Im Not Trying to Appeal to You Conservatives

But have you noticed that the store Forever 21 kinda seems to be down with Jesus?

The bottom of the bags say John 3:16, which is, "For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son."

The accessories branch of Forever is called "For Love," the new contemporary line is "Love 21" and the new plus-size line is called "Faith 21."

I'm not suggesting that all Christians should now shop exclusively at this store; I just noticed that connection and wonder if you have too...or if you know the history behind it. They oughta be thanking Jesus - cuz that store makes money, baby!

Sleeping with One Eye Open

Of late, a certain young lady and I have really started to become friends again. For most of our lives, we argued like "cats and dogs," according to one observer. We started out close, then a shift occurred. Now the pendulum is swinging the other way.

We laugh all the time. We hang out together, just the two of us. We do considerate things for one another. She'll treat me to drinks or food and I'll pick her up from work or whatever. We talk more. And when people come at me, she has my back! I'm not used to that...but it makes me happy that she's in my corner, like she's supposed to be. Once upon a time she was a traitor and always aligned herself with the haters, (when she herself wasn't leading the attack.) Most of the time we get along well, and I am happy to have her friendship...but I've noticed something. I can point to at least three instances where young men have done sum dead wrong things to her. At first she's like, I'm done with them. She'll even ask you for advice like she's really listening. Then the next thing you know, they're her boos again. She's about to go out with him, he just called her to talk and she obliged. I call her a stupid, wishy-washy female. She says, "I'm very forgiving."

This troubles me. It makes me wonder if she can turn that quickly, what's to stop her from flipping back out on me? If she is so forgiving, how long will it be before she's right back kickin it with the people who have decided they are anti-DevaDonna? We should be real here, her allegiance to me only came around the time she stopped being so ride or die with them....
I'd hate for things to revert to the old way, but really, there's no way of guaranteeing it won't. But in the spirit of taking things one day at a time, I'll enjoy a good thing while it lasts....

O.T.B

Ask any high school senior what that abbreviation means, if you don't know.

I admire ppl who have the discipline to go to a job they dislike. That's what it boils down to, having the discipline to recognize that today's current job is just a stepping stone to where you're trying to go, or just a means to an end. That type of mindset enables you to do what you gotta do, as they say.

Well, I'm not there yet. I quit one of my jobs last week. I've never quit before (wait-I'll tell you what happened with McDonald's and we can decide if I was fired or if I quit). And as much as I need money...and as many people who are out here in need of a job, it just seems crass and stupid to quit when you already have one.

It was an easy job. I was a waitress, and while most of them make $2.00/hour, I made above minimum wage. This means whether tips were good or not, I still had a decent paycheck. I walked out with cash in pocket every night, which is unlikely to happen at any other job. I worked at night, leaving me with all day to work another job and run errands. (When I wasnt sleepy from working all night, right?) It was only three days a week, too, then it was supposed to be reduced to two. Tips varied widely from night to night: one night I made $14. The last nite I went out with a bang, having done the least amount of work and making $146.50....But I had to literally convince myself to go every single day.

The bosses and their rules were awful, the co-workers weren't the best company (I will never understand why it's like that when a buncha chicks get together) and nice customers were few and far between. Tore my feet up wearing heels for eight hours a night; eight hours I coulda been sleeping or spending time with family or applying for a better job, or even watching DVR. Beyond that, by the time dues, fees, taxes and tips were taken out, it was clear to me I could make as much money at a minimum wage gig anywhere else. But these are minor reasons, I know.

I was supposed to go on Sunday, and I agonized over the decision like someone had asked if I wanted to die by lethal injection or by the electric chair. I said to my sister, "I can go to work tonight and make over $100. Should I go?"
In all her 8-year-old wisdom, she broke that thing down to its least common denominator. She said, "You can go if you want to, but if you don't want to, then..." she shrugged and continued her pursuit of fireflies.

