Rover.Com - My first dog-watching!

I recently made a profile on Rover.com in hopes of someone hiring me to watch their dog while they're away. I have a dog so it made it all the more sense because Gavin would have someone to play with (other then me!).  So, along came Kobe who is a Bichon Frise and about 10 years young.  I had him for the weekend so it was only 2 nights but was a perfect amount of time for my first dog-sit.

Basically, for any of those who wonder how it is, it's great! Of course I can only speak for my experience, but I definitely recommend it for anyone who is looking to have a short-term companion and also a few extra bucks. My charge is $25/night and Rover.com is not required to dog-sit (duhhh), but I recommend it b/c it is very convenient, and you can see the dogs/owners before you confirm the stay.  Also, all payments are done through this site...and you even have the option to give a percentage of your proceeds to charity - perfect!

Any questions for me? Post in the comments and I'll be sure to write back! Here's a link to my Rover.com profile as well! http://www.rover.com/members/ashley-s-your-dog-will-have-my-dog-to-play-with/?service=home

Kobe (guest) and Gavin (mine!) lounging - soooo cute!

Soda to be Banned?? | Why it’s Not the End of the World

Nothing will get people talking and riled up more than a proposed ban on soda in NYC.  Mayor Bloomberg (Independent) announced this week that he is proposing to ban the drinking of soda, sizes 16oz. and more.

New York City is known for its hip and trendy nightlife and for the people who don’t take nothing from nobody.  So obviously when news surfaced about Bloomberg’s plan, fury enraged the people of the city, and continues to boil.  However, not everyone is ready to fight back against this ban.  Several commentators and locals have praised Bloomberg for his soda-ban initiative and see this as a good and much needed change.

Myself, being a two-year-and-some-change New Yorker, have flourished in this city as a Liberal who is willing to always look at both sides of an issue.  However, once I saw the beginning stages of news coverage for this ban, I did not feel upset, but relieved; finally, some help.  I am a full believer in the First Amendment, (which those who oppose this ban are retaliating with), but the First Amendment does not protect against government bans on soda, cigarettes, use of seat belts, etc.  It merely allows freedom of speech, freedom of religion, freedom of the press and the right to assemble and petition the government.  I love all of these freedoms and am blessed to be in a country that protects them, but there comes a point when we as a people need to work together to solve our issues on health, without hiding behind the First Amendment.

I understand the argument that people will just buy two 16oz. sodas instead of one 32 oz. soda to fulfill their desires, but I disagree with that argument.  If the price of soda rises (such as did cigarettes), and the quantity in each soda decreases (no more than 16oz.), then less people will be willing to buy the sugary drink in large quantities.  The majority of the time, one can buy a two-liter bottle of soda for the same price as a 20oz. bottle of soda, therefore, they opt for the larger container.  This rationing practice reminds me of the blindfold diet, in which study results showed that when participants were blindfolded while eating, they ate significantly less food then when they were not blindfolded.  Conclusion: when blindfolded, people do not use their eyes but their stomachs to determine their full.  Same goes in the case of soda intake: if a person only has a small 12oz or 16oz soda, that is all they will drink.  In time, their urge and dependency on soda will decrease, thus reducing their sugary substance intake altogether, and with diet and exercise, elongating their life and health.

With over one-third of U.S. adults suffering from obesity and 48.2 million people are smokers, something needs to be done in order to keep Americans and those all around the world, healthy.  No one likes to have their rights banned or rationed or rules to be in place after a long time of doing it their way, but we have to remember that change and laws are what we sometimes need in this society.  There were protests and riots when the seatbelt law came about and when smoking was banned in restaurants and establishments.  This is just another law we need to help and protect us.

http://www.mnn.com/health/fitness-well-being/blogs/why-the-nyc-big-soda-ban-makes-sense

http://www.cdc.gov/obesity/data/adult.html

http://www.cnn.com/2012/06/01/opinion/morrissey-bloomberg-soda/index.html?hpt=hp_c1

“Suicide while handcuffed in a Police Car”…Possible? I think Not | The story of Chavis Carter

It has been almost a month since I have published a post, due to summer happenings – running around, watching Olympics, vacationing, etc.  But the more time that passes between posts, the more news I’m missing and leaving behind.  In all honesty, it is hard to write this piece because of the anger that I have for something so wrong to happen to America’s youth.

Take the story of Chavis Carter, a 21-year old black man from Mississippi, who on July 29^th was pulled over in his car, along with two of his friends, for “suspicious driving.”  Upon approach, the cops of the Jonesboro Police Department decided they needed backup, for reasons unknown.  They searched Carter and found a $10 bag of marijuana.  Meanwhile, they let the two friends, both white, leave the scene.  

During the search of the car, they find a scale and a bag of a white substance, later identified in a report as sugar.  The police also reported that Carter had a warrant and previously had given them a false name.

Was this enough to arrest Carter?  Sure, it was.  Marijuana is illegal, although a $10 sack would not normally put you behind bars.  But Carter did have a warrant in another state, so yes, in my opinion that was enough cause for an arrest.  Following police procedures, they searched Carter, not once, but twice and placed him in the back of a squad car, HANDCUFFED.

