Drugs, Welfare and the Law

At the beginning of the summer there was an “expose” that boldly exclaimed that some states were going to begin drug testing their citizens that were receiving public assistance. I read that headline and turned the page of the newspaper because it seemed to make sense to me. Little did I know that there was going to be so much controversy surrounding the decision to drug test people.
Now, let me say, I CLEARLY don’t have an issue with helping people out when/if they need it. If you read this blog, you’ll know that I am not a heartless bastard... all of the time. BUT, there is something to be said about helping those that help themselves. Do I want to get rid of welfare all together? No. I think that it serves a purpose. I do think that it should be revamped and I ABSOLUTELY believe that drug testing recipients is a step in the right direction.
So, I have been privy to some online chats that are quite heated. I really think that the only reason people get heated about certain debates is if the subject affects them, or someone close to them. There are people on a certain blog that are screaming about the unconstitutionality of drug testing and how it “focuses on a certain group of people and not the general population” and all I can say is shame on y’all. It is absolutely UNbelieveable that during a time when the majority of Americans are suffering, some of us can get “free” money and not have to make any sacrifices. The only reason someone would REALLY contest this drug testing is if they thought they would fail. I mean really, most of us with jobs had to be drug tested. If I have to be drug tested to get a job, you should have to be drug tested to receive some of my tax money. Point blank, period. If you don’t want to be drug tested, don’t ask for assistance.
Here is what everyone needs to understand—nothing is free and welfare is not supposed to be a lifetime deal. It is supposed to be a helping hand when people have worked and for one reason or another cannot financially make it on their own. I think there should be a cut off—like unemployment. I don’t pay taxes so that people can sit at home their entire adult life. There was a helpful suggestion on one of the online threads. A guy suggested that anyone who receives government assistance, of any kind, should be open to drug testing. That would include business owners, bankers, those who work for the state, Congress, el Presidente, etc. Now that would be far reaching (and would never be passed into law) but how about that?
Bottom line—I don’t have a problem with the state of Florida—or any state—asking someone to take a drug test in order to receive welfare benefits. I think that it is wild that people would have a problem with that. It isn’t like they are forcing sterilization on people (some of y’all *might* need that) or taking your first born so you can eat. It is pee in a cup. We should all be able to handle that.

Soulful Saturday - Country

Now I don't pretend to have this particular genre flowing through my veins, BUT there is something to be said for some country music. First and foremost- Dude, some of these guys are SUPER hot. They play guitar, wear sexy ass cowboy hats and belts (trust me, a man properly wearing a belt is sexy, no matter what genre he is singing.) And- for you guys- some of the ladies are nice looking too. I mean think about it- Tim McGraw (WITH HIS HAT ON) is seriously one of the most beautiful men walking the Earth and his wife, Faith Hill, nothing to scoff at, right!? In the 90s it was Shania Twain and the incomparable Reba McEntire never ages.
Secondly- the music is good. The lyrics usually rival those of some very really deep R&B songs. Plus, who didn't laugh when "Redneck Woman" came out? Exactly!! Here is a sampling.

You're Still The One - Shania Twain



Live Like You Were Dying - Tim McGraw



Bless The Broken Road - Rascal Flatts



Amazed - Lonestar



You'll Think of Me - Keith Urban

Oh, Yes he did! Boris Kodjoe and Twitter

Heavyset African American women are lighting Twitter up because of a series of tweets sent by Boris Kodjoe (see above) with his super sexy self. Now, before y'all start lighting up my email (don't embarrass yourself, by the way) I'm going to say what you don't want to hear: I ABSOLUTELY agree with what he said and someone HAD to say it.


Now, I am not one for spreading untruths (is that a word? :)) so I am going to quote a couple of his tweets. "...Had nightmares though about 300 pound women in thongs gnawing on chicken wings while grinding on me. Scary" "Ok, people. Just to make it clear. I love all women!..." "And we as a community have to be more conscious of our health. The numbers are shocking" "No more excuses! High Blood Pressure and diabetes do not 'run in your family'. Pork chops, mac n cheese, and tons of soda do! #stopitnow" Boris also added some fat excuses- things we say to ourselves that make it ok to not be healthy. My favorite was: "#fatexcuses 'MEN LIKE THICK GIRLS' There's a difference between a healthy and sexy stacked goddess (easy Boris!) and an unhealthy obese one."

