All day I've just been thinking about what I just witnessed. It's surreal to me still, a full day later. I, like so many, have never really cared this much about politics. Sure I've voted before, exercised my civic duty because it was the 'right' thing to do.
But this was different.
I could go on and on about everything I see in Obama that appeals to me as a voter. But right now I choose to just take it all in. There is so much attached to this victory that it will probably take weeks to truly take it all in. I'm just in a daze right now, seriously. When I saw President-Elect Obama take that stage with Michelle and the girls last night, it just really put the evening in perspective. I was glaring at the TV thinking, "this...is...HUGE!"
I'm hardly in the mood to blog right now but I just wanted to say something. I'll have much more to say when I sober up.
D.L. Hughley. Did anybody see this mess on CNN? I accidentally fell upon a rebroadcast of this show last night, so I watched. I predicted it would be bad, but I had no idea. I mean, damn. Less than two weeks before the nation elects its next president (potentially a black one) this show appears outta nowhere. It's clearly CNN 's lame attempt to break into the political satire market with a black guy who can say what the white guys can't about Barack Obama. It made me cringe. The writing was awful, D.L.'s delivery was off and let's not even talk about content.
If Barack took us 10 steps forward in race relations, this show just took us 11 steps back. My only hope is that nobody watched this buffoonery and in the end it won't matter. If you didn't see it, you didn't miss anything but cooning at its finest.
Mr. Hughley, you have reached a new low with this one. We let your little nappy headed hoe remarks slide and gave you another chance. Now you've blown it. You are officially a sell-out. You are no better for black people than some of these degenerates showing up at the McCain-Palin rallies.
And CNN, I have watched your network for over a decade but will NOT watch again until this disgraceful show is removed from your lineup.
I was very excited yesterday when I learned Colin Powell was endorsing Barack Obama. Now that excitement has been tainted by these nasty insinuations going around that Powell only endorsed Obama because he's black. Is it really that simple? I mean, really. Does race trump everything?
When Joe Lieberman--who only 8 years ago was on the freakin' democratic ticket in the race for the White House--endorsed McCain I didn't hear anybody cry racism. I personally didn't think twice about it. Maybe Lieberman doesn't want a black man to be president and that's why he endorsed McCain. Now how ignorant does that sound?
Yet, General Colin Powell, one of the most respected men in the world and perhaps the most distinguished black man on the planet has been reduced to just a black man sticking up for another black man. I mean WTF???
This historical election has revealed so much about this country. Although the double standards are troubling, I've come to realize how far we've come as a nation. I honestly never thought Obama would make it this far. I thought Americans were far too narrow-minded to consider a black man for the presidency. And some are. Even those who may vote for him may do it with reluctance. But they are brave enough to take a chance on a good man...and that says a lot.
I believe part of that willingness to take a chance on Obama is the direct result of General Powell's prominence in American politics. To believe this man, who served under W. of all presidents, would use race to determine his endorsement is nothing short of absurdity.
I really dig my LG Dare. My only real complaint is that it's not a 'smart phone.' I had been hearing about a touchscreen Blackberry for months. And it's finally here. Well not quite. It's been announced by Verizon but not available for sale just yet.
The Blackberry Storm gives you 3G, a 3.26" 480 x 360 pixel touch screen, a 3.2 megapixel camera, tactile feedback, full QWERTY software keyboard, GPS, 3.5mm headphone jack, full HTML browser, no wifi though (argh), 1GB of onboard memory and comes with an 8gb memory card (nice).
I think I'll certainly have to tinkle with this in the store when it comes out. I'm very curious about the accuracy of the touch screen and the overall feel of the phone. I'm confident Blackberry got it right. They've been on point with their phones these days.
Bubba would rather have this bumbling fool elected than vote for an intelligent black man. Check out this YouTube clip of McCain saying "my fellow prisoners" instead of "my fellow Americans."
Wow, I haven't posted anything in a minute. Ok, I kinda suck at this blogging thing. You know it's really kinda difficult sometimes to come up with something actually worth posting.
Like most Americans, I've been glued to all the political news surrounding this upcoming election. So that's all I've been writing about lately when I do blog. I feel like I've OD'd on election coverage. Some of this stuff is just unbelievable and not easy to digest. But in spite of it all, for the first time this election cycle, BarackObama has a double digit lead in the polls. My president is up in the Gallop Poll 52% to 41%, an 11 point lead over McGrumpyOldMan. 11 points is well outside the margin of error. Short of a catastrophe, BarackObama will be the next POTUS.
This is so exciting. You know there will be Obama parties popping up everywhere. Election day through inauguration day will be Obama season. There will be more bottles popping than New Year's Y2K. Let me go get some Moet stock or something. You know we're gonna go all out for this one. An Obama victory might do more for the economy than the bailout.
