Black Is The New Gold

If Gay is the new Black.
Does that make Balck the new gold?
Does everyone want one?
The GOP's first Black leader (Michael Steele) might be proof of the "Obama Effect".

Super Bowl Drinks

Go to WalMart.
Buy two 3 gallon gas cans.

Buy an inexpensive 1 litre bottle of ;
vodka
rum
gin
triple sec
and three litres of sweet and sour.
Pour all contents into clean gas can and shake.

Long Island Tea
1-fill an ice filled glass with some contents of gas can
2-top with coke
3-and a wedge of lemon

Tokyo Tea
1-Repeat step one above
2-top with slash of 7up
3-top with Midori
4-and add a wedge of lemon

Georgia Tea
follow directions for Tokyo Tea only substituting Peach Schnapps for the Midori

Strong Island Tea
follow directions for the Long Island Tea
Add a splash of Bacardi 151

Cosmo
Use the other gas can.
Fill with;
1 litre of inexpensive vodka
1 litre of triple sec
3 litres of cranberry juice
1 small bottle of Rose's lime juice.
Shake and serve.

Get drunk.
Enjoy the game.

I'm Not Preaching

"Who da hell r u preaching 2? Them? Or, Us?" (Comment left on a previous post)

I'm not preaching to anyone.
That's why I'll "Allow" any comment that is not directed at any individual who has commented earlier.
It's a discussion - not a lecture.
It's a disagreement - not a fight.
It's the free exchange of ideas that is geared towards gaining a better understanding.
Since no one is smarter than everyone - we are all supposed to learn from each other.

But who is "Them"?
And who is "US"?
This is why I don't understand (the well intended) comments like;
"It not mattering you equates to being on the high road"
Why?
Is having a sense (and the ability to have such a sense) of a moral responsibility to treat each other with respect and dignity inherent only to whites?
Are Blacks only seen as victims and not equal allies in the fight between good and evil?

This is why I can't buy into the whole Tim Wise/ White Guilt malady.
White Guilt assumes a sense of superiority and condescension that feels the need to exercise itself by helping "those poor and uneducated - and thus helpless - non-whites"

Are whites solely capable of making a positive,meaningful and lasting change?
Nope.
We can all make some type of positive change in our families, schools, neighborhoods and communities.

But does this mean that I am against any type of alliance with those (who may be of another race, nationality or ethnicity) who also wish to make such a change?
Nope.
Forming alliances is the most efficacious way of bringing about these changes.
But working "with" someone is different than working "for" someone.
We need to bring more to the table besides complaints.

If we take the Steelers or a unit in the Marines as an example.
Past losses don't matter. (But the lessons from those losses do matter.)
Race doesn't matter.
Being competent is what matters.
Accomplishing a common goal is what matters.

So, if we put our differences aside and acknowledge that our fate may be in the hands of the men and women next to us - what are our common enemies or goals?

Education?
I'd say, yes.
But how do we ensure that everyone has a fair shot at attaining the highest levels?

Jobs/Employment?
Having a good education (the average high school diploma only ensures an eighth grade education) is usually the key to getting a better job and developing the skills needed to keep one.

Health Care?
Sure.
But many of the problems associated with high health care costs could be eliminated by changes in lifestyle or environment
For many, having a better education would allow them to gain the tools necessary to make such changes.

Crime?
Since the inability to read is the most common trait of those in prison - again, a good education is the key.

So how do we best educate our children?
Knowing facts is not as important as knowing how and when to apply these facts.
Understanding, and being able to properly interpret, these facts is what matters.

In short - Let's be The Shit.
If we become The Shit - we'll have the social, financial and mental facilities to solve these problems.
If we become The Shit - we'll ( and when I say "we" - I mean anyone who works for equal justice and equal opportunity) be in a better position to dictate terms instead of having to beg for concessions.

The Queen's English

There is no such thing as "Talking White".
Do you mean with a Texas Twang?
Or a Southern drawl?
Or like you're from Jersey or New Yawk?
Like a Valley Girl (or Dude)?
Do you mean like your from a trailer park?
Or Appalachia?
Or the Cajun pigeon of Southern Louisiana?

I used to watch King of the Hill.
Before moving to Texas, I thought Boomhower was just speaking gibberish.
But after being here for more than ten years - I understand every word the guy says.
It's just that I've become more familiar with the dialect.

