Cynique

People get what they deserve. A person is well informed because he or she chooses to be. One has to take the initiative and diversify. Make the internet just one source of information. Read newspapers and books, watch TV news and documentaries and films. Above all be a skeptic. Pacified by going with the stress-free flow, being comfortable with having others influence decisions in one's everyday life as long as personal relationships are not affected, is the trade-off for surrendering one's identity. "Ignorance is bliss" That's why religion thrives and endures in society because it's so easy to just put things in god's hands and leave the driving to him.

A couple of years ago, I read and reviewed a book entitled the "Savion Sequence by D. Amari Jackson. It was a novel based on a premise similar to that of the DaVinci Code. Its author is black and the book is Afro-centric. Anyway, IMO, the elephant sitting in the room is not the black books stores closing or the big publishing monopolies. It is the ongoing distraction that continues to be tailor made for people who are genetically wired to prefer their entertainment to be visual rather than written. That would be television and all its hand-held, touch-screen electronic spin-offs. Reading cell phone texts, checking out FaceBook posts or Twitter hash tags is the closest many black people come to engaging with the printed word. Black folks would rather go to the gym and get a physical work out than pick up a book and exercise their minds. For the majority of them, it's just easier to click on TV channels to get the fixes that entertain and educate. And with a program roster that has something for everyone, who can blame them? Who needs books - or establishments that sell them?? There's a huge audience for the volatile reality shows, the situation comedies, the chick flick sex drenched dramas, the crime scene investigations of both the true and fiction variety, the pop culture tabloid shows, and musical talent hunts that fill our waking hours, and these genres all have black counterparts on Indie channels, The Science, History, Discovery and National Geographic stations fill in the gap for those Blacks who have alternate interests. And of course, there's Public TV with its series and specials that focus on race issues. The point is that in Society at large books, as we know them, are becoming obsolete and increasingly irrelevant in the 21st century. Needless to say, if this is bad for Whites, it's worse for Blacks. And awful for bookstores. Yes, there is a faithful little hard core community of black book readers, and it is important that independent black book stores stay afloat, and that young black people be encouraged to acquire an appreciation for literacy. But the electronic age has the millenial generation in its thrall. Too bad there isn't a way to turn reading books into a trendy fad that will go viral and, in the hoopla, give book stores a shot in the arm. An unfortunate state of affairs, indeed. Very discouraging. It's enough to make you get up off your recliner - and go see A MOVIE!

While scrolling down the dreaded FaceBook wall, I came across this blurb utilizing the social media to invite "Bookers" to share their social media experiences that resulted in their gaining good results by using the social media to promote their projects. So there does seem to be a growing dialogue about the pros and cons of this venue. Steve Harvey is apparently diversifying his focus on "thinking like a man" by investigating the success rate of those thinking like a person who is having a love affair with FaceBook. . Are you a Social Media Superstar? Whether you do makeup tutorials, are a fitness expert, have an online business of any kind - WHATEVER! If you're making it happen on social media, I want to know how you're doing it and you might be featured on the show. Click on the link below for more info. http://steveharveytv.com/social-media-superstar/

I made a new year's resolution, to stop being so negative, but I have occasional lapses. I always rationalize my critcism by telling people that it serves to strengthen their convictions. So keep your eye on that half full glass, Troy and CDB. There's no reason why you 2 can't be instrumental in the change that will inevitably come.

