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Fresh content! Bear with me.

You know you're busy when you consider jury duty a "vacation" from the normal stresses of life. In a wonderful turn of events, it seems I wasn't picked as a juror in the three-week civil trial for which I was called. I never stood a chance. I'm all for fulfilling civic duties, but I find it odd that jury summons always seem to come at the most inconvenient times. Then again, last I checked, there's never a good time.

I'm beginning to re-think this whole "being an adult" thing. It's highly overrated. Oh what I would give to have somebody blow my nose, pick out my clothes, and tell me when to go to bed. There are days (few and far between) when I've even considered climbing back into the womb. At least then I'd be warm and have plenty of time for napping. Isn't it amazing how you grow up rebelling against the concept of "naps," and grow old wishing the traditional workday included mandatory naptime? I think I've figured it out. Naps (among other things) are wasted on the youth.

Those ungrateful wretches.

I often wonder the exact time the line between childhood and adulthood is officially crossed. Does it happen when you get your first bill in the mail? When you have your first child? When you buy your first piece of property? Too often we sit back, waiting for adulthood to happen to us. Meanwhile, it already "is." I have friends who are married with children and still can't believe God actually let them procreate. No matter who I talk to, it seems most people have moments of feeling completely unqualified for the task at hand.

I've had this feeling for most of my adult life. To some extent, my moratorium on higher education has pre-maturely launched me into the land of responsibility. Post-doocing, the last four months have decidedly been the most bizarre, strange, unpredictable, prosperous, and mind-numbingly ridiculous months of my life. Quite frankly, I'm exhausted.

As much as I adore it, writing/blogging has been the last thing on my mind (hence the week-long lags). The current contract work I'm doing has drained every ounce of energy I had left. I am kicking them to the curb. The fact that maintaining this website has taken a backseat to the "breadwinning of life" kills me because I am a firm believer that the two need not be mutually exclusive. I refuse to let myself be caught up in the regular job cycle.

I've often talked about taking drastic measures to realize my adult dreams. I wasn't kidding either. Yesterday, I officially accepted a contract position at Google. I'm disclosing my employer now to avoid potential conflicts in the future. I'm excited to have more time on my hands for writing and to be one step closer to shaking this bad habit they call a day job.

If being an adult means literally my own shots, I just might be down.

While this week's been hectic and left me little time for writing, today and tomorrow (at the very least), I am on jury duty which means...LOTS of time for blogging. I arrived this morning to find that much to my suprise, King County Superior Courthouse now has wireless access available to jurors. For an ADD wannabe like me, this is fabulous news. I won't lie and act like I didn't almost break out in the "running man" when I learned of this, but I'm a juror now so there's no happy dances allowed. I have to be serious.

So here I am in a room full of 300+ disgruntled individuals, no doubt unhappy about their selection as jurors. Meanwhile, I'm sitting here grinning from ear to ear because not only do I get to fulfill my civic duty, but I also get some much needed time to catch up on writing. Glass. Half. Full.

I can pretty much guarantee that the minute they find out I'm an opinion writer/columnist, they're kicking me out of this place. I don't even know if the word "impartial" is in my vocabulary. We shall see.

If you haven't yet noticed, there is a sweeping trend in the film industry to produce more family-friendly films. Nearly everyone's going soft. While I wish folks were going wholesome because they genuinely believe "wholesome" is better, the truth is wholesome sells and movies are about making money. Research shows that family films generally make more money because they appeal to a broader audience. The average parent isn't going to take their child to a rated-R movie.

It's not just parental ratings that determine success either. Time and time again, research shows that whether they admit it or not, people like wholesome entertainment. Even the sadomasochist sitting at home can't help but feel all warm and applepieish when he watches ABC's "Extreme Home Makeover."

Today even the most hardcore celebrities are trying to affiliate themselves with kittens and lullabies.

In a move to make kids' films and cartoons more "edgy," MTV and Nickelodeon made history when they recently inked a deal with Andre 3000 (born Andre Benjamin), one-half of the rap group "Outkast" to co-produce and star in a series of kid-friendly movies, including an animated adaptation of E.B. White's classic, "Charlotte's Web." And here we thought the "The Lion, the Witch, and the Wardrobe," was the only book in danger of being contaminated by money-hungry humanists. Are we talking about the same explicit-lyric-having Outkast whose albums that have consistently made good use of that "Parental Advisory" sticker? If we are, these television executives have collectively lost their minds. The AP reports:

For lack of a better word, the logic behind this deal is retarted. I've waited a long time to use that word on this blog and I think it's appropriate for this occassion: retarded, retarded, retarded. And before the PC police get all bent, I offer you this:So let's get this straight. Smart + Cool = Jay-Z and Outkast? Riight. That equation sounds pretty retarded to me.

