Fed Up Friday - Everyday Life

Oh, it has been a LONG time, but here it is Friday and I have a long list of grievances waiting to be typed out. This blog has turned into a political forum because we are living in a clusterfuck of craziness, led by the orange clown and his cronies but, surprisingly, this Fed Up Friday is not about them. It is shocking... I know. On top of the dumpster fire that we see on the news every day, I have even MORE nut-tastic behavior to highlight, so here we go.

My kid is a night owl and has attempted to stop napping during the day. Oh, I am not ready for that bullshit, so the (not nice) sign (which clearly says NOT to ring my doorbell) I put on our front door before she was born is still up there (and will remain there for the foreseeable future). So imagine my surprise when someone rang my doorbell - TWICE - and knocked on the door like the police... after Kensie FINALLY laid her little ass down for a nap. I have a crying baby, barking dogs and some moron banging on my door. I opened the door with what could only described as the "I am totally going to fuck up whoever is on the other side of this door" face. Let me just say- I live in my childhood home. I know my neighbors (and their kids). This shit BETTER be an emergency... because I have a toddler screaming in my ear. But guess what? It wasn't. This muthafucka said "do you have a lawnmower I can borrow?" Now I should have prefaced this with... I DO NOT KNOW THIS MAN. And he wasn't coming with a "hey, I'm your new neighbor from down the street" or "what's up, my name is____ and I live down the street." Nah, he just asked to use my mower. Bitch, what? When I tell you that I cut my eyes at him so hard... I have been trying to not say curse words (out loud) because my miniature person running around here is an impeccable mimic, so I kept the "fuck you" look all over my face, yelled "no" and slammed the door. Then I spent 15 minutes bribing the kid with pasta and red sauce so she would stop crying.

This week I read a story about a clerk at CVS in Chicago calling the cops on a Black lady trying to use a coupon. That dude needs his ass beat. I mean, honestly. If you employ the police for non-emergency, nonsensical matters on purpose you deserve a fine at the very least... and your ass served to you on a platter at the very most. Get your whole life together. I do know that all the managers involved were fired from CVS - rightfully so. If you are that scared of People of Color, you need to keep your ass in the house, at all times. What makes the situation worse? The dude that called the police is running for an Alderman position (city council). You want to represent a constituency that scares you? Pathetic asshole.

The last story I have for y'all is supposed to be a feel good story. Supposed to be. There is a media blitz circulating a story that a woman was able to take a proper maternity leave because her co-workers banded together and donated their vacation time to her. First of all: good for that new mama. Her co-workers are stellar. I don't know what I would have done if I HAD to get back to work two weeks after Kensie was born. I mean... I would HAVE to go back to work, but I really feel like it would have been detrimental to both me AND her. So, I have nothing but love for her co-workers. What they did was extraordinary. My issue is: what if her co-workers were not so generous? They should not HAVE to donate their vacation time so a co-worker can have time off to bond with their new baby. The United States is an amazing country (most of time) but the fact that extended maternity/paternity leave is almost non-existent amazes me. The reasons for paid leave have been spelled out several times: cost of child care is astronomical; kids get sick easily; postpartum depression is real; your body isn't the only thing that needs to bounce back after you birth a kid. We want our new mama's to breastfeed-- and low key shame them if they don't-- but we also want their asses to return to work ASAP. We want new parents to raise productive, good citizens but we don't make it easy for families to spend time together during very crucial times (like right after the child is born). There have been several articles written about the slowing birth rate in America-- uh, yeah. Students graduate with extremely high debt. Folks, on average, are buying houses later in life, if at all. And even if they have kids, companies are not making it easy to bond with those children. Does that make sense? Of course it doesn't.

This is it for this week's Fed Up Friday. I am sure I will find something else to bitch about next weekend! LOL Happy Weekend, y'all.

Fed Up Friday - Political Apathy

I can't lie, since the election I have been very hit or miss on social media. Ok, that is not exactly true. I'm ON social media, but I don't always comment. I SEE what is going on, but I kind of just operate in silence. For example, I have seen some online acquaintances say some really stupid shit and I have quietly deleted them. Seriously, my friend list has decreased by a good 10% so far... and I am working on getting my number down even further. A few years ago, I would have unfriended people AFTER they felt my Hot, Black and Bitter wrath, but I have to confess: that is no longer my M.O. because, fuck it, I just don't care to have the needed conversation. 

As a stay at home (new) mom, I spend way too much time on social media- especially while my chubby bunny dozes 30 minutes at a time. For the last week, my timelines have been filled to the brim with coverage of politics, protests and analysis. In the last two days I have seen an uptick in the "why does everyone keep posting about politics?" posts. Uh... Listen, I get it, politics isn't everyone's game, but let me tell you something: APATHY IS WHAT GOT YOU (US) HERE.

Politics can be troubling, especially during times like these. Politics can be uncomfortable, especially during times like these. Politics WILL BE DIVISIVE-- and they should be. Do you know why folks don't discuss politics on a regular basis? Because politics show the INNER you. Not the fake you that you post about on Facebook. Not the "you" that you aspire to on Pinterest. Not that fake life you advertise on Instagram. The REAL you. Politics show what is important to you; what, ultimately, you say that you can deal with. What means can justify the end result. Who you are willing to sacrifice so that your lifestyle can continue. So two months ago, when Tangerine Dream won the electoral college, it showed where people were in life. And listen, you have to be ready to defend that. You have to ready to go toe to toe for what you believe. You don't get to vote for a mini hand, orange colored dictator and not be questioned. You don't get to put a (self admitted) serial pussy grabber in office and not have to answer for that. You don't get to vote for someone who has absolutely NO regard for the lives of minority Americans... or immigrants... or the working population... or, fuck it, the truth... Someone who seems hell bent on making enemies of every ally The United States of America has-- and then get mad when someone shines a light in your face. 

As long as you are MY acquaintance on social media, you are going to get these political memes. You will get these blog entries. If I am feeling particularly randy one day, you will see what I tweet about y'all's president. You gave us this "gift" so now you need to live in your truth and soak this shit up. If you DIDN'T vote, you are responsible. If you voted for a third party candidate, you gave us this child ruler. If you voted for Tangerine Dream, you can catch these memes for the next 4 years, every day, and your punk ass will like it. This is what y'all wanted, right? So, deal. Apathy can't live here anymore. You not giving a shit is what got us in this mess.

Fed Up Friday - Caping for the Villians

Ah, 2016. Here you are, just over a week ago some of us were ringing you in with the hopes and promises of being better people-- more awake to everything that goes on around us. Ah, some of us are liars. Horrible liars. Social media tells all. It lets us know who continues to bring the close minded bullshit from previous years to our mental doorsteps... and let me just say, there are a lot of you assholes. You haven't dropped the shit that holds you back. You still spend your day talking shit about situations/people/places you (still) don't understand. You post memes-- misspelled memes-- that espouse your ridiculous stance on whatever your cause of the hour is. Making me sick. Like, more than morning sickness... making me physically ill.  Prime example: the events of today.

