I don’t eat Turkey, so there was no tryptophan in my system this past weekend. By all accounts I should have been out and about catching the sales, but I was a bum.  I got hooked to a few marathons of my favorite old TV shows, and could not leave my house. I watched Good Times, Martin, Living Single, The Cosby Show, A Different World and The Jefferson’s.  Even with the over-acting, stereotypes, and lack of believable plots, I miss the simplicity of life before digital cable.  Don’t get me wrong, The Wire was fabulous and my love for Stinger Bell will live on in infamy, but life was good before I had fifty eleven HBO channels. 

I am living my Fantasy Football dreams right now (yes, the Obama Mama’s, French Kitty’s and Jerzee Chicks all made the play-off’s), but before there were stats updating in real time, we had real things to discuss on Monday morning! 

1. Who’s better Hustle Man or Bruh Man?  I remember recapping the previous nights Martin episode back in the day and the question of Hustle Man or Bruh Man would often come up.  I loved the way Hustle Man always had something you needed in that shopping cart “Chief”, but Bruh Man and his four fingers to represent the fifth floor was classic.  Question, did he EVER use the door?  I only remember him coming and going through the fire escape.
2. Is James gonna get some new corduroys?  Those poor tan corduroys that he wore in every episode were so worn out they looked like khaki’s.  And am I the only person that noticed Thelma wore the same robe throughout the shows entire five year run?  I know they were poor and all, but wasn’t a new housecoat in the budget at some point?!?!?!
3. Who was the cuter child star, Rudy or Olivia?  When Olivia hit the scene people were falling all over her.  “Ooh Raven is so cute, oh Raven is so funny”.  Well it was Rudy Huxtable all day over here homie! 
4. What goes on at the Help Center?  We have Desperate Housewives on Wysteria Lane, and the Real Housewives franchise on Bravo but Weezie Jefferson and Helen Willis originated the stay at home and spend your husband’s money all under the guise of community service trend! Talk about moving on up, Weezie went from being a maid to having a maid!
5. Who’s lamer Kyle Barker or Ron Johnson?  I watched a Living Single thanksgiving episode and A Different World thanksgiving episode, and the lame factor for both of them was pretty much through the roof.  I guess Kyle and Max did have a little fire, so that might have redeemed him, but Ron….capital “L”!
6. Did Wilona ever have overnight guests?  When James’ father came to town for Thanksgiving with Lena, and Florida was all up in arms about them sleeping in the same bed it made we wonder….did we ever see anyone doing the slow creep out of Wilona’s apartment at 5am?
7. When did we stop beating our kids?  I know James Evans would beat somebody else’s child, so he had no problem beating JJ, Thelma, and Michael, but when did we decide beating our kids in real life was a bad idea? We never actually saw any of the Huxtable kids catch a beat down, but Clair had that “I will tear your behind up” look about her.
8. What was the funniest In Living Color sketch?  I was a “Homie the Clown” fan, but I think Damon Wayans and David Allen Grier were hilarious with Men on Film.  Blaine Edwards and Antoine Merriweather, definitely get two snaps up…with a twist!
9. Who was the most memorable guest star on Living Single?  Nia Long broke Kyle’s heart.  Vivica Fox broke Heavy D’s heart.  Morris Chestnut was too cheap, but Chip Fields was priceless as Regine’s gaudy mother.  The rhinestone sweat suits and gold lamay hats definitely get my vote!
10. Sheneneh, Jerome, or Mama Payne?  Ooh ooh.  Ooh ooh ooh.  Jerome’s in the house, I said Jerome’s in the hou-ooh-ouse so watch your mouth!

 TV has come a long way in the last decade or two, but I will always love the classics! I just wonder if our kids will one day be so excited to watch marathons of…whatever it is that’s passing for quality black programming these days. 

JerzeeChick

Every year around this time most of us reflect on all of our blessings.  We are thankful for life, health and strength.  We are thankful for family, friends and all the things that make us happy.  In addition to the things I just mentioned, this year I am thankful for Reality Television.  I know it sounds shallow, but if any of you followed Warren Sapp on Dancing with the Stars, you understand my point.  While Warren did bring me joy, it is the Real Housewives of Atlanta that I am most thankful for.