I'm all for making movies that are relevant to kids, but seeking out pop culture icons who can't make up their minds if they want to be clean and credible, or foul and despicable, is not the answer. It is neither smart nor cool. These double-minded artists are not the type of examples we want children looking up to.

Oh but MTV does. That's why they're partnering with Nickelodeon. They want to pull them in while they're young.

Last year, when Dreamworks' shipwreck of a film "Shark Tale" was released, I wrote about reckless use of celebrydom and linked to discerning columnist Greg Braxton of the Chicago Tribune correctly pinned the "Thug life to hug life" notion:

There's a missing step in this "transformative process." There's thug life and hug life, but what about, "Changed life?" Are there any celebrities willing to go there because that I'd like to see. My biggest question is, if you can clean it up for the kids, why not clean it up in the first place? The need to change one's behavior for the sake of appropriateness around children suggests that there's something inherently wrong with the behavior.

I am tired of people passively allowing these double-minded figures to subliminally speak into the lives of children. I have no problem with celebrities using their status to influence young people. My problem is with the lifestyles and behavior they glorify in front of impressionable minds. Worldly success and popularity means squat when it lacks integrity.

If there was any question that mass media has the best interests of children in mind, let's make one thing clear: they don't.

I consider myself to have a fairly good sense of humor. I don't take myself too seriously. You shouldn't either. So I'm curious to know, come hell or high water, what things will always make you laugh? Here's the beginning of my potentially long list:

(In no particular order)

The pee story. (You had to be there)

My jokes--even the corny ones.

Dogs wearing clothes

Cats on leashes

Bad Biblical names

Madea

The mention of Mariah Carey's film: Glitter

Rhythmless people

Hairless dogs

Butt-whoppin' stories

Timely use of the phrase, "Shuck and jive."

Cuba Gooding, Jr. in the first 30 minutes of the movie, "Radio."

The Cosby Show, especially the episode where Cliff squares off with legendary hoofer Sandman Simms

Bill Cosby as Himself

My father losing his temper (he makes up words when he's angry)

Will Smith doing the "running man"

President George W. Bush speaking extemporaneously

The television horror that is "Walker Texas Ranger"

The movie, "Uncle Buck"

Dr. Wanda Davis-Turner

Zerberts

www.blackpeopleloveus.com

Chris Farley as Matt Foley, "Motivational Speaker," on SNL

Just in: American high schools stink. Why we need studies to figure these things out, I just don't know. Monday's USA Today reports on the failure of high schools to engage students:

Because I spent my life in private school, high school was homework-heavy. We usually averaged between 5-6 hours of homework a night. To make it without drowning, we skimmed through readings and wrote essays on books we never read. It was busywork but nothing profound.

America's educational systems are all about regurgitation. "Memorize what we teach you and then spit it back out on the test...So long as you get the answers right, we'll pass you." That's why the Indiana University study isn't shocking. The average high school student has mastered regurgitation. I know I did. I could cram the night before a test and spit stuff out Modern European history verbatim. Too bad I can't remember squat about the topic now. Unfortunately, high schools (and many colleges) aren't teaching students how to think. I learned this most valuable skill from my parents.

God Bless 'em.

It's my belief that state educational standards keep high school curriculum too broad. I'd like to see more specialized study. I find it ridiculous that the average kid leaves high school without so much as an inkling as to what they wish to do in life. Then again, I'm probably an education radical.

It seems parents aren't much help either. You'll recall last summer, some Baltimore County parents rebelled over their kids being assigned homework over the summer. What's worse, they blamed conservatives for pushing year-round school.

If I could re-do high school and tailor it to my liking (a feat which will never happen, not even if you offered me one million dollars after taxes), I'd change everything. American high schools, private and public aren't challenging our generational genius. The genius is there, but it doesn't come out until we're 40. That must change.

