"You Can Let Go"

Growing up is complicated thing, an probably even more so for the parents. In many cases, it seems to take a bigger roll on the farther especially when it comes to to his "little girl." It's got to be a pretty difficult moment when begins to realize his daughter continues to need his protection less and less.
As you listen to the song " You Can Let Go," by Crystal Shawanda, you begin to understand the true anguish and sorrow a father feels as his daughter begins to go her separate way. The song starts with her learning to ride her bike. As she "heads for the street," she yells " you can let go now, Faffy, you can let go. Oh, I think, I'm read to do this on my own. This verse introduces the conflict the father goes through when he starts losing the need for his little girl.
Throughout the rest of the song, he's asked for his daughters hand in marriage when you feel most grief-stricken for him. As "eyes filled up with tears," the daughter whispers in his ear, "you can let go now, Daddy, you can let go. Showing again the pain in losing his daughter to another man.
The last part of the song is most touching. Her dads "wasting away to nothing" in the hospital, and she knows he's fighting for her. She again tells him, "you can let go now, Daddy, you can let go. Your little girl I'd ready to do this on her own."
Letting go is a hard thing to do for anyone. But from the song, you realize that you have to make sacrifices for the best. Enjoy time with those you care about, and regret nothing.


www.cowboylyrics.com/lyrics/shawanda-crystal/you-can-let-go

Should he be forgiven?

A tobacco industry executive lies to a congressional committee about the addictive qualities of smoking even after his research shows thousands of people each year will die from smoking addiction. Should he be forgiven?
I would have to go with yes. And the reasoning behind my answer is because he is just a business man trying to make money. People who want to buy cigarettes have the opportunity to make a choice. They know the outcome that will take place if they smoke. They know that it's their decision, and the result is on them. If they want to spend money they have and waste them on cigarettes. They pay for their own death. It's the people's fault for falling for the lies that were told.
I'm on the side that favors forgiving him. He is just a man, trying to make money. People are just dumb!

Unsolved Mysteries: Lisa Irwin

It doesn't seem like there would be anything more horrifying then having your child go missing. They could be lost, hurt, hungry, or worst of all, abducted. Every 40 seconds in the United States, a child is reported missing or abducted, which is approximately 2,000 children per day or 800,000 per year.
Not only would it be frightening for the parents, but even more so for the child. They were taken from their family and potentially beaten, sexually abused, or even killed. Think about how terrifying it would be to be completely helpless in the hands of a stranger or possibly even a family member or family friend.
For Debbie and Jeremy, they haven't seen their daughter, Lisa Irwin, since October 4th, 2011, but they aren't giving up. It's been over a year since "[Debbie] opened the door to her daughter's room and found her baby gone," and they still "look at every baby" they pass.
I think it's awesome they haven't given up, but I also think that after a while, it's easier to just believe he/she is safe with God. Then you can slowly start to heal instead of stressing about where they could be the rest of their life. But they truly believe that "she's alive and someone knows something." So I respect them for their dedication to their daughter as they "pass out flyers, bracelets, and other reminders of Lisa" as a sign of their persistence to finding her. They even buy a different size outfit every few months in belief that "[they'll] bring her home" someday.

Razorbacks win 19th SEC indoor championship

The Arkansas razorback indoor track team won their 19th indoor SEC track meet Saturday. The razorbacks were going into the meet ranked no. 1, but weren't expected to win. The razorback were underestimated, and highly doubted by the other teams. The only reason they seemed to be number one is because they teams they had faced had bad meets and the razorbacks had gotten lucky. They proved people wrong and triple jumper, Tarik Batchelor, won his event he wasn't even picked to place in. He won with a jump of 53 feet.
I too, have been put in the same situation. When I was in 8th grade on the 9th grade track team to be exact. People had us to do awful based on our previous track meet in Heber Springs. And I, being younger than the rest of the jumpers, was picked to not even place like Tarik. I jumped a 36 and won the event. We also won the meet. Just like the Razorbacks.

Dieting For Their Men

Dieting is the practice of eating food in a regulated fashion with the combination of physical exercise to decrease, or maintain, body weight. While dieting is often seen as a positive goal, it can also lead to a negative mindset.
The two sisters, Kourtney and Kim Kardashian, hit the gym hard as they push themselves for all the wrong reasons. They have endured brutal exercise and a strict diet not to feel better, but to look better for their boyfriends, Kanye West and Scott Disick. The two "sweat it out" as their personal trainer tells them, "it matters how you look, not how you feel." The shocking words seem harsh, but the women seem to have "taken them to heart." Most women can relate to wanting to look good for their guys, but the sisters are taking it too far.
Not only is their exercising routine ridiculous, but their strict eating diet is beyond mind-blowing. Everything they order has to be checked to see if it is "all-natural." Kourtney was even seen "agonizing over the menu" and then only eating "one kernel of corn" as her meal. It turns out, Kanye and Scott do not exactly "appreciate the ladies healthy and widely admired curves." Kim and Kourtney just need to stop focusing on looking good for others.
Being fit is not about a number on a scale, and that is what Kim is beginning to realize. She admits that "[her] goal is to care more about how [she] feels than how [she] looks." Which is a good mindset both girls should have.