Before all of the intellectuals out there “roast me” for this guilty pleasure, keep in mind that even the likes of Anderson Cooper (from CNN) was hooked to this show.  I am not sure if it was fauxcialite  Kim’s delusions of talent with regards to her singing career, or NeNe’s propensity to “take it there” with the one liners but something about this show was addictive (kind of like Facebook, but I digress….)!  I am not going to ruin it for you, but if you haven’t watched yet, you are missing out.  I’m sure there will be a Bravo Real Housewives of Atlanta marathon this weekend, so please do yourself a favor and check it out.

The reunion show delivered high drama as expected.  Again, I don’t want to spoil it for anyone so I will just comment on a few things.

1. The Kim/Sheree BFF thing looked about as fake as that ponytail Sheree was sporting last night!
2. While DeShawn’s hunt for a Governess initially turned me off, I do think she is sweet and I wish her well as she makes a name for herself in Atlanta….you gotta respect a woman that pays her tithes!
3. Throwing out the “cancer card” is NOT the best way to avoid getting the smack down!  Kim’s crocodile tears and sob story were almost as bad as her singing voice, which brings me to my next point….
4. I don’t remember NeNe saying Kim’s wig was squeezing her brain, but I do agree that something with Kim must be a little off if she thinks that craptastic voice of hers is going to sell records.
5. Lisa Wu is like Whoa!!!!!

I know I am not the only person out there that watched The Real Housewives of Atlanta (as evidenced by the ratings), so I would love to know what other people thought. Even if you were initially turned off by the obvious excess or pretentious antics, there is an addictive “train wreck” quality to this show. Don’t be ashamed…this blog is anonymous anyway, so tell me how you really feel J

JerzeeChick

P.S. As you all look forward to your turkey induced tryptophan high, please be safe this weekend!     

I don’t think I’ve done a “Favorite Things” blog this year, but something new just bumped Fantasy Football out of the top spot! If you know me, you know how I feel about the “Corporate America Hustle”. All I need is a reason to slack off and one was handed to me on a silver platter yesterday.  I was convinced to sign up on Facebook….and my life will never be the same!

Last week a friend told me about an annoying former coworker that had hit her up on Facebook.  She suggested I join too, so that we could commiserate.  I didn’t really think too hard about it.  I have a full plate already, plus I barely look at my MySpace page.  Then yesterday another friend was talking about it, and said how much fun she was having.  I thought:
1.    It’s the middle of the day
2.    I’m at work
3.    I have about 50 messages in my inbox that need my attention
Then I figured why not.  What better way to pass the time before I duck out early than by trying to connect with some old friends!!!!!

So I created my profile, and started searching for friends.  I actually saw a guy on there that I used to like in the second grade (we were the only two black kids in our class so the relationship was destined to happen).  The more friends I added, the more friends I saw.  It was like being let loose in a penny candy factory and finding all those discontinued snacks that you loved as a kid (BTW, I am on a HUNT for Chocolate Snaps and those skinny mini fruity tootsie rolls….if you have the hook up, let me know).

Social networking is one of the greatest things going out there.  It allows us to stay on top of important social issues (Barack the Vote) as well as keep up with who in your old high school crew just got married/pregnant/dumped.  As far as social networking sites go, Facebook is head and shoulders above MySpace (in my opinion of course)!  Facebook screams professional, while MySpace screams “booty call”.  Don’t get me wrong there are important networking opportunities on MySpace as well, but I guess I am just a little turned off by all the “posing” (and by posing I mean the “squat down jail pose” and the obligatory “booty shot”).  How can you take someone seriously when their friend box is full of pictures of scantily clad women?  He might very well be a man of God, but I think I’ll pass on the add when I see video vixens draped across pool tables and bending over to show their cracks/thongs in your top friends space!

If you went to UMCP, MySpace is the equivalent of taking Peter Pan home to NYC where Facebook is like taking the Amtrak from New Carrolton Station right to Penn Station.  (I was going to say it was like taking a flight from National to Newark Airport, but I thought that might be reaching).  If you live in Atlanta, MySpace is like shopping at Macy’s in Greenbriar, while Facebook is like shopping at Macy’s in Perimeter.