Today is R. Kelly's 49th birthday. How do I know this? Because a radio station in Columbus told me so, several times. Listen, I cannot even pretend that I didn't rock to R. Kelly in the 1990s. He was everywhere and his shit was grand, hear me? Grand. One of my college roommates loved R. Kelly. In the broke days of college, when you actually had to go and purchase CDs at the store when they came out, I am not ashamed to say that I stood in line a couple times. But that, friends, was the 90s. The unnamed radio station in Columbus played some R. Kelly hits AFTER playing portions of an interview where Mr. Kelly got angry at the reporter for bringing up several past allegations of sexual abuse of minors. And THAT is why I don't fuck with R. Kelly anymore. Sexual abuse of minors. Several minors. He has a penchant for young girls. Man, what?

You know who else seems to have a thing for young girls? Some dude named Tyga. I don't know what he does, but I am guessing he is some kind of musician. He looks like a weird underfed rat. Whatevs. I guess that he has hooked up with one of the young(er) KarTRASHians, before her 18th birthday, and has been caught sending direct messages to a 14 year old on Instagram. Fourteen. He has men all up in arms talking about "that girl doesn't look 14..." Tyga claims that he contacted her because she is a musician. She says that in the direct messages he NEVER mentioned music. Uh huh.

And then there is the biggest news story in all the Black world-- Bill Cosby. Cosby is STILL in the news regarding his drugging and raping women for DECADES. Fifty plus women have come forward, with stories that are close to the same, claiming that the man who gave us The Cosby Show takes advantage of women. This week his attorney, who is a Black woman, hit the airwaves to profess his innocence- on a case by case basis it seems. She is leaving all kinds of reporters in her wake, which is impressive to some. Me, not so much, but hey lawyers have to mount a good defense for their clients, right?

Let me tell you WHY these three stories are annoying. R. Kelly is getting praise for his music and people tend to forget his shady ass past. Tyga has been given a built in excuse that the girl he is talking to through direct messages doesn't LOOK her age. Bill Cosby is given a pass because he is supposedly "America's Dad" because of a show that was on the air 25 years ago. I call bullshit. Why can't we just say that while R. Kelly WAS talented but we refuse to compensate him for "musical talent" when he is abusing the future mothers of our community? Why complicate the matter? Why continue to put money in his pockets when some of y'all have seen the video of him pissing on a young girl? Why can't we see this direct message debacle as a pattern for Tyga? Instead of looking at the girl in the situation and giving him a built in excuse, why not just say he has approached and "dated" an underage girl before and he is probably trying to do that shit again? Why blame that little girl and her mama, when the real blame belongs on the grown ass man that is sliding into her DMs trying to get her number?

And then there is Cosby. Sir, I need you to take a seat. A stadium full of seats. I mean, I don't care who you are, if 50 different people come up to me and tell me you are an asshole, guess what I think of you before we even meet? I'm supposed to give you a pass because you had a hit show in the 80s and 90s? And to all the conspiracy theorists... stop it. This is not happening to Bill Cosby because he wanted to buy NBC. This is happening to Bill Cosby because he thought he was above the law and could do whatever the hell he wanted. He has said that in the past he has given drugs to women and then proceeded to have sexual contact with them. He said it. So now that he has a capable Black woman at the helm, I'm supposed to give him the benefit of the doubt? I wonder how he would have treated her 30 years ago if she wanted to be an actor? Ewww.

Why are we so easily tricked into forgiving and forgetting? Why do "celebrities" make us lose our moral compass? Why are we caping for the villains instead of weeping for and helping the victims?

No Money... Except for the Shit We Like

I have been trying to hold it together during all this government shutdown bullshit, but I read something today that made me want to drive to D.C. and start banging heads together. Today is October 15, 2013. In exactly 2 days the Congress of the United States of America is going to have to come to some agreement so that the nation can continue to pay its bills, and not hit the debt ceiling that is being squawked about on EVERY news/financial station in the land.

Yes, our Congress is going to have to actually work for their paycheck. It will be nothing short of amazing. Also, while the debt ceiling fiasco is looming, the government has been partially shutdown for three weeks. Federal workers have been furloughed. National Parks are closed. Until late last week, death benefits for soldiers were being denied. Consumer confidence is at a 9 month low. Misinformed people are blaming the President... but the real blame lies with our uncompromising, shiftless Congress.

Most of this nonsense is happening because of the GOP and their undying need to attempt to do harm to the President and the Affordable Care Act. Oh- you know the Affordable Care Act by its other name-- Obamacare. You know, that health care act that the Republicans keep screaming they don't want to fund (but it is already funded). The one that the Republicans keep saying the American people do not want (but we DO want it and desperately NEED it). The one that they contested (but has been upheld by the highest court in the land). Yep, that one. Say what you will, but this shutdown is not because of Barack. He and I have other issues that we need to work out, but this (badly) is not one of them.

While the Republican led crusade against the President wages on, hamstringing the finances of the American people, there is still money being spent... lots of money. About 10 days ago the Navy Seals went on a super secret mission- money- to capture a terrorist in a far off land- more money- and bring him to some sort of "justice"- always boatloads of money. Now, I am all about getting terrorists off the street, right? But when American CITIZENS cannot go to work because Congress can't get their shit together, it seems foolish to go out and spend money - that you keep saying we DON'T have - to capture ONE man. But we did... so what are you gonna do, right? And I could even deal with that misuse of funds - hell, Congress misuses the hard earned dollars of the American public EVERY day, so we are kind of used to it, but there is a new dimension to the story...

Last night, I was watching the news and the story said that this guy, the Terrorist, Anas Al-Libi is on American soil because he needs to have life saving medical attention. Dude, let me get this right: during a time when our lawmakers cannot agree enough to keep civilian federal workers in their offices, because they want to fight a war of words over an Affordable Care Act which is already law, our government (who had to be coerced into paying death benefits to soldier's families) captured a known terrorist and have brought him into the United States to receive FREE healthcare for life saving treatments?!?! On the American people's dime?!!? A terrorist is being afforded a right that the American people do not have??? A right that the Republicans do not want to extend to the poorest American citizens???

Oh, I see... makes total sense now.

Fed Up Friday - Help Yourself

Right after a trip to see Lefty's family for Thanksgiving last year, we were stopped, while we were eating, by a young woman wanting to use my phone. I am (unnaturally) attached to my iPhone. Whatever, I admit it. I made her sit right next to us, but I did let her use my phone. In the midst of this we got a tearful story explaining why she was there (with her baby) and what was going on. There was an accusation of some sort of domestic violence, more crying, anger, more crying. It went on for almost an hour. We offered to drive her to a shelter. She didn't want to share a cot with her toddler. We offered to give her a ride to a friend's house. My dad gave us the names of places that have emergency shelter for women and children. She didn't want to go and after a while we realized that she wanted money- not help. She wanted me to do all the work, simply because she cried... and we all know I wasn't going for that.