Where is God in all of this? Why does "He" allow ever faithful black folks to be the victims of all the injustices afflicted on them and then, adding insult to injury, rewards the white perpetrators by enabling their dominance?? Time and time again, we hear what a pillar the black church has been in the ongoing struggle for equality. Unfortunately, black people are neutralized by religion, thinking prayer will change things and that right will overcome wrong and if it doesn't, well - then it's god's will, even as the preachers maintain their vaunted status. In the Layman's arena, we have the voices in the wilderness, defining the problem, telling the have-nots what they should do to bring about the downfall of corporate America. But talk is cheap. Black people are, after all, a part of a labor force that gains its livelihood by working for the giants of Industry. Entreating them to do what amounts to biting the hands that feed them creates a dilemma. I applaud the good intentions of these earnest, dedicated people who warn and predict, while offering simplistic solutions to complicated problems, prodding the masses to question why in a land of plenty, everybody ain't rich. What I reject is their idea that people should be expected to share their wealth for the common good, Wishful thinking. Greed is the name of the game; "power corrupts, and absolute power corrupts absolutely". And were the situation reversed, black folks would would not be charitable and fair to a white minority. As losers in a game it is not equipped to play, It would be great if the black race wasn't so fragmented and could muster up a united front. Instead, Blacks adapt to the status quo, scratching out an existence by working the system to their individual advantages or, unable to whip 'em, they join 'em, treading water in the corporate mainstream, playing its middle magagement games that provide a tolerable paycheck to paycheck existence. Finally, in the big picture, more and more class has become a factor. And who can blame the black bougeousie if its members distance themsevles from the dead-end ghetto culture where the underclass relentlessly replicates itself? My reponse the "Cut Man" is a very patented one, expressing the contentions that I've repeatedly voiced over the years because I am repeatedly subjected to the "what-Blacks-need-to-do mantras". In the natural course of things, change will come. America quite possible will implode under the weight of all that ails it. From the ashes, a new civilization will emerge and it will be back to square one. Maybe the next time around people of color will have the upper hand. I say all of this as a retiree receiving both a postal pension and a widow's one, who shops a WalMart, patronizes MacDonalds, visits FaceBook, utilizes Google and Wikipedia and because I am also a bargain hunter, goes to Amazon and buys cheaply-priced used books. Am I a dying breed? I hope so, for your sakes, Troy and CDBurns.

This devil's advocate is curious. What do you 2 offer as an alternative to the millions of everyday people with humdrum lives for whom FaceBook offers a place to go and interact on many levels with other people with humdrum lives? FaceBook is after all, a self-declared social media, just like online dating and porn are. In the real world, what threat is posed to the freedom of the individuals who go to these sites by choice? Nothing in this existence is without risk. Life is an obstacle course and people have to use discretion, but it is their prerogative to pick their own poison and this includes immersing themselves in the cyber community. Manipulation by the corporate world is everywhere. Amazon and Google are typical. Just recently women have been advised about how the Fashion industry lies when tagging garments so that vain gullible females will think they're fitting into sizes smaller than they really are. Look at the diet industry and the cosmetic one, both examples of the things that are being shoved down our throats with false promises and deceptive practices in an ongoing quest to make our "avatars" more appealing. We are a nation that wallows in superficiality. Why you want to "unfriend" FaceBook is understandable for your purposes, however, when you elect to tell people what they should not do with their free time, you, yourselves, are asking them to defer to your dictates. Yes, invasion of privacy is an issue, but it's nothing new, and it all boils down to what everybody knows about everybody else. We are all in the public domain, including those doing the snooping, not to mention the POTUS, himself. I am not a big fan of FaceBook, but I still go there to be amused because I am a people watcher. I also appreciate being able to hear about my hometown acquaintances many of whom are droppin like flies and whose families post their obituaries there. What I am also not a big fan of is the glut of self-published books unleashed by a multitude of wanna-bes looking for venues to plug the trite, mundane, poorly-edited, barely-proof read books they are offering for sale. But, that's just me. And you know me...

Satire is a very keen blade in an arena where the pen can be mightier than the sword.

I repeat, Troy. "I daresay, anybody who followed me on FaceBook without consulting my sparse profile, could conclude simply from reading my posts, that I am an opinionated, argumentive, passive-aggressive skeptic who posts pictures of herself,- ostensibly to illustrate a point." ...pretty much. OK, so what will Facebook do with all of this superflous information it has about me? Will it impact on me in the real world???

I applaud your dedication, Troy, keeping in mind that you, as an independent entrpreneur, have a vested interest in this. The fact the Black people get the short end of the stick in all of this is not surprising because of the pervasive institutionalized racism that involves every aspect of our lives. But don't underestimate public cynicism. Just because people find somethings interesting doesn't mean they believe it's true or give great weight to it. News is not about the ordinary; it's about the extraordinary, something which triggers curiosity. What the various media report and the internet filters, all provide a diversion for the public. But people are not that trusting. They do take things with a grain of salt. They do consider the source. Common sense is not altogether obsolete and nobody really trusts the media nowadays. What seemingly concerns you is a desire to print the truth; but not the whole truth. Unfortunately, all of the fame and fortune Zane has accumulated over time exacts a price. Her personal life is no longer hers. She sold her soul to the devil of public scrutiny. And she didn't pay her taxes. And most of all, she is not unique. It's not as if what's ideal has ever prevailed in this dog-eat-dog world. Becoming outraged about this is an exercise in naivete. Google and Wikipedia and Amazon are profit-driven monopolies. So are Microsoft and Apple. Independent entrepreneurs are hard pressed to go up against them. But this is nothing new in this capitalistic country. And as you stated, reversing this is an uphill battle. So what do black authors turn to overcome obstacles? The grapevine for one thing. Don't underestimate the power of word-of-mouth in the black book reading community. But most of all, they can use the nemesis that uses them. After realizing that very few people earn a living from writing books, they can settle for the next best thing: the exposure that the infamous internet offers via web sites and ebooks and - you guessed it: FACEBOOK! OMG!