Regardless, Facebook is my new addiction.  It’s a fun easy way to re-connect with people from our past.  I actually connected with someone I used to beat senselessly in spades in college! I see people using Facebook to plan reunions and tastefully market their businesses.  There is comedy as well….one of my high school friends was quoting lines from Pootie Tang, and another friend invited me to join her TV trivia team.

You have nothing to lose…it’s free.  So please Epiphany, join the movement that is Facebook and let us all get addicted together.  Sa Da Tay!
JerzeeChick

As a writer, I should never be at a loss for words.  I guess it’s tantamount to a stripper that has no rhythm.  Use of words is how I “shake my money maker”! In spite of that, yesterday I was at a loss for words.  A friend had died, and when I got the call I didn’t know what to say.  Surely it was a mistake, I thought.  But sadly it wasn’t a mistake, and sadder still my friend is gone.  This blog is dedicated to him, and all of you that may have lost someone near and dear too soon.

If you knew “B”, you couldn’t help but love him.  He was the strong silent type that could light up a room with his smile and laughter.  Our friendship basically was formed over our shared concern for someone that needed us at the time.

“B” was the type of friend you wanted around if you were ever in need.  Be it need of a barber, a diamond, or a good meal “B” had you covered.  He put us on to the best Japanese restaurant in Atlanta. When I was recovering from surgery and my cousin had to leave town on business, “B” was on deck with cranberry juice.  When I had a birthday BBQ, “B” got the chicken breast “hook up” for the grill.  We even had a secret baked beans contest because he thought the pineapple and ground beef made his recipe better than mine *not*!

What is it about death that makes us go through our mental Rolodex of memories? “B” died unexpectedly, but I know even when the death is due to a long illness we tend to be stunned when we get the call.  We immediately think of what we would have said if we had one more chance.  We cling to our memories as a source of comfort.  I’ll never forget the year “B” hosted the Y2K sleepover, or the way I made him laugh when I referred to his store as the “student union”. My memories of “B” are definitely a blessing, and I’d be even more of a wreck without them.

To everyone that has lost someone, as you move through the stages of grief remember how your loved one LIVED and NOT how they died!  We’ve heard the “til death do you part” phrase over and over again, but memories are yours to have and hold onto forever!  I’ve never been one to stand over a trash can fire and “pour a little out for the brothers that ain’t here”, but this blog was my way of honoring a good friend that died too soon.  My favorite “Off The Heezy” boy will be missed!

JerzeeChick

In all honesty, the only people shocked were probably Sara Who, and Elizabeth from The View.  The rest of us knew the deal!!!!!  It’s been a long time coming, but our “Change” has finally come.  It’s hard to put into words the feelings and emotions from seeing the first Black President elected.  I am glad it happened in my lifetime, and I am happy to know my contributions and vote made a difference.

Barack Obama started out with little money and many people telling him it was “not his time”.  I am so glad he didn’t listen to them.  He stayed focused and didn’t compromise for anyone.  He is truly the choice for a new generation!

As you reflect over November 4th, I hope you’ll take a moment to watch the video and share your feelings with Epiphanyblog!

JerzeeChick

It’s about 5:30pm here in “The A” and I am about to go encourage a few more voters! The lines here have been pretty minimal probably because many people chose to early vote. I haven’t heard too many stories about election day drama, but it’s still early. If there are any breaking developments as I pass out pizza at the polls, you’ll all be the first to know!

From what I’ve heard on the news and read online, voter turn out has been huge today! I saw pictures of people standing in rainy lines to cast their votes. I am so glad we are collectively “getting” the magnitude of this election.

I’ve been invited to a few election parties tonight so I plan to be “Baracking the Vote” well into the midnight hour!!!! CHANGE is coming.
JerzeeChick

Hi Epiphany,
I am on line at my local polling place. I’ve been here for about an hour and it is almost my turn. Anyway I just wanted to make y’all laugh for a second.

There are a lot of people out here with their kids today. The two little girls near me are playing and having fun. A second ago one of them noticed a roach crawling by and she said “ooh a roach. It’s probably on the way to Keisha’s house”!

Now I don’t know who Keisha is but they certainly put her on BLAST!!!! It’s almost my turn, but I hope that little story made you laugh. Barack the Vote!

JerzeeChick

Good Morning Epiphanyblog!

