Erin Darling

Love

noreply@blogger.com (Erin Darling) — Mon, 16 Aug 2010 08:22:00 +0000

She's beautiful, Rosie Huntington Whiteley. <3

David Lopez | Test

noreply@blogger.com (Erin Darling) — Mon, 16 Aug 2010 08:15:00 +0000

David Lopez | Mika

noreply@blogger.com (Erin Darling) — Mon, 16 Aug 2010 08:13:00 +0000

David Lopez | Glamazons Blog

noreply@blogger.com (Erin Darling) — Mon, 16 Aug 2010 08:12:00 +0000

Prop 8- A Color Issue?

noreply@blogger.com (Erin Darling) — Tue, 10 Aug 2010 04:31:00 +0000

I guess, maybe I was a little naive to the fact that African American's would have a opinion specifically about the latest Prop 8 issues. I just believed that if a person had issues on the topic, it wouldn't be based on race it'd be just because of their opinions, religion or what ever they used to constitute how they felt.

For me. Gays should be able to be married, they are humans, and should have that right. I feel people use dumb arguments when trying to explain why they are against it, my personal favorite: "God believes it's a Sin." Silly me, but I was raised to believe God made us and knows what he was doing when he created us, so I believe God made people homosexual for a reason and wouldn't hate them. (if that makes sense) So with that argument I guess you have to think of Nurture vs. Nature, where people born gay, or did they learn to be gay through society-- I believe your born homosexual or heterosexual.

The other argument that I believe is dumb is gays shouldn't get married because it's not constitutional or whatever. I don't think that the consitution needs to be rewritten to include homosexuals and marriage, but i feel under the consitition, it's their right, and to deny them is like overturning everything we fought so hard for.

The last argument is that it devalues the union of marriage to let a same sex couple get married-- yet heterosexual people cheat on each other everyday. They are married have affairs, have kids out of wedlock out of the home, and divorce each other at rapid amounts, so really it's not like the institution of marriage is the greatest in the first place.

I think homosexuals need the right to be married because, I am again, pro gay adoption. I look at examples in my life, one key one being a friend of mine who had six siblings. His mother was a drug addict, thats why he had so many siblings, and the drugs made her an unfit parent. In order for the kids not to be split up, his uncle adopted all of them and raised them as his own, with his partner. These kids are some of the most well behaved, mannerable and smart kids I'd ever met, but because their adoptive parents were gay they didn't get all the same rights. I remember uncle died, and his partner got nothing and they had been together over 20 years. Examples like this lead me to believe that gays need rights. If they were married everyone gets rights, plus, just because you are gay doesnt mean your going to have a gay child. I think interracial adoption creates more of a confusion with kids, example being, one black girl who i don't like (sorry to state that) she's African and was adopted by a white family. Despite having skin the color of coal, she believes she's white, she has a weave that's too nappy from new growth, and just the things she says lead me to believe she forgot she was black, I digress.

The point was, after looking at a link on Twitter about Blacks and their opinions on Prop 8, i realize people realize it's different. I wanted to include some of the opinions here:

Michelle Taylor, 49. "I think we should be more open and supportive. People are entitled to happiness in their union. I don't want to hold them against it."

Carmen Jackson, 49. "God made woman and man and put them on the earth produce. Not woman and woman and man and man"

Tawana Smith, 36. "What we're talking about is a civl issue not a religious issue. So, if we just keep it at that we have a separation of church and state in our government-- this is again a separation of church and state. So, if you don't want a marriage in your church that's completely different than a civilly sanctioned marriage that allows the financial privileges and property rights, and things like that. I do support gay marriage, love is love; I don't care. "

Monet Knight, 43. “Well, originally I do respect the standards that God created for us, but the world that we live in and the evolving changes that are taking place -— I think that there is some need to open up to the topic and I think there is a need to open up to the admittance that love is universal between men and women, women and women, and men and men -— I’m not going to deny that. So, I’m open to it, I’m kind of balanced to it, I still have old values, but I’m not totally left field with it.”

Katrina Groover, 45. “I think we should open it up. Not just between men and women, but consenting adults for sure. I support gay marriage -— sure I do.”

Sherma Reid, 40. “We should be open. It’s a matter of somebody’s opinion —- what they like, what they don’t like —- we should be open. Once these folks do whatever they do, that’s about them. Whatever makes them happy. Absolutely, not a problem.”

Hilda Thompson, 46. “I think we should be more supportive. I mean the world is made up of all kinds of people, all walks of life, all religions, and I think people should have freedom of expression and love whomever they please. I think love is the bottom line. If the person you love makes you happy and adds to your life and makes you a better person which in turn adds to the world, I say sure.”

