Weekend in Review

Twitter who? Twitter what? Oh, you mean Tweety Bird

So this weekend I went to a convention for the National Association of Black Journalist, which featured Michaela Angela Davis, Gary Anthony Ramsay, Myorr Janha, and Marvet Britto, just to name a few.



And would you believe that one of the discussions was about Facebook, MySpace, Linked In, and Twitter? When one of the moderators mentioned twitter someone laughs, “Twitter what?!” There were various sniggles within the room. Then a young lady stood and said that she was actually twittering about the conference while the panelists were speaking.


The moderator goes on to explain that the purpose of Twitter is to connect with others so that they can know what you are doing in real time. Me being curious and willing to progress just as fast as the tech world, I decided to join as soon as I returned home later that evening to see what all of the fuss is about.


Isn’t this a bit invasive? Do you really want to know every single move of a person? Is your life so dull and monotonous that you have to live through someone else’s eyes? Or is there something else that you get out of this?


Come to think of it, America is based on invading someone else’s privacy. We do it all of the time. Just look at the front cover of any newspaper or magazine. It’s all based on someone else’s life. Let’s face it people want to feel important. Twitter allows the average person to feel just as special as a celebrity. Once you join Twitter you transform into a journalist, and become the narrator of your own life. No one has to go behind your back, or get the info from another source. You get the info straight from the “horse’s mouth.”


I do not prefer to know that you ate oatmeal for breakfast. Instead, I want to know things like whose wife is sleeping with the mailman, or whose husband is sleeping with the intern? Ha ha, so I guess that I am just as bad.


So far, it seems like Twitter is a great tool to stay connected. I am still getting the hang of it. So is Twitter hot or not?

Go to http://twitter.com/ to check it out. Please be sure to leave me some comments because you may know more about this than I do, and I need as much info about it that you can give me.

Show and Tell Friday

Check out one of my short standups...

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What do you think? Do you heart it?

'Til next time, lots of Hugs and Tons of Smooches!

Domestic Violence Follow Up

So let's talk about how I absolutely loved the Oprah show. Although, I wish that we could have focused on the topic wayyyy before the incident between Chris and Rihanna (But we didn't so I will get over it). Anywho...

I think that the show should be a lesson for EVERYONE, not just men, but women as well. There were several points that stood out to me. Here are a few listed below:

~Upbringing and environment of men
For me, just like "you are what you eat" you most definitely "are the company you keep." Children absorb everything that is around them so if their guardians, or whomever they are constantly around behave or communicate negatively then they will act out what they see.

~There are difficulties within relationships but it's how you deal with them
I feel that no relationship is immune to having arguments or disagreements however, there is a limit. Sometimes you just have to walk away and come back later.

~Communication is key
It's one of the major factors in making a relationship work and allowing for progress within the relationship. And I don't mean the slamming the door, breaking dishes (no pun intended. Ri Ri does have a song called Breakin' Dishes), and yelling kind of communication either. I mean the choosing the convenient time and place that is comfortable for both parties involved to openly express emotions.

~Seek counseling
Unfortunately, some don't know how to control their anger. However, what about counseling people. I hate it when people shy away from counseling or make it seem like you have to be crazy to go to seek professional help. I loved that Kevin Powell said that he went to counseling for 20 years and he continues to go because it gives him the daily strength he needs. He also made a point that counseling helps to "get to the root of what causes one to be angry so that one can heal."

My final thoughts are that there are various forms of abuse besides physical. There's also emotional and verbal abuse. Words can be equally painful as a hit and punch. This is serious. I's not a joke.

By the way, I do believe that one can redeem themselves if they are guilty of being an abuser. The person just has to WANT to get better.

Also, if you missed the show I will try to post snippets or you can just go to O's website.

'Til next time spread the word and share some love!

Lots of Hugs and tons of Smooches!

Domestic Violence

Is it just me or does it seem like now that Chris and Rihanna got into a domestic dispute everyone wants to "air out all of their dirty laundry" and speak about being abused or being the abuser?

Last week Oprah, had a show with guest Tyra Banks that discussed the two lovebirds situation. O really stressed that, "Love doesn't hurt," she says. "And if a man hits you once, he will hit you again."

Today, O will do a follow up to last week's show and have experiences from a few men who have been abusive to women in the past. She will also have an appearance by Robin Givens. Robin Givens???? Hmmmmmm, this shall be very interesting.