Debra England recently wrote a good article on understanding the benefits of charter schools. At this point, I'm game for anything. We've got very little lose. If things don't change, I'm homeschooling my kids....Maybe. Baby steps Ambra. Husband first.

• Macaulay Culkin Denounces Charges Against Jackson: Today Culkin testified that Michael Jackson never sexually molested him. He also admitted to innocently sleeping in Jackson's bed a dozen or more times between the ages of 9 and 14. Does anyone think this odd? Odd? Hello? Anyone? But I guess it's okay considering how stable Culkin is and all. Blog Critics has more details.

• The Chronicles of Narnia: "The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe" Trailer:
  It might be one of the most anticipated films of the year, but I'm not looking forward to seeing Disney jack up a perfectly good book.

• Microsoft's New Xbox Details Leaked:
  Ouch. I'm currently doing some contract work for the Xbox's competition and I must say, this is a hurter for Microsoft. Most producers of gaming consoles are expected to release teasers of new products next week atE3 in California, the biggest interactive media conference of the year. My claim to fame is that my mother plays one of the voices on the game HALO.

• PETA Kills Animals:
  At least that's what this watchdog (no pun intended) website says. I never have much trouble believing PETA is hypocritical. Why? Because they are wicked. See "7 Things You Don't Know About PETA."

• No Handcuffs Necessary:
  Joanne Jacobs points to a program in Lowell, Massachusetts that hopes to curb student tantrums and chair-throwing by teaching "Self Control" classes to elementary school students. If only they'd had a self-control class for 42nd presidents.

• Booker Rising's First Blogiversary:
  A shout out to Shamara Riley, proprietress at the fabulously informative Booker Rising for completing a full year of blogging. This is a great feat. If you can pass the one year mark, you're headed for longevity.

I'm going to say this once and hope that someone important takes note. For credibility's sake; for the future of the conservative movement's sake; and above all, for Pete's sake: Ann Coulter needs a stylist. Desperately. Now.

Where oh where to begin? The only time Coulter looks halfway put-together is on her book and magazine covers which were no doubt taken during a photo shoot where there was a stylist on set.

Remember, here at nykola.com the goal isn't criticism. The goal is to help improve the world one outfit at a time. As you know, it's not normally my practice to call people out by name when conducting fashion critiques, but for Coulter, I'm making the exception. Last night was the last straw. Someone needs to say something.

Last night on her appearance on "The Tonight Show" with Jay Leno, Coulter sauntered out in what can best be described as "Premium Hooker Couture." The main act of Coulter's racy ensemble was a handkerchief masquerading as a little black dress (picture forthcoming). Suffice it say, fabric was lacking. When Coulter sat down, there wasn't much left to the imagination. Something tells me it wasn't a mistake that we could see 95% up her leg. It's not like she hasn't done it before. This time around the dress was bad. Really bad. Simply put, Ann looked like a skank.

The sad thing is, I'm willing to bet she's better than that.

As Time Magazine's most recent cover girl, Coulter's publicity has significantly increased over the last few weeks. As an author, a columnist, and a commentator, she definitely deserves her props. Regardless of political affiliation, in a male-dominated arena, it's great to see women staking their claim and being recognized where it counts. As far as I'm concerned, nearly any woman on the cover of Time magazine is a very good thing. For you, for me, and for the free market society.

So why bring up the petty issue of fashion?

Well, we complain about how people should be paying attention to a woman's brain and not her clothing, but what happens when the woman makes it clear she wants you to see more than just her brain? It's one thing to have flair. To show excessive skin is quite another. Let's not kid ourselves here. Appearance is very important for a woman. Unfortunately, we don't have the luxury of going on national television and looking like decrepit raisins like some of the men who shall remain nameless. No; we are judged and measured according to how we look and how we carry ourselves. It's not bad. In fact, I view this as one of the great adventures of being a woman. It's extremely imperative that women who wish to achieve legitimate success take note of this. Whether good or bad, people care about the way you look.

Selling sex appeal as a means of reaching an audience is a cruddy way to go about achieving success. I salute the women in visible media who have maintained modest yet fashionable standards. In the end, the classy ones will be around the longest. Right now, I wouldn't count Coulter in that bunch.

My suggestions for a better, classier, and fashion-forward Coulter:

1. A haircut. I'd take 5-6 inches off. Ann needs something shoulder-length with layers. Her long locks add years to her face and it's clear she doesn't know how to maximize it stylistically. Her hair always looks flat and boring and very Little House on the Prairie.