@strawberrytopp: "freeeee love."

@classicdaisy: every human deserves the right to love no matter what orientation, race, or creed.

Quotes minus twitter, via Essence Magazine Online

Queen Latifah PDA's with Girlfriend

noreply@blogger.com (Erin Darling) — Mon, 09 Aug 2010 20:36:00 +0000

What are my thoughts on this? About time. I think everyone had speculations that the Queen was a lesbian, and I feel why does she need to hide this? It doesn't change anything. I'm glad she's comfortable being herself.

Congratulations Ms. Gabi #MTVTJ

noreply@blogger.com (Erin Darling) — Mon, 09 Aug 2010 18:12:00 +0000

A few months ago, MTV announced a contest to find their first annual MTV TJ. Everyone and their mothers wanted to be a TJ because of the perks you get. First being the first ever TJ so you'd be making history, and secondly, the 100K salary. After months of voting and promoting, last night MTV selected their first ever TJ and the winner was Ms. Gabi Gregg.

I voted for her like a total of 20 times, and I NEVER vote for anything, not even American Idol. I was first exposed to Gabi, also known as @GabiFresh, through her website, Young Fat and Fabulous. She has amazing style, a great pen game and now this on her resume.

Congratulations Ms. Lady. Follow her to see her journey on Twitter via @GabiFresh as well as @MTVTJ

In Love With..

noreply@blogger.com (Erin Darling) — Mon, 09 Aug 2010 17:02:00 +0000

<a href="http://kilawattmusic.bandcamp.com/album/eric-lau-kilawatt-v2-2">Always Will (ft. Muhsinah & Kaidi Tatham) by Kilawatt Music</a>

Jesse Boykins- Itis

noreply@blogger.com (Erin Darling) — Sun, 08 Aug 2010 18:32:00 +0000

Honestly, I thought I should let you all know, I think i'm in love with jesse boykins. :) tahahaha.

Religion vs. Fair

noreply@blogger.com (Erin Darling) — Sun, 08 Aug 2010 16:51:00 +0000

I love America in the sense that I was brainwashed to love America. I said the pledge of allegiance because if I sat down, I’d get into trouble. My family lives here and I was born here, so I should love it. But for me, after sitting in history, poltical science, government classes and ethnic studies classes, my mind has kind of shifted. We are imperialist in the worst way, using our power to make other countries subordinate, plus we really aren’t as progressive as we’d like people to think. It took us 51 presidents ( I could be off) to finally get a Black president who is still being bullied relastically because of his skin color. It took us this long to allow gays the possibility to get married, (Prop 8 is being overturned but still not overturned yet in California) and now, Muslims are being bullied where they won’t be able to get mosque’s made.

This disturbs me only because of the fact that there are literally churches on every street corner. My religion, Catholic plus Baptist churches, and Christian churches. They are mad that Muslims want one in Manhattan near ground zero, because of 9/11. I just believe that, yes, maybe some Muslims participated in 9/11 yet the key word being “some.” Why punish a whole group of people based on the mistakes of some, like it confuses me. I was reading the New York Times this morning and author Laurie Goodstein was talking about this, read her article below. What are your opinions?

“While a high-profile battle rages over a mosque near ground zero in Manhattan, heated confrontations have also broken out in communities across the country where mosques are proposed for far less hallowed locations.

In Murfreesboro, Tenn., Republican candidates have denounced plans for a large Muslim center proposed near a subdivision, and hundreds of protesters have turned out for a march and a county meeting.

In late June, in Temecula, Calif., members of a local Tea Party group took dogs and picket signs to Friday prayers at a mosque that is seeking to build a new worship center on a vacant lot nearby.

In Sheboygan, Wis., a few Christian ministers led a noisy fight against a Muslim group that sought permission to open a mosque in a former health food store bought by a Muslim doctor.

At one time, neighbors who did not want mosques in their backyards said their concerns were over traffic, parking and noise — the same reasons they might object to a church or a synagogue. But now the gloves are off.

In all of the recent conflicts, opponents have said their problem is Islam itself. They quote passages from the Koran and argue that even the most Americanized Muslim secretly wants to replace the Constitution with Islamic Shariah law.

These local skirmishes make clear that there is now widespread debate about whether the best way to uphold America’s democratic values is to allow Muslims the same religious freedom enjoyed by other Americans, or to pull away the welcome mat from a faith seen as a singular threat.

“What’s different is the heat, the volume, the level of hostility,” said Ihsan Bagby, associate professor of Islamic studies at the University of Kentucky. “It’s one thing to oppose a mosque because traffic might increase, but it’s different when you say these mosques are going to be nurturing terrorist bombers, that Islam is invading, that civilization is being undermined by Muslims.”

