Lay-off and out-sourced sense

Six months ago, I became the victim of the latest bloodletting of the music industry. Affectionately it is referred to as the restructuring of the company to remain competitive. It looks much better in print then it feels. After following the advice of my friends and former co-workers I decided to look through the online classifieds. I can safely confirm that after applying to possibly over 500 positions on various employment web sites, that I was completely, even occasionally over qualified for I can count on both hands how many responses I received. I wonder just how many people feel like me that no one is reading his or her resume at all. On one of the bad days that I had recently I was awakened by a call from a service center and in the depts. In my sleep I had the sense to ask. “Just where are you calling from?” The woman answered “India Miss.” I almost hung up on her. If I was in a fowl mood I am sure that the next thing she would have heard was a dial tone. Seriously. It just was just another annoying plug that big business would rather send wok out the country then hire right here. I hope there is a special ring in hell for companies that do that. Of course my cranky attitude could have been due to the fact that the convenience call came at 7:30 in the morning.

The theory that outsourcing is a great thing on the economy leads me to a real hard-core question. Where is the pride in “Made in America? That’s why I have an American made car. I am unequivocally an American girl. I would like to work at an American company with Americans. I just wish that that were a reality for people. I was struck a few years back when Michael Moore shot his movie about layoffs. Layoffs are not easy. They are designed to create profit at the top while creating the same product. Truth be told I would rather be proud of something made right here in my own country. I would hope that the scare of poisonings from China would wake someone somewhere up. That’s little warning bell would go off in some board meeting that maybe with the cost of cheap land now that maybe buying plant here stateside would be profitable once again. We have just about outsourced everything that was American. Cars, food, clothes, IT service and anything else that requires benefits. That’s pretty pathetic.

The bitterness from being put out to pasture at my previous job left me stunned. Of course I expected it. It has become the American way to be marked “redundant” at some point in your career. Honestly, after I left I tuned off all my radios. I plugged my I-pod in to the charger and stopped listening to any music of any kind. My childhood dream of retiring from music was shattered and I had to learn again what it was that I liked.

Well, after a summer of I re-discovered I could actually listen to music again without bitterness and enjoy it. The one thing I was struck by on radio was the sense of similarity on the songs. I even turned on music videos and after watching for an hour I was struck by the lack of mediocrity. Had it been like this the entire time I was there or have we outsourced our talent too? It was definitely a thought, so each day the last few days I turned on the radio looking for a peek at something original. That’s when it hit me. All the play lists are frozen and it just Christmas carols playing. Maybe that’s a good thing and I can ask Santa for a better play list along with a good job for Christmas.
Even better yet maybe 2008 will be the year without massive layoffs.

Silly things

“God told me not to have a birthday party”.

Are you kidding me? I recently read in “Essence” Magazine that a popular African American preacher said this out loud. Since when is God the Almighty the slightest bit interested in something as remote as a birthday party. I practice my religion faithfully. I do not look down on any other religion. I do despise those who keep quoting that they are Divinely inspired by what the Holy Spirit says. You relationship with God should be just that. There is no shake and stir that will make everything better. As Christian you should understand that Salvation is completely reliant in Christ and not anything else. It’s the road that gets you to the Lord.

In the last few years there have been all these wonderful writers, who have written New York Times Best sellers guaranteeing a better life if. Its as if they all have a phone line to how to improve your relationship with God. If half the people who read these books applied themselves to being a little more sacrificial and less aesthetic that would be step forward. Great music, charismatic preachers and walking biblical quotes are not the key to Heaven. These same preachers who quote what the bible says are taking in millions of dollars and wearing flashy clothes and diving people to center God on them. Sorry but Jesus had a pair of sandals and a staff and constantly reminded people that the law was to be understood to be obeyed. It was not to be obeyed and then understood.

Case in point we have a married ministerial couple where the husband has taken the new level of obey and follow to the point where he just commanded her away. The kicker was that he had a press conference to explain away his bizarre behavior. It would be a wonderful thing if people like that could be silenced and relegated to study their bible and pray. Period.

Even better please keep your “divine” ministrations to encouraging people to not look at you but look at God. Please stop telling people that God is talking about your birthdays. Its simple

Team Rescue needs you

Team Rescue

Last week as I was sitting in a hospital wait room I started to think about things. In particular you think about things when you are 48 hours away from Thanksgiving. As my mother laid in a bed in the emergency room, I had the opportunity to see first hand the lay of our land. One young woman in her mid thirties was delivered in on a stretcher sick from her flight. The Port Authority police were carrying her luggage in behind her. Then another man in his fifties was in the trauma room having received a beating from kids who just saw an older man by himself. They did not rob him. They just beat him. Then there was the elderly woman who died while I went to get a cup of coffee. Her daughter’s bleating cries nearly breaking everyone in the ER’s heart. The nurse’s were obviously over worked and physically taxed but they tried desperately to make each patient comfortable.

