Let's be clear

#LetsBeClear (my OpEd for #MarriageEquality and #LoveWins given in light of the global attacks in #tunisia, #France, and #Kuwait by #Isis)

#LoveWins means something different to me. I love my brethren. As a human with an understanding of God loving me thru all my flaws and faults, I love all; gay or straight. 

But let's be clear- there is no wavering in my belief in the bible and what it says. I'm not interested in some folks bastardization or out of context (mis)quotes. 

The most High God gave everyone free will, and who am I to take that away. 

I love my gay brothers and sisters the same way I love my alcoholic ones, lying ones, cheating ones, thieving ones, tax evading ones and so forth... 

Again, let's be clear... I will NOT compromise truth for popularity. 

To my Gay friends:

I still believe that the black plight in America is WAY different from yours. I still will find it unappealing much like the way I think hickeys are. If I feel you are dishonest, I will still question you and your motives, I will still expect you to be an upstanding individual. I will call you out. I will tell you it has little to do with the kids and is all about personal wants. I will be me regardless...

Let's be clear... I will still fight for you. I will never disrespect you because I don't disrespect others. I will want you to stand hand In hand for things that affect People of color when it doesn't include gays in the atrocities. I will still grieve when the bigots attack you and places you frequent (and it will happen). I will still love you As my brother/sister. Just like I always have. 

You gained equality and equity. That's what I strive for for my people. It will always be job #1.. But I will never stand on you to uplift myself. So hopefully I'm clear. In Jesus name, I love you. 

Get ready.

We are back.... Coming back new and improved.

Get ready, and hold on. 

Busting heads, taking names, inciting thought, and doing it with love and admiration. 

Did The label Bow Down to Beyonce... Or was it the other way around?

Beyonce's success can not be denied. She is a bonfire superstar. The  "no promo, no single" approach will undoubtedly have others attempting to  copycat the process (and failing miserably) over the next 12 months!

So who's happier for the success;Beyonce, or the record label? The record label gets paid and seems to only have had to come out of pocket the production budget, and videos. Marketing for an artist of Beyonce's caliber can easily be multiple times more expensive than actually producing the album.  She's an extremely talented individual and lows of plenty industry people who would cut her deals and provide her with the best material to work with.  The label most definitely was involved in this process, yet would absolutely love to be out from under the promotion and marketing dollars. Let's be honest here, if the label wasn't involved in this "just put it out for fans" campaign,  The labels that claim to be hemorrhaging money would surely have the lawsuits flying, if one of their stars "released" music without their knowledge. 

But a question remains.. Who benefits more? The labels will now definitely tell every middle of the road star that "Beyonce did it with no budget" when in fact, the label is all over it. Will this "new rules" for Jay z and now Beyonce severely cripple what other artist are able to do? 

It seems the days of true "rage against the machine" styled reform is not here, because when stepping back and looking at the long run, the corporate entities will be able to fill their coffers without paying people by using the "Beyonce/Jay-Z" module to doing business. And since so many aspire and would love to be mentioned in any form of breath as those two will most assuredly follow any plan that the corporate labels "imply" that happened. Therefor, Jo budgets for artist, no promotion, no singles, and false expectations. 

Just like in any business, the business holds all the cards (and ownership of music) if you don't hit the objectives set forth.  Due to this, major retailer Target will not sell her cd. They've done work in the past, but not for this cd because of the move, it gives more control to the label, and pushes out others who generate revenue on a dying medium- the physical CD.

So in the end... Was this really a good thing for the artist.... Or the label. And as Vegas has taught many of people... The house always wins...

Www.atworktalk.blogspot.com

What song gets you in the Christmas mood?

Morning all. Hope you enjoyed your holiday weekend. Since  now it's #Christmastime, what #song MUST you hear to feel merry and in the Christmas Spirit? 

Most of the time, I'm the #Grinch! ---->https://app.box.com/s/ykaciqh8qycprd59g85b

What is your wonderful weekend?

What is your description of a wonderful weekend? Are you the the lounge around the house and do nothing type? How about the party from leaving work Friday a few minutes early to meet your friends for happy hour Friday- and not stopping the weekend booze-fest until Sunday night football ends person!

The vibrant club hopping "Turn up!" Crowd who dances the nights away? Or The obligatory "get er done" weekend Mr. Fix-it, honey do list participant. What about the errands mixed in with a glass of Reisling type? 

But can't forget the "sleep, and if by chance a movie peeks my interests, watch it. then continue with sleep unless you have to go pee individual"? 

Or what about the arduous task of fighting lines and a bunch of kids that aren't yours pushing yours in line just to play in the germ infested ball (that really creeps you out, but your kids somehow love it) pit at a local children's amusement place? 

Or how about my personal fave... The Just take it easy, go with the flow, get a few tasks done without any sense of urgency guy. The enjoy a great church service, cheer, jeer (and possibly shed a fear tears) while watching football with some great friends person. The Eat something different. Make a few jokes that push the envelope and enjoy the highs and lows of a few short days with the one you care about most man. The Let parents and loved ones know that they're important. And even if you can't see them during these few days, they're still no less a part of your day. To actually be able to step back and be appreciative of the day that you've been fortunate to be a part of. Laugh at what's funny, and express passion for the things that brings vigor to your heart. I worked my mind, heart, and body this weekend... And no matter what the weekend entail, as long as I do those things.... It was a wonderful weekend. 

How come we can't FIRE Congress when they work for us, and we pay their salary?