2. A new dye job. Ann's too pale to be a full out blonde. Her hair color washes out her face and makes her look gaunt. Instead, she should keep the strawberry blonde as a base and add some darker tones and a few highlights for dimension. I would suggest a trip to famed celebrity colorist Rita Hazan. Ann can afford it.

3. Lose the p/leather. Nothing against cowhide (fake and real), but on Ann, it's just not cutting it. She shouldn't wear anything black and shiny. Take this picture, for example. She looks like a soccer mom in mid-life crisis, not a professional pundit.

4. Toss the mini-skirts. Ann's got a tall and lanky frame and needs clothing that will complement her slender figure. Because her legs are so long, the shorter the skirt, the sillier she looks. A mid-thigh to upper knee-length skirt would be better.

5. Retire the flats. Ann has big feet (as do I) which means she has to be strategic about the shoes she wears. Flat shoes make her look like she has clown feet, but heels will make her too tall. My suggestion? A kitten-heeled shoe (as seen here). It will give her the look she wants, but has more dimension than a flat shoe.

Increased visibility means setting a higher standard. Dress responsibility. Ann, you've got to do better.

I did a brief 5 minute phone interview last week regarding my "Blog Like a Rocksar" series on the "Capital Region People" radio broadcasat on WYJB B95.5 FM.

Audio here

Thanks Dave Lucas for inviting me on.

One of the most common complaints I hear from bloggers new and old is, "I wish I had more hits." To them I say: welcome to the club, and be quiet about it already. Complaining about how you wish more people would visit your website is the antithesis of cool. Keep that stuff to yourself. Don't rant about it on your weblog. That is what nerds do. Are you a nerd? I didn't think so.

As discussed in the previous installment of "How to Blog Like a Rockstar," the three main coveted forms of affirmation are: comments, hits and links. Last time we found out that comments (or lack thereof) aren't what make or break a weblog. Today we're going to talk about the average blogger's over-obsession: hits (also known as the number of times/people to visit your site).

As a blogger, you don't want feel like you're writing for a party of one. And let's just be honest with ourselves here. We might front like you we don't care how many people read our blogs, but tell to the truth, deep down inside, we know it's important. It feeds the ego. Even the random lady in Bangor, Maine, catblogging and posting her favorite hot chocolate recipes wants to know people are reading.

On the more serious note, not only does having a lot of visitors make one's labor feel important, it can also lead to big opportunities, and for some folks, big money. To date, bloggers have received book deals, newspaper columns, speaking engagements, and even employment offers just from capitalizing on the marketability of the blogosphere. Hi-traffic websites can command more by way of advertisements. A prime advertising spot on the popular Daily Kos goes for $14,000 a month. Not bad for some nobody lawyer guy who's in love with the Democratic Party.

God Bless America.

I began Nykola.com in January of 2004 with a paltry 12 visitors a day. Thirteen of those 12 visitors were me. Every now and then someone would stop in because they did a Google search for "black girl," or "Seattle buses," but for about 1 month, I was my number one fan. To be honest, I never really cared who stopped by. The act of blogging was cathartic. Eventually, things changed, and when I had 30 hits a day, I thought I was the stuff. Remember...success is relative. Stop comparing yourself to other people.

My site traffic has steadily grown over the year and continues to grow as I remain consistent in what I know I'm here to do. I can only appreciate the couple thousand people that visit my site every day because at one point, no one did. And yet, my blog is still comparitively small.

Increasing your traffic is important, but *how* you go about the increase is what separates the rockstars from the obsequious brownnosers. Your traffic might not skyrocket overnight. Hits earned quickly are hits lost quickly. Don't lose your dignity in the quest to gain more hits.

And now I will offer my simple advice on how to get more hits. Take notes. This will be worth something someday:

Do Not Check Your Web Statistics Every Day:
If "it's not about hits," then for love's sake, stop checking your referrals every hour on the hour. I repeat: get a life. It's great to see who's linked to your site, but when it becomes obsessive, your motives are in the wrong place. The more you check your statistics, the more likely you are to be guided by what you see in those statistics. If you're out to be more than just an ordinary blogger, you won't be guided by the masses.