Well,, why doesn't ZANE defend herself? Maybe she doesn't want to call any more attention to the matter than necessary. And her lifestory is included. It's her bio where the tax info appears.

In another post, Troy, you implied that a person's FaceBook profile wasn't a reliable indication of who they were. Maybe not. But, from what I've observed, people supply very little info in their profiles; just where they're from, their marital status, their schooling and their profession, none of which provides deep insight into who someone really is. Now that I am losing interest in the mecca of internet socializing with its steady input from religious zealots, Obama groupies, wanna-be deejays along with the picture galleries of doting parents, pet owners and foodie bores, plus the daily entries into the FaceBook journals of self-absorbed folks, I've decided that what initially drew me to FaceBook was the amusing things that could be discerned about "friends" who post there, enabled by the lack of accountibility cyberspace allows. What they are enthusiastic about, what annoucements they made, what TV shows and movies and celebs they liked, who they disagreed with, their narcississtic selfies, were all very revealing to a perceptive person who could deduce a lot by reading between the lines. FaceBook is a gigantic analyist's couch. I daresay, anybody who followed me on FaceBook without consulting my sparse profile, could conclude simply from reading my posts, that I am an opinionated, argumentive, passive-aggressive skeptic who posts pictures of herself,- ostensibly to illustrate a point.

Well, Troy, when swimming with the sharks you gotta wound them in their soft underbelly. In this situation that is causing you so much angst, the villain here is not Wikipidia, - or Zane. IT IS THE IRS!! Revealing that this government bully has beat down a famous person does not besmirch the victim or scandalize the public; it just reinforces everyone's dislike of the tax nazis, and inspires empathy for anyone who runs afoul of this juggernaut. And, I agree with DBurns that any celeb is fair game for the media. Look at the field day it is having over the the Woody Allen-Mia Farrow debacle. You can't make this stuff up. But you can eat it up if you're a pop culture vulture who does not bother to vet Wikipedia.

The problem for me, Troy, is that it's much easier for me to upload pictures and supply links on FaceBook than it is here where I always have a problem posting pictures, with all kind of prompts telling me what I'm not allowed to do on this site or informing me that one picture is a file too large to upload. Deleting a post also involve restrictions, and "copying and pasting" is a process. You also told me that I am not supplying links correctly for YouTube and I have to come up with a URL for articles I want to share. So as a person who isn't particularly computer savvy, this inhibits me. And here's some input from me as a visitor to the social media. I, for one, never pay any attention to the ads that appear there. I don't go to FaceBook to be pestered and bombarded with commericals so I ignore them. By the same token, I gloss over the personal plugs people include in their posts. I find all unsolicted advertising intrusive and annoying which iis why I rarely pay any attention to it. I am obviously not a member of the audience targeted by advertisers. But, that's because older people are not a priority when it comes to selling things. Unfortunately, my enthusiasm for the Internet is waning, especially since PCs and mouses are becoming obsolete, giving way to the iPhones and tablets and apps which tend to intimidate me, and I am also daily subjected to the vexation of computer "freeze". Suddenly it's much easier for this senior citizen to watch TV or read a newspaper. And so it goes...

Correct me if I'm wrong, but can't people edit and amend information contained in their Wiki bios? Why doesn't Zane, speak up for herself?? I question as to whether she cares about this gossip. It has no effect on her sales.

