Driving down the bumpy streets of Cicero the last thing I expected to see was the majestic building and grounds of Hawthorne Race Course. My fellow CLTV producer Lindsey Nesselbush and I, along with two Executive Producers, Jeimmie Nevalga and Frava Burgess, were invited to watch CLTV anchor/reporter Monica Schneider act as the "celebrity guest announcer" for one of the horse races.

I got a kick out of her being called a celebrity -- which I guess to the average person she is, but to me- her producer, she's just Monica (this must be how Angelina Jolie's assistant feels).

CLTV Producer Afua Owusu is braving the crowds and fans, and is attempting to view the Oprah Show taping on Michigan Ave. She is live blogging from the filed.

WOOOOOO! I am back at work... seems like I've spent the last 13 hours in a dream. But really, I got the opportunity to experience the Oprah Factor in all its glory. Yesterday, I began my journey from the WGN TV Studios in Roscoe Village all the way down to the Michigan Avenue Bridge -- after a full work day which began at 3am to see the one and only Oprah Winfrey. Those of you that know me well- know she is my hero.

This is a story that evokes a lot of emotions in people. I understand both sides of the coin. But I also find it very hypocritical that we have a system that punishes people for their crimes and supposedly rehabilitates them for their crimes; but when they are released back into society we hold their past crimes against them. Thus, blocking any attempt at personal or professional growth. I understand some crimes are just so vicious – they are deemed unforgiveable. But I think there is a difference between forgiving and forgetting.

Today is one of those moments in history we will never forget. Say what you want about the man, but he was undeniably the MOST talented man to ever entertain a crowd. His death has shocked the WORLD. I woke up from a much need nap to text messages, ims, and facebook messages asking me to confirm the news that Michael Jackson was indeed dead.
I am at a complete loss for words. Those of you that know me personally know, that rarely happens. I have been a MJ fan since the moment I walk. My older sister and I used to tape his videos off MTV and learn the moves. I am sure thousands of others have done the same thing. To this day, I can not hear "Thriller", "Beat It". or "Remember the Time" without busting a move.

So, PETA (People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals) has some beef with our Commander in Chief. Apparently the advocacy group is upset over President Obama's enormously skillful ability to kill flies. Check out this video.

As you can see, during a television interview, the President did what millions of people around the world do on a daily basis -- he swatted a fly that was bothering him.

That's the question Chicago radio personality Erich "Mancow" Muller set out to answer this morning.
Mancow became one of several journalists and media personalities to get waterboarded live on air.
Known for his conservative view point, Mancow started the morning a supporter of the interrogation tactic.
Mancow says he hoped his on-air test would help prove that waterboarding did not, in fact, constitute torture.

10 years ago today, two boys, Eric Harris and Dylan Klebold, embarked on a killing spree at Columbine High School. Prior to April 20, 1999, Littleton was virtually an unknown small town near Denver, Colorado. But, at 11:10 a.m. everything changed; the boys arrived at school and prepared to unleash a string of violence that my generation had never seen before.

Earlier this week I did a story about how Burger King is airing a commercial spot spoofing Sir Mix-a-lot's 90's hit "Baby Got Back" using the image of Nickelodeon's iconic SpongeBob SquarePants. Now the first time I saw it, not gonna lie, I thought it was hilarous. I very much enjoy the creepy Burger King - King guy.
But the more I saw the commerical I started to realize it was a little too sexually suggestive. I mean the image of SpongeBob alone is enough to captivate children. I would rather not have my nine year old nephew staring at the "King" measuring some "video chick" square pants.

Rapper T.I. was sentenced to serve one year and one day in jail after pleading guilty to weapons charges. T.I (whose real name is Clifford Harris, Jr.) was arrested October 2007 attempting to add guns to an already large illegal arsenal, which is wrong on so many levels.
Federal sentencing guideline state that T.I should spend at least four year and nine months in prison for his crime, but the Atlanta Journal Constitution reports T.I.'s legal team was able to work out an "experimental plea bargain" on the his behalf.

