BAMABLOGUNITE

Kdrama and the degraded female

2022-02-16T04:46:00.002-06:00

I, like many other people, are professional streamers. We can easily sit online from morning til night on our days off streaming shows, movies and documentaries like it’s our other form of employment. However, there are times when you can’t find a good show to watch and you end up with a sort of “watchers block” which is akin to “writer’s block” where a writer runs out of ideas to write about. But for a streamer you can spend a long time strolling through the thumbnails on a site til you run out of choices. It’s a very sobering moment when you’ve pillaged a website and have either watched everything or there’s nothing that interests you because you’ve watched all genres with decent titles.

For me, I was tired of American television’s one note approach to television and movies. If they aren’t cranking out substandard remakes of the classics, they are rebooting old shows, or following the same predictable formulas that are just redundant. The recycling of the same batch of actors, the overly violent and/or sexual themes, and the rapid cancelling of good shows made me disenchanted with American television. I finally decided to watch shows from other countries just to cleanse my palate of the visual fodder that American television has become. I came across British/English television and I was hooked!

Between the crime shows, romance, comedy, and even sci-fi genres, British television is stellar in every way. The writers are mindful of their audience and gives us great storylines that we can sink our teeth into. But I found that British telly, unlike American television, did not have a lot of shows. The main issues was I would get sucked into a storyline and just like that, the show would end. No new season. No resolution to the first season. It was infuriating. It’s like starting a great book and midway through, the remaining pages are blank. After finding three or four British shows like this, I was pretty much done with them. So on to Nollywood!

Nigerian television while refreshing, felt very minstrel show. The few with decent acting, were often really low budget and didn’t keep my interest. I also found that Nollywood would try to mimic some of Americanized tropes mixed in with a lil Nigerian lifestyle, but still familiar to me because I am well, America. So I strayed back to American television until end of season on a few of the shows I did watch. Then I ran across a series, and dropped American television for almost a year. Why?

One day I ran into a “K-Drama” and that was all she wrote.

Law & Order SVU: What are you doing?

2022-02-07T04:25:00.000-06:00

Law & Order: SVU has been a part of my life since the pilot. Sitting or more than often in my case, laying in front of my television watching weekly stories often ripped from the headlines was how I unwound. All 23 seasons. That is a long time to tell stories of people being sexually assaulted and often murdered. But in today’s climate, this show could go on forever. The elements of dealing with the victims, chasing down the criminal, then the litigation element gave us a glimpse into the process as best they could. The way they opened the world of SVU to viewers was what made the show so riveting.

When Christopher “Elliot Stabler” Meloni left the show, I felt the show go sideways and a few steps down due to loss of the chemistry balance between Stabler and Mariska “Olivia Benson” Hargitay no longer being there. It forced the “Olivia Benson” character to carry the show with a handful of forgettable side characters to fill the moments and for the most part, it often fell flat. When some of the stronger characters left like Richard “John Munch” Belzer, Philip “Peter Stone” Winchester, BD “George Huang” Wong, to name a few, I resorted to not watching for long periods of time and then just binged to catch up.

Then a character was added to the lineup that rekindled my interest in the show and watching it weekly. Raul “Rafael Barba” Esparza. His ability to wield his legal abilities like a sword wasn’t just amazing to watch, but when he often found ways around the corrupt using the system to their benefit and to then make them pay was so beautiful to see. This character thought outside of the box and Law & Order needed that.

But in true Law & Order fashion, they deleted Barba, a great character, using the corniest storyline which if they brought him back, his character wouldn’t be as powerful or respected. And that is exactly what they did to “Barba”. When he did come back, he was a shell of himself, and he didn’t even lawyer the same. I would rather they have never created “Barba” than to do this to a character of his caliber ever again.

Now to replace “Barba” as the go to prosecutor, they put Peter “Dominick Carisi” Scanavino, who is cop through and through, in the spot. Talk about bad casting. Carisi playing the role as a litigator is as believable as The Hulk playing a babysitter. Now they’re trying to cultivate a relationship between “Carisi” and Kelli “Amanda Rollins” Giddish and it’s painful watching them kiss. PAINFUL! Either they hate Dominick or he drew the short straw because his role on this show is disjointed and being used as a guinea pig for everything.

Let’s talk about Jamie Gray Hyder’s character “Katriona Tamin” and how forgettable she is even when she is on the screen. They wrote this character in and now out without giving her any real background that was relatable to the point that we bonded with her. When she got hurt, I felt nothing. That is not good. Now she is being painted as disinterested in her job after she was so passionate about it last week. Bleh. Bad writing yet again.

The only constant that is left on this show is Ice-T’s character “Odafin Tutuola”. His aloofness at the best moments and his burning concern at other times makes him a true jewel of the show. He is honestly the only believable character right now to support Olivia, which he often does. When they retired off “John Munch” it killed half the cop chemistry we enjoyed between Munch and Tutuola and that was a small tragedy for viewers. What the writers and casting crew of this show needs to learn is if you are going to take away an element that made the show what it is, you have to replace it with something just as good or better, or at least tolerable.

Which brings us to my main point. What is the show gonna do to keep our interest? Because covering the usual white party girl, white student, or white woman getting caught walking at night as the premise of each show is growing old. It’s feeling real “Gabby Petito” every week while many other stories of people of color go untold. Being safe is killing this show. Law & Order: SVU used to push the envelope with endings to cases still in the news. Now not so much.

While New York is a true melting pot of races, the casting of victims and their storylines are predictable and tone deaf to actual victims such as the sex trafficking that is devouring scores of black and indigenous women. Every time they have a black victim, it’s a black rapper boyfriend trope or some other unrelatable element that shows that their pulse on minority issues is not beating.

What also is painfully apparent is that they are not allowing Law & Order: SVU as a show to adapt and progress, just mature. It’s very noticeable that Olivia is often seen running to sit down in her office. You also see it in how the main characters that have been on the show for years are aging and slowing down and they have not added younger characters to absorb their knowledge and experience while adding that new blood energy. At least not at a realistic rate.

Allowing viewers to fall in love with new characters by endearing them to the previous gen actors is vitally needed to keep this show alive. This is what keeps the SVU show a relevant staple in the lineup if that is their plan. Unless their plan is to kill the show off in the next few seasons with a “Friends” type sendoff. I would hate that after so many years of being a voice for victims. It deserves a new chapter not another spin-off or whatever this is that they are dragging on and on following the 2001 formula.

What is needed is diversity in new writers, casting agents, and a crossover to other shows that are working in the vicinity where it would be believable such as “Law & Order: SVU” and “Blue Bloods”. But let’s get cracking on breathing energy and life back into the show. It deserves as many seasons as “The Simpsons.”

