I'm back bitches!

Yes, I have been away for awhile. Nothing crazy, just working and such. But I promise to post more regularly from now on.

Here in DC, we have been trapped under a one two punch of snow. First we got 30 inches over the weekend, then 2 days later, we got another 12. I spent 8 days in the house and today was my first time out of the house. It's good to be back among the living.

Remembering the Legend

I remember sitting in my parents' bedroom watching Motown 25 when Michael first moonwalked across the stage. I had seen it before from kids in school, but for my parents, it was like they had just seen someone fly. Even for me, it was a revelation because although I had seen it before no one had ever done it so flawlessly, so effortlessly.

I remember the premiere of the "Remember the Time" video. All the black stars were there: Eddie Murphy, Iman, Magic Johnson. It wasnt particularly groundbreaking in its special effects or anything, just a very well-done video, great storyline, beautiful cast. It was Michael's way of saying that regardless of how light his skin got, he knew where he came from.

I remember the song "You are not Alone." Mainly because I like cheesy lovesongs.

I was never a huge Michael Jackson fan but you would have had to live under a rock to not be aware of and influenced by his music. I never cared about his appearance, which yes, did grow increasingly freaky over the years. That's why I chose the photo above.

Yes, it is a wonderfully retouched photo taken under the most ideal lighting conditions, with heavy makeup and photoshopped within an inch of its life, but I think it represents how Michael saw himself. Baby, we ALL have our delusions. Michael just had enough money to make his reality.

Here's to the most beautiful and talented white woman to ever grace the cover of Ebony Magazine! Long may his memory live!

I have no sympathy for Paula Taylor

Dateline is doing a 3-part special about the mortgage crisis. They started the series with the story of Paula Taylor.

She was virtually homeless, living from day-to-day with different family members, and working as a personal trainer for $1600 a month, when Countrywide gave her a loan to buy a condo in Boston. Her monthly payment was $2100 a month. How could this be? 

Well regardless of any shady goings-on on the part of the bank, what part does personal responsibility play? Isn't it Paula's fault for signing on the dotted line when she knew she couldn't afford it?

I have no sympathy for her.

Doing big things

Hello my little chickadees. There is alot going on in my universe that I can't talk about right now, but I promise to be back in a minute. BRB!

No Speekee Ingarish - A rant...

A couple of days agoI was watching NBC Nightly News and there was a segment on the children of immigrants. In the story, this 17-year-old young man, let's call him Flaco, was forced to grow up early because he functioned as the head of household because neither of his parents spoke English.

Now here is the fucked up part. Flaco's parents came to the United States from El Salvador IN THE 1980s. His father said they found English too difficult to learn so they gave up before the boy was born. Furthermore, they forbid any of their six kids from speaking English in the house. Now kids, what kind of fucked up bullshit is that?

We can deduce a couple of things about Flaco's family. First of all, his parents are most likely borderline retarded. How can you live country for almost 30 years and not even pick up a pidgin understanding of the language? We can also deduce that Flaco and his brothers and sisters will jet the moment they turn 18 and I can't blame him.

This used to be a country where people aspired to be better. People used to come to this country speaking no English and within a couple of months or a year, they were conversant. Now we have people who have lived here FOR DECADES and still speak almost no English. In some parts of the country, you would think you were in a foreign land because the street signs and other landmarks are in a foreign language. This is ridiculous.

This is America and the official language of this country is English. But no, you say, there is no law mandating English as the official language. Well, darlings, if the laws are written in English and ignorance of the law is not an excuse, then the language the laws are written in is the official language.I am typically a very tolerant person, but I have a problem with people who live in this country that don't speak English.

I am the prototypical Ugly American. I am the guy who will not speak to someone I can't understand. I will be dismissive of them and ask to speak to the manager, until I get someone who speaks English that I can understand and who understands me. When I call my credit card company and "Heather" or "David" answers the phone, I will refuse to speak with them and insist on being put through to a Level Three Manager (Levels One and Two are usually in India or wherever the job has been outsourced to) who is in the United States.

This is not because I am racist or a xenophobe or anti-foreigner. I just don't have time to deal with a customer service person or other people with whom I can't communicate. We have all been in the situation where you are trying to resolve a dispute with someone and you can tell by the look in their eye that they don't understand a word you are saying. Fuck 'em. I call the manager. Am I wrong? Or am I just not being politically correct?

I will give these people one thing, they have got balls. I could never move someplace where I did not speak or understand the language and get a job that requires me to interact with people. So as La Washington might say, "Well God bless 'em." Just don't come up to me on the street and as me for shyt because I am gonna tell you to go find someone who knows what the hell you are talking about!

I'm back!!!

Hey y'all, Mother is back. The vacation was wonderful. I got a sunburn on my scalp and now it's peeling. Not a very good look.

By the way...

Did you know that John McCain was in the military?

We'll get to Sarah Palin tomorrow, but why does she look like Karen Walker? I half expected Rosario to come out . Listen, lady!

P.S., Whatever the hell John McCain's mother is drinking, they need to bottle that shyt. She looks better at 96 than alot of people do at 60.

My first post

So...

Why does one need a blog? Well, in my case, this is a digital journal of my life and I am arrogant enough to think that one or two people might give a damn about my take on the world. 

So sit back and enjoy the ride and feel free to hit me back with comments.