What started out as a fun night with my girls, quickly turned into a finger-pointing and eye-gawking night when I spotted Drew Peterson and his girlfriend/ fiancé walk up and take a seat at the bar at Bar Louie in Bolingbrook.
I couldn't help myself. I let out a gasp (more from shock than amazement) and said, "Drew Peterson is here." My friends Hanna and Lauren were the first two to hear me. They both said "What?!!" and quickly turned around to face the opposite end of the bar (which was directly in my line of vision). At that moment Peterson looked up and for a second our eyes met... and no it was not love at first sight...
Both of my friends quickly turned back around and omg'd. I broke eye contact and turned to the friends that were standing behind me and dropped the bombshell.

I came to work this morning to find out TMZ had posted the heartbreaking picture of pop-star Rihanna battered and brusied from the alleged altercation with her boyfriend singer Chris Brown on their website. I wasted no time logging on to TMZ to see the image and what I saw weighed heavy on my heart. Such a beautiful person marked with the tell-tale signs of her lover's rage. Deep bruises on both sideds of her face and forehead. Blackened eyes and blood drying on a busted lip. Tears resting in the corners of her eyes. It was a photo of undeniable pain and heartbreak.

First a DUI… now pot… Olympic Gold Medalist Michael Phelps is he totally screwed…?
Unless you live under a rock you've heard about or seen the picture of Phelps smoking pot out of a bong pipe at college party (not one of his favorite photographs-I am sure). Well, now he's been suspended for three months by the USA swimming team, dropped from his sponsorship contract with cereal giant Kellogg, and could face possible criminal charges by law enforcement officials in the Richland County, South Carolina (where the pictures were taken and the pot smoking happened).
HMM, now correct me if I am wrong - but wasn't this party on a college campus? So does that mean the Richland County Sheriff Department will be pressing charges against some of the other students who were in attendance?

“Ooh my gosh he’s so cute” -- Now, I will admit, Robert Pattinson has all the makings of a Hollywood heartthrob; a lovely British accent, thick, unruly hair, and a smile to melt even the coldest hearts.
But if you are wondering who the hell Robert Pattinson is -- he is the star of the screen adaptation of the best selling novel “Twilight” by author Stephenie Meyer.
“Twilight” focuses on the romance between Edward (Pattinson) and 17 year old Bella Swan (Kristen Stewart). Their love story has been compared to “Romeo and Juliet,” with its theme of forbidden love, but there’s a twist. Edward is really an 100 year old vampire. Oh snaps.
Ok, so kill me if you wish… but why all the hype around this book /movie?

We've waited four years for today, its hard to believe its finally here. Election day, when it pertains to the Presidential Election should be a holiday - that way people don't have an excuse as to why they couldn't go and vote.
And just remember if you don't vote - you don't have the right to complain in a couple of years. Today is the day that will help shape for many of us the rest of our lives.
GO and VOTE. As long as you are in line before the polls close at 7 p.m. you will get the chance to cast your ballot. So step it up and do your civic. Go VOTE

Afua S. Owusu
(uh-fee-yah) (Oh-woo-sue)
News Producer

…Cause at least I know I can vote. Well, okay that's not the way the song goes. But it's definitely the way I feel right about now. For the last couple weeks we've watched our country's economy spiral down. It's scary to see what is happening to our country. There were so many opportunities for us to have been told the truth and yet all we received were lies. That is very unnerving.

Well President Bush managed to get us into a second war with Iraq so I guess it’s only fair that he helped steer us into what could be the country’s second Great Depression.
When I woke up from my afternoon nap today (yes, I maybe 25, but I take naps like an 80 year old) I was sweating. And at first I thought it was because I was wrapped in two down comforters; then I realized I had actually been listening to Charles Gibson give a special report on the Dow Jones which has fallen 733 points, their second largest drop ever.Ever?

