Though the title may suggest an erotic movie, the topic of this post came to me when I was, at all places, church last Sunday, and a sister about the color of Gabrielle Union was sitting an aisle across from me with long, platinum blonde hair. It was not a pretty sight in my eyes.
I have seen similar sights on my high school alumni website where there are a couple of long haired sisters who for some reason think platinum blonde looks cute on them.
For one reason, I cannot for the life of me understand why a black woman would choose to dye her hair the color of Barbie's. Could it be they are seeking attention at all costs because they are for sure going to get it when they walk into a room? We all know that for some folks, attention is attention, no matter how good or bad it is. The only sisters that I think look good with platinum blonde hair are the ones who keep it cut very short (maybe about 3 inches or so) and wear it natural.
I really wish this madness would stop and those close to them, be it a sister, big mama or somebody who cares would let them know that blondes on blacks isn't cute.
Monday, April 27, 2009
Wednesday, April 22, 2009
The Biggest Loser-Crybaby Edition
Has anyone tuned in to this season's Biggest Loser? It has to go down as the season with the most crybabies. Every week, I've tuned in to see one or more contestants shedding crocodile tears about one issue or another.
Last night, the two biggest crybabies, Kristen and Helen were below the yellow line and on the chopping block. Of course, they shed crocodile tears the entire time and begged for the mercy of their fellow contestants who were charged with voting one of them out. Big mouth cryer Kristen was voted out and couldn't help but take a parting shot at the contestant whose vote sealed her fate, Mike, the youngest contestant (still in his teens) who has lost 140+ in 16 weeks, saying that he voted for her to get rid of his competition because he thinks he can win and he's in it for the money. When Allison Sweeney, the show's host, asked him if he think he could win it all, he said "yes".
Well duh, isn't that what the contestants are supposed to be on the show for? Not only to lose weight but to win the big prize at the end? Personally, I hope that Seano takes it all and that the sister (can't think of her name) who had lost the most weight at home and was brought back only to be voted off because she gained 5 lbs during her week back at the ranch wins for the most weight lost at home.
Last night, the two biggest crybabies, Kristen and Helen were below the yellow line and on the chopping block. Of course, they shed crocodile tears the entire time and begged for the mercy of their fellow contestants who were charged with voting one of them out. Big mouth cryer Kristen was voted out and couldn't help but take a parting shot at the contestant whose vote sealed her fate, Mike, the youngest contestant (still in his teens) who has lost 140+ in 16 weeks, saying that he voted for her to get rid of his competition because he thinks he can win and he's in it for the money. When Allison Sweeney, the show's host, asked him if he think he could win it all, he said "yes".
Well duh, isn't that what the contestants are supposed to be on the show for? Not only to lose weight but to win the big prize at the end? Personally, I hope that Seano takes it all and that the sister (can't think of her name) who had lost the most weight at home and was brought back only to be voted off because she gained 5 lbs during her week back at the ranch wins for the most weight lost at home.
Sunday, April 19, 2009
Taj Johnson-George is a Survivor
Has anyone been watching this season of the series Survivor? I hadn't watched the show in years but was motivated to watch it when I found out that Taj Johnson-George, member of the 90's R & B group SWV (Sisters with Voices) and wife of Heisman Trophy and retired NFL player Eddie George, would be a contestant.
I really like Taj. She, to me, is the anti-typical athlete's wife. Maybe that's because she's a survivor. On the reality series that she and Eddie had on TV One called "I Married a Baller", it was revealed that she was a victim of sexual and domestic abuse in her early years. I can also remember hearing years ago, after SWV fell apart with the departure of lead singer Coko, Taj moved to Tennessee and enrolled in college at Tennessee State University. Even though she's married to a baller, she still seems to be on a quest to challenge herself in different areas and she was seen on her reality series taking cosmetology classes. Can you imagine any of those "Real Housewives" doing something like that? And now, she's enduring the physical and psychological challenges of being a contestant on Survivor.
While some people may argue that she shouldn't even be on their because she doesn't need the money, to me, that is besides the point. She has said that she will donate her winnings to the foundation that she has established to help other victims of abuse.
Whether or not she wins or loses, in my book, Taj Johnson-George is the true exemplification of a survivor.
