Swag Award December 21-27

In the wee hours of Christmas Eve, Senators on Capitol Hill took a landmark vote on the health care reform bill that they had been debating for months. It was the first Senate vote to take place on Christmas Eve since 1895. The House of Representatives voted and passed their version back in November, and the Senate vote was one of the remaining barriers that needed to be overcome in order for the dream of reforming our nation’s health care system to become a reality. The vote was split along party lines with all 60 Democratic Senators voting in favor of the bill, 39 Republicans against and one abstention from Senator Jim Bunning ( R) of Kentucky.

The bill would require most Americans to have health insurance, cover 15 million additional people under Medicaid, and subsidize private coverage for low and middle-income citizens. The budget office estimates that the bill would provide coverage to 31 million uninsured Americans.

Since the monumental vote occurred on Christmas Eve, I thought it would be only fitting to tell this story in a similar fashion as ‘Twas the night before Christmas.’ Enjoy!

‘Twas the night before Christmas, and all through the House
All the Senators were anxious to vote and get the hell out.

The decision was split along party lines like a hair,
and President Obama hoped that health care reform soon would be there.
Two weeks ago, to most the bill was considered dead,
Months ago Joe Wilson wasn’t afraid to say he didn’t believe what the President had said.

Most Americans were off of work and nestled in their beds,
While visions of affordable health care danced in their heads.
A mom in her kerchief, and a dad in his cap,
Dreamed of the day when a routine trip to the doctors wouldn’t take all of their stacks.

When out of Capitol Hill, there rose such a clatter,
The Obama’s were on vacation, but rose to see what was the matter.
I awoke that morning and turned on the TV in a flash,
To see news anchors talking about the new bill that had just passed.

With the Senate Majority Leader looking pleased and content,
I said to myself “I can’t believe they finally passed it.”
So rapid to the microphone all the Democratic Senators came,
And Harry Reid, the leader called them all by name!

Now Specter! Now Kerry! Baucus and Franken!
On Chris Dodd! On Lieberman and the other Senators, he thanked them.
A major victory indeed for the Obama administration.

There’s no public option in the Senate bill,
And it has to be reconciled with the bill from the House of Reps.
But we can all agree that for reform to happen,
These were some important first steps.

Reducing the cost of care, and coverage for millions more,
Leveling the playing field for the average citizen and looking out for the poor.
The Senators rejoiced in unison, and then hopped on their various flights.
“Affordable health care for all, and to all a good night!”

Swag Award of the Week December 14-20

There’s not much to say about this week’s winner. I don’t know his name, but this little guy from China impressed the hell out of me. With moves like that, this kid will be on ‘So you Think You Can Dance?’ in no time. I’m sure he has no idea what Swag is yet, but he already has tons of it.

Watch this little guy move:

Coverage debate: AT&T vs. Verizon

By now you've all seen the Verizon ads on television proclaiming the superiority of its 3G network to AT&T's. Verizon claims that their 3G coverage far exceeds AT&T's offerings, thus providing faster download times and an overall more user-friendly experience. My friends and I, some with AT&T, others with Verizon have been waging an ongoing battle about which service provider is the actual winner. Considering that I've been an AT&T customer since 1999, and am the proud owner of an iPhone 3G-S, I think it's safe to say I'm a bit partial; but now there is empirical datat to confirm what I knew all along.

AT&T IS BETTER...

I came across an NY Times article that reported the findings from third-party companies who research and monitor service provider performance. How are these tests perfomed you ask? According to the article, "third-party services that run network tests for the major carriers... dispatches drivers across the country with phones and laptops equipped with data cards. They have covered more than three million miles of roads this year, while running almost two million wireless data sessions and placing more than three million voice calls."

So these companies actually sent people out through the cities, suburbs, rural areas, bridges, tunnels, dead zones, etc. to collect a year's worth of cell service data. The verdict: AT&T has the better service.

I won't repeat what was said in the article, but here are a few key points that make a strong case for AT&T as the better provider:

-iPhone’s “air interface,” the electronics in the phone that connect it to the cell towers, had shortcomings that “affect both voice and data.” In Lehman's terms this means that if you haven't been happy with your iPhone at times more than likely it was the phones fault and not the carrier.

