The "Upfront" Truth About Ad Sales (Big Zack TV Preview)

As my mentor says often, the real purpose of television is to sell advertising. I learned that lesson when I worked as a P.A. in ad sales at a major TV network. Three years after being laid off, I still see the real "truth in advertising" and why most networks profit off stereotypes. 

In my new TV series, "The Upfronts", I plan to chronicle the misadventures of an African-American ad sales executive who tries to influence better programming-- with disappointing but hilarious results. The show's protagonist, Damien Hartford, is a newly promoted VP of ad sales who gets tired of selling spots on terrible shows. To achieve this goal, he forms an undercover relationship with the VP of Programming-- an African-American woman-- who has no problems with the station's current strategy.

Will Damien succeed? Find out in January 2016 when "The Upfronts" premieres on YouTube and Vimeo. 

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Devin S. James "Sells His Soul" (In Book Format)

Devin Sean James has moved on-- figuratively and literally. 

Last year, he was known as the spokesperson for Ferguson, Missouri, with a dark secret; now, he shares secrets to success via LinkedIn and his new website.

His latest post, "Tradeshow Tips Part 1- Reasons Why Your Booth Ain't Poppin'", gives tips to convention and trade show representatives who find themselves people watching instead of networking.  

Mr. James' latest project, Inside Ferguson: A Voice For The Voiceless, is an exclusive account to what he witnessed during his time in the embattled Midwestern town.  For this 33-year-old father of two, it is important to shed light on the injustices that millions of Americans face everyday. 

With all of his knowledge, Mr. James could become a teacher or a politician. 

Stay tuned..

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Eat Like Fitness Guru Dolvett Quince!

Dolvett Quince has "the juice". 

The popular fitness expert has trained celebrities like Boris Kodjoe and everyday people on NBC's "The Biggest Loser".

Now, he's sharing some tips on eating healthy while you pursue your work out goals.

We're not sure of his exact age but he should be in his early 40s-- given the age of his son, Isiah. 

Whatever the case may be, he's someone you should and try to emulate in your eating habits.

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Time For A U-Turn: Where "Empire" Went Wrong

The thrill is gone.

Inflated TV ratings aside, Empire fans are not showing love for the Lyon family like they did last season.

In fact, that's where the show went wrong: the "plot twist" of Lucious revealing that he didn't have ALS. From there, the show has been transforming into a cheap gospel stage play. (Cookie is now Karen Clark Sheard; Lucious is Sinbad; and Jamal is one of Steve Harvey's children.) 

All in all, the characters' road map is leading the show down the road to cancellation.  

What Can The Writers Do?
* Beg Fox Executives To Ditch Demographics And Pursue Stories
Fox executives are busy trying to cater to a multicultural audience instead of tell good stories. I don't watch "Empire" for the diversity; I watch "Empire" for the story of an American family which happens to be diverse.

The celebrity cameos are distracting and the storyline seems disjointed. We are 4 episodes into Season 2 and they are just getting around to Vernon's disappearance? Did Tyler Perry join the writing staff?

*Lay Back On The Flashbacks 
Too much backstory is not a good story.  Writers tend to go off on a tangent instead of dealing with the issues at hand. I don't need to know the family history of mental illness to understand Lucious and Andre's relationship.

Less is more. 

*Be Humble
Arrogance caused the writing team to lose its mojo. You are only as good as your last show. The writers need to go back to basics and outline a great story. Now, it seems as if they are writing anything to pander to viewers with low intelligence.

Unfortunately, it doesn't take much to entertain people these days. That's why the writers probably won't change.

 

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Looking For Work In Chicago? Try These Places

Contrary to popular belief, you can make it in Chicago! 

The job market is fine; job seekers are looking for work in all the wrong places.

If you want to find quick employment, try the following options.

CONVENTION & TRADE SHOW STAFFING

Staffing agencies that specialize with conventions and trade shows are the best bets for people looking to secure relatively easy work and solid pay within 3 weeks of sending resumes.
(Some exceptions may apply.) 

Summer is very slow but the fall, spring, and winter are great times to find consistent work. 

Chicago's minimum wage is 10.00/hr for 2015 and will increase in increments until 2019 when it will be 13.00/hr.

