Currently Listening to Damien Rice

I started liking Damien Rice after watching the Closer, starring Clive Owen, Julia Roberts, Jude Law and Natalie Portman. He makes frequent appearances on Grey's Anatomy episodes soundtracks. I seriously believe he is one of the most depressed people on the planet but his music makes it all worth it. I pretty sure I listen to at list one his tracks every day. My Favorite used to be Blower's Daughter but I like some tracks on this album much better but I haven't decided if a favorite one yet. Take a Listen (UK).

My thoughts on the State of Union Address

Tuesday, unlike most people, I spent some five hours watching the state of the Union by President Bush, the democratic response by Senator Webb of the commonwealth of Virginia, and countless hours of the Analysis on CNN, Fox, and NBC.  After watching all everyone else and their mom share their thoughts on speech, I thought  I would go ahead and share some of my own.

I felt that the speech was very well written.  Of all Bush's televised speeches, I think this one was the best.  The words were chosen carefully,  and the paragraphs constructed is such a way to simultaneous praise (sometimes forcefully) from both democrats and President.  The words were less decisive, less forceful and less macho.  Although the wording of the speech was fantastic, the delivery was less than memorable.  At a time where the president needed to inspire to nation to rally behind him, he barely managed to keep members of house and senate awake for the 50 minutes.  He sound flat, tired, disconnected, and irresolute. 

The content of the speech was not of made of up anything great either.  Social security, Health Care, Energy dependence, immigration and etc...These are all great issues and things that we as a country should be working on.  But I don't see it coming from this president.  After claiming last year that "America is addicted to oil", he then spent the next 11 months doing nothing about it.  He made a attempt to do something about social security, but failed to sell that plan to the American public.  Although I agree with most of his plan with immigration, he was unable to strike deals with member of his own party.  So Basically I don't believe he will do anything.  Not because he doesn't want to, but because most of the time will be spend defending his policy abroad.  I think he will try to get to ball rolling on some of these, because like every president he is conscious of his legacy.  And although 9.11.01 and the Iraq war will largely define his presidency I don't believe he wants to be it. 

I was impressed that the president mentioned Africa, Darfur in particular and fighting the AIDS epidemic that is affecting the entire continent.  I hope he can back those words with some actions and not tie the donation dollars to religious organizations and or Abstinence programs.  As impressed as I was that the president mention Africa, I was shocked beyond belief that he failed to mention the gulf states that were devastated by Katrina and are still recovering.  If nothing else, i believe that the he should have taken ownership of everything that went wrong with FEMA and pledge continued support from the Federal government.

Overall, well written speech, average delivery, but too big of a wish list that will barely be touched.

When I heard that senator Webb tore up the speech written for him by the Democratic Party to write his own, I was shocked.  I certainly thought he was going to make a fool of himself on TV.  I had not been impressed by any of the speeches he had given during his campaign against Allen.  But I was pleasantly surprised by his speech.  His speech was short, passionate, personal, and straight to the point. Office title aside,  He commanded more attention and respect than the president.  He refuted what the president while at the same leaving room for negotiations and laying out the issues the democrats are ready to get ball rolling on.  I look forward to see what he does in the senate this year.  He is def getting drafted on my fantasy congress team.

View video of both speeches

Currently Listening to Blind Rhetoric

You can Listen to some of their music on MySpace or PureVolume. And if you like them, Don't hesitate to buy the EP

2007 Goals

Every year  I like to set goals and and go back at the end of the year and see how I have done.  I believe the more concrete your goals, the more achievable they are. I  think most people fail to achieve their goals for several different reasons.  1. They set too many goals, 2. They set unrealistic goals, and 3. They have no tangible way to measure them.  Before I go on further on a tangent about setting goals, here for my goals for the this year.