-AT&T does not publicly defend itself because it will not criticize Apple under any circumstances.

-“AT&T’s data throughput is 40 to 50 percent higher than the competition, including Verizon" which means it will most likely take you twice as long to download that YouTube clip or Facebook photo album on Verizon than it would on AT&T.

-"In every market, AT&T had faster average download speeds and had signal strength of 75 percent or better more frequently than did Verizon."

And there you have it. So AT&T has the superior service, but the iPhone's shortcomings cause users to become disenchanted with the carrier and not the phone itself. And AT&T will not speak negatively against Apple; probably to prevent jeopardizing its relationship with Apple as the exclusive carrier of the iPhone. This is what happens when you have superior service and exclusive rights to a device that isn't as reliable as it should be...a conundrum indeed.

Swag Award of the Week December 7-13

I am proud to announce that the "Swag Award of the Week" goes to Mark Ingram, RB from Alabama who was awarded the Heisman Trohpy this past weekend. Ingram was the offensive catalyst for the Crimson Tide team that went 13-0 this season and will face Texas for the national championship in a few weeks. In true Heisman form, Ingram brought his A-game to the biggest stages this season; 150 yds at Virginia Tech, 140 yds at Kentucky, 172 yds at Ole Miss, 99 yds vs. Tennessee, 144 vs. LSU & 149 at Mississippi St.

Those performances, while important in preserving Alabama’s national championship hopes paled in comparison to the show he put on against Florida in the SEC Championship game. At the time, Florida and ‘Bama were ranked #1 & #2 respectively and many fans and sports writers alike billed the matchup as the real national championship. Whether it was national championship or not, Ingram treated it as such and carried ‘Bama literally and figuratively 28 times for 113 yards and 3 touchdowns in a 32-13 drubbing of the heralded Gators.

For the majority of the college football season, Ingram remained a dark horse in the Heisman ballots, trailing Colt McCoy of Texas, Ndamukong Suh of Nebraska and 2007 Heisman winner Tim Tebow. The afore mentioned players all had a great deal of hype surrounding them, and NFL scouts water at the mouth when considering their draft prospects. Throughout the season Ingram remained on everyone’s radar, but was never considered the front-runner even as his team continued to win largely due to his efforts, in the toughest conference in the country.

See Mark’s emotional acceptance speech:

Alabama, one of the nation’s most storied football programs had never had a Heisman winner until Mark Ingram changed all of that. I think over 1500 yards and 15 touchdowns for an undefeated team in the SEC makes a very strong case. A case that sports writers ultimately could not overlook this year in the closest Heisman race ever. Ingram beat Stanford’s Toby Gerhart by merely 5 votes. Mark Ingram proves that despite the circumstances, the obstacles, the hype, if you are confident in yourself and your abilities then the sky is the limit. Now that's what I call swagger. Congratulations Mark.

Check out some of Ingram’s highlights from this season:

Healthy alternatives in a junk-food nation

It's no secret that Americans love to eat. It's in our fiber. It is the very essence of what makes this country what it is. It's not truly American if it's not as 'American as apple pie," right? The melting pot that our country has become is no more evident than in our cuisine. Burger joints, Chinese restaurants, pizza parlors, hot dog stands, kebab/gyro stands, chicken shacks and seafood restaurants alike are all reflections of the cultural and regional influences that we as Americans incorporate into our cuisine.

American cuisine, while pleasurable for the pallet is also notoriously high in calories. Restaurants, especially fast food establishments have sought to combat this problem by offering low calorie options and posting calorie counts for all of their products.

A recent study done by Yale & New York University found that posting calories has little to no effect on the buying habits of fast-food customers. For a nation that places as much emphasis and spends as much $$ on health-related items, while disturbing, the findings are not surprising. Relative to its size, America ranks at the top of world list with its almost 75% overweight population..

Just as our cuisine is creative, inventive and full of variety, so too are the diet and exercise techniques that so many employ to shed those dreaded pounds. Veganism is one of the myriad dietary choices one can make to live a healthier lifestyle, and it is a choice that has been 30 years in the making for Brenda Beener. Unlike vegetarians, vegans seeks to exclude animal products of any kind from their diets, including eggs, dairy products and honey.

