I hope this music helps your week fly by

More music, tis enjoy! 

Two words - Sam Smith. Get to know that name.

Sound familiar? This song is from Twilight. I've seen three of the movies and am not the biggest vampire fan, but I love this song.

Love the lyrics.

I am obsessed with this song, this band, the whole shabang. Feel-good tune.

Another feel-good tune and check out their other song "Fever." And it is Kings of Leon. Need I say more? 

Because I love Stevie Nicks and Lady Antebellum.

Lana Del Rey with a new single. 

Having a tough day? Let My Sharona and The Knack cure the blues. 

25 Reasons you are Turning into your Parents

1. You're are trying not to, just embrace the weirdness.

2. You start listening to old music, because you are not liking the new musical change in direction.

3. You are starting to be productive on weekends. 
You don't want to go out and drink anymore, because you know you will curse the wind when mowing your yard Sunday afternoon. 

4. You start becoming interested in older/sophisticated things.
For example: cigars, wine bars, dance lessons and buying antiques, like record players and old movies trying to remember the good ol' days. 

5. You start to feel guilty when you rebel. 
You start thinking about consequences of smoking, alcohol and other stuff that you use to feel invincible with. 

6. You have an extremely strong opinion about world news. 
You start complaining about world problems and political nonsense than your own problems. 
You have gotten your degree or have just grown up since high school. Chances are, you either think exactly like your parents or your opinions differ which makes "objective" conversations difficult. 
For example: 
    Me, "Dad, I don't focus on social opinions, I'm a libertarian which means I'm open minded. I am a christian and as a christian we should not hate or judge other people, so social issues are the least of my worries with the world's direction right now." 
Dad, "Oh, so you support Obama." 
Me, "Pounding my head against the wall." 
Uncle, "You went to Texas Tech, and now you are a damn democrat? I thought that school was conservative?" 
Me, "I still support lower taxes and the right to bear arms, and this has nothing to do with Tech, but yes, I have an educated opinion now." 

7. You get more happiness from a clean house to start the week, than a hangover. Chores, become an everyday part of your routine, and you have learned to appreciate them.

8. You realize it's impressive your parents kept you alive giving birth in their 20s, because how in the heck could you do the same in your current situation? A new profound respect arises. So maybe they didn't pick the best clothes that looked like table clothes, you are still alive and walking! :)

9. You enjoy your morning coffee at 7:00 a.m. on the weekends rather than sleeping in. And it is difficult to sleep in with your everyday work schedule of 7 a.m.

10. Those life lessons you didn't know actually meant the world, are starting to take effect right now. For example: putting 50% of that paycheck into savings......yeah.....

11. After your early 20s and that college weight, your health starts to be top priority, just as your parents are focused on their health for future grandkids. 


12. Food that did not taste good before that your parents ate, you are either open to try and like the food or you actually enjoy eating that food. My mother's is fritos and bean dip....I have not started to like this yet. God blessed us when it came to road trips and mother's breath. 

13. You spend countless minutes on the phone catching up with family members more than your long distance friends.

14. You appreciate a handwritten letter, since you are constantly bombarded with email.

15. Your interest in TV shows and documentaries start to take an interesting turn. They may be more historical and about mother nature? 

16. You start saying those weird catch phrases your parents say. For example, "I was on you like white on rice. or I was faster than a rooster on a june bug." 

17. You focus on mending bridges you burnt. You are not influenced by drama anymore.

18. Odd things make you laugh more than usual. 

19. You stop driving like a bat out of hell. 

20. Parties are starting to turn into a glass/bottle of wine with the ladies or meeting up on the patio to smoke a cigar. 

21. New technology is sometimes frustrating to adjust to now. 

22. You are worried about the generation that follows you. 

23. You're okay with being alone instead of surrounded by people. 

24. Religion is starting to be a priority. Morals and ethics are also impacting your future decisions. Consequences are serious. 