Feel free to go to his Twitter account and read all the tweets that he laid out. Now, listen... I love (almost) everybody. My personal motto is: if you like it, I love it. I don't care if you are 100 pounds or 400 pounds, how you live and what you do-- to yourself-- is up to you. There are significant problems with anorexia in this country AND obesity. As long as your behavior does not affect me and my eating habits, have at it. I don't want anyone telling me what to do in my kitchen, bedroom or life-- I, therefore, will not venture out and tell you what to eat, who to sleep with or how productive to be. Do you, because I am POSITIVELY going to do me. With that said, I have no issue with Boris calling women to task-- AT ALL. He wasn't being being mean spirited (like this entry) and it seems as though his tweets came from a concern for health in the Black community. I can roll with that. I like it, in fact.

The statistics that he tweeted are true. The excuses that he tweeted are ones I've heard before. I can't tell you how many times I have heard "I'm not fat, I'm thick!" Ooo-wee, don't say that!! We all know that there is a difference and we all know that being skinny doesn't always mean that you are healthy. We ALL know that. But while we all know the above, here is what I want all of you to realize/accept/and LOVE: just because you LOVE the way you look, the way your life is going, the person that you are with, etc. that, in NO way means that everyone is going to love the choices that you make. If you are being the best that you can and you are consciously making an effort to get in shape or not, to gain weight or lose it, make sure that you are comfortable in your own skin and ready to take some criticism. The way I see it, the only reason way ANYone would take offense to those tweets is if they were overweight and had a self esteem issue. Like Boris tweeted: "I love women that love themselves." So, love yourself-- if you are 100 pounds or 400 pounds. Love every stretch mark, line, wrinkle, lazy eye, ugly toe, chipped tooth, every inch of what you got... or get your ass out there and change it, but not for Boris. Do it for you.

Just a Taste Tuesday

Why 'The Help' Is Not The Problem

As you know, I read The Help a few weeks ago and this weekend, I gathered myself out of bed and went to see the movie. Before I went, I looked for some reviews online- just to see if the book and the movie were similar & to see what people thought of the acting. Between Twitter and some other blogs, I have to say-- some of y'all are some hateful bitches. There are so many people- mostly Black, I have to say- that refuse to see the movie or read the book for one simple reason: they are the work of a white woman. What the hell?

Let me say this, y'all make me sick. Super sick. Half of you complainers won't read this book because of what you THINK it says. If you don't read it, how do you know? You won't read this book or support this movie but you WILL support idiots like Steve Harvey who can "teach" you how to act like a lady, but think like a man. You WILL and did support a chick named Superhead, who tells of her exploits with musicians, married or not. You WILL support movies with Black people cast as every stereotype we have heard: baby daddy, uneducated, loud, dumb, lazy, shouting the 'n' word for two hours-- But you won't go see a touching movie because it came from the pen of a white woman? Give me a fucking break.

Some of y'all need to get your minds right. If you hateful bitches are mad because a white woman had the audacity to right a book about the happenings in the South in the 60s, the solution is simple- write your own book. Sit your ass in front of a computer and come up with a bestseller. If you aren't willing to put in the work, please shut the hell up. No matter what you say- Black people do not have a monopoly on telling stories about American history in the South. We weren't the only slaves, we weren't the only race hurt by stupidity and racism, we weren't the only ones who suffered for Civil Rights. Jews died, Whites died, young people, old people, Christians, Catholics- and so many more. And now, 50 years later, you don't get to say 'How dare that White woman!'

She did it AND she did it well. The book is a masterpiece. The movie deviated, but is touching. The women involved were amazing actors and I loved it. I highly recommend that after some of you check those nasty ass attitudes at the door, you check out the 'The Help' and save your judgments until after you actually see/read it.

Wordless Wednesday

A Fool's Code

Sometimes watching the news is more than a little depressing. Sometimes it makes you question the sea of humanity that surrounds you. To have a short synopsis of the people that you live around is often times too much for your brain to comprehend. You see these people that share your city and feel a sense of sadness. Sadness that their conscience allows them to do some of the most unthinkable deeds.

