Bringing J's back!

These are my newest kicks. I don't usually wear Jordan's since the kids in the city played them out, but I've since wanted to get some. Maybe bringing them back to supremacy.

USS Jacksonville

So, earlier this week I received orders to my first submarine. I'll soon be apart of the crew of the USS Jacksonville (SSN 699). Its homeport is Norfolk, VA. I will be stationed on the Jacksonville for the remainder of my first enlistment. Check it out:

Barracks 2

My room:

Barracks 1

Traditionally, military barracks weren't always the most comfortable place to stay. But here at sub school I've got no complaints. Now, I don't know if the rest of the Navy's training commands provide quarters like this but...

The lounge:

I give up

Most things in life are really difficult to deal with. But most of the time I feel like those things are being approached the wrong way. Over the last couple of months I've realized that the exact reason why these "things in life" seem so difficult is because we don't know what to expect. I'll admit that I am naturally a cautious person, so Im always anticipating the outcome. But I've decided to give up, or at least try to...

my desk

I need to clean. I have an inspection on Tuesday!

Anchors Aweigh

To my friends:

Im sorry if I don't speak to you all in the next couple of weeks. For those who don't know, I've joined the Navy and will be reporting for basic training soon. This isn't a dream of mine, or exactly what I planned to do with my life, but I still want to make the best of this experience and be successful.

I will be focused on becoming a sailor and achieving my goals from this point forward, so this will be my last post for a while.

stay tuned...
Corey

Celebrity Crushes

The other day I saw a segment on a news program that discussed how average people have celebrity "crushes". There was a psychologist and a therapist, of some kind, debating whether it's healthy for someone in a relationship to admire celebrities.

I didn't care what they had to say, (healthy, or not)! The whole time I was thinking about my celebrity crushes. Yup, I like one or two girls I'll never have...

*Keisha Castle Hughes, Natalie Portman, Parminder Nagra, Rosario Dawson

Indian

Over the last couple of days I've been hearing the word "Indian" used a lot:

*The Cleveland Indians are just a baseball team, but the name and logo had to come from somewhere...

*Adam Beach plays a Native American Marine in Flags of our Fathers and his character takes constant abuse, nicknamed "Chief". It became annoying after hearing it so much , but it is indicative of the time and was acceptable for that reason.

(plus more...)

The examples I gave above are clearly relating to Native Americans. So, what's the problem? It's offensive. As an African American currently observing many different race controversies, I feel like I should have enough to worry about. But I think it's ironic that not only are African Americans threatened with racial problems, but many other (__________) Americans are being taunted about their ethnicity as well.

Just as I my skin color is not "BLACK", I don't like being called it, (although I don't really mind). So when Native Americans are called "Indian", I'm sure that they're annoyed because they're not from India.

And recently I've heard people talk about how oversensitive Americans are becoming. But I feel that if people are being taunted by ignorance and discrimination constantly, then it's not oversensitivity. It's more like cultural awareness.

Because of this I've been trying not to refer to African Americans as "blacks"; although it is easier to say and has been embedded into our society as an acceptable term. From those two examples alone I realized that words are more powerful and influential than we think. So be careful not to offend someone, no matter if it seems not to bother them.

STREET VIEW!

When will the Yankees get it?

All of New York, and almost all baseball fans know by now that the Yankees were eliminated from the playoffs yesterday. Im happy they lost, but not because I hate the Yankees-- I actually like most of their players, but I feel that their loss is really significant for baseball and Yankees fans.

My problem starts with the organization. It seems like ever since I was a kid, Yankees Management has always tried to "buy" the best team. Every year, instead of calling up players from their minor league teams or going after smaller trades, it seems that they've always went after the most flashy and expensive free agents or trade seekers.

This may have worked for a couple of years when they won 4 or 5 consecutive championships in the late 90's. But, WOW!!! Look at how that's backfired on them! They've got the highest payroll in the league and they struggled to make into the playoffs! Honestly, if my team, the Mariners, didn't have horrible, unexplainable losing streaks the Yankees would've never made the post season!

My second beef is with Yankees fans. Get over it already!!! They can't win all the time! And what do expect when you have a team full players that only care about their own personal stats? And, Im not even gonna begin to speak about how lame it is to blame the coach...(*cough, cough, fire Brian Cashman!!! *cough, cough)

So, that's enough because I don't care to speak anymore about a team I don't like. Hopefully, for their fans, Yankees management will work out a better strategy to help them play, and win, with some kind of dignity...

Discovering Jurassic 5

I've been the biggest J5 fan since their EP, (I was 14 then). These videos started it all:

Time isn't on my side

Another game that I won't be able to play, yet.(Not only because I have others to finish but also because I don't have a stylus for my DS!)















The Legend of Zelda: Phantom Hourglass

NY State Senator

Today on the bus I was sitting next to New York State Senator Bill Perkins. He represents Harlem and actually lives here!

Masked Musicians

Cornelius (keigo oyamada)
-Wearing the mask of the character who he takes his name from, Cornelius from Planet of the Apes








MF Doom
-Doom, aka "Viktor Vaughn', aka "King Geedorah" taking after Dr. Doom, the Fanstastic Four villain.












Daft Punk
-These guys rarely appear in human form, so this is just one of their disguises.

Graduate With Honors

Excuse me if Im a little late, but Graduation by Kanye West is an amazing album! Im sure you're listening to it right now just like I am, so you should agree that this album is out of this world...literally!

This album is sooo reFRESHing! A well deserved diploma.













FAVORITES:
*Champion
*I Wonder
*Can't Tell Me Nothing
*The Glory
*Big Brother

Criterion Collection Store

I just got an exciting email from the Criterion Collection about the revival of their online store. Starting tomorrow they will be reopening a fresh online store, but that's not what I'm going crazy over. This time around, instead of just selling gift items like t-shirts and coffee cups, their DVD's will be for sale too!

This is a big deal for the people that enjoy their great work and are grateful for their amazing collection of classic films, because the official Criterion version of those films can be hard to find.

Last I checked there are hundreds of DVD's in their collection. I own 3, (The Royal Tenenbaums, The Life Aquatic, and Mon Oncle), but I plan to buy many more very soon! Maybe as soon as the store opens tomorrow...

New Yankee Stadium Construction

I took these pictures on my way to my little brother's baseball game in the Bronx. I'm not a Yankees fan, but it's exciting to see how the new stadium is coming together.






One of these days I'm gonna go check out the progress on the Met's new park, Citi Field.

"Louder, Louder!"

I don't know if this is the official video for the song,(Im almost sure it's a fan video), but it works.

Ugly Duckling - "Turn It Up"

Overgrown trees

Look at how these trees are growing over the fence.