.
"I don't want to be famous. I want to be an inspiration"
Thursday, January 6, 2011
Featured Artist: Stephen Dantes
Stephen Dantes is a good friend of mine from Saint Lucia who has began a journey to wonderfulness. I have never really interviewed anyone before, so I decided to give it a swing and interview him to find out what's coming up, and for those of you who don't know him, what has been done.
Just so you know the format shall be bold text for my questions and regular text for his response.
Hi Stephen, can you give the readers a little background about yourself?
I'm a young author of 3 self-published books; The Enchanting Excerpts, The Last Enchantment and Hindsight. I have a 7-yr old daughter whom I dedicated my first book to.
I write and perform different types of poetry, was elected (about 2yrs ago I think) as a Role Model for youth by the National Youth Council and was part of a drive to motivate young people.
I won 2nd price at the M&C Fine Arts Spoken Word in 2007 and was part of Ken Hardy's band Soul Dreadz, along with Ras Isley, Emile, Sky from Amate, and Nyah. I left the group to embark on a solo mission.
How did you get involved in writing? What style did you begin with and how did you grow from there?
I got started pretty strangely, but I think I should jump straight into the part where I got inspired to write my own book after reading a fellow poet's work who is from my community. I had been penning down poems and writings so I collected them and put them in a book.. and I think I took a small loan to add to money I already had and then published my first book.
My first two books were pretty much a collection of poems, thoughts, feelings, words of wisdom, prayers, excerpts to a novel I'm working on, and any other thing I saw would capture readers and a small list of growing fans. I went to Barbados to do some promotion and tv and radio interviews.
It was after my second book in 2004, that I started taking the Art seriously and started performing and networking. There was a 5 year hiatus after my 2nd book during which I did lots of research and performances.. it was then I teamed up with Ken Hardy and Kensley Charlemagne.
And it has been no going back from there.
How do you find inspiration to write? Is it through personal experiences or hopes and dreams you hold for example?
Inspiration comes from every thing that happens around me... the good and bad world, but mostly the struggle of the average boy or girl, man or woman, even babies. The things I see and hear everyday. Life and death.
My motivation comes from the people who read them and the feedback they give.
What is your favourite piece of writing and why?
My favourite piece of writing: I have 3 favourites
1. Recreating History from my book Hindsight
2. Rude Boy Reality from Hindsight
3. Like Father, Like Son from the soon to be released eBook for Georgia, USA
I like Rudeboy... and Recreating... because they both speak to the world about the world; our mental enslavement and modern day reality which ties into the persona of the 'voice for the youth'.
The 3rd, Like father..., is new and unreleased, and I like it because it is my best piece tailored for the American market... it will be posted on my website soon.
What advice can you give someone who wants to pursue writing whether recreational to perform at open mics or writer forums, or who wants to become a full fledged writer by profession?
Well frankly I haven't reached the pinnacle in my career and don't think I'm in a position yet to answer. So let's just say, that you can ask me that question anytime if you find out that I made a million dollars.
Hahaha I shall remember that. And don't forget the little people like me when you make it big!
Much thanks to Stephen for this fabulous interview! If you want more information on Stephen Dantes including a video of him performing Rude Boy Reality, visit his website http://www.stephendantes.net or email him at pr@stephendantes.net
Just so you know the format shall be bold text for my questions and regular text for his response.
Hi Stephen, can you give the readers a little background about yourself?
I'm a young author of 3 self-published books; The Enchanting Excerpts, The Last Enchantment and Hindsight. I have a 7-yr old daughter whom I dedicated my first book to.
I write and perform different types of poetry, was elected (about 2yrs ago I think) as a Role Model for youth by the National Youth Council and was part of a drive to motivate young people.
I won 2nd price at the M&C Fine Arts Spoken Word in 2007 and was part of Ken Hardy's band Soul Dreadz, along with Ras Isley, Emile, Sky from Amate, and Nyah. I left the group to embark on a solo mission.
How did you get involved in writing? What style did you begin with and how did you grow from there?