Beener's family and its love for food and cooking traces its roots back to New Orleans, where traditional dishes are rich in seafood and meats. Think gumbo, crawfish, and jamabalya. Beener gradually overcame her love for those tasty, native dishes in order to become a complete vegan. She has not had any meat in 12 years. "Being from New Orleans, the hardest part was overcoming seafood" says Beener.

As time passed, Beener's repertoire of vegan dishes expanded and she took chef courses to enhance her seasoning and presentation skills. From those classes, Beener began offering her services to friends and family, personally preparing delicious and aesthetically pleasing vegan dishes. The feedback was so positive, that what began as hobby has turned into a fledgling business Beener now calls 'Seasoned Vegan.'

Seasoned Vegan is a labor of love that combines Beener's passion for the vegan lifestyle with her passion for preparing dishes. Beener uses all organic ingredients and seasonings in her dishes, and I can tell you from first hand experience that they are outstanding. I had some 'tuna' casserole that knocked my socks off. Seriously. I'll be back for more real soon.

Beener takes pride in the fact that it usually doesn't take much to convince bona fide carnivores such as myself that vegan dishes can taste just as good if not better than their meaty equivalents.

"Sometimes people are skeptical initially, but I just let them taste the samples and let their taste buds do the talking. The seasoning is what makes my dishes stand out from others. "

Vegan Chicken

Teriyaki Orange Broiled Chicken, Yams, Brown Rice,

Mustard & Kale Greens & Corn Muffins

The Seasoned Vegan team is comprised of Beener and a small group of assistants who prepare and package meals and dishes. The Seasoned Vegan team makes house calls as well as caters events and functions to bring a fine vegan dining experience wherever the customer desires. These services do not come without cost however. Using all organic ingredients, and providing in-home services may run a tad more than a traditional restaurant dinner but Beener's justification begs a question that we all must ask ourselves; "At the end of the day it's about my health, my life, and how much that is worth to me?"

Now that's food for thought...

For more information on Seasoned Vegan, and a look at some of Mrs. Beener's popular dishes, visit. SeasonedVegan.com.

Kanye West & Lady Gaga cancel tour

I didn't think much of it when Kanye West told Jay Leno that he has been on the go and had not taken time to deal with his mother's death.

West made the announcement the day after he rudely interrupted Taylor Swift at the MTV VMA Awards.

Apparently West has finally decided to take some time off and regroup. He and budding pop sensation Lady Gaga announced recently that they will cancel their 'Fame Kills' Tour. which was set to make stops around the country beginning in November.

The duo did not give a reason for the cancellation, but one can only imagine it has a lot to do with Kanye's desire to deal with his emotions and get his life back together.

All the best Mr. West.

David Letterman drops late night bombshells on personal life

Last week, David Letterman shocked viewers when revealed that one of his producers for the Late Show was seeking to extort $2 million as hush from publishing a book about Letterman's extra-curricular activities.

Letterman went on to reveal that he has had multiple sexual relationships with female staffers on his show and has done some "terrible" things in his past.

Despite these seemingly embarrassing and humbling revelations, Letterman in true late night host form managed to make light of the situation and keep the audience laughing.

My question is, what is the big deal? What, when and who Mr. Letterman does should be between he and his significant other. I'm sur we'll be hearing more about this in the coming months.

In case you missed Letterman's segment where he discussed the situation, check it out below.

Miss Australia shows off her skills in "Condom Olympics"

For those of you who thought beauty pageants were nothing more than platforms for girlie girls to parade around on stage in swimsuits and give semi-heartfelt speeches about worthy causes, I offer this video as proof that beauty pageants are more than just a showing of brains & beauty...but breath as well.

Rachael Finch AKA Miss Australia was vying for the crown of Miss Universe this past weekend at the pageant in the Bahamas when she and a few fellow Miss Universe contestants competed in the "Condom Olympics"... I can't make this stuff up.

The contestants had to blow up a condom as big as possible without bursting it...Take a look at the video to see how Finch "blew" her competition out of the water.

