Hotep, Peace and Blessings Family! This is your Brother Sneferu, bringing more mind to matters at hand! Though the end-of-year and new year hype has subsided, the principles of Kwanzaa remains!  After my household blew out our candles for the last day (Imani), during the Kwanzaa celebration (Dec. 26th- Jan.1st), a look of disappointment came over my girls. "Awwww Daddy, is Kwanzaa over?!", my girls sternly asked.  I quickly said, "Not at all . . .just the week of celebration.  The principles and practice, are to be ongoing daily and all-year around!" That left the girls with a sense of contentment, and smiles on their faces.  All the principles are sound, and gradually build on one another.  My impending concerns, for the economic outlooks of our communities --at home and abroad-- is the lack of Ujamaa;  the lack of cooperative economics.  With that said, let's get into today!

• Video1
• Video2

SOLUTIONS:

• Support businesses, functions and community organizations that exemplify Ujamaa!
  
• Consider what and how far, the things your monies help to build --good and/or bad.
• Are your own skills, knowledge or expertise transferable to your family, community or nation?  It's not good enough to be transferable just to corporate entities --even when they say they're being socially responsible businesses?
• My "awakened" African consciousness, is fully me, so I live what I talk.  Take a look at some of the developing constructs and stay tuned for future developments:

        

Hotep, Peace and Blessings Family! This is your Brother Sneferu, aka T2, bringing more mind to matters at hand!
Let's get into today!  With one of the largest holiday approaching, I'm not amazed at all; how the Eurocentric/Western culture of the seasons, is on its full-court press on the minds and spirits, of the young and old alike.  The pressures of TV commercials, shopping and decking-the-halls, is pandemonium this time of year!  Particularly, the image of the this plump- jolly-old, bearded man, that wears black boots and raiments of red --trimmed with white-- deriving from the North Pole?!  What in the world does this mythical character, actually have to do with the impending legitimacy of this alleged Christmas Day?  Without letting the plot thicken too much, I'll keep the focus on this good 'ole boy,  Santa Claus/Chris Cringle/St Nick.

• Video1
• Video2
• Video3
• Video4

OK, enough of the spook isms, but I'll be damned to continue to promote and sell me and mine, any further into blind ignorance; all for the fill of gift-receiving, merriment, and seasonal decorating.  Secondly, for those that don't have an appropriate view and history of themselves, great scholars like Dr. Maulana Karenga created Kwanzaa, in the 1960's to help reconnect those to their first consciousness, long overdue! So, why would I surrender my identity and earned-living, to allow some misplaced customs, images or holidays to take all the credit for it?  I'd be out of my friggin mind, to perpetuate that craziness!  So many are crazy with such sickness, that they gladly de-leverage themselves. To what they claim and even think are harmless gestures of seasons "observations" greetings.  I for one, always had a lingering dis-ease with the many provoked holidays . . .for I couldn't substantiate them into anything except, a socio-political agenda, that has become institutionalized to brainwash the masses into self-capitulation and hysteria! This is not a bust on holidays, but a wake up call to those that refuse to remain rocked to sleep by them.  Substantiate a matter, and for sure we all can stand and build on it . . .otherwise through the junk to the whims of discarded rubbish, no recycling needed!


SOLUTIONS:

• Video4b
• Video5
• Video6
  

Keep inspired to help yourself and others stand for something worthwhile. Be about the solution!  Read, comprehend and learn more, to make the world a better place. ..Substance people, substance!

        

Download | Duration: 00:11:46

        

Hotep, Peace and Blessings Family! This is your Brother Sneferu, aka T2, bringing more mind to matters at hand!
Let's get into today!  Watch these videos before continuing:

• Video1
• Video2
  

Alright . . .you watched those, right? It's said children say the darnedest things, but they also say things with simplistic emphasis and power!  My oldest daughter asked me, "Why don't the Africans around the world, want to go back to Africa?" I'm usually quite ready for such questions, but knowing her and myself, a simple answer wasn't going to do.  This leads me to the question: What's our dysfunction, and the cause(s) holding us back from what's us/ours?

