Whoa

There is so much that gets lost on the internet. I constantly wonder what I created however many years ago that remains to this day but that I have forgotten about. Is there someone obsessively collecting and hoarding the things that make up my digital footprint? Take this blog for instance; I haven't posted anything in years but yet it remains. Even getting the log in information to access it was a trial (albeit a relatively short trial - now I know brysonblog@gmail.com is the appropriate email for this). The amount of internet garbage I have contributed probably isn't too damning, but it's crazy how quickly I move on. One day I hope someone is able to make it possible to see your full internet life. Every post, every comment, every like, every site created, every email address you supposedly own, all combined into a complete "internet you." Maybe some things are better left in the muck and the mire of the vastness of the Internet.

The Education Gap: Does It Really Matter?

In preparation for an interview for a program that will change my life and get me on the track to becoming a teacher (which is probably why I'm so nervous for it), I had to read a November 2010 article about the education/achievement gap between students of color and Asian and white students. This is not a problem lost on me, just a problem that I feel has received too much misguided attention and thought.

Yes, there is a problem, especially when you consider that the gap was widened over the years. Access should be at an all-time high and rising, but one group is improving while the other plateaus or even regresses. However, back to the article; it discussed potential race- and ethnicity-conscious strategies that, when implemented, would help alievate the achievement gap. And I thought most of it was nonsense. It is important to acknowledge the achievement gap and to brainstorm ideas and methodologies to close this gap, but concentrating on the gap and. Of the students that make up this gap does these students a disservice. That being said, before these race- and ethnicity-conscious strategies can be developed, tested and implememnted, it is more imperative that both educators and administrators identify their own personal biases.

As a person of color that has had success in academics, I find myself in an odd position. Though I cannot relate to these students of color in their academic struggles, I can identify in the obstacles that exist for students of color in academia.

In case you forgot

I really have no idea how many people actually have seen or regularly read my blog, but since I don't get paid for readership numbers - who cares? I've been slacking on my posting so hard that I wouldn't be surprised if that has "cost" me followers. Oh well, tough titty.

I think I'm going to treat this more as an online journal, even though I think LiveJournal from the early 2000s was created specifically for that. But it's 2011 and we're 2 months from 2012. The internet is so full of content, if someone does happen to come upon this site, who really cares what's on here or if I update it regularly. In case you forgot (I know I did), we're just ordinary people. S/o to John Legend.

The Problem with Faces (no strip club)

At its purest, a face is a pretty simple thing. There's the eyes, the nose, the mouth, the ears and the chin. Then you can take skin color and other modifications (facial hair styling, glasses/contacts, makeup, tattoos [shout-out to Mike Tyson, Gucci Mane and Soulja Boy] and piercings) into account. So all in all, the face isn't very complicated. But as is commonplace with humans, something that appears simple is the exact opposite. Proof that the human face is complex, unfortunate-looking people. This isn't to say that these people had any choice on the features that make up their faces, but it is amazing how some of these combinations have gone so wrong. If anything, it makes me more thankful that I was blessed with a good combination of eyes, a nose, a mouth and ears (thanks Mom and Dad for those good genes) and have been fortunate to make the right choices when it comes to the modificatione I've chosen to make.

It is just a crazy thing that something as important as a face can cause someone so much trouble and is something that a person has no control over. If you've got a good face, enjoy it. If you don't have a good face, make sure you have lots of money.

A New List of Exciting Things

I am glad that no matter how weird my life looks or feels, I have people and things to make me happy.

• USC Football (Home Opener this Saturday - FREE BEER!!!)
• Las Vegas for the first time in a long time
• my 23rd birthday
• Mike Stefani and my brother for a weekend
• iOS 5 in the next few months
• LA Conservation Corps, my co-workers, my kids
• Bowie
• the sneaking suspicion and feeling that my life is about to get exponentially better than I can imagine
• Yvette Marie Gauff, my wonderful mother

Love you Mum

The throwback dilemma

On my way to work today I saw a guy wearing a navy blue LeBron James Cavs jersey. And seeing this winner got me things about a few things. 1) Is that man the only person in Anerica still proud to be rocking a James Cavs jersey after "The Decision" and 2) Let's say LeBron eventually fulfills his potential and becomes the GBPOAT (Greatest Basketball Player of All-Time with the Miami Heat or some other team, what jersey will become his iconic throwback? Question #1 really doesn't need to be answered, but question #2 got me thinking.