There is no such thing as "Talking White".
It's just Standard American English.
We might be able to call it a media accent.
Or a corporate accent.
Actors and newscasters are often sent to speech coaches to scrub them of their regional accents when the move to the national market.
Why?
Because it's just easier to communicate.
It eliminates the distraction of the listener having to ask; "What?".

It's not the Queen's English either.
The Queen speaks British English.
The common practice of pretentious people, who over-articulate ev-er-y syllable, is just an affectation of intelligence.
No one naturally speaks that way.

A Northern California educator asked if I thought an ESL class to correct Ebonics was a viable option.
Another respected blogger told me that such a class would be seen as condescending.
But how do we eliminate the dialect from anything other than casual conversation?
Unless you're an athlete or entertainer - Ebonics seem to serve little purpose.

Blacks Have Lower IQs ?

Or so says Slate;

http://www.slate.com/id/2178122/entry/2178123/

The article states that the differences in Standard American IQ tests is genetic.

Average IQ

Jewish American - 113

Asian American - 106

White American - 103

Latino American - 89

African American - 85

But the author also states;

"Remember, these are averages, and all groups overlap. You can't determine an individuals intelligence from her ethnicity.

The only thing that you can reasonably infer is that anyone who presumes to rate your IQ based on the color of your skin is probably dumber than you are"

But the evidence is contradictory.

Slate also notes environmental and cultural variables.

http://www.slate.com/id/2178122/entry/2178124/

The article asks;

"Why do Blacks in the white-dominated United States score 15 points higher than Blacks in Black-dominated African countries?"

But even this statement seems a bit skewed.

An article in Black Enterprise cites data showing African immigrants having a rate of those holding a bachelors degree or higher that is up to 33% higher than the American average.

According to the Slate article, the lowest IQ averages in the United States show up in the South, where the rate of genetic blending is lowest.

But what do IQ tests measure?

Are they culturally biased?

If the tests were given based on criteria for survival based on a different culture and environment - would the results vary?

Symposium of the Genetics of Early Language Development

By using the acquisition of language (both lexical and syntax) as a measuring tool, researchers noted that genetics had little impact on a child's ability to acquire nouns.

Since verbs have an inherent syntax - the tests yielded different results.

Genetics were shown to have a 35% variance in a child's ability to properly use verbs and in their ability to properly form sentences.

Environment was shown to have minimal impact on vocabulary - but a greater impact on grammar.

The American Journal of Human Genetics

(Diversity of Some Genetic Frequencies in European and Asian Population v. Steep Multi locus Clines)

States;

"Genetic divergences tend to be maximized between populations that are separated by physical factors (mountain ranges and seas) but also separated by cultural barriers (different language affiliation).

This suggests that mating isolation, rather than adaptive response to environmental change, accounts for spatially abrupt genetic change at the loci studied and that cultural differences associated with language contribute to isolating populations."

Are many of us limiting our ability to process language (and lowering our scores on Standard American IQ tests) by holding on to a dialect that may no longer be in our best interests? (i.e. - Using code words or phrases to protect against masters knowing what slaves were talking about.)

Is the inability to associate a word's spelling with the way many pronounce words a hindrance to a child's ability to read, write and learn?

Since studies show a correlation between illiteracy and the prison population (According to the Department of Justice - 67% of all in prison and 80% of violent criminals) - are we creating a new generation of felons by making it harder for children to learn to read and write phonetically?

Journal of Cognitive Neuroscience

(University of Pennsylvania Study)

The study is looking into the effects of poverty in it's relationship to low IQ and brain function. The study is also looking into the effects of stress, pollution and nutrition.

Since the poor tend to more often be obese due to poor diet - diabetes is more common.

A University of Alberta in Canada study is looking at the relationship between brain function and diabetes. The study noted that executive function (complex analytical thinking) and speed of processing were hurt by the presence of diabetes.

So, is poverty causing many to have lower IQs?

Or is a low IQ the reason many are in poverty?

Non- Conclusive

If the procedure for measuring IQ is culturally biased towards those more familiar with the WASP ideal - how do we (Blacks) best make the adjustments to prove a more accurate measurement?

Many would argue that exposure is the key.

Maybe two year olds should be watching CNN instead of BET.