Nature, is one of the greatest teachers and practical examples of matters.  First, one has to have a space of nature, followed by keen eyes to see, with the patience in legacy; to learn and study from it.  So, instead of just explaining to my daughter, how we lost knowledge of ourselves, I always supplant a natural context, to help in the over-standing.

• Video3

You see these "brood parasites" or "parasitic" birds, help themselves to the nest/lands of others, while displacing, decimating  and/or destroying the legitimate brood or clutch.  These displaced birdlings --if survived-- are left at the mercy of predators or surrogates, to preserve them as they see fit!  In the same manner, the lands of Afrika, have been invaded countless times by brood parasites, destroying the balanced and structured fabric of the native peoples of the land.  Those that have been displaced, or called the "Diaspora", are left to the whimz of their surrogacy.  I for one, know that, a displaced creature groomed to be unknowing of self, will behave according to their groomers tenets/rules!  It's is in the best interests of the surrogacy and brood pararsites, to have the displaced, ignorant about themselves!   That way the displaced will not then, go and reclaim, control and reaffirm what was naturally theirs to begin with.  Nature always shows direct reflections of mankind.  That analysis is/was the parabled response to my loving daughter!

• Video4 (This is ludicarious . . .not to mention, short lived in nature)

SOLUTIONS:

• Again, one can't teach from what they're not!
• Be a life-long learner, so as to remain a live-long giver/teacher to your own.
• One shouldn't go or do anything, unless there's a knowldege from where one came, and purposed need of a thing to be done.
• Really be a parent(s)/guardian(s) to your child(ren)/communities, and not absentees, hoping surrogacy will make you into one!
• Promote only what's in best refleciton of your people, and not the myopic views of social individualisms.  Remember who built your house, and whom it was built on/of.
• Support causes that are active and driving the proper form and functions of the village.  If you're going to tithe, you best tithe with purposeful and practical intent.
• Observe and know the world isn't being managed well, and being a bystander and silent . . .only reinforces the gall of the existing paradigm, as accepted!
• The opposite of courage isn't cowardice . . .it's complacency!  Would your ancestors feel honored, dignified and at peace, for how you've come to represent them in their legacies immemorial?  Reflect, and we all shall see!
  

Keep inspired to help yourself and others stand for something worthwhile. Be about the solution!  Read, comprehend and learn more, to make the world a better place. ..Substance people, substance!

        

Download | Duration: 00:13:35

BEFORE                                                       AFTER




My name is Dionne Audain and I am a Team Beachbody coach. I am also an AFAA certified Group Exercise Instructor.

Why “FitNaked”-wellwho doesn't want to look fit AND look good naked? When you look in themirror you want to feel good about  that reflection.

Prior tobecoming a coach I worked in consulting for major corporations andgovernment agencies in technology and information  management andbudgeting. I decided to sign up to be in the test group for the newprogram INSANITY (coming out June 12, 2009  with Shaun T) because Ineeded a new lease on life. My mom passed away in November 2007 at age52. At the time she had three  separate illnesses and I wanted thecycle to end with me. I'm an African American woman over a certain age☺ with a history  of hypertension and other illnesses in my family. Iexercise not only to feel good and stay healthy/fit - but also toavoid  visits to the doctor's office and $40 co-pays!!!

For thelast eight years I've been acting and modeling with credits in primetime television, feature films and national  commercials. I'm in abusiness where image matters and in my life fitness matters. As a fulltime actor I travel the country  and the east coast a lot - mainlybetween DC, MD, NJ, PA, VA and NYC. Some shows/movies I have been in:The Wire, All My  Children, Law & Order: SVU - check Internet MovieDatabase for more of my credits.

I love to help people and being a Team Beachbodycoach allows me to help and lead by example. I know what it’s like toWANT  to get started but not know how. I too have made the excuses asto why I can’t workout or don’t have the time too. Or finding  themotivation to just DO something or keep going. I am here to help you,encourage you, motivate you and most of all hold  you accountable andwatch you succeed.