It’s Election Day….time to cast your vote for CHANGE (if you haven’t done so already)!  I am about to go cast my vote now, but I will be back throughout the day letting you what what it’s like in Atlanta!  I hope you’ll take a moment to Barack the Vote…and tell us all about it!  Check out the video, and come back often.  I want to hear from EVERYBODY!

JerzeeChick

Today is my last blog before election day.  I just finished watching 30 minutes of Barack Obama addressing the nation.  As always I was thoroughly impressed and inspired.

With only 5 days left, I wanted to encourage everyone to remain diligent and focused.  They say Obama is leading in the polls, but we can’t take anything for granted!!!!  Not only do we ALL NEED TO VOTE…we need to make sure AT LEAST one other person votes.  Either knock on a few doors, make calls at your local phone bank, or give someone a ride to the polls.  This race is going to be tight, and if each one can reach one it will make a difference.

I didn’t vote yet, but I applaud everyone that exercised their right to early vote.  They say Democrats have turned out in record numbers…so Epiphany thanks those of you that have already Baracked the vote!   I am going to vote on election day, but I am committed to encouraging other people to exercise their right as well.  After I vote on Tuesday, I’m going to go back to the polls to take “supplies” to the people waiting their turn.

I’m going to take pizza to encourage people to stand on those long lines.  If it’s cold, I’ll take coffee or hot chocolate so that people don’t get discouraged and leave.  I have to do SOMETHING to make sure people are out there to Barack the Vote!

As you read this blog, take a moment to think about what you can do to be a part of the process on Tuesday.  Be it taking bottled water to your local polling place on your lunch hour, or dropping coffee off on your way to work…please do something to make sure people stay the course. Give someone a ride or call and remind people to vote. They are saying that even though the Obama campaign registered voters in record numbers, there is no guarantee those registrations will turn into actual votes.  Let’s prove them wrong.  They say African American’s and youth tend not to go to the polls, especially when there are long lines or inclement weather.  Please do your part Epiphanyblog to prove them wrong!!!  YES WE CAN!!!!!

I’ll be passing out pizza (and maybe Krispy Kreme’s)…what are you going to do to make sure you help at least one other person Barack the Vote?

JerzeeChick
P.S.  I will be blogging on Tuesday throughout the day.  Please stop by and comment on the situation in your particular part of the country!

This week’s blog is all about the 10 things I loved and loathed this week!

• LOVED the Colin Powell Endorsement. The timing was perfect, and it further validated for some independents that Obama is the man to change this country. This endorsement from Colin Powell, should be the coup de grâce for the Republicans.

• LOATHED the George Will and Rush Limbaugh commentary. Colin Powell is a retired general that is pretty much the highest ranking black man to ever serve in a Republican Administration and he’s endorsing a liberal Democrat, not the Navy pilot and fellow Republican. It didn’t take long for the right wingers to come out and try to minimize the endorsement and say Powell only endorsed Obama because he’s black. It is an insult and disgrace to assume that intelligent African American people will blindly follow each other down the road of damnation simply because we share the same skin color.

• LOVED The Secret Life of Bees. It’s a cute movie, and if you read the book you’ll especially enjoy it. Queen Latifah, Jennifer Hudson, and Alicia Keyes all did wonderful jobs, and if you are a fan on The Wire….Mike is in this one too!

• LOATHED the “I thought I was on a slave ship” defense. Brian Nichols’s defense team is trying to get a not guilty by reason of insanity verdict. To that end, they are trying to convince the jury that Mr. Nichols had “snapped” while in custody and thought he was on a slave ship. He killed all those people in an effort to free himself from the belly of a slave ship. Now, I took AASP 202 with Dr. Sharon Harley, not to mention countless other African American Studies classes during my time at UMCP. It has been a while, but never in any of my studies do I recall there being automatic weapons on slave ships! My memory certainly isn’t what it used to be, but I would almost bet my Maxwell tickets on the fact that there weren’t any Glock 9’s during the Middle Passage.

• LOVED the exposing of Sara Who’s expenditures. Not Miss Small-town USA shopping in Neiman’s and Saks!!! They claim the clothes will eventually be donated to charity, but I can’t wait to see how the scandal of her toting her kids all across the country on the Alaska tax payers dime turns out!