1.  Start a Grad degree program or Take the LSATs - Although an undergrad was a great achievement, in today's job market that is not nearly enough if you're looking to move up the  ladder or make a career switcchange.
2. Volunteer 100 hours - I follow politics and I always complain that politicians don't do enough to help people at in our society that find themselves in difficult situations.  But When asked what I have done lately for that same segment of population, I'm find myself not saying much.  So this year I will change that.
3. Read 6 books - I really like this goal from last year because it drove me to read more last year.  Half these books will be in french.  And One of the book will be in the History and or the current situation in the Middle east.
4. Increase my Net worth by 25% - This really means paying that my school loans.
5. Visit 5 new places/Visit friends in other cities - As much as I like DC, it's good to travel and visit new places.
6. Reconnect with my family abroad - Time to grow up. This is probably my most challenging goal for next year.
7. Create 2 Commercials Websites/Freelance More - This is something I failed at last year but I'm going got to give it another try.  I feel like this is the only way I get to stay on top of the latest technology and the latest tricks in the world of programming.
8. Be better a friend - This year it was brought up to my attention that they are are few things I could work on that would make a me a better friend and a better person in general. Although, this is kind of vague goal it's still something I should work on.
9. Not to buy a bigger TV - Resisting the temptation.  With everyone buying a bigger better TV, this one is going to be hard.  Especially when it's in my face a everywhere.  But in the name of being more financially responsible, I will forgo buying a new TV.
10. Monthly update on my goals on here - I tried this last year but wasn't successful.  So I'm going to give it a go again.

Wish me luck.  I will update you at the end of February to let know you know how I'm doing.

Currently Listening to...

Here is something else, I found really funny.

That's all. I'm off to ATL for the weekend. Pictures to be posted when I come back. Enjoy your weekend.

2k6 Yearly Goals Reviewed

The good thing about having a blog is that I can always go back and look at goals that I set for myself at the beginning of the year and see how I've have faired.  Ideally I would look at them throughout the year and gage as my progress.  But the world isn't ideal ... so too bad.

1.  Go the doctors/dentist .  I visited the doctor, got through physical therapy for my knee and went to the dentist twice and even got one tooth pulled... Not a fan of that.

2.  Go on 4/5 Vacations.  This year was very exciting in terms of travel.  I wish I would have done bit more but I did enough.  I went Philly, OBX for a week, and California for a week.  I didn't get any international trips done though, which was a bit disappointing. 

3.  Get my U.S. citizenship (Started).  I have applied for my citizenship and currently awaiting to hear back from DHS. 
  
4.  Become more financially savvy - I have a better understanding of personal finance.  Although I'm not where i would like to be financially i think I've made great strides in personal finance and I have put in place to have do even better the upcoming year (barring any huge emergencies)

5.  Consolidate my web presence/revamp Makembe.com (somewhat completed) -  I redid the website.  As for the first part of that, now that i reread this I don't even know that this is possible.  I basically don't like the fact that by paying $99 to some random company on the web you can find out alot of me.  It really bothers me.  But the HP case has brought more light to some of the illegal ways people can obtain information about you whether you like it or not  and whether or not it's accurate.  I hope this issue is not forgotten.

6.  Read 6 books (half done) --  I read four books this year.  Middlesex, The dreams of our father, Time's  Traveler's Wife and some random book that was so bad  that i don't even remember the title

7.  Build Two Commercial Website (failed) -- I completely failed at this. Hence the portfolio part of my website is still not up.

8.  Be more organized -- I don't really know how to judge this. But the simple fact that I've paid all my bills on time is a testament that I'm better at keeping track of things. But now I don't get any more mail.... booo.

9.  Gain 10lbs (Failed) -  Brady Quinn is still bigger than me.

10.  Make a 5 yr plan (Started).  Basically the market forces me to go back to school. My goal to have obtain two more degrees before the age for 30 (They say it's the new 20 so i have some time to party after that).  A JD being one of them.  The other would be a Master in Business Administration (preferably with an International Component) and or a Master's in Public Policy or Government

Overall I think i fared well.   For 2k7, i will have more concise goals that build on the ones that I have accomplished this year.