FIRED UP; READY TO VOTE!!!!

by Eric D. Graham

Ladies and gentlemen, it's time to decide, who is going to be the president of the United States for the next four years.

First Lady Michelle Obama, who was the keynote speaker of Congressional Black Caucus's annual Phoenix Awards, reminded the audience of black lawmakers and leaders of the 1960's civil right movement that this year's election was "the march of our time" and "the sit-in of our day."

"We cannot let anyone discourage us from casting our ballots.We cannot let anyone make us feel unwelcome in the voting booth.

It is up to us to make sure that in every election, every voice is heard and every vote is counted. That means making sure our laws preserve that right.”said the First Lady with passion.

Despite the First Lady's enthuastism for the voting process, many view going to voting booth very differently.

According to Haki R.Madhubti, "Voting creates an Illusion of power that does not exist in fact. It works wonderfull well for the rulers, the real decision makers, because the people in capitalistic democracies actually believe they are deciding and running things.

One surprising difference between capitalistic and communistic countries is that people in the latter countries know they are powerless."

Therefore, don't forget the famous words of Chicago gangster Al Capone, while you're casting your vote at the ballot box on Election Day.

"Vote early and vote often" because Bad politicians are sent to Washington by good people who don't vote.” according to William E. Simon.

But don't forget Joseph Stalin said that“The people who cast the votes don't decide an election, the people who count the votes do.” Remember what happened in Florida in 2000 and in Ohio in 2004.

Honestly, The Democrats think Republicans are stealing elections and the Republicans think Democrats are stealing elections.

And those of us independent of the two old parties know they are both right. Kevin Zeese's statement is so true just read Greg Palast's book entitled "The Best Democracy Money Can Buy."

Ben Franklin, one of America's so-called Founding Fathers, or the dude on the five dollar bill for those who failed history class said "Democracy is two wolves and a lamb voting on what to have for lunch. Liberty, however, is a well-armed lamb contesting the vote!"

Don't be mad at me, Ben Franklin said it. George Bernard Shaw, who won a Nobel Prize for Literature in 1925, however, stated that"Democracy is a form of government that substitutes election by the incompetent many, for appointment by the corrupt few."

I mean, deep down in our souls and in our subconscious minds, we all know that this elections stuff is one big scam.

Because "If voting could changed anything, they'd abolish it," stated Andrew Lack, CEO of Bloomberg Multimedia.

I mean, the prolific American novelist Gore Vidal's expressed the ideas of many voters so eloquently by saying " It makes no difference who you vote for - the two parties are really one party representing four percent of the people”

Besides, voting is like you are constantly choosing the lesser of two evils which is still choosing evil.

Just like Ambassador Kosh, a character on the television show Babylon 5 said "The avalanche has already started and it is too late for the pebble to vote.

With that being said, Anarchists know that a long period of education must precede any great fundamental change in society, hence they do not believe in vote begging, nor political campaigns, but rather in the development of self-thinking individuals.

So, individually think about this when you decide to go to the polls in order to place your vote for either Romeny and Ryan or Obama and Biden.

Don't let the liberal lies, the conservative conspiracies, the racist reporters, evil e-mails, the slanderous half-truths , the mud slinging, the political propaganda, the ugly name-calling or the threats, prevent you for casting your ballot because if you don’t vote, then you don’t have a right to complain — point blank.

Because, you really are the CHANGE that you are looking for.

So let your voice be heard whether Black or white, man or woman, Democrat or Republican, Muslim, Christian, Hindu or Jew.

Because I am.

Besides, everybody knows the electoral colleges selects the president not the popular vote.

WHO IS BOBBEE BEE THE H.A.T.E.R?

With the drop out rate at an all-time high, the rise of gang-activity increasing, the prison industrial complex growing, the zero tolerance policy being enforced, resegregrated school districts being setup, disciplinary problems getting out of control, poor test scores continuing to drop, overcrowded classrooms becoming overbearing, frustrated teachers quitting, ritalin and prozac usage being mandated , and the black family structure declining along comes a kid named “BoBBee Bee “The Hater"!