I was sent outside to the waiting room while shifts changed and could see visibly the cross section of the world. The people in this room in tattered clothes with tear-streaked children were all there waiting. Whether waiting to be called or waiting to hear about the status of their loved ones they all had the same thing in common. Waiting. We seem to all be waiting on something. In truth we should not be waiting but living.

Waiting is what we think when we are rushing into a hospital. Sure sometimes our bodies do not cooperate with us. Often it appears they are our worst enemy. I am sure that there were people in that rooms sitting with me were very concerned. The truth is if you do not have you health living becomes harder. As I watch my mother battle against COPD, I am learning more and more about medicine and its demands. The truth of the matter is that hospitals cannot fight the good fight without good staff. So stretched was the staff that it was nearly 2 hours before we received our ambulette to deliver us home. When I approached the clerk at the desk to know that I was still sitting there waiting, she shrugged embarrassed and called the dispatcher again. Each ambulette team I have met seemed to express the same concerns. The struggle of trying hard to do their job with so little help. Too many hours on the road with stressful jobs is causing them to resign after 5 years.

I think part of the issue is that we should encourage our children to do the noble jobs of doctors, nurses and emts. That’s the true issue at hand. If we had more staff then maybe fewer of these great people would be quitting.

So the next time you see an ambulance passing you by think nicely of them.

Everyone seems to be in a Hurry

Why is everyone in such a hurry?

Just recently, I was standing in line in front of a couple that obviously was in a hurry. The woman nervously paced back and forth and started to engage in that irritated speak that people who are in a hurry talk in. The exasperated sighs coming from her direction were all we could stand. She paced to the front, she paced to the side and then she started glaring at people. When myself and three other women on line acknowledged that we too were waiting, she became even more irritated. We assured her that all the lines wee long and that indeed the line she was on was appropriately numbered. It was then that the thought crossed my mind. “Just where are these people going.” Are they in a hurry to the grave?

I sit in my living room and watch as cars fly down my street, which is not only residential; it is across from a park. Last I checked there was a speed limit and a sign indicating the speed. Even better have you ever been in a car when the driver behind you starts to honk the horn incessantly. You politely look around to see if you have created some infraction. You almost want to jump out the car and scream, “Go head fly over me.” Its no wonder people get angry.

Its this need to do everything now that has taken away so much enjoyment. Sales come earlier. Christmas prepping seems to start in August now. Catalogs arrive at your home all saying “Ship now!” in bold red ink.It all just seems that no one waits anymore for anything. One of the high points of being unemployed now is that I can actually roll over in bed and think about the day ahead. I am not awakened by the frenzy of the radio station dj rushing you in to Rush Hour. It also has made me appreciate the pace of life. The biblical term, “To everything there is a season,” makes sense now. I actually enjoy the pace of life at the moment.

I wonder if everyone just took the moment and thought about every time you finish one thing, there is bound to be another thing that you need to do. That’s the way life is. There will always be one more thing to do. There will always be one more person to see. It’s appreciating the moment that we are in. Rather needing to run into things that..

We are seeing people inpatient for surgeries. Rather then wait and get their bodies in shape they leave the country and get questionable surgeries and tragic results. We are seeing people cheat spouses for finances. The phrase “offshore” mean anything? We see dozens of people racing yellow lights in the need to beat red lights. We see people flying down stairs to make trains falling face first causing all kinds of injury to themselves and others. We see bikers dodging in and out of cars on freeways. We see pedestrians ducking in between cars on busy streets. Everyone is in a hurry.

So do me a favor, if you are standing behind me on line agitated that I do not move so fast, or you pull up behind me in my car and I haven’t gunned my engine at the newly turned green light, don’t tell me. I just might give you a wry smile and wink. I am not in a hurry to get to my grave. Last I checked I had plenty of life left. At least I hope I do.

