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Good Riddance To Another Crazy Year
t seems like just yesterday that we were bringing in 2016. Now here we are
saying goodbye to that 12 month cycle and preparing to ring in another.
In sticking with what has become an annual Reality On Ice tradition, I've, once again, put together a list of some of the things that we wit- nessed over the last 365 days that we probably don't want to see re-occur after the the clock strikes midnight on December 31st. So, without any further delay, here are the top 10 things we were forced to en- dure that, hopefully, we can leave behind as we look to- ward a brighter future:
10.) Zika - Other than the Ebola scare of 2014, I don't think there has been a more panic inducing outbreak of a contagion than this one. The only virus in history that could be spread by mosquitoes as well as by sexual contact had everyone freaking out. And the fact that it caused tragic defor- mities in unborn children made Zika even more mon- strous. While the threat has subsided, we still aren't out of the woods yet. We can only pray that next summer it does- n't come back with a vengeance.
9.) The Heavenly Depar- ture Of Multiple Icons - We know that everyone eventually dies. But, damn, did we have to lose all of our favorites at the same time? David Bowie, Prince, Muham- mad Ali, Natalie Cole, George Michael, Carrie Fisher and Debbie Reynolds all left unexpect- edly. At times it seemed as though we weren't able to mourn one before another hit
the deck. Memo to Death: We know you're coming, all we ask is for a breather between your visits. Thanks.
8.) The Refugee crisis - The constant images of people desperately attempting to es- cape war-torn Syria were hard to watch. Seeing capsized boats and kids covered in ash after surviving bombings put knots in all of our stomachs. And we have the nerve to cry about our petty inconven- iences over here....
7.) Murders In Chicago- The saddest thing about what's happening in the Windy City is that the slaugh- ter fest was only slowed down by the weather. Instead of the usual 70 body bags needed a week. Over the Christmas hol- iday only 11 people lost their lives. This is one of those rare times when I actually support military intervention. That or, at least, the releasing of Larry Hoover.
6.) Black Men being Killed By Police - I believe this is the third year in a row that this topic has appeared on this list. Maybe next year it won't be in- cluded.... Hey, there's nothing wrong with being optimistic.
5.) #'s - Does everyone have to use these annoying symbols to make a statement? How about this one? #stopus- ingstupidhashtags.
4.) Hackers From Any- where - Seriously, is there any- thing worse than these little computer geeks invading our privacy? I realize that they've been around forever but, re- cently, they've taken their shtick to an entirely new level. I suppose stealing credit card information wasn't enough. They had to go and help Don- ald Trump get elected also.
Good job jackasses.
3.) Men Dressing And Act-
ing Like Women - I don't know if the tipping point was Will Smith's son, Jaden, wearing a dress in an adver- tisement, Antonio Brown twerking in the end zone or a white female sportscaster de- scribing Cam Newton's out- fit as something her "grandmother would wear," but the one thing I'm sure of is that, so-called, "gender neu- trality" has gotten way out of control. Can someone please remind these dudes that they were each born with a penis?
2.) Black People Still Sleeping - Watching Jim Brown, Ray Lewis and Kanye West meet with Don- ald Trump after his election broke my heart. Were the lies Trump told over the last two years not enough? I guess these men needed to be lied to directly. Now is not the time to get rocked to sleep by a career conman because when you wake up, and the noose is around your neck, it's too late to re-evaluate your position.
1.) Trump Winning The Presidency - Unfortunately, like death, witnessing Trump move into the White House will be something else we won't be able to avoid in 2017. After 8 great years of Barack Obama the pendulum is about to swing in the opposite direction.
Some people believe that things won't be as bad as we expect. But that's kind of like having faith in a shark not bit- ing down while your head is in its mouth. I mean, even super- optimism has its limitations.
Hopefully 2017 will be the best year ever. But, just in case it's not, don't hold back on having fun watching the ball drop and celebrating as hard as you can safely because, after January 21st, anything is bound to happen.... Happy New Year.