It doesn't get any messier than this. According to this Washington Post blog McCain is already advertising that he has 'won' the debate he just decided to attend. The ad ran prematurely on the WSJ website this morning. What in the sloppy hell is wrong with this campaign?
Well it looks like McCoward is gonna come through and debate Obama tonight. I'm thrilled. I need something good to watch since Grey's Anatomy was just 'blah' last night.
I am praying for Obama. Tonight needs to be THE night for him. Those who are on the fence need to be convinced that Obama is their dude.
After all the McFlipFlops and shenanigans this week, this old man is still statistically tied with Obama in the polls. I have no words for that. I do, but I probably shouldn't state them on a public blog.
Please get him tonight, Barack. Or, in the words of good 'ol Jesse, CUT HIS NUTS OFF!!!
You can never be too sure about the longevity of this McCain fellow. God forbid the McPalin ticket actually takes the White House, the repubs might be rocking this bumper sticker before January.
Tim Russert reported that, in 1968, Robert Kennedy predicted a "negro" could be president in 40 years Check out this YouTube clip. The strange thing is that Tim says these words were from 1968 and the caption below the text says 1961. Hmmm...this would be remarkable if it was indeed 1968.
VoteforChange.com is an awesome site that makes it easier than ever to register to vote. PLEASE PLEASE PLEASE forward this site to as many people you know. If you're already registered, check out your registration status, request an absentee ballot and find your polling place.
I've done several posts about the upcoming election. There have been many unsettling developments since the primaries began. But last night I came across the most disturbing thing I've read this entire election season.
The Michigan Messenger posted an alarming report on their website discussing a lawsuit Obama and the DNC have filed against Michigan's GOP. These republicans are trying their best to straight up steal the election through voter disenfranchisement. In this instance, they are using foreclosure lists to 'cage' voters.
Caging is a technique of challenging voters where they take lists of addresses, mail to them with a “do not forward” marking and if for whatever reason those mailings are returned, they use this as a basis for claiming that the voter no longer lives at the address at which they are registered.
In short, they are trying to prevent people who have lost their homes from voting. Gee...I wonder why? Maybe because this administration didn't work for them and they are unlikely to vote for the candidate who supported it 90% of the time. This is sick. I mean truly sick. These people are already hurting and to top it off you want to take away their right to vote? I'm totally disgusted. I can't even type anymore.
I am so freakin' sick of this election and the worst is yet to come. Everybody's jumping on Obama's back over this 'lipstick on a pig' comment. Yet, not even a year ago, John McCain used the same adage to describe Hillary Clinton's health care plan. In the words of Sarah Palin, "Yup, yup."
Four of Sarah Palin's best friends did an interview on Good Morning America. Only one said they had committed to voting for her ticket. The others hadn't 'made up their minds just yet.' That's a polite way of saying "hell to the naw Sarah...you cool and all but you know you ain't fit to be prez."
I love this guy's posts. In Vol. I and Vol. IIThe Guide to Conservative Palinguage, John Ridley points out some interesting variants in 'Palin-guage' and the language everyone else speaks. Here are a few excerpts.
If you're a minority and you're selected for a job over more qualified candidates you're a "token hire." If you're a conservative and you're selected for a job over more qualified candidates you're a "game changer."
If you live in an Urban area and you get a girl pregnant you're a "baby daddy." If you're the same in Alaska you're a "teen father."
Black teen pregnancies? A "crisis" in black America. White teen pregnancies? A "blessed event."
If you are biracial and born in a state not connected to the lower 48, America needs darn near 2 years and 3 major speeches to "get to know you." If you're white and from a state not connected to the lower 48, America needs 36 minutes and 38 seconds worth of an acceptance speech to know you're "one of us."
If your pastor rails against inequality in the United States of America, you're an "extremist." If your pastor welcomes a sermon by a member of Jews for Jesus who preaches that the killing of Jews by terrorists is a lesson to Jews that they must convert to Christianity, you're a "fundamentalist."
If you're 18, white, and get a 16 year old girl pregnant "life happens." If you're 18, black, and impregnate a 16 year old girl, you're a "registered sex offender."
If you spend 18 months building a campaign around the theme of "Change," it's just "empty rhetoric." If one week before your party's national convention you SUDDENLY make your candidacy about "Change," that's "red meat."
ST. PAUL, Minn. (AP) — Barack Obama's presidential campaign said it raised $10 million Thursday following the Republican National Convention speech by rival John McCain's running mate, Sarah Palin.
Obama spokesman Bill Burton said Palin's address, heavily laced with digs at Obama, prompted an outpouring of donations from more than 130,000 donors.
