Make sure this year is better than all the others, and do everything in your power to accomplish all your resolutions.  Actually, make this year THE ONE that you accomplish all your goals!

    Pledge to do some of the things you've always wanted to do but couldn't find the time or the funds.

  Seriously STOP with the HATING and begin LOVING and SUPPORTING unconditionally.

  Drop an old grudge!!!  Call that friend you have had that old grudge with and let them know that you will let "bygones be bygones", and you hope they will do the same.  Replace that grudge with the pleasant memories you built with that friend.

  Stop rivaling your associates.  Be self-determining in working toward and pursuing your aspirations...YOUR OWN ASPIRATIONS!  Moreover, devise what you are working towards "a work of genius!"

   Be comfortable "in your skin".  Love yourself...Love who you are...Love what you are and what you do.  Don't be troubled about what others may think of you, only worry about you - because "IT'S ALL ABOUT YOU" and all about the positive things you do.

    In these difficult and troubled times focus on keeping your head up.  It may be complex for you to do so, but you must remember "life is like a roller coaster, filled with ups and downs."  Therefore, you must hold on during all the twists, turns, and downs, and be mindful that the ups are forthcoming.

    Vow not to make promises you don't think you can keep.

    Express your feelings freely and openly, and don't be afraid to say the sweetest words "I LOVE YOU" more often.

    Resolve to make at least one person happy every day, even with just a smile.

   As you did in the past 2 years, make this year "The year of Change"!  Continue with what was driving  many of us during the most historical elections...Change, an overall change in every aspect of our life.

    Vow to take someone else along with you once you have accomplished your goals.  Give them a helping hand...boost them up so they can become as successful as you have become.

Being that this is the beginning of the new year, we couldn't help but reflect on the past decade, which started out with fear and continued throughout these 10 years.  Major change came to America as well as major history was made!  Please take some time to read some of the important things that took place throughout this decade.

• It all began with Y2K, which instilled fear in a large number of people.  You see, the year 2000 was supposedly the year all computers around the world were to shut down at 12:00 Midnight on December 31, 1999, due to a software glitch in all computer programs.  This caused many to be in a frenzy over food, water, and the purchasing of other emergency preparedness products.

•  

• Lies and dishonesty on the part of our Government with the Election results between President Bush and Vice President Al Gore in 2000 where many cried foul with the vote count in Florida.  It was determined that President Bush won, but to many he didn't.  Many felt it was stolen due to rigged and dishonest voting practices.  Funny George Bush's brother was the Governor in Florida at the time...LOL!

• September 11,  2001, we all will never forget because it was the saddest day in American history.  Over 3000 lives were lost in the largest terrorist act in America.   The attacks were targeted in New York, specifically on the World Trade Center Buildings and The Pentagon in Washington DC.  This was horrifying, and it saddened, stunned and angered everyone in America and around the world.  We sat in front of our televisions and watched the buildings burned; in horror we saw many people jumping from the buildings;  and finally the devastating sight of the buildings collapsing knowing many were trapped and was unable to get out before they fell.  The heart wrenching search and discovery tore all of us apart...so many tears were shed, so many questions were unanswered, so many people lost someone who was dear to them on this devastating day.  This is so disturbing for me, just mentioning this incredible incident is making me sick...my stomach in knots all over again!

These attacks resulted in the lost of the security we had grown to appreciate throughout the years.  Click the picture on the right to view the saddest time in American History during this Decade.  (Courtesy of MOOsiCOW Productions).

• After 9-11 a war in Afghanistan began as a so-called hunt for Osama bin Laden (Leader and founder of Al Qaeda 1988.)  Osama is on the American Federal Bureau of Investigation's list of FBI Ten Most Wanted Fugitives.   The war moved on to Iraq.  Our families and loved ones are still in far away lands fighting this War.  

Additionally, we saw Saddam Hussein (President of Iraq) crawl out of a whole and was captured by American forces.  He was later found guilty of crimes against humanity and sentenced to death. He was executed/hung publicly and televised around the world in 2006 (Sooooo Barbaric).

• Global Warming. Our eyes and ears were opened to the issues of the earth's atmosphere heating up.  We also witnessed the polar ice caps melting in the North pole at a rapid rate.  We realized global warming is a serious issue.  Many thanks to Former Vice President Al Gore and many others for alerting us to this important problem.

