Dome Pondering

3 Up 1. Students of Stoneman Douglas - Man, do these kids have some fire or what? They are fearless, and I love the pro-acttive measures they are taking to get something done after this latest shooting. I do find it interesting how many are claiming that these kids are too young to understand the "nuances" of how this all works. I think these kids get it. And they honestly lived it.  2. Question to Marco Rubio - Damn. I watched CNN's Town Hall debate on DVR, and in that moment, you saw it on Rubio's face, he knew the question was coming. Kudos to that young man for asking the VERY obvious question of lobby money and the NRA, and how this all plays into the "discussion". However, you know what? Kudos to Rubio who didn't decline the invitation like so many others and faced a hostile crowd that very night.  3. Baseball is Back! - In a heart-wrenching week filled with politics and debate, it was just nice to have baseball back. And games! Th...

What is it about?  Based on the New York Times bestseller, a boy with a facial deformity enters school for the first time and has a profound impact on those around him, and those who come across his existence.  Who is in it?  Jacob Tremblay - Auggie  Owen Wilson - Nate  Julia Roberts - Isabel Izabela Vidovic - Via

--22 Weeks Old (Before Birth)-- Dear Son,  As the weeks go by, the reality of YOU is beginning to settle just a bit more. I still don't think I fully understand it all yet, or even comprehend the transition that is taking place in my life right now in awaiting your arrival in a few months, but I am appreciating the journey. I am already seeing subtle changes in me, not overt lifestyle amendments - although, I'm sure that's to come - but simply, a renewed vigor of happiness, and of course, an all new mindfulness perspective.  After all, I see how happy you make your mom. I can't understand this current stage. How can I? I'm not connected to you as she currently is - obviously - but you make her happy. And that makes me happy. And ultimately, it all makes me happy. 

3 Up 1. Aaron Weiss - It shouldn't be hidden or gone unnoticed - Weiss is a hero. The football coach shielded many students during the shooting, and saved the lives of many students. Again, Weiss is a hero, that should not go forgotten in this entire unfortunate situation.  2. Emma Gonzales - How frickin' cool is this girl?! Her speech this weekend was passionate, it was raw, but most of all, it was filled with empathetic truth. Emma, and the many students recently involved in this shooting have called out our government, and that is so incredibly commendable. Honestly, it is quite amazing to see the political movement of fifteen year olds calling out the President. But this is the new America we are now in.  3. LeBron James - Kudos to King James on how he handled the situation between him and Laura Ingraham. He could have stooped to Ingraham's level, but instead his refusal to be "just an athlete" is one that is needed to be heard.  3 Down ...

So I decided to start this series because after all, this blog has chronicled my life and my thoughts since I was sixteen years old. And while that is amazing to think about - almost, somewhat crazy to believe - here I am almost seventeen years later as a thirty-two year old man on the verge of having his first child.  With that said, I wanted to continue that open and honest venture that has been here since day one, and plan to lay out all the thoughts, all of the feelings, and everything in between that will be this venture towards fatherhood.  I've done similar series in the past such as The Unity Road Writings during my engagement, or even The European Chronicles , tabbing my time through Italy and England. But, this one just feels a little different. A little more personal, if you will, and again, that is rather obvious. [Insert "duh" here]. I have no idea how long this will last, or what will happen, or what I will write about in this open spac...

Laura Ingraham of FOX News really stepped in it this week. Her comments to LeBron James and Kevin Durant in regards to their political opinions and her direct message to them of "Just shut up and dribble" has caused a stir among many on both sides of the political divide - a divide that seems to grow daily in this nation. Rather than wait to pen my thoughts, mainly because I was so fired up to do so, I shared took to Twitter (ugh..I know, sorry y'all) on a Subway ride home after seeing her rather ignorant remarks.  See below for the quick rant: 

So...lobby money > Lives?  My heart and yes, even thoughts and prayers - like legit thoughts and prayers - go out to the loved ones of everyone affected by this latest senseless mass shooting. At what point do we really get to the table and look at gun control? Like, for real. 