I realized that as much as I could do with $100 plus $8.77/hr, I simply did not want to go. As I called off, I acknowledged it was a dumb decision. But I stayed home anyway. I washed dishes that I'd allowed to pile up and I slept sooooo peacefully. I was starting a new job in the morning, and instead of having to rush there from the other gig, I was able to iron my clothes the night before, do sum research and walk in bright-eyed and energetic.

Every day since I have quit, I have felt sososo good. I wake up early every morning, with a smile. I say thank you Lord for every little thing. Because I am indeed grateful to have happiness and peace. I still have two jobs, and I walk into both of them happy as hell. I don't mind the day's activities, whether it's folding clothes or entering data into Excel. I just feel carefree. From the 13th floor office where I am now, I can see Hart Plaza, the Detroit River, Canada, and the sun shining on both countries. I'm surrounded by ppl who are working for change, and while it's only a summer job, I'm genuinely excited to be here.

Quitting instantly improved my quality of life. I still have a car note to pay for, grad school to apply for and astronomical car insurance to pay for. I'm still trying to get into my career, forget another job! But I'm happy in the meantime. Whew!

Another Call to Action

If you're reading this on Facebook, then chances are you know what I look like. With this in mind, can you recommend a nice blush, eye shadow and especially sum lip glosses or lipsticks that will look nice with my skin tone?
Fellas, if your girl is close to my complexion (which she's probably not, cuz yall dont mess with chocolate girls anymore, let alone non-light skinned ones) but in the event that she is, ask her what lip gloss she uses if you think it looks good.

Nothing too dark or too light...and nothing that just looks like glitter. (Glittery glosses are for 12-yr-olds). The worst is super-thick gloss, (typically MAC) cuz my hair gets stuck like a fly in a spiderweb, and that is not cute. Most glosses, no matter what they look like in their container, end up just looking shiny, but not having any color because of my complexion, I believe. Therefore, if you have something that's working for you, please share!!!

Thanks! (Sorry if you thought my plea was for sumthing less superficial, lol)

Single Black Female Addicted to Retail

It doesn't help that I work in a clothing store. I spend a lot of my day working on stock, so I see all the cute, cheap stuff before it hits the floor.

If I work three days, I probably buy something twice. (I've slowed down a bit, though. Seriously.) I tell myself, this skirt is only $11.50. This head band is $1.50. That's not a big deal! But before you know it, 10 + 3+ 4 here and there adds up to 50 before I know it!!!!

My mom said, if you keep spending a little bit here and there, you won't have any money when something big comes up that you really need. And she's right. I stopped using all my credit cards and said I would only spend cash from now on; thats a good step, right? Not if I still have that darn debit card on standby...

It's not that I'm cashing out in an attempt to keep up with the latest trends. It's just that I see this one small thing and that one little thing, and I think I'll be happy after that. Last night I drove to two CVS's to find a shade of nail polish I saw in ESSENCE magazine...Knowing I don't have $2.99 to waste right now.

Another point is, there are many facets of my life I can't control. But if I want a frappucino at midnight, that's within my power. I'll get up and go get one. Food....is one area where I waste a lot of money, too. In addition to weave and hair care products. I tell myself, weave is versatile and convenient. I drop this bundle of cash but dont have to worry about it for the next month and a half...then I get tired of the 'do the next week. Or I read about this new deep conditioner and decide that it might be that miracle product I've been waiting for to help me get salon hair at home. (I think the solution here is just to cut it all off, or consider locks, as one reader suggested.)

HELP ME!! HELP ME PLEASE!!!! CALLING ALL FRUGAL, NON-BROKE PPL! HELP ME DEVELOP SUM DISCIPLINE!!!!

Chivalry IS Dead

Fellas, I feel you. I do. I'm a woman, but it truly annoys me when I do courteous things for people and they fail to acknowledge it.

If I hold the door open for someone and they walk through like it magically opened, or worse, like I was supposed to do it, I loudly say, "You're welcome," to let them know that the heavens didn't just open the door for them. At work, when someone asked for a drink by saying, "Gimme a Coke," or "Let me get that," I would pause and say, "Oh you mean, may you have a Coke, please? Yes, you certainly can! Enjoy your evening." (Gotta be careful with that, though, cuz sumtimes rude ppl still tip.)