Just thinking out loud

I was just thinking while, I just finished watching the interview with Jay Z and Charlie Rose. The topic at hand was the new album that Jay had just completed that was inspired by the new movie in theaters now “American Gangster”. Normally I am opposed to anything that glamorizes drugs, dealers and gangs. I saw the movie. I watched it because I was curious. At first glance, I feared it would promote an unhealthy life style that I am severely pposed to. In the end, it showed something else.
It showed that there could be a sense of correction in corruption, even though it was shown with a self-interest. That there is such as thing as being on the “right side” of the law. I feel that if you can run an enterprise that is so successful in illegal gain, imagine what you could do if you applied yourself to legal gain. I will not cut any excuses because the opportunity to succeed is there if you try. Everyday I watch dozens of young men take ungodly pride in wearing colors. How about you go wear real colors; join the armed forces, police department, and fire department. Do anything that makes your community better.

Jay did have one thing that he said that I agree with. It is Russian roulette if you choose to play your life outside the law. It is never going to be a true life of freedom and you become chained to a life below respectability. A gun does not create respect. It creates fear. Fear never improves anything. Fear makes people run. Fear makes people feel less than they are. In truth every person is called to a higher level. Each day the streets of America are running red with blood because “Responsibility” is being shrugged away and other things are being placed in its place. Violence and degradation is becoming the key to our everyday lives. It’s an awful place to be. I am no fan of gangster rap. I am no fan of their ignorant, clowning. We, as a people have played clown long enough. How about you don a suit and get an education. Yes, how about you advise your young men that there should be no pride in fathering six or seven children with various “baby momma’s”. We are raising a nation of responsibility dodgers, who have no idea what life is really about and all feel entitled. Yes, I said entitled. Young men and women dozens of people gave their lives so that you may learn to read books write sentences and get ahead. How about you work hard for something. Even better how about you understand that being a rapper or gangster isn’t the only way up. How about you study to become a lawyer, or a professional. Sure there are some that believe that the only way out is the illegal way. There are some who see quick money as the only answer. The reality is much of what you see on BET and MTV is rented and given for free. Its called promotion so that you the consumer can want to wear or look like that. It’s marketing.
This past week I watched Master P state that he was changing his approach and well on his way to helping reshape so that his son does not have to bear the witness to racism. That is what we should do. I think the time has come, as T.D. Jakes would say to reposition us. Let’s do that. We should try less graffiti, and ill-fitting jeans that hang off you. Less swearing and more reading. Less whining and more doing.

Paying for education in a new way

Earlier this week there was an article in the local newspaper about students and teachers and paying monetary incentive for learning and achieving good grades. While the concept of creating incentive via money sounds in theory like a great idea, I think it is flawed. The flaws rest on the fact that we are imbedding in our children that everything must have cash worth.

Teaching was an honored profession once upon a time. Now many must fight just to stay alive and their days are spent in battle zones. The principals have become wardens and schools prisons. I voluntarily teach 12 and 13 year olds for free religious education. I would write my notes in cursive on the boards in my classroom. I discovered 2 years ago that I have students who have never been taught cursive and therefore, cannot read it. So I now must print in block letters my lessons on the board. This has only started being an issue in the last two years. I have considered that I would volunteer to teach them cursive. When I was in the third grade we had penmanship class. That wasn’t that long ago. It was also pointed out to me that they no longer have classic reading assignments. In the seventh grade I was reading Macbeth and The Pearl. I was possibly reading 14 to 16 books a month on my own. The children I teach do not read on their own. I always ask at the beginning of class, “How was your week in school.” And I have yet to get an enthusiastic answer. Surely, we all complained about classes and school when we were younger. This is a different type of disparity.

I think that since we have become “outcome” oriented in our schools, all they really do is study for exams. There is no “learning process”. They learn, and then they forget almost immediately. So, in my class when I asked them to build on the lesson that they received the week before they look at me insanely. They feel as if there should be some instant reward because they in the very least have shown up for class. Granted some of them should be given a medal for showing up for class. It’s no wonder that they spend all their time staring blankly into space. The children who would like to learn are not being challenged and the ones who have issues learning are being placed in classes that are far too large. While I commend our Board of Education for attempting to do something about the graduation rate. I would like to make sure that we are giving our kids the ability to learn because it will expand their horizons and possibly enable them to “do something”. I do not want it to be for monetary gain. People”

While that has always been the human condition I really don’t think we can think that way any longer. Too many of our kids are being swallowed up in gangs. No matter the color, the creed or the background. It has changed the entire way they look at life. The cash incentive to me sounds like a desperate ploy to get the quick turn around. Why are we not instilling more respect for our teachers? Why are we not pointing out to them that the real weapon in life is knowledge? I have seen parents become downright abusive when their child receives a low grade. Instead of addressing the reason the child has a low grade It almost instantly turns in to the blame game. As a teacher, I have heard talk of them, “We have so much to do at home.” “Your class is too hard.” , “My child is trying as hard as he/she can.” My personal favorite, “I keep hearing this from all the other teachers as well.” Yet, I never hear the resolution from a parent on how we can fix the matter. Then there is always well, “He/She was studying for his (insert name of class.”