* Convention Connection (Website)

Kate Zeitvogel, Director of Sales & Staffing
- Technology, Education, Retail focused shows
(Occasional medical shows)
- Wardrobe: White shirt, Black jacket and pants
Locations: Hyatt, Swissotel, Sheraton, McCormick Place

*Action Figures-Chicago (Website)

Lori Jaffe, Manager
- Medical and Government focused shows
- Wardrobe: Blue shirt, Black jacket and pants 
Locations: McCormick Place

*ShiftGig (Website)
Eddie Lou, CEO 
- Bartenders, servers, brand ambassadors 
Locations: Various 


EXTRAS CASTING

Chicago's TV and film industry is getting stronger every year. Extras can find work quickly without little hassle.
The only items to remember are: 1) Be ON TIME; 2) Bring 3 changes of clothes; 3) Bring 2 forms of ID; and 4) Be patient

Anthony White Casting
*Independent films and TV shows
("Southside With You", "The Blexicans") 

Joan Philo Casting
("Chicago Med"/ "Chicago Fire")


Tail Sticks Casting
("Chicago PD) 

(Google these places or find them on Facebook) 

Extras casting pays about 80 dollars for 8 hours with time and a half. You can get a pay bump for wardrobe fittings, vehicle uses (25 dollars) and a higher pay grade if you are a stand-in. (Stand-ins are test dummies to help light the scene for actors with similar physical features). 

Stand-ins get about 140 a day. But you have to pray that you look like the actor who needs one. It's like playing the lottery.

FINAL THOUGHTS

Native Chicagoans can try Uber as well. I have a few friends who are making big bucks from Uber. 

Just steer clear of places like ATN (Across The Nation) Promotions. They offer high paying jobs but take almost 2 months to pay for certain gigs. 

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Dear Periscope Users: Strategize, Then Monetize!

Before you start that Periscope account, please read this blog carefully!

Periscope is the latest live streaming video phenomenon. The sleek design and pop-up style chat makes it a great way to interact with current friends and make new ones. In addition to that, the app can help content creators generate buzz and monetize their brands.

Unfortunately, the average Periscope user is trying to generate attention with pointless streams. Instead of using the app to create amazing contents, most folks stream stupid stuff like picking out outfits, getting ready for bed, and criminal plots. (Yes, two idiots streamed their plans to commit crimes!) 

If you want to make money from Periscope, try the following tactics:

*Plan Your Broadcasts
It appears to be an obvious statement but very few appear to grasp this concept! 

If you must do something spur of the moment, turn your Twitter rants into a video discussion. 

*Engage With Your Audience
Don't just read the comments; use the comments to improve what you do.  

After each broadcast, stay in touch with your viewers and create customized content for their liking. When you build a following, you can merchandise your content (like the Hell To Naw video) or plan meetups at your local coffee shop. 

Big Zack TV will be using Periscope soon to create an amazing event that will get media buzz!

Stay tuned! 

*Keep It Clean
You can partner with businesses by presenting content they can post for a large audience. Try not to use vulgar language if you can help it. You can be funny without cursing. 

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Note To Working Actors: Take It; Don't Leave It!

As Leith Burke told us before, he's got mouths to feed. 

For over 20 years, Mr. Burke has been a "working actor"; he's not an A-lister who can survive on one project's multi-million dollar earnings for years at a time. Therefore, he uses his versatility as an actor his advantage. He acts in front of a camera for TV and film, behind a microphone for video game characters, and live on stage. 

Currently, the youthful Burke is balancing his time as a full-time husband and father with a project dear to his heart: "Citizen: An American Lyric". The new performance --recently extended to September 14 at the Fountain Theatre-- has been gaining rave reviews for being a "provocative mediation on race in America". Written by Claudia Rankine, the show is actually Rankine's poetry/prose project that was adapted for stage by Stephen Sachs. In the age of interactive theater, working actors like Burke must push envelopes further and connect with audiences on a deeper level. 

While Burke's film projects remain in post-production, he has found a way to stay busy. Unlike actors who gave up on Hollywood, Burke keeps knocking until the door of opportunity opens. He is not picky about roles; he challenges himself to try new things for each project. 

Working actors can definitely learn from Burke. In the competitive industry of entertainment, it is important to be versatile, patient, and professional for a long and successful career.
  

