Cynique

The above message is one of the many making the rounds on Facebook pages and the e-mail circuit. Invariably, it is met with approval and a chorus of “amens“. Me, I ask myself why do people trivalize "god" as some kind of petty old man who pits people against each other, picking and choosing who he's going to let gloat, deciding which ones he will allow to survive a plane crash, or win an award or defeat the other team. Is God really on the side of the person or group or country that happens get what they want at the expense of those who have their hopes dashed or lives ended? Any god that's gonna promise me an alternate to revenge by letting me enjoy the suffering of somebody who outdid me is neither forgiving nor magnanimous. “He” is an entity who Man made over in his image… Another popular post dispenses this advice to man-hunters: DON'T BE A WOMAN WHO NEEDS A MAN. BE A WOMAN WHO A MAN NEEDS. Puleeze. Why are sistas eating this up. Being needed by a man can be a draining experience; especially if what he NEEDS is for you to be is a sex object or a cash cow or a babysitter for his 4 kids from another relationship. tsk-tsk. A better suggestion would be for a female to “be a woman who fills her own needs.”; Unfortunately, along with all of its benefits, the internet has become a hotbed of exploitation. But it does try to monitor itself by circulating the advice that follows. Any time you see an email that says "forward this on to '10' (or however many) of your friends", "sign this petition", or "you'll get bad luck" or "you'll get good luck" or "you'll see something funny on your screen after you send it" or whatever --- it almost always has an email tracker program attached that tracks the cookies and emails of those folks you forward to. The host sender is getting a copy each time it gets forwarded and then is able to get lists of 'active' email addresses to use in SPAM emails or sell to other spammers. Even when you get emails that demand you send the email on if you're not ashamed of God/Jesus --- that is email tracking, and they are playing on our conscience. These people don't care how they get your email addresses - just as long as they get them.

No denying that computer honcho Steve Jobs was phenomenal. A man of, and for his times. Upon his untimely death, to me, the most surprising thing revealed about this "think- outside-the-box college drop-out", - an adopted child raised by a white middleclass family, was that his biological father was Syrian, making Jobs half-Arab. Small world, made even smaller by how we have all become electronically connected thanks to the genius of Jobs.

Looks like good white men are hard to find, too. The fairy tale dream of living happily ever has become a big laugh....

Just in case Herman Cain is lookin for a vice presidential runnin mate.... http://youtu.be/_veRCThylI0

Thanks for all you support and encouragement, Kola. BTW, the profiles of the new authors participating in the A Chapter A Month project are no longer posted on the site provided by the link given in my promo. However, a list of the names of all participating authors is there and in order to reach THE ONLY ONE's page, you have to click on to "Connie Divers Bradley". -- whoever that is... http://www.achapteramonth.com/

Looks like Uncle Tom's other nephew and "cousin" of Republican presidential candidate, Herman Cain, is on the hot seat, - news that could deflect some of the criticism black detractors are heaping on Obama. Focusing on the inept Supreme Court Justice Clarence Thomas instead of the impotent President makes for a good distraction.... Democratic lawmakers on Thursday called for a federal investigation into Supreme Court Justice Clarence Thomas' failure to report hundreds of thousands of dollars on annual financial disclosure forms. Democratic lawmakers on Thursday called for a federal investigation into Supreme Court Justice Clarence Thomas' failure to report hundreds of thousands of dollars on annual financial disclosure forms... This excerpt from an article by Dr. Boyce Watkins certainly reinforces the message of all the Obama apologists who remind us that "nobody is perfect". ...after remaining silent during the execution of Troy Davis, the president can hardly justify his decision to speak out on behalf of Harvard Professor Henry Louis Gates when he was arrested on his front porch. He also has a difficult time justifying military action in Libya, citing the fact that innocent civilians are being killed by incompetent leadership. The truth is that many of the things that we've said about Libya's slaughter of innocent civilians can now be said about the White House. Fortunately, there's no country out there powerful enough to invade the United States, for our hands can be just as dirty as our victims... In a post on this board, contributor "Nels" asks if light-skinned black men are being discriminated against by the TV movie and advertising industries. Could Be. Maybe media moguls figure having a light-skinned bi-racial president is all the equal time mellow yellow brotha's require. tsk-tsk. Guess this is why El Debarge is still "crackin" up. I just love self-explanatory visuals

Hey Babe. Where ya been? Kinda lonesome up in here. Stick around. I miss your "pungent" input.