Then you have parents who bare solely convinced that the only reason they should get an education is so that they can make money and be respectful. Of course the false belief that money equals respect is a great fallacy. I have seen my share of people with money who deserve the least amount of money. Over the last two years there was an ugly battle going on within the Rockefeller Family. They historically have been known to have great deals of money. The grandson of the matriarch was holding tight reigns on his grandmother. He relegated every penny that she had. I wonder if he was aware that he was penny pinching an aged woman who was nearing 100 years of age. To him her expenses were too much. The amount of money that was being withheld was just stunning. The cruel way in which he handled her was stunning. Do you think this guy was worth respect? Keep in mind that he had more then he could spend in his lifetime. Is this really the way we want our children to think? That everything in life needs a dollar amount on it.

I think sending the message that paying for grades is a not good thing. Even less its not active anyplace else in the world that I know. Why? America was founded on the quest for better living and broadening horizons. Sure we have learned and continue to learn from mistakes. Think that we like Band-Aids. Band-Aids don’t fix a cut that is turning into a sore.

Our education system is a nasty cut right now. Of we do not get a better handle on it, something will give. If we aren't careful we will be paying for education in a new way. We have started making small installments now, with the shortage of doctors, nurses, and professionals.

Annoyed at A&E TV

A& E recently did something I strongly disagree with. They have not supplied support to someone who obviously made them money. I am appalled that they have not accepted the apology of a man named Duane “Dog:” Chapman. I have become a fan of the show and a supporter to him. Of course, I am even more proud that he verbally prays in front of a camera. The current situation with his son and the recording posted everywhere leads one to believe the follow. He has made an amends. He has always shown forgiveness and mercy. As an African American woman in America, I understand the pain of the name. Truth be told I wish that there were more focus on people in the community trying to strengthen the community with some real moral and social boundaries. I am appalled by Maury’s diatribes of “You’re not the Father”. How about we concentrate less on words and more on actions. Turning way from the things that I see everyday destroying the community. I also understand anger and mistakes. The people at A&E obviously have no idea what the Christian ethic of forgiveness is. Otherwise they would have suspended the showing for 2 weeks and then moved on in the name of mercy. It amazes me that advertisers will immediately run when I believe they had one of the most subliminally racist things ever. The talking Chihuahua dog, which spoke with a heavy accent.

Mr. Chapman’s good for society outweighs the accidental slip of a word that you still hear on the streets. Do not kid yourself in thinking that people do not swear and use profane language. The other side is why is something that was private, not for audience not filmed become an issue of moral standing. I think Duane has been treated unfairly. In Jesus name I hope his show goes on and he is able to teach more about the ills of our society. I think it is commendable that he has his sons. I think it is wonderful that he prays in front of a camera. When was the last time we saw anyone do that. Oh yeah, that’s right it does not make “good TV”. Meanwhile up the dial we have young men and women doing and saying things in front of a camera that are more offensive in the name of public entertainment. This is not the same as a personal conversation. This is not the same as someone saying something on air for entertainment. He apologized. He did it quietly and quickly. He has never lived a life that showed anything of being a hateful, racist person. There is no history, indication or suggestion. Most recently, he has shown that we are all sisters and brothers. How awful it is that people with a little power who truly don’t live amongst the people get to run like rabbits when there is a problem. I wouldn’t accept anything less. It’s Hollywood. They allow 14 and 15 year old to act in less then appropriate ways and that is okay. If you allow one side oft the coin you had better allow it all in the least say NOTHING. It’s very reminiscent of the Pharisees on their parts.

I think it is sincere that he tries to “Catch and Fix” What would this world be like if there were no Duane’s. Please do not allow this to be the answer, when young people are seeing a Family work together, with a repentant father.

Even yet there is the admiration that he tries very hard to keep his family together. I think like the Alec Baldwin situation we are listening in to conversations and a world that I really believe we have no right to. I would be remiss if I did not mention the fact that no one can see any value or entertainment in seeing a man angry with his son. That is not the correct way to handle it. The National Enquirer is very wrong on this one. We have crossed the line of common sense. It seems that in the pursuit of more Scandal we have thrown away common decency.

Instead of triumphing his Family bonds and his desire to try and get people to go back to their families and straighten things out he gets smacked around and penalized for a moment of anger in which he talks about his concerns and worries in private. How awful to think that an entire family can take so many blows.