SIDENOTE: I feel like some people will do anything to get some spotlight. Don't get me wrong the situation was messed up, but why weren't these people shouting out loud about this ish before? Did they have to wait until a celebrity was battered in order speak against an issue that common folk face everyday?!

Anywho, be sure to check it out today on WABC/Channel 7 @ 4:00 P.M. Can't wait to read your comments tomorrow. I would love to know what others think. More to come...

Have a rockin' Ebo-Licious Day

Until next time, lots of Hugs and tons of Smooches!

Back in Session

WHAT'S HAPPENIN'?!

I know many of you have been wondering where I have been hiding (I seriously have been avoiding some people and certain places forreal). I'm so sick and tired of hearing my friends/family say that they can't find a job, they got fired, or they are working at a job they absolutely hate (I definitely can relate to this one). This "recession ish is despressing" (None other than Jay said it betta).

I just needed some time to blow off some steam, let loose, and live life day to day not knowing what's going to happen tomorrow...

It's not that I'm not being a good friend/loved one, it's just that I'm a "small fish in the sea" trying to "get in where I fit in like water" (yeah I stole the lingo Mr. Nelly Nelz).

Speaking of living day to day, for me, sippin' on a cold glass of tea while listening to Mrs. MJB surely makes my soul smile...

So what about you? What do you do to live your life? Who or what is your escape? Is it a special someone? A certain drink? Some zesty boo loving?

Please do kiss and tell. You never know. Your remedy may be my remedy. We can swap
spit, oops, I mean ideas.

Shine On!

I had an amazing Sunday with the beautiful ladies of "Salon de Shine." This is our last Salon of the year and Michaela changed the spot from her Bk loft to Georgia. Owned by entrepreneur and fly girls Jodie Patterson and her sister-in-law Kierra. This is the chicest, most warm and friendly boutique ever. This place offers products and services so its an all in one stop and shop kinda thing. They have everything from satin pillow cases, clutches, shampoos and conditioners. They even have some interesting pieces of jewelry. But there is one product that they have that is definitely irresistible. That is the self made lotion called Gold. That is exactly what it felt like as I tested it on my hands. Of course, I was initially hesitant. But I witnessed customer after customer come in and head straight to the table that had the Gold on it. The last confirmation that reassured me that Gold is a fantastic product was a middle aged man coming into the shop and requesting the product for his wife. I quickly put a jar on hold at the counter and continued to check out the rest of the boutique. Our Get 'em Girl Shakara Bridges also returned with her infamous red velvet cupcakes that we just can't get enough of. So we sipped, nibbled and talked. After we talked about our beauty with Jodie and Kierra we topped the evening off with a serenade from Gordon Chambers (songwriter of many well known tunes such as Brownstone's "If you Love me.") Before I left, I was sure to get my Gold. I was all smiles. And just as Ray Charles sang "Other arms reach out to me/other eyes smile tenderly/still in peaceful dreams I see/The road leads back to you/Oh Georgia, Georgia/No peace, no peace I find/Just an old, sweet song/Keeps Georgia on my mind" I hymned on my train ride all the wayyyyyyy home.

Can't wait to see my FlY SiStaS in '09...

Black is the new Black~MAD

Michaela could not have said it any better. I had a salon with Michaela Angela Davis at her loft yesterday with a few other urbanistas. We had a discussion about the politics of style with June Ambrose.

It is my hope that 2009 will definitely not be a colorless year for the fashion industry and other forms of entertainment. Designers and such will shift from the standard images of beauty to something that Black women can relate to. Thus far, the fashion worlds idea of beauty is to be stick skinny, blond hair, blue eyed, porcelain white skin. An ethnic girl cannot relate to these standards. It will be interesting to see if more ads and runways include varied skin tones, full lips, and other beautiful characteristics of Black women now that our First Lady is Black.

June Ambrose stated, "Like the bold, beautiful, and fearless Michelle Obama we are all first ladies!"I agree.

The wonderful thing about a Black woman is that she comes in all skin tones/complexions, shapes and sizes, and has unique features that no one else can BUY. Black women are fly. We have been hot stuff from day one and we are the ones who create fashion. When we had nothing else we had our hair, our style, and our bodies. We might not have had any money but "I might be broke, but I'm not going to go around looking broke" is the motto. Black women is style, flare, and pizazz. No one can ever take that away from us. We embrace it and so should the designers.

My Black is....

E-Effective

B-Bold

O-Official

N-Noble

Y- forever Youthful

What is your Black?