First we have to assume that throwback jerseys will still be a desirable commodity in the future, I think it has to be at least another 15-20 years in the future before it'll be time to really look back at LeBron's career. But yeah, people still want jerseys from their favorite players from yesteryear. For a player like LeBron, who came in with so much fanfare and expectations, but lived up to almost all of them, it seems like the legend of the Chosen One should be celebrated. But let's say that LeBron finally wins a ring with another team and goes on to mark his places in the annals of NBA history with them, does this team become his most famous jersey? I would think the LeBron James dilemma is probably the most difficult of any current player because he switched teams, but has so much back history with the first one.

Thinking about LeBron James got me thinking about my favorite player in the NBA, Kobe Bryant of the Los Angeles Lakers. He won 3 championships in the early 2000s and was part of the most dominating duo in NBA history as #8, but after some legal troubles and wanting a new start he went to his high school number, 24. Kobe goes on to win 2 more NBA championships, puts his name up with the greatest Lakers of all-time (he's considered the greatest in some circles) and is continuing his climb up the all-time scoring list. But what is more important, his time as a champion as #8 as part of a dynamic duo, or his time as "the man" and possible NBA pantheon guy as #24? I guess what makes the Kobe situation easier is that he has only played for one team his whole career and I think there are so many good memories for each that both #8 and #24 will be acceptable throwbacks down the road. But what number do the Lakers retire?

We Suck but it's Shaq's ex-wife's fault

It's funny that my blog started with a teribble show (Jon & Kaye Plus 8), but thank the Lord that America will never stop producing terrible television, if anything America has started making even worse television. VH1's Basketball Wives, the apparent brainchild of former basketball wife Shaunie O'Neal (the former Mrs. Diesel, not Vin, Shaq Diesel), has taken the pole position as the worst show on TV. First, there is only one current basketball wife on the show and she is married to Speedy Claxton. He's far from the most famous husband, ex-husband, boyfriend or baby's daddy from the collection of men that these women have ran through, but kudos to Speedy and Meeka for keeping it together. Second, their popularity is derived from their checkered dating past and America's stupid obsession with reality TV (although BW is more scripted reality TV than actually reality, but when you have that many bitchy minority women in a group, it's hard to tell the difference). All in all, BW is something that I am ashamed that I have watched twice and truly wish that it will be taken off the air. But since it's already in its second season and will be spreading to the West Coast (same formula, only one true wife, the ever-crazy Mrs. Doug Christie), I don't see much of a reprieve.

This is why America sucks...BW is worse than big portion sizes, Rosanne Barr and Carl Lewis singing the National Anthem and the proliferation of juvenile obesity combined for America. And it is all Shaunie O'Neal's fault. But I guess it makes it Kobe Bryant's fault since he had some hand in putting Shaq's alleged infidelities out there, but Kobe can do no wrong by me, so it's Shaunie O'Neal's fault.

The brand is expanding

Although I doubt my readership has increased that much (here's looking at you Erica B. even though I'm not sure you actually read my blog), I think I've got something special that will be a great addition to the brysonthinks brand. I have posted a couple of coversations that I have had with my brother Caleb on here before, and since he's joined twitter (@BelacTieAffair) we have had that many more opportunities to shoot the shit and just be the hilarious people we are together. But these conversations need a forum of their own to be appreciated. So I am pleased to announce that there will be a companion blog "Me and My Brother" (official title still in the works), that will showcase these lovely conversations and hopefully get some analysis from the participants (namely, me and my brother). So that's something to look forward to.

Function realized?

On the train to SLO for the last time and I accidentally closed the Pandora app on my iPhone in the middle of Beyonce's "Sweet Dreams" and I was crushed. Luckily I was able to reopen it without missing much of the song. Bullet dodged.

I felt that this happening needed to be documented, but it didn't feel right to post on twitter or facebook, so it goes on this blog. Is this what a blog is for? I guess this is where my random musings go. So this is why I started this blog. Cool.