If A&E does not pick him up, I hope and pray someone does. We need to see Duane and his example. We need to know the good guys still try every day.

God keep him and his safe family safe in Jesus name.

Fashion Gripe

What is wrong with Fashion?

I just figured out that I have new pet peeves. I realized that our poor children are fashion challenged. Who ever told these ladies and gentlemen that their choice is clothes was a great idea was completely nuts.

I know dozens and dozen of people have said this but now I will chime in with the voices; Why are men dressing like they crawled out of a bad fashion store. Jeans that looks like the pockets are on your legs is not attractive. For this I can say that I truly miss the leather pants and the suits of the 1980’s. Now all the men appear to all look the same.

Young ladies. I am not old but I can say. Please put your studded thongs away. Why must you dress like a stripper to feel attractive? It is not okay to seek attention that way. It is even less attractive to see you reaching down to pull the sides up further.

When you going to a local store it has become so hard to find something that is not cut down to there or clings to here. Everything has become so objectified that you begin to wonder just when did the music video move in to the streets.

Its one thing to see these fashion statements on stage or in music videos but walking down the street on a woman who weighs an easy 160 or so is not what I would call “fashion forward”. I keep praying this fashion trend will end and we get the look of the fully clothed. It all seems to lack imagination and creativity.

So for the love of life get some new clothes.

“I be a better me and help you be a better you.”

Bad Reasoning.

I watch a great deal of late night television. I am always struck by what the “commentators” such as Bill O Reilly, Geraldo and others have to say. Even more interesting what the women have had to say. Nancy Grace and Laura Ingraham. While they all have their opinions on the war. They have even more opinions on what is happening to our county. I must say that while I love all kinds of people. I a little more than concerned when I go to a local supermarket and cannot find one single thing in the aisle written in English. It’s been all in Spanish. Is my American dollar written in English not good enough? It is bas reasoning to think that you will sell more. You only serve to make a community weak when you do not teach them the language of success. I appreciate immigration just as much as the next person but what is the difference between The Italians, Polish and Jewish people who came in drives before you. Did they not learn English and assimilate? I have to say that Roosevelt had it right when he said that part of keeping America; America was and still should be understanding and protecting the American way.

Now, before I get ahead of myself I need to say that I was most disturbed by young people who were asked randomly “What do you like about America?”
And all they could say was “ I don’t know.” Or the young men who were asked would they defend their country and they said no. Of course, I will give room for error. What I won’t give room for is people not defending the country in which they live in. You don’t have to like the office to have respect for the office. It’s the loss of civility and decency. Its not just here in America. Its everywhere in the world. Think for just one moment. With all the protests and “columnists” that are writing about things why is no one mentioning that if you make below $40,000. The likelihood of you actually caring bout much more than making a dollar is slim and none. So you tell children that the more advanced exams that you pass the more we will pay you in monetary gain. How about you give back the love of learning to children. That would be a great start. At least that is what I would believe. Surely we are very familiar with “slim” and “none”. These are the two that made downloading fun and file sharing cool. These are the ones that let the falsehood of “No one gets hurt”. “You do you and I do me” Its everywhere. There is no flag and no checks and balances on Earth.

In certain circles there is the bad reasoning that we must all have more money, more things and make everyone comfortable. Comfortable at the high cost of throwing away what has always worked. Even worse people with hateful ideas are triumphed as great thinkers. They are not great thinkers just self-absorbed arrogant individuals. It’s amazing to me that people like PETA are allowed to be “Animal protectors” but willing have euthanized. This is America. I respect your right to say it. I think that saving children is a little higher on the list than animals. Don’t get me wrong I love animals. Its seems to me that when you get someone like Mr. Vick who did what he did and made money off of it you really tend to understand how bad things can get. I never even heard of dog fighting before I saw the news report. The real question when did he get to the understanding that this was going to be normal hobby behavior. Now for the cost of bad reasoning he has lost his entire career and his livelihood. That is the reasoning that has permeate “I be a better me and help you be a better you.” How novel… Maybe then we could actually have the chance of improving things.

Music in commercial attractions

Has anyone told TV programming people that if you are going to use music in commercials that in the very they should tell you who the artist is and where you can find the song. Even better is the fact that advertisers are thinking that if you heard it before you will connect to it. Maybe in this economy there should be a course in just how to say no to advertisers. How about that for a good analogy. Speaking of analogy can someone please have the newscaster stop the annoying jokes and just tell the news. This is exactly what happens when in between TV shows you start watching shows and you get the "On tonight's news at 5" and they attempt to be cute with a catch phrase. Its annoying. Quit!