• LOATHED the overabundance of neck tattoos and bad weaves. Is there a 2 for 1 sale going on someplace in Atlanta? Pay $100 to get a quick weave done by Bunny and’nem, then get a panther tat on your neck for free. YUCK!

• LOVED another week of Warren Sapp on Dancing With The Stars. I only watch the show long enough to see him dance, and this week he got down with the Hustle!

• LOATHED the week of dud play by Fantasy Football Superstars. While I won in three of my five leagues this week, the inconsistent play of superstars like T.O., Peyton, Braylon Edwards, and LaDainian, have many leagues in an uproar.

• LOVED to LOATHE The Real Housewives of Atlanta. It’s like a train wreck and I can’t look away. When I compare these women to The Real Housewives of New York it becomes painfully obvious that there is nothing worse than new money! I’m not going to name names, but unless you are a Rockefeller, Kennedy, or possibly Will and Jada, why do you need a “governess”? It’s true what they say…money can’t buy class!

Well that was my Thursday 10. You may not have time to run down a full 10, but what did you love and loathe this week?

JerzeeChick

So the debates are over.  I must say, Obama never ceases to amaze me.  He is “Presidential” to say the least.  He doesn’t lose his temper and although I’m sure it pains him, he looks on intently as McShame speaks.  I wish I had the power to read minds because I’m sure the stuff going though Obama’s head as he listened to McShame shovel crap had to be comical.

Speaking of comical…..Again McShame looked like a claymation character.  Also, he was part brat part demented old man all night.  I was waiting for him to roll on the floor kicking and screaming like a two year old.  His incessant need to throw petty irrelevant digs in there was quite annoying.

As far as recaps, I think the highlight of the debate was when the moderator asked both candidates if they thought their running mates and consequently their opponents running mates were qualified.  I wanted Obama to say “No, Sara Who is not qualified”, but he was too cool for that.  He just said “I’ll leave that up to the American People”.  As an “American Person”, I have an answer…NOPE! Throw that broad off the ballot because the only thing she’s qualified to do is half way cover up her own corruption!  McShame couldn’t even fix his lips to say she was qualified.  He simply said he was “proud of her”.  I’m proud of Maxwell for FINALLY touring again, but I wouldn’t put him in the White House!

Another funny moment was when McShame talked about how much money Obama spent on negative ads.  He went on and on about how Obama has spent more money than any candidate in history.  Um, hello Senator McShame, Barack HAS more money to spend.  Don’t hate the player,hate the game.  I got an email today about donating to the Obama campaign.  They only asked for $25.  Imagine how many middle class people like me have slid ten’s and twenties to Obama…oops my bad, McShame isn’t concernd about the Middle Class!

One good thing about this being the last debate is I am one step closer to not hearing the word “repudiate”.  OMG…McShame looked extra claymation like when he was trying to express his hurt feelings over what John Lewis said.  Facts are facts, and Sara Who does use language that incites crazy people.  When people yell “terrorist” and “kill him” in regards to Barack Obama all she does is grin.  McShame keeps harping on Obama’s alleged association with Bill Ayers.  Come on now…it’s all a ploy to play on the fears of American’s and unfairly paint Obama as some type of radical.

It’s down to 20 days.  The polls seem to be going for Obama, but McShame and Sara Who are not going away quietly.  I expect to hear more negative stuff from the Republicans, and I’m sure Obama will stay on his message and keep pushing the economy, healthcare, and education.  Will it be enough?  With 20 days to go Epiphanyblog, do you think Obama will make it happen, or is the so called “October Surprise” going to wreck everything?  I’m sure Republican strategists are already concocting a way to steal the election (Oh, we’re sorry Mr. Obama, you didn’t read the fine print.  We know you won the popular vote and more electoral votes, but you have too many syllables in your name and can’t be Commander-in-Chief). *rolls eyes*!

JerzeeChick

If I had a shot of tequila for everytime McShame said “my friends”, I’d be tore up right now…

So here we are again.  Another debate complete, and Obama is apparently exceeding everyone’s expectations.  I guess people thought the brother was going to get up there and act like he was auditioning for a season of “I Wanna Work for Diddy”.  They also thought McShame the “maverick” was going to get up there and talk circles around the black guy with the funny name.