Well, here's a link to the serialized book I've been babbling about for the past few days. The first chapter awaits. They say one picture is worth a thousand words but after taking a look at the cover, you might want to get the juicy details about whether blondes really do have more fun - or do they pale in comparison to a golden girl primed to cure a brotha of jungle fever... http://www.achapteramonth.com/

Well, here's a link to the serialized book I've been babbling about for the past few days. The first chapter awaits. They say one picture is worth a thousand words but after taking a look at the cover, you might want to get the juicy details about whether blondes really do have more fun - or do they pale in comparison to a golden girl primed to cure a brotha of jungle fever... http://www.achapteramonth.com/

I appreciate your support, Kola. Thanks! However, this e-book is not available in its entirety but rather on a chapter a month basis as part of a new project I have become affiliated with.

I was so busy promoting my upcoming book that I forgot to address the question that headlined my other post. "Where are all the good single black women?" Well, if we subscribe to what Christi says, many of them will soon be married because they have no problem with fat guys who don't earn much or haven't done hard time in the joint or who happen to have baby mamas. There're plenty of these dudes available for "good" women like thisto marry. Or, as JA Johnson suggests, bootie calls are temporarly dispelling the loneliness of other good single black women before they come to their senses. And what about the rest of these attractive, upstanding, discriminating career girls? Where are they? Undoubtedly enjoying free time activites, taking trips, buying shoes, driving fast cars, revying up sex toys, - occasionally asking themselves who the heck needs a man??? So, who's left?? Those few lucky enough to link up with Mr. Right - the only one. and, oh yes, in a couple of days you'll be able to link up with the "The Only One" the new book I have coming out.

I've been trying to make up my mind about this article. I agree with a lot of what was complained about, but it contained subtle red flags that made me suspicious. What the writer was saying, in essence, was that he wanted to go back to the old ways, - to how things used to be, and this smacks of Tea Party rhetoric. In other words, everything would be just fine if we turned back the hands of time when America embraced good ol right wing conservative values. - and we didn't have a black president. I also have mixed emotions as I try to give Obama the benefit of the doubt because he was stepping up his game. But some of the accusations he made at the recent Black Caucus gathering struck the wrong note with me. In In his rant, he accused black folks of whining and complaining instead of doing something about the problems besetting the country. This blaming people for their sorry plights is a ploy right out of the conservative play book. How can unemployed people help themselves if there are no jobs to be had and their homes are in foreclosure??? He suggested further that Blacks get out and start marching to help him get his job bill passed; a simplistic call to arms. All the marching in the world ain't gonna make those damned Repubicans abandon their partisan politics and cooperate with the POTUS!

Where are all the good single black men is a question posed by another post on this board. This is an an intriguing mystery and exploring it could make an interesting plot for a book. Coincidentally, I just happened to have written a novel that is a variation on the theme of a good black man being hard to find. But, as we all know, good and bad are relative… My urban contemporary romance novel soon to be released is entitled “The Only One”, and its story revolves around the familiar dilemma single “sistas” face when access to romantic prospects is frozen out by a flurry of “snowflakes”. The “black babe/white chick/black dude” triangle is a fact that continues to provide material for fiction, and it's what my book is all about. Also in the equation is a lurking serial killer who has his own issues with dating and just loves women to death! Well, - you get the idea, and the first chapter of this provocative e-book will soon be available. The title again? THE ONLY ONE, as in "I wanna be your lover, I wanna be the only one to make you come, runnin", - a line taken from a song by that good little bad guy, PRINCE.