I really like Taj. She, to me, is the anti-typical athlete's wife. Maybe that's because she's a survivor. On the reality series that she and Eddie had on TV One called "I Married a Baller", it was revealed that she was a victim of sexual and domestic abuse in her early years. I can also remember hearing years ago, after SWV fell apart with the departure of lead singer Coko, Taj moved to Tennessee and enrolled in college at Tennessee State University. Even though she's married to a baller, she still seems to be on a quest to challenge herself in different areas and she was seen on her reality series taking cosmetology classes. Can you imagine any of those "Real Housewives" doing something like that? And now, she's enduring the physical and psychological challenges of being a contestant on Survivor.
While some people may argue that she shouldn't even be on their because she doesn't need the money, to me, that is besides the point. She has said that she will donate her winnings to the foundation that she has established to help other victims of abuse.
Whether or not she wins or loses, in my book, Taj Johnson-George is the true exemplification of a survivor.
Wednesday, April 15, 2009
What Happened to Common Sense?
I was watching VH1 the other night when a Burger King commercial came on to the tune of Sir Mix-A-Lot's Baby Got Back, featuring the creepy Burger King, Sponge Bob, and a bunch of gyrating dancers. Imagine my horror when I discovered that this commercial is promoting a kids meal.
Now, the Baby Got Back tune has been used in media targeted to children before but this time it wasn't as cute as when the Donkey sings it in the movie Shrek. The females featured and the subtle message it conveyed is something that one might expect to see on BET's 106 and Park.
I want to know, who were the marketing geniuses (and I use that term sarcastically) who decided that this campaign, targeted at children, was ok? What happened to good old fashioned, common sense? I know the excuse in business is that "sex sells", but is "sex" really necessary to sell a kids meal?
Now, the Baby Got Back tune has been used in media targeted to children before but this time it wasn't as cute as when the Donkey sings it in the movie Shrek. The females featured and the subtle message it conveyed is something that one might expect to see on BET's 106 and Park.
I want to know, who were the marketing geniuses (and I use that term sarcastically) who decided that this campaign, targeted at children, was ok? What happened to good old fashioned, common sense? I know the excuse in business is that "sex sells", but is "sex" really necessary to sell a kids meal?
Monday, April 13, 2009
Act Like A Lady, Think Like A Man
Comedian, radio host, actor, and now author Steve Harvey has been receiving a lot of publicity with the publication of his new book, Act Like A Lady, Think Like A Man. He was even featured on Oprah twice within the last month.
The book sounds a lot like advice that many of us may have heard from our moms with additional information thrown in from the male perspective.
A friend of mine sent me a link to a free copy of the entire book so I've decided to share it on my blog. Please visit http://nobaggagedating.ning.com/profiles/blogs/act-like-a-lady-think-like-a and you will find the copy there.
The book sounds a lot like advice that many of us may have heard from our moms with additional information thrown in from the male perspective.
A friend of mine sent me a link to a free copy of the entire book so I've decided to share it on my blog. Please visit http://nobaggagedating.ning.com/profiles/blogs/act-like-a-lady-think-like-a and you will find the copy there.
Sunday, April 12, 2009
Winning Isn't Everything
As I stated in my introduction, I'm in grad school pursuing my MBA. I'm going online to an accredited school and for one of my classes this semester, I was part of a six week long team project. I've participated in team projects in each of my classes since returning back to school but this one was the longest, and I have to say, the worst.
Our assignment was to take roles in a company and play an online game where we would market a product in its introductory stages for the first two quarters of business. Simple enough you say? I saw the handwriting on the wall when one of the teammates who resided in another country said he received two keys to access the game by mistake and that he notified the school who told him to keep both of them since he resided out of the country. Being the industrious fellow that he was, he decided to play the extra version of the game in advance and sent each member documentation from his advanced gameplay that would show us what decisions we should make for the best outcome. I refused to look at this documentation and told the team that I felt this teetered on violating the school's code of ethics and that I wasn't going to look at what he sent but would play based on the rules of the game. The team president said he understood where I was coming from and shared my point of view.
