Happy Holidays, Merry Christmas and the Floor Is Yours: Topics Are Open

Posted on | December 18, 2011 | 45 Comments

Have a good one everyone. If anyone wants to talk about stuff – the floor is open.

Seeing Mission Impossible this Sat. We’ll see if it’s worth the hype. And good on Tom Cruise for having a black actress co-star and for the second time!!!

Drink up, be merry and be very very good to yourself.

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Category: blogging, holidays
Tags: Merry Christmas > open fourm

Comments

45 Responses to “Happy Holidays, Merry Christmas and the Floor Is Yours: Topics Are Open”

Sophia
December 15th, 2011 @ 10:41 PM

Good for little crazy Tom Cruise. I’ll see the movie for Jeremy Renner. But only after I watch “Shame” with Michael Fassbender and Nicole Beharie. I am loving seeing black women star as the love interest in both prestigious and blockbuster movies.
Rumours are swirling around Fassbender and Beharie btw. He’s a bit of a slut though so it’s likely nothing more than a set romance.

GoldenAh: I like his kind of crazy. I’m wracking my brain. I think I’ll write a blog post about that (promises, promises), because all the blockbusters this year did not have one (okay, maybe one) black actress in the lead. Hopefully, before the year closes out. Do a black actress movie wrap-up. I’ve been meaning to, but life gets in the way.

Fassbender is a fine looking man. Who can blame him for being a ho?

I have to check out some movies with Jeremy Renner, because I honestly don’t know anything about him.

Thanks for stopping by, Sophia.
trish
December 16th, 2011 @ 2:37 AM

Merry Christmas and Happy New Year.

GoldenAh: Thank you, Trish! Same to you.

Take good care of yourself.
Daphne
December 16th, 2011 @ 12:05 PM

Happy Holidays to all! I hope everyone reading will have safe travels, get lots of presents, enjoy good food, and have the opportunity to spend time with loved ones.

Goldenah, any travel plans for the holidays? I think I recall you live in the same area as your family?

My family is coming to Florida – I’m in Tampa Bay, and we’ll spend a few days in Orlando. Not my ideal vacation – we’re all warm and balmy down here, and it doesn’t feel like Xmas when you can bust out shorts and a t-shirt. I mean, the song doesn’t say, “I’m dreaming of a BALMY Christmas” now, does it? But then, I’m not a huge fan of Florida, so I’m a tad grumpy!

I’m seriously thinking of planning a trip for next Thanksgiving or Xmas, even if it is solo. My family won’t be too thrilled with it, but I’ve been ready to switch it up for a long time – tired of the same old, same old. And since they either can’t afford to travel, or don’t find it valuable, they won’t be able to accompany me. Ah well.

GoldenAh: No travel plans.

I cannot bear the thought of going to an airport during this time of year. I don’t know what I’ll do when it comes time to really go somewhere. I may take the train or drive. I loathe the TSA, customs and immigration people at the airports. I cannot stand any of them. They serve no purpose. I miss the old days of getting to an airport 30 minutes before take-off, running to get on the plane, and no a**h*&e pervert or authority freak needed to cop a feel, see us naked, or steal your water (or expensive items). Ah, the good old days. (I cannot stop ranting about this topic.)

Yup. I live in NJ. My folks are a few minutes down the road, got uncles in this state and other relatives in the wider region.

I wanted to live in FL at one time, near Daytona Beach (not sure why), but I like the changing of seasons. Although I am getting really sick of the snow. I’m like “What global warming – have they seen how much it snows out here?” Nearly every year, I’ve had days where I was trapped in the house by the amount of snow. Ugh.

I want to go away next Xmas too! I’m thinking, can I do it? I say Australia, but then I look at the flight time. I mean that’s leaving on a Monday and arriving on Wednesday. And it’s rare to get straight flights, these airlines are always breaking it up into multiple trips. But I’ve got that list. Gotta do it.

I encourage you to go somewhere Daphne. You’ll have a blast. I’m always leery of a trip, but once I get there I’m gonna have fun even if it kills me.

I love Disney World. I’m such a big kid.

Happy Holidays to you as well.
MsMellody
December 16th, 2011 @ 10:12 PM

Merry Christmas Everyone!!!

I just came in from our condo building’s Christmas mingle and party!!

My husband and I had a fantastic time. I do hope everyone here get’s out to a party or two this Holiday season.

Enjoy, be safe. Travel and have a great time!!
Happy Holidays!!

GoldenAh: Happy Holidays to you as well, MsMellody. Merry Christmas.

I’m going to try not to drink too much this year.
Daphne
December 17th, 2011 @ 3:04 PM

Fassbender is a fine looking man. Who can blame him for being a ho?

Bwah! Fassbender doesn’t do it for me anymore, but I understand the appeal.

Jeremy Renner is pretty awesome. He did a relatively unknown movie with Gabrielle Union called Neo Ned – it was interesting.

I should probably be interested in Shame, but I have a confession: I’m getting nitpicky about movies that have black female love interests who are opposite white men. Why? Because I perceive some disturbing subtext at times when white men/black women are romantically involved on screen – as in, white men on the “fringe” of society or otherwise “abnormal” or “quirky” date black women (see: Neo Ned, as an example). To me, that’s not really normalizing the pairings, but others’ mileage may vary on that.

Say what you will about Tom Cruise, but that he’s featured black women in 2 out of 4 of his Mission Impossible movies – which are high-profile blockbusters and Ethan Hunt is the lead and alpha-male who is attracted to them – says a lot more. From a normalizing perspective, anyway. Of course, I may be jumping the gun with the latest movie – I’ve yet to see it, and Tom’s character may not be romantically involved with Paula Patton’s character.

Of course, to play devil’s advocate – he’s also chosen biracial black actresses rather than someone like a Kerry Washington or Nia Long. Still, I really like Paula, she seems so down-to-earth in her interviews, so I am pleased she’s building a nice career for herself.

To your point about black female leads in films this year – according to Box Office Mojo, none of the Top 10 movies featured black women, and The Help is number 11 so far. Not exactly encouraging. Perhaps 2012 will be a better year.

Back to travel –

Goldenah, like you, I’m not a huge fan of flying long distances. But as you mentioned, once you arrive, it’s wonderful. I’ve had Australia and New Zealand on my mind for years now, so next year might be the year. On the other hand, Europe ain’t a bad bet, either, and I can cover more ground and countries in continental Europe. I’ve got time to think it through.

GoldenAh: I saw the movie. I don’t think you will be disappointed with Paula Patton’s role. She is the star. She’s a key role in the flick. My gf and I liked it. Simon Pegg is always funny, and the movie doesn’t sit still. And Tom is looking good too.

I don’t know if Renner adds much to the movie, but they needed another “muscle / brain” as contrast to Ethan’s character. And he fits in with the group.

Love your observation about the “nut job” or “freaky” white guy who’s into black women. So on point!! Of course, he has to be crazy to ~~like~~ love a sister. Right? By the way, a black man made Shame.

The alpha-males in this MI movie find Paula Patton beautiful. They tell her so and treat her like she is worthy, while letting her do her thing. I may see this film a second time. ‘Cause I am into films where a black women (okay, half-black ) gets the kind of respect and props you’d normally see going to some washed out looking boring pale faced waif who beats a man twice her size (Becky the Vampire Slayer Syndrome), which makes me sick. But like you, I wont run out to see any film where they mislead you about what’s going on with the black woman character and the “off-the-rails” white man that digs her.

And based on the casting for Batman, I don’t know if I can stand to watch Anne-what’s-her-face play catwoman. That casting decision was either cowardice, laziness or they just know don’t how to make the women characters interesting. And I suspect it is the latter, because Katie Holmes was a bore too. Maybe that’s one of the weaknesses of Nolan’s writing and perspective. Some men (and even women) are unable to write women characters well, because they put so much energy into the men.

Love your feedback as usual, gave me some stuff to think about.

I don’t blame you for looking at Europe, it is easier to get to. That’s why I always go there and haven’t seen the other side of the planet yet. I start fidgeting just thinking of a 12 hour plane ride.
Andrea
December 18th, 2011 @ 5:53 PM

Happy Holiday and Merry Christmas to all!