Ok, so I know it’s not as smooth as “Rumble in the Jungle” but not much rhymes with Mississippi… and the only other option was “Showdown in Mississippi.”
Well, America – tonight is the night. The first Presidential Debate of the 2008 Elections and the number one question on the minds of most Americans … surprisingly is not “what about the economy?” But, will McCain be there. We have less than 40 days until we march to our respective polling locations to select the 44TH President of our great but financially crumbling nation (in case you haven’t heard WAMU just got snagged up by Chase.)

Residents on the city’s northwest side, in parts of Des Plaines, and Midlothian woke up early this morning to find their streets and basements filled with water.
Yikes.
The National Weather Service says at least 6.63 inches of rain fell at O’Hare International Airport yesterday.
We also say the rainiest day in Chicago ever. Wow.
And for the first time in six years the Metropolitan Water Reclamation District opened the sluice gates and locks near Navy Pier to flush storm water and sewage from the Chicago River into Lake Michigan (fyi, I had no clue the city had the ability to do that – its so cool).

I was sound asleep, I was getting ready to attend Columbia College in a week and I was trying to soak in my last couple days of pre-college life. When my mom comes bursting into my room screaming, “a plane has just hit one of the World Trade Center towers.” I remember I looked at her and said “huh?”and put the pillow over my face. She pulled the covers off me and grabbed me by the legs and yanked me down and said, “If you really want to be a journalist you will wake your behind up and come to the TV.” Enough said. I got up and stumbled into her room as I sat on her bed rubbing my eyes trying to wake up. My mother was at her vanity getting dressed. I opened my eyes just in time to see the second plane hit the tower and I started screaming. My mom came running out of her dressing area asking me what was wrong and all I could do was point and say, “This is big, this is bad.”

It’s a situation we see more often than we would like to in this country.
And once again, the issue of teen pregnancy is back in the national spotlight.
Unless you have been living under a rock, you must have heard the news that presumptive Vice Presidential Nominee Governor Sarah Palin’s 17-year-old daughter –Bristol - is 5 months pregnant.

What the “bleep” Obama? I woke up yesterday morning at 12:45am and the first thing I did was check my phone… no new text messages. And as I drove to work to start my early morning producer shift I made my daily call to the news desk to see if there was any breaking news overnight. And guess what? There was. Denise our night side desk assistant told me Obama picked Biden it was all over CNN and his website and she asked me did I get a text message and I simply replied no.

Why Favre Why?
Why must you come out of your short lived retirement? Was the big press conference and tears all a game? Has Michael Jordan taught you nothing?
How many times are we (sports fans) going to be forced to watch our favorite sports heroes give tearful good-byes only to see them return to the sport that made them famous in less than prime form.

Here’s a question: what do you do when you have a close friend that you want to be more than friends with?
If you tell the person you like them you risk losing your friend if they don’t feel the same way – plus you also have to face the mega embarrassment of being rejected.
They (the experts) always say your significant other should be your best friend and I couldn’t agree more.
But what happens if the relationship fizzles – can you really go back to being just friends?
Let’s look at Ross and Rachel from NBC’s hit sitcom Friends. Ross had a crush in high school on his younger sister’s best friend Rachel. Unbeknownst to Rachel, of course, its not until years later when they reconnect and Ross goes to China and comes back with a new girlfriend that Rachel realizes that she has a crush on him.
So they risk it all and get together and life couldn’t be any better until they break up… now because this a TV show we never really see just how awkward it must have been for the rest of the gang to hang around each other after the break up.
But if this was a real life situation – each of the friends would have had to coordinate schedules to make sure Ross and Rachel weren’t in the same room at the same time.
So I would like to take the time to look at the pros and cons of dating a friend.
Pros:
You get to skip the whole awkward getting to know you phase
They know all your likes and dislikes
You have the same group of friends
They know your flaws

Cons:
If the relationship fails – your friendship can too
Family and Mutual friends can become divided
Having to watch them re-enter the dating world

I may be missing some crucial pros or cons … but these are what some of my co-workers could come up with on the fly when I posed the question to them.
So what are your thoughts… can your best friend be your best girl or boy friend?