I admit, after hearing the negative remarks from Sara Who and McShame over the past few days I was hoping Obama would get up there and flex a little bit.  Obama didn’t take the bait though.  He was cool and composed and stayed on his message during the entire debate.

McShame was another story!  Did you hear him refer to Obama as “that one”?  Talk about a condescending jerk!  McShame walked around that stage looking like a dinosaur at a funeral…with his little arms!  He was more Tyrannosaurus than Presedential if you ask me. It is obvious he has no respect for Obama.  As I learn more about McShame, I am even more convinced that he would be a dangerous President.  He’s a spoiled brat that can’t fathom not getting his way.  He wants to be President at any cost, and will smear Obama relentlessly if he thinks it will give him the keys to the White House.

My only fear at this point is, can we trust white people to do the right thing.  Can they look past the color of Obama’s skin, and vote for the candidate that will turn this country around?  Sara Who is becoming more and more unhinged with every apperance, and McShame is showing his true colors with each interview.  The choice is clear.  Eight is definitely enough, and I refuse to believe McShame can do anything but continue the status quo of Bush policies.  At this point the ONLY thing that is keeping McShame in this race is that fact that he’s a white man, and some people will gladly lose their jobs, homes, and sanity to keep a black man out of the white house!

I’m interested to hear your debate feedback.  Epiphanyblog, sound off–

JerzeeChick

P.S. I stopped counting the “my friends” comments about an hour into the debate, and he was already up to 15.

Did I or did I not say Sara Who was the queen of the “non-answer”?????  If you were able to stomach the debate I’d love to hear what you thought.  In my opinion she did too much “Stepford Wife” smiling and winking….I’m sorry since when is winking a good debate tactic?

Since she seems to know what “American’s are cravin’” she should know we want more from her than general talk about Alaska.  We need to know her thoughts for the future of this country.  It was so obvious to me that she went off topic so often because she was CLUELESS.  She threw out scripted answers and then reverted to what she thought was “charm”.  I feel almost like I was watching Tina Fey on Saturday Night Live. “You’re darn right”, blah blah blah give me a break Sara Who, you are NOT my homegirl.  She actually gave a “shout out” *Puhleeeeeeze*! And to all the teachers out there…can someone send this chick a phonics book. 

Joe Six Pack….really?  That’s her problem right there.  She has been drinking too many six packs and has convinced herself she’s qualified.  I swear if I hear her refer to herself and McShame as “mavericks” again I’m gonna slit my wrists.  McShame has been complaining about Obama’s lead being due to “life not being fair”.  What’s not fair is him subjecting us to Sara Who in primetime.  How do you flat out admit you aren’t going to answer the questions the way the moderator (and voters) want you to?  Why show up then?  SHE should have cancelled her debate appearance!  And I’m still waiting to hear her tell us what her Achilles heel is.  Maybe she doesn’t know what that means…..do they even learn Greek Mythology in Alaska?

I could go on and on about her, but I’d like to hear what everyone else thought. 

JerzeeChick

With the increasing popularity of that show “Are you Smarter Than A 5th Grader”, and this debacle that is the Republican ticket (McShame/Sara Who? to be precise), I came up with my own little version of a reality game show to get you all ready for the debates tonight.

1.    Can you name at least three cases that have been heard by the United States Supreme Court?
2.    Did you get a passport before you turned forty?
3.    Do you have foreign policy experience?
4.    Do you know how to make money on eBay?

Okay class pencils down, it’s time to go over the answers.  Remember the stakes are high here.  Your answers might get you a trip on Air Force Two.  You might be qualified to be the man (or woman) next to the man in charge of these great United States!

Question 1
During her most recent Katie Couric interview, Sara Who could not answer this question.  Of course she knew Roe v Wade, but after that she was speechless.  Hmm lets see, in Final Jeopardy, as that ridiculous doom-doom-doom-doom-doom-doom-doom music played I would have scribbled Roe v Wade, Brown v Board of Education, and New Jersey v TLO.  Then of course there’s the whole Guantanamo Bay thing that the Supreme Court had to rule on, and oh yeah the 2000 Presidential Election that George W stole.  I guess those things were all of no consequence to Sara Who since she once supported the Alaska Independence Party.  All that Supreme Court stuff is irrelevant when you want to form your own country, right?