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Brian J. White Joins The Cast of "Chicago Fire"

Before the days of Instagram and Facebook, new cast members were typically held "under wraps". Now, fans can get peeks of #SetLife by following their favorite stars on social media.

Actor Brian J. White ("Scandal") is now on the hit NBC show "Chicago Fire". While his IMDB page lacks updates, Deadline Hollywood reports that he will play a recurring character named "Capt. Dallas Patterson".    

Chicago Fire returns on October 13.  

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Straight Outta Compton 's Real MVPs? (The Marketing Team)

After making $60 million in its first weekend, Straight Outta Compton is America's "surprise" summer hit. For me, the most surprising thing is that critics are ignoring what really buoyed the film's success: a spectacular integrated marketing campaign.

I know integrated marketing very well; I have a Master's degree in the field. From what I've learned so far, integration is the only way to promote a brand. If the messages become inconsistent, consumers get confused and disinterested. 

To the benefit of this film, the heads of marketing and publicity worked together. All promotions of this film--from television interviews to the hugely successful Straight Outta Somewhere meme generator-- gave "one voice" to this film. 
In addition to that, the interactive aspect of the meme generator allowed users to engage in "subliminal" marketing. 

Simply put, the film's marketing team consisted of the viewers. While cutting marketing expenses, they boosted revenue. (More money and less expenses equals HUGE profits). 

Let's just hope that fans don't take a page from the Ice Cube playbook and try to seek "lost wages". :)  

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Why #StopSaggin Matters

There's nothing more disgusting than seeing a crunchy pair of boxer shorts exposed on a hot day. That's why I want to start a #StopSaggin movement across the country. As a grown man, I cringe at seeing young men expose their filthy underwear as a fashion statement. The only thing they are expressing is the lack of proper hygiene.

Here are some ways we can #StopSaggin :

1. Suggest Rather Than Correct
Young men are highly defiant already due to underdeveloped frontal lobes and overactive testosterone levels. You have to gently suggest a better way to attract women instead of humiliating them. Correction implies that we are telling them "what to do" rather than suggesting "what works better".

2. Present Better Role Models
Show men who wear their pants properly. For every rapper who shows his boxers, there is a basketball player who can't afford to grab his shorts while running down the court.

3. Show Dangers Of Saggin'
Present research about how multiple layers of clothing protect against dangerous kinds of bacteria. If young "saggers" can see correlation between painful infections and saggin' pants, they might think twice.  

4. Get Women To Sound Off
Almost every woman I know hates to see men who sag their pants. But most men who sag their pants do it to impress women. If we can get women to speak out and rebuke this practice, we might see a decline in this "fashion trend".

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Chicago Features Its Best at the 5th Anime Midwest

For its 5th year in the Chicagoland area, Anime Midwest focused on the more musical and dance side this year. On top of the great panels, awesome voice acting guests, and cosplay events, Anime Midwest continues to evolve and make itself more unique every year.

[Click on any of the following pics to see the videos]

Some of the things already that set Anime Midwest apart from most conventions include:
The Date Auction [where a portion of the proceeds go to the St. Jude's Children's Hospital]
The ConSweet (where attendees and guests can get an unlimited amount of free ramen, rice, soda pop, and now oatmeal throughout the weekend)
The recently added Fleur Maid Cafe (recently added last year and has been a regular at the AnimeCon.org conventions)


This year's focus shifted towards more music and dance this year.
Two Chicago bands were featured at this year's Anime Midwest including V is for Villains and Kid Yuki and the Otakus. Other Key music guests included Steam Powered Giraffe, The Pillowcases,  and Frenchy and The Punk just to name a few.

Dance was featured during the opening ceremonies and that was only a sample of what was to come. There were a lot of dance performances by the Fleur Maid Cafe throughout the convention to help advertise the limited time slots left available to experience the maid cafe. The Raves and Formal Ball were still key featured events at the convention as well.
The one special addition was the Nippon Academy Media hosted K-Pop Battle that took place Anime Midwest. With the huge K-Pop craze growing it was fitting to have a dance battle with some of the best talent in the area with the audience being the judges.

Only time will tell what to expect from Anime Midwest and what is to come in the following years, including their December sister convention Con+Alt+Delete. For more information, go to www.conaltdelete.com.