• December 26, 2004, we saw one of the worst and deadliest natural disasters occur.  Due to an earthquake - magnitude of 9.1 to 9.3 (2nd strongest earthquake ever recorded) off the coast of Indonesian Island of Sumatra, a TSUNAMI was triggered that produced waves up to 100+ feet high.  Approximately 230,000 people lost their lives in fourteen countries from Malaysia to Somalia on Africa's east coast (more than 3,000 miles away.)  In Indonesia thousands lost their lives, which saddened so many of us around the world.

• Hurricane Katrina in 2005 had us all in tears as we witnessed devastations that was so hard to ever imagine - an entire city in Louisiana (New Orleans) completely destroyed and flooded.  Along with the devastation was widespread panic, suffering and death.  Many spent days stranded on the roofs of their homes or at the Superdome waiting for help (food, water, etc.) from our Government which seemed to never come.  New Orleans looked like a 3rd World country and not something happening in supposedly the greatest and most powerful nation. I will never forget the sight of human beings (bodies) floating on the roads that were filled with water, as well as the animals.  The desperation of so many people crying out for help and to be rescued was very upsetting!  

• Hurricanes blasted through the Islands as well as through the United States and were very tragic.  Again, so many lives were lost.  We saw water filled streets in the islands for months, and people who lost everything.  Powerful and catastrophic Tornadoes, floods, earthquakes, fires and so many more natural disasters took place during this decade.

• We saw gas prices increase drastically throughout the decade. In 1999 the cost was $1.29 per gallon and increased to over $4.00 per gallon.  Last year in 2009 we saw it dropped to $2.52 per gallon, but it was still an incredible increase from 1999.

• Technology: Internet usage grew significantly from millions of users to billions of users.  So phenomenal to witness the boom of the internet and social networks.  People who never used computers, got on them and learned to use them!

• American Idols competed and the best idols were selected by the American people, and were crowned.  Many became some of the hottest artists of this decade.

• "Auto Tune" changed the sound of popular music around the world.  Folks who could not sing, and even rappers added auto tune to their vocal tracks and became instant hits.

• Singer and actress Beyonce' Knowles, along with husband Rapper and Music Mogul Jay-Z (Shawn Carter) are the most successful, powerful and hottest artists of the decade.  Miley Cyrus (Hanna Montana) was also a very successful artist of the decade.

• So many people excelled in athletics.  The ones we saw who were and is still excellent are:

The William's sisters (Venus and Serina) dominated tennis.  

Tiger Woods practically took over golf, and became the greatest golfer of our time.

Jamaica's Usain Bolt won every race he competed in, and broke records upon records.  He is THE fastest in the world.

• The recession in America, left many incredible talented and educated people without jobs, losing their homes and assets.  

*The crashing of the Stock Market

*Collapsing of the banking industry

*The real estate market crashing

*The weakening and failing of the Car industry

*Americans losing their jobs, homes, assets, etc. and is still suffering.

• The King of Pop Michael Jackson dies at 50, and many other entertainers such as the Godfather of Soul James Brown, Rick James the King of Punk Funk and actress Farrah Fawcett.  Indeed we lost many more during this decade!

• The highpoint of the decade was the 2008 Election that promised Change.  The campaign was very competitive, truly exciting and brought many of us who thought nothing of politics out in the open talking and participating in the process.

• The awe-inspiring feeling of witnessing the first African-American win the Presidential election in the United States, and witnessing him take the oath of office.

• WOW!!! United States certainly when through a lot of CHANGES during the final years of this decade! 

As we close, we wish each and every one of you a Happy New Year and a bright and prosperous 2010!

Please check out our "Featured Events" below, or Log into our "Events" page for all the "What's Happening".

Until Next Week, Take Good Care of yourselves and Have a lovely weekend! 

Feel free to always comment regarding this commentary or any of my past E-Newsletter commentaries, and I thank you for all the intriguing and thought provoking comments you send me on a regular basis.  As usual, I am eager to hear your thoughts on all I wrote above, so I look forward to having you share them with me: susan@ariousentertainment.us. 

Please check out our "Featured Events" below! Additionally log on to our  "Events" page to see all the events we are informed of.  Additionally, if you would like to share your thoughts on any of the issues above,  feel  free to send it directly to me at:  susan@ariousentertainment.us.

Have a great weekend! 

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