Feeding the resistance is a growing cottage industry of authors and bloggers — some of them former Muslims — who are invited to speak at rallies, sell their books and testify in churches. Their message is that Islam is inherently violent and incompatible with America.

But they have not gone unanswered. In each community, interfaith groups led by Protestant ministers, Catholic priests, rabbis and clergy members of other faiths have defended the mosques. Often, they have been slower to organize than the mosque opponents, but their numbers have usually been larger.

The mosque proposed for the site near ground zero in Lower Manhattan cleared a final hurdle last week before the city’s Landmarks Preservation Commission, and Mayor Michael R. Bloomberg hailed the decision with a forceful speech on religious liberty. While an array of religious groups supported the project, opponents included the Anti-Defamation League, an influential Jewish group, and prominent Republicans like Sarah Palin and Newt Gingrich, the former House speaker.

A smaller controversy is occurring in Temecula, about 60 miles north of San Diego, involving a typical stew of religion, politics and anti-immigrant sentiment. A Muslim community has been there for about 12 years and expanded to 150 families who have outgrown their makeshift worship space in a warehouse, said Mahmoud Harmoush, the imam, a lecturer at California State University, San Bernardino. The group wants to build a 25,000-square-foot center, with space for classrooms and a playground, on a lot it bought in 2000.

Mr. Harmoush said the Muslim families had contributed to the local food bank, sent truckloads of supplies to New Orleans after Hurricane Katrina, and participated in music nights and Thanksgiving events with the local interfaith council.

“We do all these activities and nobody notices,” he said. “Now that we have to build our center, everybody jumps to make it an issue.”

Recently, a small group of activists became alarmed about the mosque. Diana Serafin, a grandmother who lost her job in tech support this year, said she reached out to others she knew from attending Tea Party events and anti-immigration rallies. She said they read books by critics of Islam, including former Muslims like Walid Shoebat, Wafa Sultan and Manoucher Bakh. She also attended a meeting of the local chapter of ACT! for America, a Florida-based group that says its purpose is to defend Western civilization against Islam.

“As a mother and a grandmother, I worry,” Ms. Serafin said. “I learned that in 20 years with the rate of the birth population, we will be overtaken by Islam, and their goal is to get people in Congress and the Supreme Court to see that Shariah is implemented. My children and grandchildren will have to live under that.”

“I do believe everybody has a right to freedom of religion,” she said. “But Islam is not about a religion. It’s a political government, and it’s 100 percent against our Constitution.”

Ms. Serafin was among an estimated 20 to 30 people who turned out to protest the mosque, including some who intentionally took dogs to offend those Muslims who consider dogs to be ritually unclean. But they were outnumbered by at least 75 supporters. The City of Temecula recently postponed a hearing on whether to grant the mosque a permit.

Larry Slusser, a Mormon and the secretary of the Interfaith Council of Murietta and Temecula, went to the protest to support the Muslim group. “I know them,” he said. “They’re good people. They have no ill intent. They’re good Americans. They are leaders in their professions.”

Of the protesters, he said, “they have fear because they don’t know them.”

Religious freedom is also at stake, Mr. Slusser said, adding, “They’re Americans, they deserve to have a place to worship just like everybody else.”

Killing Our Dreams by Paulo Coehlo

noreply@blogger.com (Erin Darling) — Sun, 08 Aug 2010 02:25:00 +0000

The first symptom of the process of our killing our dreams is the lack of time. The busiest people I have known in my life always have time enough to do everything. Those who do nothing are always tired and pay no attention to the little amount of work they are required to do. They complain constantly that the day is too short. The truth is, they are afraid to fight the Good Fight.

The second symptom of the death of our dreams lies in our certainties. Because we don’t want to see life as a grand adventure, we begin to think of ourselves as wise and fair and correct in asking so little of life. We look beyond the walls of our day-to-day existence, and we hear the sound of lances breaking, we smell the dust and the sweat, and we see the great defeats and the fire in the eyes of the warriors. But we never see the delight, the immense delight in the hearts of those who are engaged in the battle. For them, neither victory nor defeat is important; what’s important is only that they are fighting the Good Fight.

And, finally, the third symptom of the passing of our dreams is peace. Life becomes a Sunday afternoon; we ask for nothing grand, and we cease to demand anything more than we are willing to give. In that state, we think of ourselves as being mature; we put aside the fantasies of our youth, and we seek personal and professional achievement. We are surprised when people our age say that they still want this or that out of life. But really, deep in our hearts, we know that what has happened is that we have renounced the battle for our dreams – we have refused to fight the Good Fight.