        

Hotep, Peace and Blessings Family!

This is your Brother Sneferu, aka T2, bringing more mind to matters at hand! The other day, I had an interesting discussion about how I lost 50+ lbs. in several weeks!  I didn't set out to lose a set poundage, but I did prepare my mind, body and spirit to be healthy.  So, the question kept coming up as to what motivated me to make the lifestyle change --mind you, I wasn't too bad off, just not in-shape?  My answer, was to be in good form to function, to have and promote a "Ma'at" existence.  A Ma'at existence?  What is, and how do I use this system?  Let's read on!

A quick definition (below), reference of Ma'at:

Ma'at, Goddess of Truth, Balance, Order...

Ma'at, unlike Hathor and Nephthys, seemed to be more of a concept than an actual goddess. Her name, literally, meant 'truth' in Egyptian. She was truth, order,balance and justice personified. She was harmony, she was what was right, she was what things should be. It was thought that if Ma'at didn't exist, the universe would become chaos, once again!

For the Egyptian believed that the universe was above everything else an ordered and rational place.It functioned with predictability and regularity; the cycles of the universe always remained constant; in the moral sphere, purity was rewarded and sin was punished. Both morally and physically, the universe was in perfect balance.

Because of Ma'at, the Egyptians knew that the universe, that everything in the universe, worked on a pattern, just as, later on, the Greeks called the underlying order of the universe logos (meaning, order, pattern).

"In the beginning was the logos*, and the logos* was with God and the logos* was God." - John 1:1

* Logos was the 'Word', another name for Jesus.

Ma'at to our ancient people are these eternal principles: Truth, Justice, Harmony, Balance, Order, Law and Reciprocity.  Look at the list and hold 'Balance' as the pivot; you now will have corresponding pairs: Truth-Reciprocity, Justice-Law, and Harmony-Order!  With that all said, now what?  How do we reduce it to practical use?  This is the point, where I'd need to charge you for my consultative introspection ($$$$) --jokes, my rewards will return from continued sharing!  Let's continue!

All is perceived from the "mind". All that follows the mind, is a condensation of it, thus the body is subject to mind --the reciprocal holds effect as well.  A healthy mind, will promote a healthy body!  Now, to generate anything from a mind, one must first have control of it --very important and key!  Does your mind operate in and as Ma'at?  The more that it does, the easier it'll be to control the desired outcome of "matter" to matter.  This isn't wishful thinking . . .if I don't proactively hone, harness and execute on faculties to address my desired steps  . . .I'm wasting, fooling and playing myself.  Let's use Ma'at to apply the transformation to live prepared:

• Truth-Reciprocity - Truth, is having an objective perception that's absolute.  Through the gathered senses and beyond, the perception needs no further interpretation.  Reciprocity, is the equivalent giving and taking, or producing and consuming.  When I looked in the mirror (ie. birthday suit) and was out-of-shape, the Truth, my form was not representative of what it was, when I was at my healthiest and most energetic!  The Reciprocity, came immediately from viewing, but also from reflecting on my past activities, diet and behavior that made me healthy, back then.  Talk about an "Eureka" moment!

• Justice-Law - Justice, the administration or determination of conforming to rules, regulations and/or laws.  The mechanism by which law evaluates to divine balance --divine is the operative word for justice, not conservative.  Law, are the rules, customs, practice or actions of Divine Law/Authority/Common-unity (eg.community).  Now, I created laws, to bring my mind, body and spirit back into healthy alignment.  I did an analysis of where I was, and followed a scheduled and regiment to get me healthy, and back to natural self.  The Justice, was applied readily, when I either broke my own schedule of regiment:  Ate less if I over-ate, sometime earlier;  made-up on missed workout times or days; followed my custom prescribed routine, unless noted otherwise --needed refinement!

