I love the infectious beat of this song and the choreography; I'm adding it to my workout music repertoire. Enjoy.

After businessmen raise $1 million for a bond, a Douglas County (Ga.) judge cancels a bond appeal hearing for Genarlow Wilson. It is obvious that the State of Georgia is hell bent on keeping one young man locked up for receiving oral sex from a 15 year-old when he was 17. For the life of me I don’t want to shout racism but what is the damn problem here?

Listen folks, you can be in denial if you want, but teenagers are engaging in oral sex and all sorts of behavior not condoned by parents or the law. That's what they hear in their music and see on televsion or at the movies. Guess what? The incarceration of Genarlow Wilson will not stop teenagers from having sex; they’ll just conceal it from the authorities for fear of being jailed.

Oh yeah, those same teenagers that will keep their sexual behavior a secret for fear of being jailed will likely spread and contract sexually-transmitted diseases because they haven’t gotten proper medical attention, because why? They don’t want to be jailed. Georgia, please turn on a light and come out of the dark ages.

Genarlow Wilson has served 28 months of a 10 year sentence that he does not deserve. He should not be required to register as a sex offender. The fact that his friends accepted a plea deal should not prevent Georgia law from doing the right thing for Genarlow.

I don’t blame Genarlow or his attorney for declining those so-called plea deals offered by Douglas County DA David McDade. They are insulting to say the least. Besides, the longer Genarlow is in jail, the more Georgia’s reputation is damaged.

Just a few days away from a July 5 bond appeal hearing, Douglas County Judge David Emerson declared that Genarlow is ineligible for a bond. Give me a break; this situation is just inhumane. It’s time for some folk to put a spotlight on his situation and turn up the heat even more than before.

With serious issues that Georgia has to deal with, it’s incomprehensible that oral sex between two teenagers would result in such a waste of taxpayer resources. This case not only makes Georgia look like a racist, backwater State, it makes the USA look like backwater, knuckle-dragging hypocrites.

If Georgia AG Thurbert Baker, DA David McDade, Judge David Emerson and Gov. Sonny Perdue really want to apply the law equitably, Georgia should just lock up all of its teenagers guilty of engaging in oral sex under the age of consent. If honesty prevailed, there’d be few teenagers in school and most of them behind bars.

When all is said and done, I pray that Genarlow continues to stand on principle and doesn’t allow these men to break his spirit.

Forwarded by a Friend...

Life is precious – enjoy it while we're here!

The murder-suicide of the Benoit family has truly sickened me. The details are bizarre as indicated by law enforcement. We are left to wonder why. What could have been going through Chris Benoit's mind? It's all just too horrible to contemplate.

I must admit that my sympathy may be different from most who know of the wrestling reputation of Chris Benoit. I had no idea who he was when I heard the news of the family's bodies being found. I am not a fan of wrestling. I mean, I like a couple of the wrestlers such as Dwayne "The Rock" Johsnon and that Austin guy. I don't know who most of the wrestlers are because wrestling has become too much of a production.

I'm old school. My favorite wrestlers are Dusty Rhodes and Ric Flair. That was "real" wrestling to me. Well, you know what I mean. Then it became lights, cameras and a lot of crap. Too much showboating, artificial smoke and music turned me off.

Anyhoo, my heart goes out to the Benoits, not because of Chris Benoit's wrestling fame but because they are people. No one should have endured the horror that must have encapsulated that home. May God have mercy on their souls. Ashe'.

Businessman, Whitney Tilson, founder and Managing Partner of T2 Partners LLC and the Tilson Mutual Funds, convinced 9 of his friends to join him in a contribution towards a $1,000,000 bond for the  release of Genarlow Wilson. He was successful in his fundraising endeavor but Genarlow Wilson still remains behind bars.

Make no mistake that some Georgians applaud AG Thurbert Baker's handling of this situation while others criticize his staunch effort to keep Genarlow Wilson incarcerated. Baker has been accused of not exercising the same zeal in other situations. Whether that is true or not is beyond me as I did not know of Baker until the Genarlow Wilson case.

With that in mind, the focus on the bond issue should rest squarely with Douglas County DA David McDade, not AG Thurbert Baker. McDade can easily put this situation to rest but he chooses to offer B.J. Bernstein, Wilson's attorney, little consolation to compromise. It is in the State of Georgia's best interest to keep AG Baker in the spotlight to diffuse charges of racism. It doesn't take a rocket scientist to see what's going on and it won't diminish the cries of racism either.

It's also important to note that Georgia Governor Sonny Perdue supports Baker's position. Perdue may prefer to watch from the sidelines but the media and Georgia voters should make sure that he does not avoid public scrutiny and/or outrage either.

Maybe it's just me but I still think that this entire situation could have been avoided early on in the case. In spite of the antiquated Georgia law under which Genarlow was convicted, judicial and law enforcement officials could have tried to salvage this young man's collegiate academic and athletic career potential. The mother of the victim has already proclaimed the sentence too harsh --- talk about overkill. Baker, McDade and Perdue also could have avoided another black eye against the State of Georgia; you'd think Georgia law enforcement would have learned after the Marcus Dixon case but I guess old habits die hard.

National HIV Testing Day (NHTD) is an annual campaign produced by the N ational Association of People with AIDS (NAPWA-US) to encourage at-risk individuals to receive voluntary HIV counseling and testing.

