The beginning of a habit is like an invisible thread.
Every time you repeat the act you strengthen the strand.

You add to it another filament with each repetition,
until it becomes a great cable and binds you irrevocably to
each thought and act.

First you make your habits and then they make you.

Your thoughts lead you to your purpose.
 
Your purpose always manifests into action.
 
Your actions form your habits.
 
Your habits determine your character,
and your character fixes your destiny.

Your habits are either the best of servants
or the worst of masters.

Copyright 2008 www.yourdailymotivation.com 

Third-quarter figures show a 27.6% drop compared with a year earlier. Phoenix, Las Vegas and San Francisco are also hit hard.

By Peter Y. Hong (LA Times)

U.S. home prices continued to fall at a record-breaking pace in the third quarter, with the Los Angeles area posting among the sharpest declines, according to a prominent index released today.

The Standard & Poor’s/Case-Shiller index of home prices was down 16.6% in the three months ending in September from the same period a year ago. Home prices in the Los Angeles area, which includes Orange County, were down 27.6% compared with the third quarter of 2007.

The third-quarter national decline was greater than the respective annual declines in the second and first quarters of the year, which were 15.1% and 14% respectively.

Continue Reading »

Note: I found this to be an interesting read considering my pops is an educator (LAUSD) and works within a magnet program.

The programs have frequently achieved their goal of voluntary integration and high-quality academic programs, a report says. But funding is stagnating, partly due to nation’s budget woes.

By Howard Blume (LA Times)

Support for magnet schools has foundered nationwide even though they continue to shine compared to other types of public schools, including charters, researchers concluded in a report released today.Magnet programs, created to promote voluntary integration, have suffered court setbacks, stagnant federal funding and local budget cuts.

Continue Reading »

Lakers breeze to 12-1 with 120-93 romp over Nets

LOS ANGELES(AP) Pau Gasol had 26 points and eight rebounds before sitting out the fourth quarter, and the Los Angeles Lakers overcame a poor shooting performance by Kobe Bryant to rout the New Jersey Nets 120-93 on Tuesday night and improve the NBA’s best record to 12-1.

Bryant had difficulty most of the game with Vince Carter’s defense, going 5-for-17 from the field in 28 minutes and finishing with 12 points in the Lakers’ fifth straight victory. He shot 1-for-9 in the first half and didn’t get to the free-throw line until 1:11 remained in the second quarter.

The reigning MVP and two-time scoring champion had a similar game at New Jersey on Feb. 5, scoring a season-low six points on 3-for-13 shooting with no free-throw attempts.

Devin Harris had 21 points and six assists for the Nets, who again played without Stromile Swift (back), Josh Boone (bruised left ankle) and Chris Douglas-Roberts (right knee strain). Eduardo Najera, who has an injured back, did not make the trip.

Yi Jianlian had 13 points and nine rebounds for the Nets, who shot only 34.5 percent and were 3-for-19 in the fourth quarter while getting outscored 30-17. Carter scored 14 points before sitting out the final 6:51. Rookie center Brook Lopez made four of his first five shots, but went 2-for-10 the rest of the way and finished with 17 points and 10 rebounds.

Big man Andrew Bynum picked up his fourth foul midway through the third quarter with the Lakers ahead 70-66, but his teammates responded with an 11-4 spurt and took a 90-76 lead into the fourth. The second unit opened the period with a 15-2 run, including 3-pointers by Sasha Vujacic, Jordan Farmar and Lamar Odom and capped it on an 18-footer by Trevor Ariza that gave Los Angeles a 105-78 cushion with 8:19 left.

The Nets missed their first eight shots of the fourth before ending the drought on a 20-footer by Trenton Hassell with 5:24 remaining. By then, the Lakers led 113-88.

Gasol, who had 24 points and 12 rebounds against the Nets last February in his Lakers debut following his acquisition from the Memphis Grizzlies, paced Los Angeles to a 56-54 halftime lead with 16 points.

Continue Reading »

It’s quite intriguing as to how much we all put forth so much time, effort, and energy into “being successful” — chasing money. With that said, per the many convos with various peers and mentors, it’s always a delight to step away from the everyday grind and enjoy some of the simple things in life.

This morning, I had the pleasure of enjoying a nice [holiday] cup of Starbucks Coffee on my very own porch all the while witnessing the beauty of nature (especially after the sunshine follows a rainy night). Maybe it was the caffeine kicking in, maybe it was the super glow of the trees and whatnot, I’m not sure. What I do know is that after finally getting up and walking away, I noticed how relaxing and nice it is to simply enjoy a nice cup of coffee outside for all of 30+ mins.

I think I’ll try that more often. Back to the grind.

pictured above (nphocus photography): Eze Burts, volunteer Youth Basketball Instructor, leads program participants through pushups during routine health exercises for the CLIMB Youth Basketball Camp

Only about a third are in the ‘healthy zone.’ L.A. Unified’s scores also edged up but are below the state average.

By Corina Knoll (LA Times)

When it comes to their physical fitness, students are taking baby steps toward better health, according to results from the 2008 California Physical Fitness Test released Tuesday.

The annual public school test measures six areas, including cardiovascular endurance, body fat percentage and strength and flexibility. Every spring, students in grades five, seven and nine run a mile, among other activities. They are scored on whether their performance falls in the “healthy fitness zone,” a term used to reflect a reasonable level of fitness. 

Continue Reading »

Can you believe that the unemployment rate jumped from 6.1 to 6.5 percent in October alone?! When the economy busted it’s back right tire, veered off the side of the highway, and crashed into a tree, I wasn’t affected. I remember having conversations with my friends and asking them, “Am I an idiot to go on a shopping spree when people are getting laid off and jumping off of buildings?” At the time, I was rolling in the dough and brand new shoes were more important than anything. My job situation was on lock and I had not a care in the world. Little did I know that as of November 26th, I would be… dun dun dun dun DUNNNNNN…UNEMPLOYED. So much for that dirty, old, rusty lock…

Continue Reading »

Ladies and Gentlemen, I introduce to you: Brandon Banks (aka Eazee).

I figured I would take time to spotlight this young man, his various happenings, and continued committment to CLIMB, Inc.

Initially met him, not sure where…just seems to work like that here in LA in the high school scene and naturally through the social scene. I think it was sometime around the college years, aware of his many functions and social events, which led us to befriend one another, ultimately developing a relationship between two of LA’s favorite children.

I’ll fast forward to two points of interest:

1) Since the inception of CLIMB, Mr. Brandon Banks has been a strong supporter of what has been my most passionate business venture. With a shared interest in community service and making a difference in the city we both love, Banks has taken it upon himself to lend not only his time but also his skill as a “creative” in graphic design. Lending the services of his design brilliance (flyer sample) has been not only beneficial to the org, but a sure reason as to the branding/marketing that’s a pillar of our success.

2) His very own blog, where LA happens » www.eazeest.com

Get to know this man, he’s “one to watch”. Regardless, you’ll probably see and hear about him just by sheer association.

Accept that change will take place.
It is inevitable.
 
Be secure in the knowledge that you can deal with whatever happens.
To feel secure you must bend your insecurities, and avoid breaking
when things don’t go your way.
 
You’ll always be secure to the degree that you can accept change.
You actually become secure, not by standing still,  but by growing,
moving and being energized.
 
Your ultimate security is your understanding of this reality.
 
There is no permanent security on this earth:
there is only opportunity.
 
Have the courage to bet on your new ideas, to take calculated risks,
and to act on your opportunities.
 
There is nothing to stop you on the road to success but yourself.

Copyright 2008 www.yourdailymotivation.com