Now that's talent. Brains, Beauty, and the lung capacity of Jacques Cousteau... I'm in love. Unfortunately for Rachael, her conquest in the Condom Olympics didn't translate to a victory in the main event. Finch grabbed second runner up to Ms. Venezuela (the second year in a row a woman from Venezuela has won Miss Universe). Oh well. Can't win 'em all I guess.

When asked about finishing second in the pageant, Finch replied "it sucks...actually, it blows.." Sorry, it was too easy. She didn't say that, but I had to take a swing.

Michelle Obama & her wardrobe..

A lot has been made of Michelle Obama's decision to wear shorts during the family's vacation visit to the Grand Canyon a few days ago. Temperatures in the canyon can reach upwards of 100 degrees this time of year. The shorts look like some standard Old Navy cargo shorts...nothing particularly fashionable about them. I think that she wore for comfort and not fashion, but a debate has sprung up about whether or not she is "too casual" as a first lady.

Michelle already won my 'Swag Award' following the Obama's first trip to Europe, where she wowed the media and other female heads of state while President Obama was meeting with officials at the G-20 Summit.

Personally, I think the shorts are fine and I would be more outraged if she wore a pants suit in the middle of August to the Grand Canyon than these simple shorts. I wanted to pose the question to my readers though. What do we think of her shorts?? Comfortably chic, or crossing the line??

Swag Award of the Week August 10-16

Talk about an upset.. This is a David vs. Goliath story if I've ever heard one. Y.E. Yang, ranked #110 in the world at the outset of the PGA Championship out dueled Tiger Woods in the final round to win the tournament by three strokes.

Woods entered the final round with a two stroke lead and for the first time in his professional career relinquished a final round lead in a major. Woods had previously won all 14 majors when entering the final round with a lead.

With the victory, Yang became the first Asian-born golfer to win a major. For his efforts, Yang received $1.35 million, the 44-pound Wanamaker Trophy, and a five year exemption on the PGA Tour and all majors. Woods' loss means he will finish the year without a win at a major for the first time since 2004.

Congrats Mr. Yang for not backing down as the Tiger roared, as so many golfers have in the past. Watch the highlights here.

Mike Vick speaks for the first time since his release

Yesterday evening Mike Vick, former NFL superstar turned convict spoke to James Brown of CBS Sports on 60 Minutes for his first formal interview since his release from prison following a two year stint for bankrolling an intrastate dogfighting ring.

In the interview Vick told Brown that the magnitude and severity of his actions did not really sink in until the door of the prison cell slammed shut in Leavenworth, Kansas. He also said that he initially lied about the allegations because he was scared, and knew his career was in jeopardy and also, that lying to his sponsors, teammates and Falcons owner Arthur Blank backfired on him tremendously.

Vick's interview was one of the more honest, sincere interviews I've seen in a while, especially compared to A-Roid's interview a few months back with Peter Gammons of ESPN.

Personally, I'm happy the Vick is back in the league. I think he is contrite, humbled, and eager to revive his NFL career and his standing in the eyes of the public. Vick has a team of image coaches assisting him with his return to game. Former NFL coach Tony Dungy, who regularly visits prisons to speak with inmates has been serving as a mentor to Mike for months. Vick has also teamed up with the Humane Society and has already begun making appreances to speak out against cruelty to animals.

I have enjoyed watching Mike Vick play football since his college days. His athletic prowess was/is undeniable. Everyone makes mistakes, and he has without question paid the price for the biggest mistake of his life. I wish him all the best on his road to redemption.

Usain Bolt is fast

He did it again.. Another race, another world record. This past weekend, Usain Bolt raised the bar again as he won the 100m dash at the IAAF T&F Trials in Germany in a hasty time of 9.58 seconds.

I was at the Olympics last year when Bolt shocked the world and coasted to the finish line and still set a world record then with a 9.69 time.

At 6'5, Bolt towers over the competition and his long strides make it hard for anyone to keep up once he reaches top speed. Apparently running the 100m dash in 9.58 seconds is equivalent to running 30MPH...Wow. The man is fast...like lightning. I can't think of a more appropriate last name for a sprinter as fast as he.

Are you ready for some football??

Apparently Reggie Wayne is, as he showed up to the Colts training camp a few days back in a dump truck..