I have a topic that has been bothering me for the last few weeks. Hell’s Kitchen, and other “reality” TV shows, casting the craziest Black women they can find. What is that about?

I have been watching the re-runs of Hell’s Kitchen’s current season, and this last bunch of wanna-be chefs includes a Black woman named Elise. And just like every other BW I’ve ever seen on a “reality” TV show, she’s gets along with no one. No matter how hard her fellow chefs try to be nice to her, she basically makes working with her a miserable experience.

Now, at first I thought Elise was just obnoxious and incapable of trusting anyone, but now I am absolutely certain that she’s suffering from some sort of mental disorder. I’ve seen her behavior in many people I’ve known over the years, who grew up in foster care, which makes me suspect that this is how these shows find BW contestants. I’m curious to hear what you ladies think about this.

GoldenAh: I used to really enjoy the cooking chef contest shows, until I realized that they follow the formula you mentioned. I’ve never seen a black woman win. Maybe there were? I’ve seen one or two who did rather well. I think her name was Tracy. Once in the final rounds they start to dislike everything she cooks. They had some kinda super-chef reunion. She makes it as far as the final rounds again. Then poof! She’s making rookie mistakes and her cooking isn’t good enough. Yeah, right.

I think they’re all fixed. They know who they want as the winner, it’s determined by time casting is completed. I’ve seen people who can barely cook or with a so-so personality win. I hate every last one of those programs. No one could pay me to watch ‘em.

Ever since MTV (Viacom / Paramount) gave us the reality TV show “Real World” – the angry nutty stereotypical black woman is here to stay. Unless their advertisers are held accountable. That character is a staple for most of these TV reality shows. That’s where the bread is buttered. It’s obviously a ratings winner. I bet casting agents, directors and producers tell these black women that the crazier she acts the better. I know other people act up, but they are viewed as individuals. We never are.

Sheesh. Nice, emotionally stable and normal black women don’t exist. Think about it sometimes when you have a conversation with some people. Don’t they act surprised when you talk about the regular stuff you do? I have. People want to pretend that TV / media doesn’t play a role in how we’re viewed. Hours of that daily brainwashing has an effect, they know it, we all know it.
Daphne
December 18th, 2011 @ 7:09 PM

Andrea, I don’t watch Hell’s Kitchen, but I understand where you’re coming from. VH1 is particularly notorious for featuring low-class black women. Granted, reality TV consistently draws the borderline personalities (whether real or fake), as that what gets you screentime. The relatively normal black women are usually rarely seen or heard from – heaven forbid the viewers see a black woman who isn’t sistah-gurling or sassifying or “keeping it real” all over the place.

To be fair, the above behaviors aren’t inherently bad, but it’s also not representative of all, or perhaps even most, black women. Most black women, I believe, particularly those who have to work/socialize with non-blacks, but especially whites, have an internal switch, and aren’t like that all that time. I still remember the classy lady chef, Vanessa, from Rocco’s TV show on Bravo – the first season aired a few months ago, but she was a sight for sore eyes, let me tell you. Particularly given that she was competing against this other woman who…had issues. I’ll leave it at that.

But your comment made me think of something related. This season of The Amazing Race, which recently ended, had a black sibling team (brother and sister). Unfortunately for the sister, Jennifer was her name, there were glimpses of “stereotypical black woman” and she got into an argument with her brother once or twice very early in the season. Now maybe because I have siblings, and that I thought Justin, the brother, was rather passive-aggressive, but their arguments didn’t appear THAT bad to me. I read the forums over at Television Without Pity, and dude….those posters immediately villainized her, even though she’s nowhere near the worst of the female contestants featured in the many seasons of the show. Also, there was a black married couple – the husband was a former NFL player, and the wife, since she wasn’t some tiny little thing (hello, the woman birthed four children), was immediately disregarded as useless (though to be fair, I think she won over a lot of people as the season continued). Meanwhile, there was a white woman who, while certainly not terrible, was very passive aggressive with her partner throughout most of the race. For example, her partner is her boyfriend, and whenever he got frustrated, she would immediately yell, “Don’t yell at me!” even though he never raised his voice at her. She was actually pretty useless to her partner, but it was rarely commented on.

It was very strange, yet several of the male posters commented on how hot she was. I didn’t see it, but then I’m not a man. I thought the minority women on the show – the two black women and an Asian woman, were actually more attractive, but again…I’m not a man. There was a fair amount vitriol towards the Asian woman as well, whose partner was her white fiance. Granted, she was a bit high-strung, but again, not that bad. It was all very interesting to read the forum posts and read what I perceived as racially motivated subtext there.

Anyway, long post, but I suspect many TV producers as well as viewers are more “comfortable” with black women and girls characterized a certain way. It’s usually fairly subtle these days, so there is always that plausible deniability factor (also known as gaslighting, heh).
Daphne
December 18th, 2011 @ 7:58 PM

And Tom is looking good too.

Hey, despite the odd-ball jumping on the couch stuff from a few years back, I’ve always thought he was an attractive man. Short, mind you, but attractive.

I’ve thoroughly enjoyed all of the Mission Impossible movies, so I’ll be seeing it with my sister next weekend. Looking forward to it!

Right? By the way, a black man made Shame.

I saw pictures of Fassbender with Steve McQueen, and I admit it: I was surprised. I knew that Fassbender paired up with the same director for a movie called Hunger (he was critically acclaimed for that role as well), but with a name like Steve McQueen, I wasn’t expecting a black man, you know? Guess he’s black Irish.

And based on the casting for Batman, I don’t know if I can stand to watch Anne-what’s-her-face play catwoman.

Yeah, I know what you mean! When I heard Anne Hathaway was cast, I thought…huh? Opposite Christian Bale? Word? I mean, Christian is kind of intense, and Anne…is not. I was confused, as there were any number of actresses who I feel can hold their own against an actor like Christian. Anne wasn’t one of them, but perhaps I’ll be surprised. Frankly, I’m not itching to see the final (I think) installment – I think it’s too much in the pot. You’ve got Catwoman, Bane, and I think another villain, and I might have heard that (younger) Ra’s Al Ghul is returning. That’s…a lot going on. Sometimes, simplicity is better.

And regarding Nolan, the man has NO idea how to write or cast women for his films. I’ve watched several of his movies, and I’ve never enjoyed or connected with any of the female characters, save for Hilary Swank in Insomnia. He probably shouldn’t feature women prominently in his films at all, but he’s too high-profile now. If he tried to pull that ish, NOW would probably be all over him, not to mention the (white) Feminist blogosphere rising up in righteous indignation. Nope, wouldn’t fly. Anyway, I’m glad he hasn’t bothered to cast a black woman in a prominent role in his films. I’d rather be ignored by some rather than half-azzedly thrown a bone. That’s just me, though.

GoldenAh: I agree: do us right, or leave us out of it. I can watch all white, all Asian, all everybody else films without feeling left out. I certainly don’t want a black woman included if she’s going to play some stereotypical role.

I used to watch those Westerns / old War movies, long before political correctness required white women, and they made some awesome all male films. I agree: Nolan would be better served leaving them out entirely.

Heh. Every time I see the name Steve McQueen I think of that handsome blond roughneck who slapped Ali McGraw in “Bullit”. It was a damn funny scene, but no guy could get away with that today, unless she was totally nuts, and Ali was a simpering little thing in that film. You’re right, those white feminists complain about everything. They cannot even let Zoe Saldana be a female star of Star Trek. Those bitches asked JJ Abrams to include “women” in the sequel(s) as though Zoe isn’t one. They never say a word about all these other films where one white woman is the sole starring chick.

Whenever men write about powerful male characters, and they fail on women characters, I think they should turn some of that writing over to good female screenwriters. Or at least to men who understand women better.

I hear you on the simplicity: Batman makes me think of these Korean, British and International series I watch online. They make great compelling movie-like material that lasts up to 15 to 30 episodes. Back in the old days network TV used to air mini-series in the same manner. I think Batman would have been a perfect fit for that format. ‘Cause Nolan’s writing is just too intense and complicated for even three very long long long movies.
Daphne
December 18th, 2011 @ 8:09 PM

Also, separate travel note:

If I could take a train to Australia/New Zealand, I totally would! Would take longer, but the trip would be much more scenic, and at least you can walk around and not feel like a stuffed sausage. The Orient Express is on my bucket list – it’s pretty expensive, but I’d have no problem paying for the experience. And service. The cabins are ridiculously luxurious. Better start saving up.