 For the next eight weeks I will be in a class for work. I have been in this class for seven weeks already. I am surrounded by morons. Actually, there are a few good people and more than a few haters. We have tests that we have to take-- I tend to score very well. Hey, I'm a nerd, what can I say? There is a group of women who are MAD about it. Like, give me their "stank faces" mad about it. Like, 'will not talk to me unless it is absolutely necessary for class' mad about it. Like 'side remarks when they think I can't hear them' mad about it. And let me say, no matter what the reason, I do not care. Smarts come easy to me-- because I work my ass off. I study. I pay attention (even when I don't want to). I make it work and my classmates could easily be in the same boat. And starting next week we have to pair up and help each other. Um, hell no. I am supposed to help someone who refuses to pay attention and help themselves?

Listen- here is my deal. I am generally not nice. I don't find it necessary a lot of the time. But, ever so often, I am willing to go out of my way to help someone out. For my help, you only have to do two things: 1- ask me (because I don't pretend to be a mind reader) and 2- put forth some effort to help yourself. Everyone needs a helping hand sometimes. I can tell you, there have been times when my friends have come to my rescue. Times when I was doing all I could and still not making it. But in all those instances, I was doing everything that I could. I was putting forth effort. I wasn't spending money I didn't have; I wasn't partying it up or shirking my responsibilities. I was going through the channels set out for me and was super fortunate to have people around me who noticed that I needed help WHILE I was doing all I could do to keep afloat. I know that people can't get through this thing called life by themselves. I know that sometimes you need help. I get it-- trust me. But don't sit on your hands while you are steadily asking me to break my back for you. Don't ask me for help if you are not going to contribute. Don't ask me to sweat while you bask in some air conditioning. Get your ass up and sweat next to me. Contribute!! Help yourself!


 

Fed Up - Syria

I have been watching the news intently, hoping that this week would bring the result that I have been hoping for ever since Syria has made the news cycle. Boy, am I glad that I didn't hold my breath because it seems that the United States cannot let a year pass without sticking its proverbial nose in someone else's business. Tonight I watched the President deliver a speech that included the biggest bunch of bullshit that I have heard him spew. And I am going to say this: I voted for Barack and in general, I believe in MOST of what he proposes (as much as one can believe in a politician... so, you know, about 45%), but ANY kind of strike against yet ANOTHER regime in a country far, far away... I'm gonna take a hard pass on that one.

I have decided to use this blog entry as a letter to the President... I wonder if he will read it? Ok, doubtful, but I need him to know my feelings on the subject.

Dear Mr. President:

I can only say this directly: I am TIRED of war. We, as a country, are in NO position to play Captain Save a Hoe all over the world. Syria's problems are NOT our problems and "Boots on the Ground" or not, I believe that we need to take a seat and (finally) let some other country be the Superhero of the world.

You have attempted to convince us that we are no longer in a two front war (Iraq and Afghanistan) but, sadly, I am not convinced. I know that tonight you said that we are no longer involved in Iraq- I don't believe that for ONE moment. Our troops are still over there, building schools and helping out. All the while in cities like Chicago and Columbus (both near and dear to my heart) schools are closing and children can't pass standardized tests. In our city of Chicago (yep, I'm still claiming it as mine) there are actual war zones. Kids don't make it home from school; the state of Illinois is BROKE (along with other states like Florida and California); 70% of all people below the poverty line are CHILDREN. American children go hungry in our country EVERY day. Thousands upon thousands of American citizens are STILL underwater on their mortgages and losing their homes, or working hard at a job that just will not (read: CAN not) pay their living expenses. Even more people are living without health insurance and are essentially one serious illness away from financial collapse.

We have a growing population of uneducated youth and no funds to help them. Teachers are being laid off, schools are being closed across the country, families are working multiple jobs are are somehow unable to meet basic HUMAN needs with their paychecks. We have people suffering and a Congress that is refusing to help them- either with health care or job readiness. WE HAVE COLLEGE EDUCATED PEOPLE WHO ARE UNABLE TO SUPPORT THEMSELVES AND PAY OFF MONIES BORROWED FOR THEIR EDUCATION. Yet here we are, building schools in foreign countries. What? Here we are answering the call for other countries... Here we are, being concerned with the welfare of children half a world away, all the while the needs of OUR children are not being met. How does that work? I think that our Congress, before they say yes to this "no boots on the ground" attack should look very closely at the constituency that put them in office. Are these people suffering? Are they employed? Are their children eating (outside of the meager school breakfast/lunch that is being offered)?

Bring our troops home from these far off places and use their energy to rebuild OUR country before we begin to worry about ANOTHER country. Listen, el Presidente-- I am not trying to be insensitive. Really, I am not... and I am trying to come up with a good way to say that I don't really care what happens in other countries, but I can't come up with anything... without curse words involved. And since my mom thinks that you are her boyfriend, let me try to keep this as professional as possible... Ok, I did not cast MY vote for you (in both elections, I might add) so that you could run around here and take care of everyone else BESIDES the American public. We cannot and should NOT attempt to save everyone. To make matters worse, you tried to make us believe that you have good intentions with this strike- that it was for the dead children you saw in that video last week. C'mon now, Barack, you know THAT is not true. We would not get involved if there was not a benefit coming to the United States. You wanting to get involved makes me want to ask exactly what you think we are going to get out of this... but I don't really care because we need to tend to our own business.

Lastly, let me just let you know that the fact that you took to the television airwaves the night BEFORE the 12th anniversary of one of the most hurtful events in recent American history- talking about threats to American security- was not lost on me. I see through right through that bogus shit. It doesn't look good on you... and it is very Bush-esque. Let me say... he is NOT the President that you want to emulate. You aren't doing this for our safety. You aren't doing this for the Syrian people and you certainly do not have the betterment of the American people in mind. Let's take a year, 365 days and really put forth some effort to examine and turn around some problems that face the American people. You know, those people who pay your salary and the salaries of the Congress members that you are asking to do your war-mongering deeds. Yup, us. Care about US. Take care of US. Fix OUR problems. Worry about other countries second... for once.

Sincerely,

One concerned, Hot, Black and Bitter Voter


 

Yeah, I Don't Trust You

I work in a factory... for a company that will remain nameless. In this factory, I am bombarded with all kinds of people, every day. It is kind of weird. I mean, in an office setting you might have one or two people who are vastly different than everyone else... be it education, upbringing, etc. But in a factory environment, you have the possibility of standing next to someone who owns a farm, is a veteran, proud owner of a super serious gun collection, an avid hunter, a conservative, a liberal, a vegan. I mean, seriously, every walk of life, every extreme and all are very willing to talk about it (of course). I mostly don't mind most of my co-workers. I mean, we are there to make a product and I can actively ignore someone-- I am VERY good at that. However, I have run across some people at this job who deserve a humongous slap across the face... and what a better way to give it to them than on this blog. Who am I talking about? Below are just a few examples of people that I want to tell (very loudly) "um, yeah, I don't trust you."