Equipped with his hard hat and lunchbox, Wayne said he was ready to start rebuilding the road to the the Super Bowl. If you remember, it was Wayne & the Colts who won Super Bowl XLI back in 2006 beating the Chicago Bears 29-17.

Good luck this year Reggie. Usually antics like this would have been all over the TV, but it's hard to get in the limelight with Mike Vick trying to make a comeback, Steve McNair's untimely death, T.O.'s realty show, and Brett Favre's saga. Gotta love the NFL. Getcha popcorn ready.

President Obama gets a mountain named after him for his birthday

No, Mount Rushmore has not been updated to inlcude a granite image of President Obama, but Barack Obama does now in fact have a mountain named in his honor. As the president celebrated his 48th birthday yesterday, the Prime Minister of Antigua named that country's highest mountain after him.

Mt. Obama, formerly known as "Boggy Peak."

A little ironic considering the mountain of debt and economic turmoil this country finds itself in, but a very nice gesture nontheless.

Formerly known as "Boggy Peak," Mount Obama stands 1,300 ft. over Antigua's southern tip. Baldwin Spencer, the Prime Minister of Antigua held a ceremony on the island yesterday to celebrate the occasion. There is a plaque at the base of the mountain that reads:

"Mount Obama, named in honor of the historical election on Nov. 4, 2008, of Barack Hussein Obama, the first black president of the United States of America, as a symbol of excellence, triumph, hope and dignity for all people."

Video of the ceremony that took place in Antigua.

What a birthday present. Happy belated President Obama.

Swag Award of the Week August 3-9

I know it's only Wednesday, but I don't think anyone can take the award from Bill Clinton this week. In a 20 hour trip, Clinton flew to North Korea, met with Kim Jong Il and accomplished a feat the U.S. government had been trying to accomplish since March; broker the safe return of Laura Ling and Euna Lee, the two American journalists who were sentenced to 12 years hard labor after being arrested while crossing into N. Korea from China. Clinton and the journalists returned home today to tearful eyes and open arms of family members and Al Gore, who owns the media company the journalists work for.

View the emotional press conference:

Apparently this trip had been in the works for some time as the White House & the N. Korean Foreign Ministry had been engaging in talks for months. Possible candidates to make the trip included Bill Richardson New Mexico governor Bill Richardson as well as former President Al Gore, but the Koreans let it be known that Bill was their choice to engage in talks.

Clinton's visit was the first visit by such a high-ranking U.S. official since then Secretary of State, Madeline Albright visited with N. Korean officials in 2000. According to the White House "Mr. Clinton went to North Korea as a private citizen, did not carry a message from Mr. Obama for Mr. Kim and had the authority to negotiate only for the women’s release"... Right.. Bill Clinton has had a vested interest in N. Korea and its nuclear capabilities since his time a president and officials close to the matter said “It would be someplace between surprising and shocking if there wasn’t some substantive discussion between the former president, who is deeply knowledgeable about the nuclear issue, and Kim Jong-il."

Whatever was said at that table may never be known by anyone who was not in attendance, but the outcome is clear. Two U.S. citizens have been reunited with their families and have escaped a terrible fate thanks to the efforts of Bill Clinton and other U.S. diplomats.

Eight and a half years removed from office, and Bill Clinton's appeal and effectiveness on a global stage cannot be overstated. The fact that he was sought by the Koreans, made the trip there and came back with the two journalists in under 24 hours says something. Someone told me a long time ago that "you have to be in demand to make demands." President Clinton's successful trip embodies that phrase. SWAGGER !!

More police misconduct?? Officers caught on camera fabricating police report

In the aftermath of the Henry Louis Gates incident, not only has dialogue opened up nationwide regarding race relations, but police conduct has also been thrown into the spotlight.

A few days ago, another situation involving "questionable" police behavior was uncovered. Back in February, police officers in Hollywood, Florida charged 23 year-old Alexandra Torrensvillas with DUI and a traffic violation following a fender-bender where the officers ran into the back of her car.

Upon questioning Torrensvillas admitted that she had been drinking. The officers were caught on the dashboard camera devising a plot to spin the story to make it appear as if the accident was a result of Torrensvillas driving under the influence and not the fault of the officers who were following too closely.