Op Ed: What "Mulan" did wrong

2020-12-28T02:40:00.002-06:00

I finally got around to watching the "Mulan" live-action movie yesterday even though it has been out since September. Initially, it was the hefty price of $30 to watch it at home where I would be providing the electricity, streaming access, and snacks, that price made me say, "Oh naw, I'll wait." I mean I understand that it is a pandemic and movie houses are losing money because of lack of access to movie theaters, but that is ridiculous. I feel they shot themselves in the foot because more people would have watched it if it wasn't so pricey in the beginning.

Who wants to pay the cost of buying the movie twice over, then having to buy it when it comes up for sale? It may seem like a good idea on the side of Disney, but their math is not mathing. Make it affordable for all upon release, then make it available for streaming 3 months later with a regular subscription, then sell hard copies/digital copies for $1 higher than normal. (Ex. $18.99- $21.99) Boom, you make money the whole release.

I knew I would watch it when I saw the casting. Disney was really careful being that a movie's success can hinge on its casting. Trust, we are still not over the casting of the movie "Nina Simone" with Zoe Saldana. With Disney's ability to whitewash the heritage right out of a movie soon as an ethnic character starts singing, one must be careful not to cast in a way to alienate its audience. While I was excited about this live-action, I am cognizant of how live-action never meets the expectations of the limitless abilities of animation.

But low and behold there were actually problems with casting after all. The disappearance of the character "General Li-Shang" in this movie made it a little hollow for me. To change him into two characters played by two actors of varying ages reeked of white people tiptoeing around past misogynistic stereotyping that they had to rectify. It would've been easier to just hire talented minorities of the same heritage, and create a closer characterization of General Li-Shang, without nixing the character the way they did.

While I enjoyed seeing Jet Li and Donnie Yen in this movie, both characters irked me a bit. "Commander Tung", offering up his daughter to Hua Mulan soon after seeing her Chi skills, typical. "Commander Tung" was just a glorified babysitter barking commands and then disappearing until it was time to say something else rather than being a strong character with a real purpose in this film. Jet Li was reduced to being the damsel in distress this go-round which amounted to putting a person with a Ph.D. on fries at McDonald's.

Then there was the dry ass character that is "Chen Honghui". Boy was he a missed opportunity. Gone was the developing love story that was General Li-Shang where he let go of his misogynistic ideology to recognize the greatness in someone not based on their gender. "Chen Honghui" played by actor Yoson An, was delicious to look at, but with every missed opportunity to connect with Hua Mulan after her reveal, I grew more frustrated with the character. Then the weak-ass hand touch at the end... Like what was the damn point of it all.

However, all the characters were not a bust. Now I am not going to go over each and every character, but I do want to point out characters of note, at least to me. Now there was a truly dedicated character that had that fire and played his part to the hilt. He was believable, although I wish he had a more supportive cast that showed more passion in their roles which would have taken "Mulan" over the top. But when it came to "Bori Khan" played by actor Jason Scott Lee, he spared us nothing, do you hear me? I was in fear of this character. Jason was so good at playing his part, the closeups of his scarred face didn't ease my fear. I LOVED IT! Only wish they would have pushed his wig back a little bit like the animated character. But I am at least grateful for him being true to the part.

WHERE IN THE HELL WAS MUSHU AND WHAT IN THE HELL WAS THIS?

...and that is all I am going to say on that.

Overall this movie could have been way better, but thanks to not wanting to step on any cultural toes, deleting major characters, lack of actor chemistry and other avoidable issues, this movie was semi-meh at best. With Hollyweird being a crank machine of remakes and sequels, Disney was forced to update its format from the racist and sexist characterizations of their past, to a more audience-friendly, politically correct visual that no one of any race could relate to . This meant their current content often feels disingenuous because being cognizant of another's culture doesn't come natural to a people who have exploited cultures in the past for their own benefit. When creators try to update with the times, it often comes at the expense of the overall accuracy, depth of character, or is missing historical facts. The end result often comes down to a substitution lacking depth due to it being a character or idea from a place that doesn't fit in with the original idea that consumers grew to love. But hey, it was a movie.

May I suggest something going forward? How about Disney not make anymore remakes or future movies unless it allows the people of that culture to have a larger more creative input, which includes their singing voices, storyline, and casting. Seeing a movie set in lands that have large populations of POC, only to then hear sterile caucasian voices coming from those people is really annoying. The same way people learned the lyrics from "The Lion King" even though some songs were not in English, and sung by black actors, people of all races learned the songs nonetheless. Cultures from other countries have songs in their native tongue that people want to learn as well. This is a great teaching moment Disney often passes up. Mulan is one of them. Disney just needs to grow up and shed its past where they painted all people with the same white brush for their comfortability and just strive to bring Disney into a bright, more diverse future.

Don't let my opinion stop you from watching for yourself if you haven't already. Click the link for more info on how to watch Mulan.

Watch Mulan

The Making of Lil Murda

2020-10-01T01:46:00.118-05:00

When I started watching “P-Valley” I didn't expect much, but what I got was a pleasant surprise and my new binge obsession. Each character was equally interesting as they made their entrance onto the scene and it all fit together like brand new Legos. Some scenes were filled with elements that seemed unrealistic, but it added to the fabulousness that writers want "The Pynk" to convey to the audience.

For example, with all the stacks of folded new money flying through “The Pynk”, it's hard to believe "Uncle Clifford's" inability to cover the club's $55k debt in back taxes. This was an obvious exaggeration of the level of money flowing through this strip club. Besides that, the characters are very realistic and colorful, to say the least. But this isn’t about the show itself in that it’s more about the character played by J. Alphonse Nicholson known as “Lil Murda”.

Lil Murda arrived on the scene talking slick, brimming with confidence and swagger. His presence reminded you of every dude in Atlanta with a grill, an unhealthy obsession with the strip club scene, and a trunk full of mixtape dreams. Soon as the camera hits him wearing the full armor of leftover SoSo Def and Snap music, he had your eyes glued to the screen. With all that going on, there is something different about this character.

What I saw as different, is that the writers allow "Lil Murda" to be vulnerable and pliable. You see this side when "Uncle Clifford" informed him that his music was less than relatable for the market in which he was in a rush to be a big part of. Instead of getting angry, and mouthing off a barrage of insults towards the flamboyantly dressed, bearded queen, you could see Lil Murda soaking in the advice with anxiousness to garner his first club banger. That was refreshing to see.