 Perfume/Cologne: Dude, we work in a factory. Seriously? You should not smell like you are headed to the club. I should not choke when you walk by. Who the fuck are you trying to impress? It is called take a shower, put on deodorant and bring your ass to work. All that extra... keep it.

Camel Toe: Yes we wear uniforms. Yes we can request a bigger size. Yes, you should do that if I can see your heart beat through your pants. How uncomfortable is that? I mean seriously... GROSS!!! Ladies, I should not be able to see your labia through your clothes. Guys, I should not be able to see the outline of your penis. Get it together.

 Long Fingernails: even outside of the factory environment, long fingernails is severely disgusting, but long, grease filled, ragged fingernails make me want to vomit. If I can't look at your hands without almost losing my breakfast, I don't trust you.

"Mean Girls" Phenom: Um, reliving your broken hearted high school days at work is a no no. I don't care if you were the lonely nerd walking the halls or the cheerleader who was fucking the quarterback- this is a job. A job we all have to do and taking out your feelings on people around you; talking shit; acting like it is your way or the highway... let's all be better than that.

Gossiper: yuck, grow up. WE all know that if you talk shit TO us you are probably talking shit ABOUT us. Please join the camel toe lady at the end of the line.

The Know It All: If you feel it necessary to tell me how to do everything, yet you have had the same job for 11 years and have not moved up in the company, never had a promotion, never gotten a raise, SHUT UP. Take your own advice and do something with your life. Know that you might know it all... but I don't trust you.


 

Fed Up Friday - Fakers and the Ungrateful

So... Hello. I am back! I've been writing for the past three weeks, but have also been suffering through some rough times. Rough times usually equal taking care of others who are affected by the bad times and taking better care of yourself so you make it through. Rough times let you know just where you are in your life... who you can trust and who deserves the designation of "acquaintance." Acquaintance... the fail safe category. We all have acquaintances-- um, we don't all have friends. Hard times, a new life, a death, new riches, hard decisions and even betterment of self-- all of these things will bring out the best AND worst in people. These situations WILL let you know where you stand with people. You will find out who your friends are and who considers YOU an acquaintance. The ungrateful and the fake will not withstand anyone else's rough times... they can barely make it through theirs. Haven't had any rough times lately? Good!! I hope that streak continues. Since you may not have experienced fakers and the ungrateful lately, let me give you a few examples.

UNGRATEFUL

Have you ever met someone that is just not happy about anything? I mean, I am Hot, Black and Bitter but I have fabulous days. I'm not bitter all the time, every day... just most of the time! :) But I have people that communicate with me who are unhappy EVERY, single day. I mean you can say "good morning" and these are the people that will ask "what is so good about it?" I'm not talking about people who have hit a rough patch, have a crappy job, abusive relationship, real problems. I'm talking about the people who will take to Twitter and Facebook and complain about stupid shit every day. Can't find an outfit for your date? Your favorite shoes got muddy? The guy you liked asked out your friend? The sun didn't shine on your ass this morning? Ahhhh- we don't care. You know what, you selfish bastards? Some people that you passed yesterday did not have the privilege of waking up today. You woke up in order to complain. I get that your job is bad-- um, isn't everyone's? But how about this: you have a job. Especially in this economic climate. There are children that go to sleep hungry. Women who have to sell their body to make money to feed their families. Men who are being driven to steal to feed themselves. Whole families that are homeless and living on the streets of YOUR city. So stop your bitching. Damn.

FAKERS

Uh, you are NOT a model. You are NOT a baller. You are NOT half of what you proclaim and you are NOT friends with all your online "friends." See here is the deal- there are people who will pretend to have everything that they think others want them to have. They strive for social perfection; saying the right things, buying the right things, having the right significant other or the right job. They do things they aren't interested in if it gets them to the top. They are master manipulators, always pushing the buttons of the ones that they want or don't want around. It is sad that at this age, some of my peers are still finding it hard to be themselves. You know, everyone should find someone who loves them for them. Someone who doesn't care that you don't spend a small fortune in the Spring and Fall on your wardrobe. Someone who thinks it is cute when you stay in for the night to read or do laundry. Someone who just gets YOU. Faking it till you make it only works for on job training, let's all remember that.

I guess that after dealing with this death in my extended family I am a serious proponent of living every day to the fullest. Who has time to complain all day? Who has time to pretend to be something you're not? Who has time to feed the egos of people you don't care about and who don't care about you? Why would you put yourself through the changes? Do the stuff that makes you happy. Be around the people that make you happy and show support when you need it. I'm not talking about online support; I'm talking about being there, calling you, making sure that you are making it. And for God's sake: be you.

Fed Up Friday - No More Black History Month For Me

I have decided not to celebrate Black History Month again. At least not the way that most people celebrate it. I have grown weary of the same information, the same pictures, same speeches, same everything; I am not participating anymore. I am not sure who is responsible for teaching us that Black History Month is for the celebration of the same six people every year... or that Black History Month should only highlight the victimization of the entire Black race, but I am not buying it! Listen, you can take the Big 6- Martin Luther King, Jr., Malcolm X, Rosa Parks, Oprah, Maya Angelou and Marcus Garvey (if you are fancy) and have a long sit down, in the corner, because I am ready for other Blacks to be showcased in a month that is supposed to be the uplifting/praise of a race of people that helped build the country that we live in- flaws and all. People are going to be pissed, yeah, I know. Somebody, right now, is shaking their head and thinking "No this bitch did not say that Malcolm X can go sit down... she must be crazy" and maybe I am. But tell me, really, how long are we going to pretend that Black people have only made a difference in slave revolts and the Civil Rights Movement? Am I to conclude that an entire race of people have not contributed anything except militancy and civil disobedience? We have nothing else to show for ourselves except being victims of a system that has set out to destroy us? We have NO ONE else to serve as examples besides the six people named above? Well, and the President... he is half Black. Nothing? We have given nothing else to this country in 400+ years except one President, a billionaire who talks on TV, slaves who revolted and people who staged marches and bus boycotts? 

Clearly, that is not all we have done. If it were then I would close my eyes and, like many of you, join the herd of sheep that learn these few names each year and be satisfied. I am not satisfied and you shouldn't be either. You should not rest easy with the fact that your children are being taught the same things that you were taught... and nothing else. You should want and DEMAND that they learn more. Our kids should be learning about other contributions; the rich history that courses through the veins of the Black people they see today. Their knowledge should EXCEED yours, not just barely meet it. 

I am done "celebrating" with y'all because you stopped learning about other Black people (besides the big 6) so that you could catch "Linsanity." I am done because instead of celebrating the lives that we lost in February (namely Whitney and Don Cornelius), some of us reenacted crabs in a bucket, dragging everyone down and making remarks that would only serve to make us look better than the dead. Don't believe me? GO back on your facebook timeline and see what you talked about after Jeremy Lin's second big game. What did you post after Whitney was found dead? Then, what did you post about Black History Month after that?

