OK, yeah I know some of you don't like them; but, I gotta give a special shout out and major props the the CBC (Congressional Black Caucus). Not only did they come together and support the DREAM Act. They also held firm in opposing president Barack Obama's proposed tax deal with Republicans. I gotta tell you, as much talk that goes around about black folks not sticking together. I gotta stop and give props when deserved. I mean on a day when Barack Obama reached out for help in selling the deal from America's first black president, Bill Clinton. It's good to see that black folks who remember the good ole days of Negro bliss did not cave in... Not yet anyway:
Once again big ups to the CBC for not being a rubberstamp for Barack Obama and standing on principle. I mean if black folks can't get a "special handout" to create jobs in these economic times, and are forced to wait for that rising tide to float the sinking Mayflower that is the hood. Why then should they support the wealthy top 2% here in America? And another thing, Rep. Sheila Jackson Lee (D-TX) is right. This is truly about the Republicans. Yeah, I'm still kinda salty about the compromise, but it's time to get back to focusing on the GOP. I still think we should fight this proposal. However, it's time to shift attention to the GOP douchebags who have no regard for the welfare of regular not-so-wealthy folks like you and I. Once again, big up CBC, as well as Dems willing to fight.
So, a lady who works at my wife's office was killed by her boyfriend, and then later killed himself at the scene because she broke up with him. This is the second or maybe third murder-suicide incident here in Memphis in recent weeks. There was another case a few weeks ago where a woman broke up with a guy only to have him hold her and her roommates hostage in her apartment. Only to shoot and kill her and her father who showed up to mediate before turning the gun on himself. And then there's this other guy who "allegedly" killed his ex-girlfriend and stuffed her in a car trunk the other week. I guess he didn't like the idea of her putting a restraining order on him so he did** what he did.
In the case of my wife's co-worker, it was revealed that the ex-boyfriend didn't take the break up well, and was even hospitalized on a psych ward. Only to be released by whom we don't know, to commit yet another senseless act in the name of love and heartbreak. I've had some pretty shitty breakups, and yes, I've even had my heart broken and trampled on a time or two. And yeah I've been an emotional wreck after a breakup before - thank God for Mary J. Blige's "What The 411" album. But never in my life have I ever imagined or even envisioned causing harm to the women who in my opinion did me wrong. I may have wanted to shake the shit out of 'em, but never kill them.
There is nothing I hate more than a man who does not appreciate a meal that I prepare for him. I KNOW I am a good cook. I have gotten too many compliments about my food to NOT take pride in my ability to throw down in the kitchen. One of my favorite boasting points in my life is the fact that I was chosen to be on the editorial board of a cooking magazine, and several of my recipes have been published over the years (Pork Chops Pizzaiola, Chicken and Rice, and Crock Pot Chicken and Sausage). So, nothing makes me more pissed than someone insulting my cooking skills.
Cooking for someone is the primary method I use to let the know that I really care. If I really am feeling a man, the first thing I do to show him how I feel is cook him a nice dinner. I think one of the reasons my ex and I were together for so long (four years) was because of the Tupperware containers full of home cooked food that I would bring to his house every time I saw him. He once told me he would NEVER eat West Indian food cooked by someone who was not West Indian. Of course, once he tasted my oxtail and beans and my salt fish with onions, he changed his tune on that issue. My friend Henrietta tells me my Macaroni and Cheese is the best she ever had, and that is saying a lot because she comes from a family of great cooks! I like to experiment in the kitchen, and I love cooking different “ethnic” cuisines… Indian, Mexican, Italian (of course), Chinese, etc. Not claiming that my dishes are “authentic” (well other than the Italian ones) but I know they taste DAMN GOOD!
Anyway, back to my original point. If a man DOES NOT appreciate my cooking, there is NO WAY I can be in a relationship with him. Just NOT going to happen! I had one man over for dinner on two occasions. The first time, I made a delicious pot roast in the crock pot. I got a lukewarm reception from him. The next time, he asked me to make HAMBURGERS. Just ordinary, run of the mill BURGERS. Then, when he came over, he wouldn’t even eat the damn thing because it was NOT PLAIN ENOUGH for him. Needless to say, I did not continue to date him. Hell, I didn’t even allow him the distinction of being an FWB or a booty call. Nope, when you degrade my cooking, you cannot possibly expect to get the ass! Not gonna happen!