Reality On Ice is © by the Florida Sentinel Bul- letin Publishing Com- pany. You can TEXT C.B., II, at (+18133080849).
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New Year’s Resolutions To Strive For In 2017
T he ancient Babylonians are said to have been the first people to make New Year’s resolutions, some 4,000 years ago. They were also the first to hold recorded celebrations in honor of the New Year — though for them the year began not in January, but in
mid-March, when the crops were planted.
During a massive 12-day religious festival known as Akitu, the Babylonians crowned a new king or reaf-
firmed their loyalty to the reigning king.
This January, many of us are viewing the new ruler
of the America we know, with uncertainty. However, we must remember that God is ‘in control’, and re- solve ourselves to be the BEST WE CAN BE, under any circumstances.
While we don’t face law-enforced ‘Jim Crow’ or open segregation today, racism and exclusion still run rampant in our society. And, we all have some form of adversity we must overcome.
With that said, we suggest we start to learn to live by the principles of the most skilled, courageous and patriotic stars of our lifetime...the Tuskegee Airmen, who in the most adverse ‘life and death’ situations at home and abroad.... ‘Rose Above’.
The 6 principles are: Aim High; Believe in Your- self; Use your Brain; Be Ready to Go; Never Quit and most importantly, EXPECT TO WIN.
In 2017, make at least 2 resolutions to elevate your life to a new and different level, and expect to win.
To help you out, here are some resolutions to strive
for:
•Learn something new everyday •Exercise more
•Eat better •Cut down on alcohol •Stop smoking •Spend LESS time on Facebook/Twitter •Save more money •Secure your dream job •Get more sleep •Im- prove your qualifications •Spend more quality time with your children •Get a toned body •Spend more time walking •Find out your family history •Find a better partner •Stop watching trashy reality TV •Cook more •Spend more time with your friends •Eat less chocolate •Drink less coffee •Improve personal hy- giene •Drink more water • Bake gluten free •Learn to sew •Take up a new sport •Enjoy more live music / entertainment •Introduce a date night once a month •Tutor a child •Stop Cursing, especially at your chil- dren •Go to Church more often •Take the stairs rather than the elevator •Read more books • Be kinder to strangers •Try to not get a parking fine/speeding ticket •Learn a new language •Learn a musical instrument • Get a valid driver’s license • Stop being ratchet •Eat less meat •Find true love •Travel more •Learn how to use technology properly (iPad, social media, etc.) •Get a new hobby •SPEND LESS TIME AT WORK •Be more thankful and finally, Be more grateful.
We wish you a happy and healthy 2017.
One Of America’s Greatest Presidents
ow that President Barack Obama has less than 30 days left to serve as Commander-
In-Chief of the United States, television documentaries are revealing closely kept se- crets.
One secret recounts how 15 top Republican leaders met while President Obama was at- tending his inauguration, and at that meeting vowed to sabotage President Obama in every way possible in order to ensure that he became a one term president.
Only divine intervention and the wit, ingenuity and ability of the POTUS defeated that group’s ability to carry out its plans.
However, because a large number of Americans failed to read more than one newspa- per; to look at educational television channels; to conduct their own research; or to recog- nize their implicit bias against having a Black man in the White House, these Americans were spoon fed false “doom and gloom” assertions and accusations about Mr. Obama’s achievements as President.
Among the top three assertions and accusations were: “soft on Islamic Terrorists” while Osama bin Laden and other top ISIS leaders were being brought to justice, that President Obama implemented an “abomination of a health care plan” while the number of unin- sured Americans dropped by nearly half and the insurance industry profits continued to rise. And the final accusation was that there was “stagnation of the American economy,” yet President Obama brought America from the brink of a 1920s era type of Depression created by Republicans’ lax regulation of the finance industry.
No doubt historians and researchers will grant President Obama his due recognition for making America great again, in spite of attempts to sabotage his efforts.
For, despite these days of short memories and corrosive social media, President Obama will be remembered as one of America’s greatest leaders of all time!
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