A recent article by controversial Chicago Sun-times columnist, Neil Steinberg, advanced a theory that he shared with his readers because he wanted to observe Black history month from a different angle. In making his case, Steinberg cited a study that took place over 20 years ago. It was administered by Harvard sociologists and it tested young children to determine the long term effects of an experiment where these kindergarteners were given a choice to accept a single treat right away, or to wait until later and get 2 treats. The testers followed the particpants in this study for 20 years and found that those who waited and got the extra treat, fared better in life than those who didn't. The sociologist also injected a trust factor into the results, determining that those who opted for the first choice for whatever reason didn't trust the promise to get more if patience was exercised. Steinberg then went on to apply this study to the racial situation in America by theorizing that because Blacks have no reason to trust The System, they opt to "get while the gettin is good", But, according to Steinberg, this attitude has proved detrimental in the long run and, according to his postulation, Blacks are so insecure when it comes to the American dream, that this distrust permeates their entire approach to life whether it's a young gang banger impulsively pulling a trigger over a minor slight or a black homebuyer allowing unscrupulous mortage industry to exploit their dreams for homes they couldn't afford, or a loser using drugs to dull the pain. Instant gratification is a bitch! Considering how embedded institutionalized racism is and how uncertain the future is, "a bird in the hand being worth 2 in the bush" is an easy pattern for Blacks to fall into. "In God we trust" may appear on our coins, but when it comes to trusting in America who could blame Blacks if they have a "take the money and run" mind set. Steinberg assumptions can certainly be challenged on the grounds of being generalization and his comparing Blacks to impetuous children reeks with white paternalism, but his contentions possibly contain an element of truth.

Yeah, "thug" is just a white euphenism for a "a street nigger". As college grad Richard Sherman who is a member fo the superbowl Champs noted, his now famouse rant during a post game interview, got him labeled a thug. But Justin Bieber and all of his negative behavior is considered a dysfunctional teen-ager. A recently published book by Piper Kerman similarly refers to orange as the new black because it is the color of uniforms worn by prisoners, most of whom are black. And so it goes...

An interesting and little known fact that Black history month has brought to light via the hash tag below. WHO WAS THE FIRST PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES? I'm sure that George Washington was your best guess. After all, no one else comes to mind.But think back to your history books — The United States declared its independence in 1776, yet Washington did not take office until April 30, 1789. So who was running the country during these initial years of this young country? It was the first eight U.S. Pr...esidents. In fact, the first President of the United States was one John Hanson. I know — John who? John Hanson, the first President of the United States. Don't go checking the encyclopedia for this guy's name (google him) — he is one of those great men that are lost to history. The new country was actually formed on March 1, 1781 with the adoption of The Articles of Confederation.This document was actually proposed on June 11, 1776, but not agreed upon by Congress until November 15,1777.Once the signing took place in 1781, a President was needed to run the country.John Hanson was chosen unanimously by Congress (which included George Washington.) ‪#‎BlackHistoryMonth‬ ‪#‎BlackFacts‬ See More

Today is Groundhog Day. Wonder if the little varmint saw his shadow. And, speaking of shadows, it's also the beginning of Black History Month, a celebration that hovers in the shade of White History Year. People have started to voice disapproval of this annual observance but, something is needed to rival the the 4th of July, a holiday which is the sole domain of white America. So, let us remember a few of those who serve to fill us with black pride.

If the Republicans have their way, abortions will no longer be legal. They claim they want less goverment intervention, but still want the State to control what a woman does with her own body. They care about fetuses but not about live children neglected and abused and shunted into foster care by DCFS. Blacks who consider abortion a form of genocide need to acknowledge that unwanted childlren are a factor in the culture that breeds the thugs who are not only killing each other off, but innocent bystanders as well. Ironically birth control is the answer to genocide among blacks because for every pregnancy conceived in a stable environment, 2 occur under conditions that are hazardous to future survival. Abortion is not an ideal form of birth control, but it is a last resort for desperate females who regard parenthood as a privilege not a punishment.

Really on point, Troy. I do my arguing on FaceBook now since all my sparring partners on this site have faded away. But am I fulfilled by this? Not really. My opponents on FaceBook are no match for the folks I used to engage on this forum. Actually. I, myself, am gradually congealing into a state of inertia. Very few things inspire my passion or my convictions any more. The world is gonna do what it do and all I can do is watch. Which is what I do.

This was a very incisive interview. Walker and Toni Morrison are such original thinkers that they have earned their iconic status. I think what is apparent about them is that they are old souls. The not only have knowledge and talent; they have wisdom and genius.