So now everyone has taken lead from Obama's recent press conference chastisement of his fellow republi... oops, I mean democrats, liberals, and or progressives alike. Yes, we have moved into "let's blame the democrats" mode. Uh-huh, even the White House today is in on that act. Yep, like a guy who has just cheated on his wife with her sister, the White House is now absconding responsibility and blaming his penis...
"My penis has a mind of it's own, baby... I love you, but it ain't my fault. As a matter of fact, it's partly your momma and daddy's fault! They shoulda known better than to make two of you with a nice fat booty and big titties!"
My man Kriss from The Insanity Report has a post up over at theFreshXpress which makes a good case for pointing fingers at House democrats for Obama's compromise with republicans. But I'm sorry, I just can't buy the excuse for Obama's "compromise" much like many people are; to me, there's no acceptable justification. But hey, like Obama, I'm "itching for a fight" about this in the comment section below - take ya best shot, you just might convince me.
Will the extension of these tax cuts create jobs as being sold by the administration and the Republicans? NO! Is it morally corrupt to borrow $900 billion under the guise of “stimulating the economy” when only 2% of the wealthy own small businesses (which are the engine of the economy) while people making $40K and less will see a tax hike? YES!! Oh yeah, individuals earning less than $20K and families making less that $40K will see a tax hike under this proposal, while the wealthy will, well, get even richer at the expense of tax payers.
I'm sorry, but I think Barack Obama should own his shit; and the people defending his compromise should realize the error of their actions. I mean, this is in fact the same black president who stood up in a black church on Father's day and preached responsibility to black men and the black community at large while pandering to other members of the then electorate, no? Yeah, that damn "R-Word" can be a bitch at times; I know, I hate it as much as you do.
But anyway, I won't even waste your time talking about Paul Krugman's piece explaining how the economic ramifications of this deal could seriously affect Obama's re-election chances in 2012. I mean who wants to talk about boring shit like the economy or another hostage situation December, 2011. Instead, I'm gonna end by asking: Should Barack Obama fail to get re-elected to a second term, who exactly do we blame?
Last month I spoke against TSA's touchy-feely business and it seems that there are more people out there like me. According to Gallup Polls, 42% of people are bothered or angered about pat downs and scans; yet people don't mind the loss of privacy as a method to dealing with terrorism. Huhn? Yes, we are some complicated beings I suppose.
As in the case of John Tyner in the earlier part of November, who was harassed by a TSA official for refusing a body scan and pat down; there is something that churns my gut when ignorance and power-tripping merge in the form of $15 an hour and a corny blue suit. Tyner who is known for the comment to a TSA worker, "If you touch my junk, I'll have you arrested," brought up a thought I had in my head since my partial mammogram @ LAX in October.
Do these new TSA security practices borderline sexual harassment? And how sure are we that the TSA worker is ethical in the searches? Everyone knows that they are underpaid lapdogs enforcing strict codes of others who get the bulk of the sizable security contracts from the bureau of Homeland Security.
I propose that we implement a psychological evaluation of checkpoint workers. You never know who is looking at your pu$$y. I feel sorry for a celebrity. I can see it right now. X-rays of Janet Jackson's silicon breasts and the Kardashians' (including their skank-ass mama) reconstructed vaginas on eBay for $50.
I did something the other night that I have not done since I was in college: I wrote a letter to the editor of the newspaper. I read an editorial the other day in which the writer made a ludicrous assertion that Food Stamps are making poor people fat. He then went on to state that Food Stamps should be discontinued, as should school breakfast and lunch programs. I guess he is of the opinion that it is better to be malnourished than to be a bit overweight.