BOBBEE BEE "THE H.A.T.E.R." is an obnoxious, opinionated 10-year old child with a "bad attitude" from the city of "Brotherly Love." His body language is bad and his grades are the worst in the state. He is totally misunderstood by his teachers and classmates.

Ironically, he has been "bamboozled" and "brainwashed" by rap videos and "enslaved" by a endless supply of ESPN highlights. That's right!And you wonder why, so many of our young black males raised in the “so-called” urban environment aspire "only to be three things": a rapper, an athlete, or some form of street hustler.

Bobbee Bee "The Hater" oddly enough, is a"copycat" combination of (Terrell Owens, KOBE BRYANT, and RASHEED WALLACE) all rolled up into a tiny, thin "iverson-size" 81 pound body. He has been labeled a "problem-child" and a "trouble-maker" by his teachers due to his abrasive "I DON'T CARE ATTITUDE". All the school systems want to "lock him up!" But they can't stop him from accomplishing his goals!
He is BOBBEE BEE "THE HATER"
"BORN TO BE LOVED; LOVED TO BE HATED"
H. is A. nger T. eaches E. verybody R. eality
You are going to fall in love with this beautiful
child! You have to believe me!
This book should be in every school in America!

Maybe, Bill Cosby was wrong!

"I am talking about these people who cry when their son is standing there in an orange suit. Where were you when he was 2? Where were you when he was 12?

Where were you when he was 18 and how come you didn't know that he had a pistol? And where is the father? . . . "Basketball players -- multimillionaires -- can't write a paragraph. Football players -- multimillionaires -- can't read. Yes, multimillionaires. Well, Brown versus Board of Education: Where are we today?

BOBBEE BEE: POLITICS AT THE WORKPLACE

1. Do the First Amendment’s freedom of speech protections allow employees to express their political views in the workplace?

Employers have wide discretion when it comes to limiting the political expression of employees in the workplace.

The First Amendment generally applies only to government censorship of speech. As such, the Constitution allows private companies to regulate speech, even to bar political discussion entirely.

Public employees are more protected by free-speech rules, but even governmental entities can impose speech limits to ensure efficient operations.

Some states, however, provide explicit protection for employee political expression. In general, regardless of a particular state’s rules regarding political expression in the workplace, an employer can discipline or discharge an employee for legitimate, business-related reasons, even if the conduct involves political expression at work.

For example, if an employee’s political expression interferes with his/her work, disrupts his/her co-workers, or infringes upon a business objective, the employer can take action consistent with its written policies and practices.
However, employers can run afoul of discrimination laws (including laws protecting political expression, religious beliefs, race, gender, religion and other protected characteristics) when there is evidence of disparate treatment, uneven application of the employer’s policies, or adverse or retaliatory treatment based solely upon an employee’s political expression.

2. Can an employer require its employees to support the employer’s political views? Federal election laws allow corporations to persuade a “restricted class” of individuals to vote for or against a political candidate.

The “restricted class” is defined as “executive or administrative personnel” who are employed by a corporation on a salary basis and have policymaking, managerial, professional or supervisory responsibilities.

Executive and administrative personnel include a corporation’s officers, executives, managers and lawyers. However, outside the restricted class, a corporation’s communications to rank-and-file employees regarding the election of political candidates is more restricted than under federal election laws.

State laws may further prohibit all employers, including corporations, from requiring employees to support their political positions. New Jersey, for example, prohibits an employer from requiring employees to attend an employer-sponsored meeting or participate in any communication with the employer in order to communicate the employer’s opinion about religious or political matters. Similarly, Washington State prohibits retaliation against employees for failing to support a candidate, ballot position or political party.

In addition, some courts have recognized an employee’s common law right to be free from employer-sponsored political expression. As a result of these statutory and common law protections, managers and supervisors should not share, and certainly not impose, their political views and opinions with their subordinates.