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Celebrity Birthday Whiz Jeremy Horn Turns 30!

The tables have finally turned on Jeremy Horn.

The pop culture fanatic--who remembers all of his favorite celebrities' birthdays-- is celebrating a milestone of his own today! 

Jeremy has finally turned 30 and he is celebrating with family and friends! Some of his celebrity acquaintances include members of the Jackson family-- many of whom follow him on Twitter. (One year, he had the opportunity to speak with Mrs. Rebbie Jackson Brown and her son, Austin, on the phone)
 

Austin Brown, Jeremy, & Prince Jackson

As a concerned resident of Chicago metropolitan area, Jeremy has worked tirelessly to make things safer. He has attended many anti-violence and mentoring events and created awareness for important issues on his social media pages. Through it all, Jeremy maintains a positive attitude which improves the spirits of all those around him.

Go Zack wishes Jeremy Horn a very happy 30th Birthday today! 

Check out his cake! 

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Church Members Mourn Shocking Loss Of Teen Musician

According to his Facebook profile, he called himself "Drummer Boy". To family and friends, the talented 17-year old was Vonzell Banks. 

Earlier today, Banks was fatally shot at Hadiyah Pendleton Park  in Chicago's Bronzeville neighborhood. (Ironically, Pendleton--for whom the park is named-- was a victim of the same violence 2 years earlier.) 

Banks was a member of Cosmopolitan Church of Prayer in the Woodlawn neighborhood where he played the drums for the choir. He was also a rising senior at Dunbar Vocational Career Academy.

Bro putting in some #SlightWork
Posted by Anthony SoundBased Benion on Thursday, September 11, 2014

In a Facebook thread, choir members from Cosmopolitan Church of Prayers shared memories from as recent as Thursday night-- the last time Banks rehearsed with them.

One choir member wrote "[Banks] danced and shouted" after the rehearsal during a moment of praise. Additionally, his friends posted special memories about him on his Facebook page.

On behalf of Zack's TV, we extend our condolences to The Banks family, Dunbar Career Academy, and the Cosmopolitan Church of Prayer. 

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Remembering James P. Raspberry | A Family Man

Today, we buried another person from my paternal bloodline: retired Chicago police officer James P. Raspberry. He was known as "Uncle Jimmy" due to our age difference and his sibling-like relationship with my father, AB Raspberry-- his first cousin.

Uncle Jimmy died on June 6 from congestive heart failure. However, his life story is what intrigues people who never met him-- including Maureen O'Donnell from the Chicago Sun-Times. (Click the link above for her amazing obituary) 

Ms. O'Donnell was the perfect person to tell his story because she has a gift for analyzing the right details of someone's life after they have passed. One detail that caught her ear in phone interviews was Uncle Jimmy's stature. He was 6-foot-4 without shoes; with his police cap, he appeared much taller.

For me, the greatest thing about him was that we shared the same birthday: July 23.

He and his wife, Aunt Joan (pictured right), were married for over 57 years. During that time, their greatest accomplishment was being loving parents to their daughter Joni Jayne. 

According to others, his work with troubled youth on Chicago's West Side was what made him so great.

In his own family, he helped my siblings, cousins, and I experience the finer things in life. He believed in sharing what he had with others; he believed in family. 

Today, we kept that going. We shared love with one another and shared memories of how great he was. This Father's Day is going to be a bittersweet one because we won't be able to honor him physically. But we can rest assured that his spirit lives on and he will forever be in our memories.

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Chicago Couple Celebrates TWO Milestones: 40th Wedding Anniversary & Daughter's Birthday

For the past 40 years, they have been known as "Mr. & Mrs. Larry". (To me, they are "Uncle James" and "Aunt Janie").
Today is their official wedding anniversary and the birthday of their youngest daughter, Jacqueline-- featured with them in the picture below.

 

Last Saturday, the Larry crew held an official celebration at a beautiful banquet hall. It's what they called a "Very Larry" occasion. With stirring tributes and great music, it was a great event-- featuring photography from my younger brother "Promodave Cameraman". (Look him up on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram). 

Congratulations and blessings to all of them!     

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Anime Central Celebrates Its Senior Year!