I spent much of my day in shock.  "Another one?"  It almost seems unreal at this point, but yet, here we are - another mass shooting, and yet, another one inside the sanctimonious and innocent walls of a school in our country.  I've gone down this road with these words of thought before. And I'm pretty sure you've heard, read, and thought the same exact rhetoric we often are exposed to after these happenings. The complacency and inaction, and more so, our numbness to the reality and seriousness of the matter has reached heights that it's difficult to truly wrap the mind around.  But again, here we are. 

3 Up 1. Winter Olympics Open - Okay, I'll admit it. I'm not overwhelmingly a Winter Olympics guy. I'm still learning the scoring for figure skating, skateboarding is cool, and cross-country skiing seems to me like a good way to punish someone. Regardless, it's always pretty cool to see the World's best athletes on such a stage.  2. Black Athletes in Winter Olympics - Yo, there's another black guy in hockey! And a black guy on the national speed skating team! One of my lack of interest in the Winter Olympics have always been it's lack of diversity. But lo and behold, this year there are some windows and barriers being smashed. This is great for sports.  3. MLB Hot Stove - The Hot Stove had a bit of a blip of fire this week as Yu Darvish signed with the Cubs. Will this open up the market? We'll see. It's been such a crazy off-season, and camps open this week!  3 Down 1. Officers Killed - The news of two Ohio Police officers wh...

I want to vent. I want to type and let my words fly in anger, disbelief, and frustration. But honestly, I'm not sure what I want to say.  It's a weird in-between I find myself in - mourning the fall of our present and future, and of course, thinking to myself, this is just so Knicks. Absolutely, this would happen to us.  After all, since the trade of Patrick Ewing, to expect the worst and hope for the best is the mantra of Knicks fandom. Our trades don't work out. We overpay free agents who suddenly get Space Jam'ed and forget how to play. We fire and hire coaches like the average purchase person purchases milk. And we never get building pieces. Like, rare, franchise building pieces.  So imagine what I felt like to have a Unicorn on my team. It was practically a uKNICKorn. And now, we have that snuffed out with the same amount pain as we watched Kristaps Porzinigis clutch his left knee.

3 Up 1. Cleveland Indians - Great job by the Indians in finally - FINALLY - announcing that they will be doing away with the Chief Wahoo logo. The names can be a tribute, you can make a case for that, but there is nothing flattering about that logo for indigenous people. Never has been.  1. Super Bowl LII - Well, I didn't watch completely. Had the game on the small screen while I read and did work, and the wife watched HGTV on the main screen in the living room. I looked up and saw a helmet to helmet collision early on and almost quit. I stuck through, and it was a good game. I'll give it that. Still, harder and harder to support this game, though. Regardless, congrats to Eagles fans. Always nice to see passionate and loyal fan bases get rewarded.  3. CNN - I try to watch as many news coverages as possible - it just gives me all of the perspectives. After all, we know how slanted most of them are. However, kudos to CNN who offered quite a round table after the...

What is it about?  When their headquarters are destroyed and all of their resources are eliminated by those taking the world hostage, The Kingsman must seek the help of their allied spy services in the U.S. and to ban together to defeat the threat.  Who is in it?  Taron Eggerton - Eggsy  Colin Firth - Harry Hart  Mark Strong - Merlin  Favorite Scene:  After retrieving an antidote for the plague taking over the world, the three spies end up in a cabin taking on many of Poppy's soldiers with various events and twists taking place.  Favorite Quote:  "This is not the end. It is not even the beginning of the end. But it is, perhaps, the end of the beginning." Review: Kingsman: The Golden Circle is an absolutely fantastic movie. There are so many things that made this film that very description, but really, when it boils down to it - it's fun! Man, this movie is just flat out fun to watch, especially c...