Wanda Sykes on Government Bailout and Palin

Love her. She really should have her own show. This is what I call keeping it R-E-A-L, lol.


LOL @ the Epcot center remark. Wanda Sykes for Secretary of State!

Blackstar? - Echo?

I'm not sure many of you noticed, but I just did. Blackstar hasn't posted since mid-September. Please call her out. She should be ashamed....I'm just sayin'

You Decide - Who's the Elitist?

Love this graphic, pretty much sums it up. Time for the Obama campaign to start fighting back.

[double-click to enlarge]

Leaked Simpsons Episode to Air November 2, 2008

Check out the vid below. Homer tries to vote for Obama, see what happens. Damn.


[thanks shabooty]

I LOVE Asians - This is HILARIOUS

Just saw this on Shabooty, this has me ROLLIN':


LOL, tell me he didn't HANDLE that ish!

Saw this too - check the Jesus wall message (double click to zoom in):

For the Ipod...

Here are some songs I've had on rotation on my ipod. It's a random mix of genres (some, I'm even a little embarrassed of), but I love these songs.







Our ATL Theme Song


Oh and I've NEVER smoked ANYthing before (not good for you), but these songs relax me, seriously - try it:




Btw, what does P.O.D'ded mean? I've been trying to figure this out for years...guess it doesn't matter since I make up all my own words for these songs anyway...just wondering...

Stress & Uncle Sam

Note: I'm writing this at 1am - excuse any typos or ramblings...
Sorry I've been MIA, but since MP called me out (wink), I thought I'd mention why I've been slacking on my blogging duties. First of all this financial crisis, election coverage, and talks of a 700 BILLION DOLLAR bailout have been STRESSING ME OUT. And ironically, when I'm stressed out I spend money. Funny how a good shopping spree can make you forget your worries....

While out of town this weekend at the ATL Classic (yay FAMU), I went INSANE (not really, still budgeting - gotta stack paper) at the Lenox Mall and yea, I got that monitor too. Why? Because I TOLD YOU, I was STRESSED THE F*CK OUT! To add to my frustrations, I just find out today that there are going to be layoffs at my company over the next few months. Tomorrow 38 people will be notified that they may have to pack up their bags and "roll off" of our contract. Whatev...

Side Note: Not too worried about the job, but I think I'm finally coming to the realization, now that I'm 26 and 1 day, that I'm probably stuck in this viscous cycle of working forever @ b.s. jobs unless I do something drastic. I hate it! Do I sound like I feel "entitled" to live my lifestyle without working? Maybe. But who cares, I HATE THIS SHIT. I mean I have a great job, it's cool, but do I feel like I'm fulfilling my purpose? - NO. Maybe this is just a quarterlife crisis? Not sure, but whatever it is, I'm definitely going to use it as motivation to get my "entrepreneur" hustle on 100%.

On the bright side, I have an awesome computer monitor and I LOVE my new clothes which I rarely splurge on. Yay-ah!

Oh, before I forget, what do you all think about the bailout? I just read that it was passed in the Senate with a vote of 74-25. I was against it from the beginning, yet I can't see an easy way out of this crisis without doing something pretty drastic. However, I would be more in favor of helping people from the bottom up by significantly lowering interest rates on mortgage loans or giving tax credits (to everyone this time without income restrictions). I mean you all know me, I would've reinvested my savings back into the economy somehow. ;-)

New Financial Plan: Marry a Beer Heir

Finance 101: Coping in a Tight Economic Market

Unfortunately, we've all been watching the news and have heard of the current (and growing) financial crisis taking place on Wall St.. I'm not one to typically give financial advice, but I've been reading some articles, and thought I should set up a sound economic plan for myself (with the help of my financial planner). So, I thought I'd share. Attached are just a few random tips. Add to these as you wish.

1. Don't skimp on your 401k - think LONG-TERM. Maybe you want to reallocate your portfolio, but do not skimp on your future. "...history shows that some of the best long-term gains go to investors willing to buy stocks when they’re reviled, as in the years following major setbacks like the 1929 crash and the 1973-1974 bear market." [CNN]
2. Think of new and creative ways to cut back.
   

• Try shopping at your local farmer's market as opposed to eating out - buy only the essentials, don't overdo it in the grocery store.
• Pack your own lunch. To escape the office go for a walk during the day.
• Drink TAP, studies are finding that drinking from a water bottle may actually be more harmful than drinking right from your tap. Takes a little adjusting, but the savings are worth it.
  
• Take public transportation instead of driving your vehicle.
• Cut back on brand names (generic acetaminophen is the same as Tylenol, lol). And Payless is not the devil, unless you're in those shoes for more than 4 hours, then it's hell.
  