In one scene you could visibly see Lil Murda switch between masculine assuredness, to eager apprentice, and then back again. So much so that sometimes it made me dizzy and a little unsure of where his character would take us. But the character at least was not too proud that he didn't know that he had to approach different situations, differently. As a result of these interactions, you saw the relationship between the Uncle Clifford and Lil Murder change and blossom into a forbidden union of sorts that left you wanting to know how far Uncle Clifford and Lil Murda would go. It showed that "Lil Murda" was a persona and not who he really was. This element pushed the envelope far into the darkness of down-low living and possible attempts at being out of the closet and proud.

Whichever level the characters took us to, it made the character of "Lil Murda" that much more interesting. Watching Uncle Clifford's sharp-tongued but sage advice to Lil Murda, and Lil Murda's quick action to implement that info was not without its failures, but you also saw his progression through that process. But so far Lil Murda's progression is threefold. He first has the fire in his belly to make it, he has the accidental mentor by way of "Uncle Clifford" and the "Pynk" and then he came gunning for the very person who would take him to another level. Miss Mississippi!

Keyshawn, aka "Miss Mississippi" is that vehicle by which Lil Murda finds his salvation, but not before catching Keyshawn watching him and Uncle Clifford in a compromising position. With their secret not yet out the bag, Lil Murda was gunning to set her straight on keeping their secret. When Lil Murda caught up with Keyshawn and her baby, it made you think he was about to harm her, but Keyshawn diverting the whole scene into a "decent proposal" made the whole scene truly poetic.

While Miss Mississippi appears to be happy go lucky, she is actually going through her own personal storm dealing with being a young mother and constant victim of an abusive boyfriend who beats her every chance he gets. However, it doesn't stop her from making her money nightly, seizing business opportunities, and knowing the value of Lil Murda's music and her burgeoning dance career crossing paths. Watching her sell Lil Murda on being a package deal is like watching a Wall Street broker talk a Fortune 500 company into betting it all. Miss Mississippi is wise and methodical and with a motherly hand, she raises both of their stock in "The Pynk" using online resources and her swift know-how.

But the most poignant moment was when she made Lil Murda strip down and bare all in order to reach a place he had never been before within himself. After realizing that Lil Murda was not adequately ready for his stage debut, Keyshawn quickly remedied the situation with an impromptu rehearsal that forced Lil Murda to dig deeper for some things and to let go of some others. The end result was a more confident performance that even made Lil Murda believe in every lyric he wrote. He was ready. That makes me so appreciative of this show in that it doesn't skip the struggles, the learning process, the valleys, just to show the end result of the hard work. That is the part of the process many striving for the same dream never see because we are so obsessed with the end result.

I appreciate the realistic view of the development of a person pursuing a career in the industry. The industry is not a road paved with easy breaks and perfect timing. It is often filled with disappointments, having to face that we need work, and at times being in the wrong places at the right time. But I like the perseverance in Lil Murda. His character did not hesitate to show him falling apart at his failures, but in the same token, not giving up. But moreover, it shows how supportive women can be to the cause and how our expertise can shift the trajectory of the men in our lives. Lil Murda was wise to pick up what Keyshawn was putting down. A True nurturer. I can't wait to see what happens with this character and others on "P-Valley" next season. The characters in this show are very interesting and have equally interesting backstories. Hold on to your chair next season!

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Getting old in the age of Celebrity: Beyoncé Giselle Knowles-Carter

2020-08-30T20:14:00.179-05:00

The internet never ceases to amaze. In the run of a day, one can get a wide variance of opinions about things of note, and also things of little to no importance. Everything is fair game. But what is consistent about those who comment on the net is their desire to give their negative opinions on just about everything. What brings out the most passionate comments is celebrities and their lives. Every little move a celebrity makes is recorded and commented on because we all know celebrities are America's royalty. They are not allowed one iota of privacy and as of late, celebrities who last in the business have to deal with one facet of being in the limelight that happens to us all. Getting older.

Now there is nothing wrong with getting older past, of course, feeling the effects of getting older. With aging, we all know our bodies are essentially breaking down to a more vulnerable state and it is just a part of living. But people sling vitriolic hatred towards celebrities at the first sign of them getting older, as if celebrities are supposed to hold some sort of vampiric youth for all time while they themselves are at home with skin spoiling like milk left in the sun.

For example, in the 90s Halle Berry was the name on everyone's lips as the go-to who embodied the beauty goals of women, and the sex appeal that made the men go crazy for her. So much so, men would use Halle as a compliment and an insult in the run of a day when addressing women. In one breath a man can say "You're sexy like Halle Berry." Then the same man can turn around and say "You're no Halle Berry, bitch." Being born bi-racial, Halle was still a palatable sex symbol to white men even though her black features were prominent. They saw a crossover sellability about Halle without offending anyone on either side.

Halle showed her bankability being the star of several big-ticket movies like "Losing Isaiah", "X-Men", and "Monsters Ball" which garnered her an Oscar to boot. So you are talking about a woman whose career began in 1989. So if it is now 2020 you are talking about 31 damn years in the business! So when you see some gen z'er on Twitter saying things like "Halle Berry looks old." you look at them like, what? She's 54! and looks 35! You have lost your mind! At what point does a person suppose to look their age?

Mind you she looks like THIS:

What made me decide to write about this was an exchange between singer Eric Benet and a random person complaining about Eric not looking the same as he looks in their fantasies. Eric Benet was quick to remind them of the span of time in which he has been around. This man over there aging like a fine wine with a beautiful family minding his business and Twitter is well Twittering a bunch of B.S. None of the disparaging comments they have for others translates into dollars. Some of us live in the real world where when time passes, we age as it is meant to be.

Mind your Eric looks like THIS:

Which brings me to Beyoncé Giselle Knowles-Carter, The Queen. Even she is not immune to the vitriolic taunts that bathe Twitter and other websites with words that are just meant to hurt others. No matter how accomplished, or kind-hearted, or how long you have been alive, people will make time in their day to remind people that something about a person is not the way it used to be. Now in Beyonce's case, she has been in the music industry since she was a preteen and is now approaching 40, and according to those online, they feel that she is not supposed to show signs of aging. How dare she.

The world is screwed up if they think that Bey will keep her 19-year-old body even after having 3 kids, one pregnancy that of which was actually twins. Beyonce now has that "Grown woman's face and body because well, she is a grown-ass woman. Many of the complaints were less than a month after she gave birth to two babies! Women are pressured to achieve "the snapback" body, where women are judged on how flat her stomach can be shortly after giving birth. It is a dangerous standard set upon women regardless of the detriment to their health and the uselessness of the standard as a whole. Growing into adulthood like marriage and having children is an inconvenience to the picture in their head as to what Beyonce should look like and be doing right now.