GoldenAh: I remember a movie about it, but I’ll confess I didn’t know that it was still in existence. I’m not even sure which country it runs in.

Cananda has a scenic cross country train route(s). I’ve always considered doing that, but that’s really not something I’d want to do alone.

You know, the more we talk about Aussy Land and NZ, the more I actually look forward to going. It may be the push I require.
Andrea
December 19th, 2011 @ 2:44 AM

“I used to really enjoy the cooking chef contest shows, until I realized that they follow the formula you mentioned. I’ve never seen a black woman win. Maybe there were? I’ve seen one or two who did rather well. I think her name was Tracy. Once in the final rounds they start to dislike everything she cooks. They had some kinda super-chef reunion. She makes it as far as the final rounds again. Then poof! She’s making rookie mistakes and her cooking isn’t good enough. Yeah, right.

I think they’re all fixed. They know who they want as the winner, it’s determined by time casting is completed. I’ve seen people who can barely cook or with a so-so personality win. I hate every last one of those programs. No one could pay me to watch ‘em.”
~GoldenAh

I think they’re fixed too. If someone has talent it doesn’t suddenly fade away. It’s completely implausible. On Hell’s Kitchen, Elise isn’t making cooking mistakes (yet), just being a huge pain in the backsides of her teammates.

I remember a very nice BW in either the first or second season of Hell’s Kitchen who chef Ramsay liked so much, he actually helped her get a position at a fancy restaurant, after the season ended. And I believe she left before finals too. She was very personable and talented, in Gordon Ramsay’s opinion anyway. This new season was a huge surprise as far as the depiction of BW goes. I hope they decide to go back to their former casting criteria.

“The relatively normal black women are usually rarely seen or heard from – heaven forbid the viewers see a black woman who isn’t sistah-gurling or sassifying or “keeping it real” all over the place.”
~Daphne

One of my friends loves those Housewives of… shows, and she said that the first season of the Atlanta one had a very sensible, classy BW on it and they got rid of her, because she wouldn’t act like an immature idiot and fight with the crazy one over anything and everything. Btw, I saw the crazy one on Dr. Drew a few weeks ago, and she seemed sane. Maybe she’s only contextually crazy. Or crazy for cash. Lol.

“I still remember the classy lady chef, Vanessa, from Rocco’s TV show on Bravo – the first season aired a few months ago, but she was a sight for sore eyes, let me tell you. Particularly given that she was competing against this other woman who…had issues. I’ll leave it at that.”
~Daphne

I no longer subscribe to cable, but I will definintely see if Hulu has it. It’s good that Bravo doesn’t feel the need to stereotype or “race bait” for ratings. They always have mentaly stable and talented BW fashion designers on Project Runway as well. I’m proud of them for that. I remember one TV critic referring to the BW from the first season, who made it to the finals, as “angelic”. That won’t be happening with the BW cast in reality TV shows on FOX, CBS or any other major network anytime soon.

“Meanwhile, there was a white woman who, while certainly not terrible, was very passive aggressive with her partner throughout most of the race. For example, her partner is her boyfriend, and whenever he got frustrated, she would immediately yell, “Don’t yell at me!” even though he never raised his voice at her.”
~Daphne

I thought it was just my mom who did this. If you don’t agree with her point of view you’re yelling at her. Lol.

“I saw the movie. I don’t think you will be disappointed with Paula Patton’s role. She is the star. She’s a key role in the flick. My gf and I liked it. Simon Pegg is always funny, and the movie doesn’t sit still. And Tom is looking good too.”
~GoldenAh

Tom Cruise looks amazing! I can hardly believe he’s 50 years old. He looks as young as Ashton Kutcher, and he’s better looking. I can’t wait to see that movie. I loved the other three, especially #2. Me and my boyfriend were just talking about going to see it on Christmas Eve.

I am so glad that Tom Cruise is in control of his films, because you know if the average Hollyweird studio was in control, Paula Patton’s character would have been made a female eunuch of sorts. Or they would have hired that girl from Precious or Monique.

GoldenAh: I was never a big fan of Tom Cruise when he was younger. That cockiness got on my nerves. But he has a good presence (as a serious, solid adult) in his films now. He really looks good. And I respect his hustle. Watching this film, you can tell he worked hard at it.

I gotta tell you, for me, Paula Patton was just perfect in this film. I LOVE seeing a black woman do her thing and still be feminine. She hit the right note(s).
Daphne
December 19th, 2011 @ 1:20 PM

Maybe she’s only contextually crazy. Or crazy for cash.
Cannot.stop.laughing!

Andrea, seems to me that reality TV people can indeed bring in cash, if they play their cards right. You mentioned the Housewives show – my sister loves the shows, all of them, and she has told me that the women pull in something like 200k per season. No wonder people act the fool for public consumption.

Still, I’m 34, and I can’t just see embarrassing my friends and family (especially my mom) for the sake of money. But hey, maybe these people are laughing all the way to the bank. Guess the concept of shame has become obsolete.

BTW, the name of Rocco’s show was Rocco’s Dinner Party. Episode 6. You may also be able to find it on imdb.com, sidereel.com, or fastpasstv.ms.
Andrea
December 19th, 2011 @ 6:22 PM

“Still, I’m 34, and I can’t just see embarrassing my friends and family (especially my mom) for the sake of money. But hey, maybe these people are laughing all the way to the bank. Guess the concept of shame has become obsolete.”
~Daphne

I feel the same way. Sometimes, it seems as if possessing self-respect and a sense of propriety makes you “lame” in American society today.

“BTW, the name of Rocco’s show was Rocco’s Dinner Party. Episode 6. You may also be able to find it on imdb.com, sidereel.com, or fastpasstv.ms.”
~Daphne

Thank you!
Bellydancer
December 20th, 2011 @ 3:42 PM

Can’t wait to see Shame and A Dangerous Method both with Michael Fassbender kind of crushing on him right now. Yeah I have read rumours that he sleeps around but most men his age usually do.
Anyway I am hearing good things about Nicole Beharie in this movie and that the director had to push for her to play in the movie cuz certain people did not get why he had to cast her. Ironically rumour has it the Fassbender has a preference for the ahem darker ladies (lol)Oh lawdy they are gonna run his ass out of hollywood if he marries a sister (lmao)
I am glad that he tries to stay out of hollywood and the public eye unless he is promoting something.

GoldenAh: Hey, if you get to see it, tell us about it, please. I heard it’s a serious downer of a film and Nicole only gets about 3 lines, but if it’s a good role, I don’t mind that.

Merry Christmas and Happy Holidays to you, Bellydancer.
Sophia
December 20th, 2011 @ 11:21 PM

Good for Steve McQueen for casting Nicole Beharie.

I’ll bet you anything he got a lot of pushback there but he has a lot of credibility and pull now so he was able to get his way.

His next movie is going to be really interesting. It’s called “Twelve Years a Slave” and it’s based on the true account of a northern black man who was captured and forced to be a slave in the US South. It will star Chewitol Ejifor, Fassbender (again) and Brad Pitt. If you can get Brad Pitt for your film you’ve pretty much arrived.

And Fassbender has opened declared his preference for darker women. At a couple of forums, you could sense his some of non-dark female fans’ irritation.

I was invited to see Mission Impossible tomorrow and was gonna pass but am now going based on your positive reviews, Golden Ah

Oh, and thanks for the nice welcome!

GoldenAh: You know I never thought of it that way. I figure that being that they are all English – and I’ve always considered them more flexible with using black actresses than we are – that he wouldn’t get any push back for using Nicole. It’s likely that the racist / sexist / colorist virus that infects America has contaminated the movie business and folks over there. I should have expected it by now.

PBS did a movie like 12 Years A Slave many years ago with Avery Brooks (dang, love that man). The remake should be good, ’cause I don’t see Ejiofor acting the fool for anybody. He’s a good actor and I enjoy seeing his work outside of those nonsensical big dumb Hollywood flicks. If Brad Pitt can make it through the movie without that irritating smug smirk of his, it may be worth seeing.