• Stop smoking!!! That $5 a day habit + future medical expenses will save you a fortune.
• Give yourself a budget each week and take out exactly that much in cash - when you run out you are DONE. Do not allow yourself to use plastic - it's just TOO easy.

3. Find a side hustle. Maybe you DJ, promote parties, or just love expressing yourself in artistic ways - do what works for you. Be creative.

4. Stash away that emergency savings (3-6 months living expenses). You never know if your company may be undergoing layoffs as a result of this declining market. Never get too comfortable. Savings should be a minimum of 10% of your income (in addition to your retirement savings).

5. In the event of number four, make sure that your resume is up to date and that you are keeping your skills current. Be ahead of the competition!

6. I know this is a tough one ladies - but try doing your own hair a couple times/month. We all know how expensive the salon can be. However, maybe you can at least discover a Dominican salon - good deals.

7. Get rid of that gym membership and hit the pavement. Cardio is cardio.

Here are a few that are slightly more controversial:

1. Do not loan money to friends OR family unless you can afford to NEVER see it again.
2. Do not pick up the tab when dining with friends. If they can't afford it, leave them at home. Oh, and please avoid that drunken "Round of shots on me" scene by leaving your plastic at the crib.
   
3. If you can't afford the vacation/tv/computer in cash, then now is not the time to be jet-setting or stunting in Best Buy. Sorry boo. Got to get our money tight and get it right.
   

Peace, love, and prosperity buppies.

P.S. - I really want to start this savings strategy AFTER I buy a new LCD monitor for my computer. Lord show me the way.

Catch SNL this Weekend?

Pretty Funny. What do you think?

So I went to the movies and.....

I'm fed up and I believe we need to have a freaking TOWN HALL MEETING. Here's what happened:
1. Me and my friend decided we were going to see "The Family that Preys"
2. I drove all the way out to Potomac, Maryland to see this movie, avoiding Silver Spring's theater b/c I KNEW it was going to be on and popping in the SS theater.
3. We get in the movies and find a seat....we're pumped up to see this movie.
4. The previews air....... and there's noise, but we're cool b/c it's only previews.
5. The movie begins - and um, I'm a little pissed b/c I am truly believing that the noise will never settle, but um... it doesn't.
6. 30 min into the movie: Still noisy, babies crying, people talking ish, and the people sitting beside us saying "excuse me, coming by" to go wherever...... ARRRRGH!
7. 1 hour into the movie: Still noisy, babies crying, people talking ish, and the people sitting beside us are asking to move to go wherever...... ARRRRGH!
8. A little over half into the damn move people are just coming in to get seated!

STOP!!! I'VE HAD IT

We're having a meeting on MOVIE ETIQUETTE:

I'm taking questions:
Can I bring a baby to the theater?
No, no and HELL NO. Get a sitter or stay your ass at the house. There is no need to make someone pay for your child bearing decision(s). I'm calling CPS if I ever see another baby in the theater at the 10:00 show too..... get your mini me in the bed!

Can I get that seat next to you, even though I'm 45 minutes late and need to walk past 7 people to get that cozy seat in the middle of the aisle?
HELL NO. If you didn't get here in time to get a decent seat, then don't make me miss any line in my movie! If you don't see a seat on the end, wait until the next showtime! However, in the past, I'm more forgiving of this when the person is courteous.

Is it alright if I cut in front of you when the movie is over?
THAT DEPENDS. If you are with a significant other, then cool - I'll let it slide. BUT - if you are trife and trying to cut in front of everybody, SORRY HELL NO! back back and wait.

Should I clap in the middle of the movie? Even if that's my favorite part!
Hm.... NO! I would like to leave out all active participation on my $10 movie! No THANKS!

At the end of the movie, do I clap?
GOOD QUESTION. I don't know the right answer to this. I've seen some good movies, but never felt the need to clap - but do whatever you feel.... the movie is over.

What if I step on your shoe while I'm trying to get out to the aisle and do whatever?
Just let it go.

Can my child kick your chair while you are minding your own business watching the movie?
MF HELL NAH! I can't stand your kicking the chair ass kid and I can't stand you for letting him do it. I've already turned around and looked at YOU and your bad ass kid 10 times. I'm tempted to call Theater Security.

What if my phone rings? Is it okay if I take the call?
NO! Not if I have to turn my damn ringer off [out of courtesy]. Do you see me over here chopping it up with everybody who calls? I think not. Forget it, put the dumb phone on SILENT

What if I want to orally communicate with the movie [i.e. "Noooooooo!" or "Don't take that girl!"]
USUALLY NO. If I got into the movie for free, possibly. If I'm on a date - no. If I paid for my own ticket, hell to the no.