• Balance - Balance, is the pivot, fulcrum and center of what all matters!  What's on one side of the scale, must have something equally contributing, to keep the position balanced or weighted! Balance doesn't mean equal share . . . it's based on the demands of a function, that supports a particular form, to bring a center of gravity to a whole!  If I have a stronger arm, I'd need to perfect my form and weight/load of my weaker arm; to bring both arms in symmetry of my body's effective aesthetics and dynamics.  What's already strong, doesn't require as much rigor and impact, as the things that are weak or weakened.  So you see, having a strong mind and a weak body; or a strong spirit and weak mind.  All levels must be engaged to bring forth balance of the whole  --too many focus on the body and forget the rest!

• Harmony-Order - Harmony, is that symphony of discrete levels or parts, that join to make the melodies of music heard!  Though things may seem separate and isolated, it all operates in a greater scheme of rhythms of life.  Order, is truly self-explanatory, there's a distinct procession of how things are formed to function in balance.  With my weight training regiment, there's that needed aerobic regiment on the off days.  Without, the strengthening of my heart/lungs or circulatory/respiratory systems, my body won't be in harmony.  Each has an individual cycle or rhythm, but co-habit and inter-depend on each other, to allow the full realization of health on all levels.  The Order, allows me to know what to do first, and what to do next.  So, to that proverbial question of what came first, "Chicken or the Egg?", without hesitation, the egg came first!  There's always a developmental order to get a desired result.

Develop the spirit, mind and body, by first reclaiming yourself and identity --that's the "control" step referenced earlier!  From there, you'll see the wonders of contributions and developments, your ancestors birthed to the world of times.  Truly, one can only teach what they know.  So, know-the-ledge, the ledger always saw and knew you!  Keep inspired to help yourself and others stand for something worthwhile. Be about the solution!  Read, comprehend and learn more, to make the world a better place. ..Substance people, substance!

        

Hotep, Peace and Blessings Family!

This is your Brother Sneferu, aka T2, bringing more mind to matters at hand! Wow, where do I begin on this topic of keeping it real?  After hearing and seeing some of the crazy fanfare in sports and entertainment these past weeks . . .it got me really thinking.  Is reacting from emotion, or using emotion to react . . .keepin' it real?!  For the most part, emotions are a necessary apparatus, for proper behavioral and social conditioning.  I'm not a pyschologist/pyschiatrist, but as creation as my witness . . .I don't need to be!  I'm a free thininking Black man, with a formal engineering background and vocation, with some focus in artificial intelligence --for those that need some sort of credentials

I'm not going to say any names, but some folks out in the entertainment and moreso in the public domain; believe reacting to matters because their feelings got hurt, or are exposed in their compromises, is a license to say what's on their mind!  Their "mind" is the the operative concern in question.  Who or what cultured them/you into behaving or believing what they/you believe?  Who or what conditioned that mind to say that's exceptable behavior?  One's culture is the most central factor in molding one's behavior, thoughts and social patterns.  Let's take a quick look at its current definition:

• Main Entry: ¹cul·ture
• Pronunciation: \ˈkəl-chər\
• Function: noun
• Etymology: Middle English, cultivated land, cultivation, from Anglo-French, from Latin cultura, from cultus, past participle
• Date: 15th century

1 : cultivation, tillage
2 : the act of developing the intellectual and moral faculties especially by education
3 : expert care and training <beauty culture>
4 a : enlightenment and excellence of taste acquired by intellectual and aesthetic training b : acquaintance with and taste in fine arts, humanities, and broad aspects of science as distinguished from vocational and technical skills
5 a : the integrated pattern of human knowledge, belief, and behavior that depends upon the capacity for learning and transmitting knowledge to succeeding generations b : the customary beliefs, social forms, and material traits of a racial, religious, or social group

• Video1

So, the ways in which we relate and behave is in direct response to the culture/society that molds us.  Here's a few reflective questions to ask oneself and others: What's my culture? Who created my culture, and are the support structures still of its best interest? Who's society does it endorse? Could there ever be a culture or society, without a people to sustain it?