"We're up over the previous record and the number is still climbing the more Palin's attacks are covered on cable and network news," Obama spokesman Bill Burton said.
The Republican National Committee announced earlier Thursday, at mid-afternoon, that it had raised well in excess of $1 million since Palin's speech. Republicans expect Palin to mobilize their donors. But the Obama camp promptly used the speech as a fundraising hook, sending an overnight e-mail to supporters to contribute.
McCain can no longer raise private donations for his campaign because he has decided to accept $85 million in public financing for the fall campaign. The Republican National Committee, however, can continue to raise money through its victory fund. His campaign reported raising $47 million in August, an impressive amount for the Arizona senator that broke his previous record
Obama is not accepting the public funds and is continuing to raise money from private donors. Fundraisers have said he and the Democratic National Committee will have to raise more than $100 million in September to stay ahead of McCain.
Last night at their convention, the rebublicans tried to discredit Barack Obama, once again, by belittling his start as a community organizer. Click here to read a great post from Daily Kos that everyone should read...especially those who don't fully understand the significance of a community organizer.
Well, the democrats had their convention this week. All the party's superstars came out to speak on Barack's behalf...even good 'ol Bill and Hillary. They were even believable this time. Barack accepted the nomination on the 45th anniversary of the March on Washington. Wow...now that alone is goose bump worthy. He gave a great speech as usual. Many say it was his best...I don't know if it was his best but it was certainly up there.
Some black folks are mad because he didn't say MLK's name in his speech when he mentioned the March on Washington's anniversary. He used the words "a young preacher from Georgia" to identify him. Come on...anybody of voting age should know know who that is. But the nitpickers shall never cease.
John McCain attempted to one up Obama in his quest to make history this November by putting a woman on his ticket. Ooooooooh. Sarah Palan has been governor of Alaska around 2 years or so and before that was the mayor of a town of 7000. What she doesn't have in experience, she makes up for in the looks department. Have y'all seen her? She's a fairly hot chick. Even Rush Limbaugh joked on his show about having a "babe" on the ticket. Plus, she's a sho nuff conservative. She's pro-life, pro-guns, and evidently pro-creation. Dems better look out, this strategy might not be so dumb after all.
Is it just me or were the 2008 Olympics the most refreshing thing I've seen on TV in years? Maybe it's because TV basically sucks nowadays or maybe the Olympics were that good. Whether we're talking Usain Bolt breaking both the 100m and 200m records in a single Olympic Games or Michael Phelps winning 8 freakin gold medals...the most ever in a single Olympic Games...the 2008 Olympics will be one of the most memorable games ever.
So many stories within a short 16 day period. The Redeem Team took back their golden crown. They had something to prove and they did it. And what about beach volleyball? Kerri Walsh and Misty May-Treanor destroyed every competitor in their path. Those girls haven't given up one set...in two Olympics!!! How big is that?
USA swept gold in the 4 x 400 relays. Not to mention the emotional comeback from the women's team. Simply amazing. And perhaps the most bittersweet story of all was Hugh McCutcheon's, the men's volleyball coach whose father-in-law was killed in Beijing at the start of the Olympics, yet he remained focus enough to coach his team to a gold medal. The first gold for men's volleyball in 20 years. Amazing.
The Olympics was reality TV on performance enhancement drugs (heehee). What's up next? Two months of the most intense coverage of the biggest race of our lifetime. Let's hope Obama walks away with gold.
McCain and his republican cohorts have tried to paint Obama as an out-of-touch elitist. Yet, it is Obama who admits to only recently paying off he and his wife's student loans while McCain is so filthy rich he can't remember how many houses he owns. Check out this audio clip from an interview McCain did with Politico.com.
In case you don't speak mumble, this is what he said when asked how many homes he owns:
I think -- I'll have my staff get to you. It's condominiums where -- I'll have them get to you.
Obama and McCain appeared together for the first time since the primaries this past Saturday with Rick Warren, the popular evangelist who wrote the book The Purpose Driven Life. Warren moderated a 'faith forum' at his church in California, in which he gave each candidate an hour interview.
It wasn't a true debate per se because they weren't on the stage at the same time. The way it was 'supposed' to work is Warren would flip a coin to see who'd go first and the other candidate would stay in a 'cone of silence' backstage until it was his turn. But check this out...McCain was thirty minutes late. What? Thirty minutes late? You're gonna be thirty minutes late to this forum which just happens to be broadcast on every news network in America? The first meeting of sorts between you and your opponent for the freakin presidency of the United States and you're late? Get outta here McCain.
You were late because you were in your motorcade listening to Obama's interview, you cheatin' old man. I saw you Saturday and you were a bit swifter than normal. I was thinking damn, the old man is trying to get it together. But noooooo.