Since more people of color are now reporting the news - maybe being able to use Standard American English won't be seen as "Talking White".

Many argue that schools are to blame.

But as the results of the Pay-For-Grades experiment have shown - a change in motivation was the key (not a change in schools or environment).

We've tried free lunch.

Then we added free breakfast.

Now we have free after-school tutoring.

And since education is the foundation of a better future - how do we best educate the masses?

Madonna Material Girl

Kim Kardashian, Inside the Bubble

Jennifer Love Hewitt

A Couple Of Pieces Of Gum ?

So...

Citigroup thinks it appropriate to spend about $50,000.000.00 on a Dassault Falcon 7X - after receiving almost 45 BILLION dollars from the recent stimulus package?

But they're bankers.

Maybe it was on sale.

Maybe it was a bargain.

If I let you borrow $100.

I wouldn't be mad if you spent 10 cents (1/1000 of the total loan) on less than a handful of gum.

Maybe your breath was kickin'.

But spending just over that 1/1000 of 45 BILLION dollars is a whole lot different.

It's still 50 million dollars!

That would buy at least 100 of the houses on which you plan to foreclose.

WTF?

I See Color

"Sanity may be madness
but the maddest of all is to see life as it is
and not as it should be"
-Don Quixote


Of course I see one's color, race and/or ethnicity.
It's probably the first thing someone notices.
But it's rarely the only thing one notices.

These reductions to "race only" exclude many worthy partners (and include many who should have never been) in relationships of personal, professional and social matters.
But please remember. My opinions are just that - My opinions.
Not necessarily fact.
Sometimes in need or refinement or a new perspective.
Limited to my experiences.

If I see a group of white guys in a room - is my first response to fight, run or flex?
Nope, I just say "What's up?".
If I see a group of white guys in a room who are wearing sheets and robes and carrying a noose - is my first response to fight, run or flex?
Maybe...
Probably.
Hell, YES!
Is this being racist?
Nope.
It's just judging people predicated on my limited knowledge or perspective.

When I walk into a room of Black guys - is my first response to fight, run or flex?
Nope. I just say "What's up?".
If I see this same group of guys with guns standing in front of a liquor store - is my first first response to fight, run, or flex?
Maybe.
Are they drunk?
Do I know the guys?
Are they finna' fight?
The familiarity enables me to ask more questions and judge based on more variables.
Is this racist?
Nope.
It's just judging people based on my limited experience or perspective.

Race is only one of the many factors someone uses when assessing others.
Mannerisms, speech, dress and even physical attractiveness can, in many cases, play a bigger role.

Fiddy would be deemed "low-class" by many while Obama would be deemed "high-class' by those same people. Even though Fiddy's net worth is reported to be as much as one hundred times that of Obama's.
Does Fiddy care? Probably not. He has his Hustle down.
Does Obama care? Probably not. He also has his Hustle down.
So how would many justify being afraid of a multi-millionaire entertainer, who was a shooting victim, who lives in Beverly Hills (or Holmby Hills or Bellaire or whatever).
But not being afraid of a Black man who grew up moving from place to place, played on the high school basketball team, raised by a single mother and made his name on the streets of Chicago?

This is where mannerisms, speech, dress and physical attractiveness come into play.
Fiddy cultivated an image, mingled with his past, to create a marketable entity.
Obama did the same.
We all do the same.
Race is just one of the many factors we use in judging others (or when others judge us).

Even Oprah - the grand-slam of unfortunate situations (fat, ugly (c'mon, you saw the Color Purple), poor, molested, and Black) - made it.
I know that she's anomalous - but that's a whole lot going against somebody.

In many cases;
looks matter as much as race,
being able to conjugate the verb "to be" and/or apply an "N" before a vowel matters as much as one's race,
knowing what you're doing matters as much as race,
having game (superior social skills) matters as much as race.
RACE - is rarely the sole determining factor in any situation.

When I say that I'm sick of race - I don't mean that we should ignore it.
(It's something obvious, we can't ignore it.)
But can we at least put it somewhere on the list closer to where it belongs?
Maybe a little above having red hair but below having good manners or a good education.
Otherwise we're just fighting imaginary dragons that turn out to be windmills.

Mariah Carey

Ciara

Jennifer Ellison

Hilary Duff relaxed by the pool

Elisha Cuthbert Sexy Photos