Just Can't Get Enough...Switch-Up

It's May, classes are over yet again (it's been a whole year since I "graduated" from college) but I'm in a much better place so no reason to get sad. The weather has been fantastic. I love that I get to tutor and that people seem to appreciate my time. And I see huge things coming this summer and going forward, I think some relationships are going to morph into something even greater. I just can't get enough of all these blessings.
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People neve seem to understand why I choose the train over flying (my reasons aren't many: it's cheaper, I like the scenery, you get to meet people, I don't plan trips well sonbeing able to buy a ticket the day of is great, I don't mind spending a chunk of my day traveling, and I met one of my best friends on the train), but it's never done me wrong. It offers an opportunity to reflect and to breathe that isn't there when you fly. Even though I've bagged on the people I encounter on the Metro, people that take Amtrak seem to be of a higher caliber. They have more colorful back stories and better reasons for why they're going where they're going. While the close quarters are less than ideal for such a long duration, Amtrak has become my preferred method to travel through California. Too bad the main reason for many of my trips is moving down to LA, so maybe it's time for a switch-up.

Who decided...

Who decided that they are the cool people? The people that deserve our time, attention, admiration or respect?

Oh and I have a bunch of draft posts that will never see the light of day. Just read most of them, I only blog when I'm depressed. Bummer.

Coming Back...March Madness

Just like the name of the NCAA Tournament, March has truly been madness. I am starting to realize that this is near the end of the semester and my time as a lovely student is almost up again. Time to get my life on track. But before I get all morose and pathetic, I am going to try and get back to somewhat regular posting. I will do a nice retroactive look and explanation of all my picks in my terrible brackets (which have been destroyed). That will be healing.

Path to 6 Pack - Pretest

So for my Physiology of Exercise class we have to complete a project in lab about muscle specificity and how isolated training will affect a muscle group. I got placed in the group looking at abdominals. So starting this Monday I will be training 3 days a week. I am going to
use this blog to track my progress (complete with pictures!). Today was my pretest day to see where I'm starting. 64 crunches (in rhythm to 60 bpm) and 3:01.8 on the plank.

Happy

It's crazy that it's already February and this is my first post of 2011. Happy New Year to everyone out there. Let's make 2011 something special. I'm bummed because although I've been sporadic with my posts I've been able to put at least one post every month since March 2010; guess this is the beginning of the new streak. But considering how crazy the last 2 months have been it makes perfect sense that I haven't posted since December 14th. But you know what? Despite all of that, I'm in a great place. Things have come together in such a way that all I can do is praise the Lord. I can't anything other than smile and be grateful.

No matter how bad it looked back then, I'm happy now.

Ain't that a bitch

Ever since I left school in May I have been searching for the next step, something that will make me happy and advance my standing in the world. However, due to some terribly poor planning (both financially and interpersonally) I have spent the last 7 months acting as a free-loader, under the pretense that I am preparing my grad school applications. There is some truth, I will have my four applications done by their respective due dates, but it's no where near as time consuming as my schedule allowed. I haven't completely bought into the idea that grad school is the answer, but I don't see entering the copirate world as a legitimate option either.

My search just got a whole lot clearer. I am good at and enjoying being a student and engaging in tutoring. During this fall finals period I have helped friends study for their tests, in subjects that I've never taken. But the challenge of working through a problem or topic, or being able to shed light on something that had left my friend confused excites me. As I write this I am in the middle of a 3+ hour statistics study session. THIS STUFF IS BARELY RELEVANT TO ME! But it gets my brain working and each breakthrough is a true success. I know what I need to do, but it's a shame it took a 3 AM study session to find it.

Another conversation with my brother

My brother and I were at it again. It started with a YouTube video that he posted on my wall, and then a comment from my friend about our relationship. Just more reasons why I love this kid.

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B: you trying to get buck young blood?
C: what?
B: making all them comments. you know you used your off arm
C: you know you always started the pushing

(Quick break in the action. This initial exchange is about how we would usually start fighting when we played one-on-one in the front of our house when we were growing up. Good memories. I had to make up for my lack of general skill with physicality, he never liked that.)