People grow up and get older it is just a part of life. We should not be made to feel ashamed of getting older, and of our appearance when age changes us. Diminishing the value of a person as they get older when we should be showing respect and learning from their life experiences, this is why we lose that history and life lesson. But while people are online acting like getting older is the plague, she is still growing, creating and making a mark on this world that can never be wiped away.

Mind you Beyonce looks like this:

I don't know what else to tell you but just keep living and see what happens to you...

Lovecraft Country: Make it make sense

2020-08-27T00:00:00.001-05:00

So I have started back watching "Lovecraft Country" after putting it down after 10 minutes into the first episode. I tried to give it another chance due to my recollection that I did the same thing when I started watching "True Blood" only to give it another chance and then become obsessed with the show. I wanted to not be biased and just take "Lovecraft Country" as another "slave/racism" based movie that I would lose interest in because of my exhaustion of seeing black people in that light.

But I will just say that the story's plot is all over the place and seems like a lazy attempt to have an intricate backstory but is just coming off as a failure to deliver.

I know how to follow a storyline that blooms like an onion, full of layers and deeper meanings. You're looking at someone that has followed Star Wars, LOTR, Fringe, Law & Order: SVU, a show I have been watching since the first episode in 1999. So I know how to follow twists and turns and deep subject matter that is reality and sci-fi based.

I love the cast they chose for Lovecraft even though I am still wondering if they chose Jurnee Smollett for her light brightness as a way to meet their "don't make the show too black" quota to justify getting decent ratings. Because God forbid Hollywierd showcases two dark-skinned lead characters much less 3 because they assume that it would kill the ratings.

I just need them to make a more cohesive backstory so each scene doesn't feel so disjointed. I was raised on soap operas of the 70s and 80s, I know how to follow jumps from past to present then future to the present like a pro. So I know it isn't just me watching this show like... umm wtf? Because right now this show is a snoozer for me.

But I am open to anyone who has read the book. Change my mind! In the meantime, if you have not seen the show, take a gander and join in on the conversation. You can catch the latest episodes on HBOMAX on Sundays at 9pm (check the site for time zone) and follow the social media for updates and other info.

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The End ?

2018-02-25T14:41:00.001-06:00

While Bamablogunite was a perfect place for me to release my thoughts and share with all who graced this site, a different way of looking at things, it is time to wrap it up.

Now this is not to say that from time to time I will not come back and post something that is burning in my spirit, but the posts will become archived but visible if someone falls on this page for information, truth, realism, or just to be entertained.

I thank everyone who supported my blog and left comments( many of which disappeared when the site updated) on my posts and interacted in positive ways. It was humbling and I am grateful for you all.

But now I am moving on to different projects and other things that require time and focus. I just wanted to bring semi-closure to this blog and to let you all know that I am still around.

Thanks Again,

Kim B.

What Rights does Blac Chyna have?

2017-07-12T08:52:00.000-05:00

While America watches the demise of the relationship between Rob Kardashian and Angela "Blac Chyna" White, something else more important has been unfolding on social media. That thing is the attack on the basic human rights of women. After posting illicit pictures of Blac Chyna in retaliation to alleged cheating, we saw social media explode in excitement over the "revenge porn" and baring of personal details by Rob Kardashian on Instagram and Twitter. Yet there was little outrage at him for having done so. Chyna's rights to feelings of betrayal and disrespect were quickly dismissed because of her past career as a stripper. Statements that her nude pictures being posted without her consent was not wrong because she is a stripper, was the logic given by many of those who commented on social media.

Being the mother of his child did not stop Rob for one second from baring all on social media for the world to see. Rob Kardashian, no stranger to retaliation tactics when his relationships go south, went full steam ahead even while family and friends were telling him to not to expose this information for public consumption. (Probably to give Kris Jenner enough time to spin it into something marketable) But this is not all about a immature male emotions that he cannot control, this is about dismissing a woman's value and taking away her rights because she has had a career in the sex industry. Let's unpack this bag.

Women who work in the sex industry or similar jobs are often targeted for violence, kidnapping and murder while their cases often were never solved or barely investigated. Many of the crimes against women in the sex trade/business were often perpetrated by a society that felt they were worthless and many considered them throw away citizens. While males consume the services of these women, no shame is brought to them by society, yet the sex industry involves billions of dollars spent on it every year. So shaming and degrading the women while you happily participate and consume the very thing that makes you see her as less than, is just a normal business day for men.

So that brings me to the matter at hand. People on the Internet, majority males, began loudly professing that since Blac Chyna is an ex-stripper that she should not be entitled to the respect of not showing her private photos to the world. If she can go on stage and strip countless times for plenty of people, why should she be embarrassed because Rob showed her nude pictures? And in that pattern of thinking, women are being robbed of their rights, and no one bats an eye. Because she is a hoe, right?

The problem with that concept is that there is a sense of entitlement males have when it comes to women that is the basis of rape culture that needs to be done away with. Assuming because a woman is a stripper or an escort or even a astronaut, does not give men the access to her body or the right to exploit it without her permission. A woman's voice is just as valuable as the man's voice, and just because history has diluted and even silenced women's ability to be heard and respected, does not change the laws that protect it. The fact that laws need to be in place to protect women rights shows the inherent corrupting nature of men in society and their preying upon the weaker of us.

Revenge porn is a thing. Males show off their homemade porn as a badge of honor and turn right around and use the same video to bring shame to the woman. Rob's purposefully timed exposure of Blac Chyna's nudes shows you the mentality of males like him that do not get their way. While his approach was softer than some males when they want to get back at their ex, it is no less damaging. The immaturity is dangerous. Rob Kardashian with no regard to Blac Chyna or her children, exposed private messages and photos that can bring unwanted attention to her while out in public. It was only about him and his moment of feeling powerless that he was willing to risk it all so he can feel in power over her.

Whether or not he is charged according to revenge porn laws, (celebrities have a way of weaseling out of things every day citizens are imprisoned for) has yet to be seen. It is still early in the process. I do hope that an example is made to deter people from revenge porn which is dangerous in and of itself. But the assumption that Blac Chyna's past history as a stripper means she has no rights to privacy is absurd. If a further example is needed, look at it from this point of view. Just because a woman likes a lot of sex, she does not expect or deserve to be raped.

There is this little word that has a huge meaning called "consent" that women AND men ALL deserve as a basic human right. She consented to sending the pics to her then boyfriend/fiance. She consented to being a stripper/dancer. She consented to sleep with whomever she pleases. However she did not consent to the exploitation of private messages and photos she only meant for her mate. That is a violation of her basic right to consent to her private content. Consent is not transferrable! No matter what line of work she was in, or how much we demonize women for doing things men make money off of or enjoy, we have to protect the rights of women. In doing so, we cut down on exploitation of women that often bleeds over into children who are also exploited.