All of the newscasts that I watched for the past 24 hours led with the death of Arianna Gibson. You know what she was doing when she died? She was sleeping on her grandmother's couch. At 6 in the morning a young criminal- some low life thug- climbed the stairs of her grandmother's house, stood on her porch and fired into the front windows of her house. He struck two teenagers and fatally shot Arianna in the chest. She was supposed to start school today. She was 6 years old.
The story goes on. Faces come across the screen shouting of injustice around the city, begging for someone- anyone- to come forward, pinpoint the shooter, tell what they know. References are made to the 13 year old who was playing basketball on a school playground four days ago when he was shot and killed in a driveby. Another young, unintended victim of the ghetto lifestyle.

The neighbors seem cold on tv, even though I know first hand that is not the case. Mothers are begging, crying on tv for their children. Asking over and over again for the neighborhood to stop this code of silence and tell the police what they know. It never happens. Why is that? How could anyone know the identity of a person who killed a sleeping six year old and not say SOMEthing? How do people think that there is honor in letting a coward roam the streets, enabling them to do this again, to make parents weep for their children- again; to make our community miss out on the potential of another dead young person- again?

Momma Mox always used to tell me "if you don't stand up for something, you'll fall for anything." We need to stand up for our children; our neighborhoods. We need to stand up for the safety of our elders, our blocks. You do no one any favors by remaining silent. You don't ensure your own safety or the safety of your family. The only thing that being quiet does is make sure- without question- that violence will happen again in your neighborhood, that once again a life will end too soon, that the tears of another mother will flow in the streets of Chicago.
RIP in those affected by street violence in Chicago, may all your families find solace.

Soulful... Monday?

Just a taste... Happy Monday

First Giveaway!!

Here is the deal- I love to read. Seriously, when I was younger I preferred a good book to playing outside with my friends. Hmmm, not much has changed. I have always been adventurous enough… but I love to have words transport me to a mini vacation occasionally. Books are superb. No matter if you enjoy sci-fi, mysteries, romance, crime dramas or kid books- reading is truly fundamental.

Lately, I have been getting a ton of emails (hotblackandbitter@gmail.com) asking what I am reading this summer. So, I have decided to give away what I just finished reading!! One of my majors in college was History—in fact, it was my first major. First majors are kind of like first loves… you may not always be together, but you are always linked. My concentration was 20th century American history…. Specifically how the Civil Rights Movement was shaped and how it continues to shape today’s America. With that in mind, you can see why The Help was a book I was interested in reading. The book takes place in the 60s, in the South and is about women coming together and making a change in their community… I was sold. The movie comes out on August 10, so just in time I want to give away a copy of this book!! It is a great, easy read. I have to admit, the book was hard to put down.

How do you win?? In order to get in the running for a copy of the book The Help, 1. go to the Hot, Black and Bitter facebook page (www.facebook.com/hotblackandbitter) and LIKE it. 2. Leave a comment on either the blog (http://www.hotblackandbitter.com/) OR the facebook page, telling me what kind of blog entry is your favorite. Do you like the music of Soulful Saturday? Fed Up Fridays? Wordless Wednesday? Let me know!! Your comment will count as one entry in the giveaway. We’re taking entries from NOON, August 2, 2011 to NOON, August 4, 2011 (all times are CST). The winner will be announced & the book will be mailed to the winner on August 5. Simple, huh? :)

Did I Miss Something?

Did someone hit a switch that made it ok to get knocked up by married men? Did I miss it? I must have because it seems like everyone is jumping at the chance to be the conductor of the hoe train!! With yesterdays “revelation” that Fantasia Barrino is pregnant by a married no name, I am really questioning the non-reaction. I mean, can I get a shout out for sisterhood? I can I get a “OMG”? Can I get some of y’all NOT defending them? What if that was your husband? WTF!?!

Can you help who you fall for? Not really. In no way is that permission to commit adultery, or play the role of a home wrecker. That is just to say, you never really know who you will meet and find that you cannot do without. Your Prince (or Princess) Charming might be someone that you never expected to be interested in, never expected the feelings to get so deep so quickly. I get that. I’ll even go out on a limb and say that there are many of us who have been attracted to someone we had NO business being attracted to because of our relationship status—or theirs. But to take it a whole ‘nother step and bring a child into the world… into your mess, that it simply ridiculous and absolutely preventable.