The basic premise of his opinion is flawed. He claims that poor people eat more because they get such a huge amount of Food Stamps that they overeat rather than lose out on the Stamps. This is just about the most ridiculous thing I have heard! First of all, it is not like Food Stamps gives an exorbitant amount of assistance. $668 for a family of four is not a huge amount of money for a month's worth of food. People who rely on the Food Stamps program have to make food choices that will allow them to get the most for that money, and the cost of so-called "health foods" are prohibitive.
Let's face it, the less nutritional value and the more fat in a food the less the food costs in many cases. For example, chicken wings and legs are 1/2 to 1/3 the cost of chicken breasts. Yes, they are higher in fat than breasts, so nutritionally the wiser choice would be breasts. However, if you are on a limited food budget, the legs and wings would be the better choice. Similarly, sugar-free and fat-free versions of many other foods cost more than the regular versions. In addition, generic foods are cheaper than name brands, and most of the time, generics do not come in lower fat versions.
I don't know when it was the last time Barack Obama had some Harold's Fried Chicken, Leon's BBQ, or some Dock's Fish. Hell, I don't know when it was the last time he has been to Chicago. But you know what? I think it's time for the brother to take a trip back to the crib to chill with the homies for a minute.
Excuse me for being "sanctimonious", but Barack needs to give Rev. Jeremiah Wright a call. Yep, he needs to give the man a call, go home, kiss the rings, and repent. Shit, throw on those shoes with the holes in 'em and take a walk around the hood for a minute. Oh, and trust me, I'm saying this 'cuz I love this brotha.
No seriously, anytime "certain people" (read: white folks) are able to get a man to "compromise" on where he goes to church on Sunday morning. Is it any wonder that he caved to republicans on extending tax cuts for the rich? No wonder fellow Chicago resident, Rev. Jessie Jackson, feels as let down as he says he is. Somehow I know you're just gonna chalk him up as just another Obama hater.
Have you noticed just how quickly it's gotten cold all across the country. You may think it's just the natural progression of the weather. But I say it's the Obama effect which is the result of making a "deal" with the devil by extending those awesomely groovy Bush Tax Cuts. Yeah, that was fucked up, Barack; and now that hell has frozen over, because of your compromise there are icicles on my balls. Sure you might say it's winter and that's what's supposed to happen; but, I'm not buying it. The president has capitulated and hell hath frozen over.
Speaking of "buying it," lemme hit you in the head on how I feel about my president's decision to cut a deal with Republicans on our tax dollars without any of us in the room. Yeah I know I've already mentioned that this move was "fucked up." However, allow me to approach this in less simple terms and use a philosophy that I've employed as a tool professionally for the last 19yrs of my career in Sales & Marketing. Yes, I've profited from this philosophy, and I even apply it to my everyday life. What can I say? Life is one big sale; somebody is always selling, and somebody's always buying; and this is why there are Lemon Laws. But hey, a bargain is what is perceived, and Barack Obama knows this.
The minute I heard that the president literally struck a "deal" with republicans I was concerned. Automatically I knew the American people (and more specifically his democratic base) would be subjected to yet another "sales job" much like the impromptu press conference yesterday. Sure the target audience was actually the pissed off House democrats, but hey, given that "we the people" are in love with John Wayne diplomacy, I knew we were in for a show, in a "wag the dog" fashion.
As a salesman, one of the first things you learn is that a bargain is what is perceived. In other words, if I as a salesman were to sell you a shit sandwich (much like Obama did yesterday), it is up to me to convince you that not only is it the best shit sandwich unlike any other shit sandwich, but that it is actually good for you - I mean, who really wants to eat shit, right?
And Obama said he has to take John Boehner at his word...
But see, another thing you learn as a salesman when it comes to making deals, or closing the sale, is a simple line or tool used to convince the customer that making the purchase is the right thing to do. Like I said, it's a simple (but effective) line that goes something like this:
There are two times in life when you absolutely buy something: 1) when you have no other choice and you have to, and 2) when an opportunity presents itself (Translation: when a bargain is too good to pass up).