25. Already mapping out what your future children are and are not going to be allowed to do after your own experiences. 

I guess this list could be similar to 'Reasons you are starting to Grow Up,' which is the same as comparing yourself to your responsible, disciplined and successful parents. Putting the right priorities first, and focusing on a better, longer life for your future with children or being a millionaire or developing into the next motivational speaker. I will never eat fritos and bean dip in front of my future children like my mother did, because that is just cruel and unusual punishment. Love you, Mom! 

Unionization: Athletes are Employees

It's not really an argument on unionization, it is an argument that the NCAA has fought for years - can athletes make a profit while in college? Can they be considered employees? I agree with most of the athletes. They work very hard, and if they would rather receive a paycheck than tuition, then that should be up to them.  

Johnny Manziel is a prime example. If his signature makes him money, why can't he profit? The NCAA and colleges take advantage of these players and they make money off of jersey and ticket sales, why can't athletes take a percentage of what their OWN NAME is worth? It can be considered an incentive to some athletes. If you work your butt off, and become a very popular athlete, then you can financially benefit. Win for the player. Win for the NCAA. Win for the school's publicity, ticket sales, and RECRUITING. 

I understand this argument. "That the scholarships are a transfer of economic value is evident from the fact that the Employer pays for the players' tuition, fees, room, board, and books for up to five years," Peter Ohr wrote. "While it is true that the players do not receive a paycheck in the traditional sense, they nevertheless receive a substantial economic benefit for playing football."

However, college is not for everyone. So why not let these athletes choose between tuition or a paycheck? These athletes aren't complaining that they get tuition, fees, room, board and books payed for, not to mention the best nutritionists and weight training provided to them. They are making an argument for banding together in order to get the NCAA to listen, and hopefully make money off of their hard work. 

Think about it this way many of these athletes have no time for a second job or an internship while in college, because whatever sport they are participating in is their second job. When they graduate they have a degree in their hands, yes, but no experience. Don't get me wrong, I am not trying to make you feel sorry for them. They have the best benefits, but it kind of sets them up for failure. You either make it to the pros, or you pray that an employer will take a chance on you without any experience. Why do you think most former athletes go into a sports related field like training, coaching, broadcast etc.? Their name caries weight, but outside the realm of sports they need real-world experience. 

Say an athlete gets into the pros, and signs a million dollar contract with several endorsements. He or she is not use to making that kind of money, is not use to the financial obligation, because in college they don't even get a taste of that kind of wealth. A couple years later they are bankrupt with a ripped up body, all because they were not prepared. There is a huge gap between college and the pros. 

The Northwestern football players did receive the vote to unionize. The reason why players are trying to unionize is, because there is no other choice when going up against the NCAA. When Northwestern called the NCAA a "dictatorship," I laughed out loud, because it is ridiculously true. Times are changing, and the NCAA needs to adapt. Jerseys, season ticket sales, autographs, and other materialistic things the NCAA can profit off of an athlete's name is not fair to the athlete that busted his or her butt to make it profitable. 

I could go on for days about the NCAA and their stupid minute rules and all of them are based on their own greed and not learning how to adapt to change. Do you see them following Alabama closely? No, because guess who made them a ton of money last year....ALABAMA. They will nit pick Texas Tech coaches for sending out text messages to recruits congratulating them on a good game, but will not look into how Nick Saban replenishes his championship team every year? Don't get me wrong, the state of Alabama has a ton of stout recruits, I know that. 

Had the NCAA even decided on the University of Miami's punishment yet? I gave up hope and stopped following that process. ESPN 30 for 30 exposes everything about The U already. I am just saying they drag their feet on big names schools for a reason.  Also, currently the NCAA is fighting a class-action federal lawsuit by former players seeking a cut of the billions of dollars generated from live broadcasts, memorabilia sales and video games. There is my random rant on the NCAA. The NCAA sucks. That is all.

So this is where Northwestern stands.

The decision paves the way for an election to be held in which only scholarship players can vote. But Northwestern will likely request the full board in Washington to review Peter Ohr's ruling before that can happen. The school has two weeks to do so.

Parting thoughts: I hope the players unionize, and bring out the absolute worst in the NCAA. Someone needs to reveal why the NCAA makes the decisions they do, and explain how giving the players a percentage of their net worth will ultimately make the NCAA suffer. Good riddance.