These are just the thoughts of a 20-somethinger ...
please feel free to leave a comment
Afua (Uh-fee-yah) News Producer

“I want to be famous” … those were the words this 12-year-old girl I used to mentor said to me when I asked her what do you want to be when you grow up. These are also the words of a song by the Pussycat Dolls.
What I have noticed as of late is that our teens and tweens have no common sense.
I mean when it comes to being tech savvy I am sure these kids could knock me off my rocker. But when it comes to the everyday basic knowledge… they got nothing.
And it bothers me.
These kids today are so busy trying to be grown that they are literally missing out on the best years of their lives. What I wouldn’t give to be 13 again– free of debt and stress.
When I was 12, I was still secretly playing with my Barbies and reading The Baby-Sitters Club books and trying to convince my mom that I was old enough to read the Sweet Valley High series. So forgive me for being thrown by the fact that kids to day are preparing to or are having sex by the age of 12.
I was sitting in my car yesterday outside of a beauty salon waiting for one of my friends to show up so we could get our eyebrows threaded (that’s a whole nother blog), when this little girl – she had to be like 11 -- walked out of the salon with her mother in the shortest shorts I have ever see on a child. She had make-up on and it appeared as if her eyebrows had been freshly arched. I sat in the car with my mouth wide open – thinking-- am I the only person that sees an issue here.
And she’s not the only one. You can’t go to the movies or the mall without running into these children obsessed with trying to look and act older.
Which brings me to Jamie Lynn Spears… omg, I was really upset to hear that Britney Spears’ little sister was expecting a child. You would think having witnessed your sister suffer a mental breakdown from living such an accelerated pace of life --- you would do all that you could not to go down that road. But, I digress… so here she is 16 and pregnant on the covers of magazines and a role model to millions.
ABC Family just launched a series “The Secret Life of an American Teenager” about a 16-year-old girl who gets pregnant and tries to hide it from her friends and family.
Okay, so I get that the big wigs in programming are trying to find topics that relate to teens – but since when did teenage pregnancy become cool?
I can’t help but wonder what happened? Its been 15 years since I was in the 5th grade, but I can tell you that I was not thinking about boyfriends and sex when I was 10. I was trying to convince my mom to let me paint my nails and busy doing my summer reading.
I am not a parent yet, but I have a niece -6 and a nephew -8 and I am so scared for them because if the generation after me is already hell bent on “living la vida loca “ – what is it going to be like for my niece and nephew when they are 15.
I went to this mom and pop store the other day to get some stuff for my mother and the store owner's 13 year old son was behind the register – struggling to add each of the items correctly. He had to re-ring the person in front of me because he added all the items incorrectly. When he got to me I had some items that were 4 for 18 dollars. I gave him a 20-dollar bill. He proceeded to add up each item on the calculator. I wanted to scream back at him – $2 -- you owe me two freaking dollars! You don’t need a calculator for that.
I think its time we stepped up and snatched our children back from the world of reality TV and video games.
So the next time we ask them what do you want to be when you grow up – we just might get a real profession like a doctor or a journalist… not Ali Lohan’s best friend.

These are just the thoughts of a 20-somethinger ...
please feel free to leave a comment
Afua (Uh-fee-yah) News Producer