However, as the game progressed, you couldn't tell because the industrious fellow who had extra access to the game tried to rule over every decision, even making recommendations in business areas before the persons who were assigned those areas could even submit their own reviews. It seems as if I was the only person who read instructions provided by our teacher as our president prepared one of our first assignments in report form instead of business memo format as assigned by the teacher (I had to point out to him that she even provided a sample business memo document for us to use as guidance). He also didn't want to take constructive criticism as when I gave him suggestions on changing a sentence in one of the other memo's, he got very offended (he was putting information in the memo that pertained to data that we weren't supposed to include at that point). Another team member stopped participating altogether in team discussions after the third week and would only submit his input to our weekly memos based on decisions the other team members made for his area. One brave soul took the responsibility of trying to get the first two weeks of chaotic ongoing discussions organized and to him I am very greatful.
In the end, we came in 2nd place in the game against the three other computerized teams who were our competitors. The guy who I referred to as the industrious fellow's key focus was on winning where our task was to use this process as a vehicle for learning with winning being the icing on the cake. He led the team into taking numerous risks all for the sake of winning instead of studying what the competitors where doing as was suggested and improving upon it. Thus, our team had more products on the market and spent far less on advertising than our competitors because the majority ruled and although I suggested making some moves based on what the competition was doing, it fell on deaf ears.
To modify a familiar adage, its not about winning, but how you play the game. In this instance, no truer words apply.
Our assignment was to take roles in a company and play an online game where we would market a product in its introductory stages for the first two quarters of business. Simple enough you say? I saw the handwriting on the wall when one of the teammates who resided in another country said he received two keys to access the game by mistake and that he notified the school who told him to keep both of them since he resided out of the country. Being the industrious fellow that he was, he decided to play the extra version of the game in advance and sent each member documentation from his advanced gameplay that would show us what decisions we should make for the best outcome. I refused to look at this documentation and told the team that I felt this teetered on violating the school's code of ethics and that I wasn't going to look at what he sent but would play based on the rules of the game. The team president said he understood where I was coming from and shared my point of view.
However, as the game progressed, you couldn't tell because the industrious fellow who had extra access to the game tried to rule over every decision, even making recommendations in business areas before the persons who were assigned those areas could even submit their own reviews. It seems as if I was the only person who read instructions provided by our teacher as our president prepared one of our first assignments in report form instead of business memo format as assigned by the teacher (I had to point out to him that she even provided a sample business memo document for us to use as guidance). He also didn't want to take constructive criticism as when I gave him suggestions on changing a sentence in one of the other memo's, he got very offended (he was putting information in the memo that pertained to data that we weren't supposed to include at that point). Another team member stopped participating altogether in team discussions after the third week and would only submit his input to our weekly memos based on decisions the other team members made for his area. One brave soul took the responsibility of trying to get the first two weeks of chaotic ongoing discussions organized and to him I am very greatful.
In the end, we came in 2nd place in the game against the three other computerized teams who were our competitors. The guy who I referred to as the industrious fellow's key focus was on winning where our task was to use this process as a vehicle for learning with winning being the icing on the cake. He led the team into taking numerous risks all for the sake of winning instead of studying what the competitors where doing as was suggested and improving upon it. Thus, our team had more products on the market and spent far less on advertising than our competitors because the majority ruled and although I suggested making some moves based on what the competition was doing, it fell on deaf ears.
To modify a familiar adage, its not about winning, but how you play the game. In this instance, no truer words apply.
Thursday, April 9, 2009
Job Fair Wasteland
I've attended two job fairs over the past week. Both were hosted by Tory Johnson, the Good Morning America contributor and CEO of Women for Hire. Both fairs were very well organized but I was disappointed that most of the vendors at the first fair wanted applicants to apply online and didn't accept hand-delivered resumes (as a side note, upon entry to the first job fair, each attendee had an option to pay $3 to have their resumes distributed to 500 companies-I politely declined).
The second fair was for women that wanted to work from home and I was disappointed that most of the companies were direct sales or MLM's (with the exception of one company called VIPdesk) that were trying to recruit new members into their ranks.
While I attended some very interesting seminars at the second fair, including one conducted by a guy who was a member of the now defunct 70's R & B group Sun (remember the song "We're here, Sun is here!), both were pretty much a waste of time.
The second fair was for women that wanted to work from home and I was disappointed that most of the companies were direct sales or MLM's (with the exception of one company called VIPdesk) that were trying to recruit new members into their ranks.
While I attended some very interesting seminars at the second fair, including one conducted by a guy who was a member of the now defunct 70's R & B group Sun (remember the song "We're here, Sun is here!), both were pretty much a waste of time.