Beyond the general lack of manners in the world, I just want you all to know that I'm surprised by whom the perpetrators are. You see, there once was a time when all the old ppl you saw were nice and sweet...always smiling and offering you peppermints. Now, these old folks are rude! I held the door open for a lady at the bank last week, and she was more concerned with beating me to the line - when there were only 2 people there anyway! I said, "Oh no. Never again." So guys, I understand if you've decided you're done being chivalrous. (If you see me struggling with a bunch of groceries, take it back, though.)

(This reminds me of another topic: how much I dislike these rude Detroit/Up North dudes. I will get to that post in a minute, but for now it absolutely stands true that Southern guys have manners and Northern just guys don't know how to act.)

Analog Girl in a Digital World

It's hard being a no-nonsense girl in a BS world. It really is, y'all.
I've been mislabelled as being mean, or not liking ppl...The truth is, the rest of the world is about that BS, and I just don't have the temparement for it. That's all it is. There's an obvious conflict btw what y'all doing and what I've figured out as being necessary.

1. For instance, I dont like to a** kiss. But you have to do this in certain cases. It is absolutely true that you want to get on your manager's good side, and the way to do this is by shucking and jiving, making idle chit chat, laughing at their lame jokes and over-exerting yourself in their presence. The ones they like get special treatment, and that's how you get it...which is bull.

2. I figured out a while ago that grown does not=always right. But even when they're acting your age, you can't talk to your aunts and uncles like they are...you have to show them respect they don't even deserve at that moment...which is sum bull.

3. I don't feel the need to fill silence because we're standing next to each other. Yet co-workers try to force conversation and consider you rude if you don't play along...which is bull. Lady, I know you don't care how my weekend was. So let's just work in silence; it's more efficient that way. This is an actual transcript of a convo one of my managers tried to have with me:
Her: So, are you in school?
Me: No.
(Silence, as she searches for another subject.)
Her: Kids, husband, boyfriend?
Me: (Laughter, cuz she was reaching....and it was pathetic.)
Yea, I have a boyfriend. We just started dating.
Her: Oh yea? Me too! (Happy to have found a minute connection.)

4. This concept of gettng good grades and going to school so you can get a good job. Clearly, that's out of the window these days....but I'm trying to do it anyway...which is bull.

5. Car insurance. THEE single biggest rip off ever. My insurance is $100 higher than my car note...which is sum bull. However, since I have a new car, the bank won't finance me if I don't have full coverage...which is sum bull. I'd like to chill sumtimes too, but I gotta work to pay some folks I dont't even need. Any accident I do get into will still cost less than all the money I've given away to these crooks...but you must have it...which is sum bull.

6. The world loves people with no talent (Rihanna, Paris Hilton, Britney Spears, Miley Cyrus), while those with talent can't even beg yall for the time of day...which is sum bull.

You see, folks, I'm not that bad. I'm just a no-nonsense girl in a BS-kinda world.

I Wish I Had a Dollar for Every Time I've Heard

5. Why you look like that?/What's wrong with you? (Cuz apparently, "I look mean")

4. So you like, real religious and stuff? (Said by guys who called and were shook when they discovered that I answer my phone, "Praise the Lord.")

3. You can't have friends? (Said by lame guys who think they're being slick and have nothing better to say when I reject them on the grounds that I have a boyfriend.)

2. Dang, you short! (To which my reply should be... what? "Oh, thanks for telling me! Here it's been 23 years and I just had no idea why I couldn't reach that cereal on top of the fridge!"...)

1. Say your name again!....that's...different. Yea, that's real different.... How'd your mom put that together? (Sometimes they go so far as to ask, "So do you like your name?"...and i wish i could just stare at them until they feel as stupid as they sound.)

** This is an abridged list. I'm sure there are more phrases that I forgot**

"I Was Gon Go There, But"

Every time I say I went to FAMU, the person I'm talking to makes a statement that begins with that phrase.

