Monday, August 10, 2009

The American Mosaic

America is a melting pot of races, religions, trains of thought and so much more. It's a mosaic of people, or the American Mosaic. Though nothing is perfect, and being a melting pot comes with its own peculiar set of challenges, the good definitely outweighs the bad.

During world events such as the Olympic Games, it’s often obvious that the US team is the most diverse in every way. There’s strength in diversity, and this is what makes America great. We are all here, and the sooner we learn to coexist peacefully together, the better for us all.

A special thanks to the group U2 (pictured in concert below) for their continued promotion of coexistence.

America & Debt

I was recently watching the news about the debt crisis in America. We all love nice things which cost money. They featured a family with $60,000 worth of credit card debt. They owed some money, couldn't keep up and then the fees and penalties made it worse.

What made this family stand out was how much they owed. Even in America $60,000 is a lot for credit card debt. If the amount owed was due to a medical illness, school loans or a mortgage no one would have flinched an inch. However, what they owed was substantial because the average family owes credit card debt of $10,000 and to top it off 6.5% of American families are more than 30 days past due, thanks to the recession.

I really can't blame these people as credit card companies have a way of targeting and seducing both old and young people to apply for the cards regardless of if they can need or can manage having a credit card. Credit card companies are now feeling the pinch as settlements of up to 70% off what is owed are now being offered and accepted by credit card companies from their debtors.

The family with the $60,000 debt paid $16,000 to end their debt nightmare. They were able to do this because some credit cards companies are willing to get something now instead of nothing later.

However, I believe debt is undesirable when not absolutely necessary. Debt should be a last resort because it is a form of slavery. The creditor has a hold over the debtor. In the Bible, Proverbs 22:7 “The rich ruleth over the poor, and the borrower is servant to the lender” this shows debt is a negative that should be avoided if possible.

The way America is structured; student loans, mortgage loans and car loans are often necessary and using credit cards to pay for health care expenses is acceptable. However, using credit cards to keep up with the Joneses is ridiculous especially when the number one cause of divorce and relationship problems is financial.

Saturday, August 1, 2009



I received an email from Black Press Magazine about the Wendy Williams show, and I was shocked to read the very critical tone of the contents. I watch the show from time to time but I don't see it as bad as they see it. Also, I have worked on the Tyra Banks show and know it takes a lot to put talk shows together. It's easy to critisize from the sidelines. Producing a talk show is not easy at all and I give kudos to anyone who can. Also, as people of color it would be to our advantage to be less critical of each other and do what we can to help each other be the best we can be. A word is enough for the wise...........

The contents of the email are below. What do you think?

(BlackPress.org) - The Washington Post called it "Must FLEE-TV", The Examiner gave it a grade of C+ and Media Life Magazine called it "Weak Week Two." These days the only person suffered a bigger PR nightmare than Barack Obama is former radio show turned TV talk show host Wendy Williams.

If you're a cross dressing, wig loving, severely bored housewife with nothing else on your hands then the trashy mess that is the Wendy Williams Show is for you. If you're a dysfunctional in most areas of your life and feel the need to seek advice from Williams, this show is for you. With segments like "Ask Wendy," "Hot Topics" and more, the live studio audience seems to genuinely love their host who regularly adjusts her wigs on camera.

"The Wendy Williams Show is raunchy, offensive, badly scripted and better made for viral video, but that's exactly why the show will likely be a hit with viewers," said DC Livers, managing editor for Black Press Magazine, the industry publication that analyzes the Black media industry. "Advertisers will proceed at their own risk and anyone who voted against Proposition 8 will have a fit, but the non-commercialization of the Wendy Williams Show makes it grimy and at times hard to watch but the show has the bite of truth and that's what today's viewers want.

"Whenever we say anything positive about Williams the hate mail we receive is amazing, but let's face it. She's cutting edge and tech savvy and that's all she'll need to get renewed for another season. Tyra's show started as just as poorly and look at it now. I don't know if she should have quit her day job [at WBLS in New York] but she's definately on to something. The fact that she was able to negotiate multiple channel licensing deals shows Williams knows her audience and plans to pimp her brand all the way to the bank," Livers said.