Check out the news story:

Now in the Gates situation, there is some fuzziness surrounding the details and who is most at fault, but here the facts are clear cut and officers are clearly in the wrong.

Sgt. Dewey Pressley, a 21-year veteran on the force is can be heard on the tape saying "well, I don't lie and makes things up ever because it's wrong, but if I need to bend it a little to protect a cop, I'm gonna."

To make matters worse, Pressley then goes on to direct another officer on how to write the report.

"I will write the narrative out for you. I will tell you exactly how to word it so it can get him off the hook. You see the angle of her car? You see the way it's like this? As far as I'm concerned, I am going to word it she is in the left hand lane. We will do a little Walt Disney to protect the cop, because it wouldn't matter because she was drunk anyway.."

Wow..Talk about abusing the law. The officers have since been placed on desk duty and the charges against Torrensvillas have been dropped.

Now I know the Gates incident and this have little in common other than the fact that police behavior in both situations have come under scrutiny. If anything, police behavior and the officers' commitment to enforcing not abusing the law should be the common thread these incidents share. Unfortunately that's not the case.

In another incident, an openly gay attonery from D.C. was arrested and ticketed after police officers overheard him telling his friends that he hates the police. Apparently, officers handcuffed him without giving their reason and then told him to "just shut up fa**@!"

Henry Gates is a prominent scholar, and because of that he was able to draw attention to his plight, even gaining sympathy/support from the President of the United States. Alexandra Torrensvillas had the good fortune of a dashboard camera to capture her arresting officers transgressions. The prominent lawyer in D.C. has his reputation and legal knowledge to aid him in his battle. Not everyone is that lucky, and the fact that these incidents happened in different parts of the country under different circumstances tells me that this is not a racial/class struggle between police and civilians, but rather a culture of superiority over the law within police departments nationwide. These cops are setting a dangerous precedent, and the issue needs to be addressed sooner rather than later.

In the mean time, I'll just make sure to be on my P's & Q's when I see Johnny Law approaching and let N.W.A comment on my feelings about coppers...

Chris Brown apology...what a joke

Have you ever seen a more scripted, insincere apology than this pile of crap offered up by Chris Brown??

After jet-skiing at Diddy's estate, laying low for a few months, then getting shut down from the BET Awards by Jay-Z, Chris makes his first public statements since that fateful night when he assaulted Rihanna from the drivers seat of his car.

If this is the best he could do, he shouldn't have said anything. Watching this makes me even question if he's truly remorseful for what he did or remorseful over the fact that his actions have affected his public image...Chris and his lawyer should be ashamed of themselves for this one.

You be the judge:

President Obama comments on the Henry Louis Gates situation

President Obama addressed the nation again in prime time; this time to garner support, and emphasize his desire to reform America's health care system. I won't bore you with the details of the speech if you missed it. Get the rundown here.

The highlight of the night in my opinion came when President Obama fielded his final question from the throng of White House correspondents present for the address.

A woman asked the president what he thought about the Henry Louis Gates incident that occurred a few days ago. If you haven't heard about it, read up on it here.

President Obama replied by saying that "the police acted stupidly" and "what we know separate and apart from this incident is that there's a long history in this country of African Americans and Latinos being stopped by law enforcement disproportionately."

See for yourself:

Uh oh...so much for being PC. President Obama "kept it real," and gave his honest, unscripted opinion on the matter. I hope there isn't much backlash for those remarks. Obama acknowledged that Gates is a personal friend and that his opinion may be a little biased, but still...

Then again, isn't that what you want from a leader? Someone who will tell the truth and/or make decisions because those are right things to say and do, not because they are popular?

What about the "...here I'd get shot" comment? I laughed at the time when I heard it live as did the press members in the audience. I just hope that news outlets and the GOP don't replay/spin those bytes continuously down the road (re-election time if not sooner) to portray Obama in a negative light.

There is no question that what happened to Professor Gates is an unfortunate situation that probably could have been resolved differently. I hope that President Obama's approval ratings/political initiatives/respect from other politicians and world leaders do not waver in the aftermath of those comments; especially since it was not absolutely imperative that the president address that situation at all. That my friends would truly be an unfortunate situation.