I don't know how far this discussion will get in the mainstream media. NBC's Andrea Mitchell mentioned it on "Meet the Press" and has already received a nasty letter from McCain's campaign manager. Read about that here.
We have a NEW breakfast of champions. Try "three fried-egg sandwiches, an omelet, a bowl of grits, three slices of French toast, three chocolate chip pancakes and two cups of coffee." This is what the Associated Press reports as an average breakfast for Michael Phelps. He consumes 8000-10,000 calories per day. The average man his size consumes only 2500.
I don't know how he does it, but it's working evidently. This dude just picked up his 7th gold medal yesterday, by a modest 1/100th of a second. He has a record 13 gold medals total now. And he's only 23. And he's from Bmore and listens to hip hop on his iPod. How cool is that? LOL.
Michael Phelps has made swimming the premier sport in the Olympics.
I'm not a sneaker freak, but if I was to stand in line for a pair of Jordans, it would be for these right here. The Jordan 6 Rings arrive in stores on Saturday, August 16. The are a hybrid of the 7 shoes that Michael Jordan wore when he won his 6 NBA Championships, thus the name '6 Rings'. Neat huh?
I was a huge Jordan fan in the 90's. Hey, who wasn't? What a way to celebrate his legacy while sporting an uber cool sneaker.
Damn, two legends gone in two days. Isaac Hayes was a soul artist/producer/arranger I got into when I was in college in the 90's. That was 'our' era for soul music and Isaac Hayes' influence was all up in it. Just listen to some of this man's music and you will realize just how heavily sampled and influential this man's music was. Artists from Biggie to Tupac, from Ashanti to Mary J. Blige had hit songs based on this man's work.
Isaac Hayes remains an icon in the soul music genre. His work will live on for generations to come. R.I.P. Ike.
Damn...why do the good die young? Bernie Mac was a comedic genius who died today at the age of 50. Perhaps one of his most memorable performances was in 'The Original Kings of Comedy' in 2000. I was there to see the movie on opening night in a packed suburban Washington theater. Bernie Mac clearly stole the show. He was such a natural. Funny without even trying.
The world will laugh a little less without Bernie Mac. You will be missed!
Ok...so McCain puts out an ad calling Barack Obama "the biggest celebrity in the world." The ad attempts to trivialize Barack's popularity by including images of Britney Spears and Paris Hilton. So now, Paris has a comeback...ooooh. The biggest surprise in this whole fiasco is that Paris is more articulate than her republican counterpart. At least she can read a script without flubbing.
John McCain's mental faculties have recently been questioned. Fortunately, for him, we live in a country where the ability to think and articulate are not requirements for the presidency. This video is an example of how this man will take us from bad to worse. Please America, save us another four years of embarrassment.
Today, in black people effing up Barack's campaign...we present Ludacris. He decided to do an ode to Obama in a song called "Politics." I would paste the lyrics but I am so NOT promoting this crap. The prize line that caused Obama's campaign to denounce this fool was "Hillary hated on you, so that bitch is irrelevant."
Ludacris, how about you not use my man Barack's name in a vain attempt to keep yourself relevant. What the hell were you thinking? As a matter of fact, from now on, no rapper is allowed to speak Obama's name. Wear your 'Barack the Vote' t-shirts and shut the hell up. You are not helping Obama's campaign by associating him with your propaganda and certainly not by calling his former opponent a bitch.
I am so through with these self-serving black folk messing with my president. Ugh...
Check out these ads. Mars, Nike, and Heinz have all been in hot water lately over their "homophobic" ads. It seems like the 'gay' card is being pulled more than the race card these days.
So last night I watched Part I of CNN's two-part special, "Black in America." It focused on black women...sorta kinda but not really. The second installment, which focuses on black men, comes on tonight at 9PM ET. In all, I thought it was a well thought out presentation. I do wish there were more positive examples on the show but I suppose the intent was to highlight conflict.
The show revealed that 45% of black women have never been married compared to 23% of white women. I had heard similar stats before so that didn't really shock me. Now what I find quite alarming is black women having a bunch of kids despite their marital status. There were two examples on the show of single black women raising 5 kids each. One of the women was raising her sister's child in addition to her 4.
Five kids? Are you kidding me? I am the product of a single mother so I think I can speak on this topic a little bit. I know it was hard enough for my mom to raise me...JUST me...alone. What the hell? How a woman allows herself to become impregnated over and over is beyond me. We're always calling for the black man to take responsibility but damn. You can get condoms free nowadays. Use them sisters...please.
Erykah Badu recently came under fire for becoming pregnant a third time by a third 'baby daddy.' Now when you got Badu money, I can't really say shit because the kids will be taken care of. But if you ain't got a pot to piss in already, why aren't you protecting yourself and potential kids from such a harsh reality? Poverty is no joke.