"I was gon' go there, but..." It usually ends like this:

...My mama got sick so I had to stay home and take care of her. Plus, that's far and I aint wanna be that far from my family and everything.

...I had missed the application date and they said they wasn't gon give me enough money, so...

....I had wanted to work first like to give myself a little time to get ready after high school. I aint wanna go straight in cuz you know that's a lotta work and stuff.

...My baby was just born so I'm just working for right now. Everything happens for a reason, right, so I wouldn't trade my baby for the world, but I'ma go back to school in the fall.

...I had went to (insert name of local community college) instead.

I understand y'all. I almost went to Michigan State. And I almost went to Howard. And I wanted to go to the University of Michigan since teh 1997 Rose Bowl Championship....but God, in His divine order, led me to the Highest of Seven Hills in Tallahassee, Fla.

So don't get me wrong, I'm not making fun of anybody, I'm just telling you that everyone has an I almost went there story, (like you should be impressed that they almost made the right decision) and I have nodded my head sympathetically through them all.
You've probably heard some too.

Fallen Rattler

I don't have a picture because I didn't want to pillage her Facebook page, but on Tuesday, July 7, I received an e-mail saying that a FAMU student was shot and killed the day before.

According to police, Michelle Coleman, 21, was at a party in her hometown of Miami when three men dressed in all black starting shooting at about 12:45 a.m. Twelve people were shot, but Coleman was hit three times - in the chest, kidney and liver. Here is thelink to The Famuan's story:

http://www.thefamuanonline.com/news/famu-student-killed-in-gunfire-1.1772349

Let's keep her family and friends in prayer...if praying isn't something you do, then just send positive thoughts, I suppose.

I'm Not in the Business of Free Advertising,

but these new angus burgers at McDonald's? OMG, run and tell ya mama! Those things are dee-licious. I mean it.

I used to be all uppity, like, 'I don't eat McDonald's hamurgers...just chicken and fish.' A lot of ppl say this as well.

But my sister was treating, so I stepped out on faith and tried one of these third-pounder boys, with red onion and lettuce and tomato...and now I'd like you to know that it was hella tasty. Almost made me feel less guilty for eating all that food at 3 a.m.

(And while I'm at it, Popeye's chicken strips are nothing to sneeze at, either.)

Alright, no more free advertising. Of all the companies that are struggling today, McDonald's is the only one posting a profit...so they clearly don't need my help.

Ppl Just Want a Reason to be Mad

Do you see this cheesy billboard on the left? These throwback cartoon Billy Dee ads for Colt 45 have been popping up all over Detroit in the last few weeks, and apparently ppl are really upset about them.

This man called yesterday and said, "Why don't yall put up something bout sum education or somethin like tha? I dont wanna have to ride around with my kids seeing that. And 'Works every time', what does that mean? I don't get it."

To that I say, ol fool, you know what that means, cuz u knew what it meant back in 1974 when you first saw it. And as for not wanting your kids to see it, OK, be a parent and tell you kids not to drink. They couldn't buy it for themselves even if they wanted to, so that's a non-issue. Next?

Honestly, I see the billboards as a dinosaur of a brand trying to make sum new money by going back to an ad that a segment of the population can relate to. Which segment is that? Your grannies! As well as the dudes who are already outside the liquor store with their paper bags every time you go. I don't think Billy Dee is gonna make a buncha teens wanna drink malt liquor...so what is there to worry about? I could see if it was Lil Wayne or sumbody...

You Got That VIBE

So I was right, y'all. VIBE Founder Quincy Jones is talking about buying back the defunct magazine (shut down last week) and moving it to online-only because in his words, "print and all that other stuff is dead."(...like his homeboy MJ, whose funeral he wasn't decent enuf to attend.)

And did y'all hear that Quincy said Michael always wanted to be white? This coming from a man who has married four white women. Grandpa betta watch out - standing inside a glass house throwing rocks is not very smart...