I am done celebrating with people who don't know who Jessie Fauset is. I need you to know who Charles Drew is and why what he did in in the 30s and 40s is saving lives right now. I want to be able to hold a conversation with you about the life and times of BK Bruce and how he (and people like him) helped plow an avenue for our current President. Chicago people MIGHT know, but I need all of us to recognize and revere the name Jean-Baptiste Point duSable. How about Sarah Goode, are you familiar with her? Mae Jemison? Garrett Morgan? William Still? Thomas Jennings? Granville T. Woods? Percy Julian? 

Well, I'll be damned. You mean we aren't all shucking and jiving, illiterate, slaves running for freedom in the middle of the night? We aren't all victims of circumstance? We aren't all waiting to be saved? We aren't all waiting for the reemergence of another MLKJr type? Some of those people mentioned above created things that we use every day. Some of those people are Chicagoans, Ohioans, next door neighbors, brothers, sisters, mothers, fathers and, sadly, they will eventually be forgotten. Forgotten because we have become too complacent to make sure that our children know more than MLK and Malcolm X. More than "I have a dream," more than the Black Panther Party, the 1960s civil unrest, the slavery revolts. 

So come next February-- I am doing nothing out of the ordinary. I won't be changing my facebook page every day to reflect another picture of Martin Luther King Jr and his stint in jail in Birmingham. Or Malcolm X on that fateful day in NYC, or Rosa Parks staring longingly out of a bus window. I am not doing it for y'all. My plan is to learn all that I can, every day, about Black History. About American History. So you can have the 28 days of February and your same six people. I'll take 365 days and as many Americans as I can fit into that. My suggestion would be for you to follow suit.  

Fed Up Friday - A Week of Disrespect

This Fed Up Friday should not NEED to be written, but here I am, doing my angry fast typing because of foolishness running ramped. The things that I am about to say are absolutely common sense, but as my parents have said on more than one occasion-- common sense is not so common. It is so surreal that people need to be reminded that their rude behavior is unacceptable... good thing I like to point it out and correct these mofos ASAP. If you happen to be one of the people that I have to correct, I'm going to have my mother "the church lady" pray for you-- because you clearly need some divine intervention for being a MORON. Please be offended, if necessary because I meant that.

Week In Review:

Kyle Williams and Death Threats:

Um, wow. So I am NOT a fan of Kenny Williams. As the GM of the Chicago White Sox, I think he is a cocky bastard and he needs to be fired. With that smug, shit eating grin on his face all the time-- eh, makes me want to punch him on sheer principle. When I saw his name in the news this week, I immediately shook my head and wondered what that asshole did THIS time- only to find out that his 23 year old son was getting death threats for two fumbles in this week's NFL game? Wait, what?!?!
Ok- how deranged do you have to be to actually send death threats to someone because they dropped a ball? I mean, was that ball the last hope you had with breathing? Was someone threatening your children/wife/husband/parents if the 49ers lost? Was world peace hanging in the balance? Oh, no? Then get over yourself, Jesus! This boy is 23 and fumbles or not, you got nothing except an adrenaline rush out of that game. People take this shit too seriously. You didn't see me going ape shit when my Ohio State Buckeyes suffered a loss to a completely sub par team from a northern state this year, did you? And if I can get over THAT, you should be fine. And if you can't get over the 49ers loss without wishing DEATH on a person, pay very close attention... You.Need.Help.

Joe Paterno

Here is where I am going to lose some people. I'm ok with that. Joe Paterno dies on Sunday. His family had visitation for three days and a funeral. The comments that people left on articles about him; the "protesters" are absolutely reprehensible. OMG. There is so much I could say about this situation... what I will say is this: clearly, funerals are not for the DEAD fucker in the casket. Funerals are for the loved ones of that person. Joe Paterno was not sitting there enjoying his OWN fucking funeral. His wife was there, reflecting on the man that she was married to since 1962. His children were there; his grandchildren. How dare you get on your high horses and ruin that day for THEM? No matter what you felt/thought of Joe Paterno (which, by the way, should not be anything negative) you should at least have the decency to let his family grieve without putting up with assholes. Some people are as bad as those dummies who protest military funerals. Why protest someone who died for your freedoms? Why protest someone you don't know, never met and only know through what the media has presented? Be fucking decent human beings and extend his family some common courtesy. If protesting funerals was at ALL acceptable (which it is NOT) imagine what people would say about you. That should keep your ass quiet, huh?

President Obama and Jan Brewer

Ok- I have to deep breathe on this subject because this TOPS the list for absurdity. By now everyone has seen Jan Brewer shaking her decrepit finger in President Obama's face saying that SHE felt threaten by him. (I repeat in my head that I will NOT pull the race card- racial stereotypes from the "Birth of a Nation" era... I will NOT). What the fuck is this bitch smoking? I am not even going to consider her "I felt threatened" argument and I want you to think about the following sentence VERY carefully. Ready? Sure? I have NEVER in my whole life seen a PRESIDENT of the United States ROUTINELY treated with such disrespect. Barack Obama is the President. You don't shake your fucking finger at the President. Why didn't the Secret Service guys shoot her? What if the President felt threatened? Routinely, he is called "Mr. Obama" on television, people boo him, congress people call him a liar, and act like they have NO sense. He is not Mr. Obama. That is for some fucker on the street. His official name is "Mr. President." The same is true for that very slow George W. Bush, his dad, Bill Clinton and everyone else that has ever held the office. People turned out in droves to elect him and if I had to put up with 8 years of W and his questionable intelligence, and people telling me not to call him a moron because he is our President, then that bitch Brewer could at least be civil. I know that President Obama said it wasn't a big deal... you know what that is? Grace. And if I were him, my grace would be waning. Fuck that hoe. She would be in jail or recuperating from a taser shock. People think they can just say/do anything they want. Jan Brewer, Congress and you radicals better understand something- President Obama deserves a modicum of respect- at least to his face. If/When he gets elected again... I hate to be that hoe, because somehow, I think she is going to regret the day that she wagged that crypt keeper, bony finger at the sitting President of the United States.

Fed Up Friday - Not Black Enough

DISCLAIMER: there WILL be cursing. There will be a lot of cursing. You have been warned. Do not continue reading if your eyes cannot handle that. Do NOT send me emails about cleaning up my language because I will respond with the most simple answer: Fuuuuuuuucccccccckkkkkk You.