We all make mistakes and I'm in no position to judge anyone but I just don't get it. We must do better. We can't count on our men to save us.
This is hilarious. I would normally feel a bit guilty about laughing at someone flipping a gospel track like this, but J. Anthony Brown hit the nail on the head with this one.
Starbucks has revealed which 600 stores are closing. The complete list, sorted by state, can be found here. California is shutting down 88 stores, which was the most in any state. I predict a "going postal" resurgence on the west coast in the near future.
SAN FRANCISCO, California (AP) -- A measure seeking to commemorate President Bush's years in office by slapping his name on a San Francisco sewage plant has qualified for the November ballot.
The measure certified Thursday would rename the Oceanside Water Pollution Control Plant the George W. Bush Sewage Plant.
Supporters say the idea is to commemorate the mess they claim Bush has left behind by actions such as the war in Iraq.
I am so humored by the media. John McCain does things like...uh let's see...joke about BOMBING THE ENEMY...and it barely gets coverage. Yet the media is fixated on all things Obama. Whether we're talking fist bumps, crazy pastors, or his workout schedule, random Obama news seems to flood the headlines these days.
I am convinced that Barack is the new Britney. It's just a matter of time before he shaves his head, gets a neck tattoo and oddly gyrates with his pot belly exposed. This man is a true victim of overexposure.
Fortunately, he has a strong black woman behind him in Michelle. I pray the two won't succumb to the evil forces who sit in wait of their demise. Media, both liberal and conservative, are guilty. If I see/hear one more anti-Obama rant I believe my head will explode. Yet I know this is only the beginning.
I used to be a skeptic because people would mention Alicia in the same breath as the greats...you know, singer/songwriters like Marvin Gaye and Stevie Wonder. I wasn't buying it. But I like the more mature, seemingly introspective Alicia. I don't know if I'm sold on her 'legendary' status yet but she's definitely making me rethink it with songs like this. Here's her latest video for her song Superwoman. Very nice.
Every week there's at least one new turd that pops up in the media with something to say about my man Obama. This week it's Washington talk-show host, John McLaughlin. Evidently, he's still living.
In a discussion about the recent Jesse Jackson incident, McLaughlin claimed Obama "fits the stereotype blacks once labeled as an Oreo — a black on the outside, a white on the inside." Then he asked his panelists this question: "Does it frost Jackson, Jesse Jackson, that…an Oreo should be the beneficiary of the long civil rights struggle which Jesse Jackson spent his lifetime fighting for?"
This is really Mclaughable. But seriously, do white people really believe there's one kind of 'black' in this day and age? An even better question...do black people? Let's face it, black people, this perception issue we got going on isn't just a matter of how other people view us. Just ask Jesse, the nutcracker himself.
I kinda get it, but then I don't. When I look at Barack and Michelle, I just see a dynamic power couple. I don't see oreos, someone trying to act white...none of that. Of course Barack is extraordinary, but that has nothing to do with him being black. He has that 'it' factor that attracts people. Maybe some are confusing his personality and charisma with all those other qualities he shares with plenty of black folks. Well-spoken, educated, responsible blacks are everywhere. And I'm one of them. Does that make me an oreo too?
I read an interesting article on msnbc.com that discusses a new trend in cosmetic surgery, moms opting for post-pregnancy plastic surgery. This "mommy makeover" often includes a tummy tuck, breast augmentation and liposuction. Well, this subject is dear to me because I've had two kids and have considered some restoration options for my body. Not that I hate my body but after my pregnancies, things didn't quite bounce back the way I would've liked. They hardly ever do.
Here's what childbirth does to a woman's body:
Often, abdominal skin that becomes stretched during pregnancy doesn’t snap back after the baby is born. In addition, the rectus abdominis muscles, which run vertically, can separate and become lax, adding to the abdominal protrusion, explains plastic surgeon Dennis C. Hammond, M.D., of the Center for Breast and Body Contouring in Grand Rapids, Mich.
The breasts often sag after delivery and/or breastfeeding because the skin covering them gets overstretched when breasts become engorged during pregnancy and nursing but remains lax after they return to their pre-pregnancy size. The result is less support for the breasts. Some women also lose breast volume as a result of pregnancy.
Um...yeah...that sounds about right.
I wonder sometimes if we as women overthink it. We are so critical of our bodies and maybe even a bit obsessed. Some men proudly sport their pot bellies and don't think twice about it. Why are we so ashamed of a process so natural?
This is a question for the hardcore music fans out there. Have you ever cried for music? Seriously. Have you ever been so frustrated with the direction the industry is going that it literally brought you to tears? Ok maybe not, lol. But I have. Listening to this interview with the Game resurfaced some emotions I've been harboring for some time...not necessarily towards hip-hop specifically, but black music in general.