Question 2
Most of us had been to Mexico, The Bahamas, or Jamaica at least once before we turned thirty….but international jet setting diva homebody fertile myrtle Sara Who was about forty three when she took her first international trip.  Gotta love a globe trotter!

Question 3
Let’s see….I’ve negotiated taxi rates at the airport in Paris.  I’ve convinced a man in India to sell me a bunch of pashmina’s for the low-low.  Seeing as Sara Who says her proximity to Russia qualifies as foreign policy experience, the fact that I survived dysentery in Mumbai should count for something!

Question 4
I have purchased a couple of things on eBay….for a COME UP! Sara Who bragged about unloading a plane on eBay.  She failed to mention that selling it on eBay at a substantial loss isn’t good business sense.

We watched Obama hold his own last week, and prove McShame would be an extension of the last eight years. The world will be watching the Vice Presidential Debates because Sara Who has one shot to convince everyone she’s qualified. I’m sure the speechwriters are prepping her at this very moment and I expect her to spout off a lot “canned” Republican jibber-jabber and avoid giving real answers.  She’ll double talk and repeat the same things over and over again.  Surely we’ll hear a lot of useless moose hunting facts sprinkled with the conservative party line.  She’s an expert at giving a non-answer and tomorrow will be no different.

Even though we know the only cabinet she should be a part of is the one in her kitchen, the Republicans have anointed her the savior of good old-fashioned American values.  Her smug tone makes their foolish hearts jump, and nit-wits like Bill O’Reilly and Rush Limbaugh would love nothing more than to see McShame and Sara Who taking the oath of office in January.  So back to the game show…

Alright Epiphanyblog, now that you’ve evaluated your answers to my four questions…Are You Smarter Than a VP?
JerzeeChick

Hello Epiphany,

I hope you can all view the video.  If you have a problem with this link, check it out on YouTube.  Just search for the title “You Ain’t Slick, McShame”.  Post your comments below as usual.  With the debates looming it is so important for us to be on our toes and paying attention.  There are so many undecided voters floating out there and this is an opportunity for some of them to “decide” to Barack the Vote!  Hope you enjoy my video, and please pass it on!  Like I said you can view it at YouTube too!

Also, I wanted to give myself a shameless plug….I will be at the Baltimore Book Festival this Saturday from 11-7. Rain or shine, I’ll be there, so stop by!  I will be in the “Author’s Tent”.  (The Authors’ Tent is located in the very popular East Park at 17 East Mt. Vernon Place , near the Literary Salon and Peabody Library).  I will be selling books as well as giving items away.  Stop by and say hi…..I don’t want to be the only little brown face out there with no visitors at her table –LOL!

JerzeeChick

I am not sure if anyone watched the BET R Kelly interview, but if you missed it…that was some MESS!  For me personally, R Kelly is guilty.  Short of the promise of a full on confession, there is nothing he could say to make me tune in.  I didn’t even know the interview was going on until I heard about it on the radio the morning after the fact. I heard a few of the morning on air personalities cut him up, so I had to Google it and watch some footage.  Again I say…that was some MESS!

First of all, the way he talks about his “fans” makes my stomach turn.  Then the way he acted like such the victim…I swear I threw up in my mouth a little bit.  I already have no real love for BET, and their programming is (drum roll please…) some MESS. I wasn’t surprised that they would be chomping at the bit to give this fool a medium with which to try to declare his innocence…never mind the fact that he had the opportunity to take the stand in his own defense and refused, but I digress.

The highlight (or low-light) came when the interviewer asked him if he had a thing for teenage girls.  An innocent man would have point blank categorically answered NO in the most emphatic tone he could muster.  Not your boy Kells!  That fool stuttered and said “When you say teenage, how old are you talking”.  WHAT!?!?!?!  I think the interviewer threw up in his mouth a little bit too! As if I wasn’t already disgusted by R Kelly, this was the icing on the cake for real.  Even OJ was more convincing when he said he was looking for Nicole’s real killer.