  In the article, "What Should a Billionare Give" written by Peter Singer, he is for the thought that philanthropy is a moral obligation. He highlights when Bill Gates said, "people will finally accept that the death of a child in the developing world is just as tragic as the death of a child in the developed world." The importance of this is that kids everywhere should be taken care of. The poor children need food, water, clothes, and shelter just as much as the kids who expect to have it. Bill Gates gives money to this thought, and has started a foundation. The children of this world are very important, and the should provided for. They are the future. In the article, it said that "Last June the investor Warren Buffet took a significant step toward reducing those deaths when he pledged $31 Billion dollars to the Gates foundation." The rich should give what they can to help those who need it. Helping people should be a top priority like it is for Gates, and Buffet. They care about the world, and the future. You don't have to give money to be philanthropic, you can provide anything that is needed. Whether it be food, shelter, or someone to talk to. Make an obligation, to be helpful. Be philanthropic.

    Baseball Fields Make Memories

    Fresh cut grass, the usual community baseball fans eating handful after handful of sunflower seeds, and the clock striking four. Also known as game time. I quickly open up my bad and obtain my black and white NIKE baseball gloves. Putting on my helmet I pick out my weapon of choice. The Anderson Techzilla.

After two quick runners on base, it is my turn to step up to the plate and do my job. I placed my right foot in and followed was my second one. I swayed the bat back and forth as a reminder to myself to keep calm, and relax. Pow. Ball 1. The ball had hit the mit and was nowhere close to the strike zone. I readjusted myself ready for the next pitch. As the pitcher went through his motion, I got this feeling deep down inside. The ball was in the air,and right in my zone a focused on the ball swung hard, and it sailed over the fence.

    My first home run as a 12 year old. I'll never forget Fitzugh Park.

I went on to hit three more home runs that game. Back to back to back to back. The first time that it had ever happened in Batesville All Star history.

    Almost a year later, I find myself in Kansas City, Missouri for the 13 year old world series. We had mad it there from winning a certain amount of tournaments and being one the best team in Arkansas.

    8:00 a.m. We are at the field, mildew on the grass. Not another soul was there besides our team and our competition. Its game time now, and I'm more than ready. The stands are now packed for the first game of the world series. My turn to bat. I'm anxious and at the same time scared out of my mind. I go through my usual routine, right foot dug in where I'd like and followed by my left. I remind myself to stay calm, do me, and have fun. The first pitch is thrown, I load my left leg, get my hands back, foot down and turn on the first pitch I saw. It was a home run that towered over the field and one that everyone thought was going to splash in the pond. All of a sudden, the ball, still rising, strikes the light pole and rebounds an estimated 20 feet back onto the field. As I round third base, I look at my coach. He gives me a handshake accompanied by a smile, and a kindhearted "Atta boy." I'll never forget it.

   Two seasons, two birthdays, and two summers afterward, I'm playing baseball with my showcase team in Houston, Memphis. We go by the name of Arkansas Royals, wearing the colors of royal blue and white. We are playing in a major tournament with some of the best teams around. So exciting.

   Its the top of the 7th, our team is down by one run with no outs. The 9 spot hitter reaches base with a walk, and is pinch ran for because he is our pitcher. The next two players were supposed to do their best to get him all the way to third for me to try and tie it up. Things don't always go as planned. 2 batters, 2 strikeouts. So now its all up to me to try and tie it up with a runner on first with two outs. My knees are week, palms are sweaty. My arms seem as if the weigh 20 pounds each. I dig into the box, with same routine I had whenever I was 13. I'm focusing on not the present at bat, but the last ones I had when I wasn't successful. I inhale and exhale clearing my mind. The first pitch is thrown, high and tight dusting me off the plate. I'm more nervous than I've ever been. I readjust waiting for the next pitch. He winds up, and lets it go. Right in my wheelhouse, so I just trust my hands and let the bat do the work. Next thing I know the ball is sailing over the left field fence for a two-run go ahead  home run to give us the lead. We would go on to win the game. I can't even explain the excitement that I endured. 

   Playing the game of baseball is something some people do for fun. I do it not for just that reason but because its life, and it is what I love. I've played many places in my career, and each one leaves a special memory deep in my heart.