What happened next is a horrendous act by the Jonesboro Police Department.  The officers say once they headed back to their cars, they saw Carter slumped in the backseat with a gunshot wound to the right side of his head.  Not only do they claim that he somehow committed suicide while being placed in a small backseat of a squad car AND handcuffed, but somehow Carter had got a hold of a gun after being searched not once, but twice.

According to Carter’s mother, Chavis had called his girlfriend and told her that he had been arrested and asked her to come to the jail to bail him out.  Also, the gunshot wound was in the right side of his head, and his mother claims he was left-handed.

As the FBI investigates this crime, I cannot sit here and say that this was not racially motivated and planned.  My questions to the Jonesboro Police Department are:

1. Where is the gun that Carter supposedly had?
2. Why is there no dashcam surveillance from the squad car, or was that part of the plan as well?   - It is said that there is no camera surveillance because coincidentally, the two squad cars parked trunk to trunk; when does that ever happen on a traffic stop?
3. In regards to the question of how could someone break out of handcuffs and commit suicide in the back of a squad car, Jonesboro Chief of Police, Michael Yates, said on CNN: “Well, fact of it is, it’s very possible.  It’s quite easy.”  - I would like him to elaborate on how it is so easy to break out of handcuffs while in a squad car, find a gun, and pull the trigger – all while using your non-dominant hand.
4. How did the police officers not hear the gunshot? – The police officers at the scene, not even a car distance away, according to reports, claim they never heard a gunshot, but rather found Carter’s body slumped over later.  How is this possible when other reports say you can hear a gunshot up to five miles away, not just a few feet?
5. As for the search and frisk that the police officers say they performed on Carter, how did they seem to find a $10 bag of marijuana but miss a deadly weapon, not after one, but two searches? – Let’s be honest, there was NO weapon.

These police officers should be arrested and charges brought against them for the crime they committed.  This case should receive the same attention as Trayvon Martin because there was no right to kill.  Having officers of the law shoot a 21-year old man and then lying and claiming it’s suicide is despicable and I hope they are punished for it, as it seems Chavis was punished for being black.

Nas is Back, and “Life is Good”

What dropped today was not another album by a commercial rapper with generic lines and catchy ad libs (no diss to 2 Chainz), but a masterpiece by a master of the rap game: Nas.  His influence over the music industry and other artists does not go unnoticed, and either do the tracks on his new album, “Life is Good.”

With features that don’t overshadow his own talent, Nas brings in the deep-voiced, slow-paced rappers such as Rick Ross and Large Professor to balance out his quick, lyrical style.  He also grabs the soulful Mary J. Blige for the hit track, “Reach Out,” which is one of my personal favorites on the album.  For the jazz fans and even those who are not, one cannot help but appreciate and groove to “Cherry Wine,” featuring the lovely Amy Winehouse.

Not all songs have features, which is very important when judging an artist and their work.  Very often, music artists suffer to release a track that is independent and free from featured artists.  Many cannot stand alone on a track and for this reason, among others, Nas is a musical genius.  Not only can he work with others such as Mary J. Blige and Rick Ross, while still shining and creating a lyrically astounding hit, he can step to the mic and give a philosophical, mature and often times inspirational flow that requires nothing else but his talent.

Not only are the songs meaningful and lyrically established, the album cover with him holding Kelis’ green wedding dress is not done by mistake.  This somber picture with him methodically gazing into the distance prepares the listener for what they are about to hear.  Don’t get me wrong, this is not a bitter divorce album but in retrospect, he is going to say what is on his mind, and if it is about his past relationship with Kelis, so be it.

I’m sure everyone is happy he decided to do another album and with his recent divorce and other personal troubles, there is no better time to put the pen to the pad and share with the world your reflection.  In this album, you can see right through Nas and feel the person that he is; through all of his ups and downs, he can still say, “Life is Good.”

From Poverty to Harvard | How Dreams Really do Come True

by: Ashley Stewart

Today is the day that Dawn Loggins will graduate from a small high school in Lawndale, North Carolina.  Soon after summer’s end, her journey as a freshman at Harvard will take place.  This story captured my attention because it shows the roughness, abuse and poverty that someone can endure, and then somehow, build the strength to keep fighting forward.

Throughout history, we have all heard the stories of those great people that overcame adversity, made a change, and survived their troubles; that is what keeps people motivated and inspired. If you haven’t read the well-written CNN article (http://www.cnn.com/2012/06/07/us/from-janitor-to-harvard/index.html?hpt=hp_c2), I suggest you do.  Not only does it bring you back to reality of the overwhelming poverty epidemic that rests in our nation’s hands, it forecasts how one’s struggle, can in turn, prove to be one’s success.