So if you think Blac Chyna has no right to consent, remember one day when your privacy is exploited, or has been exploited in the past, you must recognize that basic human rights are important. Exploitation of one leads to exploitation of all. We are naive if we don't understand that concept. Rob Kardashian needs to grow up, get some counseling to deal with his issues with women and relationships, his own self esteem, and obsession with control. Whether we like Blac Chyna or her lifestyle is of no consequence. Her faithfulness to a boyfriend is not our business. But what affects Blac Chyna that also refers to us, is the right to privacy and we have to keep in mind that society will diminish women's rights, and purpose daily because there is money in exploitation.

So Blac Chyna's rights to privacy are just as much in tact as her rights were before she ever put her hand on a stripper pole. Her consent is necessary and important. Devaluing her because of her past employ feeds directly into rape culture and the exploitation of women and children. The peanut gallery that is society does not have a right to judge a woman and dismiss her value AND enjoy and participate in what they feel devalues her. Women's rights are human rights, period.

"Libido Lounge" [Neosoul, R&B, and Hiphop] - Mixtape No.12 by Azul Horizon

2017-07-11T11:10:00.001-05:00

It's a lazy Tuesday. Let's celebrate!

The Fucking Friend Zone

2017-05-29T07:50:00.001-05:00

If you feel you were put in the friend zone, stay there and die.
Make sure no one hears from you again.
The Friend Zone is a place that only exists in your mind.
The walls are covered in ego and low self-esteem.
You think everyone should tell you yes.
Wake up, you're not in the friend zone, you are in the real world
Where there is a thing called, rights.
Where women have a right to tell your ass no.
You are of no value to anyone if you think a woman's free will is not important.
Women owe you nothing.

Women you have an interest in owes you nothing.

Your sense of entitlement is why we have rapists, woman beaters, men who kidnap and hold women hostage, assaults on women for just saying no.
It is the reason society saying things like Boys will be boys.
Giving predatory behavior a hall pass to destroy the lives of women from an early age.

"Oh it's not that deep", or "You're overreacting", or "Fill in the blank with something that puts blame on women for their own mistreatment here.

" It is that deep. 6 feet deep for women who stood up for themselves and were murdered for it.

So fuck you and your friend zone that doesn't exist. Stay there and die. Yes, I mean it.

Women don't owe you shit.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

SHE DOESN’T OWE YOU SHIT

http://www.bodyforwife.com/she-doesnt-owe-you-shit/

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Terence Trent D'Arby- Let's Go Forward

2016-12-14T20:11:00.001-06:00

Anderson .Paak - Room in Here (feat. The Game & Sonyae Elise)

2016-10-08T23:50:00.004-05:00

andersonpaak.com
@AndersonPaak
www.facebook.com/AndersonPaak/

Racist Relations: I Don't Have The Time...

2016-08-24T08:52:00.000-05:00

It seems like since Trump decided to throw his hat into the ring of politics, as a person of color (POC) we were forcefully designated to do two things. It seems that Trump has been the perfect catalyst in racist relations, and it leaves POC in the position to be historians, and geneticists to prove that we deserve to be treated as human beings, and to educate white people on their own racism and how they benefit from it today, as they did many years ago. Neither of these things benefit POC in any way, but it seems online racists make taunting posts exercising their newfound bravado as if they were breaking out of an eggshell meeting the daylight.

Dear people of color, this is NOT your purpose or job to teach white people that you are of value and matter in this life. They know you are human, but they would rather hold on to the archaic teachings of their forefathers who were uneducated, fearful of anyone other than their own, and used violence to appease their fear. If you engage in conversation that touches on race, and you drop factual information only to be met with baseless claims in rebuttal, conclude the conversation and keep it moving.

They can research and read (for the most part) just as you did to find the truth. But it also takes someone with compassion and hunger for knowledge to not only seek this knowledge, but also make actions that correct the wrongs they find after gaining knowledge. That is where you see the disconnect. Even when many learn of the mistreatment of people of color, they rarely make an effort to change the injustice, or just do so in voice alone.

Use your time to educate your young, work towards engaging only in ways that benefit the bottom line, empowerment of people of all races who are here to unite and work towards strengthening everyone. Life is too short to sit here talking in circles to people who only engage you to cause chaos and confusion. In many cases, they know the mistreatment of POC is wrong, they just don't care. They often just argue with you to keep you distracted. Don't be. There is enough to do in this life than to argue with those whose only goal is to see more pain from people they consider less than human. Don't give them that gratification.

Post Review: Barbershop The Next Cut (2016)

2016-06-04T18:48:00.003-05:00

Here we are on a third installment of the movie "Barbershop" starring NWA rapper turned actor, O'Shea "Ice Cube" Jackson. The previous movies were really entertaining, and we are always happy to see black star power as part of a franchise. This movie uses two hugely successful rappers , the Oscar Award winning rapper Common along with fan fave Nicki Minaj, also added in are star comedians Anthony Anderson, and Cedric the Entertainer plus many others to round out the cast of talented actors!

Ice Cube also added cameos from previous actors from the other "Barbershop" movies, which allow keeps the latest instalment familiar being that the last "Barbershop" move was 12 years ago. It was also nice to see the progression of the characters and their lives in a realistic manner. It is hard to continue to believe a movie when they make the characters progress in a way that makes the previous seem as though they were not a part of the next one. Barbershop does not waste time adding in feel good moments of truth, timeless classic music, and family. THAT is what makes this movie one of the ones you add to your DVD library as soon as possible.

Although there were some awkward moments, missed comedic timing, and forced or too fast conclusions to parts of the movie, it is understandable when you are playing a part and not being able to be yourselves. This movie could have been way more powerful if they could have given a real peek into the lives of an African American business owner and his family and the people they encounter and interact with daily. We understand that these are fictitious characters, but adding a little more reality would have really made this movie better overall. Using current civil rights issues between blacks and the police, while a great platform to a larger audience, seemed to feel disjointed with it peppered in between jokes, and other scattered scenarios in the movie.

Now with that point being made, there are things we need to see when it comes to black cinema, but many seem to follow the same formula and that never seems to change. Movies that boast an all black or majority black cast always end up with one of two themes, Relationships and Activism. It would really be nice to see a movie from a black person's point of view to not portray what white Hollyweird thinks black people like and what they are like. I wish they would let the "Barbershop" franchise grow like "Fast and Furious" franchise does by growing the players and pushing authentic character building, as to make the barbershop aspect of the movie be like the car racing aspect of the Fast movies, just the icing on the cake.

