Author Archives: milesaway44105

UK Basketball Goes to the White House

Coach Calipari told President Obama that when the University of Kentucky Basketball team won the 2012 National Championship they were jumping up and down “not saying, ‘We did it! We won!’ They were saying, ‘We’re going to the White House! We’re going to the White House!’ because they wanted to meet [President Obama].” That marksContinue reading “UK Basketball Goes to the White House”

Fathers and “Daughters”

A good friend of mine asked me what I thought about Nas’s new song “Daughters.” The song reflects on how Nas has informed his daughter Destiny Jordan’s judgement in the wake of her Twitter posts featuring her condom collection, crude language, and general lack of discretion. Apparently, Destiny’s mother, Carmen Bryan, who wrote a tell-allContinue reading “Fathers and “Daughters””

Models Monday: The Dinner Table (Thoughts on “Table Talk”)

This weekend, I was reading the Huffington Post’s “Family Dinner Table Talk” blog and it reminded me of my own experiences at the dinner table. I came of age sharing dinner at the table with my family every evening, and it wasn’t an uncommon experience among the folk I knew. When I shared meals withContinue reading “Models Monday: The Dinner Table (Thoughts on “Table Talk”)”

Models Monday: Being Among Your Betters

I have talked with friends about the contests and games staged for children these days and the verdict seems to be that children are routinely shielded from loss and encouraged to believe that everyone wins. Loss is cloaked with badges, ribbons, and medals for showing “spirit” and simply participating. It was a much harsher climateContinue reading “Models Monday: Being Among Your Betters”

Models Monday: On Mindfulness (Against Oblivion)

I finished reading Catching Fire, the second book in Suzanne Collins’s The Hunger Games trilogy, and I enjoyed it so much that I have already started on the final book in the series, Mockingjay and dreading its conclusion. I discussed the plot of The Hunger Games in a previous post so I won’t rehearse itContinue reading “Models Monday: On Mindfulness (Against Oblivion)”

The Hunger Games, Trayvon Martin, and District 11

I once worked with a guy who believed that our current fascination with reality shows revealed our interest in watching people die. I went for it but I wondered how this fascination carried over to reality shows like The Real Housewives franchise. The challenges staged on Survivor could actually malfunction and give the audience theContinue reading “The Hunger Games, Trayvon Martin, and District 11”

Models Monday: Broke and Still Blessed (Thoughts on Joel Osteen and Bishop T.D. Jakes)

I watched Oprah’s Next Chapter yesterday. I saw most of two interviews that she conducted with Joel Osteen and Bishop T.D. Jakes. Oprah said to both of them, though for slightly different reasons, that she grew-up in the Church but that the ministries she experienced then were quite different from Osteen’s and Jakes’s ministries. TheContinue reading “Models Monday: Broke and Still Blessed (Thoughts on Joel Osteen and Bishop T.D. Jakes)”

Models Monday: Had it All been a Farce?

I. Jewish-American poet Emma Lazarus wrote “The New Colossus” to be auctioned off in support of the building of a pedestal for the Statue of Liberty. I have read that  the sonnet reflects Lazarus’s deep concern for refugee immigrants. The most famous, now iconic lines from the poem offer an eloquent call of welcome to downtroddenContinue reading “Models Monday: Had it All been a Farce?”