Not only should we applaud this teenage girl for chasing her dreams, we should also take a look at ourselves and evaluate how much further we wish to go in our own success – and how to make our life journey meaningful.  This shows that you should never give up and all though it is cliché, it seems to be the perfect fitting for such a moving and motivating story.  Let us all try to achieve above our standards and help people along the way to create a positive change in the world :)

Drama Unfolds in the Trayvon Martin Case | Will Justice Prevail?

Based on recent reports, medical records have been released showing that George Zimmerman, the man who murdered 17-year old Trayvon Martin, was treated for a broken nose and other injuries.  I have problems with this new evidence and do not think Zimmerman’s case should be thrown out by the judge due to his self-defense claim, before it is seen in front of a jury.  It is said that a person cannot claim self-defense if they were the initial aggressor, thus, started the fight.  However, that is what Zimmerman is claiming.  It seems as if the courts have forgotten that Trayvon Martin was the person being stalked in this situation, thus making him the victim and George Zimmerman, the aggressor.

When someone suffers a broken nose and feels like their life is in danger, enough to take someone else’s life, than why in the world would they - or could they, wait an entire day before seeking medical attention?  On that same point, why would Zimmerman wait to see his family doctor instead of going to the emergency room since his life was in such extreme danger?  And to further my point, he went to the police station after the shooting and was standing and speaking.  Police officers were in close proximity to him and obviously felt no need for emergency medical assistance.  I know that if I was an officer and I was looking at someone who had just been assaulted with a broken nose, two black eyes, and head injuries, I would have him/her escorted immediately to the hospital for an examination and further my investigation pending their health condition.

In addition, there are recent reports that maybe Zimmerman was defending himself against Martin, because in Martin’s autopsy there are said to be lacerations on his knuckles.  When someone is stalking and following you and they present a gun, ready to kill you, then what do you do?  You protect yourself and since you are a 17-year old boy and have no weapon, then you are going to put up your fists and try to protect YOUR life.  Not the other way around.  How much danger can an unarmed, teenage boy cause - to an armed, decade-older man?

One thing people love is drama and this case has every bit of suspense in it.  However, the only reason this case was brought forward to the public, with national rallies and speeches by athletes, musicians, public figures, and even the President, is because America saw something wrong.  We cannot let a killer get away with murder and prohibit justice to prevail.

The bottom line is in George Zimmerman’s case, it’s not a matter of life and death, but in Trayvon Martin’s case, it is.  The self-defense claim does not apply to an assailant and a stalker, but to a boy whose family and friends will never see him alive again.  RIP Trayvon

The slow move towards same-sex marriage, it’s about time

On Wednesday, May 9^th, President Obama made an announcement that changed America forever.  He became the first president to say in front of cameras and the country that he supports same-sex marriage; but he will leave it up for states to decide their future.  While some 39 states have banned same-sex marriage, this announcement has given hopes to the people who wish to someday walk down the aisle, hand-in-hand; to be married in a union that is recognized by our democratic government and its people. 

It’s a monumental step to take for Obama since his judgment day of the presidential election is right around the corner.  With republican opponent Mitt Romney his likely competitor in the race, some speculate why Obama came to face the cameras yesterday, stating his position on the touchy issue.

Some people believe that he has hurt his candidacy with making national news on this debate, since he counts on the swing states, such as North Carolina, which have banned same-sex marriage as unconstitutional and against religion.  Others believe that this will help Obama win voters and hopefully supporters of the issue show their support by voting for Obama in the upcoming election.  I guess we will all wait to see if Mitt Romney focuses the rest of the election race on opposing same-sex marriage or if he will focus on bigger, more crucial issues, such as the economic downturn of society.  My guess is he will try to disparage Obama’s stance to rally up the conservative votes, but we will see.

What do I think?  This issue is long overdue in our modern, diverse society and should have been discussed and addressed as such, years ago.  If a transgendered couple, woman and woman, or man and man decide that they want to take their bond of love to the next step, i.e. marriage, than who are we as a nation to stop them?  If you lose sleep over this topic because you believe that a civil union should be between that of a woman and man, then take sleeping pills.  If you are on the religious side, that’s great.   I love God too.  But I highly doubt that God will send a gay man to hell, condemned for eternity and a serial killer to heaven because he asked for forgiveness.

The same people who are against same-sex marriage are the people watching Will and Grace, the Ellen Degeneres Show, and Modern Family.  All of these popular shows have gay characters and they have been airing for years.  No one seems to care or be against the issue when they are sitting back on their couch laughing at these shows, but as soon as two happy people want to be married, they turn to religion and other ridiculous excuses.  I would love nothing more than someone to tell me why same-sex marriage should be banned without saying the cliché phrase: a union should be between that of a man and woman.

If you are against same-sex marriages, than its simple, don’t be gay or transgendered.  But why on God’s green earth would you try to ban a sacred union between two people that love each other enough to show it to the world, because they are the same gender?  Homosexuals have been discriminated against since the beginning of time.  We all know someone who is gay.  So how could we be against something that doesn’t hurt us?  Let’s fight for equality of ALL and treat everyone equally.  This country could use a boost of equality, and that’s not just my opinion, ask around.