But for now, it was nice to see another movie from Ice Cube supporting issues that affect us. But for the next one, let it be more fluid and take it to different places rather than boxed in the barbershop and its surrounding vicinity. We have to not be afraid to grow past limitations that often plagues our businesses. Feeling that leaving his Pop's shop means he is abandoning his people is stifling and gives the impression that once you get something you cannot leave it. A tree grows past its roots even to let go of seeds that pollinate far away, but the original tree does not die as a result, but creates a forest, oxygen and beauty as a result. That is one aspect of this movie they need to change. Pop's shop needs to branch out.

Follow BARBERSHOP

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Double Standards: From Males II Men

2016-05-23T09:00:00.000-05:00

I often see males and females alike putting down other women for their personal lifestyle choices. With all that is going on in the dating arena, it seems that women often have to pay for their mistakes and are often judged by a harsher penalty than the males for some of the same actions. If we would hold both men and women to the same level of accountability for their actions within our relating to one another, there would be a lot more understanding between us on certain issues.

I have a big problem with how men/males are allowed to be as promiscuous as they please and be praised for it. There is nothing wise in these days and times about sleeping around from woman to woman, and in some cases men as well and it be looked at as a "notch" on your belt. It is tacky and in many cases dangerous because anyone who cares for themselves would be more discretionary as to who they lay with. But in feeling it is okay to be loose and free with your sexual process there are some things that you males need to realise.

Promiscuity breeds mistrust. The lifestyle warrants some level of deceit to allow it to continue. Just because society says it is okay to be loose in your lifestyle, does not mean you will not pay the consequences of doing so. When you bring another person into the equation, if you are not truly taking the time to get to know if the other person is on the same page as you are, you may run into problems that can affect you both in a unpredictable way.

Just because you have no discretion in the females you will have sex with, don't assume that all women will allow you that indiscretion with her. The sense of entitlement many men have when it comes to women is the reason we have so many males willing to be overly aggressive when encountering women, move from woman to woman, and in some cases as extreme as rape. (I know it is hard to face this, and it is not something that one wants to discuss, but the facts show this to be true.)

There is more to choosing who you have sex with than simple attraction. The woman being clean, and sexually attractive to you is only scraping the surface as to what you should require before intermingling your spirits/bodies/lives. Childish minds do these things without vetting who you are about to be with intimately, even if you don't plan on sticking around after you do the deed. You may abandon the person, but you will often take with you the negative spirits she possessed after she is nothing more than a memory. Many may fail to recognize the aftereffects of such a lifestyle until they are ready to settle down, and for some reason you can't get it right.

Too many males try to treat all the women that they encounter like they are just a "John" ( a prostitute's client) throughout your whole dating lives. It is sad that you cannot get to the next level because you lack the capacity to make real choices and leadership decisions. Don't blame the woman for that. Any woman that will let you hit without accountability sees your low value, because it matches hers. So whereas you may feel that hey I got the pannies as a win, but when you end up burnt out, bitter, and sick in the end what did you really win? Have you ever seen a man that can never keep a woman no matter how hard he tries? His skeletons cannot reside in the confines of a positive place. Either he will heal himself or continue to leave destruction in his path coming and going.

There is also a big misconception that males cannot exhibit the traits that they blame women for having. Males can be bitter, emotional, messy just like females, and often are hyper-violent as a result. Releasing emotions are not something society allows males to do without being labeled negatively. However being violent is considered manly because it is expected from males. So you will have a lot of males when they feel they are losing control of something they want, use intimidation and violence to keep hold of it. It is neither healthy or a happy place for those involved.

There is a level of maturity that many males avoid, yet men embrace. Taking shortcuts, but wanting the full benefits is idiotic and naive. Seeing the faults in women, but ignoring your own is juvenile and pretentious. You want functional, fun and full of the things that feel good to you, how about you dump all your baggage. There is no way around it. Sometimes it is not easy, it may even take time, but don't ruin the lives of the unsuspecting while you are getting yourself in order. Doing so adds to your baggage, and prolongs the forward motion into being with someone you can stop putting up a facade for. Trying to guard your heart is a heavy burden. Nothing wrong with allowing yourself to be free of dysfunction and just be.

Casting Correctly: Fixing Hollyweird Mishaps

2016-04-20T16:00:00.000-05:00

When it comes to biopics, Hollyweird has consistently found ways to either offend people with their casting choices, or offend people by allowing the script to be written by someone who doesn't have a clue about what they are writing about. It is a money game, not a talent game, so we often end up with hysterics rather than historical.

As to not have another Nina Simone fiasco, I have compiled a list to show Hollywood how to cast an actor to play someone where there is no need for prosthetics, paint jobs, or over the top graphics to make it believable. So to make things a little bit easier, I would like to show Hollyweird how to at least cast a biopic if you are going to be attempting to chronicle the life of some great African American. You can thank me later.

Bianca Jagger
-A Nicaraguan-born social and human rights advocate and a former actress. She was formerly married to Mick Jagger, lead singer of The Rolling Stones.

WHO CAN PLAY HER??

ROSARIO DAWSON

********

Joe Louis

-Was an American professional boxer. He held the world heavyweight championship from 1937 to 1949, and is considered to be one of the greatest heavyweights of all time.

WHO CAN PLAY HIM??

Robert Ri'chard

*******

Eartha Kitt

-was an American actress, singer, cabaret star, dancer, stand-up comedian, activist and voice artist, known for her highly distinctive singing style and her 1953 recordings of "C'est Si Bon" and the enduring Christmas novelty smash "Santa Baby", which were both US Top 10 hits. She starred in 1967 as Catwoman, in the third and final season of the television series Batman.

WHO CAN PLAY HER??

Naomie Harris

Honorable Mention

Rihanna

Phyllis Hyman

- was an American singer-songwriter and actress. She is best known for her singles from the late 1970s to the early 1990s: "You Know How to Love Me", "Living All Alone" and "Don't Wanna Change the World". Hyman also performed on Broadway in the 1981 musical based on the music of Duke Ellington, Sophisticated Ladies, which ran from 1981 to 1983. The musical earned her a Theatre World Award and a Tony Award nomination for Best Performance by a Featured Actress in a Musical.

WHO CAN PLAY HER??

Chrisette Michele

Honorable Mention

Keri Hilson

******

Debbie Allen

- is an American actress, dancer, choreographer, television director, television producer, and a member of the President's Committee on the Arts and Humanities. She is perhaps best known for her work on the 1982 musical-drama television series Fame, where she portrayed dance teacher Lydia Grant, and served as the series' principal choreographer. She currently portrays Catherine Avery on Grey's Anatomy. She is the younger sister of actress/director/singer Phylicia Rashad.