You might notice for example, that your traffic spiked when you wrote about Michael Jackson. This isn't a license for you to do a 18-part series on the life and times of Michael Jackson. That's how network television operates--by formulas. That's not how you blog like a rockstar. Quality should be your obsession. Don't give the people what they want; give the people what they need.

I probably check my site statistics twice a month (if that) and guess what? Bloglife still goes on. This might not be for everyone but I highly suggest going on sabbaticals from checking web statistics. You'll be better because of it.

Avoid "Get Hits Quick" Schemes:
Avoid them like the plague. It seems every day people discover new gimmicks to drive site traffic. Some gimmicks are good, but most are bad. Last year, I watched as many bloggers provided links to graphic photos of some of the American beheadings in Iraq. As millions of people performed searches for "Paul Johnson beheading," hits on those particular websites skyrocked for a day or two. I don't care what anyone says, most bloggers that linked to such a crude act were overtly seeking web traffic. Do yourself a favor, don't stoop this low. It's tacky.

Write like everybody's reading:
Since day one, I've fooled myself into believing that my website is the best on the planet. I write like I have an audience of millions. When the hits don't line up with my delusion, I don't care. I just keep writing.

GENUINELY Comment on other blogs:
When I had more time on my hands, I visited a lot of weblogs. As I was led, I started commenting on other blogs. I didn't drop little phony comments like, "Hi, I like your website. Please check out mine!" I didn't email the owner and ask for a link exchange. I didn't leave off-topic comments linking to my own site. NO. I genuinely READ the post and responded thoughtfully and at length. You'd be amazed at how many people will come to your site because they read something intelligent you wrote elsewhere online.

Join an Alliance or Two:
Joining an alliance or placing your blog in an online directory is a great way to draw people to your site when it's new. Just make sure you pick groups to which you have something to offer.

About 3 months into blogging, I listed my site at "Blogs4God" and joined the "Blogs by Black Women" webring. That's the closest I'll ever come to advertising my own site. Later on, after I already had a steady flow of visitors, I was invited to join The Conservative Brotherhood. Nowadays, I stay away from site listings and webrings. They usually require a link back to them and I liken too many sidebar links to bumper stickers--extreme tacky factor.

Specialize:
Stop trying to be the Super-Walmart of weblogs. You can't be the one stop shop, so quit trying to cover every issue on the planet. I'll talk more about this later on in the series, but one of the key things that will drive traffic to your site is when you have something that other blogs don't have. The broader your efforts, the less the appeal. There is truth in the saying, "Jack of all Trades/Master of None."

Draw Readers, Not Tourists:
The most important and valuable tip I can give on increasing your traffic is to BUILD A READERSHIP. Lots of tourists will stop by your site, look around, and never come back. In the grand scheme of things, they won't grow your traffic. They might come because you linked to an interesting story or because your site popped up on a search engine. That's nice, but it shouldn't be the focus.

Don't make yourself a tourist attraction. Instead, build a relationship with your readers. It's a surefire way to keep people coming back, and telling their friends to check out your site.

Next up in getting over the need for cyber affirmation: Debunking the myths of link-hype.

For more see:
- Tips #1-3: Don't Emulate the Success of Others, Get Some Motivation, and Decide Your Genre

- Tip #4: Set Standards

- Tip #5: Be Yourself

I've completely avoided the Jennifer Wilbanks bruha because dagnabit, who cares? Who cares about that dumb blanket she used to cover her head? Who cares about how many people were invited to the wedding? And who in their right mind cares that she got caught shoplifting? These days I can't figure out if I'm watching CNN or E! Entertainment News. I expect next we'll be learning about what Wilbanks will be wearing to this year's Victim Card Awards Ceremony. When we do, I still won't care.

While I concur with the many who've suggested Ms. Wilbanks should be somehow forced to pay financially for lying to police about her abduction, I also believe the media needs to get a life. Sensationalism, sensationalism, sensationalism.

The latest claim being purported by news media? Chastity made her do it. The more the press learns about John Mason, (Wilbanks' intended), the more ridiculous the stories sound. The ever-credible New York Post reports:

Come again? Not being able to hold out for four days was just too hard eh? If that's not a stretch, I don't know what is. Suprisingly, I first heard this story on Fox News' "Heartland." Even they aren't exempt from wasting air time on foolish stories.

From the day Wilbanks was found alive and well, "analysts" (code for people who make stuff up and pull mysterious diseases out of their underarms) began speculating her motivation for running away. First she was distraught, then afraid, then diagnosed with a psychological disorder, and now she has abstinencephobia?

