Before I went to the Microsoft store, I stopped over at the Apple store a few doors down and saw what I expected.  Lots of people checking out the multitude of devices spread around the store, mostly the iPad and the new iPhone 4.  To my surprise there was pretty much the same environment and number of people in the Microsoft store when I arrived.  The majority of people were checking out the laptops on display and a number were playing with the Surface table with apps such as chess and Virtual Earth.  It was very cool to actually see the Surface in person since I had read about it so much online.  Another interesting find was the new Dell Adamo laptop that I’ve seen covered quite a bit since it’s initial announcement.  It was definitely a cool system, but a little awkward for me.

After checking out a few more things around the store, I headed back to my car to get back to work.  While walking I couldn’t help but think about all the possibilities this new store would bring and who it would threaten.  The first thing I really liked about the store was being able to play with products that I would never have been able to otherwise such as Surface and the Adamo.  This will be pretty huge going forward as MS introduces new devices in the future.  Secondly it was nice to see products from a variety of manufacturers, HP, Sony and Dell all had a multitude of systems on display. With the number of mainstream electronics stores quickly dwindling, it helps to have a source to get reliable information about PCs from.

I’m really hoping Microsoft doesn’t drop the ball with this new concept.  There is a mountain of opportunity waiting for them to climb it, but it looks like they are taking the right first steps.

I am 32 years old and have been fortunate enough to be able to do the one thing I’ve always wanted to do for most of my life, working with computers.  I can remember back to my early childhood and my first exposure to computers and the basic programs I would write.  Using books my grandmother purchased, I worked through all the examples and learned to think like a computer, processing information one line at a time.  To some extent this has carried over into other areas of my life where I find myself faced with multiple issues but yet processing them individually till conclusion.

Before I went to middle school I remember my dad getting a job shining shoes at an upscale car wash in Highland Park.  He worked there for over 10 years and it was always somewhat weird whenever other people would ask me what he did for a living.  While some of my friend’s parents were doctors and businessmen, my dad was the guy who fixed their shoes when they got scuffed up.

As I grew older he would let me work with him during the summer to make extra money.  It turned out to be a pretty good job for a 13 year old, as I made anywhere from $50-$100 per day.  The longer I worked there, the more I realized that there was nothing wrong with being the guy who shines shoes.  As long as people wear leather shoes, there will always be a demand for his service and he just happens to make pretty decent money.

While I’m sure this isn’t the dream my dad had during his youth, it is the career he finds himself in.  He has many other passions and interests in life some of which probably pay better.  I hope that before he dies, he is able to experience some of his other desires, but in the mean time he’s making the best of his current situation.  His customers know when they visit him they will get a quality shine every time, and many of them have been coming back for years.

Now what impact could this have on you?  What difference could you make at your job if you gave it your all everyday?  How far could you go in your career if you focused your energy on being the best at whatever it is that you do?  Could you be the garbage truck driver who learns the business and opens his own waste disposal service?  Could you be the athlete that goes on to buy his own team?

Each of us only gets one chance to live our life.  Personally I would much rather strive to be the best because it gives me a sense of personal accomplishment.  I enjoy going to bed with a smile on my face when I think about the things I was able to do that day and look forward to what the next day brings.  But then I guess I just enjoy the small things.

With over 800 facebook friends and roughly 2,000 twitter followers I’d like to think that I’m pretty knowledgeable about the happenings in the social media world.  I regularly read popular blogs such as TechCrunch, Engadget, Gizmodo, etc and do my best to stay up to date on the latest news in the tech industry.

I’m not blaming this issue on anyone in particular or trying to call anyone out, I’m simply curious as to why this has turned into such a large void of representation.  If I were in search of black people in the sports and entertainment industry online there would be no such shortage as the web is super saturated with these personalities.  I keep seeing lists of the top/key individuals in the industry, yet I never rarely see someone who looks like me.

It would be nice to not always be the only brown skinned person in the room when I attend tech events.  It would be nice to not be the only black guy in the office.  Can someone please tell me what gives?

I understood this evening to be a tribute to the late, great Michael Jackson, arguably the greatest artist of all time.  While I totally understand your limited time to prepare for the event due to his untimely death, I think you have truly done a disservice to his memory with tonight’s programming.

I personally do not know all the steps involved in putting together an event of this magnitude, but I do feel betrayed by your choice of content during this “tribute”.  While the organization of the show was noticeably “off”, I am willing to overlook that due to the time allotted to prepare.  However what I cannot overlook are your poor decisions of material.