The above lampoon pretty much sums up how seriously I take everything that goes on in this country. Obama gave it the ol college try in his state of the union speeach. He talked tough. Hard to do when your tongue is a noodle. And the beat goes on. I'm still swallowing back barf over how some crazy, white, gay-friendly duo beat out perennial black winners like JayZ, Drake, Kanye and break-out new artist, Lamar, for the best rap album of the year at the Grammys. Explanations refer to Rap now being mainstream. Who'd have ever thought this genre would find a home among white dorks. And speaking of the Grammys, why is everyone raggin on Beyonce for acting like she wanted to give her husband some nooky during their opening act performance at the Grammys. What would you expect from the queen of booty shakers and her husband who makes a living out of being a mysognist? Me, I consider this twosome a welcome relief from that pouting egomanic Kanye and his booty bulging baby mama I was more turned off by a tuxedo-wearing Madonna and her date who happened to have been her little black adopted son who she was parading along like a trained pet monkey, her apparent motivation, to do damage control after using the N-word on a Twitter post. On and on the absurdities go. The celebrity world is soooo superficial. I know it's blasphemy but am I the only one who is sick of the uctuous, ubiquitous Kenyan actress, Lupita Nyong'o, sporting a high-top fade hair-do, grinning and taking bows for her awards and nominations for her supporting role in "12 years a Slave." I can't figure out why Lupita would beat out all of the capable authentic young African American actresses for this monumental role, her victory providing fuel for the superior attitude Africans have toward American descendants of slaves. I also can't decide who I'm more sick of trolling the red carpet in their endless array of designer fashions: her or Kerry Washington, the perennial award show loser whose been subjecting us to a succession of bizarre maternity creations. And, of course, there's Justin Bieber and his ongoing efforts to achieve street cred by hangin out with a posse of black wanna-bes. Not to mention the lmedia abeling as a thug, the Stanford University grad, black Seattle football player, Richard Sherman, because of his rant during the interview after the AFL NFL final game. Nothing in pop-culture is what it seems. Everything is a charade. The country at large is fraught with realities that are unreal Trillions on war, while the education system deteriorates. Poverty in the midst of plenty. Immorality immunized against Religion. Crime that is blatant, justice that is blind. Racism that thrives, while homophobia is stifled. Then, there's Fox News and its insipid thinly-disguised racist commentaries. The only organization that floods me with more bile than this network are the Republicans whose trespasses I find to be, in a word, "un-American" because they are unworthy serving in a so-called democratic government. So, here I sit, isolated in the deep freeze that is frosting the midwest, and maybe this explains why my optimism and tolerance are numb. The only thing that thaws me out is the heat generated by the perception of how ridiculously discombobulated this nation is. Like global warming, it's a hot mess. Oh well. 'Think I'll go eat. My menu: chilli that is hot. Yet, another, contradiction...

Sounds like if a pouting Kam had his way, every black movie released in 2013 should be an Oscar contender. There were also many good white movies that were overlooked by the academy, not to mention outstanding performances by white actors who didn't make the cut. This years' nominees are a pretty good cross section of what exemplified good film making. In the Hollywood selection process, you win some, you lose some. That's show biz. Get over it. Kam's choice of "The Butler" being the best film doesn't reflect his usual standards. This film was a cobbled together episodic paragon that jammed everything you always wanted to know about the black struggle into the stereotypical confines of a single family, taking broad liberties along the way. Was it an entertaining tear jerker? Yes. Was it good film making? Not especially. As for Oprah and Forrest, they adequately portrayed their roles, no better or worst than the multitude of other actors, who don't rate Oscars every time they appear in a movie. The answer to Kam's final question is "yes". Stop expecting special treatment. An all-black venue where actors and the movies they star in will be nominated and crowned by their peers is the answer to his need for the black film community to be exclusively recognized.

I recently heard or read somewhere that teenagers are abandoning FaceBook because they don't like to be on the same site as their parents.

Actually, the later a film comes out, the better its chances are of being nominated for awards because the movie will still be fresh in voters' minds. That's why "The Butler" was re-released after its initial premier. Incidentally, all of the reviews I read of "Mandela, long walk to freedom" were luke warm, but did praise Elba's performance. "Mandela" and its star are really nods to Africa, more than Black America. "12 Years A Slave" is one long guilt trip, foisted on white America's conscience. Such money-making movies also function as a penance. Black contenders-for-award stories are of a certain type because it's more compelling to portray dramatic epics that expose injustices, or sympathetic biographical ones like "The Help". The feel-good films like "The Butler" don't have a lot of high drama, just maudlin pathos. And bland comedies like "Best Man Holiday" appeal primarily to a black demographic. Plus, over the years, stories about heroic triumph over racism have been told on both the large movie screen and small TV one and made little waves. Maybe black film makers should concentrate more on telling white stories that will earn them enough money to produce positive black dramas in the future.