NY Mag would like to add [some things I didn't mention]:

How many seats can I save?
It’s simple: You can save one seat for each person in your party who has already purchased a ticket. So, friend in the popcorn line: Yes. Friend en route with Fandango receipt: Yes. Friend who hedged and said she might tag along for Spider-Man 3: No.

Can I text-message if the movie gets dull?
Can you shine a flashlight into the eyes of people behind you? No. Just because something doesn’t make noise doesn’t mean it isn’t incredibly, annoyingly distracting. If you have urgent business to conduct, walk outside.

Do I have to clean up?
Tough one. But we side with Jerry Seinfeld on this, who said, “We have a deal with the theaters: You rip us off with overpriced, oversized crap we shouldn’t be eating in the first place, and when I’m done I just open my hand.” That said, don’t be a pig.

Can I talk during the movie?
We’d like to say, “No, no, never, no, absolutely not.” But the days of respectful silence are gone. During the pre-film ads, speak as much and as loudly as you like. Whispers and derisive yelps are permissible during trailers. During the feature, you must limit yourself to the occasional whisper. Silence is preferred, but a hushed “Wait—didn’t she die in that car wreck back there?” is okay. There is one exception to these rules: the brilliant, brave comment in the terrible movie. For us, it was at I Know What You Did Last Summer, in a particularly histrionic scene of Jennifer Love Hewitt’s emoting that a guy shouted out “Oscar clip!” and provided the high point of the night.

[thanks nymag]

Anyone Else Watch "I Want to Work for Diddy?"

I'm obsessed with Diddy's latest show (embarrassed? - yes, will I continue watching it? - hell-to-the-yes). You can describe it as a fast-paced, slightly ghetto jet-setter version of the 'Apprentice'. Kim AKA Poprah, as she calls herself, has been keeping me constantly entertained on the show. Did you all see last week when she broke down and said that the reason that she gained weight was to keep men from hitting on her constantly in the industry? Well, given that she seems a tad bipolar and has once compared herself to greats such as Oprah and Martin Luther King, I was skeptical. Yet, it turns out she wasn't lying (completely) and was definitely kicking it with celebs in the music industry. Who would have thought?

Check it:


[Thanks to straightfromthea]

Daily Prayer: R. Kelly

OMG, I have no words. Jesus, please help him.

R. Kelly Interview - Jesus take the wheel!


Reponse from Flex Pretty Much Says it All:


FYI...I'm from the Chicago area - the man has always been like this. First of all he carries cash around and hangs out in the mall luring young women. Yes, this was 10 years ago, but he was in his 30's even then - just NASTY. I remember one of the first concerts I went to he literally pulled a high school classmate of mine on stage (we were 15 at the time) and proceeded to grind all over her - NOT a good look. Damn, does this mean I have to delete all of his songs? Considering I cringe every time a song gets played, I guess the answer is "yes." damn, Damn, DAMN GINA! I also heard he's illiterate. Until now, I thought that was gossip, but I think I'm sold. Completely sold...

Question on Race in America

Just wanted to share a conversation I had with a white female co-worker the other day. She made a statement that kind of caught me off-guard. Please believe I didn't share too much of my opinion with her, but I did, in fact, disagree. It's still been on my mind, so I thought I'd ask you all the same question.

Do white women have it worse than black men in America? Or to restate this question in other terms, is sexism more of a problem in America than racism? Her opinion is simply "yes." Given this election, I'm sure a lot of white women are feeling this same way. And if Obama wins this election, will this prove her assumption? Now, for the record it amazes me that anyone, other than black women, can say that they have it harder than black men. But even I can't say that black women have it harder than black men. I know black men and women have different struggles, but I'm not sure who has it the "hardest." But that's just my opinion.

Maybe this is why black men are so drawn to white women (and vice versa) - due to their similar "struggles" and all? (*Please note the cynicism.)

Personally, I've always felt that my being "black" trumps being a woman. Sexism I can deal with. Everyone has a woman in their life in some form or fashion - at some point they are forced to confront that - right? However, I was born black which is a very unique circumstance that only other black people can begin to understand on so many different levels. However, a discussion on the impacts of race will take me several volumes of text explain, so I'll just stop now.

In her defense, she does admit that she feels that black women have it the worst. Also we work in a male dominated field of engineering & information technology, so I can slightly see her point. However, the black male representation is smallest of all in our office - so what's the basis? I agree sexism does exist, but to draw a parallel to what black men have gone through for hundreds of years is a bit much. I disagree when my gay friends do the same thing - not the same, I sympathize, but that's another post as well. So I guess I'm still a bit confused.