OK- deep breaths, deep breaths. In the past couple of days, my blackness has been questioned. Not the first time that has happened, won't be the last. But this is the first time (and possibly the last) that I will address it head on in this blog. Now we all know that I am really not put back by people's opinions of me. I REALLY could give two fucks if someone doesn't like me or my opinions. I know that it has become trendy to say that, but I mean it. I have been like this as long as I can remember; as long as my friends can remember; as long as my mother can remember-- and that is from the beginning of my time. I am telling you, if everyone decided not to read this blog, comment, be my friend on facebook/twitter/MySpace -- it ain't making or breaking me. It is cool to have a small following, but the fluctuating number, disagreements and misinterpretations? I couldn't care less. With that said, I am going to list a couple things that I will NEVER put up with... I am never going to put up with someone talking shit about my family (blood or friends); not putting up with someone taking advantage of my (rare) showings of kindness; not putting up with blatant ignorance (keep that shit to yourself); and I refuse (REFUSE) to put up with people questioning me. All parts of me. There will be no questioning of my intelligence, my loyalty, my intentions and definitely NOT my race.

There is no debating it- I'm Black. When people see me, without knowing anything about me, they will automatically assume things about me. Once people hear me speak, some of those assumptions change. Once people see who I am dating, the assumptions change yet again. I have been told that I am an Uncle Tom, I'm trying to be a white girl, acting white- talking white, I'm the whitest white girl that someone knows, I couldn't possibly know the plight of Black America; of Africans (that was a YouTube fight); of ghetto dwellers; of a Black woman looking for a Black man... blah, blah, fucking blah. To anyone that has EVER said that shit to me- FUCK off, jackasses. I don't fit your definition of what you think a Black woman should be, so I am not Black enough? Kiss my ass, the pink part, bitches. That is so ridiculous that I have a hard time putting into words how ignorant people have to be to actually voice those opinions. You think that your definition of a Black woman is the only one that matters or exists? You think that I have a duty to fulfill your expectations? Bitch, please. You think that because I am Black that I have to date a Black man? Stay out of my business and my bedroom. You think that I have to speak a certain way, have a certain number of children and a certain education. Because my first musical choice isn't hip hop; because I've never been arrested; because I don't have a ghetto mentality, I am not Black enough for you? Fuuuuccccccckkkkk you. If I have to be stereotypical then fuck you, I don't want to be Black.

I do me. I do me well. Dark skin does not mean that I have to only have a high school education, bastard kids, snapping my fingers, twerking my damn neck, popping my gum and being loud like fucking Wendy Williams. Fuck you and the horse that you rode in on for putting me in a small ass category, you small minded bastard. I have PAID my fucking "Black dues." I get followed in stores, get pulled over for NO reason, get talked to like I am fucking deficient, get called the "n" word, get asked how many kids I have... and I also get those sly fucking non-compliments: "Oh, you speak so well." "You express yourself so professionally." "Oh, I am not racist, I have 3 Black friends, we hang out all the time." Bitch! I speak so well? As opposed to what? What, you saw Friday and thought that every woman with melanin was going to speak like Craig's girlfriend? I am so professional... as opposed to fucking what? My non-professional, white co-worker? You have 3 Black friends? Three whole Black friends? Good for you, now go ask THOSE three assholes if you can touch their hair- because no bitch, you can not touch mine. Go ask them all the questions you ask me that begin with "I'm not trying to be racist, BUT..." Go ask your three other Black friends.

And for you simple minded Black jackasses: I do not have to speak the ghetto lingo to be a part of your group. I don't have to listen to YOUR music, I don't have to be in a gang or go to Africa and claim a tribe, have a baby daddy, call fellow Blacks the "n" words as a fucking greeting, take every offer for a hook up made by some "bruh" standing on the corner. I don't have to agree with Jesse Jackson or even Barack to be considered Black "enough". I don't have to be some stereotypical Black woman, looking for love in all the wrong places, lamenting over wine with my girlfriends about how there are no good Black men left for me, or taking some sub-par asshole because as a Black woman he is all I could get and I should be happy. I don't have to do that. Because: I AM ENOUGH. Enough of everything. The fact that Black America actually has the conversation about "acting white" or calling people traitors to the Black race are signs that we have not come far enough. How dare you judge my fucking daily walk as a Black woman? You don't know me or my fucking struggles. You don't know what I have had to overcome to get where I am. You don't know ME. You've been to Africa? Good for fucking you. You grew up in the ghetto? So the fuck what?! You fulfill every stereotype that there is for an angry Black woman or an overstimulated, oversexed, angry Black man. Fine. But here is the bottom line: if a crime happens and the police pull in all the Black people in the area-- I'm getting pulled in, right alongside your dumb ass... because I am Black-- enough. I don't fit your description, so broaden your fucking horizons. Because no matter how much you hate it, the truth is: I am the girl that you WISH your fucking son COULD bring home. I am the example that you wish your oldest kid would set. I am a well rounded, intelligent, cleaver, sarcastic, beautiful, successful, sassy BLACK woman... I know who I am. I LOVE who I am... so roll with me or get rolled over. I am enough (of everything). I am Black enough and don't question that ever again.

Fed Up Friday - Herman Cain

If you don't have a job... blame yourself?



Oooo- NO SIR. Herman Cain is a douchebag and should keep his mouth closed. If you made it through the last four years without being touched by the downturn in the economy-- good for you, HOWEVER, to say that people who don't have jobs have failed themselves and should be angry with only themselves is assinine. If that WERE a true statement, Cain would have no reason to consistently complain about how the President has failed us all because there has been no job growth. So, um, shut the fuck up, weirdo.

And when he was on the View, he said that businesses cut personnel out of necessity, and his 9-9-9 plan was going help that... so is it REALLY someone's choice to be unemployed?



And gay is a choice? Really? I want to punch him in the dick... and NOT simply because he is a Republican. He is so closed minded about social issues, when that is NOT what we need right now. Do we need to reign in our spending? YES. Do we need to revert back to the middle ages socially? Absolutely NOT. Don't Ask, Don't Tell should NEVER make a comeback. Healthcare bankrupting families should NEVER happen in the wealthiest country in the world. High unemployment should not be blamed on the people that are suffering, but on the corporations that are enabling that suffering by NOT hiring. Should I really have to type that in order for some knuckleheads to get it?

Four years ago, everyone... including stupid Sarah, harped on the President because he had limited experience, but Herman has NO experience and says so.



So, I am so confused as to why this ridiculous man is one of the frontrunners for the Republicans. Are the Republicans doing what they did the last election go round? Remember when Hilary was running for the Presidency? Then the Republicans introduced Stupid Sarah? That didn't go over well, right? Have they realized that there is a Black man in the White House and are countering with a Black man? Hmmmm. The real question is: will the American public allow them to do that and be successful?

Fed Up Friday

This week has been... caught on tape! Some people's actions are so questionable, that honestly, if I didn't see it with my own eyes, I would not believe that there were people alive that were THAT dumb. Like the following:



Really? Kids cage fighting? What year is this? 2011, right? Why do these parents still have these kids in their homes? Now, hey, you want to do MMA, once you are the age of majority-- cool. I have no issue with that. But a sold out crowd to see two 8 year olds fight in a cage, with ring girls and alcohol? Yeah- I definitely have a problem with that.