Top 5 Dumb Questions to Ask When You Walk into Forever 21

5. "Why is everything so low cut?"

4. "Where are your leggings?" (Usually asked by the 200+ pound chicks)

3. "Does this come any bigger?"

2. "Does this come any longer?"

AND THE ONE THAT MAKES ME WANT TO KICK YOUR MAMA EVERY SINGLE TIME.....

1. "What y'all got for ppl my age?" (Usually asked by a 35+ yr-old black woman. Who didn't quite comprehend that she walked into a store called Forever 21.)

This is Why I Only Shop in One Store...

I strolled into one of those other stores for young ladies the other day...and was quickly reminded why it's been so long since my last visit.

These jeans on the left caught my eye. Aren't they freaking cute? But that tag on the right says $107.99. First of all, it is trickin (if you got it or not - cuz we in a depression), and second of all, nothing in Charlotte Russe should ever have three digits before the decimal point. Isn't that the point of stores like that????? Idk what the hell yall trynna do, but I near fainted when I saw that...yall take that to Nordstrom's somewhere.

Attention, Detroit:

There is a serial rapist on the loose. He is on the East side (where you'll never catch me anyway).
He kidnaps victims at gunpoint, blindfolds them and puts them in his trunk. After the rape, he forces them to take a shower (which is hella smart, considering they tell rape victims not to wash up so that DNA can be retrieved.)
Thent he fella is kind enuf to drop you back off where he found you.

But here's the thing: all his victims have been young ladies (I believe from ages 15-18) walking the street by themselves at around 1:45 a.m.....

Rape is never warranted, OK, but...young ladies, where are u going at 2 a.m.? By yourself? On the East side? And parents, why are you allowing your daughters to be in the streets this time of night? I'd call this one a no-brainer....but everyone doesn't think like me. Perhaps if you live sumwhere your whole life, you think you're immune to violence - that you know what to do if it does happen, but you aint worried cuz it hasnt happened yet.
Well...you shouldnt worry, then, in that case...unless you think 2 a.m. is a good time to take a walk.

For Those Who Think Google is Trying to Take Over the World...

...it is. On Wednesday Google announced it will be launching its own operating system for personal computers, based on its Chrome browser.
It is intended to be used on notebooks, and eventually desktop computers as well.

“Speed, simplicity and security are the key aspects of Google Chrome OS,”
said Sundar Pichai, vice president of product management, and Linus Upson,
engineering director, in a post on a company blog. “We’re designing the OS
to be fast and lightweight, to start up and get you onto the Web in a
few seconds.”

By the end of this year, the software will be availble online, and by fall 2010, notebooks with the software already installed will bei n stores. They say this move will directly challenge Microsoft, but from what I've heard, Microsoft has already one-upped Google with its new "Bing" search engine.

Half the world thinks Google is the most convenient and easy-to-use invention ever...and half the ppl think Google is trying to get all in your business by attempting to be all things to all people every where you may be....I think I'm in the first group.

I Guess Sumthing Had to Go

You all can click on this link and get the details for yourself, but the gist of this story is that with the budget deficits many states are facing, states have to make some hard decisions about which programs to keep or cut, and many have decided, oh, that ummmm summer school is expendable.

That's fine if you have alternative programs in place for the kids to attend instead. But of course, this is not the case.

http://www.nytimes.com/2009/07/02/education/02school.html

Nearly every school system in Florida has eviscerated or eliminated summer school this year, and officials are reporting sweeping cuts in states from North Carolina and Delaware to California and Washington.

The article uses the Brevard County Schools in Florida as an example. Last year almost 14,000 students were taking free summer classes. Now those students are at home or at the mall (watching that dam* BET or in the street) because summer programs have been eliminated or stripped to the bare minimum.

Let me tell you something, I went to college in Florida and many of my classes were full of Floridians educated in the Florida Public School System. Can I be real with you right now? Don't get offended, please. It was in those very classes that I learned college is not entirely home to the "brightest and best." If anybody needs as much school as they can get, it's them Florida chillrens. I'm just sayin......