Since August I have been to 9 weddings… I was a bridesmaid in 3 of them … this morning when I looked at my mail from yesterday hidden in between my American Express bill and my car note was a powder blue envelope with silver bells spread across.
Instantly I knew what it was … my heart began racing and my hands were shaking as I ripped open yet another invitation to a wedding.
I suddenly felt this intense pressure building up in me as I tried to figure out if I should attend the wedding. My life is sort of reminiscent to the movie “27 Dresses” except I haven’t been in 27 weddings… but the concept is the same … I am always the bridesmaid/wedding guest… never the bride.
But, I never really wanted to be the bride until I started attending all these weddings. A good male friend of mine and I had this conversation just this week. I always thought of myself as one of the chicks in the Destiny’s Child song “Independent Women”… a young Oprah in training – I’ve been always been hell bent on being my own woman.
I have goals and dreams that I want to achieve before I find myself saddled down to domesticity. I want to see the world and find out what it is I want from life before I start making promises and compromises to another
So the question really is do I want to be a bride or a wife? When I mentioned to one of my fellow producers that I would be blogging about weddings today she mentioned how she sometimes feels this overwhelming pressure to be married.
And I noticed that is a recurring sentiment with a lot of my female friends who are entering their late 20s. We have been fortunate enough to group up in an era were marriage doesn’t have to be our only option. We can vote, have an education, have a career … but yet our lives still feel incomplete without a diamond sparkler resting on our ring fingers.
My good male friend, lets call him Bob, Bob so kindly pointed out to me while we had dinner the other night that it would be extremely difficult for me to find a mate (which I already knew) because it would take a strong confident man to be with such a passionate and driven person as myself. It was kind of a backhanded complement, I know it wasn’t intentional – he was being sincere and speaking from the heart. But it made me think, why is a strong confident female a liability in a relationship and not an asset?
The last wedding I attended was one of my closest friends in college. She and her husband are perfect for each other … they are also in the early 20s. So as I sat at the reception I mentally catalogued all the aspects of this wedding (and the other 8 I attended before it) that I would like to some day incorporate into my own wedding.
Bob later asked me if attending all these weddings made me want to get married? I replied that it gave me great insight into planning one.
And so as a result I have it all planned out; the dress, the color scheme, flowers, cake, and table settings... Now, to some people that maybe a little crazy or neurotic but when you have been to so many weddings you can’t help but think of these things… and want them.
I now have almost as many close married friends as I do close single friends. We are 25 were suppose to be club hopping and jet setting… instead I’ve been attending bridal showers and dress fittings.
And please do not get me wrong I am extremely happy for all of my friends who have found their “happy ending” -- their perfect somebody. But I am tired of being asked when I am going to slow down and take the plunge and I am tired of feeling like maybe I should slow down and take the plunge. Like it’s a crime that I would rather pursue my dreams and goals right now then enter into a serious relationship.
It’s hard to be a woman in the broadcast business we have to make a lot of sacrifices.
My friends always think working in TV is a glamorous job … and it can be at time. I work a lot and I am always trying to find new ways to make my shows better. I am determined and driven and I don’t think there is anything wrong with that.
My male cousin once told me not to be too picky when it came to guys. WHAT.
If guys can be picky about a women – I am damn sure going to be picky about guys.
Especially when it comes to marriage, it’s not to be entered into lightly. The 7 brides and 2 grooms whose weddings I have attended have all dated there now spouses for long periods of times, so the natural progression for them was marriage.
Each of them understands the role they now play as husband and wife. They understand the depths of what they have just committed themselves to. And they know that those vows are not to be taken lightly and with each thrill in life a tradgey will soon follow and it takes a strong firm relationship to see it out in the end.
But for some of my other gal pals they get overly giddy over the idea of marriage and its then that I know they want to be a bride and not a wife.

These are just the thoughts of a 20-somethinger ... please feel free to leave a comment