Today's Lesson on Race in America:

1. If you are a black woman in the South and you lie to the police, you have criminal charges.
   
2. If you are a white woman in the South and you lie to the police, first you have a pyschological disorder, then you might get charged.

Where were these pyschological analysts when I was 16-years-old and explaining to my parents why I was late for curfew? Enough trying to make excuses for this woman. Clearly she has issues to deal with (and if all goes well, a few checks to write). There will be no prize medal for figuring out why Wilbanks did what she did. My best guess? Her lies finally caught up with her. I feel sorry for her family and those she's dragged into her mess. I don't however, feel sorry for her. Not one bit.

Have you heard about the Waynesville, North Carolina Baptist Pastor who led efforts to kick out congregants that didn't support Bush? Maddening. The AP reports:

There is a proper way to dismiss members from a local church--voting and partisan politics isn't the answer. This proves to me yet again that there is huge deception going on that the GOP is synonymous with righteousness or morality. If this were truly the case (which it most definitely isn't), the people of God would be in a big heap of trouble (don't make me name Republican names).

It seems political controversy is familiar territory with this Baptist pastor. The AP continues:

I'll tell you who needs to repent. Pastor Chan Hussein that's who.

One of the beauties of living in America is that we're free to vote for whomever we choose according to our own good conscience. While I personally don't understand how a born-again Christian can call themselves a Republican or a Democrat, I'm certainly not about to try to dictate what does and doesn't fit correctly with another person's convictions.

The historical relationship between politics and the church have been interesting to say the least. The attempt to box God into a political party is so incredibly off-base and unbiblical that it shouldn't even be discussed. As Christians, we have to look beyond political boundaries and use the tools we have to discern which candidate, policy, and measure, most accurately aligns itself with truth. And while we're on truth, let's tell the truth: neither political party has a load of credibility in the morality department.

When we attempt to associate a political party with righteousness, we run the extreme risk of worshipping a man-made and incessantly flawed institution. You can count me out of that mess.

While I personally think Pastors should be able to freely discuss political matters (without coercion that is), it seems this country isn't ready for that. Why? Because we have politicians pimping the pulpit and pastors playing political manipulation games. It's all quite sickening if you ask me.

• GoDaddy's Boobs Pay Off
  It seems the Superbowl publicity stunt paid off. GoDaddy is now the top registrar of domains. Yawn.

• Al Gore Awarded Lifetime Award for Internet
  This must be a joke. Oh but it isn't.

• International Respect for Chickens Day
  There is a disturbed group of people called "United Poultry Concerns" that are calling for chicken amnesty. Why are they disturbed? The answer can be found in a statement on their website: "Chickens are people too!" No you fools. They are animals, and they are here for my consumption. In honor of the day, Matt at Rosenblog is calling for your best chicken recipes. Personally, I like mine greasy and fried or baked in herbs.

• South Park Conservatives
  I'm gonna have to agree with Michelle Malkin on her latest column in which discusses her disappointment that First Lady Laura Bush recently stooped to South Park-level masturbation humor to win a crowd. Everything was peachy keen until she went there. Brian C. Anderson's new book "South Park Conservatives" is one I think I'll skip. I must say, never have I encountered a more foul and unpleasant group than some of the conservative male bloggers on the 'net.

• Star Wars is for Nerds
  In her birthday post on her love of Star Wars, La Shawn Barber (affectionately known as L-Breezy) confirms a suspicion I long had...She is a NERD. All you "Star Wars" fans can have it. I've never made it out of a Star Wars film awake. Never. Incidentally, Happy Birthday L-Breezy.

• Is Bill Cosby Right?
  Such is the question asked by Michael Eric Dyson in his latest capitalization efforts (read: his new book). Molotov at Booker Rising takes Dyson's arguments to task. I on the other hand refuse to read anything that man writes. He uses too many big words. I think he confounds even himself.

• Blogger Conferences
  As blogging grows as a medium, conferences on the subject are popping up everywhere. First there was BloggerCon in California. Now there are conferences by city and specialization. I've heard of conferences in Canada and Paris. BlogNashville is happening this weekend, GodBlogCon is in October, and plans are in the works for "BlogHer," a blogging conference for women in July. Curious tidbit: in October, I've been asked to teach a class for the county here on "How to Blog Like a Rockstar." This will be grand.