This year, Anime Central reached a milestone as it hit its 18th year. Anime Central continues to evolve and grow with now a focus on education and cultural involvement. More panels geared towards educating everyone on the culture and pop culture of the nations of the east including Japan.

Many other surprises this year included the special "ACen Senior Prom formal", a tribute to the late great Monty Oum, and a surprise appearance of most of the key cast voice actors for the new Sailor Moon Crystal.

Click below to see the full video coverage.

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Talented Cast Brings Powerful Story To Life

Ted Lange from "The Love Boat" will soon be making "another run" with a new production: The Journals of Osborne P. Anderson. 

Mr. Lange wrote and directed the play--which premieres today and runs until June 28 at Theatre Theater in Los Angeles. 

Los Angeles News | FOX 11 LA KTTV

The story is based on John Brown's 1859 raid on Harper's Ferry and the untold story of Osborne P. Anderson-- the only surviving black member of that mission. After fleeing north, Anderson was able to pen A Voice From Harper's Ferry-- which has been used a key historical reference since 1861.

One of the play's leading men is Thomas Anthony Jones (above center) who was profiled by Zack's TV in 2013. For Jones, the play presents an exciting challenge; he has a stronger background in television and film. Still, audience members should expect amazing performances from the entire cast. 

If you will be in Los Angeles from May 15 to June 28, this is something to place on your to-do list. 

For ticket information, click here.

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Spike Lee "Claps Back" At Chiraq Critics

Spike Lee wants to "do the right thing" in Chicago. But his upcoming film project, "Chiraq", has attracted all of the wrong attention before one single frame has been filmed. 

This morning, he held a press conference at St. Sabina Church to address his critics. "Wait 'til the movie comes out," Lee advised the naysayers. According to multiple outlets, the premise of the film is based on Lysistrata-- a Greek tale about women withholding sex to keep their men from fighting.

(Lee fails to give credit to the 2003 B-movie, "A Miami Tail" --starring rapper Trina-- which featured the same concept.)

The Economic Impact of "Chiraq"

At today's conference, Lee reported that "Chiraq" has a $15 million budget. In addition to that, the film is expected to bring $40 million to Chicago in various ways.  The film, distributed and produced by Amazon Studios, will be filmed in Englewood-- a neighborhood ranked as one of the nation's most violent.

While the Illinois Film Office has a welcoming approach to big productions, there are some who want to halt Lee's desire for a $3 million tax break. Last week, Chicago alderman Will Burns (4th Ward) submitted a resolution to have the Illinois Film Office reject Lee's possible request.  

What Will A Tax Credit Do?
  
The Illinois Film Production Tax Credit, signed in December 2008, "consists of 30% of Illinois production spending" and applicants must provide a diversity plan which represents the State. 

If granted the credit, Lee's production could receive additional credits if employees come from an impoverished area. Given that the film is set in Englewood, paid extras and general staff from Chicago's South Side could contribute to a quid pro quo arrangement. (In other words, there will be a mutual exchange.) 

Yet, some critics claim that unions benefit from the Illinois Film Production Tax Credit because it applies to Illinois labor only. Being that Illinois is a not "right-to-work" state, unions play a major role in hiring practices.  (Right-to-work allows workers to escape unionism.) 

For Lee's team, time is running out. The application must be received within 24 hours of principal photography.

Hopefully, Lee's investment will pay off for the citizens of "Chiraq" and not just pad the pockets of his production company-- 40 Acres And A Mule-- and Amazon Studios.  

Lee with Bonita Foster, who lost her daughter Porshe to violence in November 2012.

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"The Blexicans" Gives Boost To Chicago's South Side

Only on Chicago's South Side can a TV project help bring a struggling funeral home--and its surrounding community-- "back to life."

"The Blexicans"--directed by Bill Duke and produced by Red Dove Media-- recently began production at Slaughter & Sons Funeral Home on the city's South Side. Being central to the plot, the funeral home is where "an aspiring black comic" works before he secretly elopes with his Mexican girlfriend. 

For now, the major details of "The Blexicans" have been kept under wraps including distribution plans and specific roles for which actors have been cast. However, Facebook posts show that Chicago natives George Wilborn ("The Doug Banks Show"), Marla Gibbs ("The Jeffersons", "227"), and Michael Colyar ("Martin") have been on set. 