B: if i'm lying i'm dying. i just had to hold my own
C: i didn't use my off arm, you're just mad because i mastered the kobe hip clip
B: haha doubtful. well, when you start getting paid to use that hip clip move i expect thanks for all the practice you got with me
C: fair enough. i'll let them know that your constant fouling led me to have to figure out a counter
B: constant fouling?! ninja, it's street basketball in front of our house. no blood, no foul
C: haha, i just wanted the reaction from that comment
B: i think i got hurt more often than you did
C: and you pushed me into the basketball base and/or pole more than once
B: to work on your body control
C: so that's how you justify it?
B: theyve got nice rims in the league
C: haha
B: every game is a chance to learn
C: mmhmm. random question: you participating in no shave november?
B: i beat you kobe got smacked around, thats why he has 5 rings. lebron was getting coddled, and thats why he has no rings. and yes, i am not shaving all month
C: kobe has 5 rings because he's named after a very rare expensive meat...and because he grew up in jaapan
B: more because i lost my razor
C: haha. i haven't touched my facial hair for the past 3.5 months. still look like paul pierce. it's sad.
B: nah, paul pierce has it cleaned up this year. he's all business now
C: at the end of this month, i'm getting a hair cut and shaving off everything
B: he's tired of getting punked by kobe and not getting rings
C: the facial hair isn't stopping him, it's the stacked lakers team
B: but i'm with you. getting a haircut and shaving. i haven't had a cut since august
C: mine has been something like that. with the patch beard i'm starting to look more and more homeless each day.
B: thats not a good look
C: i'm living the college life
B: respect. i guess it works because marisa isn't around. gotta get cleaned up for her
C: she's not coming up until december, i have time
B: so youre going for the grizzly adams look for the first part of the season? good strategy. dont shower, no one will want to guard you
C: this is why i only listen to SOME of your advice
B: thats how i won two of my three IM championships. didnt shower for two days before playoff games
C: i have a feeling you're not lying
B: i get results
C: wait, you didn't win 3 IM championships did you?
B: yeah. 2 spring championships and 1 in the fall. the no shower was for the back-to-back spring ones
C: congratulations, i think that one-ups dad's pickleball championship. i'm getting on FB. goodnight. check out the clippers/pacers highlight if you haven't seen eric gordon's dunk yet. posse out
B: night man. see you in a week

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I love my brother.

Escape

Vacations aren't just about taking a break from your regular life. Vacations are an opportunity to do the things that you're too afraid to do in your regular life. Vacations are a chance to experience something that you thought had no space in your regular life. Vacations are the time where you spend time with people that otherwise are kept at a distance. Vacations are what you really wish your life was like.

Man, I hate it when vacations have to end.

What kids these days are missing out on

I am watching Life Unexpected on the CW (by the way, the CW has some of the most ridiculous shows that are meant to pull on your heartstrings, but in the worst and cheesiest ways) and Sarah McLachlan makes a cameo as the closing act of a concert. Ms. McLachlan's popularity lasted from the mid 1990s to the early 2000s. This means that today's youngsters only know her as the lady that sings the sad song for the abused and abandoned animals. And that's a darn shame. Although I don't any of her songs other than the sad animals song too (my sister told me it is called "In the Arms of an Angel"), I know that she was famous for more than just one song. Kids these days just don't get quality musicians like her anymore.

I weep for the young.

Brand Security

Today is a momentous day for the blog. In a continued efforts to take this endeavor to even higher peaks, I secured brysonthinks@gmail.com. My new goal, along with posting more regularly, is to claim ownership of anything and everything that is brysonthinks.

Here's to progress.

My Brother and I

(This is a conversation that my younger brother, Caleb, and I had over text message. He's away at college in Tacoma, WA so we don't talk as often as I'd like but it's these kind of convos that make me love him.)

B: The QB from Oregon state looks like drake
C: I was just watching that game at the gym. Didn't he have blondish hair though?
B: Nope. He has brown hair. He just has a fade
C: Huh, well they still got beat so drake's competitive nature obviously didn't transpire.
B: It was a bad snap that sealed their fate today
C: Yeah, i saw that. I give him props for kicking it out of bounds though, that was a smart play. You see the oregon score?
B: Yeah. 72-0. I'm mad they didn't hit 100, they were up 59-0 at the half
C: That was what dad told me. 100 is classless bryson.
B: It's all about sending a message.
C: And 72-0 isn't a message? 100-0 would be like you crossing someone over, waiting for them to get up just so you can dunk on them...and then blowing a kiss to their girl in the stands after the fact. Not classy.
B: 3 words
B: LEAVE
B: NO
B: DOUBT
C: And that's why I don't play you in monopoly anymore. you're an asshole.
B: I'm going to post this exchange on my blog. Classic

And that's why I love my brother.