Rebels: Damien & Tourie Escobar

Age(s): 17 and 19, respectively

Representing: New York City

Why You Should Fear Them: They're classical violinists and they rock cornrow braids. Need I same more? In a quest to merge classical music and hip hop, the Escobar brothers have formed the breakout group, "Nuttin' But Stringz," also known as NBS.

When most elementary school kids were staring at the television, Damien and Tourie began taking violin lessons. Raised in the inner city, they endured the taunting of friends and stuck with the violin in spite of its lack of popularity. Together, on weekends they studied at the Julliard School of Music as well as the Bloomingdale School of Music.

As the brothers grew up, they found their love of hip hop didn't mesh well with their love of classical music. They sought to change that. The brothers began performing their music in the subway and in front of anyone who would listen. At first glance, the Escobar brothers appear like the average hip hoppers--hair braided, the bling, baggy jeans, and clean sneakers. But they wield a secret weapon that promises to upset the average traditionalist. While in the past, hip hop has often incorporated strings, there hasn't yet been a true crossover into the classical music genre. With their fusion of R&B, hip hop and jazz, the brothers wear head mikes and incorporate their own vocals into their performances.

As it stands, the Escobar brothers have deferred any college plans so they can tour schools, do concerts and gear up for their album release. Their first album, "STRUGGLE FROM THE SUBWAY TO THE CHARTS," is set to be released this summer. Thus far, the brothers have been featured on the "Ellen DeGeneres Show," "The Tonight Show," "The Today Show," "The CBS Morning Show," VH1, BET and Nickelodeon.

As the brothers often say at the end of their set, "Welcome to a new era."

Man I love my generation. I am sooooooo coppin' this album.

Website: Nuttin But Stringz

Press: New York Daily News and Times-Ledger, New York Cool.

Past Rebels: Roger Powell, Jr., Taylor Moore, Ben Shapiro, Erika Harold, Farrah Gray, Hans Zeiger, Adam Hunter, Dwight Howard, Sheri Valera, Princella Smith

Call me unpatriotic for saying it, but outside of the Olympic Games, I get nervous when I see too much of the American flag. Mind you, it's not the red, white and blue that concerns me. It's the attitude that the falsely represents those colors. What's supposed to be a symbol of freedom has now become a license for people to do and say anything they want while dragging the integrity of the flag into the mire.

Here and throughout the world, patriotism plays a key role in the lives of most people. Every country has a flag, and every country has citizens who at some point in history, risked their lives for the sovereignty and principles embodied in that flag. I've never questioned the importance of the American flag, but today, in 2005, I am suspicious about what it represents.

At best, Americans are a thriving, blessed, and patriotic people. At worst, we are arrogant, ungrateful, and gods unto ourselves. We call ourselves a Christian nation, but our total reliance on God is just another item on the pick 'n grab menu--take it or leave it. If we can't afford "the dream life," we can always buy it on credit; if we're unhappy with our circumstances, we can numb the pain with Oxycontin; if we don't have joy, we can buy counterfeit happiness in a bottle and drink ourselves into oblivion; if we're pregnant and we don't like it, we can go to a clinic and have the child killed. This is the stuff that makes America great, right?

Which isn't to say that America isn't a great nation. "Liberty" as it were, seems to be both our virtue and our vice. Hear me correctly: I can assuredly say that if I had the choice, I wouldn't want to be born anywhere but America. Unlike the ninnies who threatened to vacate as a result of last November's election, I love my country and the liberty therein.

America's flag has become symbolic of many things. Among them, freedom and liberty. With the exception of the pyromaniac segment of the country, many Americans are proud wavers of our flag, yet its significance varies from place to place. On any given day, you can see the American flag boldly waving atop governmental structures (wherein legislators are passing laws that will strategically keep children from receiving their full inheritance), or raised in front of schools (wherein children are being handcuffed, and black kids get called "dumb" by their teachers), hospitals, and businesses. On that same day, you might see American flags waving in the midst of a gay pride rally, draped over a fallen soldier's casket, hanging in the lobby of a church, or affixed in sticker form to the bumper of a truck owned by a white supremacist.

Our flag's representation is...sketchy.