3. Can an employer prohibit political campaigning at work?

An employee’s focus at work should be job-related. Accordingly, an employer should regulate political campaigning at work through the enforcement of a non-solicitation policy, which prohibits employees from soliciting other employees for political purposes during working time. Employers should also immediately and consistently counsel and discipline employees who engage in political activities instead of performing their job duties during working time.

In other words, employers should treat political campaigning at work as it would other forms of solicitation under its non-solicitation policies, whether it is for school fundraisers, charitable causes or other civic endeavors unrelated to work.

In the Internet age, political campaigning at work may go viral and may not be as readily detectable by employers as in years past.

The proliferation of political blogs, Facebook, Twitter and other social networks with nearly every employee having a smartphone makes it easy for employees to find like-minded political supporters and focus on politics rather than their jobs during working hours. As a result, employers must implement and consistently distribute and enforce their electronic communications policies stating that their computer systems and devices are to be used for business-related reasons and that employees’ computer activity will be closely monitored.

Employers may want to consider denying access to certain Internet sites at work, including social networks, to further restrict political activities at work, much like they would restrict access to limit non-work use of the internet to save bandwidth, avoid viruses and the like.

4. Can employers prohibit political displays at work (e.g., buttons, signs, posters)?

An employer can implement dress code policies that prohibit employees from displaying political items at work, such as buttons, pins, hats and other campaign paraphernalia, so long as the employer evenhandedly prohibits the display of all forms of non–business-related items. An employer may want to prohibit employees from wearing paraphernalia at work, in order to avoid the appearance that the employer adopts an employee’s political views.

Employers can generally prohibit campaign signs and solicitations and can take control of the information posted within their workplace by enforcing their non-solicitation rules.

While an organization may prohibit employees from posting political signs and asking for campaign donations even if it does not have a non-solicitation policy, such rules can prevent these types of issues before they start.

However, under the National Labor Relations Act (“NLRA”), employees have the right to display labor union insignia at work. Thus, an employee cannot be disciplined for wearing a union button that contains a political message (e.g., “Teamsters for Obama”) because the political message is likely outweighed by the protected union display.

Regulating and restricting political displays and expression at work does not mean that employers must purge the workplace from politics. Each employer must decide the extent of tolerable political expression or activity in the workplace based upon an understanding of its culture, workforce, business needs and client and marketplace sensitivities.

5. Can employers restrict employees’ off-duty political activities?

Individual states provide varied levels of protection for employees’ political expression, as well as other off-duty conduct. For example, states like Florida and Washington make it illegal to take adverse action against an employee on the basis of his/her political or voting preferences. Similarly, in Texas, employers cannot retaliate against an employee because the employee voted for a particular candidate or refused to discuss for whom he or she voted.

States like California, Colorado and Louisiana go further and prohibit employers from preventing any employee from engaging or participating in politics, including running for elected office.

As a result, employers need to be careful about not discriminating against employees for engaging in political activity. For instance, companies should not take adverse action against an employee for engaging in lawful off-duty conduct such as supporting a specific candidate or being involved with a particular political party or organization. Likewise, discriminating against employees for holding political views or participating in off-duty activities on the campaign trail for candidates is often prohibited. For instance, employees can put bumper stickers on their cars in support of a presidential candidate or volunteer to pamphleteer or otherwise volunteer when off-duty for a political candidate.

Further, many unions along with their members are very politically active, so that union contracts often prohibit discrimination or sanctions against union workers based on their political activity. Union workers generally are protected from discipline for any activity outside of working hours and company property unless the employer can prove a direct negative impact on its operations, particularly those whose collective bargaining agreements have a privacy clause. It is critical to understand the applicable state laws and other employer obligations concerning the protections afforded to employee political expression.

6. An employee mentions to his supervisor that the employee’s co-worker constantly tells him that a candidate should not become president because of his religion. Another co-worker tells colleagues at lunch that another candidate is too old to be president. What are some of the actions that should be taken by the employer?