I don’t care what Alicia Keyes, Fantasia, that chick that had a baby with Mel Gibson, and the mother of all homewreckers… Angelina Jolie have to say. Bringing children into a messed up situation is completely irresponsible. I mean, clearly, there is a lack of impulse control if you can’t even wait until the papers are signed to get knocked up… why would you want a child in that? Why would you want a child to be in a situation that the “grow ups” can’t even fix properly? And you know what is really killing me? All these women on the online boards that are like: “who are you to call Fantasia a home wrecker?” “Who are you to judge?” “Why is everybody dogging her… she was blessed with a baby” Um, I called her a home wrecker and I meant it. And I am dogging her because she is having her “blessing” with someone who stood up in front of God and all his family and friends and took vows with someone that is NOT Fantasia AND he is STILL married to his WIFE, who is NOT Fantasia. Not to even mention the whole: if he did it to her, what makes you think he won't do it to you?? If the marriage is over, ok—I’m not saying they can’t date during his divorce process-- although that would not be my preference. I’m not even going to be naive and say that they can’t have (safe) sex during that process, but having a kid is completely different. Why? Wives always want a husband back. There is always that familiarity. You stand the chance of really getting your feelings hurt… and now she is going to add a child onto that. There is always the possibility that you will be the dirty little secret, and he will never leave her. Now you have a kid… What now?

I don’t care if I am over here all alone shaking my head at this madness. Having a kid with someone who you KNOW is married to someone else is unacceptable… and puts you on the same level of all of Tiger Woods’ whores. Aren’t you glad to be included in that group? Yuck.

Wordless Wednesday - Feel the HEAT!

The Debt Ceiling and the Ceiling of my Patience

This entry has been edited (for language) many times. My parents have taken to reading this blog (yay!!) so I am really trying to cut down on the unnecessary “f” bombs, while leaving in the totally necessary ones… harder than one might think! LOL Seriously, my blogs about politics tend to be slightly inflammatory. Slightly. :) Now that we are all on the same page…


Here we are exactly two weeks away from the possible demise of the credit rating of one of the most powerful nations in the world and everyone seems to be more concerned with Casey Anthony, Rupert Murdoch and every other celebrity that happens to be pushing out a kid. Um, ok- I’m going to say this as politely as I can so that my fellow Americans don’t get too upset: it is this type of thinking that allows other countries to “one up” us on a regular basis. EVERYone should be calling their Congressperson. EVERYone should be weighing in on the fact that the Republicans have come out and said that they want to cut entitlements- benefits that our grandparents have EARNED by working for 45+ years of their lives. EVERYone should be weighing in on the fact that the Democrats are saying that there will HAVE to be higher taxes to pay down our deficit. EVERYone should be shouting that the Tea Party is somehow putting together a plan. (OMG- I cannot even imagine what the hell that is going to look like). Or that interest rates are going to be exponentially higher; the middle class is on the verge of disappearing; the poor will get poorer; crime will go up, or, I don’t know…. This may be the ONE thing that our economy cannot bounce back from?!

Many times I call for outrage and today is no different. This is not happening to someone else, in another country, far, far away. This is happening to us. We elect people to go to Washington D.C., who are supposed to have our needs and wants in mind, yet Congress is arguing like a bunch of buffoons about something that will have the least impact on them. Let’s look at some numbers. John Boehner, who I hate to say is from my home state (honestly, I gagged a little when I typed that- PLEASE do not think that all Ohioans are THAT close minded) makes $223,500 a year. Well, that is what he makes as speaker of the House, there is no telling what he makes on the side- slimy bastard. Both Majority and Minority Leaders of both the House and Senate make $193,400 and each regular member of Congress makes $174,000. (Do a little math and their salaries ALONE equal $94,261,100.) They also get cost of living increases, health insurance and benefits. Hmmm. They represent the people but make so much more than the people they represent. Would it be ok to balance the budget that they are all complaining about by giving them the average wage that is earned in their respective state? The median family income in Cook County is just under $54,000. Cook County is the second most populous county in the COUNTRY. Think about that. Dick Durbin, how about this: in the interest if the country I’m going to have to take away your benefits and give you a salary of $54,000. Fair? What do you think Senator Durbin would say? I doubt he would go for it.