Wednesday, April 8, 2009
Hoodwinked, Baboozled and Led Astray!
I went on a job interview a couple of weeks ago for a position with a company that will be relocating to my state in a couple of months. The first step in the process was a phone interview with the Manager which I aced and led to the in-person interview.
I felt that the stars were aligned in my favor with this interview. The manager with whom I had the phone interview was an African-American guy from my home state and we graduated from high school a few years apart.
I arrived for my in-person interview a few weeks later and met face to face with the manager. He was so impressed by my credentials, instead of considering me for a consultant role, he saw me in one of the lead positions. He said the final decision was ultimately his in regards to who would be hired and he told me to make sure I left my cellphone on. The interview went well and as he walked me to the office of his both, he told me to "go in there and get my job".
I met with his manager, another African-American male, who, although he had my resume in front of him, did not ask me any questions but pleasantly (and with a few expletives thrown around for good measure) told me about the company, his goals for the department, the fact that the first guy had the final decisions in hiring, yada yada yada, etc, until he finally asked me if I had any questions. I asked three suitable questions and at the end of the session, he escorted me to the elevator.
I felt as if I had aced the interview and wasn't alarmed when I didn't hear from the Hiring Manager that evening since he had more people to hire the next day and it would be the Executive Recruiter from the Recruiting agency that referred me that would notify me anyway.
After waiting in anticipation over the weekend and Monday, on Tuesday, I received a call stating that I was not one of the 8 candidates selected and although they were impressed with my credentials, they were pursuing other candidates. They went on to say that once they established their office and had any openings available, I would be at the top of their list.
I was so hurt! I actually shed tears and I'm not an emotional person. That job would have meant a lot to me as I have been unemployed due to a layoff and my unemployment benefits are getting close to the end of the road. Also, since it was in my chosen profession, I was even more eager to get back to work. I think what hurt the most was the fact that I was pumped up to believe that the job was mine, only to find out that I wasn't chosen for any of the eight positions available.
Does anyone else have a similar experience to share?
I felt that the stars were aligned in my favor with this interview. The manager with whom I had the phone interview was an African-American guy from my home state and we graduated from high school a few years apart.
I arrived for my in-person interview a few weeks later and met face to face with the manager. He was so impressed by my credentials, instead of considering me for a consultant role, he saw me in one of the lead positions. He said the final decision was ultimately his in regards to who would be hired and he told me to make sure I left my cellphone on. The interview went well and as he walked me to the office of his both, he told me to "go in there and get my job".
I met with his manager, another African-American male, who, although he had my resume in front of him, did not ask me any questions but pleasantly (and with a few expletives thrown around for good measure) told me about the company, his goals for the department, the fact that the first guy had the final decisions in hiring, yada yada yada, etc, until he finally asked me if I had any questions. I asked three suitable questions and at the end of the session, he escorted me to the elevator.
I felt as if I had aced the interview and wasn't alarmed when I didn't hear from the Hiring Manager that evening since he had more people to hire the next day and it would be the Executive Recruiter from the Recruiting agency that referred me that would notify me anyway.
After waiting in anticipation over the weekend and Monday, on Tuesday, I received a call stating that I was not one of the 8 candidates selected and although they were impressed with my credentials, they were pursuing other candidates. They went on to say that once they established their office and had any openings available, I would be at the top of their list.
I was so hurt! I actually shed tears and I'm not an emotional person. That job would have meant a lot to me as I have been unemployed due to a layoff and my unemployment benefits are getting close to the end of the road. Also, since it was in my chosen profession, I was even more eager to get back to work. I think what hurt the most was the fact that I was pumped up to believe that the job was mine, only to find out that I wasn't chosen for any of the eight positions available.
Does anyone else have a similar experience to share?
Tuesday, April 7, 2009
The Education System is Failing Our Children
I was visiting the online guestbook for an African-American teen who attended my high school alma mater and was recently gunned down in a senseless act of violence.
While there were pages and pages of condolences expressed, I was appalled to see how many adults and young people don't have command of the English language. I was amazed at how many times what should have said "sorry for your loss" was written as "sorry for your lost" (and on a couple of occasions "losted") or "I heard he passed" was written as "I heard he past".