Because the Republicans ALWAYS keep it classy. WTF?!?! If someone VOLUNTEERS their LIFE to defend our country, I am pretty sure that assholes should not boo them. And just so you know, Rick Santorum, the tragic thing here is that you can let some bullshit like "Keep it to yourself" come out of your mouth. DADT was undermining the ability for the people who go to foreign lands and put their lives on the line to be themselves and lead the lives that they should be able to. And, I'm just going to throw this out there-- how much does anyone want to bet that one of those fuckheads on that stage has some tawdry sex secret that they are hiding right now? That is a bet I'd take.



I am going to be honest: I don't care for Jesse or Karen Lewis. The kids of Chicago Public School system DESERVE a longer school day. We have the shortest school day in the WHOLE country. We also have a very low graduation rate, and children have way more time to get into trouble and become deliquents. Karen Lewis has fought this longer school day with all that she has and it wasn't until Rahm checked her ass that she started to fall in line. Maybe with a longer school day, CPS can aid in getting more children interested in college and less interested in street life?



Wow-- kids can't even go to school anymore... Just so everyone knows- this prep school boasts a 100% graduation rate and 100% college acceptance rate. 100% Leave those kids alone.

Fed Up Friday would not be complete without me saying that I am also fed up with disrespectful people, time wasters, people who don't pick up after their dogs in the park, people who stare- for no apparent reason, and people who email you seven times to see if you have time to talk. Um, if I didn't answer you the first 6 times you sent an email, I probably don't want to talk to you. I feel better!! :) I hope everyone has a fabulous weekend.

The Price You Pay For Dirty Politics - Fed Up Friday

The downfall of Illinois governors seem to be all over the news today, as well they should be. Monday, former governor Blago was found guilty of trying to sell the Senate seat that used to belong to Barack Obama. In fact, he was found guilty of 17 felony counts. You know what that means? He is about to do some serious time in prison. He has a wife and two daughters. Let me be frank, I absolutely think that he deserves time in prison- no leniency. No time served, no deal. I know I said he has a family. I know that they are having money problems; I know that he has daughters he will not be able to watch grow up. I get it. And just like I know that, he knew that. I have absolutely no sympathy for Blago at all. Please keep up as my Republican tendencies start to show! :)

Does it suck that his kids will grow up without a dad? Hell yes, but that is the price you pay for being a scumbag. Does it suck that his wife Patty will have to figure out how to get out of her financial woes, without his help (though he definitely helped her get into this mess), yes, it does... But that is the price you pay for marrying a scumbag. How about how shitty it HAD to be for Former First Lady of Illinois Lura Lynn Ryan to know that she would probably die while her husband was in jail for the stupid crap he pulled while playing Governor of Illinois? (He was released so that he could be by her bedside as she dies this week... but could not go to her private funeral because he is now back in jail.) I am SO tired of these crooks- politicians or not- striking up deals and getting light sentencing after wheeling and dealing their way into fortunes, while innocent, law abiding, high ass tax- paying citizens (like me) struggle to stay afloat.

If I wanted to be a criminal mastermind I could. Let me just say, I would be SO great at it too- because, unlike most criminals, I am not stupid. That easy money, fast talking lifestyle is not for me, thankfully. I would rather be able to look myself in the face, look my parents in the face and know that I got what I EARNED, not what I could weasel away from people. Ugh, some people make me sick.

Fed Up Friday - End of April Issue

Hello readers!!

It has been a rough week, so I'm fed up about numerous things. Ready? here we go:

Donald Dick- oops, I mean Donald Trump... he IS a dick. Like a walking penis with a bad toupee. I used to put up with him, his show, and that thing on his head, but after this week all I want to do is slap some Jesus INTO him. Ok, is he kidding? I keep thinking that the American public is getting punked. Are there really people out there that believes what he believes? I mean, I will be the first to say- I think some of y'all out there are more than stupid. Some of the people I see on a regular basis can't walk and chew gum at the same time... I always count on a moron being in my presence. ALWAYS. But really? There are actually people who believe that Barack is not an American citizen-- STILL? Granted, there are some things that are completely ass backward in Illinois, but raise your hand if you think that all the citizens of Illinois would vote an illegal alien into the Senate. I mean, we DID have Roland Burris, but he isn't illegal... just an alien.
Back to the dick... such a waste of time. I have no respect for him, those that support him, or the nonsense that he is perpetuating. Donald Dick, you want a cause? Want something to be mad about? Gas prices have almost hit $5 in Chicago, taxes are out of control and we are involved in a two front war... that should hold his dumb ass over for a while.

Do-gooders: ok- I am not fed up with ALL do gooders. Just a select few. A catastrophe happened in Haiti, celebrities everywhere, people giving money, American Red Cross going to help, pictures of Haitians babies all over every newscast for a month. Catastrophe in Japan, same thing. Fundraisers here in Chicago- everyone wants to help. Out pouring of cash and help was AMAZING. Now picture this: oil spill in the gulf that affects several states, wildlife, economies are further broken, people are suffering. And this: tornadoes rip through sleepy southern towns, people die, economies further busted, babies are orphaned, families are torn apart by death... no celebrities, no fundraisers, no... nothing.
WTF?!?!!? That shit happened.... HERE. Where the fuck is your American pride? I swear if someone else asks me to help some children that do not reside in this country, I am liable to slap them. Dude, has everyone forgotten that America is in the middle of some shit? People don't have jobs; our economy is shitty and now states are experiencing death and destruction at the hands of Mother Nature?!?!?! Someone PLEASE have a fundraiser for the people in Alabama, Mississippi, Tennessee, and anywhere else affected by the storms. Please renew my faith in American citizens because some of y'all are SO worried about other countries that you are not seeing the needy in your backyard. Shame on you for that.

Royal Wedding: I can't front- I like the idea of it. Horse drawn carriages, a Prince and a Princess. Big party and everyone looking at me, er, I mean, her! But damn, some of you with these blow by blow tweets and Facebook updates. I was like that little kid on the Shining this morning (redrum, redrum, redrum). Seriously, it is cool that you watched, hell, I saw some pics of David Beckham that made me mad that I wasn't up at 4:00 CST to see him roll up to the church, but wow- I wasn't THAT into it and everyone that was, I gave you the side eye this morning- and just now.

Ohio State football, Jim Tressel and all that: look,y'all WILL stop hating on my coach, my team, my hometown. And I'm not playing. Tressel is a good coach- and before you say something stupid, it is not because he beats michigan every year, because they are so sorry that anyone could do that. Those kids believe what he is selling them. The graduation rate has gone up. When interviewed about the trouble that they have gotten into, more than one athlete has said that they are sorry they disappointed their coach. Haters everywhere are so quick to say that he should be fired. Then guess who else should be fired? Everyone- because regardless of whether or not they have been caught (YET), every coach is guilty of doing some dirt. EVERY one. Pretty little cheerleaders are assigned to athletes, money exchanges hands, special consideration is given in classes. That happens everywhere. Let's not be naive. So how about this... Get a life. Jim Tressel is going to pay his fine, serve his suspension and win some more. If Ohio State was smart, they would have him winning for them. Everyone else needs to shut the hell up (yeah, I am totally looking at you Kirk Herbstreit). If you don't sign Tressel's checks, now is the time for you know your role and pump your brakes. Shut up and let my man work.