Meanwhile, we here in Detroit have summer school, but our ungrateful behinds have used the last two weeks as an opportunity to get caught up on our beefs from the school year and whatnot and shoot each other up. Seven people were shot at a bus stop last week. If I'm a parent, I would be Up-and-Set, thinking I'm doing the right thing by sending my child to school, and he may well have stayed home on the porch....ya lil gurl can stay home all day and sneak boys over to the house, or she can go to school and get shot...it's lose-lose out here.

Madoff Part II

Now, this is sum foolishness, I do declare!

Bernie "Quick Change Artist" Madoff has hired a consulatant to find the best prison for his 150-year stay.

Wow...the rest of us have to go where the heck they feel like shipping us off to, but he gets to scope out options, weigh the pros and cons and do a SWOT analysis of his options. My, my. Remind me not to break any serious laws and screw over ppl legally until I get rich.

Re: Steve McNair

Don't get me wrong, I'm not the arbitor of Right and Wrong. All I know is, the first report I heard was that foremer NFL MVP QB Steve McNair and a woman were found shot to death in his condo. ... I thought, wow, that is sad and suspicious.
Then we got a little more info: McNair, 36, who is married with four kids, was found with a 20-year-old young woman, and they were shot by her ex.

Moral of the story: Don't cheat. You never know what a piece of a** could cost you.

Wait, I'm wrong for that! - let me be a lil more sensitive: I don't know McNair's home situation. I don't know if he and his wife were seperated or happily married or what...and I technically don't know that the deceased young lady was his jumpoff....What I can say is, yall old mf's need to leave them young gurls alone. If I'm nearly 40 and you just made it out of your teens, what are we chitchatting about and how do we hook up to where you at my crib on the one-on-one QT tip? Maybe he was "mentoring" the child.

But that's not my business. I honestly feel this is a sad story, and my heart goes out to his family......but guys consider this....an MVP, Pro-Bowler, Super Bowl playing, 16-year NFL vet is dead now...over a chick.

You never know what you're getting yourself into, and it is likely he had no way of knowing the danger he was in by associating with this woman, but let's all try our hardest to make wise decisions.

In Your Face, Sonia!!!

So last week the Supreme Court ruled on this absolutelyyyy absurd "reverse discrimination" case. Some white firefighters in New Haven, Conn. claimed they were denied promotions because of their race....idk how they could be jealous of the 2 minority firefighters in the entire state of Conneticut, but that's not the point of this post.

The issue here is that Supreme Court nominee Sonia Sotomayor previously ruled against the firefighters as an appellate judge. What this says to me is the Court is already undermining Sonia, and she's not on even on the bench with them yet....they have stuck out their tongues, folded their arms, banded together like a scene from "Anchorman," and warned her that more is to come if she makes it, which she might not.

They already feel like Sonia has a little too much Latin pride, so overturning her on a race issue is a double victory for her opponents. She is like the "Jenny from the block" of the legal world, calling herself a proud "Nuyorican" and reppin her Latin roots allll the time. Don't you know Sonia? Take it from Clarence - he never woulda made it to the High Court had he been all Black Power/ What kinda power u got? Oh you know I got soullll power!, or if he had a history of racial cases in his legal body of work (which we know literally is not possible).

If you are a minority, and if you came from the hood and made it all the way to the top; you have a right to be proud. BUT YOU ARE NOT ALLOWED TO SHOW IT. at all. It really sucks, but you cant wear your ethnicity on your shirt with buttons and flags and patches. You gotta suppress it your entire career as you continue to ascend. When you reach the top, if you let your soul show then, people will try to find a way to kick you out of your position...but at least then it might be a lil harder for them. It's really a no-win situation. You can be successful and only have soul in your spare time at your house, or you can be proud of who you are/true to yourself and only go so far.

