What's the first thing you think of when you hear or read the terms, diplomatic immunity? Politics? Nations? Get away with what you want?

My week has started out in a very good note. The weekend wasn't great but favorable. As I was having the many random conversations I have on AIM  with one of my good friends, Brandon, I realized the spectrum of which my friends are in. It got me thinking to the status that I have always had in society. Social networking has helped our lives personally and professionally. No, I will not be discussing the movie. I just wanted to touch on the fact that it is very important to have a large network and knowing to keep the balance from your personal to your professional life. I'm not just talking online networking but actually being out there in person shaking hands. I have always told my little sisters to keep their heads down and stay away from drama. But as drama is, it's difficult to avoid because it attacks in every single direction you can think of. 
I have always had a diplomatic approach to everything. I am the, so called, Rusty Ryan (Ocean's 11) of the group. You know, the one that everyone comes to for advice with pretty much anything that has to do with life. To me, it's important to have those types of relationships, regardless of the distance between me and that certain individual. Throughout high school, I was the one that everyone knew but did not know. The "cool" guy. You could ask anyone about me and they would have a similar response. Something along the lines of, "Oh, yeah. Mahmood? He's cool, yeah I know him, why?" High school (whether you loved it or hated it) was the perfect place to work on diplomatic and networking skills. We all know back in high school, even now, have cliques. You have the jocks, cheerleaders, nerds, etc. The act of diplomacy here is that you never choose a side. In order to be successful in such status you must always have an open mind and a sharpened wit. In fact, the only 'clique' you should be in is being the company of other 'diplomats'.
That was not too difficult for me since I'm a non-confrontational person by nature. As a gentleman or a lady would, walk into a room expecting many hand shakes but never expect walking out of it with anything else. You want to blend it but not get lost. You want to make a statement but not make you the center of the room. This builds an impressive reputation that will be carried on for years - unless, you want to destroy yourself later. At a later point, you will soon realize you will need no introduction and the most effective and cheapest way of marketing - word of mouth - will do the work for you. Soon enough, you will be the first on the list and that many will approach for whatever reason. Desiring the attention will get you nowhere, wanting to help others in a genuine manner will take you to heights that most envy. 

- Gentleman Tip of the Day -
After having a conversation about shoes today with my friend, Brandon (again), it got me to thinking how there are many men who tend to worry too much about them when it comes to formal and semi-formal events. There are 5 styles of dress shoes, gentleman. Learn to know them. 

1. Oxfords - the most common and safest way to go. Pure elegance and simplicity.
2. Cap toes - a little flamboyance doesn't hurt anyone.
3. Loafers - the one that you can wear both in a formal attire (or semi-formal) and in casual manner.
4. Dress boots - these suckers are expensive than the others but a style that cannot be matched. 
5. Monk strap - A tweaked version of the loafers but stylish in its own right.