I'm a musician, but I'm a fan of music first. I get what the Game is saying. Something just ain't right with the industry right now. I've often described music as my on again, off again lover. I want to love him but he makes it sooooo hard sometimes.
Did I mention Usher was my new hero? Well he scored major points with me when he appeared on TRL back in May. He took over the interview and addressed the media talking down about his wife. He's not having it. Go head Usher.
He's pictured here with Usher Raymond V, who looks absolutely adorable. The two are featured in this month's issue of Essence. Usher is growing up and embracing fatherhood. The brother seems like he actually has his head together.
Ol' Jesse is sorry for the "crude and hurtful" comments he made about BarackObama. A Fox News *rolls eyes* microphone picked up Jesse uttering the words "See Barack's been talking down to black people...I want to cut his nuts off."
So Jesse, you want to cut his nuts off, eh? Interesting. Well if anything you probably just did Barack a favor...thanks.
Is Barack really talking down to blacks when he brings up accountability and responsibility? Is he talking down to blacks by saying black men need to be fathers to their children? Isn't that kinda what the whole million man march was about? I don't really see a contradiction. Jesse is old school. He should know by now that government cannot and will not save black people.
So I just went online and saw the breaking news that a Fox News microphone picked up Jesse Jackson saying some mess he shouldn't have said about Obama. And part of his statement is rumored to involve ripping off Obama's nuts. Damn, Jesse. I can't even find the words for this one. I'll just wait for the 'official' story to unfold. In the meantime, I'm reminded of an extremely funny SNL sketch. Check it out.
Ok this is my first post in a brand new category called RANTS. It's just me complaining about random crap that ticks me off.
Well today I had a follow-up appointment with my dermatologist. We have new insurance and I haven't received my insurance cards yet. So I brought along what I thought were the proper member and group numbers. However, the prefix was left off the member number. I admit, that's my fault. I should have proper documentation before I step up in the doctor's office, right? Yeah I get that. But all it takes is a simple phone call to the insurance company and we can move on right? Um...wrong.
So two ladies at the front desk pretend like they're trying to help me for about 5 minutes. They both look at the info I brought and were like "nah we can't do nothing with that." So I politely ask if they can just call and they keep saying nothing is coming up in their system. Again...can you please call? Finally, one of them looks like she's trying to call the insurance company, then tells me she can't get through. Can't get through? WTF? So then they ask me to reschedule because the doctor has to leave.
So I'm like...let me get this straight...you can't help me get the three letter prefix to my member number because you don't have time to deal with it - the doctor has to go. This is the same doctor whom I spent about an hour waiting on his ass last visit.
Is his time more important than mine? Really, I need to know this. We've all been through this at the doctor's office. If my appointment is at 2:00 and I don't see your face until 3:05, you don't cut me a discount because you're behind. Usually there's not even an apology. But on the one day I eff up nobody cuts me a bit of slack.
Ok so I'm back from my mini vacation. But before I left I had the opportunity to pick up a nifty new cell phone, the Dare by LG. I don't want to bore you with all the specs. You can find a pretty complete summary and user reviews here.
I'm somewhat of a gadget freak. I'm the chick who waits in anticipation of what phone I can upgrade to next. I stuck with my rather blah Motorola Q for a record 2 years because nothing new moved me. This phone MOVED me.
I've never messed around with an iPhone so I don't know how it compares. But WOW. If you have never seen a GOOD touchscreen phone in action you are missing out. My mom was impressed...and she still can't figure out how to turn her cell's speaker phone off.
The Dare is feature packed. The camera, for example, is 3.2 MP, so it takes rather decent pics for a cell phone. Here's a couple from the Great Wolf Lodge in Williamsburg, VA. Wasn't gonna take the phone into the waterpark so here's a couple shots from the room.
Ok so if you're on Verizon and you're somewhat of a geek like me or just looking for a phone with a wow factor, check it out the LG Dare.
You gotta love Venus and Serena. I mean, they have been holding this tennis game down for a minute. And just when critics said they were done, they manage to rise back to the top.
This Saturday will mark the third time the sisters have faced off at the Wimbledon final. This has to be THE all-time rivalry in tennis history. Maybe sports history. The Williams sisters are a combined 100-13 at Wimbledon. What? Unheard of.
So who's gonna take it? Well, Serena beat Venus the past two times. And she's ranked a seed higher than her older sister this year. I'm gonna have to go for Venus. She deserves one, man. Come one Serena, let big sis have one. Not likely. These girls are competitive and neither have won a title since 2003. This is gonna be good y'all. Grab the popcorn!
Now I wouldn't normally link to "Faux" News but here is an interesting story a friend sent me.