While people are playing around with the government shutdown, there are people who have NO skin in the game controlling and playing with and on the emotions and livelihoods of millions of Americans. My mother, whom is retired military and a retired State of Texas employee WILL NOT get her checks while the elected congressmen dick around with their gang affiliation-esque political party to the public while they have their own checks coming. Their checks are coming in, if not from the same government that they want to shut down, from the businesses that are lining their coffers to keep this BS cesspool going.
It is somehow funny that people are so against Unions when our government is a union. Our states are a part of a union. And in NO job can an employee tell their boss, THE TAX PAYERS, screw you we want to do it our own way. We understand that you little people voted for ACA, but who cares. Whether you agree with it or not is besides the point. WE work for businesses. the same businesses who are in the clear because they can fire their employees, post higher than ever profits and then blame it on ACA, and YOU voters will blame it on the President. Never once will you use that "Good ole American" wisdom and realize that it is not a logical argument to say that 7 million new paying customers added to a program will cost a program more money. Short of some infrastructure adjustments and having to hire some AMERICANS to work, it is not possible. I know Big Pharma doesn't want it because it will cap what they can charge. Some price gouging doctors don't want it because they can't Gouge. And some businesses want ALL the money. Profit isn't a bad word, but it becomes one when it is more important than the people helping you to attain those profits. Again, there is NO business that doesn't want millions of new customers. In today's time, you cant even comment on a post without giving your information so you can be added to a pool as a customer. But yet, I am supposed to believe that "company" is going to crumble because of new people being added? I say again, the reason why Businesses and some ignorant/racists/Elitist (or all three) don't want it is because of Menu pricing, and a level playing field. And for whatever reason giving people a level playing field is somehow wrong. Should it be banded with Gay rights for it to be accepted? Women's Rights? Immigration rights?

When will our American public realize that Congress is supposed to listen to us and not us listen to them. We are in control. We are so quick to holler "Our Tax Dollars" when it comes to our equal peer group(s). We complain about our tax money when we are being pandered too. When they talk about the tax money used towards social platforms dealing with the poor, or welfare, or food stamps, or Blacks, or immigrants. But yet we seem to have forgotten that we pay their salary and for their "free" healthcare. Remember, these are official government employees. They collect pay checks from our tax money whether they work or not. The kickbacks they get from lobbyists is also a problem. The rich doesn't spend money -they collect it. Guess from who..

The country is supposed to be of the people, By the people, and For the people. Yet somewhere we have forgotten that. I understand that economics play a part. Lets be real, the true divisiveness among most Americans when it comes to most of the "integration" issues is among lower economic stature of people. Because you're the only ones who have to mesh. You had to mesh with blacks for jobs, education, benefits, and others. The elite upper economic echelon doesn't have to deal with that. So they play us against each other. You don't realize that we ALL are in this together. The party line doesn't care for you until it is time to vote. Then they want you to fight and think that you somehow are the same as them. It is the ultimate mind control. Congress has NO fear of the people. They absolutely do NOT care. and it is our fault.

So what do we do? When do we take back this great nation from the hired help that is running a muck. Where is the new crop of true leaders? Where is the demand of what we ask. There is a reason people in Egypt, Greece, Syria, and other locales (often exempt from US news) that are marching and protesting for this very reason. Were is what made America AMERICA at?


Like a Facebook friend (Cris Colbert) says-
The Constitution (Article 5) allows for dissolving the Congress.

...just putting it into the universe. 

Did the Family Feud really set us this far back?

While watching a rerun episode of Family Feud, it is one of the most cringe-worthy episodes consisting of the Brown Family. I know, I know. It is an old episode, but while watching "Punkin" Brown and crew on I just cant help but feel like it was the epitome of every negative black stereotype.  We have The Jack-leg Preacher with the shiny suit and ultra perm dancing; overly loud mother who won't stop hollering; the completely ignorant daughter who couldn't spell "Loin", nor knows the correct words for items; the brother who wants to be called on national TV "lunatic" because he's a rapper; and finally the one with the most ambition and sense(wants to be a Principle) is "Choir Director sweet" but never gets to answer or play for sudden death even though he consistently gave good answers.

If this was an episode of Martin, or another Predominately black TV show, it'd be one that we all partook in the point and laugh at exaggerations of ignorance ignorance... But it would have just been a joke.
If this was an episode of Seinfeld, or Two and a half men, or other predominately white TV show, we would SCREAM racism and blast the characters for their buffoonery. But what do we say about this? This was real life. Yes, we all know a person who fits into a category, but come on now. The "rapper" began break dancing and doing a back spin during taping. The whole time you hear mama Willa hollering over any and all people throughout the telecast. I can only imagine how grueling taping must have been. Steve Harvey did his best to control the scenario, He did also speak about them in his hilarious stand up "Grand Finale".

I'm sorry, America... but this family's appearance was an absolute travesty. Myself being a person of color,  I know I don't have to take on the responsibility of what a person(s) does who is within the same group. If it should bring negative attention to themselves, it shouldn't be a reflection of the whole group. Other races don't worry about "protecting the brand" as much as us, but because we shouldn't allow one person to represent our race, doesn't mean that those outside of the race wouldn't use it to negatively look down on a group. And this family set up a precedent for this situation to happen. here it is a year and a half later, and its still shown and all over the web. I'm quite sure it is safe to say that they probably don't even realize how they looked on the show to everyone else. SMH.

Oh by the way they won a 2 day total of $20,935.

 
Oh,