Like Daphne said earlier: white men are cast as “quirky” if they like the sistahs. So the blond perky chick is supposed to be the default choice for any “sane” man on the planet, any other choice means something’s “off” with him. Attitudes like that just amuse me.

Yeah, see Mission Impossible. Relish Ms Patton kicking some ass.

Oh, your comments are welcome, Sophia, it’s always good to add another voice to our discussions here. Happy Holidays.
Daphne
December 21st, 2011 @ 11:23 PM

Canada has a scenic cross country train route(s). I’ve always considered doing that, but that’s really not something I’d want to do alone.

I’d heard about Canada’s train route a few years back, and totally forgot about it! Thanks for the reminder!

I was an Agatha Christie geek in high school and college, though I haven’t read her books in years. Anyway, that’s what sparked my interest in the Orient Express. After doing some additional research, what we probably knew as the Orient Express did stop service in 2009. However, there is the Venice-Simplon Orient Express, a private company which offers service from London to as far east as Istanbul on a more limited basis.

Australia and New Zealand! Make it happen, Goldenah! It’s your destiny.

I’ve been hearing about Paula’s role in MI elsewhere, so I’m looking forward to seeing it!

GoldenAh: Thank you for the information, your perspective and insights, Daphne. I do hope you enjoy the movie.
Likwaterforchocolat
December 23rd, 2011 @ 11:33 AM

I have to get this off my chest.

Why does mainstream (white) America hate on Michelle Obama so much?

Why can’t they just let her be amazing?

Sensenbrenner(sp.) and Limbaugh are apparently 2 men that live in homes without mirrors. I believe that the FLOTUS is the most disrespected woman in history to ever hold the position of “First Lady.” She is everything that mainstream media tries to perpetuate as nonexistent. She is beautiful, fit, classy, intelligent, educated, stylish and a black woman. For this, she has been portrayed as a modern-day Marie Antoinette. Despite the fact that she had a flourishing career prior to the White House and has her own money, people will have you believe that when she goes on a simple vacation she is blowing taxpayers’ money. Black women in general are already the most disrepected group of people in the world, so now there are people who believe that they can say anything about the President’s wife?! I mean, she is the President’s wife. Even if you do not agree with his politics, I believe that people should have some respect for the office that he holds and his family.

My doness, if this were Laura or Barbara Bush, we wouldn’t be having this discussion. And does anyone find the fact that Sensenbrenner was referencing a previous conversation he had at church offputting? You were speaking about a woman’s butt (another man’s wife, mind you) at church? WTH? Limbaugh bashed her chioldhood obesity initiative by stating that she was not fit enough to make the swimsuite issue of SI magazine. Does he realize that the FLOTUS is nearly 50? Perhaps he is blinded by the fact that before his wives reach 40, he upgrades to a younger model.

That’s the issue with politicians these days…concerned with asses rather than fixing the country.

GoldenAh: I hear you, Likwaterforchocolat. The thing is: Michelle Obama is easy pickings. It’s not as though the “white women’s feminist groups” will stand up and always (if ever?) defend her. And the usual suspects – those black organizations that think they’re only there for black men – wont say a word either.

Outside of her position on health and exercise, she’s pretty low-key. I mean, what would they like her to do? She’s been acting the role of First Lady in no manner that’s different than other First Ladies.

But bigots will do what bigots do. So no surprise from that quarter. And like I said, she’s an easy target, not even her own husband will defend her.

Oh, yeah, the Bush women were “saints”, and folks knew not to say a bad word about them, even when Barbara would spout off the most ignorant and offensive comments.

Going to church doesn’t mean anything to some people; it’s just a place to be seen (as pious or something). And I’m not surprised that these fat old white men are on black women’s booty patrol. Yeah, we know they’re looking, but they should continue to pretend they have some class and keep their mouths shut.

And Happy Holidays, Likwaterforchocolat, don’t let these nuts get your pressure up. Folks out there love trying to make us mad. Remember: they’re a bunch of hypocrites.
Andrea
December 23rd, 2011 @ 6:27 PM

Today, I saw a commercial for a new movie starring Queen Latifah and Dolly Pardon called Joyful Noise. It’s got an interracial teenage love story line. I’m hoping for the best.

GoldenAh: I will look out for it. I saw a poster for it, but I wasn’t sure what it was about. I’m a fan of Queen Latifah. I like Dolly Parton too.

Hopefully, it is a good story. We need some of those.
Andrea
December 23rd, 2011 @ 6:28 PM

I forgot to add that the couple is a White boy and Black girl.
Dee Dee Russell
December 24th, 2011 @ 2:47 AM

Greetings and Salutations, Miss Betty! Hope you and your mongrel cat are warm and happy and your family is well!

@Andrea…I’m not down for that gawd stuff period, yet I will move my butt to the theatre to support this film (on off hours, that is, as too many kneegrows love talking loudly to the screen, lol!). Already shared the film trailer on my FB pages

GoldenAh: Thank you so much, Dee Dee. Merry Christmas and Happy Holidays to you as well. I know things are tough. So here’s a virtual hug for you {{HUGS}}. I hope the New Year brings much joy to you.

Yeah, the little beastly mongrel is good (as can be expected from a cat).
FourAndThreeQuarters
December 24th, 2011 @ 2:36 PM

Hey GoldenAh!

just wanted to give you a shout out and wish you and your family a very Happy Holiday…and all that other good stuff..:-)

GoldenAh: Hello FourAndThreeQuarters, thank you so much! May you and your family have a joyous Christmas and a wonderful Holiday as well!

I hope we all see our dreams come true next year!
Andrea
December 24th, 2011 @ 4:01 PM

@Likwaterforchocolat

I am neither surprised nor disappointed when bigots act like bigots. What they say would only bother me if I bought into their crap.

Let’s face it, Michelle Obama is in far better shape and looks far younger at 50 than any other first lady ever has. She’s also among the best looking first ladies ever. They know all this,so they throw in an idiotic remark about only a SI swimsuit model having the right to care about “childhood obesity”. I guess that means no parents shouldn’t care either. Lol. Talk about grasping at straws to find an insult.
Andrea
December 24th, 2011 @ 7:08 PM

Sorry. I meant to write I guess parents shouldn’t care either.

GoldenAh: The First Lady is trying to help. Sometimes it’s not easy to separate food from strong emotional factors.

I’ve used to watch The Greatest Loser and the people would say they don’t know why they’re so heavy. At first, I didn’t believe them, but that show helped me understand that there can a combination of reasons for being extremely heavyset. Sometimes families are big together and if the children start out that way, it’s tough for people to change. Food can represent LOVE in some families. Food can represent a SOOTHING of EMOTIONS for some families. Food would be used to alleviate stress. It can be complicated. I know of people who get harassed by family, friends and acquaintances if they drop a few pounds. Folks will start offering them food, accuse them of being sick or trying to starve themselves.

Well, I say for those fat white men who are criticizing the First Lady, they need to pick on someone their own size. She’s way smaller than them.
Andrea
December 25th, 2011 @ 7:38 PM

“I know of people who get harassed by family, friends and acquaintances if they drop a few pounds. Folks will start offering them food, accuse them of being sick or trying to starve themselves.”
~GoldenAh

I have friends who need to lose weight who are told by their parents (especially single moms) that they are looking TOO thin and sickly, and it is a total LIE. They are still fat, just less fat than before. I don’t understand why someone would want to keep a loved one fat, knowing that it is detrimental to their health and personal life.

Most of my fat friends date losers they would never date if they were slim.

“Well, I say for those fat white men who are criticizing the First Lady, they need to pick on someone their own size. She’s way smaller than them.”
~GoldenAh

Lol. There’s no one who fits their scapegoat criterion who is as fat as them.
Oshun
December 25th, 2011 @ 10:27 PM

Merry Christmas to all!

@Daphne- sounds like my kind of place. I only need one season. Warm and humid.

Traveling for Xmas sounds wonderful! You should do it…
Oshun
December 25th, 2011 @ 10:41 PM

@ Andrea

They do protesteth far too much…

They weren’t picking on her size. They were lusting after her butt. Literally. Just like slow brained third grade boys when attracted to someone – they don’t want to be – or maybe due to racism aren’t supposed to be – they have to attack her and said body part they are attracted to.

All of these comments have to do with her body and specifically her backside which is a highly sexualized part of the body similar to breasts. Especially since rap music has brought BM’s “booty culture and the booty fetish” so mainstream.

