Clutch

Starbucks

                                                

Today, I have to give credit to Starbucks for allowing me to witness to this high school student name Chris from one of my tours. Thank you Starbucks.

The day started out horrible because I woke up late for class. After being up till 3 a.m. working on homework from one class, I guess I did not hear my alarm that morning. So I show up thirty minutes and figured, "Hey, I didn't miss much." So I finish out my day with another lab class that required me to work in a team to identify a metal sample based on comparing quantifiable mechanical properties. 

But I digress, I had signed up for a tour yesterday around three in the afternoon and truthfully, I wasn't up for it. It was starting to rain and I just wanted to sleep, but I did it anyway and I am so glad I did. This tour was from the Metro DC - VA area and they wanted a bus tour, tours like the Double-Decker buses in New York. Even though the tour was not as great as my normal tours, the best part would have to be when a student started to have trouble breathing on the bus. I know that sounds bad but hear me out. So, the bus was blazing hot and the air was very stuff and with this student unable to breath, he was needed an escort to go somewhere to find something hot to drink... 

Skipping to the chase, I walk this student named Chris and a chaperone to Starbucks and boom it happened. Chris was enjoying the tour and enjoying the college experience but he wasn't sold on attending college far away from home. This kid is a child of a single parent home, he mentors a fourth grader (that is making straight A's now because of him), and he takes care of his little brother. He was just sitting there trying wrap his head around taking the next step in his life without having the feeling of leaving his loved ones behind. 

So there I was, in Starbucks with this young man and I just found myself ordering a Strawberry n' Creme Frappacino with a cinnamon roll (<---that cinnamon roll cost me three freaking dollars alone. Ridiculous) and got real comfortable and talked to Chris. I told him that he can do great things and still have an impact on somebody's life. Chris wanted to make sure that his brother and his mentee taken care off and would not be overtaken by the system. I made sure that he knew that scholarships were out there for students like him with a story, drive, and a loving heart so that financial aid would not be the reason he didn't try. Leaving Starbucks, I felt that Chris was gonna make it and be able to support his loved ones in the future with the help of his successful career in Criminal Justice.

Thank you Starbucks, if feels good to make a difference. And for listening to my story here's a link for one dollar off a coffee or click the banner above for access to other Starbucks products.

Save $1 on your favorite Starbucks® whole bean coffees. Online only. Offer ends 2/10/13. 

 

Black History in 3D

A Different Perspective

The ability for someone to have perspective in life is essential because this world is full of different people and being closed minded will not get you anywhere. Some situations require you take a different approach, or even think outside the box. Other scenarios arise that require you to look at a situation from another dimension. 

 

Well a man named Kenneth J. Dunkley made that happen. Dunkley is currently the president of the Holospace Laboratory, Inc. in Camp Hill, Pennsylvania. He became well known for inventing Three Dimensional Viewing Glasses (3-DVG). His 3-D glasses were perfected by his human vision studies. The basic concept being his glasses is that blocking two points in a person's peripheral vision will cause an ordinary picture to appear three dimensional; so his 3-DVG glasses block those points. In addition to his glasses invention, Kenneth Dunkley has become the leader in the field of holography. Holography has various applications with trading cards and movies topping the list. 

 

This invention alone has paved the way for us to enjoy those awesome movies, amusement rides, 3D tvs and more. The next time you head to the Cinemax, remind yourself that this perspective was brought to you by Kenneth J. Dunkley, a successfull African-American.

http://www.black-inventor.com/Kenneth-Dunkley.asp

Monopoly Token Swap

For those Monopoly lovers, get set for a new token piece for the game. Hasbro, maker of Monopoly, has issued a change in piece for the beloved game. The classic pieces were the battleship, the top hat, the thimble, the dog, the iron, the racecar, the wheel barrel, and the boot. However, Hasbro started a fan-based contest of Facebook to determine what new piece will be unveiled: the guitar, the robot, the diamond ring, or the helicopter. 

All the drama in social media was like: "Stop messing with a classic Hasbro!" or "Its about time we get some new pieces." Some people felt slighted because if a new piece was coming in, then it would take the place of an older piece but no one knew which one. But after the contest was completed the cat, of all pieces, edged out the competition with 31% of the votes. Personally, I wanted to see the helicopter on the board, but I guess equality among the pets prevailed. 




So now the new cast of monopoly would be the battleship, the top hat, the thimble, the dog, the cat, the racecar, the wheel barrel, and the boot. And yes, the iron was not name again; Hasbro conducted a survey for its fans over 185 countries. The fans showed the least interest for the iron piece thus exiling it from the new version of the game set to debut in mid- to late 2013. The statuette [as it is formally called], which was added to the game in the 1930s, picked up just 8% of the vote. It will join the other eliminated pieces such as the lantern, the purse and the rocking horse.
 
Hasbro said the iron will retire from Monopoly production lines immediately, warning that players attached to the token should rush to pick up existing versions of the game. So if your heart is out for the iron head out to Toys R Us now and get a game of Monopoly and cherish it forever and hey, maybe you can start collecting the pieces.

Miked Up

So as you know February is Black History Month and as an educated African-American, I love this time of the year. This month is full of inspiration because I want to someday make something great that leaves a lasting impact. As an aside, I love saying appreciate me, its Black History Month to people.