You see, the question will remain whether the way you react, is by the means of how a culture or society made you. Unless, you proactively seek the source and purpose of that culture/society; or you're self-actualized in knowing your identity.  Pavlov's "condition reflex" experiment, quite readily displays how a dog can be trained to salivate on demand.  Who's dog are you?  We can see this --in whole or in part-- by who's business you patron, who's clock you punch, who's schools you seek, who's defunct religion you're devout, who's value system you promote, who's love you seek, etc...etc...etc.!  Don't get me wrong, some of those mentioned are necessary evils . . .my question is what are you doing about those evils?  Does it feel natural to you?

"Keeping it Real" Solutions:

• Engage and socialize to better yourself and others around you!

• Get out of your comfort zone and expand your horizons in seeking truths.

• Use your emotions to connect to your root, so it really counts when channeled. If you allow others to knock you off you square . . .checkmate it is my friend!

• Know your mind is the faucet, your body are the pipes, and your spirit is the oceans.  Emotions are just the pressure in the pipes! Your culture and history are the architects that pieces them together, to allow fluid to flow.

• Real knows real, so don't be or get offended, when real lets you feel or acknowledge real!

• Real is knowing and living, what your ancestors would live and die for.

• Knowing, being real isn't only being a sound teacher, but a studious student of the craft.  It's about building from solid, sound and truthful cores. Not this  . . .i know the answer, but can't fashion real solutions!

• Real doesn't need bandwagon endorsements.  Hard core revolutionary critical mass, is what causes any chain reaction . . .A-bombs/ H-bombs are scientific case in point!

• Those and things the made you sick and unknowing, clearly can't make you whole, well and knowing!  Womb/Man know thyself!
  

Keep inspired to help yourself and others stand for something worthwhile.  Be about the solution!  Read, comprehend and learn more, to make the world a better place. . .Substance people, substance!

        

Hotep, Peace and Blessings Family!

This is your Brother Sneferu, aka T2, bringing more mind to matters at hand! Let's get right into it today.  Is it me, or are the masses fooled into thinking they're progressive?  Progressive, my the means of truly helping themselves and those of their village.  Many make the mistake of claiming contributions to their village by the means of  just occupying a space in it.  A village is grown, honed and benefacted by it's members; all stipulated by the tenets of culture, politics and economics of that village.  These tenets insures the preservation of it's people and community/village.  Anything else, is operating in a dysfunctional mode similary to "crabs-in-a-barrel".

• Video1 (required)

Let's look at this mode of crabs in a barrel.  The structure of holding the crabs, has a single opening at the top of its container. The volume is filled from bottom to top, with live crabs ready for the boiling!  The weight/pressure gets increasingly heavy towards the bottom. The desperate nature to eleviate the pressures, ensues a chain reaction of grabbing and pulling downwards of the layers above.  So the barrel of crabs will systematically be the only thing keeping themselves in a full barrel!  Now, try having a full barrel of Driver ants --they operate in a communal mode-- to see what'll happen?!

• Video2 (required)

Before you get yourself boiled up in a nice pot of water or sauce; talking about "Throw it in the bag"! Ask yourself these reflective questions:  How many of the things in my bag, are manufactured, produced and/or controlled by my village? Does any of it benefit my village in any of its tenets? Is the bag I'm putting things into even of me? Who the hell is truly benefiting on my disposition?  How do I stimulate corrective and constructive behavior to be a value to my village?

• Video3 (required)

You see, when we're damaged from the root, others can easily benefit and control our fruits!  We play the somber tune of "Can we all just get along?" but don't realize that historically, we've always chosen to be the ones in getting along with everyone, even at the detriment of ourselves ...the contrary is the issue!  Though cats and dogs, can be acclimated to one another.  Dogs can't and shouldn't raise cats, and vice-versa!  The mutual respect and balance of things should always be preserved . . .not basterdized into conformity --especially when imbalanced and immoral in pretense!