Going to a black school allowed me to buy a little time before I have to join institutions that force me to be an imitation white person, lol. (dont take that the wrong way; it just is what it is. Blacks and Latinos are becoming the majority, yet we still gotta try our hardest to fit in with the rest of them if we want a little crumb of success, wealth, etc. but if enough of yall read my blog I can get my Perez Hilton on and be me erryday, nahmean??!! haha)

He Seems Sorry to me

I've been meaning to comment on this for a couple of weeks now because this is one of those no-win situations...but a lot of outraged people feel Donte' Stallworth did win. If you didn't know, Stallworth, 28, was a wide receiver for the Cleveland Browns. In March, he was leaving a Miami nightclub, drunk, when he hit a pedestrian. The man, 59-year-old, Mario Reyes eventually died.

Stallworth's blood alcohol level was at .126, which is above the legal limit....but we all know a big, athletic, football playing man can probably hold liquor differently than others, which means he may not have been actually drunk. Moreover, everyone acknowledges that Reyes was NOT in the crosswalk. He was running across the street to catch a bus after leaving work. Which is why in the 911 call, Stallworth says "he came out of nowhere." As soon as Stallworth hit the man, he stopped. He frantically called 911. He took full responsibilty for his actions, and he voluntarily reached a financial settlement with the victim's family. He could not have handled the situation any better.

But here's the part white America is mad about: Stallworth's sentence is 30 days in jail for manslaughter, 8 years of probation and two years of house arrest. And the NFL has suspended him indefinitely. They feel like that's a slap on the wrist since a man has died here. OK, we certainly won't trivialize loss of life, but Stallworth didn't gun someone down in cold blood and run. And I dont even know that he's a big enough star for anyone to claim he received special treatment on that tip.

I'ma be real here, because we all know who is upset about it: the majority segment that overlooks all the light sentences they get, but want someone's head on a platter for the simplest offense if the perpetrator is black or a black athlete. If the victim's family is not upset, no one gives a damn what yall have to say about the situation. Period.

And while I'm at it, I dont care how nice your house is, I couldnt be on house arrest for two years. As in for the next 700+ days, those are the only walls he will see. That would drive a person crazy....for athletes, playing football is their life's passion and dream. That means Stallworth has two years where he won't be able to do that, and depending on how the comissioner feels after that time, he may be done altogether. Imagine making a mistake - and yes, it was a mistake that anyone could have made - that will cost you everything. Reyes lost his life, and Stallworth could be 30 years old unable to do what he's worked his whole life for. For anyone working a job they hate, anyone who'se watched your parents spend their whole lives at jobs they can't stand so they could provide for you, I think you understand the depth of that.

Yes, people have committed lesser crimes and gotten far worse punishments. OK, you can't correct that by hanging Donte'. So get over it.

My Heart Goes out to Ruth Madoff

But after reading a little more, I wonder if it should.

I guess I feel bad that she married a crook in 71-year-old Bernie Madoff, who ran an elaborate Ponzi scheme and fooled people into investing $65 billion. For over 20 years he swindled hundreds of people, from actors to regular Joes with families, and have left many completely devastated.

But I felt bad for Ruth that she will be losing her life partner to his 150-year jail sentence. I asked myself what I would do if my husband were going to jail for the rest of his life....

But maybe I shouldn't feel bad at all. I remember interviewing a psychologist who was telling me he'd been married for like 30 years, and he was still "learning things" about his wife. He said, "if you meet me at 25 and we get married three years later, there's still 25 years of life before we met that you know nothing about. You can't learn all of that in three years. It takes a lifetime to get to know someone."

With this in mind, do we think Ruth was completely innocent? Do we think she had no idea her husband had such disregard for other peoples? They were married for decades and have two sons...do we think none of them knew Bernie was capable of getting up and doing dishonest work every day with a straight face?

You never know what's in someone's heart....but the Madoffs had a New York penthouse, houses in Palm Beach and the Hamptons, four yachts, two Benzes; and Ruth had two minks and $2.6 million in jewelry alone. Amongst the opulence, did anyone ask Big Daddy Bernie how they could really afford that? And if Ruth indeed knew, how could she be so cool with spending other peoples' money?