As a threshold matter, the employer should follow established procedures for employee complaints. An employer must do what it can to ensure that political dialogue among employees does not turn into a discussion of protected characteristics. Workers in protected categories may feel alienated or isolated if they observe employees criticize a political candidate based upon their own protected characteristics.

Consider how a discussion about a candidate’s age might impact his ability to operate as Commander-in-Chief could be part of a discussion that could be perceived as age-based discrimination. Similarly, the recent media attention surrounding the reignited “family values” debate has fueled discussions of gay rights, abortion and birth control.

These and other political issues currently subject to debate can easily generate inappropriate workplace conversations. For all these reasons, employers should publicize and distribute anti-discrimination and anti-harassment policies that include detailed complaint and non-retaliation procedures.

Persistent political dialogue and discussion can be viewed by some employees as unlawful harassment or discrimination. If an employee complains of inappropriate behavior or unfair treatment based upon a discussion about politics or an individual’s political views, the employer should immediately investigate the complaint and take the necessary action to remedy the potentially offensive behavior as swiftly, thoroughly and seriously as any other discrimination or retaliation complaint it receives.

Calling a discussion, debate or exchange among employees “political” does not obviate an employer’s need to investigate or take appropriate corrective action, particularly where a complaint has been lodged.

7. A devout Christian employee displays a Bible on her desk, and strongly urges co-workers to vote for pro-life candidates. Can the employer take disciplinary action against the employee for displaying the Bible and/or for discussing her politics?

Religion and politics are often intertwined because political candidates differ on issues rooted in individuals’ religious beliefs.

An employer must distinguish between the religious and political aspects of the employee’s expression and conduct.

Discrimination on the basis of religion is prohibited under Title VII of the 1964 Civil Rights Act and analogous state laws. Under Title VII and other laws, an employer has an obligation to reasonably accommodate an employee’s religious practice, including the display of religious objects and artifacts, absent an undue hardship. The Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (“EEOC”) has issued written guidance regarding religious discrimination in the workplace.

In the guidance, the EEOC stated that an employee displaying a religious object (e.g., a poster with the message “Jesus Saves!”) in his/her private office does not pose an undue hardship. On the other hand, if the employee sat in the main lobby through which all employees, visitors, clients and vendors must enter and displayed the religious object, it would likely constitute a hardship because it could be perceived as representing the employer’s beliefs and viewpoints. Therefore, under existing EEOC guidance, an employee probably has a right to display the Bible on her desk in her office.

By contrast, the employer can restrict the employee’s advocacy of pro-life candidates at work if it offends co-workers. The EEOC’s guidance, as well as applicable case law, makes it clear that religious expression directed toward employees by co-workers and managers may constitute harassment if it is abusive or persists after the employees to whom it is directed have made clear that it is unwelcome.

In other words, an employer can prohibit an employee from repeatedly urging co-workers to vote for pro-life candidates if other employees complain that the advocacy based upon the employee’s religious beliefs is persistent and unwelcome. Employers should train managers to be adept at assessing the disruption that religious expression in the workplace may cause, as opposed to simply presupposing that it may occur.

Employers should also train managers at identifying possible alternative accommodations to avoid actual disruption (e.g., an unused break room for a prayer meeting). Finally, employers should incorporate a discussion of religious and political expression and the need for sensitivity towards others into any anti-harassment/anti-discrimination and non-retaliation training provided to managers and employees.

8. What are the general rules regarding use of corporate resources and soliciting contributions in the workplace?
Corporate resources generally cannot be used to underwrite fundraising for a federal candidate. Expenses, such as a corporate conference room, supplies or catering used during a fundraiser, must be underwritten by the campaign. Resources made available to the candidate must be charged to and paid for by the campaign at fair market value. Absent a company non-solicitation policy that prohibits such solicitation, the law generally allows individuals to solicit contributions from their work colleagues provided that the contributions are voluntary and made without threat of reprisal or retaliation. While supervisors may be able to solicit contributions depending on workplace policies, such requests should not appear to be coercive.