The people who are supposed to be working in our best interest make more than three times the MEDIAN family income (legally- some politicians are on the take). During the last edit of this entry the total cost of the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan surpassed $1,223,117,120,950. And these assholes are arguing about getting rid of Medicaid benefits? Could it be that they are so willing to get rid of the benefits for our elderly because no matter what their health care (and that of their families) are covered? Could it be that the Republicans are so willing to take the American people’s entitlements because their’s are guaranteed? Could it be that the Democrats are so willing to dangle those benefits in front of the Republicans because they can go to doctor and WE pay for it? They can go to the hospital and it won’t bankrupt them or their families? Nancy Pelosi can argue until she turns blue… whoever revives her will get paid by the benefits that are bestowed to her by the American people. Barack can auction off some portion of Medicaid, or WIC, or whatever he is willing to give up because his family’s care is guaranteed. John Boehner can say no to higher taxes on the wealthy because his ass IS wealthy. How about we cut their salaries in half? How about we end both wars? We have the potential to save almost $2Trillion right there. I vote yes on that.

It is sickening that Congress people forget WHO they work for… and that we ALLOW them to forget. We should be beating down their doors and lighting their phones UP… or in a caravan, on our way to Washington D.C. to show our faces. Because if these debt talks aren’t productive, guess what? That job that you have won’t be worth shit in the long run. Dollars won’t stretch; they will break, along with the American economy and the American Dream.

Soulful Saturday - Janet Jackson

Janet Jackson. From the cute, think chick of the control days to her wardrobe malfunction at the Super Bowl, there is little that you can say about her musical talent. It is undeniable. It has been said that she is one of the hardest working professionals in the business and it shows when she is on tour. My family went to see her during the Rhythm Nation tour (totally dating myself) and she was AMAZING. Clearly, since I still remember!! From the key earring to the red hair from the Velvet Rope album (yeah- she did it before Rhianna and it looked better), Janet has been setting the standards and trends since the mid 80s. Welcome to my walk down memory lane.

What Have You Done For Me Lately?




Let's Wait A While



I Get Lonely (Remix w BlackStreet)
* My personal favorite...



Control



Miss You Much



Anytime, Any Place

Soulful Saturday - Ray LaMontagne

Ray LaMontagne is in Chicago with Dave Matthews and his traveling Caravan... or whatever the hell the proper name of the tour is. I am only mildly interested in seeing DMB, though I REALLY want to see Ray. My need stops at being outside in the summer heat with a bunch of hippies. I mean, to each his own, but I will pass until I can see him for less than $100. :) Either way, this Soulful Saturday is dedicated to Ray and his beautiful voice. To listen to him sing immediately brings to mind names like Otis Redding, Sam Cooke and Van Morrison. When I say simply amazing, that is exactly what I mean. None of this auto tune nonsense, just some pure folky, bluesy music. I love him (although the beard-- has to go. Totally dislike guys looking like Wolfman Jack in my presence). Other than the beard, I would take 100 Rays and replace all the crap that is on the radio today. I dare you to listen to him and NOT like at least one of these songs. I dare you not to LOVE him.

Trouble


* Yep, you recognize this song from that commercial with the dog. LOVE.


To Love Somebody


* Remake of a Janis Joplin song. O...M...G!!!



Shelter



Let It Be Me


* Added to the downloads... you should do the same!!



You Are the Best Thing


* Seriously, if you ever get this song from me, know that it is REAL.




You're Welcome! ;)

Shock and Awe

I have been watching the results of the Casey Anthony trial and I have a bombshell of my own. To all of you outraged people who find it necessary to be the part of the ongoing side show: please stop pretending because you DO NOT care. Stop it with the protests and the appearances on talk shows (Nancy Grace, I’m looking at you!!)… and for God’s sake, stop it with the comments about hell and damnation for a chick that killed her child because by next week you will be on to the next newer, hotter thing and YOU will have forgotten about that sweet face that is making the rounds on the tv stations .

Oh, I can hear it now: “How dare she type that I don’t care…. I care!” No, you don’t. You know how I know? Because other than the other two notorious “mothers” that killed their children (Susan Smith and Andrea Yates) who else can you name? Do ANY of these names ring a bell: Patricia Blackmon, Kenisha Berry, Debra Milke, Dora Durenrostro, Caro Socorro, Susan Eubanks, Robin Row, Darlie Routier, or Teresa Lewis? How about grandmother Caroline Young? Or even Frances Newton, who was executed 6 years ago? Do you know who they are? Women who killed their children (Young killed her grandchildren). My sophomore year in college Kenisha Berry wrapped her four day old baby in duct tape and put his little body in a trash bag until he died. What about Julie Schnecker? Do you know who she is? THIS year- 2011- she killed her children. She said that she did it because they were mouthy. So, for being “mouthy” she shot her 13 year old son twice in the head as she drove him home from soccer practice. When she got home she shot her 16 year old daughter in the head AND in the face as she did her homework. Where were you in January when that happened?