SOLUTIONS:

• Continually study to know yourself, story, culture and identity well enough stand your grounds!
• You can't enjoy the fruits, if you don't acknowledge and claim the roots!
• Support and stand for what/who, supports and stands for you!
• Become intimate of what you know,  for that's the only way to truly teach.
• Remain the core teachers of your children and community. Educate to uplift, not indoctrinate to your loss!
• People may not like you for not conforming, but ensure that they'll respect your stand!
  
• Decide not to be or operate as crabs-in-a-barrel any longer!
  

Keep inspired to help yourself and others stand for something worthwhile.  Read, comprehend and learn more, to make theworld a better place. . .Substance people, substance!

        

Download | Duration: 00:14:11

        

Hotep, Islam, Shalom, Greetings Family!

Thisis your Brother Sneferu, aka T2, bringing more mind to matters at hand! Despite our daily routines, have you ever wondered, what's your purpose in life?  Better yet, is there a cause on earth, that you're willing to put your life on the line for? We all, at some point or another had those questions asked of ourselves.  It all comes down to, what you truly stand for! Let's get to it, shall we?!

• Video1 (required)

The effects of one's value and worth, are inculcated through the galvanization of one's family, clan, tribe, culture, and society --affects grows respectively, but the principles obscure without proper feedback. The earlier in development one gets their value system, the harder it'll be to dislodge or rewrite a new one.  The rate of growth or fruition --or lack thereof-- of said value system, is under the control of the next -up group container (eg. family -->clan-->tribe-->etc).  Just think of it in terms of nature:

The value is the seed, and the first group container (family) would be a pot of soil --kept indoors.  As the seed grows into a larger plant or even a young tree, larger pots will be needed; until the decision of placing the plant/tree permanently in a garden, landscape, or field.  Where the prevailing effects of soil quality, rainfall, sun intensity and seasons, takes full charge of the development --the largest container (nation/empire).

Now, if one adopts a value later on, in a larger container with other seeds; there'll definitely be room too grow, but the soil consistency may be off, causing disease, or leaving room for other pestilence or weeds to grow.  Not even giving the young seed or nursling a fighting chance of survival.  If a seed is to grow, it needs to establish a healthy root system, first! Now can u see the importance of the family unit?! When the nursling is transferred to a larger container,  a great deal of the old soil is left clumped to its roots, perserving it during transfer and replanting!  So, if you don't want a certain seed to germinate, put it in a larger container full of prevalent nurslings --it'll get choked out.  If you want to dwarf a tree, just keep it in a smaller container, and regularly prune its growth.  Can you see the griot's story --read between the lines?

Afrikans have been blessed with the oldest life, wisdoms, civilizations and spiritual systems on the plant! To fashion social systems to progressivley develop mankind, into the living reflecitions of creation.  Don't take my word or research for it . . .go and research and journey for yourself ... to see for self!  All the group containers, were to be extension of the unity and purpose of family (self); working in coherence with the fundamental principles of "Ma'at." Where the teacher taught, so more teachers could teach.  Where the knowledge of self, manifested in balance, principles and monuments uncontested to this date. Where the farmer tilled the soil, with the intent to harvest the type of produce most effective for the sustenance of the people.  Where there were no words or need for prisons or chattel slavery.  Where the Creator of life was in all things, and man's journey at all time, was to be and seek the elevations of oneness... not secular or religious.

The group containers are only as good and purposeful as the people that fashioned it!  The seeds are only as valuable as to those that need to consume it!  When a people indoctrinate systems to dwarf the Tree of Life . . .it can only lead me to question:  WHAT DO I STAND FOR?  Not for death, bondage and heinous destruction for sure!  I will stand and die for a people, who have shown and proven through the ages . . .TIME WILL TELL ALL THINGS ....MAN KNOW THYSELF!  A people that nurtured civilizations from the self to grand empires, that were continuous and uninterrupted for thousands --if not longer-- of years.  Do as you wish, but I'll continue to keep my eyes on the prize ...knowing and growing self!

Keep inspired to help yourself and othersstand for something worthwhile.  Read, comprehend and learn more, to make theworld a better place. . .Substance people, substance!