Video of LeBron James getting dunked on..

Sports enthusiasts have been hearing about this and anticipating the footage for weeks now... The footage of Jordan Crawford, the sophomore at Xavier University who dunked on LeBron James at his Nike sponsored skills camp.


Well, after some internet scouring BDumasonline has found the video. See the dunk for yourself:

If you're not aware of the situation, my boys over at the Campus Socialite have a good synopsis of what happened.

Essentially, LeBron James was dunked on in a pickup game...A semi-embarrassing moment for the league MVP. Nike confiscated all videos of the dunk, saying it is against policy to film pickup games... Right. Nike/LeBron were just trying to save face.

I wonder what Bron Bron's response to this mishap will be?? Look for King James in the NBA Finals next season. As for the collegiate Jordan Crawford...I hope that dunk will not be the crowning achievement of his basketball career. It remains to be seen.

Happy Birthday America!

A few photos that I snapped from a friend's balcony yesterday..

Blast from the past: M.Jackson vs. M. Jordan

Only a few days removed from the shocking news of Michael Jackson's death, radio station playlists and TV coverage are still devoting a great deal of time and attention to the pop icons music. 

Remember the song Jam from Jackson's 1991 album "Dangerous" ? The song had cameos from Kriss Kross, a verse from Heavy D, and more importantly Michael "His Airness" Jordan was featured alongside Jackson shooting hoops and dancing.

Never before had two powerhouses of sports and entertainment been featured together in a music video..

Here is some footage of Jackson talking about playing ball with Jordan & showing him some of his patented dance moves.

Nowadays, cameos such as the one Michael Jordan made are commonplace. Athletes frequently appear in music videos, and musicians frequently support athletes in the arenas (i.e. Jay-Z & LeBron James).

LeBron actually has a similar cameo to Michael Jordan in Jay-Z's new video for his single 'Death of Autotune.' People always say nothing is new under the sun. Michael Jackson was the first to feature a prominent athlete in his video over 15 years ago...The man truly was a pioneer.

Jay-Z: 'Death of Autotune' video (LeBron cameo @ 3:55)

College done the right way: A few websites to enhance your college experience

"I wanna go to college for the rest of my life

Sip Banker's Club and drink Miller Lite

On Thirsty Thursday and Tuesday Night Ice

And I can get pizza a dollar a slice.

So fill up my cup, let's get f*!#ed up

I'm next on the table, who want what?

I am champion at beer pong

Allen Iverson, Hakeem Olajuwon"

Asher Roth pretty much captured the essence of college with his hit song "I love College." 

If your college experience was anything like mine, then you look back fondly at the four years (or more in some cases) that you spent on campus. Learning about yourself, learning in the classroom, and learning about a variety of other topics...made college one of the most exciting, entertaining and challenging times of my life.

A few friends of mine from Syracuse have started websites and made it their business to make sure youngsters in college get the most out the university in addition to a diploma and a lot of debt.

The first site is Precioustimeny.com. My buddies Drew Greenfeld & Brad Wellen have brought the services of a high-end concierge service to college campuses. 

According to the website, Precious Time "is the ultimate concierge service for college students. We provide an array of accommodating luxuries that college students can utilize to improve their social and educational experience."

Need to order food and have it delivered? Need a tutor?  Precious Time has you covered. Precious Time just started an awesome blog recently called  "The Campus Socialite."One of my favorite blogs to read now, the Campus Socialite discusses all things college. Useful gadgets, easy ways to make money, good parties, funny college humor material etc etc. There is even a section devoted to the ladies called "Campus Diva." If you're in college and want to keep up with what's going on in the collegiate world, or you're a grad like me but love to reminisce, then Campus Socialite is a site you need to check out.

Next up is "The Orange Life.org." The Orange Life is more tailored to students in Central New York (Syracuse, Cornell, Ithaca, Colgate, Buffalo, Rochester etc.) Equipped with dining guides, fashion links, weather, sports, off-campus housing information, and an events calendar, The Orange Life is a one-stop shop for all things collegiate in CNY. 

If you're still in college, or a grad who likes to keep your finger on the pulse of college life then these are two sites that need to be in your rotation.

Asher said it best. "Man I love college!"