WHO CAN PLAY HER??

Misty Copeland

Now these are just a few casting choices that can be made where you do not have to do too much to make the character believable. Many of which already have the acting or musical chops to carry their character depiction over without costing money to make it so. This is just to show that another horrible representation of a person who is alive or dead does not have to be repeated. We NEVER need a repeat of....

Soul Share: Kirby Lauryen

2016-03-04T12:25:00.003-06:00

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Hollyweird: Next Up for Misrepresentation: Nina Simone

2016-03-02T03:29:00.000-06:00

With the recent release of the movie "Gods of Egypt" being met with harsh criticism due to the director casting a majority white cast as Egyptians who are in reality African, Ridley Scott's inaccurate movie was met with a big flop at the movie theaters. The movie only brought in about 14 million of the $140 million used to make the movie. Even Egypt has banned the movie for being, "inaccurate."

Casting can often mean the difference between a movie being a big hit, or a big flop. Gods of Egypt has shown this to be also a powerful example of misappropriation of color and culture in America especially. Which brings me to the newest example of bad casting for a movie. The Nina Simone biopic, which was due in December of of 2015, but after the uproar over choosing Zoe Saldana to play the part of the iconic singer, songwriter, activist, it seemed to disappear from public view by way of any promotion.

Conveniently promotion for the movie re-appeared one day outside of black history month of February even with a leap year day attached to it. This shows that RLJ Entertainment, the company that acquired the rights to the movie, is not concerned with Nina's legacy on film, but rather making the movie palatable to an audience who is the very reason Nina Simone had to become so outspoken about the rights of her people.

With the backlash of the people ignored, and the movie back on the route for release, it is more important to RLJ Entertainment to appease those who are touting how astute Zoe's acting skills are but still failing to realize that it is more important than just if you can carry a role through some words, facial expressions and taking long deep breaths for flavoring. It is that something that is always missed by a people who will never understand an experience they will never be privy to or burdened by. That is why it is easy for Hollywood to put someone in a place they are not qualified for. Casting Zoe Saldana as Nina Simone is not an insult to Zoe, but an insult to Nina in that have missed the importance of the transference of power between an actor and a real life person who is no longer with us.

Her acting chops is not the issue here. It is a blatant example of Hollyweird's inability to see us for who we really are. They are ignorant to the soulful, brooding power that Nina Simone was, that they interpreted Nina as a Latina actress who they felt was palatable for them. THAT is one of the things Nina often spoke about, the degradation of true blackness by a white supremacist society that ridiculed her for her blackness, our blackness. Which shows that not much has changed in that they went and got a fair skinned afro-latina that would not have to suffer one day being called a big lipped nigger.

Diana Ross played the part of Billie Holiday very well even though she was darker and looked nothing like the singer. Diana Ross was perfect because she could relate to what Billie went through as a struggling singer herself, as a member of the Supremes. She also had to deal with racism as an everyday occurrence to pull from. Getting inspiration from dealing with life on the road, allowed Diana to portray the drug addicted Billie Holiday making it so riveting to watch. Hollywood does not get that.

When you have to alter a person's looks, in the way that they had to in order to make Zoe appear believable, it is not effective when it is to the point they make her look racist in her own skin. Zoe does not look comfortable in the makeup required to make her skin close to the complexion of Nina, moreso to the point that she looks like a white woman in blackface. They have failed to understand the person she is portraying, and makes the character look comically ridiculous. That is the problem with this film.

So I have decided to add some actresses who could have easily fell into place and portrayed Nina Simone to perfection without her even having to use makeup. So Hopefully a casting crew reads this and picks up on the importance of not skating around the issue of how inept they are in dealing with characters and actors of color. It is unacceptable. If this helps you cast your next film correctly, you're welcome.

1. India Arie - Not only is she a singer, songwriter, and vocally is a match to Nina Simone, she often has to justify her blackness to others. She would have been perfect along with a possible magical moment comparable to the breathtaking performance of Jennifer Hudson's "And I am Telling You" in the movie remake of Dreamgirls!

2. Adepero Oduye - Visually she is powerful as Nina Simone was. As an actor she can easily fall into the role without having to attach a prosthetic nose, or spending hours in the makeup chair to achieve it. Her past roles can show you how her portrayal would be way more authentic than Zoe struggling to speak with the deep tenor speaking voice when Adepero has one naturally.

3. Uzoamaka Nwanneka "Uzo" Aduba- I am not explaining anything else... I am just going to let her singing help you understand.

Bama Of the Week: The Government and Lauren Englett

2016-03-01T02:57:00.001-06:00

Now I can sit here and go down the line as to how wrong this young woman was in taking drugs around her child, but I am not. This is nothing new in a world that glamorizes the things that destroys us. Facts are that this world is awash in death, deviance, and defiance, and our country is doing nothing to make things right. This country's people are too busy fighting over the same circulated crumbs that the top wealthiest families haven't hoarded.

But there are some things I want to point out.

While drug use is comparable amongst whites and blacks, minorities are often carted off to prison at a higher rate than whites, and given lengthier sentences than whites as well. (source) So while the "hood" is full of cops carting these drug dealers and users off to jail to pay for their crimes, these "affluenza" sufferers are often going to rehab, being pardoned, or given way lighter sentences than minorities.

It does not matter how much you ignore a problem, that does not mean it goes away. At some point life is going to make you pay the piper. Lauren put a face on what is happening in the white community whether rich or poor. They are still suffering at younger and younger ages, and facing the same issues that the minorities are demonized for.

If you opt to take away affordable education , health care, make needed programs disappear, abandon a healthy infrastructure that supports family in ALL communities and walks of life, you will see a community that is sick. Demonizing the minorities is not a solution and just know that the hush hush manner in which you hide your own drug using families will come to light.

The children are suffering. The families are crumbling, and there is nothing a skin color can do to change that. Throwing money at your problems is often not always the remedy, but just know that the heroin epidemic in your community is the flip side of the crack epidemic that you fought by putting a large percentage of the black male community behind bars. Instead of you getting them the help they needed as you do your strung out trust fund babies, you turned the minority community into a bunch of unproductive citizens who will not disappear only to reproduce more.

So government lackeys, here is your day of reckoning where your children are just as strung out as those you call "niggers" behind closed doors, or sometimes in email or text to your friends and coworkers. They have no escaped life. Life has a way of evening the playing field no matter how much you try to #whiteprivilege you way through it.