Afua
(Uh-fee-yah)
News Producer

The White Sox were swept away in round one of the Cross-town Classic to the Cubbies last week.
But, now they have the opportunity to redeem themselves.
This weekend thousands of people will board the CTA Red and Green Line trains (silently praying they don’t derail…again) and head out to U.S. Cellular Field. These fanatical fans will be wearing the paraphernalia of their respective Chicago baseball team - all the while –hurling alcohol induced verbal insults at anyone daring to wear the opposing teams t-shirt.
As a native Chicagoan (ok, I am really from the suburbs, but you get my point) I’ve learned there is one thing that the people of this city are crazy serious about …and that’s the Cubs/Sox rivalry.
The atmosphere in Wrigley is out of this world and I am not just talking about inside the stadium, the neighborhood as a whole exudes “team spirit” now when you travel on over to Bridgeport… it’s a whole nother story. The stadium is perched right off the interstate and is basically surrounded by homes. Not at all like the Wrigley. Which has bars and restaurants on each corner of the field… and those homes around Wrigley, well you already know – they have bleacher seats on the roof. This is a neighborhood that never sleeps.
What I’ve noticed about Sox fans is that they are a lot more subdued in their display of team spirit, while, Cubs fans are loud and obnoxious (now hold on, don’t get offended – you know you are). And for a team that hasn’t won the World Series in 100 years – their fans are pretty darn over confident about the team’s abilities. Yes, this year they are winning – which is awesome … but weren’t the Sox the 2005 World Series Champions?
We seem to forget that little tid-bit some times.
I think Sox Manager Ozzie Guillen said it best, “ No matter how many World Series we win were BLEEP … no one in Chicago BLEEPing cares … The Cubs never win BLEEP and everyone BLEEP’n loves them. I don’t know what we can do to make people love us.”
I am not a huge fan of baseball; I think its long and boring. I really only pay attention to the last couple innings. I enjoy going to the games for one reason and one reason only (and no its not the alcohol) – I love to watch these crazy fans argue about whose team is better.
Nothing cracks me up more.
So come on Chicagoans don’t disappointment – go out and show your team spirit.
Me… I am routing for the White Sox, I’ve always had a thing for the underdog… plus, I have a third grade crush on Nick Swisher (feel free to call me Nick ;)
Go White Sox!

These are just the thoughts of a 20-somethinger ... please feel free to leave a comment

Afua
News Producer
(Uh-fee-yah)

I wanted to post a viral video ala Chris Crocker's "Leave Britney Alone" YouTube sensation but I don't have a camcorder so I'll have to settle for this blog.
As you known (unless you live under a rock) Michelle Obama was on ABC’s “The View” yesterday morning. Her appearance set off this media firestorm, cable news outlets pumped it up as her “likeability test” and her “media makeover”. They all say this appearance and future ones will show the softer side of Michelle.
Well, I would like to take this time to say” Leave Michelle Alone” and for that matter “LEAVE ALL STRONG WOMEN ALONE.”
Now, I may be wrong but I am getting the perception that people get upset when women, especially strong women stand straight up and toe to toe with strong men.
What I want is a First Lady who is reminiscent of Mrs. Eleanor Roosevelt (we had that for a time being with then Mrs. Hillary Clinton). Eleanor did not sit idly by her husband’s side knitting sweaters or house slippers – the woman took an active role in Civil Rights and supported the formation of the UN (which she was later appointed to as a delegate to the general assembly by President Truman).
The way I see it, the role of the First Lady is important, just as the Role of the President is important. Who has a man’s ear and attention more than his wife? And yes, these women typically aren’t politicians but I’d rather have one who knows more about our nation’s foreign policy than the Ralph Lauren sample sale down on Fifth Avenue.
I like to think of myself as a strong woman. I know my mother and sister are, so are my best friends. So this idea of “softening” Mrs. Obama’s personality and approach is ridiculous because that’s what makes her appeal to us regular folks. Here is a woman who stands tall at 5 feet 11 inches … she cowers from no one.
When Senator Clinton was running for the presidency we often heard political pundits say she needs to soften her image. How will wearing a skirt convey her ideas for universal health care anymore than when she wears one of those pantsuits?
Is a Stepford Wife really what we need in the White House? Who are we kidding? Most women today work full time jobs while taking care of their families. I doubt any of them take the “soft” approach in either of their roles as mother or professional.
Men aren’t asked to be soft – to appeal to women. So why must a woman be soft to appeal to other women?
So do me a favor… leave Michelle, Hillary, Nancy Pelosi and all the other strong women out in the world alone, before you find a 4 inch stiletto stepping on your backside.

These are just the thoughts of a 20-somethinger ... please feel free to leave a comment

Afua
News Producer
(Uh-fee-yah)

According to the Urban Dictionary the word Millennials can be defined as a term used to describe the generation born between 1982 and 1995 ( also known as Generation Y).