In a brief interview for Amazon.com, Ann Coulter was asked what goal she'd accomplish with superpowers. Her answer was simple, yet profound. She said, "The United States of America." The last presidential election drew harsh criticism that America was too divided. That wasn't a hefty revelation in my opinion. America's been divided since the day before forever. Yet if you'll recall, nearly four years ago, there was a major event that transpired in this country that moved political oak trees from left to right, had public officials joining hands in prayer, atheists quoting scripture and packed out sanctuaries from coast to coast.

For the briefest of moments, America was united in our weakness. For the first time in many years, we snapped to consciousness, only to realize that we were not all powerful. Humility brings people together, and pride makes us vulnerable. But as I've always said: "Consciousness in America is temporary." Though our flag is representative of who we are, there is an unseen battle going on for the rights to America's identity.

I like to look at the history of these things. The idea of flags or "standards" originates in the Old Testament. The words "flag," "banner", and "standard" are often interchanged. Much like today, each tribe of Israel had its own standard whose colors and pattern were identifiable from afar. Old Testament passages often say things like, "Each group was to set up tents, and establish camp under his standard. Since they often traveled afoot by the hundreds of thousands, standards helped keep the people in order. While traveling, if you got separated from your tribe, you could always find your way back by looking into the sky and finding the standard marked with your tribe's symbol and colors.

The important through line was always unity. The significance of flags was especially key in war. When tribes went to battle against the enemy, they'd march and travel from long distances, carrying their standard which flew high above them on long wooden poles. It could be seen from long distances and it was a sign of solidarity.

The funny thing is, right now, America's enemy is actually from within. Yes there are those in the world that wish to destroy America. But even worse are the corrupt systems and ideologies from within that seek to keep America in a place of idolatry and arrogant self-sufficiency. These systems infiltrate our educational system, our government, and ultimately our families. We may be the strongest nation in the world, but we don't even have a smattering of unity on what our flag represents. We have more resources, but we're not better. We have a stronger military, but we're not better. We have more "liberty," but we're not better. And finally, we have access to more truth, and yet we're still not better.

Patriotism isn't about superiority folks. Yes there's that edge of competition that forces people to take pride in their citizenship, but being an American isn't about thinking we're better than everyone else. It's about being an example. The nations are watching us, but most importantly, God is. We need to lift up the standard.

Raising our flag isn't just some ritual underscored by, "America the Beautiful." It is both a literal and figurative act of setting the pace--correcting our wrongs and establishing a clear standard that others might look from afar and know what we're all about. I'm all for patriotism, but not at the expense of sloppy standards. Let's not be too hasty about how we raise our flag.

The audio from this past Saturday's Republican Radio show is now up. Even after 3-4 times on the radio, talking into a microphone with no feedback takes getting used to. My radio voice never seems to sound much like my speaking voice. It's always a privilege to be invited on-air, but every day I become more convinced that I would never make a good talking head. Why? Because I'm not about to continuously sing any political party's praises without good cause.

The theme of the show was "diversity in the conservative movement." The were a number of different guests on the program, but in the studio, it was myself and blogger Nathan Scott AKA "Homocon," a homosexual conservative writer. I'll get to that in a minute.

Talk radio shows are generally broken into brief 7-9 minute segments with commercials in between. This doesn't usually give a whole lot of room for deep conversation and you'll often get cut short right after they ask you a question. If you're anything like myself (i.e. a "quick wit"), radio can be tortuous. Curbing the desire to say what you really want to say and replacing it with something more "charitable" is difficult. Every question I'm asked has to be put through my mental sieve in order to remove traces of bluntness, sarcasm and pop culture references. I spent my life in all-white private schools, so I'm used to this exercise.

The show was...interesting.

The very articulate, Nathan Scott's philosophy surprised me big time. He's probably the first, last, and only non-straight man I've ever heard argue that homosexuality is a choice with consequences. I found myself sitting there nodding my head and co-signing. That is, until he used the phrase, "Gay Uncle Tom." But that's an entirely different topic.

The hosts were very charitable and very good at what they do. I got put on the spot and was asked who my heroes are. A question to which I fumbled because, well, I don't have any heroes besides Jesus Christ and saying that could've sounded trite. I look up to many people, but "hero" implies something greater and I'm of the "one pant leg at a time" philosophy. I believe my ultimate answer was, "great men and women of God."

Note self: think of some names of heroes.

At the very least, this experience was certainly better than my last.