Every single young woman, black or otherwise, yearns to find the man of her dreams, - a lover who would embody her ideal mate. But one thing will influence her decision to settle for less. Making her feel special is a plus. Helen Gurley Brown, the retired editor of COSMO magazine, was once asked what was her idea of a sexy man and she replied: a man who thinks I'm sexy. If an informal survey was taken of single, childless, professional black women who are not obese, it wouldn't be surprising if they prefaced the requirements for their "Mr. Right" with the "in a perfect world" phrase. One reason they are single is because they have high standards. They want the "best case scenario" and the odds of this happening are, indeed, low... I don't think black women are against dating outside their race, but once again they have to compete with white women for this pool, and the results could be discouraging.

An excellent analysis. Your critique of "The Help" is right on point.

Yes, in times of trouble, looking like the personification of the idea that "wisdom comes with age" can be an asset to the POTUS. IMO

Hello Folks, Cynique here. I’m sure you’ll agree that hardly a day goes by without some occurrence or phenomenon jolting people into believing that the world is on a collision course with its final reckoning. The economy, the weather, wars, famine. What next? What does the future hold? Well, while we’re waiting to see, you might want to check out a book of mine that’s on its way. The urban contemporary romance novel I’m unleashing on the world is entitled “The Only One”, and its plot revolves around the familiar dilemma single “sistas” face when accesss to romantic prospects is frozen out by a flurry of “snowflakes”. The “black babe/white chick/black dude” triangle is a fact that continues to provide material for fiction, and this is what my book is all about. And what novel would be complete without conflict which, in this case, is represented by a lurking serial killer who has his own issues with dating and just loves women to death! Well, - you get the idea, and the first chapter of this provocative e-book will soon be available. Don't forget that title:"THE ONLY ONE." http://youtu.be/skxLdOAWg7Y

Ok, breathbooks. Thanks for your input. I would just remind you again that I didn't say I would've preferred Colin Powell, himself, for president. I meant a Colin Powell-type, - someone who was older and projected an image of having wisdom and being in charge. I further maintained that a layman coming up with solutions to the country's problems would be an exercise in futility because, as the law-making branch of the government, Congress is who has to enact reform since this is what its members were elected to do. Or did I bring up the subject of Obama's performance. This thread has gone silent for a long while before Dee got it going again after which others chimed in and had their say. Opinions were exchanged and insults hurled, and so it went. But that's what a discussion forum is all about. So be it.

I’m sure I’m in the minority when I heave a sigh and roll my eyes and gripe at the way the upcoming anniversary of the 911 episode is being hyped. But then I don’t care about being a lone voice in a chorus of blubbering babble. That’s how I roll. OK, 10 years ago, a handful of Arabs with a minimal amount of effort and weaponry neutralized America’s state-of-the-art defense technology when a few hi-jacked airplanes flew into buildings, killing over 2,000 souls in NY and DC and PA. Tragic. Shocking. Yet, Death has a way of being random, casting its pall on anyone at any time. And it never takes a holiday. Thousands of people, young, old, Black, White, Asian, Christian, Jew, Muslim, Buddhist, sick, and healthy die every day under accidental circumstances, their demises invariably invoking grief. But these deaths taken singly are understandably deemed less significant because they were not the casualties of our national pride, - casualities who were elevated to martydom, as acts of duty displayed by others during this tragedy were regarded as heroic. So be it. When the smoke had cleared at the sites where the targeted landmarks were reduced to rubble, America went into a period of deep mourning that was exceeded only by gut-wrenching outrage! For the first time in history this great nation experienced what it was like to be jolted from its invincible status Things like this weren’t supposed to happen in the promised land because God had heeded our request to bless America and its citizens were more worthy of being spared attacks than people of other countries. In response to this violation by the terrorists, revenge and retaliation would be ours! So began the war on terrorism, an operation that consisted of sending troops to engage in battle on foreign terrain against an enemy hiding out in caves. Way to go! This would stop these evil-doers from invading America to poison the water systems while Homeland Security was preoccupied with assigning colors to the untimely alerts it timidly issued. Now, after a decade of breast-beating the nation gears up for an orgy of remiscences and testimonies and memorials as the networks vie for audiences to the obligatory specials that will re-visit this historical event and wallow in a collective wail of self-pity. Presumably everybody remembers where they were when the news of the twin towers broke. And it wasn’t long before we were all glued to our TVs and radios. The ironic thing for me was that in my sphere of activity here in the midwest, the reaction to this catastrophe was like that of spectators watching an exciting movie, eagerly waiting to see what would happen next. It was surreal… In the years that followed this bleak event, Americans being the self-absorbed people that we are, returned to the daily hum-drum of our lives, content to feel sad one day a year when TV stations would haul out the tapes and remind us that it was time to watch the planes fly into the two towers again, - even as we temporarily repressed our misgivings over the wars that were depleting our treasury, killing innocent civilians and American soldiers while searching for nonexistent weapons of mass destruction - all in the name of 911. Pundits say this momentous disaster changed America forever. So damned what? The alternative to change can be stagnant complacency. Whatever. My sympathies do go out to everyone who has ever lost a loved one, including the bereaved survivors of 911 victims. I know something about grief. I lost an innocent 20-year-old grandson to the bullets of street gang terrorism. And so it goes…