Characteristics include: a strong sense of citizenship, moral, confidence, and sociability. Millennials often are associated with being optimistic, stubborn and civic.

Some important events of this generation include the Columbine High School shooting, the death of Princess Diana, World Trade Center attacks (1993 and 2001), and the Iraq War.

Trends include: internet chat rooms, the boom of reality TV, and multiculturalism.
Generation Y or Millennials are primarily children of Baby Boomers and in some cases Generation X.

Ok, now that we got that squared away it's time to talk about my generation… the Millennials. In one month I will officially be old. I am turning 25 on July 15th and my rapidly approaching day of birth has got me thinking about where I stand in this thing called life.

Now to some I’m far from being old, but if you ask a six-year-old (like my niece) they’ll quickly tell you I am. And I feel old. My life has quickly becoming a roundabout routine of work, eat, and sleep.

I am one of the lucky ones – I have a great job. I am blessed to be doing what I set out to do at the tender age of 14, which was to work in television. But, some of my peers haven’t been as fortunate in their pursuit of happiness.

The “Me” Generation – that’s how my doting mother often refers to us 13 to 26 year olds - have grown up learning that we can do and be anything we want to be.

All through our young lives we’ve been privy to this expansive technology that delivers anything we want to us at the click of a button. We’ve been taught to think outside the box and reach for the stars. (fyi, I have secretly always hated that expression – “reach for the stars” no matter how much one succeeds they will never be able to touch a star … even if they are an astronaut.) So as a result we have learned not to settle – for anything. Not to settle for a mediocre job, car, or life for that matter.

We’ve all grown up watching our parents struggle through life working jobs they hate just to put food on the table and buy us the designer clothes and shoes we crave – and have to have or we’ll just die….

But now that we are adults we find the world to be a very different place then how our parents described it to be…

We are just five months away from possibly having the first African American Male as President of the United States, gas is topping off at $4.20 a gallon in some parts of the city, and a cell phone can now double as a mini computer slash CD or tape-less music device.

My friends and I text more than we actually talk … I found it very difficult to write this blog without abbreviating my words and using cute symbols to describe my feelings (lol ;). And during the course of me writing this very blog, I’ve checked my Facebook and MySpace pages several times.

The entire world is accessible to me just by typing three w’s in a rectangular box.

It’s a life my African Immigrant parents have never known and currently don’t understand.

My peers and I believe that it is strongly important to love what you do and have fun doing it.
Does that makes us flighty – or risk takers?

I work a professional job that allows us show up to work in jeans and t-shirts. I don’t remember the last time I wore a pair of pantyhose – or bought a pair for that matter.

Being comfortable is key for me.

My peers and I walk around with our iPods and cell phones attached to our ears. We take cabs – instead of walking, we are more than willing to pay for convenience and a speedy delivery than being practical and saving our money.

(Coincidently, my mom is currently lecturing me right now on the fine art of saving money)

Our way of living life is different but it begs the question of is it wrong?

My generation is built off sex, violence, and Rock and Roll – just like those before me … well I think it might be more Hip- Hop than Rock and Roll. But you get my point.

Yes, we may not know what it is like to fight for civil rights for all – but we are living our lives in a more globally dangerous environment and are striving to make our marks on this world.

So can you blame us Millennials for wanting to better ourselves and only caring about what we want?

So many strong leaders died so that we may have these opportunities and yes some of us aren’t taking the full advantage of those opportunities but a lot of us are.

Don’t be so quick to write us off as a self absorbed-- tech crazy generation.

We are just living our lives the only way we know how...jumping outside the box that society is trying so hard put us in all the while reaching for those precious stars.

If you get a chance check out this link:http://www.cbsnews.com/sections/i_video/main500251.shtml?id=4126233n

Morey Shafer from 60 minutes did a fabulous piece on The Millennials, which prompted me to write this blog.

These are just the thoughts of a 20-somethinger ... please feel free to leave a comment

Afua
News Producer
(Uh-fee-yah)