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) estimates that 180,000 to 280,000 people nationwide are HIV-positive but are unaware of their status. HIV counseling and testing enables people with HIV to take steps to protect their own health and that of their partners, and helps people who test negative get the information they need to stay uninfected. [More]

While June 27 is the national day for testing, HIV/AIDS is rampant that we must encourage everyone that is sexually active to get tested and know their status.

There is no cure for HIV/AIDS. Engaging in unprotected sex, especially promiscuous sexual activity is like playing Russian roulette.

OK, I was out of pocket when this hit the media, but what do you think Eddie Murphy and his management team are saying since DNA tests prove that he is the father of Melanie “Scary Spice” Brown’s baby?

As you know, Murphy would not claim paternity until DNA tests had been performed. Now that the world knows he’s the daddy, hopefully these parents will stay focused on the well-being of this child, Eddie’s other children and not their relationship.

Forwarded by a Friend...

God is sitting in Heaven when a scientist says to Him, "Lord, we don't need you anymore. Science has finally figured out a way to create life out of nothing. In other words, we can now do what you did in the "beginning."

Oh, is that so? Tell me..., replies God.

"Well," says the scientist, "we can take dirt and form it into the likeness of you and breathe life into it, thus creating man."

"Well, that's interesting. Show Me."

So, the scientist bends down to the earth and starts to mold the soil.

"Oh no, no, no..." interrupts God,

"Get your own dirt."

I have been tagged by ndpthepoetress, of Binding Ink, with the Thinking Blogger Award. Thank you… thank you… thank you, oh great Muse. I am indeed humbled and honored.

In keeping with the purpose and directive of this award started by ilker yoldas, I am to select 5 blogs that make me think. Hmmm…five blogs, huh? That may prove difficult as there are some really great blogs in the blogosphere, but I’ll give it a try.

The participation rules are simple:
1. If, and only if, you get tagged, write a post with links to 5 blogs that make you think,
2. Link to this post so that people can easily find the exact origin of the meme,
3. Optional: Proudly display the 'Thinking Blogger Award' with a link to the post that you wrote (here is an alternative silver version if gold doesn't fit your blog).

Interestingly, I found that several blogs I would have selected have already been tagged with the Thinking Blogger Award. I guess great minds think alike. Without further ado, in no particular order, are five blogs I’m tagging with the Thinking Blogger Award.

AfroBella: AfroBella is also known as Patrice Elizabeth Grell Yursik, a reformed tomboy from Trinidad. AfroBella is a website dedicated to product reviews, ruminations about style, and interviews with women all shades of beautiful.

Now That’s What I’m Talkin’ About!!!!: The purpose of this site, by Theo Johnson, is to inform, educate and have a little fun on the side. He covers a variety of topics ---social issues, politics, black history, business, technology and entertainment.

Young Black Professional Guide: YBP Guide is a forum of multiple perspectives and advice to support the many challenges that Young Black Professionals face. Their mission is to empower Young Black Professionals with the knowledge and inspiration to foster progression and productivity in the Black community.

YBP Guide was started by Kimberly Michelle and Fredric in October 2006. While they are the editors of the Young Black Professional Guide, many of their peers often contribute articles.

MartyBLOGs: Martin Lindsey’s blog challenges you to change your life with an ‘actionist’ attitude. An actionist is not hung up on opinions but interested in forging ahead and doesn’t get fixated on placing blame, just finding a solution. Handle business, take care of things, then move on. That’s the actionist way.

David McQueen: David believes we are all born magnificent, and each have a right to express that magnificence for our benefit and our communities.

He is a speaker, writer, youth worker and mentor and a Christian with a keen passion for education and youth development.

That’s it, folks. I hope you enjoy the thoughts on the pages of these wonderful bloggers. Be sure to check them out and let me know what you think.

Thank you, again, ndpthepoetress!

From ABC News:

Army SSG Michael A Bechert, 24, of New Castle, IN
Army CPL Dustin R Brisky, 26, of Round Rock, TX
Army PFC Michael P Pittman, 34, of Davenport, IA
Army SGT Danny R Soto, 24, of Houston, TX
Army CPL Zachary A Grass, 22, of Beach City, OH
Army SSG Roy P Lewsader, Jr, 36, of Belleville, IL
Army 1LT Frank B Walkup, IV, 23, of Woodbury, TN
Army PFC David A Wilkey Jr, 22, of Elkhart, IN
Army CPT Joshua E Steele, 26, of North Henderson, IL
Army SFC Christopher D Henderson, 35, of Hillsboro, OR
Army SFC John M Hennen, 26, of Vinton, LA
Army SGT Richard K Parker, 26, of Phillips, ME
Army PFC Larry Parks Jr, 24, of Altoona, PA
Army SGT Eric L Snell, 35, of Trenton, NJ
Army SGT Derek T Roberts, 24, of Gold River, CA
Army SPC Val J Borm, 21, of Sidney, NE
Army SPC Farid Elazzouzi, 26, of Paterson, NJ
Army SPC Darryl W Linder, 23, of Hickory, NC
Army SFC William A Zapfe, 35, of Muldraugh, KY
Army PFC Joshua S Modgling, 22, of Las Vegas, NV
Marine Sgt Shawn P Martin, 30, of Delmar, NY
Marine SSgt Stephen J Wilson, 28, of Duluth, GA
Army SGT Dustin J Perrott, 23, of Fredericksburg, VA
Army PFC Jacob T Tracy, 20, of Palestine, IL
Army PFC Raymond N Spencer Jr, 23, of Carmichael, CA
Army SPC Karen N Clifton, 22, of Lehigh Acres, FL