I notice that while our "monitor" Carey was advising Dee about the credibility of Obama's critics, he didn't have anything to say about her comments in regard to Bill Withers' talent not excusing his history of wife abuse. That's because Dee remarks didn't jibe with Carey's opinions on this subject. Typical of Carey's stance on issues: You agree with him, you're acceptable; if you don't, you're glossed over.

No, "breathbooks", Colin Powell's image is what we need. We've had enough of everybody's politics. In a time of crises, people feel more reassured when their leader brings to mind a calm confident, father figure rather than a brother or a son. Image is the operative word here. The consensus is that Obama does not project strength and toughness. Anarchy, as in "chaos and disorder" which is what ensues when the masses decide to instigate "solutions" by taking things into their own hands. I said nothing about "political" reform per se. But any reform comes about via of the governing body enacting it. Obviously there are Obama supporters who resent those who criticize him. Their solution to the problems seems to be for everybody to just shut up.

You don't listen very well either, Carey, because I and everybody else who has any sense knows that since anarchy hasn't prevailed yet, it's not the job of the electorate to solve the nation's problems, except by voting out those who aren't getting the job done. Those in office are the only ones who can implement reform. But, as usual, you resort to attacking the messenger instead of the message, on and on and on and on and on, invoking the signature pettiness that is your MO because you can't deal with anyone who dares burst your bubble and disagree with your sorry ass. You're an Obama suck-up and because others don't emulate your slavish groveling they are "closet haters". Wooooo. I don't hate Obama. I feel sorry for him because I"ve always kinda thought of him as a son. I voted for him because he was a black man and I wanted to participate in history. If you'd stop droning your "if not Obama, then who" whine maybe it would occur to you that the situation Obama inherited is in such bad shape that nobody can untangle the mess, so sympathy is all he really inspires. In all honesty, I would've preferred someone older and wiser and more experienced like Colin Powell. And it's not like we who assess the situation place all the blame on Obama. His advisors, Congress, and the right wing Republican factions are just as at fault. But since the economy has gotten worse on his watch, the buck stops with the POTUS. Yet, your mind seems incapable of processing logic and you identity so closely with Obama you can 't stop wallowing in your hero worship. So you trot out all your old stale arguments that are laced with the personal attacks and name calling that set the tone for a debate with you. And speaking of slinking back up in here with the same ol mess, I haven't gone anywhere. You're the one who showed back up, trying to portray yourself as the voice of reason and intelligence on this board. Puleeze. Get real.

It's not our job to come up with solutions. That's what we elected the President and our representatives to do. Irate voters, tired of the gridlock that is the result of the partisan politics practiced by inept officials, are simply doing what they have a right to do, which is to hold Obama and the Congress accountable for not providing effective leadership. That's how the process goes, and there's nothing new about it. Barak Obama is a prime example of the old adage about “being careful what you wish for because you might get it“. His ambition was to become president of the USA and now he's literally stuck in the job, impotent and immoblized. But, apparently, the perks of the office fuel his ego trip and drive him to seek a second term. Of course, he is not the only candidate guilty of this. Politicians are a flawed, power-hungry breed.

Gee, looks like Kola Boof has some competition; especially when it comes to self promotion. LOL