Principal casting has been handled by the groundbreaking 9-month-old Gill Hayes Talent Agency; extras casting has been handled by Anthony White. 

The Economic Impact

According to Chicago Magazine, TV shows have a greater economic impact on the city than films. For one reason, TV shows are filmed continuously whereas films usually wrap within 40 days. In addition to that, celebrities attract large crowds which in turn boosts business for the surrounding neighborhoods. With the right celebrity endorsement, the AP Deli sandwich shop across from the funeral home could become a favorite for "The Blexicans" cast.

Stay tuned for more updates about this project. 

 

Patti Gill (Gill Hayes Talent); Executive Producer DeShaun Ragland (Red Dove Media); Michelle Hayes (Gill Hayes Talent); Alvin Smith (Cast Member)

 

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"Good Times" Actor Ben Powers Dies

UPDATE (April 19, 2015)

The funeral home has posted an official obituary.
 It has been confirmed true.

Some media outlets are reporting that Alton "Ben" Powers (a cast member of "Good Times") passed away on April 6. While the news is very saddening, I want to see more evidence that this story is true. With so many celebrity death rumors online, I hate reporting things without proof. If I can't see a link to an OFFICIAL announcement from a blog, a tweet, or Facebook post-- I don't want to confirm anything.

As bloggers, we still must provide better information to the public. We might not have the manpower or budget as journalists but all it takes is a screenshot of a post from a reliable source to confirm proof.

However, I would still like to offer prayers to his family and friends because this story is still most likely true. 

I just want better reporting next time.

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Chance The Rapper's Dad: Rahm Emanuel's Next Chief Of Staff?

The Bennett family of Chicago is working hard to build their own "Empire"-- without any prison drama or dark secrets from 17 years ago. 

Chancelor Bennett (better known as "Chance The Rapper") is seen above in the center of the photo with his brother, Taylor, and their father Ken. The Bennett brothers are making waves in hip hop music while their father is becoming a powerful force in Chicago politics. As an integrated effort, Chance and Taylor's music helps their dad's boss-- Mayor Rahm Emanuel-- reach young voters; in turn, Mr. Bennett's roles as First Deputy Chief of Staff and Director of Public Engagement allow him to further his sons' careers by exposing them to new cultural settings.

Now, Mr. Bennett is expected to move up further himself after news that Mayor Emanuel's current chief of staff is leaving. For the past year, Mr. Bennett has worked to build relationships with community leaders in Chicago to help the Mayor's Office be more accessible to the people.

To the contrary, some of Mr. Bennett's critics might feel that he is self-serving as the highest-paid African-American in the Mayor's Office. In addition to their criticisms, his son Taylor has been in trouble with the law; Chance has been accused of being misogynistic and homophobic.

One thing is for sure: the Bennett family continues to look ahead and experience bigger and better things.

An official announcement on the Mayor's new chief of staff is forthcoming.  

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Watch A Foreigner Speak Polish (After 1 Month Of Practice)

I'm back on my Polish lessons!

There's one video on YouTube that has inspired me to continue my pursuit to learn the Polish language. In the video, two friends in Vietnam (one from America; the other from Poland) show off their Polish "chops". And I must say that it is quite impressive.



In just 3 weeks, Chicago's Polish Constitution Day Parade will be held downtown and I want to attend and say a few sentences.

I'll keep you posted on my progress!

Do widzenia! (Do vee-zen-ya) 

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Rahm Wins--But What About Chuy's Supporters?

There can only be one winner in politics. 

Last night, Mayor Rahm Emanuel beat Cook County Commissioner Jesus "Chuy" Garcia to win a second term in office as Chicago's top boss. And I was right there to enjoy the festivities as he gave his victory speech at the Stephen F. Bailey Auditorium of Chicago Journeymen Plumbers' Local Union 130, U.A. (Whew! That was a mouthful!)

Just like no one likes a sore loser, I can assume that people who gloat are equally as annoying. The purpose of this election should have been to show the diversity of Chicago-- even in the difference of our political opinions. While I'm happy that Rahm won, I am concerned about those who supported Chuy. 

Chuy's supporters deserve a voice. They made a lot of good points about how this city has ignored the "least of these" and made the needs of wealthy individuals a sole priority. That's what troubles me even in a time of celebration.