Jazz singer, Rene Marie, was asked to perform the Star Spangled Banner for the mayor of Denver's annual address. Homegirl did a remix. She used the lyrics from "Lift Every Voice and Sing" (the Black National Anthem) and sang them to the tune of the original national anthem. Obviously no one knew she was going to do this. I can only imagine the looks on their faces. Yikes!
Many Denver residents and some city council members have expressed outrage. Rene did apologize, however, and said that she only wanted to "make a creative expression of her love for the country."
Now I'm not gonna mess with Renee because she is a Virginia native and she's definitely the real thing. I checked out her website and after hearing her music, all I can say is keep lifting your voice girl.
In a quest to find something good out of this fuel crisis, time.com presents the silver lining to this cloud we call high gas. This article highlights all the good things that have resulted from escalating fuel costs. And you know what, I kinda get it. Here are a few:
Four-Day Work Weeks. Many companies, colleges, and governments are moving to this schedule and saving big money on their own energy costs. Sick leave and turnover is down at these places as well.
Less Pollution. People are driving less and our air is cleaner. According to Time, an estimated 2200 less deaths have occurred in the past year as the result of less pollution.
More Frugality. People are being more creative with their spending. Scooter sales are up, SUV sales are down.
Less Traffic. The Federal Highway Administration says that travel was down 2.1% in the first quarter of 2008. Many people are opting for public transportation where available.
Less Obesity. Now this isn't one that I've really considered. But with people walking and biking more and having less money to eat out, obesity could fall 10% according to Time.
So there you have it folks. Next time you fill up, don't curse...smile. You're making America a better place.
Dennis Haysbert believes his role on Fox's 24 as the nation's first black president has helped Barack Obama. Um...ok.
I will admit, TV does affect our perception of race. Think about how The Cosby Show changed the face of black folks on TV in the 80's. I can actually say Bill Cosby and company helped change public perception of blacks in America. I mean come on, 'Huxtable' is still a household name. But 24? In a word...no.
Maybe I'm being unfair. There could be somebody out there who saw the character David Balmer and is now an Obama supporter because of it.
Do you think his role somehow acclimated America to the idea of a black president?
I was watching the news last night and I was like...what? You know times are hard when America's #1 crack dealer is closing stores...lol. Starbucks is set to close 600 stores by next year, about 8.5% of its stores.
Wow, I remember when I could afford Starbucks. My favorite drink is the Caramel Macchiatto. Yum! I know other recovering addicts who don't buy frequently anymore as well.
Was designer coffee just a fad? Is it the economy's fault? I personally think it's a little of both. I realized I could have great tasting coffee at home. Maxwell House, Folgers, whatever. Add a tiny bit of sugar, flavored creamer, and some whipped cream (the extra creamy kind) on top. Yo...I'm telling you it's the bomb. Now if I can only get that homemade fuel recipe to work...
Don't DMV residents know by now to leave P.G. County cops alone. I lived in P.G. for a minute so I know how they do. You might just wind up dead for no apparent reason. But anyway...
Ronnie White, 19, was found dead Sunday in his cell after being arrested two days prior for striking and killing an officer with a stolen vehicle vehicle. His death has been ruled a homicide by strangulation and asphyxiation.
White was in solitary confinement at the time of his death. So anyone who got in his cell had to be 'let' in. You do the math. There were no surveillance cameras where White was being held so this isn't going to be an easy case. The FBI has opened a civil rights investigation.
Young black guy killed by cops...odds aren't in favor of justice.
I was JUST talking about this dude this past weekend, wondering if he had been prosecuted when I saw the update yesterday. Listen to this 911 call on YouTube. This happened back in November, in a Houston suburb.
Joe Horn, 61, just happened to see two burglars breaking into his neighbor's home. No one was home at the time. Horn called 911 but police response was not fast enough evidently. Horn saw the two burglars leaving his neighbor's home with "loot." He told the 911 operator he was not going to let them get away (premeditation?). The 911 operator warned him to stay in his home and leave the perps alone. Horn just couldn't take it so he stepped outside his home with his shotgun and let off a couple, killing both men on the spot. The suspects just happened to be illegals from Columbia, which I'm sure had an effect on this case.
Civil rights groups were all over this, stating the act was racially motivated. They believed Horn had no right to take the law into his own hands. Others rallied around Horn, claiming he was a hero and the world needs more neighbors like him.
Does burglary warrant the use of deadly force? Well, in the state of Texas, evidently so. Joe Horn was cleared by a grand jury yesterday. Texas law does allow use of deadly force to protect one's own property AND a neighbor's property in certain cases. For example, if I told my neighbor that we were going out of town for the week and asked them to keep an eye on the house, in Texas they could do exactly what Joe Horn did without consequence. Sound extreme?