Bernie thought he was gon be slick and leave her $70 million. But come on, when you're married, what's hers is yours. And everything he has belongs to the government as they try to pay restitution to the victims. Federal marshals escorted her from her four-bedroom penthouse last week and ordered her to leave behind everything that could be sold...clothing, furnishings, luggage, curtains, rugs, footwear...everything! She was, however, allowed to keep $2.5 mil. She probably looking like, wtf am I gon do with that change?

You can imagine many ppl believe she was not an innocent bystander. They dont believe she first heard of the charges in court with the rest of the world, and this is why she is just as hated as he is. I heard she isn't allowed to go back to her salon and former friends don't get up with her anymore...but the thing that has removed my symapthy for her is this: her children have stopped speaking to her as well. Maybe they know something....

That Da** Tina Fey...I mean Sarah Palin

I'm sure you've heard by now that Sarah Palin announced she will be resigning as governor of Alaska.

This is the exact wordage from the New York Times News Alert I received:

Sarah Palin, the governor of Alaska, announced she would step down before the
end of the month, citing a desire to affect change outside of government.

"Affect change outside of government"??? Isn't that the reason you get in office in the first place? What does she think she is going to do? What services can she provide?

Palin made a mockery of the office, between her public feud where she and her childish husband kept picking with David Letterman, (and they did actually make Ol' Dave feel bad), and her knocked up daughter going on a media spree and then divorcing her husband after their shotgun marriage. But taking time off for a failed VP campaign, then quitting with more than a year left in your term, further makes her look like a clown. I mean, it doesn't look like you're really dedicating to serving your beloved Alaska if you up and quit like that.



I just think she's quitting so she can make more money writing books and making appearances. And I wouldnt be surprised if she moved to Cali and got a talk show. Or a dang hunting show on the Wildlife channel. That's why she's really leaving, and you know it; dollar signs and Fame are calling her name, not other opportunities for public service....everyone who may read this, do America a favor--please quit paying attention to this non-talented, ingenuine, transparent media whore.

Pour Some Out for VIBE

You all really won't believe this one, but 'tis true: VIBE magazine is closing. Operations are shuttig down. And more creatives will soon be on the streets job-hunting in this already tough industry.

According to Variety Headline News, the VIBE staff was in the midst of an MJ tribute issue when Editor in Chief Danyel Smith issued confirmatory memos. The funny thing is, a couple of weeks ago I read an e-mail announcing Smith CEO of the VIBE Media Group and EIC of VIBE, as well as a new hip-hop tabloid magazine. But now, she and former VIBE Media Group CEO Steve Aaron announce that a decrease in advertising revenue along with a lack of investors have led to the demise of the mag, which was nearing its 16th anniversary! (And 16 years is a huge milestone for a magazine!)

VIBE was founded in 1992 by one Quincy Jones, and we know his money is long. I feel like if he wanted to step in, he could. (Even when VIBE Vixen folded, there was an opportunity to infuse life in the parent mag.) With ESSENCE and BET, FUBU, Phat Farm and many other businesses, we start with an idea and then sell it off when it becomes successful. We imagine a conglomerate with more resources can run it better and make it even more profitable, but to me, what's wrong with having a vision, making your baby a success and continuing to see it through?

I don't like XXL or the Source, but VIBE was a respectable brand and a magazine for men and women, fans of rap, hip hop and R&B alike. Perhaps it will live on as an online magazine - who knows? Times like these force traditional media to get real creative. But I wish all those talented people the best.

WAIT A MINUTE-- U know what, yall? I should have suspected this. Whenever your top talent starts to jump ship, that means they're being smart and running out of the burning building before it collapses. Former VIBE writer and editor Shanel Odum moved over to head Honey Magazine, which is online only, and former VIBE Editor in Chief Emil Wilbekin went over to GIANT in February, then to Essence.com last month!!!! (And I was wondering why this man went over to be managing editor at Essence...now I know! He's been around long enuf to have peeped game before the axe fell!)

What should the last "10 Questions" include, yall????