Something is terribly wrong with the education system (as we all know), especially when the faces being taught are predominantly minority. Our children need to excel at the basics of reading and writing in order to escape low paying positions and a future of poverty. If the parents aren't doing this at home (which in this case they apparently are not or perhaps they are but don't know any better themselves) then it has to be done at school. After all, isn't that what schools are there for?
While there were pages and pages of condolences expressed, I was appalled to see how many adults and young people don't have command of the English language. I was amazed at how many times what should have said "sorry for your loss" was written as "sorry for your lost" (and on a couple of occasions "losted") or "I heard he passed" was written as "I heard he past".
Something is terribly wrong with the education system (as we all know), especially when the faces being taught are predominantly minority. Our children need to excel at the basics of reading and writing in order to escape low paying positions and a future of poverty. If the parents aren't doing this at home (which in this case they apparently are not or perhaps they are but don't know any better themselves) then it has to be done at school. After all, isn't that what schools are there for?
Monday, April 6, 2009
This Is Some Fraggle-Nackle Bull!
I was listening to the Michael Baisden Show on Monday and Baisden, who is very anti-marriage and shacking with a woman who has a son, stated that if his daughter (who is now 18) in the future was in a relationship with a guy, they were living together and happy, he wouldn't be concerned if they never headed down the aisle.
This to me, in a term that he has popularized, is some "fraggle-nackle bull"! As parents, we should be encouraging our children to accept no less than the best and I don't know too many responsible fathers who wouldn't be concerned if their daughters entered into a live-in relationship with a guy that wasn't headed toward the altar. Heck, most responsible fathers would be upset at the prospect of their daughters living with a guy without the benefit of marriage.
Fathers should be encouraging their daughters to be more than the long-term girlfriend or companion (ala Kim Porter and Tameka "Tiny" Cottle) and encourage them to accept no less than the label and legal priviledges of wife.
Encouraging them to accept anything else is just another factor contributing to the decline of the Black family.
This to me, in a term that he has popularized, is some "fraggle-nackle bull"! As parents, we should be encouraging our children to accept no less than the best and I don't know too many responsible fathers who wouldn't be concerned if their daughters entered into a live-in relationship with a guy that wasn't headed toward the altar. Heck, most responsible fathers would be upset at the prospect of their daughters living with a guy without the benefit of marriage.
Fathers should be encouraging their daughters to be more than the long-term girlfriend or companion (ala Kim Porter and Tameka "Tiny" Cottle) and encourage them to accept no less than the label and legal priviledges of wife.
Encouraging them to accept anything else is just another factor contributing to the decline of the Black family.
Levi Johnston on The Tyra Banks Show
It looks like Levi Johnston, the former fiance' of Bristol Palin, will be appearing on the Tyra Banks show (April 6 but check your local listings) to discuss his relationship with Bristol and his theory that Gov. Sarah Palin probably knew that they were having sex in her house!
From what little I read, apparently Levi was living with the Palin's but I don't know if this was before, during or after the pregnancy. Either way, there is no way in heck that I would let my daughter's boyfriend live in our house. I don't understand what these parents are thinking. Maybe that's the problem. They aren't thinking!
From what little I read, apparently Levi was living with the Palin's but I don't know if this was before, during or after the pregnancy. Either way, there is no way in heck that I would let my daughter's boyfriend live in our house. I don't understand what these parents are thinking. Maybe that's the problem. They aren't thinking!
Sunday, April 5, 2009
Greetings and Salutations!
Hello readers (and I hope to have many as time goes on)!
I've been toying with the idea of starting a blog for a while now and since I have a little time on my hands after being laid off a few months ago, now is as great a time as any to begin.
A little about me: As you already know from the title, I'm an African-American female. To add to that information, I'm currently in school working on my MBA, I'm married, and I'm the parent of a teenager. I enjoy reading, watching movies, listening to old school music, traveling and spending time with friends and family. I'm concerned with what's going on in the world we live in as it comes to the things that our children are exposed to, not because of a lack of parenting, but because society has become so accepting of behaviors that would not have been tolerated when I was growing up.
I will be posting my observations on the things that I see in society that leave me scratching my head as well as on things that make me laugh.
So, as to quote that classic song from Xscape in the early 90's, "lay back, kick it, and enjoy the ride!
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