What you hide, Facebook and our obsession with social media's ability to make everyone feel like they are in their own "reality show" will bring to light that you are all no better than the ones you discriminate against. So I cannot sit here and blame Lauren Englett for poisoning herself and forcing her child to witness in fear. I blame society and these corrupt governments that won't take its foot off the scales and let there be a fair measure in dealing with our demons that plague us all no matter what race or economic standing. Drugs are not just an epidemic when it is your children, it is an epidemic when ANYONE'S children and families in large numbers are dying from it.

Soul Share: Alfa Mist & Emmavie "Sunrise"(Pillows)

2015-09-29T09:41:00.000-05:00

Indulge in Jones....

2015-09-28T16:22:00.001-05:00

The Apocalypse: One Cell Phone at a Time

2015-09-28T09:56:00.000-05:00

Used to be a time when you wanted to get together with friends, all you had to do was just call them up and they came a-running. Now it seems like people are withdrawing more from human interaction unless it serves their own personal needs. We use our electronic devices and the Internet to do practically everything from shopping, education, to dating, and attending church. We don't have to leave the confines of our personal space to interact with others as close as in our homes, to as far as a world away. This is something we could not do in the past before our present day electronic connections were created.

I recently reunited with a guy from high school who I had been chatting with online for a while. Initially he seemed to present himself as still shy as he was in high school, and a "victim" of his circumstances so to say. I took it as the usual, and figured a reuniting will verify one way or another what type person he had become. I felt pretty comfortable meeting being that we had other personal connections in that I graduated with some of his family, so he wasn't a complete stranger.

So when he walked through my door I noticed he was not as he presented himself initially. But being that I am not the type person to prejudge, I allowed him to represent himself rather than draw conclusions. Well my conclusions were correct. I gave him the benefit of the doubt only for him to present himself as a grade A asshole. It wasn't like he was lied to or catfished, it just seemed odd that his demeanor in person was so much of a different contrast than the kindhearted person he presented himself to be online. Personally I think he came with Internet intentions, and reality showed him otherwise.

Now I am not going to blame anything other than the fact that many of us rely on the Internet to become our safe place to lie to ourselves and others. We can type for hours on end, yet when human interaction comes into play, we shut down and often crash and burn. It took me a minute to recognize why someone who presented themselves as patient and understanding when texting, would exhibit signs of discomfort and inner turmoil when forced to well just "interact." It wasn't a case of maybe he didn't like how you looked, because we were not trying to date, we were just sitting around chatting as friends, nothing more. So there was no expectation of being physically attractive if all you are doing is listening to music and talking.

Another factor is when we are in the presence of company, we often do not look up from, or stop continually engaging with our phones. In the clubs, in the streets, even in church or the doctor's office, we can be seen documenting everything from a music performance to a pap smear. It seems we have all become more engaged with filming life than actually living it. What has become of just being human and living without feeling the need to document every step? We have truly become zombies. Our phones have become mates of sorts because they are there for every life encounter we make. We are willing to care for, spend money and coddle a phone as if it were a mate.

I think it is time to get back to treating phones like a source of information and people like people. We can't hold a higher value to something that can be replaced for someone who can't. We miss out on living and enjoying each other's lives because we are so engulfed in what fantasy the Internet drags us into. Real life will always pale into comparison the things that the media creates to entice us to buy into something that is often not needed. The sense of entitlement that many people feel shows in how we resort to mistreating and being hateful to others. This also speaks more to the disappointment with our own lives when our mortality reminds us that we are just ordinary.

The USA Online: Petty Nation

2015-08-31T21:16:00.001-05:00

I promise this will be short and sweet.

We are a petty ass nation. We find delight in picking at the faults of everyone else while ignoring our own. We fight over trivial things that amount to nothing more than a hill of beans. Blogs and comment spaces double as places to drop bombs of ignorance and disrespect and hope to wreck someone's life with a few words. Some will even spend hours dropping loose verbiage on the page like we drop excrement into toilets.

We then complain about not being able to trust anyone. We complain about not having anyone that can be trusted or counted on. Our behaviors breed a nation of people who cannot trust each other for simple communication that builds a bond between us. Why would I put what I hold dear in the hands of people who live to expose and exploit admissions by others and be drawn in by any errant headline meant to misinform anyone who will pay attention.

Pettiness makes us cold, callous, and calculating. Unless we learn how to relate "to" one another and not "at" each other, we will not make any progress. We can't assume that belittling others is a way to communicate every time we come across an empty space where we can place words and push send.

We have become a petty nation, falling apart from within. The whole time we were looking abroad for terroristic actions we were blind to the intra terrorism among our own, meant to decay the very fabric of what Freedom of Speech was meant to embody. We have become reckless fools with our words, almost always backed by no purpose or promise.

More of us need to mind how we represent ourselves online the same way we do in public. We can't assume that anonymity gives us the right to type whatever comes to mind just because we may not face repercussions from it. It still can come back to bite you.

#trollingmustdie

Angel of the Week: Delta Bike Project

2015-07-13T08:09:00.000-05:00

Mobile, Alabama is growing exponentially in working with the community in a more hands on basis. We often have gaps in the amount of resources available for those who are not financially able to be support local businesses, yet can benefit from a little kindness from time to time. Now while The Delta Bike Project is not about a handout, it is about making resources available and offering a teaching moment at the same time.

Many people who cannot afford bike repairs, will find a resource like The Delta Bike Project very useful because they teach you how to fix your own bike, which saves you a lot of money in the long run. If you are needing help with bike fixes, cleaning, and updating, this project can be a big help. For more information check out the link below for any questions that you have about the project!

Main Site: http://www.deltabikeproject.org/

How Does It Work?
During open shop hours, you can bring your bike down to the Delta Bike Project and work on it for free. We are designed to be a do-it-yourself bike shop, so we have the bike stands and tools to allow you to do most repairs. Experience isn’t necessary because our volunteer staff can help assess your problem and teach you the correct technique to repair most issues. Occasionally, we will refer to you to a local bike shop for a specific repair based on the bike brand and style. For example, for a difficult gear issue on your Trek road bike, we would refer you to Robbie at Cycle Therapy. As a reminder, anyone under 18 must be accompanied by an parent or guardian. (Source)

Angel of the Week: Winn Dixie

2015-07-06T08:11:00.000-05:00

Winn Dixie has teamed up with The Wounded Warrior Project to raise funds for the soldiers who have sacrificed so much for this country. Of the purchases made, 100% of the proceeds go to the Wounded Warrior Project. You can still donate even after the 4th of July! Contact your local Winn Dixie or contact the Wounded Warrior Project for details.

WINN DIXIE

Wounded Warrior Project