 

Although, today is about something bigger than me; have you wondered what makes someone's voice able to project in arenas, auditoriums, or even a club. I bet you haven't stopped to think, how can I be able to hear that guy on the stage? Or maybe have you ever wonder how you can hear your friend while on your Iphone? Well, to alleviate the suspense, I am talking about Dr. James E. West.

Dr. West was born in 1931 in Prince Edwards County, Virginia. West started out as an intern for Bell Laboratories and later joined full-time after graduating from Temple University in 1957. Dr. James E. West and a colleague while at Bell Laboratories developed the Electroacoustic Transducer Electret Microphone, also known as the mic. They received a patent for their efforts in 1962.  James West has received numerous awards and honors including a Fellow of IEEE, Industrial Research Institute's 1998 Achievement Award, 1995 Inventor of the Year from the State of New Jersey and induction in the Inventors Hall of Fame in 1999. James E. West holds 47 US patents and more than 200 foreign patents from his 40-year career with Bell Laboratories. This single invention is still widely used today. This small, lightweight, and cost effective design made it possible for people to communicate.

West's career was not established to claim fame but to involve himself with programs designed to encourage minorities in sciences. As a member of the Association of Black Laboratories Employees (ABLE) at Bell Labs, he helped orchestrate the Summer Research Program and Cooperate Research Fellowship Program. Dr. James is now a research professor at Johns Hopkins University in Baltimore, MD.

I don't even have to say how important this single ingenuity was to us. From the Iphones, computers, and sound equipment, the mic has benefited us all.

http://www.black-inventor.com/James-E-West.asp

Baltimore Take Down

Super Bowl XLVII  Champions

Baltimore Ravens

It is official, the Baltimore Ravens have defeated the San Francisco 49ers in a thriller at the Mercedes Benz Superdome in New Orleans, Louisiana. The game was awesome, but way too close for Ravens fans. The final score was 34-31.

During this game many Ravens stepped up like Tight End Dennis Pitta, Wide out Anquan Boldin, the defense, and most of all Quarterback and Super Bowl XLVII MVP Joe Flacco. I know that Joe and the offense started off hot, but Ray Lewis and the defense should no mercy to Colin Kaepernick and the Niner offense. The turnovers played a huge role in the win tonight. I believe the 34 minutes power outage and game stoppage hindered the Ravens from running up the score. I wanted to see the Ravens put up a forty burger, but the blackout allowed San Francisco to regroup and refocus. After the power outage, the 49ers went on a 17-0 run that allowed them to come within three points. With the game growing closer and reality of a Championship fading away, the Baltimore Ravens offense and defense made key stops that allowed the Vince Lombardi to come home with Ray and the Baltimore Ravens. 

Again, congratulations to Joe Flacco for earning the Most Valuable Player in Super Bowl XLVII, Ray Lewis for his incredible, legendary, Hall of Fame season, and the entire Ravens franchise on their second NFL Championship. 

"No weapon..." -Ray Lewis

Tasty Treat Monday

Tasty Treat Monday

Good morning everyone, I hope you enjoyed Super Bowl XLVII, but, as you know, today is Tasty Treat Monday. For this segment we have Monkey Bread Muffins. This sweet treat make a great addition to any meal or outing. Try this great recipe.

You will need:

• 1 teaspoon of apple pie spice
• 1/4 cup of white sugar
• 1 can of refrigerated biscuit dough, separated and cut into six pieces (Pillsbury)
• 1/2 cup of brown sugar
• 3 tablespoons of butter
• 1 teaspoon of water

Directions

1. Preheat an oven to 375 degrees F (190 degrees C). Butter 6 muffin cups or line with paper muffin liners.
2. Combine the apple pie spice and white sugar in a small bowl; roll the biscuit pieces in the mixture to coat. Divide the coated pieces between the prepared muffin cups.
3. Combine the brown sugar, butter, and water in a small saucepan over medium heat; bring to a boil, stirring continuously. Allow the mixture to boil until the sugar is completely dissolved, 2 to 3 minutes. Spoon the mixture over the biscuit pieces.
4. Bake in the preheated oven until golden, and the tops spring back when lightly pressed, 8 to 12 minutes. 

Enjoy.

Sunday Morning Bit

Our Daily Bread

By: David C. McCasland

RBC Ministries 

February 3, 2013

Read: Nehemiah 8:1-12

Savor The Flavor

In a fast-paced culture of “eat and run,” few people make time to enjoy a leisurely meal in the company of friends. Someone has even remarked that the only way to enjoy a seven-course meal today is to get it all between two pieces of bread!

After many of the Israelite exiles in Babylon returned to Jerusalem to rebuild the temple and the walls of the city, they gathered to hear Ezra read from the Book of the Law given by God through Moses (Neh. 8:1). They listened to God’s Word for hours, while teachers among them “gave the sense, and helped them to understand the reading” (v.8).



When they wept because of their shortcomings, Ezra, along with Nehemiah the governor, told them this was not a time for sorrow but a time for rejoicing. The people were told to prepare a feast and share it with those who had nothing, “for the joy of the Lord is your strength” (v.10). Then “all the people went their way to eat and drink, to send portions and rejoice greatly, because they understood the words that were declared to them” (v.12).

The spiritual banquet God has prepared for us in His Word is a cause for great joy. It is worth taking time to savor.

Lord, give us a hunger and a thirst to know You more

that can be satisfied only by time spent with You in Your
Word. Help us to savor that time and, as we do,
to grow more in love with You each day.

Christ the Living Bread satisfies our spiritual hunger through the Living Word.