When we renounce our dreams and find peace, we go through a short period of tranquility. But the dead dreams begin to rot within us and to infect our entire being.

We become cruel to those around us, and then we begin to direct this cruelty against ourselves. That’s when illnesses and psychoses arise. What we sought to avoid in combat – disappointment and defeat – come upon us because of our cowardice.

And one day, the dead, spoiled dreams make it difficult to breathe, and we actually seek death. It’s death that frees us from our certainties, from our work, and from that terrible peace of our Sunday afternoons

Erykah Badu ft. Rick Ross- Window Seat (remix)

noreply@blogger.com (Erin Darling) — Sun, 08 Aug 2010 02:04:00 +0000

A Creative Control Project, and I find this to be pretty dope– the Rick Ross verse in the beginning and “Turn Me Away (Get Munny)” in the end. This premiered today at 3:33 PM which you would have seen if you follow Ms. Badu on twitter. I am however, tired of this song, but what I like that this version of this song captures as well as the initial video that caused a whole bunch of drama, and erections in men, while proving the concept of groupthink, is the fact that all of the videos seem just like, a candid video causing the audience to anticipate more. Not all videos need to have the aspect of posing in the camera, singing your song for pretend to the audience, and Ms. Badu realizes that.

Wiz Khalifa-"Never Been"

noreply@blogger.com (Erin Darling) — Sun, 08 Aug 2010 01:59:00 +0000

I'm pretty into Wiz Khalifa, and can't wait to see him at Rock The Bells.

Nas- "NY State of Mind"

noreply@blogger.com (Erin Darling) — Sun, 08 Aug 2010 01:33:00 +0000

“Lets be real though; it definitely reclaimed hip-hop’s mantle for New York and staked a defiant claim after the West Coast redefined the genre with it’s gangsta poetics and choruses of crack tales. But “N.Y State of Mind” is also bigger than that because Nas didn’t just describe a world, he laid out a worldview so that “N.Y State of Mind” is not just hip-hop’s official anthem-no diss to Flash’s “The Message,” Public Enemy’s “Fight The Power” or Wu Tang Clan’s “C.R.E.AM.” It’s also that global clarion call to prayer for hip-hop’s believers worldwide because it’s a chilling track that harrowingly describes and imagines with such surreal imagery, with so much noir discontent and eve more dwellers, shantytown residents and war-torn refugee camp denzines of a new world order fraught with defiance and dread. That dread, so ambiently woven through “N.Y state of Mind makes the song a kind of message in the bottle sent down the ether for all those who heed its warnings, britlliaintely would become in a deeply interconnected global economy. In fact, with Illmatic, Nas married sound with geography, making Illmatic in essence a sonic map. “(“N.Y State of Mind”-Sohail Daulatzai- “Born To Use Mics on Nas’ Illmatic)“Lets be real though; it definitely reclaimed hip-hop’s mantle for New York and staked a defiant claim after the West Coast redefined the genre with it’s gangsta poetics and choruses of crack tales. But “N.Y State of Mind” is also bigger than that because Nas didn’t just describe a world, he laid out a worldview so that “N.Y State of Mind” is not just hip-hop’s official anthem-no diss to Flash’s “The Message,” Public Enemy’s “Fight The Power” or Wu Tang Clan’s “C.R.E.AM.” It’s also that global clarion call to prayer for hip-hop’s believers worldwide because it’s a chilling track that harrowingly describes and imagines with such surreal imagery, with so much noir discontent and eve more dwellers, shantytown residents and war-torn refugee camp denzines of a new world order fraught with defiance and dread. That dread, so ambiently woven through “N.Y state of Mind makes the song a kind of message in the bottle sent down the ether for all those who heed its warnings, britlliaintely would become in a deeply interconnected global economy. In fact, with Illmatic, Nas married sound with geography, making Illmatic in essence a sonic map. “(“N.Y State of Mind”-Sohail Daulatzai- “Born To Use Mics on Nas’ Illmatic)

01. Enitan Bereola on Interacial Dating

noreply@blogger.com (Erin Darling) — Sun, 08 Aug 2010 00:49:00 +0000

If it weren’t for interracial relationships, John McCain would be President.

Imagine driving across a bridge only to find the construction incomplete. Imagine a large gap splitting the bridge in half preventing anyone from progressing forward. Your only options are staying on your side of the bridge, or falling in the gap.

