On a Lighter Note

  

In 15 days, a Detroit man gambled away $1.5 million. Let me say that again. This (un)lucky man found that when he went to the ATM, the machine gave him WHATEVER amount of money he requested.

In a little more than two weeks, he withdrew 1-point-5 million dollars. And gave all that damn  money right back to the casino!

Part of it wasn't his fault. Apparently, a bank error changed his type of account to one that allowed unlimited access to money. Whether at an ATM or at the window at one of the city's three casinos -- yes, for some reason, we have 3 casinos in like a 2-mile radius -- he found that he could take out three-figure sums each time. But just because you can, doesn't mean you should.

Personally, I know Bank of America is the devil. So they deserved it. And why didn't some type of red flag alert them that this fool took out a million bucks in 15 days? Isn't that excessive? (Y'all catch me if I'm two pennies over my limit. You couldn't tell this man only had like a couple hundred dollars in his account?)

Prosecutors recommended 15 months in prison because they believe Page had a lapse of judgment and the bank was at fault for allowing this to happen.

So even as they acknowledge they were at fault, ever-so-gracious Bank of America is still trying to send the man to prison. If they want the money back, we know where it is - just take it from the casinos! As for our friend, let me be his lawyer. I guarantee if he looked a little different, they'd be recommending rehab for his serious gambling addiction.  Set Ronald Page free!

What Would Make an Honor Student do This?

 Watching the news is an activity I usually avoid because of the countless nonsensical stories. This one is no exception:

A 16-year-old honor student from a suburb of Detroit was supposed to take her final exams this week.

Instead she was in court today facing charges of armed carjacking.

Allegedly, she and two other girls ran up on a woman and her 3-year-old son. But the "star student" -- with no previous record -- was the one who is accused of this:

"This individual put a handgun to the head of the woman's 3-year-old son and said, 'I'll shoot his ass,'" said the judge hearing the case.

I need to understand what makes a teenage girl decide to go out and attempt armed robbery. What part of that sounds like fun? Where did she get the gun and what kind of homegirls encourage you to do this for leisure?

You can read the whole story at http://www.clickondetroit.com/news/news/16-year-old-Southfield-girl-accused-of-armed-carjacking/-/4714498/14807086/-/auwx9gz/-/index.html

I go to Lunch to Take a Break...

Got a text from a friend recently who was ashamed to admit he'd avoided sitting with a coworker who he knew was headed his way at lunch.

I gotta say, I don't blame him. Sometimes you just gotta hit the "spin move" when you see Sally from the second floor heading over to thrill you with yet more stories that start with, "Oh my God, let me tell you what the baby did -- She is soooooo cute!"

Making awkward small talk with coworkers or discussing what I'm working on is NOT taking a break. If I'm talking about work, it's still work. If I'm concentrating on being politically (and grammatically correct) during our conversation, I'm still at work.

Particularly when you're fresh on the job, you're strongly advised to sit with new people every day in the lunchroom to meet folks from different cross functional departments and build rapport and whatnot. And I've also been told not to sit with the same people (read:black people) every day. OK, I can roll with that.

But sometimes you don't feel like sitting with any people! Is that selfish? Don't take it personal, it's just that I have to see you for the other 7.5 hours of my shift; I'd like these measly 30 minutes to my self!

Take them playclothes off!

I was working at a kids museum, where parents are supposed to play with their children. Instead, many parents used it as an opportunity to catch up on their cell phones with everyone they'd neglected this year while the kids just kind of ran around wreaking havoc.

One Saturday morning, a young guy was in there with his daughter. At about 10 a.m., the cute little girl came running by me. The dad lagged behind, texting someone... in his pajamas.

About three hours later, she came bounding by me again on her way to the exit. A few beats later, here came Dad, shuffling along like a zombie. On his cellphone. In those damn red plaid pajama pants.

Maybe my mother is bougie. But I got yelled at if my feet hit the front porch with house shoes on. Scarves weren't worn anywhere but in bed. One day I tried to do like a relative and wrap my hair because it was hot out. I didn't want my hair to sweat, nor did I want the breeze from having the car windows to blow it all over the place. Practical, right? My mother had a fit, that culminated with the directive to go buy a hat.

Which is why in college, I looked at kids with curiosity and disdain when they went to the caf in pajama pants.  An ex needed to do a midnight WalMart run one day. I said give me a minute to unwrap my hair. Yes, "It's just WalMart," but still!  And today, I smh every time I see a grown person in the store, in the gas station, at McDonalds wearing...pajamas.

Because it begs the question: Did you wake up, take a shower and then put the pajamas on? Probably not...
So we roll out of bed and hit the streets now? That's what we do, Fam? Hygiene optional?

Strength Needed

I wanted to share this with you: Many times we quote certain Bible verses like catchphrases, but without context, it's really just a misquote.

We're all familiar with Philippians 4:13, "I can do all things through Christ which strengtheneth me." But it was interesting to me that Paul was writing this letter while in jail. I'm going to share verses 6-13 because in they say to not be anxious for anything, but to make our requests known to God with prayer and thanksgiving, then God will give us the peace to wait on Him. Paul says he learned to be content in whatever state he finds himself in -- certainly a strong message for a person in jail, but we can find meaning in that too, as young people learning to provide for ourselves and deal with life's ups and downs.

The verse about doing all things through Christ follows this: ^" I know both how to be abased, and I know how to abound: every where and in all things I am instructed both to be full and to be hungry, both to abound and to suffer need."

Paul says he knows how to have plenty, and how to be in need. How to be abased (be low in esteem and rank), how to be in need, or to be at the top. But with Christ, we have the strength to get through either season!

Usually that verse is used to empower us - You can do it! Go get that job! Go get that husband! Go conquer that...whatever it is! I don't think I'd considered before that it was written in a sense that Christ would give us the strength to bear all things, the strength to do without, the strength to go through the inevitable periods of lacking.

I hope you get something from this too! Have a great week!

Philippians 4 (King James Version)

Philippians 4

King James Version (KJV)

⁶ Be careful for nothing; but in every thing by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known unto God.
⁷ And the peace of God, which passeth all understanding, shall keep your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus.
⁸ Finally, brethren, whatsoever things are true, whatsoever things are honest, whatsoever things are just, whatsoever things are pure, whatsoever things are lovely, whatsoever things are of good report; if there be any virtue, and if there be any praise, think on these things.
⁹ Those things, which ye have both learned, and received, and heard, and seen in me, do: and the God of peace shall be with you.
¹⁰ But I rejoiced in the Lord greatly, that now at the last your care of me hath flourished again; wherein ye were also careful, but ye lacked opportunity.
¹¹ Not that I speak in respect of want: for I have learned, in whatsoever state I am, therewith to be content.
¹² I know both how to be abased, and I know how to abound: every where and in all things I am instructed both to be full and to be hungry, both to abound and to suffer need.
¹³ I can do all things through Christ which strengtheneth me.