Lastly, if employees donate money to a campaign, it has to be their own money and not company money. “Straw person” arrangements with employees being reimbursed by the company for contributions must be avoided. Failing to do so can result in problems with the Federal Election Commission, not to mention potential criminal charges against the company. In addition, there may be additional protections that vary from state to state.

9. Does an employer have to provide employees time off to vote?

The majority of states protect employees’ right to take time off from work to vote. For example, California law provides an employee two hours of paid leave at the start or end of a shift if the employee does not have sufficient time outside of working hours to vote. Other states, such as Arizona and Tennessee, provide up to three hours of paid leave for employees to vote in an election. In Texas, it is a criminal violation for employers to refuse to allow an employee to vote during working hours unless the polls are open on Election Day for at least two consecutive hours outside the employee’s work hours. Thus, employers must be aware of and abide by state-specific voting laws.

10. What are some recommended steps employers can take regarding politics and political discussion in the workplace?

• Implement a non-solicitation policy that prohibits all forms of solicitation—including political campaigning—during working time.

• Implement an electronic communications policy that explicitly mentions that the employer’s computer system, including its internet, instant messaging and text messaging, is primarily for business-related use. Actively and consistently enforce a comprehensive anti-harassment and anti-discrimination policy that provides a clear mechanism for complaints and investigation. Remind employees of the company’s non-retaliation policy associated with lodging legitimate complaints. • Remind managers and supervisors to avoid political conversations or discussions with their subordinates. You may also want to include a specific section in your company’s policies addressing political discussion in the workplace. To the extent that you limit political expression, limit only the types of expression that might harm productivity in the workplace, impact customer, client, vendor or similar relationships or otherwise disrupt work.

• Remind managers to report employee complaints, even if the complained-of conduct has political overtones. Remind managers of the company’s non-retaliation policy.

• Remind managers to evenhandedly enforce dress code and non-solicitation policies. Enforcement cannot be influenced by an employee’s political views or activities.

• Review state laws regarding employee political expression and voting leaves. • Seek legal counsel before disciplining any employee for his/her political activities, including missing work to attend a political rally.
• Advise employees that all workplace speech, whether political or otherwise, should be respectful and tolerant of others’ views.
• Do not press employees to vote for a particular candidate and never use threats of adverse employment action to influence an employee’s vote.

• Communicate with supervisors regularly during campaign and election season to ensure that they understand the importance of creating a respectful, politically-neutral work environment. • Brace yourself as an employer to address issues relating to the “First Amendment” and claims of “infringement on my Constitutional rights.” • Be sensitive to potential discrimination, harassment and retaliation issues. While political beliefs at work are not protected in the same manner as, say, religious beliefs, the potential exposure to these types of claims remains prominent.

BOBBEE BEE: WHAT CHILDREN SHOULD KNOW BEFORE ATTENDING KINDERGARTEN

According to BOBBEE BEE, Parents your child should know these things before beginning kindergarten?
Reading

1.Speak in five to six word sentences.
2.Tell stories.
3.Ask questions and remain on topic while talking about the answer.
4.Sing songs, and recite nursery rhymes.
 5.Match letters and name letters in own name.
6.Read own name, symbols, and signs.
7.Understand a reader looks at print, not pictures when reading, and that print is read from left to right and top to bottom.
8.Be familiar with several stories and/or books.

Writing
Use a mature grasp to hold a crayon, marker, or pencil.
Learn to copy or write readable letters or numbers, write or copy his/her own name, and draw simple recognizable people and pictures.
Pretend to write and read own writing in a left to right direction.
Dictate a story with detail to someone who writes it down.

Math
1.Make sense of numbers.
2.Learn about shape and space.
3.Learn about measurement concepts of same, less or more correctly.
4.Recognize, make and describe simple patterns, relations and functions.
5.Use data investigation to sort and classify common household objects, learn about problem investigation and make decisions.
6.Learn about the area of randomness.
7.Learn about structure as it relates to math concepts.