It almost feels like gendered racism combined with a disturbing sexual element.

How is this any different from Venus Hottentot? The first lady is being objectified in a sexual way.

It would be one thing to simply say she is fat. Or to say she is out of shape. These statements are not true, but I am just saying them for the sake of argument. And even in saying that about a first lady – it seems disturbing.

But is it coincidence that each and every time these guys always zero in on her buttocks?

GoldenAh: On point as usual, Oshun.
Oshun
December 25th, 2011 @ 10:44 PM

@ Andrea

“I have friends who need to lose weight who are told by their parents (especially single moms) that they are looking TOO thin and sickly, and it is a total LIE. They are still fat, just less fat than before. I don’t understand why someone would want to keep a loved one fat, knowing that it is detrimental to their health and personal life.”

Sabotage at its finest! Bc they know they will have to step up their game. And they want to keep the “child” in controllable/manageable position. I mean if you start doing something as radical as putting yourself first and you get healthy and start looking more attractive- who knows in what other ways will you begin to change and take care of yourself and put yourself first?
MsMellody
December 26th, 2011 @ 11:24 AM

To Oshun

Your comment about the Andrea’s comment was sooooo ON POINT!!! Thank you once again for pointing out that important element “sabotage at it’s finest”.

I came here this morning to report on a new excercise video that I thought the lovely ladies here would find useful in their uplift agenda. And lo and behold I read your comment – it fits (excuse the wonderful appropo pun there) with what I had in mind..and even points out the most beneficial result of “taking care of oneself”..suddenly the young lady has MORE OPTIONS ( see the comment where it was said the fat young ladies would be dating losers that they would NEVER date if they lost the weight!!) and then the young ladies would in turn have MORE POWER in their lives.

Let us never forget ladies that our beauty as women is an actual power that we can yield for good or bad. And to all the trolls lurking – you read that right. Women have been given one of many powerful tools at birth – that being BEAUTY, femininity, and the wisdom to USE these tools as the woman sees fit.

Wow!! before I get on a rant here..I will close with this link, and my review – “Yet another workout I have found that absotively kicks your butt while only wearing socks!!!!! ”

http://www.collagevideo.com/workout-video/xtend-barre-lean-and-chiseled-5988

GoldenAh: Thank you for the information, MsMellody. Yeah, in a twisted way it (the commentary over Mrs Obama) shows that no matter who you are – when you stay in shape – somebody’s paying attention.
Dee Dee Russell
December 26th, 2011 @ 1:34 PM

I am fine and coping well. Thanks for your concern and well wishes, much appreciated.
SouthlandDiva
December 26th, 2011 @ 1:37 PM

Merry Christmas!

Am I in the minority? Did I miss something? I like Paula Patton. I even like TC now…I didn’t really like TC until ‘Magnolia’, he was actually sexy in that movie even though it wasnt that kind of movie…and it was a great movie.

Oh, and a belated welcome back G!

Peace

GoldenAh: I confess I didn’t become a fan of TC’s until Jerry McGuire. I liked the way he was so supportive and friendly to Cuba Gooding.

He did hurt his popularity with the Oprah couch jumping routine. But I found it hilarious, the parodies where he electrocutes Oprah in his “I’m in love!” frenzy were hysterical.

Thank you, SouthlandDiva, it is a pleasure to be back. And it’s great to hear from you – belated or otherwise.
Andrea
December 26th, 2011 @ 11:21 PM

“But is it coincidence that each and every time these guys always zero in on her buttocks?”
~Oshun

No, it is not. I’ve noticed that some White folks, the racist ones especially –men and women, are obsessed with anything members of the anti-group has that seems unachievable to them. In this case, a high, tight, round booty. I guess that’s why they invented the Brazilian butt lift. Lol.

“Sabotage at its finest! Bc they know they will have to step up their game. And they want to keep the “child” in controllable/manageable position. I mean if you start doing something as radical as putting yourself first and you get healthy and start looking more attractive- who knows in what other ways will you begin to change and take care of yourself and put yourself first?”
~Oshun

That is so selfish! I can’t believe that parents who knowingly do this truly love their children. That may sound harsh, but actions speak louder than words.
Oshun
December 27th, 2011 @ 8:52 AM

@ Ms Mellody

That looks like a very intense workout! Thanks for that link.

You are correct and said it much more succinctly than I did. It is about power and options.

@ Andrea

It is selfish. I am not sure whether this is conscious or not on behalf of the mothers, but the daughters are harmed regardless.

Plus you also have had this anti-beauty campaign waged against BW from the church to popular culture. People of all stripes are threatened by BW who take care of themselves.

Apparently mules don’t need mirrors.

I wish I had known then what I know now. I wish..I wish… I wish..

My mother did the same to me. I didn’t listen and kept right on losing weight. I even had people who wouldn’t buy me a roll of toilet tissue buying and offering me food. They would make the same comments about being too thin. Cause you know they have a right to police my body bc its black and female. I even had my DBR brother “threaten” me about losing weight.

Then my mother *surprise* jumped on the bandwagon – as I had been encouraging her to. She went from 234 down to 186 from July ’11 to Dec ’11. She is now off all insulin and all her diabetic meds. She is not falling as she used to bc she can support her weight.

And lo and behold what goes around comes around! Wouldn’t you know that even at her age people are saying to her “don’t lose too much weight”. Just yesterday a family friend tried to pawn off both a cake and a huge tin of chocolate dipped cookies on her?

Now many of the people who were telling me and her not to lose are, you guessed it, trying to lose now. Including my DBR brother.

All the black people who used to harass me about weight have shut up.

Which is basically why I have said all of this as encouragement to others who want to lose or who are losing. Don’t allow someone else to dictate the terms of your life. Look at how easily these people “flipped” from trying to prevent me/my mother from losing to now “racing” against us to lose.

My problem now is with crazy white and nonblack women. WW tend to make digging comments and some try to touch me. Other nonBW tend to get really cold and hostile.

I have tried discussing this some of my WW friends -especially about the touching and they have no explanations.
Oshun
December 27th, 2011 @ 8:53 AM

Is anyone else disturbed by politics in this country nowadays?

GoldenAh Such as?
MsMellody
December 27th, 2011 @ 11:10 AM

To the beautiful Oshun-

I totally congratulate you and am jumping for JOYYYYY for you and your mom. Thank you from the bottom of my heart for your example of success!!

Now – you used the same words I always use with friends..”folks always want to try and flip the script on you..when it suits them”.

And that comment you made “apparently mules dont need mirrors” should be the title of a post, or a t-shirt for all the readers and writers in this BWE community!!

Now as to the so called “crazy” ww/non black women – don’t be fooled girlfriend those women are not so crazy as much as showing you that they are THREATENED BY YOUR BEAUTY- AND YOUR OBVIOUS CARE AND CONCERN FOR YOUR SELF!!!!

That should be seen as a compliment – HOWEVER -dont take that word compliment that I just used as permission to breach your personal boundaries. No no no no – I meant that word as in ..deep down in your reflective self conscious you should be laughing at these women’s displays of insecurity. Meaning – when your new figured self is around ..the same women who wouldnt have cared if you dropped dead in their presence–are now flipping the script so to speak and are PAYING YOU FULL RAPT ATTENTION..they are studying you, watching you and now see you as ON THEIR LEVEL!!
Meaning – ABLE AND READY TO COMPETE FOR MALE ATTENTION/AFFECTION/ CARE!!

Now as to the politics in this country – yes, you are definitely seeing a swing shift. What you are seeing is that the poor and middle class are being USED by the left leaning media.

And USED in this way – there will and has always been poor among us. There has always been and always will be rich among us. But what you are seeing is an attempt to overthrow this country..that was implemented by the likes of Bill Ayers “Weather Underground”..a 1969 group that worked to indoctrinate a generation of young people who have since gone on to become well entrenched in the so called “establishment”. This generation of people have been your adjunct professors/professors etc at all the maj universities espousing liberal leaning politics, upheaval of capitalism etc.,etc.,etc.,…this group and their underpinnings have given us the dubious groups like ACORN – that do nothing but exploit the poor ( when the real solution for poverty is not only education but a change needed in values )…ACORN conveniently morphed into the support group for Occupy Wall Street.

