It's almost time, people!
I'm sure you've heard about me; if you haven't, you will.
- JDakar.com

Someone apparently had my banking information as Wachovia deemed it necessary to inform me that I needed to close my account. Fortunately, they'll be crediting my new account and even added a bonus.

I've had a number of unpleasant occurrences in my life, but I've always tried to take everything has it comes because I make it a point to focus on the positive. It's not so much about what happens to you, but how you, in turn, deal with it.

Sometimes you just have to (wo)man up and deal. Everything happens for a reason. Good doesn't come without pain.

"Dwelling on the negative simply contributes to its power."
- Shirley MacLaine

There's so much going on right now that I'd be crazy to dwell on anything the least bit negative.

Speaking of which, check out yours truly as the man behind the monitor in the recent Ariel Publicity newsletter. Shout out to Christina!

In honor of Earth Day, I would like to remind you that considering a vegetarian diet is not only good for your health, it’s also good for the planet.

I prepared the food for the first night of this year's Feast of Unleavened Bread.

I received rave reviews from everyone, which, not to sound too cocky, isn't a complete surprise as I tend to do my best work under pressure. I didn't make the menu until the morning of and it was late afternoon before I even made it to the grocery store. Yet, somehow, I managed to find the time to bake my first cake.

I'm going to make someone a great husband one day!

Came across this inspiring story and it made me realize even more how much I want to experience fatherhood.

Following my last interview, I wasn't sure if I'd be asked for another by anyone.

Word of advice: never use a cell phone to conduct an interview.

I've just completed another interview and have another one soon. Boy, when it rains it pours. Thank you Lord for your continued blessings.

I've just stepped down from the Board of Directors at AIDS Alabama, which ends a most unusual day...

In response to the latest Bob Johnson political commentary, I wrote him a letter:

Mr. Johnson, why is it that BET never granted the black community with the opportunity to have meaningful discussion surrounding presidential elections?

Now, it seems, you want to speak your mind and tell us all how you really feel (which you have every right to do). But, why didn’t you make that happen some time ago so we all could have shared in the discussion?

Some time ago, Forbes Magazine named your company one of the “best” small businesses in America, but in my eyes, it has become one of the worst. Your communications empire could have made a difference…well, a positive one.

I don’t have an issue with you because you bash Sen. Barack Obama. My issue with you is that you’re an opportunist: Geraldine Ferraro made that statement early last month. Why are you only now adding your two cents?

I admire a sound business mind, but Mr. Johnson I do not admire you nor do I support any of your endeavors. Some might ask, “Well, who are you, J. Dakar?” or better yet, “Who do you think you are?” And, right now, I can respect and accept that. But one day, I will be in a position where I can and will make my voice heard and I promise you that I’ll use it for good…unlike you. Additionally, right now, many others share my sentiments regarding you, Mr. Johnson, and the company you founded.

FYI: I loathe BET and everything in which it stands because it could have been so much more. You, Mr. Johnson, could have been so much more…

Peace and blessings,
J. Dakar

I decided to stay in last night. It had been a long week, and I just wanted to chill.

I heard Gnarls Barkley were performing on Saturday Night Live, so I figured I'd check 'em out since their latest, The Odd Couple, has become my album of the moment.

It occurred to me that SNL has really fallen off; it's not funny anymore...and where did Maya Rudolph go?! I do enjoy Kristen Wiig, though. Her "Penelope" skits are perhaps the only part of SNL that I find amusing these days.

Something else I find amusing these days: Facebook.

C'mon. Let's do it.

Now usually I don't do this, but, uh, reflecting on one of my favorite compositions, I had to mention it here as well as on Write State of Mind.

About six years ago I began working on a book.

I never finished.

In fact, after only a few chapters, I deleted everything I had written because I’m critical (perhaps, overly so) of my work.

Over the past five years, though, writing has become a very cathartic experience for me. I used to keep a notebook and I’d jot down random thoughts throughout the day. Every now and then I’d sit down and write something worthy of keeping. Turns out, those pieces were usually inspired by a certain female in my life at the time: my muse, if you will. “Backseat Love” is such a composition and I’m proud to share it with you for your review. Visit Write State of Mind to check it out.

You've probably never heard of it, and that's the way they want it.

Fortunately, I want you to hear all about it.

One of my biggest weaknesses is that I'm a procrastinator. Fortunately, I do my best work under pressure.

As you probably know, each Thursday, I compose a Black History Spotlight and I mean that literally...I'm usually still working on those posts around 5 a.m. each Thursday, sometimes even later, say 9 or 10.

This week, I did something differently. I decided to write the post, get this, in advance. The post had already been published this morning around 5, and I wanted to give you an extra Black History Spotlight this week.

Turns out, on this day in 1981, a black youth was stopped by a police patrol in Brixton, which was and still is an area of deep social and economic problems — high unemployment, high crime, poor housing, no amenities — in a predominantly black community of south London. That event brought about one of the most serious riots in London of the 20th century.