For safety, children should learn:
their full name, address and phone number
the name of their school
full name and place of work of parents or guardians
location of school either by walking or driving
the bus corner pick-up and drop-off (before school starts)
to look both ways and cross streets at safe corners
how to contact available, safe adults in case of emergency

To support health/nutrition, children should:
wash hands before and after meals, after using the toilet, and as often as needed
cover mouth and nose when coughing or sneezing, use arm not hand
make healthy food choices from the basic food groups

To develop responsibility, children can: 1. dress and undress without assistance
2. tie shoes and put on footwear
3. take care of things and put them away
4. share belongings
5. share in home duties and responsibilities

Other activities:
playing with other children in their own age group
using crayons, pencils, markers, scissors and paste

Please read all of the books in the series of "In the Mind of Bobbee Bee" For more information contact me at graham_34_99_2000@yahoo.com

BOBBEE BEE: VOTE FOR THE SKEPTICAL BROTHER

by the Skeptical Brotha

For the last twenty years I have struggled with a lifelong desire to be a political figure and the realization that American politics is infected with what bell hooks terms “White supremacist capitalist patriarchy.”

Trying to navigate shark infested political waters in a way that preserves my integrity has been a tough slog.

I’ve tried volunteering on campaigns, I’ve even run some for people I thought brought something special to the public arena.

I’ve tried writing and blogging. None of it quite fits me even though I had some success. I’ve been contacted by national writers from the Washington Post to the Los Angeles Times.

During the 2008 campaign I even saw my blog mentioned on CNN. None of it was enough though. I allowed myself to become disillusioned with politics and watched passively as life passed me by. I need more. I’ve wasted a lot of time and I’m not getting any younger.

Next year when I hit forty I need to fulfill what I’ve always thought was my purpose: running for public office. I ‘ve been obsessed with politics and policy for as long as I can remember and life is too short not to try and make the world a better place. I realize that I am just as f###*** flawed as some of the politicians I despise and looking for perfection in this life is a fool’s errand.

I am a progressive that believes in what the good people of Black Agenda Report call “The Black Consensus.”

In sum, what that means is that we do no harm to the political, economic and social viability of the black community and that we do our level best to strengthen black institutions. The last thing we need is a dependant and prostrate black community willing to sell out for the crumbs of imperialism.

Capitalism, for the most part, operates to the detriment of people of color. Not always, but mostly. It is the obligation of African American pol’s to level the playing field in any way possible. Some of you will complain that this explicit racial consciousness is un-American, but I can assure you that as a dreadlocked skeptical brotha, nobody allows me to forget my race. The knee-jerk apprehension when I enter white spaces is palpable.

President Obama is the main example of this phenomenon. Since the day it was apparent that he would defeat Hillary Clinton, it has been open season. Conservatives have been ringing the bell and sounding a disturbing racial alarm. The sound and fury of conservatives signifies discomfort with everything Obama symbolizes. They refuse to accept his legitimacy as president and displace that into rhetoric questioning his citizenship, patriotism, and religion and they smear him as a socialist, Marxist, and Muslim.

Their thinly veiled racism and full throated hatred ain’t fooling nobody, honey. They want to “take their country back” from the unwashed hoards of Negroes, Latinos, Asians, and Gays of all persuasions and turn back the clock to a simpler time when they knew their proper places in the underclass.

Some of us have gotten sidetracked the last 18 months worrying about these attacks, but it really isn’t about Obama, it’s about us, people.

Obama is just the proxy, y’all, conservatives are attacking progressive progress in general and the black community in particular. Obama is a very flawed politician despite his many gifts. I admire him tremendously, but his penchant for defending an unacceptable status quo and softening the edges of America’s harsh imperialism is not really admirable.

TripLBee said it best:

When any President, including this one, glamorizes and sanitizes warfare, I will be offended. I found his speech offensive; especially because he knows he was spouting nonsense. Does he really want his daughters buying into his blather about the sanctity of waging war against the poorest country on the face of the Earth?


He is sounding like every other emperor. It’s pathetic. Lastly, I feel compelled to run because l feel an obligation to do something more than bitch and complain on a keyboard. Some folk can effect positive change that way, but I don’t think that is really my gift.