And if you will take the time to learn a little about this socialist movement –you too will have chills running up your spine as you begin to see that “Yes,Virginia..” there are people/organizations that indeed want to turn this country upside and inside out. They are misinformed and dangerous elements that will do nothing but cause havoc in this country.

Their havoc will not in any way destroy this market based economy of which the country is built. The capitalist markets and systems will eventually correct themselves, and the socialist policies will eventually be voted out. Because lo and behold the process of listening to the people through votes/laws will eventually win out.
Oshun
December 27th, 2011 @ 11:16 AM

Hi GoldenAh!

Like everything!

I am beside myself over President Obama. Hope and change is now disillusioned and strange.

Lies about unemployment numbers, seeing unarmed citizens being beaten and pepper sprayed while protesting, SOPA, the passage of NDAA, increasing attacks on food and supplements.

I feel like I am signing petitions, writing letters, and making phone calls every day.

They have no money to do anything else, but they can find the money to push all this crazy oppressive and exploitative legislation through.

The scary part is that similar measures are being pushed through in other countries.

I am to the point where I can’t trust anything and it very unsettling. I swear Repubs and Dems are playing good cop bad cop.

GoldenAh: Well, first, I count my blessings. I was talking with my Mom about the “olden days”, and I’m glad I’m living in this world, in this time, despite what’s going on. We’re fortunate from a technological, general convenience, standard of living, health care advances, etc. perspective.

However, I share your concerns: since 9/11, the wicked have been working hard to take away our freedoms on the pretext of keeping us “safe” and “secure”. It’s impossible and what they are doing is impractical, dangerous and will backfire on them. The only “safety” we’d get is with a totalitarian state. And they really don’t care about our well being anyway. They are control freaks abusing the system. It’s giving in to the impulse to contain, control and manipulate the population at large. They get off on: see what we can make 300+ million people do!

They’re the same people running corporations into the ground: look at what Jon Corzine has done to NJ (I live here, I know) followed by MF Global. I remember the days when we were told what was expected of us; and the managers were competent enough to manage. Today, we get told to do whatever we want, and later we’d get this 1000 plus list of things we cannot do. These people make me sick.

Speaking of money: I’d be surprised if the dollar is honestly worth even a penny. When the price of everyday staples is so high, then inflation has eaten it away. What angers me is the attitude of (every) Congress and the President. They think because the printing press is always running hot and heavy down in DC, the money they collect from us originally belongs to them. They truly believe that all of our blood, sweat and tears, which equals earnings, savings, and assets are theirs. That is slavery. That’s why they show no restraint in spending. As far as they are concerned, we have no rights with regards to our money.

If I could find a way to legally never pay one red cent in taxes again, I would devote myself to it. I do not feel it is patriotic to have people waste my money like these politicians have. I expect that at least the roads would be smooth, the bridges are not in danger of collapsing, and we at least have airports that look like they belong to a first world country. If they cannot even manage that much, they don’t deserve a dime.

I mean, Where’s the money going to?

So, that’s my rant. Trust Oshun, you aren’t alone in this. I always feel: never vote for anyone running for re-election. It’s the least we can do to keep these bastards in check.

As far as Presidents go. Although I was irritated with him 90% of the time, Bill Clinton (and the Repubs back then) at least realized whose money it was, and tried to show some fiscal restraint.

Great choice of topic there.

Last note – almost forgot this – what makes me angriest is the “peak oil scare”. The USA and Canada have enough resources in natural gas, coal, and shale (where we can get oil) to last the next 400 to 500+ years. In other words, we could shut ourselves off from the rest of the world and be alright. So you have to ask yourself, who profits from scaring us half-to-death with these end-of-the-world scenarios of limited resources? I believe in conservation, but I’m not living in a cave to suit anybody.
MsMellody
December 27th, 2011 @ 11:29 AM

Okay..maybe I shouldnt have started talking politics with my morning coffee.

Here is a little sobering link for you all. Yes, I get a lot of my early morning snark from reading Gawker. But it’s true..its a place where all tomorrow’s news is reported today!!

Enjoy your future microbial overlords (LOL!!)

http://gizmodo.com/5863078/engineered-avian-flu-could-kill-half-the-worlds-humans

GoldenAh: Thank you for the information link, MsMellody. Happy New Year.
Sherry
December 27th, 2011 @ 3:44 PM

Happy Holidays Babee Girls …

GoldenAh: Hello Sherry, Hope the New Year brings you much joy and happiness.
Andrea
December 27th, 2011 @ 5:14 PM

@Oshun
Congratulations! I’m proud of you for losing the weight and getting in shape, despite the sabotage of others. You should be very proud of your accomplishment.

“I even had my DBR brother “threaten” me about losing weight.”
~Oshun

WOW! That there is seriously messed up.

“My problem now is with crazy white and nonblack women. WW tend to make digging comments and some try to touch me. Other nonBW tend to get really cold and hostile.”
~Oshun

Some of these touchy women are probably closet cases, the rest are just plain envious.

“Now as to the so called “crazy” ww/non black women – don’t be fooled girlfriend those women are not so crazy as much as showing you that they are THREATENED BY YOUR BEAUTY- AND YOUR OBVIOUS CARE AND CONCERN FOR YOUR SELF!!!!”
~MsMellody

Yes, yes, yes!

“the same women who wouldnt have cared if you dropped dead in their presence–are now flipping the script so to speak and are PAYING YOU FULL RAPT ATTENTION..they are studying you, watching you and now see you as ON THEIR LEVEL!!
Meaning – ABLE AND READY TO COMPETE FOR MALE ATTENTION/AFFECTION/ CARE!!”
~MsMellody

There are women (from work) who’s names I can’t even remember who can tell me what hairstyle I wore at a Christmas party the year before. I can’t even remember how I wore my own hair last year. I felt weirded out by that, but now I know why they have such good recall. Lol.

“this group and their underpinnings have given us the dubious groups like ACORN – that do nothing but exploit the poor ( when the real solution for poverty is not only education but a change needed in values )…ACORN conveniently morphed into the support group for Occupy Wall Street.”
~MsMellody

The main problem I have with Occupy Wall Street is the protesters believing they have the right to stop other people from going to work. If you don’t have a job and employment is an important issue for you, shouldn’t you be happy that someone out there is working?

One of the protesters got a job at a Wall Street firm (after advertising her credentials on a sign) and was called a “sell out”. That is so STUPID! Wasn’t that one of their goals? And if not, why not?
Andrea
December 27th, 2011 @ 5:44 PM

“I am beside myself over President Obama. Hope and change is now disillusioned and strange.
Lies about unemployment numbers, seeing unarmed citizens being beaten and pepper sprayed while protesting, SOPA, the passage of NDAA, increasing attacks on food and supplements.”
~Oshun

I hope Mitt Romney gets the nomination because I am NOT voting for Obama again (he totally let me down), and there’s no way in hell I will vote for that hypocritical liar Newt Gingrich either. Oh, so you don’t want the presidential race to be about morality and whether or not someone has committed adultery now do you? Right.

GoldenAh: I’m all for changing of the guard(s), Andrea. No one is entitled to be President. I was happy to have Obama as President. He made history. We all felt good, and then work needed to be done. He’s been inadequate to the task. That’s okay. He tried, but he has some other serious failings I cannot overlook.

And maybe Romney will be a useless creep, but we need change, once again.
Adrienne
December 27th, 2011 @ 8:37 PM

Politically speaking, I think that people are under the erroneous opinion that we can “vote” our way out of our serious problems, and they also erroneously believe that the president has more power than he really does.

The systematic problems that we are facing now are global, spiritual, economic, ethical, societal, etc.

For one thing, the lifestyle that people in the West have enjoyed for the past 50 years is UNSUSTAINABLE. Nobody wants to face that scary reality. For instance, the lifestyle that people enjoyed in western Europe for years is coming to an end with its’ attendant social unrest.

Also, the presidency (even the presidency of the United States) is, in many ways, enormously restrictive—In fact, it always was by design from the beginning.

Also, the banking and corporate sector worldwide (which is always around with the same people no matter who is president), play their role in creating misery, and being nigh impervious to change.