For more information on the Brixton Riots of 1981, check out BBC.

DiversityInc recently published a list of ten things you never want to say to a black coworker or boss. Coworkers, I understand. But a different dynamic exists between boss and subordinate, so a lot of what you say to a fellow coworker you might not want to say to your boss anyway. But I digress.

In my humble opinion, you'd have to be pretty dumb to even attempt to utter most, if not all, of these to a black person.

Advanced Programming, I wanted you to know I hate you.

On May 18th, though, our relationship will cease to exist and I want you go your way and I'll go mine.

Until then, though, let's just suffer through whatever this is.

Random thought: An empty inbox gives a great sense of accomplishment.

A little girl was talking to her teacher about whales. The teacher said it was physically impossible for a whale to swallow a human because even though it was a very large mammal its throat was very small. The little girl stated that Jonah was swallowed by a whale. Irritated, the teacher reiterated that a whale could not swallow a human; it was physically impossible. The little girl said, “When I get to Heaven I will ask Jonah.” The teacher asked, “What if Jonah went to Hell?” The little girl replied, “Then you ask him.”

A kindergarten teacher was observing her classroom of children while they were drawing. She would occasionally walk around to see each child’s work. As she got to one little girl who was working diligently, she asked what the drawing was. The girl replied, “I’m drawing God.” The teacher paused and said, “But no one knows what God looks like.” Without missing a beat or looking up from her drawing, the girl replied, “They will in a minute.”

A Sunday school teacher was discussing the Ten Commandments with her five and six year olds. After explaining the commandment to honor thy father and thy mother, she asked, “Is there a commandment that teaches us how to treat our brothers and sisters?” Without hesitation, one little boy (the oldest of a family) answered, “Thou shall not kill.”

One day a little girl was sitting and watching her mother do the dishes at the kitchen sink. She suddenly noticed that her mother had several strands of white hair sticking out in contrast on her brunette head. She looked at her mother and inquisitively asked, “Why are some of your hairs white, Mom?” Her mother replied, “Well, every time that you do something wrong and make me cry or unhappy, one of my hairs turns white.” The little girl thought about this revelation for a while and then said, “Momma, how come all of Grandma’s hairs are white?”

The children had all been photographed, and the teacher was trying to persuade them each to buy a copy of the group picture. “Just think how nice it will be to look at it when you are all grown up and say, ‘There’s Jennifer, she’s a lawyer,’ or ‘That’s Michael, he’s a doctor.’” A small voice at the back of the room rang out, “And there’s the teacher, she’s dead.”

A teacher was giving a lesson on the circulation of the blood. Trying to make the matter clearer, she said, “Now, class, if I stood on my head, the blood, as you know, would run into it, and I would turn red in the face.” “Yes,” the class said. “Then why is it that while I am standing up right in the ordinary position the blood doesn’t run into my feet?” A little fellow shouted, “‘Cause your feet ain’t empty.”

The children were lined up in the cafeteria of a Catholic elementary school for lunch. At the head of the table was a large pile of apples. The nun made a note, and posted on the apple tray: “Take only one. God is watching.” Moving further along the lunch line, at the other end of the table was a large pile of chocolate chip cookies. A child had written a note, “Take all you want. God is watching the apples.”

Word of advice: you do not send an invitation to someone a week before the event.

"One must make an effort when one receives an invitation. The art of it is seeming not to."

Some of these are classic!

Dear God,
Instead of letting people die and having to make new ones, why don’t you just keep the ones you got now?
- Jane

Dear God,
I think the stapler is one of your greatest inventions.
- Ruth M.

Dear God,
In bible times, did they really talk that fancy?
- Jennifer

Dear God,
I think about you sometimes even when I’m not praying.
- Elliott

Dear God,
I am American. What are you?
- Robert

Dear God,
Thank you for the baby brother, but what I prayed for was a puppy.
- Joyce

Dear God,
I bet it is hard for you to love all of everybody in the whole world. There are only four people in our family and I can never do it.
- Nan

Dear God,
Please put another holiday between Christmas and Easter. There is nothing good in there now.
- Ginny

Dear God,
If you watch in church Sunday, I will show you my new shoes.
- Mickey D.

Dear God,
If we come back as something, please don’t let me be Jennifer Horton because I hate her.
- Denise

Dear God,
I would like to live 900 years like the guy in the Bible.
- Chris

Dear God,
If you give me a genie lamp like Aladdin, I will give you anything you want except my money or my chess set.
- Raphael

Dear God,
We read Thomas Edison made light, but in Sunday School they said you did it. So I bet he stoled your idea.
- Donna

Dear God,
Please send Dennis Clark to a different camp this year.
- Peter

Dear God,
Maybe Cain and Abel would not kill each other so much if they had their own rooms. It works with my brother.
- Larry