I want all elected officials of Chicago to remember the hard-working people who keep the city going strong. In order to reach that goal, I have to throw my name in the hat and find ways to connect and compromise for a better future.

You might be reading this with a doubtful attitude but I see things differently. I believe that we can improve things for the poor and disenfranchised if we stay focused, optimistic, and united. 
 

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Why Lifehacker Rocks! (My Journey To Professional Coding)

All journeys begin with one step. 

Today, I began a special journey to the land of professional coding. After searching for "the basics of coding" on YouTube, I found Lifehacker. [Lifehacker provides "tips, tricks, and downloads for getting anything done."]

As a newcomer, I wanted a fast and understandable tutorial to give me the basics. The following video was very helpful in helping me to achieve that objective. 





Why I Want To Code

*Enhance My Skill Set
As an entrepreneur, I want to be able to design apps, set up servers, and find ways to attract larger audiences. In addition to that, I want to use my skills to teach others how to be entrepreneurs and create jobs for people in disadvantaged communities. 

 *Keep My Mind Fresh
I'm 30 years old and the old joke goes that the mind is the first thing to go. I don't want that to happen to me. Coding can help me learn new things and apply them to various situations for a better life. 


*I Want To Make Money
Self-fulfillment is nice and all, but I ultimately want become a billionaire through coding. (I might as well set the bar so high that I'll "have to settle" for a couple million in the bank.)



Stay tuned for more updates as I become a better coder!  

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Getting Inspired By Men's Health Next Top Trainer

As I approach my 31st birthday, I still hope to achieve an amazing physique. While my sweet tooth has been my Achilles' heel, I have made a few strides to cut back as much as possible. (It's hard, though.) 

What motivates me most is the presence of more men over 35 who have maintained youthful and muscular bodies. If they have manage to keep six pack abs, massive shoulders, and bulging biceps/triceps-- I have no excuse but to put down the sweets, make a salad, and increase my reps. 

One of my inspirations is John Hall. He's one of my acquaintances who is an contestant in the Men's Health Next Top Trainer competition. At 50 years old, he has maintained a great physique and doesn't let his age hold him back. 

While looking at some of John's competitors' pages, I found another example of fitness inspiration. Billy Boston and his wife have started their own business and hope to become the "No. 1 Fit Couple."

  

If I want to get in shape like them, the time is now!

I'll update you on my progress.  

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August Wilson's 'Two Trains Running' : A Story Worth Telling Again

I have a theater buddy; she happens to be my mother, Sylvia. (At 64 years young, that's "Ms. Sylvia" to you.) 

When my siblings and I were younger, my parents never had a chance to go on a lot of dates because they were so busy looking after us. Now that we're grown ( ages 25 to 44), we find ways to help them make up for lost time. For me, the best way to honor Mom is to take in some amazing plays at Goodman Theatre.

On Monday, August Wilson's "Two Trains Running" opened for the second time in two decades. The story, set in 1969, hit home for Mom because that is when she graduated high school. That year featured the debut of the Jackson 5 and the Moon Landing. But historians tend to overlook the smaller events of that year. This is why Wilson's storytelling is still necessary some 10 years after his death. 

In "Two Trains Running," Wilson takes a "little story" about a diner in Pittsburgh and gives it a major role in theater history. The spectacular writing gives a voice to everyday people through the gifts of an ensemble cast, brilliantly directed by Chuck Smith. 

As an August Wilson aficionado, I always assume what to expect. But a great director knows how to bring out the key Wilson play elements of quick one-liners and poignant monologues to create an amazing experience. The cast members were all phenomenal-- including Nambi E. Kelley as Risa. They all kept the "train of suspense" running throughout the production.

What my mother and I loved the most was Wilson's pursuit for the "ugly truth" to set us free. During the uncomfortable moments of the play (use of the N-word), we saw how awkward moments opened the door for a greater discussion. 

"Two Trains Running" is part of a citywide celebration of August Wilson's life-- a life that continues to bring new life to theatergoers. When Wilson's soul stepped off this train of life, he left behind something valuable: a legacy of writings which will continue to "move" audiences for decades to come.


BREAKING NEWS: "Two Trains Running" has been extended until April 19! Hurry to Chicago and check out an amazing play. (Click here to find out more.)
(Rating: 4 stars out 4) 

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