Many ordinary people played their part by buying into the culture of consumption and buying on credit, and believing in the “home ownership” hype. (You find out who really owns the house when you miss a mortgage payment!) We have been educated for operating inside a certain set of parameters, and now the situation has changed (worldwide).

I understand that people want to blame their current president for all their current ills, but I still don’t see anyone campaigning for nomination who is superior to Mr. Obama.

What individuals should probably do is do every thing they can to significantly lessen or eliminate their dependence on this “system of things.” They should work to have multiple income streams, they should work to get a second (or third or fourth) passport, they should store money and gold in other places besides their home country. They should grow/raise some of their own food, they should learn another language, they should look for job opportunities worldwide.

I agree with the sentiments of the 99% protesters, but I don’t think they are accomplishing much but training the police to be a better paramilitary force to violently crack down on citizens, and protect the property and interests of the wealthy. If the protesters would pour their energy in to the activities in the above paragraph, they’d probably be better off.

If a significant amount of people (heh, especially BLACK people) were no longer dependent on this system for survival–if everyone was more independent, that would be an incredible CHANGE–changes that last are always from the bottom up.

GoldenAh: I agree with your self-sufficiency message. But you have to be aware that this gov’t is passing laws to make it harder for you to do so, and they are making sure they have the reach to get you wherever you are around the world. Why are they so keen to go after US citizens like criminals, but let millions of illegals roam the country? That’s because these folks feel we are their slaves.

Yeah, the US Constitution is supposed to restrain the powers of the gov’t. All three branches are supposed to keep each other in check. However, this President acts like following the US Constitution is optional. He’s admitted he thinks it has serious flaws. Maybe it does, but he swore to uphold it. Therefore, I have very little respect for him. He needs to serve one term then leave, if he’s so helpless to change anything. He’s promised too much, and has delivered a mess instead. Great speeches sound nice, but it’s not a fulfilling meal.

A US President is incredibly powerful when he can have a secret trial, which is unconstitutional, and then decide to have a US citizen killed via drone in a foreign land. It has happened, at least, three times this year. That’s the stuff this “powerless” President has signed off on. Not everything, after nearly three full years, can be declared George Bush’s fault.

I agree that certain things must change in the west. I certainly don’t believe we can all live on high spending and higher taxes where one group can rob the next generation so they can live in luxury. Heck, I live in NJ, where everything gets ridiculously more expensive each year and everything is still falling apart.

Yet, everyone wants more of something “free” that will raise everyone’s taxes. I believe in fiscal restraint, a smaller welfare state, better infrastructure, and less interference in foreign countries. Not every problem in every 3rd world crap hole is for us to solve. There are 7 billion people on the planet, I’m sure they can lend a hand as well.

I don’t believe a utopian pie-in-the-sky system of living. If it existed, it’d be here already. And those that tried (like Communism) have collapsed. We’ve got the best of the worst (democratic / capitalist / representative governing system), we might as well keep trying to make it work. I can live with the tweaks. We’re obligated to continue doing so.

Thanks for the feedback, Adrienne.
Oshun
December 29th, 2011 @ 11:43 AM

Thank you MsMellody! It has been a lot of work and still is a work in progress, but well worth it!

I was amazed at how they flipped. Had I not been resolute about ignoring them I would be so messed up. I used to be easily swayed, but this was one of those issues that I had really become determined about. I would dismiss people in the middle of them attempting to dialogue with me about, um, my own body…

Now there are only crickets. Just like it never happened and they have always followed Jillian Michaels as though they were besties. LOL

Re: WW and nonBW. I never thought of it that way. Thank you for shedding light on this.
Oshun
December 29th, 2011 @ 11:51 AM

@ Andrea

Thank you so much! I think their overwhelming discouragement actually made me even more determined because I kept feeling like this is my body. You don’t get to tell me what to do with my own body. No one gets to tell me what to do with my body.

Yes, the DBR threatened me. We never speak and he never makes eye contact with me. But he saw fit to corner me one day when I was walking down a hallway and exclaim to me in a loud voice “don’t lose no more weight, hear?” He said it two times and I just said “un-huh” and proceeded to lose 20 more pounds. He is such a damaged creep.

“There are women (from work) who’s names I can’t even remember who can tell me what hairstyle I wore at a Christmas party the year before. I can’t even remember how I wore my own hair last year. I felt weirded out by that, but now I know why they have such good recall. Lol. ”

That is weird. Who studies someone that hard and then lets the person know that they are studying them that hard? If I had to look at someone that hard I sure as heck wouldn’t let them know about it. LOL That is so bizarre. Like MsMellody said – they must really be threatened by you …
Oshun
December 29th, 2011 @ 12:31 PM

@MsMellody

I will have to research that. I am not familiar with Bill Ayers. But I know that something is rotten in Denmark.

@Andrea

I was really looking forward to and trying to be hopeful about Ron Paul. Then the whole racism shebang came out and I am just deflated. For some reason people/media are really sticking it to Mitt Romney.

@GoldenAh

“But you have to be aware that this gov’t is passing laws to make it harder for you to do so, and they are making sure they have the reach to get you wherever you are around the world. Why are they so keen to go after US citizens like criminals, but let millions of illegals roam the country? That’s because these folks feel we are their slaves.”

This. I don’t know what the reasoning is, but it all scares me.

The food safety modernization act. The ways things are worded they are trying to make it illegal for you to grow your own food, use that food as barter, or even gift someone with it – forget about selling it.

The attacks on organic farmers by Montsano who keep pushing this GMO seed that dies, must use greater quantities of “specific” pesticides, and now some bugs/diseases have evolved and become resistant to these horrible pesticides. Also the GMO strains have now infected many organic farming communities – in other countries even. Mexico is now having issues with its indigenous corn varies due to cross pollination with GMOs.

The government has even harrassed the Amish and Mennonites for selling raw milk and frozen survival food packages. They want lists of buyers from them as anyone who buys seed, survival food packets, etc must potentially be a terrorist.

Then there are the FEMA camps. TSA on highways/trains. The military recruiting for domestic posts. Rifd chips that peeps are not allowed to talk about. These “see something say something” posters that I despise showing up everywhere. The big planned purchase of streetlights that can take your photo or video of you and even deliver a recorded or live message by the operator on the other end.

“A US President is incredibly powerful when he can have a secret trial, which is unconstitutional, and then decide to have a US citizen killed via drone in a foreign land.”

This. I agree 100%. Not only this but now regular citizens are now “free” to be detained and killed under the NDAA. I have almost had near cussing matches with my Congressman over this. And he keeps sending me these stupid letters saying that the bill “authorizes” but does not “require” military personnel to detain US citizens. Cause you know not being required to detain or kill me makes me feel so much better now that they have the authorization to do so!

I could go on and on, but this is so overwhelming and upsetting.

GoldenAh: Thank you so much for providing specific examples of which I speak. People who aren’t aware of these goings on might think my comments were the rants of a paranoid lunatic (well, only when it’s a full moon).

None of us can be self-sufficient if the government makes that illegal, which defies any kind of common sense.

As for the power of a President: Paul Robeson wanted to leave the country (in 1950), and you know that his passport was taken away and President Truman wouldn’t let him leave the USA?

Black folks reflexively think because our Dear Leader is half-black that he’s got some kind of black male specific limitations, he’s automatically a victim, and that he cannot be held to account like the other Presidents. No, he’s no different than the others. He’s got the same power, and possibly more, because a lot of people are wary of saying, “Hey, what he’s doing is wrong.” I have no interest in helping him maintain his power and influence, via re-election, if most of what he’s doing is harmful to us. No, I wouldn’t go along with it – just for the sake of “blackness.” That’s why our “black” leaders are always such pitiful failures: criticism is good, it helps steer them back in the right direction. Feedback is required.

Unfortunately, in the history of civilization, all governments eventually decline and fall. The problem is that ours is doing it on purpose, so I’m puzzled by it. Maybe they truly believe they will be able to reach the exits first. The truth is they are on the Titanic USA just like the rest of us.

Well, I’m hoping next Year will be better. Happy New Year, Oshun.
Oshun
December 29th, 2011 @ 7:01 PM

@ GoldenAh.

I hope your holiday went well!

“Well, first, I count my blessings. I was talking with my Mom about the “olden days”, and I’m glad I’m living in this world, in this time, despite what’s going on.”