Well initially I didn't know what to think. But around the same time this story broke, the incident with Redskins player Sean Taylor occurred. In my opinion, people who break into your home have no regard for your property OR life. Just imagine if Sean Taylor had a nosey neighbor with a shotgun or one of his own, maybe his life would've been spared.
Part of me says...it's just stuff! But think about it. The next home those guys could have broken into may NOT have been empty. Do you think they would've thought twice about using deadly force to get what they wanted?
Texting while driving is the latest driving "epidemic," says time.com in a new article discussing this popular yet hazardous activity. A recent survey says an estimated 18% of cell phone users are guilty of this offense, most between the ages of 16 and 30. So many accidents and fatalities have occurred as a result of the phenomenon, at least 20 states are considering a ban on the activity.
I must admit, I may have done this...eh...maybe once or twice...who's counting? But yeah, it's wrong. I mean nothing is THAT important. Any message I've sent while driving could have waited. I say bring on the legislation. A ban may not stop everyone from doing it, but it would be enough to send a message. Are you guilty?
Let me first start by saying, I don't prefer a lot of hair on a man. Give me a bald head, caesar, maybe even a fade. Never got into corn rows, twists or even dreds on a dude. So I'm delighted to see artists like Wyclef, Busta, Trey Songz, Ludacris and Raheem Devaughn cut off their hair. And they all look so much BETTER...to me.
In fact, I have never seen a man who didn't look better with a clean-cut image. So I am hoping these superstar trendsetters continue to influence our communities. Off with the hair! That's a good start. And please brothers...dress. I'm not saying become a metrosexual. Please, no. But wear clothes that look like they were made for your body. Have a sense of style and class. Use some imagination. I'm so glad this 'baggy jeans and white tee' era is dead. Cookie cutter fashion is wack.
When elected, Barack needs to put Al Gore in an official position to combat this global warning thing. He seems to know more about the subject than anyone else on the political forefront.
I saw this on the news last night and I was like....WHAT!?! Scientists are predicting there is a 50% chance the North Pole will be COMPLETELY melted by summer.
This meltdown would be the first in modern history should this occur. Experts have been predicting this but not until sometime between 2050 and 2100. We've got to get serious about this people.
In case you missed it. Karl Rove, former Deputy Chief of Staff to George W., recently took a stab at Barack Obama. He called Obama "arrogant." He further described Obama as "...the guy at the country club with the beautiful date, holding a martini and a cigarette that stands against the wall and makes snide comments about everyone."
Click here to read a blog by John Ridley in response to Karl Rove's assertion that BarackObama is arrogant. I wanted to give this brother a high five. Check out these excerpts:
We've heard that; we've heard the pejorative "arrogant" before. When I say "we" I mean those of us who are "others" in America; people of color. Minorities. Women. We hear the word all the time from a select section of privileged white guys; the codifying they use when they fear the silver spoons are about to be snatched from their lily palaces: "Those people... How dare they think they can work jobs like ours or live in neighborhoods like ours or send their children to school with ours? Those people are just so damn arrogant."
And is there anything more arrogant, Mr. Rove, than ignoring the international community, the United Nations, weapons inspectors on the ground, very facts themselves, to invade a nation because you and a small cadre believe it's the right thing to do? Is there anything more arrogant than the belief that after such an invasion we as the occupying nation will be welcomed as liberators? Is there anything more arrogant than slapping on a flight suit, playing like you're the one landing on a carrier deck, making nice for the cameras before that infamous banner while tens of thousands of troops are left behind to fight, and four thousand (and counting) are left to die?
America's favorite nerd, Bill Gates retires from Microsoft today to focus on philanthropy. He co-founded Microsoft in 1975 with his partner Paul Allen. Gates is the third richest person in the WORLD, following Warren Buffet and Mexican businessman, Carlos Slim.
The Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation has given billions to charity. This cat is really digging into his net worth to help a LOT of people. Thanks Bill. Even though I have often cursed you when my computer crashes...blue screen, just all jacked up...you're a solid dude.
Bill Gates will continue to chair Microsoft's board of directors and remain the company's largest shareholder so his money making days are definitely not over.
This man has had the #1 cable news show in his time slot for 90 consecutive months. I don't know about you, but that scares me. The things that come out of his mouth and others on the infamous "Faux" News Channel are just unreal. Fair and balanced my ass. Somebody's watching this crap camouflaged as real news.
My man Nas says it best in this new single Sly Fox. Check it out below.
All day I've just been thinking about what I just witnessed. It's surreal to me still, a full day later. I, like so many, have never really cared this much about politics. Sure I've voted before, exercised my civic duty because it was the 'right' thing to do. 