I got started pretty strangely, but I think I should jump straight into the part where I got inspired to write my own book after reading a fellow poet's work who is from my community. I had been penning down poems and writings so I collected them and put them in a book.. and I think I took a small loan to add to money I already had and then published my first book.
My first two books were pretty much a collection of poems, thoughts, feelings, words of wisdom, prayers, excerpts to a novel I'm working on, and any other thing I saw would capture readers and a small list of growing fans. I went to Barbados to do some promotion and tv and radio interviews.
It was after my second book in 2004, that I started taking the Art seriously and started performing and networking. There was a 5 year hiatus after my 2nd book during which I did lots of research and performances.. it was then I teamed up with Ken Hardy and Kensley Charlemagne.
And it has been no going back from there.
How do you find inspiration to write? Is it through personal experiences or hopes and dreams you hold for example?
Inspiration comes from every thing that happens around me... the good and bad world, but mostly the struggle of the average boy or girl, man or woman, even babies. The things I see and hear everyday. Life and death.
My motivation comes from the people who read them and the feedback they give.
What is your favourite piece of writing and why?
My favourite piece of writing: I have 3 favourites
1. Recreating History from my book Hindsight
2. Rude Boy Reality from Hindsight
3. Like Father, Like Son from the soon to be released eBook for Georgia, USA
I like Rudeboy... and Recreating... because they both speak to the world about the world; our mental enslavement and modern day reality which ties into the persona of the 'voice for the youth'.
The 3rd, Like father..., is new and unreleased, and I like it because it is my best piece tailored for the American market... it will be posted on my website soon.
What advice can you give someone who wants to pursue writing whether recreational to perform at open mics or writer forums, or who wants to become a full fledged writer by profession?
Well frankly I haven't reached the pinnacle in my career and don't think I'm in a position yet to answer. So let's just say, that you can ask me that question anytime if you find out that I made a million dollars.
Hahaha I shall remember that. And don't forget the little people like me when you make it big!
Much thanks to Stephen for this fabulous interview! If you want more information on Stephen Dantes including a video of him performing Rude Boy Reality, visit his website http://www.stephendantes.net or email him at pr@stephendantes.net
Wednesday, January 5, 2011
If You See, Touch
Naked
I'm standing
in front of
you
waiting for eyes to see.
But they don't
they all look past me,
look through me.
And I hang my head
maybe in shame.
maybe in hurt.
maybe in pain.
disappointed? and sad?
I'm tired of waiting.
I'm tired of looking.
I'm tired of hoping.
If you see
touch.
Bring my flesh back to life
and take me away from transparent.
Bring the fire back inside my eyes
and the radioactive energy to my nucleus.
Ignite and set a light to that beacon inside
that lights the world
and your life.
If you see,
Touch.
Touch and let it be known.
I'm standing
in front of
you
waiting for eyes to see.
But they don't
they all look past me,
look through me.
And I hang my head
maybe in shame.
maybe in hurt.
maybe in pain.
disappointed? and sad?
I'm tired of waiting.
I'm tired of looking.
I'm tired of hoping.
If you see
touch.
Bring my flesh back to life
and take me away from transparent.
Bring the fire back inside my eyes
and the radioactive energy to my nucleus.
Ignite and set a light to that beacon inside
that lights the world
and your life.
If you see,
Touch.
Touch and let it be known.
Saturday, January 1, 2011
New Challenges? New Experiences?
A new year has began, bla bla bla, you know the rest. I'll skip all the happy go lucky-ness of New Year celebrations. I feel like I need a hobby. Something to keep me occupied, entertained, creative and curious. Something to master. I can't decide what it should be just yet though, because I know that it means settling on something and then purchasing the necessary equipment to build and develop skills related to that hobby. I feel like I might not be prepared to commit to something, or rather, I have not found something that commands my attention and keeps it. I have an interest in many things like jewelry making, baking, scrap-booking, DIY crafts, and things of that sort. I've gotten to the point where I want to settle down and get to know these things one on one and deeply. I shall see what pulls me the most and go from there. Wish me luck! And Happy New Year.
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