What do you think? Speak on it...

"White Privilege" by Tim Wise

Wow - this is so good. I have to share the entire article here. Please provide your thoughts [check out more here]:

For those who still can’t grasp the concept of white privilege, or who are constantly looking for some easy-to-understand examples of it, perhaps this list will help.

White privilege is when you can get pregnant at seventeen like Bristol Palin and everyone is quick to insist that your life and that of your family is a personal matter, and that no one has a right to judge you or your parents, because "every family has challenges," even as black and Latino families with similar "challenges" are regularly typified as irresponsible, pathological and arbiters of social decay.

White privilege is when you can call yourself a "fuckin’ redneck," like Bristol Palin’s boyfriend does, and talk about how if anyone messes with you, you'll "kick their fuckin' ass," and talk about how you like to "shoot shit" for fun, and still be viewed as a responsible, all-American boy (and a great son-in-law to be) rather than a thug.

White privilege is when you can attend four different colleges in six years like Sarah Palin did (one of which you basically failed out of, then returned to after making up some coursework at a community college), and no one questions your intelligence or commitment to achievement, whereas a person of color who did this would be viewed as unfit for college, and probably someone who only got in in the first place because of affirmative action.

White privilege is when you can claim that being mayor of a town smaller than most medium-sized colleges, and then Governor of a state with about the same number of people as the lower fifth of the island of Manhattan, makes you ready to potentially be president, and people don’t all piss on themselves with laughter, while being a black U.S. Senator, two-term state Senator, and constitutional law scholar, means you’re "untested."

White privilege is being able to say that you support the words "under God" in the pledge of allegiance because "if it was good enough for the founding fathers, it’s good enough for me," and not be immediately disqualified from holding office--since, after all, the pledge was written in the late 1800s and the "under God" part wasn’t added until the 1950s--while believing that reading accused criminals and terrorists their rights (because, ya know, the Constitution, which you used to teach at a prestigious law school requires it), is a dangerous and silly idea only supported by mushy liberals.

White privilege is being able to be a gun enthusiast and not make people immediately scared of you. White privilege is being able to have a husband who was a member of an extremist political party that wants your state to secede from the Union, and whose motto was "Alaska first," and no one questions your patriotism or that of your family, while if you're black and your spouse merely fails to come to a 9/11 memorial so she can be home with her kids on the first day of school, people immediately think she’s being disrespectful.

White privilege is being able to make fun of community organizers and the work they do--like, among other things, fight for the right of women to vote, or for civil rights, or the 8-hour workday, or an end to child labor--and people think you’re being pithy and tough, but if you merely question the experience of a small town mayor and 18-month governor with no foreign policy expertise beyond a class she took in college--you’re somehow being mean, or even sexist.

White privilege is being able to convince white women who don’t even agree with you on any substantive issue to vote for you and your running mate anyway, because all of a sudden your presence on the ticket has inspired confidence in these same white women, and made them give your party a "second look."

White privilege is being able to fire people who didn’t support your political campaigns and not be accused of abusing your power or being a typical politician who engages in favoritism, while being black and merely knowing some folks from the old-line political machines in Chicago means you must be corrupt.

White privilege is being able to attend churches over the years whose pastors say that people who voted for John Kerry or merely criticize George W. Bush are going to hell, and that the U.S. is an explicitly Christian nation and the job of Christians is to bring Christian theological principles into government, and who bring in speakers who say the conflict in the Middle East is God’s punishment on Jews for rejecting Jesus, and everyone can still think you’re just a good church-going Christian, but if you’re black and friends with a black pastor who has noted (as have Colin Powell and the U.S. Department of Defense) that terrorist attacks are often the result of U.S. foreign policy and who talks about the history of racism and its effect on black people, you’re an extremist who probably hates America.

White privilege is not knowing what the Bush Doctrine is when asked by a reporter, and then people get angry at the reporter for asking you such a "trick question," while being black and merely refusing to give one-word answers to the queries of Bill O’Reilly means you’re dodging the question, or trying to seem overly intellectual and nuanced.

White privilege is being able to claim your experience as a POW has anything at all to do with your fitness for president, while being black and experiencing racism is, as Sarah Palin has referred to it, a "light" burden.

And finally, white privilege is the only thing that could possibly allow someone to become president when he has voted with George W. Bush 90 percent of the time, even as unemployment is skyrocketing, people are losing their homes, inflation is rising, and the U.S. is increasingly isolated from world opinion, just because white voters aren’t sure about that whole "change" thing. Ya know, it’s just too vague and ill-defined, unlike, say, four more years of the same, which is very concrete and certain.

White privilege is, in short, the problem.