BOBBEE BEE: HOW DO YOU COPE WITH STRESS?

How Do I Know If I'm Suffering From Stress and Tension?

Each person handles stress differently. Some people actually seek out situations which may appear stressful to others. A major life decision, such as changing careers or buying a house, might be overwheling for some people while others may welcome the change.

Some find sitting in traffic too much to take, while others take it in stride. The key is determining your personal tolerance levels for stressful situations. Stress can cause physcial, emotional, and behavioral disorders which a can compromise health, vitality, and peace of mind, all of which may affect personal and professional relationships.

Too much stress can cause relatively minor illnesses like insomnia, backaches, or headaches as well as potentially life-threatening diseases like high blood pressure and heart disease.

Can you identity negative reactions to stress and tension?1. Do minor problems and disppointments upset you excessively?
2. Do the small pleasures of life fail to satisfy you?
3. Are you unable to stop thinking of your worries?
4. Do you feel inadequate or suffer from self-doubt?
5. Are you contantly tired?
6. Do you experience flashes of anger over situations which used to not bother you?
7. Have you noticed a change in sleeping or eating patterns?
8. Do you suffer chronic pain, headaches, or back aches?
TIPS FOR REDUCING STRESS AND TENSION

1. Be Realistic.

If you feel overwhelmed by some activities (yours and/or family's) learn to say NO! Eliminate an activity that is not absolutely necessary or ask someone else for help. You may be taking on more responsibility than you can or should handle. If you meet resistance, give reasons why you're making the changes. Be willing to listen to other's suggestions and be ready to compromise

2.Shed the "Superman/Superwoman urge.

No one is perfect, so don't expect perfection from yourself or others. Ask yourself: What really needs to be done? How much can I do? Is the deadline realistic? What adjustment can I make? Don't hesitate to ask for help if you need it

3. Mediate.
Just ten to twenty minutes of quiet reflection may bring relief from chronic stresss as well as increase your tolerance to it. Use the time to listen to music, relax, and try to think of pleasant things.

4.Visualize.

Use your imagination and picture how you can manage a stressful situation more successfully. Whether it's a business presentation or moving to a new place, many people feel visual rehearsals boost self-confidence and enable them to take a more positive to a difficult task. .

5.TAKE ONE THING AT A TIME

For people under tension or stress, an ordinary work load can sometimes seem unbearable. The best way to cope with this feeling of being overwhelmed is to take one task at a time. Pick one urgent task and work on it. Once you accomplish that task, choose the next one. The positive feeling of "checking off" work is very satisfying. It will motivate you to keep going. A great example of this can be seen in the movie "Jerry McQuire featuring Tom Cruise.


6. Exercise.

Regular exercise is a popular way to relieve stress. Twenty to thirty minutes of physical activity benefits both the body and the mind. Hobbies. Take a break from your worries by doing something you enjoy. Whether it's gardening or painting, schedule time to indulge your interest.
Healthy life style. Good nutrition makes a difference. Limit intake of caffeine and alcohol (alcohol actually disturbs, not helps, regular sleep patterns) get adequate rest, exericse and balance work and play.


7. Share your feelings.

A phone call to a friend lets you know that you are not the only one having a bad day, dealing with a sick child, or working a busy office. Stay in touch with friends and family. Let them provide love, support, and guidance. Don't try to cope alone.

8.Go easy with criticism.

You may expect too much of yourself and others. Try not to feel frustrated, let down, disappointed, even "trapped" when another person does not measure up. The "other person" may be a wife, a husband, or child whom you are trying to change to suit yourself. Remember, everyone is unique, and has his or her own virtues, shortcomings, and right to develop as an individual.

Information obtained from the National Institute for Mental Health with additional information by Eric D. Graham
graham_34_99_2000@yahoo.com

BOBBEE BEE: BROOKYLN'S IN THE HOUSE

by Eric D.Graham

NORTH CAROLINA (BASN)—In a political year, the conversation in the country has been about God, Gangs, Gays, and Guns.