Throughout the evening there was a need to censor much of what was said by the host Jamie Foxx and others on the program.  While I know the standards of what is acceptable to say on television is constantly evolving, the definition of decent and proper is unwavering.  This was a historic event with a large audience of families, many with small children watching.  Having the host of the event go into graphic detail about sexual material in the opening monologues was both insensitive and completely inappropriate.  It is still possible to be funny without being obscene.

As I continued to watch the show waiting for an actual tribute, I was consistently disappointed by the lack of any such thing.  The most offensive and appalling moment came during the performance of Lil Wayne.  You mentioned HIV awareness multiple times throughout the evening both through commercials and remarks made by the host.  I just don’t see how this message mixes with a song about “fucking every girl in the world”.  While I’m sure this was out of your control, it did not help matters to have young women on the stage at the time.  This moment was completely unacceptable in my opinion.

I used to truly enjoy the programming on BET all the way back to the days of Video Soul with Donnie Simpson.  Your network was a groundbreaking opportunity for people of color to show the world what it was like to walk in our shoes.  However, somewhere along your road to success you have lost your way.  Many of us thought it was with the acquisition by Viacom, but I believe this presented you with an opportunity to improve with better funding.  Instead it seems your programming has taken many steps in the other direction, often showing very irresponsible examples of what being “black” is all about.

I don’t know how much difference this letter will truly make, but I want to stand up as one person who is willing to speak up and call wrong what it is.  I am embarassed tonight for the entire Jackson family and the mockery you have made of their son, brother and father.  I am embarassed for all of his fans who put their faith in you to put together a fitting tribute to him.  Most of all I am embarassed for you, a network formed to highlight the black experience but which has rather done it a great disservice.

Ultimately I believe the reason for tonight’s programming is a culmination of all the bad programming you have been producing over the past few years.  Your standards have continued to drop as you have struggled to stay hip and relevant.  Well you have now lost me as a fan and viewers, for tonight you have failed.

The one thing I am happy about is that Mrs. Katherine Jackson did not have to experience this embarrassment in person.

Sincerely,
Shawn Scott

After making a few new purchases this week, I thought it had to be about time that I started sharing my experiences with other people.  For some strange reason I get a bit of enjoyment from sharing my life with other people and am always looking for their feedback as well.

Starting next week, I will be launching GeekyCyberReviews.com where I will give you my honest opinion about the latest gadgets in my life. This site will be totally run by me and I will not be getting paid to endorse any particular products.  The only thing you will find is my honest opinion on devices I personally own and use on a daily basis.

As always, thanks for stopping by.  This should be fun!

While I’m definitely not one to pass judgement due to situations I’ve been in in the past, I am definitely one who is willing to stand up for what is right.  Getting in an argument and hitting someone is one thing (not that it makes it right).  Brutalizing someone and threatening to kill them is something completely different and is an act that deserves to be punished to the fullest extent of the law.

As a parent my worst nightmare is the day that I find out someone has hurt my child in any way.  Although I know the day is inevitable, I just really pray that it never comes.  While I only have a son right now, I also have a mother, sister and 3 nieces.  I joke around about the subject alot but I am very protective of all of them because I know how men are being one myself.

If ever the day came and I heard that any of them had been brutalized the way that Rihanna reportedly has been, the earth population would probably decrease by one that day.  “I ain’t a killa but don’t push me.”  Domestic violence is a very serious problem in our society due to individuals not knowing how to channel their feelings without making rash decisions.  I know from experience that anyone is capable of it and all it takes is a split moment to snap, sometimes due to the simplest situation. What is necessary once it happens is for the individual to really what they are doing and stop, then begins a long process of recovery.

I don’t know Chris Brown or Rihanna personally, but I do know other people who have been in their situation, including close family members and myself.  I really do hope they both get the help they need to move past this situation and emerge stronger individuals.  However what will not help the situation is brushing it under the rug and acting like it never happened.  What will not help is not punishing the responsible party because of their status.  I believe if the powers that be stand up and do what is right, it may actually prevent more situations like this from happening because people will hopefully look at the outcome of this and think twice before they act.

As a former fan I also feel it is my responsibility to hold him liable for his actions as well.  For me this includes boycotting his music at least until this situation is over and he has served whatever level of punishment he receives.  This is a personal decision of mine, due to the situation’s personal relevance.  I’m not calling for anyone else to do anything about this situation other than what they feel is right.