Listening to Obama's press conference yesterday, I laughed. No seriously, I laughed my ass off as images of the cheesy car salesman smacking gum wearing a plaid suit filled my mind with the bullshit I was hearing. Yeah the whole "I had to do this for the American people... I had no other choice," and "This is gonna stimulate the economy and create jobs... blah, blah, blah" bit was laughable. Yeah Barack... Heard it all before isn't just a long forgotten R&B song by Sunshine Anderson, my man.
But as to be expected, some of you idiots bought it hook line and sinker. Hell, if he mentioned weapons of mass destruction twice as much as he mentioned "hostage," with your blessings we'd be invading Canada looking for the 7ft tall man of middle-eastern descent who started this financial crisis. But hey, I suppose this is yet another reason "master salesmen" are encouraged to not ever speak financial details in the close of the sale. Yep, noticeable absent from Obama's sales pitch (or close) were actual figures and cost. I mean why mention to the customer that this deal isn't really a win-win when you can tell them that it is and they believe you just because you the expert were the one who said it? But hey, the basis for deal making is that you get what you want when they get what they want, right? Right? Riiiiiight!
Sorry Barack, you call this a good thing for the American people, and I call bullshit. If you're gonna have to borrow $900 billion dollars (from who knows which Chinese restaurant) to help the economy and create jobs. Don't you think it would serve the interest of "we the people" to spend it directly impacting lives rather than its current form of a Christmas present to the wealthiest 2% in the nation who are rolling in the dough?
Yep, and they sure do need that new Estate Tax concession, right?
I don't know about you, but this isn't a bargain. I could be wrong, but it sounds like the beginning of the end. The end of something that was special once upon a time. That would be, the idea of instilling hope, and the ushering in of change. But sadly, what we are seeing is more of the same old politics as usual. Where the wealthy plutocratic elites continue to eat extravagantly while wiping their asses with $100 bills, and us the poor, will continue to starve - Lord forbid if there's a double dip recession, but we'll see in 13mths when unemployment extensions have expired once again. Waterloo my ass, sounds more like Doomsday! Maybe you dumbasses who support the "compromise" should watch this and learn a thing or two:
Dare I say it? I swear I don't want to, but I gotta be honest. BET is the only cable network that consistently features black talent. People, I'm scared right now. How did we come back to the same place we were in the 80s? Absolutely few outlets are celebrating the spine of American music, and the breath of global music---soul music.
So I caught a rerun of the Soul Train Awards (oops sorry, I was watching the Eagles game that night) and enjoyed the Anita Baker Tribute. It was refreshing and sad to see phenomenal vocalists that have limited exposure or have been white-washed out of the industry.
Take for example, the genius Rachelle Ferrell. When I was reporting, people said Rachelle would not make it due to her facial expressions.
Have you ever seen them? Nicki Minaj's twisted big mouth ain't got shit on her.
But the melody that comes out of her mouth. Bee-u-tee-ful. And then there was Kem, my gurl Chrisette, Faith (I'm still rocking 'Soon As I Get Home') and Lalah Hathaway.
Then in between the commercials there were performances by Eric Benet, Tank, and other people desperately attempt to revive a career or maintain a fleeting one. If you are an artist in this business, and you think that only good music and the people's choice gets radio play, you are bound to get the creative spirit kicked out of you.
Running out of famous Black athletes to sleep with, Kim K runs her booty game on an old school legend.
HOLLYWOOD - The reality show world was rocked today when it was announced that celebutard Kim Kardashian was in "a very serious" relationship with rice magnate Uncle Ben. The two have been seen snuggling and kissing all around L.A.
"Kim's in love," said one anonymous friend. 'She likes her men black and rich, I guess she doesn't cares about age."
Many in the gossip community think Kardashian and her sisters are goldiggers, targeting rich, not too bright black athletes to marry and mate with. One report said Kim K. and her sister had a leather-bound copy of the NFL and NBA Salary Report, looking for prospects. Kim was reported to have said. "They really should list IQ's in here next to the signing bonuses."
“He who warned uh, the British that they weren't gonna be takin' away our arms, uh by ringing those bells, and um, makin' sure as he's riding his horse through town to send those warning shots and bells that we were going to be sure and we were going to be free, and we were going to be armed.” -- Sarah Palin on Paul Revere