Honorable mentions go out to: the assholes standing on the corner during the rainstorm this week- weirdos; the lady with the chinese food on a hot ass train car; my co-worker- even after I totally read you the riot act; people who act like they are your friend- but aren't; and people who act like they don't care in front of others and then try to be all up on you when no one is around... I see you! ;)

Fed Up Friday- Ahhhh!!

So, I took a little break from Fed Up Fridays because I didn't want to be a "complainer"... Um, now I am of the mindset that if people didn't want to hear me complain, then they wouldn't give me stuff to complain about. That is my story and I am sticking to it. So here is the newest edition of Fed Up Friday.

*Congress: Really? You can't come to an agreement on the budget? We are facing a government SHUT DOWN because both sides are pouting about not getting their way? You are holding out over Planned Parenthood?? Way to go conservatives... you don't seem close minded AT ALL with this move. Our soldiers who are putting their lives on the line for a country that allows "church" groups to picket their funerals may not get paid because you can't figure out how to give the citizens .05% of what they need and still get 80% of what you want? Ooooo, y'all make me sick. The sad thing is... it will always be like this because the vast majority of Americans are too stupid OR lazy OR both to vote you out. Shame on us all.

*People pushing aid for other countries on me: Look, I understand that some detrimental things are occurring in other parts of the world. BUT, there are detrimental things happening HERE also. People are losing their homes, their jobs, dying from preventable diseases, not being able to get health care, being failed by our educational system and routinely going to bed/school/work hungry because they have to choose between eating and paying bills... just to name a few. So no, I DON'T want to buy a shirt and have the proceeds go to Japan, or Haiti, or anywhere else. I WANT to buy a t-shirt that is going to help people be able to return to New Orleans six years after devastation hit their city. I want to purchase something, anything that is going to be able to pay some claims that are rolling in after the oil spill in the Gulf of Mexico. I want to buy something that will financially help American families pay for health care, or bail out some of our American cities that have financially struggled for decades, or bail out the public school system so that every American student can have his or her own books. Can you do that? No? Then get the hell out of my face.

*LeBron James' mom: crazy bitch, sit your ass down somewhere. You can take the chick out the ghetto, but cannot take the ghetto out of the chick. Damn. Get a little money in your pocket and you act like a chicken head. Damn, you mess around with your son's teammate and then go on a drunken tirade? Yeah- LeBron needs to lock you up... in a tower somewhere.

*Music Industry: First, you are passing off some mediocrity as actual music 97.5% of the time, which is infuriating. Good beats are great at a club, but OMG what happened to real music? I will admit that I will bump some Britney occasionally, but that is just car noise. I want people who can SING!! And don't have tattoos on their faces. No, seriously.
- On that singing note: WHY, oh why is Adele being covered up and hidden in every video? She can sing, so that clearly is not the reason that she has to be sitting in every video. She is a bigger girl... who cares? She should own that and her music label should too. She can absolutely be a role model, so what lesson are we teaching if she is always hidden?? She sits in Rolling In The Deep while some weirdo dances in powder... I call bullshit.

*CEO of Caterpillar: you suck. I don't know what backroom deal Quinn gave you to say that you are staying in Illinois, but whatever it was I hope it was worth it. You should have stuck to your guns. Giving in too easily lets him know that you have a price... a low one.

*Pat Quinn. I already abhor your "leadership." Here is another reason why.

*"Urban Media Outlets" actually one in particular... world star hip hop. You are all that is wrong with "urban" centers in America. I watch a fight that happened in St. Louis and some chick get pissed on. 1. WTF is wrong with the people in these videos and 2. why would you allow them to post such crazy, self deprecating things? SMH, some people should be shamed.

*Honorable Mention shout outs to: Glenn Beck, my coworker, the tea party, this chick, Jalen Rose, this Libya bullshit and cheap gas being $4.20 a gallon.

Public Schools Not So Public- Fed Up Friday

It seems that my home state is giving me tons of fodder for this blog lately. First this foolishness and now a mother in Akron jailed because she wanted to send her children to a better school district. Wow.

You read that right- a mom who took her kids to a school district located about three miles from her house was sentenced to ten days in jail, three years of probation and hours of community service, after being found guilty of a felony. You know what her felonious action was? She used her father's address so that her daughters could attend school in the neighboring district because she feared for their safety. Ok, I am not really sure how many of you have traveled to Akron, Ohio recently, but the city itself (while full of good people) is not much to look at. Hell, in parts of Akron, I am scared to walk around by myself. This lady's house was broken into, and she subsequently decided to make sure her children would be safe at school, and she is being punished? I have to say it again- wow.

The Copley-Fairlawn School District said that the mother (Kelley Williams-Bolar) was cheating the system by lying about her address so that her children could essentially invade a school district that was not meant for them. They said that her "daughters received a quality education without paying taxes to fund it" even though Akron public schools and Copley-Fairlawn schools are in the same county AND Ms. Williams-Bolar's father does actually live in the Copley-Fairlawn school district. So her father was (and still is) paying taxes for that education received AND Ms. Williams-Bolar, who is employed was paying Summit County taxes, state of Ohio taxes, property taxes and income taxes... Isn't No Child Left Behind supposed to make sure that public school education in America is equal across districts, no matter what taxes are paid? Is this situation just highlighting what all of us already seem to know: inner city schools and their students are doomed to be less than, simply because their parents cannot pay to live in the ritzy suburbs? Is this just this century's version of separate but equal? If it is, isn't it just further slanting the playing field?

Was what she did wrong? Yes, sneaking your children into another school district IS, in fact, wrong. Should she have been jailed? Absolutely not. That is extreme. The woman is 12 credit hours away from being a licensed teacher in the state of Ohio, and now that goal is threatened because after this fiasco she has a felony record. WTF?!!?

Judge Patricia Cosgrove said at sentencing that she "felt that some punishment or deterrent was needed for other individuals who might to think to defraud the various school districts." Really? So you have a single mother trying to care for and teach her daughters, who is employed and you what? Possibly take away her only source of income and essentially tell her daughters that their education and safety is not as important as the kids three miles away? Good lesson, Judge Cosgrove. Cosgrove, who has three children, four grandchildren and participates in the reEntry Court Program for convicted felons (helps with transition from prison by addressing issues of employment, housing and substance abuse), could not for one minute put herself in the shoes of this woman who was trying to make a way for her children? In a day and age where some women are too strung out to care for their children, pimp out their kids, abuse their children, sell drugs in the presence of their children, or simply abandon their children.... this is the woman that is punished by the system? This is the woman we make an example of?
Damn, what a world we live in, huh?