And while the American people debated whether Mormonism was a cult, or whether same sex marriage should be legal, or if gangs should be considered terrorists, or whether government gun control laws are against the Second Amendment, the New Jersey Nets offically became the Brooklyn Nets.

“Not everyone, in their lifetime gets to witness a project that changes the face and the destiny of the city, “ Nets owner and Russian billionaire Mikhail Prokhorov told news reporter at a ribbon cutting ceremony last Friday. Yes, the Nets have finally moved to Brooklyn.

And with the Nets, being the heart beat of Brooklyn, some hip-hop heads have even suggested the Nets are not America’s team like the Dallas Cowboys, but Hip-Hop’s team.

The label of being Hip Hop’s first team, of course, has something to do with partial owner Shawn Carter aka Jay-Z’s involvement in the team’s marketing stragedy, which is displayed at center court of the Barclay Center in the form of a large “B” logo as well as in the classic black and white new Nets’ uniforms.

Jay-Z’s influence in connecting the Nets to the Hip-Hop community was also visually and vocally expressed in Carter’s week long concerts held at the state-of-the-art, $1 billion, 18,200 seat Barclays Center, which he cleverly allowed the final show to be streamed live on YouTube.

Jigga’s street savvy and style in branding Brooklyn can also be seen an 11 ultra-exclusive, high-end suites called The Vault, which cost around $550,000 at year, that include eight seats, access the the Barclays Center champagne bar and use of 24/7 concierge service as well as in his 40/40 restuarant Club & Restuarant, which is located above the main entrance of the colsieum.
Along with this, Jay-Z’s Rocawear appeal store will also open in the Barclays Center as well. With Jay’s successful transcition from a hustler to rapper to successful businessman, some still question his overall power with the Nets as well as his status of being called a partial owner, which according to the New York Times, he only owns one-fifteenth of one percent of the former New Jersey Nets team. The Brooklyn-born rap mogul, however, didn’t shy away from his critics and addressed the issue head on, as if, it was a part of some rap battle during the third night of his eight sold out performances at the Barclay Center.

“I look out here and see how far we’ve come. Still got a long way to go because everybody wants to diminish your accomplishements,”Jay-Z said to a sold out crowd.

“I look in the paper and I see ‘he only owns 1/15th of…first of I don’t know where they get that number from. But I’m cool with it. I know it’s not about me it’s about y’all.” said the 42-year old enternanuer. “They know if you see me standing here, they know it’s possible to achieve great things and will continue to do so. Don’t let anybody diminish your accomplishments. It’s our m*********g time now.”

After answering his critics, Hov fittingly went into one of his most controversial songs called “99 Problems.”

But while Jay-Z claims not to have any problems, the Nets may have a few, especially with a projected starting five, which consists of Deron Williams, Joe Johnson, Gerald Wallace, Chris Humphries, and center Brook Lopez.

Oddly enough, some NBA analysts think the Nets are the best team in New York, even without acquiring Dwight Howard.

Shockingly, the Nets high expectations maybe shattered by a Knicks’ team, who made the playoffs last year, as Carmelo Anthony, Amar’e Stoudmaire, and JR Smith join forces with veterans like Jason Kidd, Rasheed Wallace, and Marcus Camby this season.

As the Manhattan-Brooklyn rivalry heats up, I suggets the Nets ulitize the Brick City rapper RedMan’s (government name Reggie Noble) hit single “Time 4 Sum Aksion” which has the chants of “Go Brooklyn” in the background and starts off with ‘Let’s get ready to rumble’ as the team’s official theme song.

If Mike Tyson could use it while entering the ring before knocking out opponents, the Brooklyn Nets should use it while they dribble on the court as well. Note: To the Brooklyn Nets’ if you do decide to use this song, I would love to be paid a consultant fee, or become a part of your marketing team. If Jay-Z can do it, so can I. I am Hustler baby.

I can be reached at lbiass34@yahoo.com