Ms. B. Discussions and Reviews

It’s been a while since I have had the chance to just sit down and watch TV. After watching the Grammy awards Sunday night, I have to say that they are a lot better than they used to be. For one, the acknowledgement of hip hop & rap music took a long time. Now that, it is here to say, you can not deny it. Music is music. No matter what the genre. A certain type of music may resonate more with you than it would me. That does not mean that it’s crap or not. When they combined two or more artists it only reinforces what I just said.

Jennifer Hudson was amazing. The courage it took for her to come out and sing is inspiring. While still in a grieving process, Miss Hudson is taking one day at a time and moving forward.

I have a side note. The first dress she was wearing. What the hell was that?! I have lots of love for this girl but whoa! The top part looked like paper towels stuck to her chest. This isn’t the first time she’s worn something that did nothing for her either. I know these people have stylist. Sometimes I don’t get it. It’s not for me to get either. I’m not the one that chose that dress or wore it but, come on. I can’t be the only one thinking this. Right?

This is something I have to get off my chest. I love technology. Love the advances it has made in our every day lives. What irks me is that the more technologically advanced we get, the more the market makes you purchase. Don’t agree with me? Well how about this fact? You should know by now that by February of 2009, all TV will broadcast in digital only. No more analog and the rabbit ears. Now everyone will have to buy a digital box. I don’t know about your neck of the woods but here in Canada or Montreal at least, it will cost you $99.99. That’s per TV don’t forget. If you want to take advantage of the HD channels then you have to buy a separate box that can cost upwards to $300.00. Want to record your favorite shows while you’re not home? That will set you back over $500.00. If you want to hook up your PC to your TV, you will have to buy a HDMI cable. Everything is about buying more and more! Remember the good old days when you could turn on your TV and that is all you needed to do? No box, no nothing. I’m just venting. In actually what are we to do about it? Don’t give in? Sure I could do that but I would be missing my favorite shows. I don’t even watch TV as much as most people. We are all slaves to the market. It’s not like most of us will say, “no I will not buy this and this and that”. Yea right! 

Gay and lesbian marriages were voted 52 per cent in favour of a ban in California this month. How can a government give a right then take it away if the person/people did not do anything illegal? this is a complex issue for many. For others, it’s very black and white.Speaking of black and white. The main view held by gays, lesbians and their supporters of their cause is that this is a civil right. Similar, if not the same as the black civil rights movement in America. A time where it was illegal for black and white people to marry. Just as the courts do today, they argued that through the eyes of God, this is wrong. Hearing someone today say that blacks and whites should not marry would be ludicrous. There will always be some people who believe that races should not mix. Guess what? That’s quite alright. Everyone IS entitled to their own opinion. It’s ironic  that the same group(s) of people that were historically not welcomed in America now voted in favour of the ban. Ironic but not surprising. Black and Latino voters came out in record numbers this time around. It was another push in the right direction for race relations. However the huge turnout is what statistically helped the ban of gay and lesbian marriages in California. For the most part this stems from the church. Have the oppressed become the oppressors? Being gay is not a lifestyle it’s a LIFE! Parents thinking their children will become gay if he/she is exposed to “these people”. Are you for real?! If you keep an open communication with your child, teach tolerance, regardless of your own beliefs that should be enough. Children are not stupid. They will ask questions which is great. The problem is the parents that don’t want to have these conversations with their children. That’s how ignorance breeds. I’m laughing to myself because no matter what, it boils down to a change in the way people think. This can only happen with time, education and willingness to learn. I grew up with an Anglican church background. Some members of my family are totally against it. While others have a “to each their own” attitude. When it comes to the government telling people what they can and can’t do with their own lives, that’s a slap in the face. A slap in the face to the citizens of the home of the free. Just as it took decades for society to accept a black man as the president of the United States, so will the legality of gay and lesbian marriages.

As the cold weather draws near, it seems as though winter tires are the next hot ticket item for robbers. Starting this year in Quebec, Canada it is mandatory for all provincial drivers to have on winter tires byDecember 15Th, 2008. Winter tires must be kept on until April 15Th 2009. 

Recently a few Montreal motorists woke up to find all four of their brand new winter tires had been stolen off their vehicles. This was a well organized operation, says the police. All incidents happened overnight without any witnesses.In these economic times pretty much everything is up for grabs. On the other end, business has more than doubled for some business owners. For those of you who may buy these “hot” items from “that guy”, shame on you! Karma comes back in ways you least expect. Like on a winter day, with a temperature of -20C and a wind chill of -30C. When all of a sudden, your heater won’t come on. Oh so sad for you. Yea I know I may be exaggerating a bit. There is still something called, “you get what you deserve”. Muhahahaha!! 

A picture can say a thousand words. In this picture, more than one story can be told. I see strength, perseverance and love.

•  Strength on the bond Michelle and Barack Obama share.
•  Perservering in the twenty months they have been campaigning all of the USA. Despite the negatives.
• Love in the way two people connect that is beyond this physical world.

This one picture can be inspiring to many of us. When you believe in a higher purpose and have the power of a solid bond, then nothing can stand in your way. As black men and women, we need to get back to unity. Stop waiting for others to make YOUR life better.  Start with yourself, your neighbourhood, your city and  your country.