Millions of Black American women are taking the plunge. They either stick with Black or fall in the gap, and the gap is full of unhappily single ladies. Seventy percent of Black women are unmarried. In a March article in Essencemagazine, three-time Grammy Award-winning artist, Jill Scott wrote about her discreet distaste for interracial dating. She compares a handsome, intelligent and seemingly wealthy Black man married to a White woman, to the sting of a quiet mosquito under a summer dress. Ms. Scott stands firmly in her position that she, and many Black women “wince” at the sight of “one of their own” dating a White woman. She credits her disposition to the African-American slavery story in America.

That’s understandable. It’s important to remember where you came from in order to know where you’re going. But focusing on a negative pain and suffering associated with a historical past will surely prevent progression.

This is my response: Black women, you are beautiful. You are like fine wine–beautiful body, natural tones and a taste that makes the lips jealous of the tongue with a trip to ecstasy that justifies the affair. And like wine, you get better with age. But this is just my excerpt from the dissertation of loving a Black woman; this isn’t every Black man’s experience.

Some Black men believe that dating any race exclusively sets major limitations. Picking a mate is one of the most important decisions any of us will ever make. It’s how our names, family traditions, and culture will continue to exist on this earth long after we are all dead and gone. A Black man dating outside of his race isn’t always credited to self hatred; often it’s not that deep at all. It’s simply about preference. If you find it acceptable to use religion, education, class, and common interests as criteria in deciding whom to date/not date, why can’t race be just one more criterion to the preference?

There also seems to be a double standard. When Reggie Bush, who dated Kim Kardashian, is featured on Black magazine covers, hundreds of thousands of Black women are outraged and boycott the magazine. But when Paula Patton, married to Robin Thicke, is featured in movies, millions of Black women run to the box offices in support. One, a Black man, the other, a Black woman, but both choose to love interracially.

Black women, this is for you: I understand your frustrations. It must be difficult to feel like you’ve arrived but don’t have a strong Black man to come home to. You’ve prepared yourself with degrees, beauty and intellect, but have no one to share it with. Nothing is concrete about love and there’s no easy solution for something so complex. I’m merely facilitating a new conversation for an old topic. But I can say this: You deserve the best and God grants us the desires of our heart. I’ve grown up around Black women all my life and I can’t imagine what it must be like to feel like you’re missing a soul mate. If you feel like there’s a shortage of Black men, then maybe it’s time to try something new. Open yourself up to new environments and new social circles. You never know what God can bring into your life when you’re open. Exude positivity, love and respect for all men, and watch what happens.

It’s odd to be mad at someone you don’t know for dating interracially. She didn’t steal your man. He wasn’t yours to begin with and being Black doesn’t give you entitlement. Stop sucking your teeth, rolling your eyes, and disrespecting the non-Black lady who dates a Black man. It only displays to her that you’re jealous, bitter and shows her that “she won.” None of which is true, but your emotions alter how you are perceived. Your anger needs to be redistributed and recycled. Don’t be mad at the lady of a different background; be frustrated with the current state of Black men as a whole. It’s a shame you don’t have a larger pool of straight, intelligent, attractive and successful gentlemen to date in the first place. The conversation has changed, let’s talk about that.

It’s easy to be frustrated, but challenge yourself to understand our intent. We are motivated by love. When you understand that a Black man dating outside of his race isn’t to spite you, abandon you, or betray you, maybe then will that mosquito bite sting Jill Scott referenced, stop the burning under your summer dress.

Black men, this is for you: Step it up. Human beings aren’t status symbols and trophies are usually plastic. Remove the notion that dating a certain race will contribute to your status. To call Black women loud, obnoxious, superficial and gold-digging is to call your mother the same. We have a responsibility to ourselves and to our culture to love, support and consistently lift Black women up. We need them and they need us. But you don’t have to date one to love one. Dating interracially is a right of yours, but you have no right to disrespect your own race in the process. It’s completely ignorant to generalize all Black women based on some bad experiences. If your preference isn’t Black, you’re entitled to that. The excuse that we can’t find a Black lady on our level is dead. There are 1.8 million more Black women than Black men and certainly more successful Black women than us. Yes, we have a large pool of quality women to select from but don’t allow these staggering statistics dictate how you treat them. Being a player is played and disrespect went out of style with braids. Keep it Bereolaesque.

When we divide our social experiences, we divide our souls. God created us as all as His children. We are the ones who put divisions upon ourselves. There are no pages in The Bible condemning interracial dating, and no statutes in the laws either–it’s all in the mind. Dating is a choice and interracial dating is a part of a natural progression. This is what heaven looks like, ladies and gentlemen. It hurts to fall in the gap so let’s work toward bridging the gap. Forward progression is sexy. Live and let others live. Let’s get into that!

Pleasantries.

He's the only reason I'm still with Twitter, follow him @Bereolaesque