I agree and this can help shed some perspective.

“We’re fortunate from a technological, general convenience, standard of living, health care advances, etc. perspective.”

I am wondering how long this will last. I am just terrified of the bottom falling out.

“..since 9/11, the wicked have been working hard to take away our freedoms on the pretext of keeping us “safe” and “secure”.”

Agreed. And its doing neither. I wish the Dept of Homeland Security would be disbanded. I kept thinking isn’t that what the CIA and FBI are for?

“It’s impossible and what they are doing is impractical, dangerous and will backfire on them.”

I sincerely hope you are right about this.

“They’re the same people running corporations into the ground: look at what Jon Corzine has done to NJ (I live here, I know) followed by MF Global.”

Yes, I was stunned re: the MF Global bankruptcy. I am not familiar with NJ and what has or is happening there. I thought Booker (I know based in Newark) and Christie were working together to turn it around.

The South is not faring that much better. For example Jefferson County AL filed for the largest municipal bankruptcy in U.S. history. JP Morgan financed the deal that started out in the hundreds of millions and now totals several billion. And of course there is missing money.

“Speaking of money: I’d be surprised if the dollar is honestly worth even a penny. When the price of everyday staples is so high, then inflation has eaten it away.”

I have been noticing the effects of inflation as well. I know what I paid few years ago for staples and I know what I am paying now. I get upset especially when it comes to groceries as packages have shrunk, but prices have increased.

“If I could find a way to legally never pay one red cent in taxes again, I would devote myself to it.”

I kind of feel the same way. I had to let one of my side hustles go (tears) because I was being nickeled and dimed by so many taxes and surprise tax increases and other fee increases. It was hard enough to turn a profit. It was too much and too overwhelming and too many dates, timetables, and rates.

Then on the consumer side where I live there is a 10% tax on everything. Which they want to raise to 11%. If you are making a large purchase 10% can really freaking hurt.

Utilities are going up every year – all of them.

“I expect that at least the roads would be smooth, the bridges are not in danger of collapsing, and we at least have airports that look like they belong to a first world country. If they cannot even manage that much, they don’t deserve a dime.”

Agree. Some of the same issues down here. Down here they like to patch a road so that you have all these large raised bumps almost like speed bumps and then you have these super dips which can crack or holes erode in them and they seem worse than not having the road patched at all.

“Last note – almost forgot this – what makes me angriest is the “peak oil scare”. The USA and Canada have enough resources in natural gas, coal, and shale (where we can get oil) to last the next 400 to 500+ years. In other words, we could shut ourselves off from the rest of the world and be alright.”

I think there are solutions to a myriad of our issues. The thing is why isn’t anyone implementing? Is it fear- I have heard about corps buying up patents to prevent cars that can get 50-100 miles to the gallon from being built. I have heard of corps killing and threatening other inventors to prevent them from moving forward with technologies that threaten their industries.

And then you have a segment of the pop who wants to just lay blame and not fix. Either blame a political party, or people who are suffering for their suffering in ways that goes against their self interest not realizing that they could be next…

GoldenAh: I think what’s changed so much from the 1920s-1930 style of depression is government assistance. I wont speak against it, because I’m not for people starving to death. You cited a great example of the problem with why the unemployment and underemployment rate is so high. People want to support themselves and if they are on their last leg and there literally is nowhere to turn, then you get some government assistance. But back in those days, anyone could get on the street and sell whatever they made, whatever they had to survive.

I think today there are too many hurdles being placed in front of people to feed themselves, grow their own food and manage their own affairs on their own property. That’s a total lack of freedom. That’s clearly unconstitutional. If you cannot feed yourself by your own hand(s), are you not a slave? We had a bill passed that I believe brings back indentured servitude: you owe a debt that must be paid back by your labor, earnings, and time, whether you want to do business with some corporation or not. It is called Obamacare or the Affordable something act.

There’s always a flip side to these issues. Everyone wants to be taken care of, I get that, but nothing is free. There’s always a price to pay. And it’s getting that the price is too high.

I’m waiting for the day Congress writes a series of laws where it is illegal not to work or make a “living” or that you must pay taxes whether you’ve earned a wage or not. And the language creating this law wont be so obvious, it’ll be buried deep in obscure words. However, it will be interesting when that time arrives. We’re almost there….

Yes, there are cars (Prius, Ford Hybrid, Volt, etc.) that currently can go 100 miles on a tank of gas / battery mixture, but it requires a style of driving that’s not practical for a daily commute. It’s called hypermiling.

Oh, there are solutions to every problem. And while I don’t believe all politicians or people in our government are evil, they assume they are the solution. That’s what I have a problem with. They seem to think if they pass enough legislation and make enough things human beings do verboten they’ve “solved” something. None of them seem to understand the laws of unintended consequences. It could be they are so convinced they are the smartest people in the room and the little folks, like us, are too stupid to manage ourselves. The problem with that thinking is that while governments may collapse, the people will continue living by their own rules. People will always be around: it’s the governments that come and go.

It’s good to be concerned about issues we can control, so let’s not worry about these issues too much. Do what you’re doing to make yourself happy, Oshun. I’m glad to see you are doing things for yourself that got the haters studying you. It shows you are on the right path.
Andrea
January 4th, 2012 @ 1:19 PM

Happy New Year everyone!

@Oshun

Ron Paul was a disappointment, but at least Mitt Romney is doing better. He won Iowa. Yay! He seems like a decent family man — one of the few running for office. Frankly, I would not have been upset had McCain won the last election, despite the fact that I voted for Obama, who proved that sometimes change is NOT for the better. Too bad McCain did not choose to run again. I think he would have done well.

@GoldenAh, Oshun and @Adrienne

Very scary political commentary, ladies. I try not to worry too much about things I can’t control, but there’s no harm in planning for the worst, as best one can.

Though I have to admit that this new maneuver by the Obama admin to circumvent our constitutional rights concerns me a LOT. I don’t know about you, but I have a huge problem with INTERPOL having more rights and fewer (if any) restrictions than our own legal system, when it comes to the possibility of taking away my freedom!

I know, many people will argue about the odds of it happening to anyone, but the simple fact is, anyone can accuse you of anything. Without the guarantee of innocent until proven guilty — which does not exist in most countries, you’re pretty much screwed if someone makes an accusation against you and you can’t prove it false, or their legal system doesn’t care about evidence.

I have no idea why Obama would sign such an order, but the reasoning behind it cannot possibly be in the best interests of the American people.

I just hope that some of the folks I know who believe that Obama deserves a 2nd term, just because Bush was incompetent and got two terms, change their minds. Not just for their own good, but for everyone’s.

GoldenAh: What gets me about Ron Paul’s candidacy is that he runs for President every couple of years and the same issues (his newsletter, the Fed, currency pegged to gold, isolationism, etc.) crop up. He’s like Ralph Nader: the Don Quixote candidate. I agree with a portion of his views, but definitely not 100%, only because, some of his goals are unrealistic or politically unfeasible.

Obama has expressed wistful admiration for the repressive forcefulness of the Chinese government. People don’t realize that the powers he signs up for today will eventually belong to a President they will truly be afraid of.

I have no faith in any of these guys running for President, or the current one, but I feel the best way to manage is to vote them out after serving one term. I believe in voting for all political parties, because I prefer gridlock than all this crazy legislation that takes away our rights.
Andrea
January 5th, 2012 @ 7:20 PM

“What gets me about Ron Paul’s candidacy is that he runs for President every couple of years and the same issues (his newsletter, the Fed, currency pegged to gold, isolationism, etc.) crop up. He’s like Ralph Nader: the Don Quixote candidate.”
~GoldenAh

Really? I had never heard of Ron Paul before. Then again, the first Presidential candidate I ever voted for was Bill Clinton. I never paid close attention to the GOP. And, before now, I NEVER thought that I would ever consider voting for a republican candidate. But considering the alternative…

You can’t really trust ANY politician to keep their campaign promises, but, like you, I think voting them out of office after one term may be the only way to manage them.

It’s too bad incumbents don’t have to win a second nomination by their party. People would no longer have to choose between a rock and a hard place.

GoldenAh: That’s understandable if you’ve never heard of Ron Paul. I’m a little bit of a political junkie so I’m well aware of him.