April 21, 2019

Matthew 28....Like Thunder!!!

"Destroy this temple and in three days I will raise it up."

The best part about Easter for me, besides the candy, was rushing to church in my best to see mom sing in the choir. They always "tore it up". The only catch, it meant we had to be ready in time for sunrise! Stockings, slips, hair (done the night before), and all the ironing had to be done so that we could get to church by 6am.
I found this video of a song I've been looking for called Matthew 28. Donald Lawrence and his choir are awesome. It brings back memories from my youth, watching my mom belt out praises in songs that told the story. Enjoy!

Shout out to all the church choir members! Are there any sopranos out there?

February 22, 2019

DL For The Win!

I don't always agree with DL. However, Mr. Hughley is absolutely correct in this clip about the Smollett situation.

Favorite quote from the clip: "Chicago has become a whipping post for everything that is wrong with our communities. Fixing Chicago won't fix most black people's problems. Fixing most black people's problems will fix Chicago."

February 14, 2019

Thank You For All Kinds of Love!

Thank you for sending me some computer love (hearts)!

For those who love computers.....

For the math lover.......



For those who love stripes.....



For those who love awesome presidents....



For those who love Stitches and not snitches.....

February 14, 2019

Mother Speaks Out About 12 Year Old Daughter's Strip-Search Experience

From Essence.com


Mother Of 1 Of The 4 Black And Latina Girls Strip-Searched At New York School Speaks Out



Breanna Edwards Feb, 14, 2019


Chanderlia Silva has laughter in her voice as she describes her daughter to ESSENCE.

The 12-year-old is a shy girl, Silva notes, although once she gets comfortable she can be super silly. She loves being around people; she loves music (it always came blaring from the speaker in her room); she likes to dance and play with makeup, try on clothes and hang out with her girls.

So, when the music stopped coming from her daughter’s room, when she started sleeping in all day…behavior that was not like the bubbly “girly girl” that her mother knew and loved, Silva became desperately worried.

“I felt like she was going into a stage of depression,” the 28-year-old mother of four told ESSENCE last week, her voice sobering. “She was displaying behaviors of wanting to hurt herself, which definitely put me in a bad space because you never want to see your child go through that. Then, as a mom, I don’t know what to say, I don’t know exactly what to do. In those situations, you don’t want to put her in a more stressful space.”

Link to article: https://www.essence.com/news/mother-of-1-of-the-4-black-and-latina-girls-strip-searched-at-new-york-school-speaks-out/

This would be devastating to anyone. But to a child....this is not acceptable. It has BEEN happening across the country.
A few examples...








#Unfiltered Video/Analysis of Current Incident

February 14, 2019

The beginning of 2019's One Billion Rising

The beginning of 2019’s One Billion Rising



One Billion Rising. A world wide movement against domestic violence and sexual assault against women and children.

One of the first groups of dancers on the planet to add their presence the 2019 One Billion Rising event, hundreds of women and children and men were not deterred by a few drops of rain at the annual V-Day dawn event on Main Beach at Byron this morning.

Calling on all women everywhere to ‘dance’ and ‘rise’ during the V-Day activism event to end violence against women and girls, those gathered learned the a dance to the song Break the Chain.

One Billion Rising. A world wide movement against domestic violence and sexual assult against women and children.

Article and more pictures at link... https://www.echo.net.au/2019/02/beginning-2019s-one-billion-rising/

February 13, 2019

Thanks For The Hearts!

Thanks for starting off my hump day with some love, DU. You guys are the best!

For the lover of stars....




For the lover of all things furry...



For the lover of sponges....



For the lover of "wrestlers"....



For lovers of animation......



For lovers of .....love?

February 7, 2019

Rev. William J. Barber, II : America, America, What's Going On?

I hope this is an okay place to post this lecture (sermon to some). In a speech that is both history lesson and call to arms, Rev. Barber puts for a "moral vision" for America. It is kind of lengthy, but flows nicely. So, get a snack, maybe some lady grey and enjoy!

If this is not the place for my post, please accept my apologies. I will remove it upon request.

February 7, 2019

Crystal Mason and a RepubliCON DA .....Know Their Game

It's all about voting, folks. This is an example of what RepubliCONS will do to limit our access to the ballot. They know (even if some progressives among us don't seem to) that black women are democrats' not so secret weapon. Watch the clip below to see how a Tarrant County Texas DA is trying to make an example of Crystal Mason.

For more context, here're a few other articles about Ms. Mason.
https://www.washingtonpost.com/news/morning-mix/wp/2018/03/30/texas-woman-sentenced-to-5-years-in-prison-for-voting-while-on-probation/?utm_term=.5d778d175be6
https://newsone.com/3844199/crystal-mason-lawyer-voting/
https://www.democracynow.org/2018/8/29/meet_crystal_mason_the_black_texas

Interesting article on the DA, Sharen Wilson...
https://theappeal.org/texas-da-who-sent-woman-to-prison-for-five-years-for-voting-made-her-own-election-mistake/

January 30, 2019

The Real Cost of Stress and Ways To Ease The Pain

This article is an oldie but a goodie. A few years ago, I began to notice some major changes in my physical health. Long story short, my doctor attributed the symptoms to stress. Some of the tips in the article may seem trite and over used. However, making small simple steps have really helped to improve my quality of life.



The Real Cost...of Stress


Got stress? Learn how it affects your financial and emotional bottom line, as well as ways to ease the pain.

By Teri Cettina May 11, 2015

Stress. Now there’s a condition we’re all too familiar with. More than a third of American employees are chronically stressed about work, according to a recent study from the American Psychological Association. And another study out of Penn State indicates that women are even more stressed at home than at work. In addition to making us feel personally awful, stress is incredibly damaging and expensive for the workplace overall: Stress-related absenteeism, lost productivity, legal and insurance fees, and employee turnover cost U.S. companies more than $300 billion per year. Working Mother has long worked to promote family-friendly workplace policies that experts agree can help ease working parents’ anxieties, but many businesses just aren’t there yet. Meanwhile, here’s what stress may be costing you—in dollars and more—and ways you can lower your bill.

*snip*

De-stressors:
“Extreme self-care is the key,” Dr. Ackrill suggests. How to do it?
Prioritize sleep. “Five days of five hours or less sleep impairs you as much as someone with a blood alcohol level of 0.1 (noticeably intoxicated),” she says.
Keep healthy snacks (protein, fruits and veggies) in your desk, and eat regularly to help rebuild your overtaxed brain and body.
Get regular exercise and make time to connect with friends and family.


Full article here: https://www.workingmother.com/content/real-costof-stress

January 29, 2019

Tom Brokaw Said What ?!?

I must admit, I have not watched Meet The Press in a long time. However, I must have really missed an interesting episode. Tom Brokaw said that Latinos need to "assimilate"!?!



I'm not sure of Tom was trying to express the concerns of white people (not all, please don't come for me) as he sees them or just himself. Good on Yamiche Alcindor for checking Mr. Brokaw at the end of the segment.

Oh my goodness! So much to unpack.

Helpful articles on the topic:
https://www.vox.com/science-and-health/2017/1/26/14340542/white-fear-trump-psychology-minority-majority
https://www.brookings.edu/blog/the-avenue/2018/06/21/us-white-population-declines-and-generation-z-plus-is-minority-white-census-shows/
https://www.nationalgeographic.com/magazine/2018/04/race-rising-anxiety-white-america/