Did you know that three to five children A DAY are killed by their parents? More than 200 women kill their children in the United States EVERY year. Where is your outrage? Let’s not even think about baby killers for the moment, what about the people who do not take care of their children? What about the kids in foster care, waiting to be adopted? Where the hell are all the outraged US citizens when it comes to fighting for the care of those children? You know where they are? Overseas, adopting babies from other nations. You don’t care. You could not possibly because each year more and more children are abused, given up on, left to raise themselves and there is no outrage. There is no crying in the streets for them. There are no protests outside courthouses when abusive parents get them back , when our educational system fails them- repeatedly or when they enter the system or when they need a HOME LIFE where they can thrive. There are no talk shows for them (and NO you cannot include Maury- that is just trash hour). There are very FEW of you that are waiting in line to adopt a baby in this country, who may not look like you and let’s not even begin a conversation about the dwindling reproductive rights that women have in this country- which seems to be trickling away every day and no one says anything about it… until a child suffers and then everyone is like “I didn’t see that coming” or “how could a mother do that to her child?”. You don’t care. I mean really- you just don’t want to see the consequences of your non-caring and trust me, no one does! That is why some of us are being so sanctimonious now.

You’re sympathetic to the Anthony family. So am I. It is hard to look at the pictures of Caylee Anthony and not be sad that a young child was taken from this Earth so early in her life- no matter who did it. It is very difficult to not pass judgment on a person who seems to not care enough when her child goes missing. It is extremely hard not to make assumptions about the jurors involved in this case who came back with those not guilty verdicts, right? Of course it is. This case has been sensationalized- so much so that actual fist fights broke out between people waiting to get a seat in the courtroom. The media played on our need to see some justice for that pretty little doe-eyed girl in the pictures. And we fell for it, hook, line and sinker. Do any of us want to see dead children in the street? No, I would argue that the majority of us do not. However, if we REALLY cared about the children of this nation and the plight that some of them are going through, our entire country would be different. So, take the week. Write all over the internet about how Casey Anthony is the devil and how you cannot believe how the justice system ignored Caylee. How Caylee has been forgotten, how our children need to be cherished. Then go back to your lives, where you are too busy to volunteer. You can’t make time to mentor or to check up on people. You just shake your head at the bad ass kids in the neighborhood, instead of correcting them and showing them a better way. In that week, that seven day grace period anywhere from 21-35 children will die at the hands of their parents.

Show me that you care. Show THEM that you care.

Soulful Saturday - Dru Hill

90s music at its finest! :) Sisqo and I have the same tattoo around our belly button, which says way more about him than me! :) And everyone in the group has a S curl, but their voices are fab! All kidding aside, I think I have a thing for boy bands or something.

In My Bed



We're Not Making Love No More



I Should Be



5 Steps



Tell Me

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.

It Gets Better- Chicago

Now, I am NO Chicago cubs fan... but this is awesome- even for them (a little league team.) :) Seriously- the message needs to be heard, no matter who is telling it...
It gets better!!!

Just For Laughs - Knocked Up (Not safe for work)

Soulful Saturday - Justin Timberlake

ATTENTION: I do NOT care if you laugh or not... Justin Timberlake is SO hot. I'm talking about Justin AFTER he chopped off those frosted curls. Oh yea... he can get it... TOTALLY. He can sing, dance and hit some high notes. In short, I *might* love him. I *might* have every solo record... I *might* stalk him on Twitter-- a little. Whatevs. I'm serious. With his rhythm, those moves and songs about girls that have "a little more ass" I'm gonna need Justin to say he loves Black women and then pick me out of a crowd. (Then I wake up and finish this post. LOL)
A good ol' boy from Memphis, Justin broke onto the scene as a member of the Mickey Mouse Club with his ex (crazy Britney) and a few other notables. He is funny as all get out - hello, have you seen the SNL episodes? And he can SING... Yep... I *love* him. He is officially a husband!! :)

Senorita



Gone (actually N*Sync, but so what..)



Like I Love You



Cry Me A River



What Goes Around
...Life lesson some have yet to learn...




EXTRA: Carryout Timbaland ft. Justin