Last week I mentioned boycotts, so you know the R Kelly boycott is still in full effect.  I am posting a snippet of the BET interview, because I am dying to understand how any self respecting person can support this clown.  Maybe he is an extremely talented artist, but I wouldn’t leave him alone with my female puppy let alone my young sister/cousin/daughter.  Michael Vick is in a federal penitentiary for crimes committed against dogs, but your boy Kells gets to blame his tarnished image on people that are “hating” on him? Is it me, or does the “Pied Piper of R&B” need to pack up and relocate to a desert island in the South Pacific? Watch it and judge for yourself…that was some MESS!!!
JerzeeChick

When I was in college, my roommates and I staged a mini boycott of a place called Cluck-U.  They sold these steroid infused addictive chicken wings that most students loved.  There was a period of time when we were having Cluck-U delivered every week.  I don’t remember the details of the boycott, but I believe it had to do with excessive waits for delivery (over an hour on a weekend), cold food (who wants cold soggy wings) and maybe an over inflated delivery charge.  At the end of the day the boycott probably meant nothing to Cluck-U, but we felt good about ourselves (and yes we eventually started eating Cluck-U again, but we stopped getting it delivered).

Since then I’ve boycotted several businesses: Wal-Mart( they can NOT get my money), South West Airlines (I wouldn’t take a South West flight if Jesus was the pilot), Nine West, DSW on Camp Creek, and Spondivits just to name a few.  I could go on and on, but the point is when I feel like I am getting bad service, or I feel like I’m being taken advantage of, (I will boycott doing my work too if I feel so moved) I cease and desist with my support.   I’ve stopped subscriptions to magazines because I didn’t like their subject matter.  I’ve stopped watching certain television stations because I found their programming offensive.  At the end of the day we are all empowered to make these decisions and should feel free to do so when the situation warrants it.

While I am a definite proponent of ones “Right to Boycott”…..I was more than disgusted when I heard about the latest antics of the McShame/Sara Who Cult (yes they have officially been labeled a “cult” by me)!  A GOP women’s group has now decided to launch a national boycott of Oprah Winfrey because she refused to book Sara Who on her show.  Where shall I begin…

First of all, it’s her show!  She can book whomever she wants, nevertheless Oprah came out months ago and said she would not have any candidates on her show because she was an active Obama supporter and it would be unfair to only have him and not other candidates. (Obama’s appearances on her show were before he announced his candidacy).  Secondly who is Sara Who to think she MUST get Oprah’s ear?  These Sara Who Culteers are crazy. (In case you are wondering, yes “culteer” is a word I made up and it means “member of a cult”….kind of like a Musketeer or a Mouseketeer).  In the article I read they actually  refer to Sara Who as an “Icon”.  Really?  Cher is an icon, Tina Turner is an icon.  Sara Who is a smoke and mirrors act put together by the Republicans to steal the votes of the Pantsuit Posse. 

What makes her iconic?  Is it the fact that she preached “abstinence only” in her state all the while she couldn’t even enforce it in her own house?  While these nut jobs are busy boycotting Oprah, they need to be trying to get the Palin’s on Maury or Jerry Springer.  The rumor on YouTube is that the REAL baby daddy is a wanna be rapper from Los Angeles that met the Fertile Myrtle seventeen year old while visiting his uncle Alaska.  Oh yeah, did I mention he’s BLACK.  While it is probably untrue….that story has Maury, not Oprah, written all over it!!!!!!

JerzeeChick

Hypothetically speaking, if Tiny Tears had won the Democratic Nomination for President, most of us would be supporting her right now.  We wouldn’t have foolishly supported the Republican candidate for spite, Right?  Okay in keeping with the hypothetical, let’s just say Tiny Tears is running on a ticket with Joe Biden, and McShame announces Condoleezza Rice is his running mate.  Knowing the Condi is a George W crony all day and all night, could you look past all that in order to vote your race and or gender?   Would you vote for McShame simply because a black woman was his running mate?

In my opinion it’s not about Barack Obama being a black man, it’s about him being the right man.  Also in my opinion for Sara Who supporters it’s not about her being the right person, it’s about her knocking the wind out of Obama’s sail.  People are so floored by Barack Obama, so upset that a skinny black dude could take America by storm in the way that he has, some of them would vote for Elvis rather than see Barack Obama taking the oath of office.

I am optimistic in thinking that American’s are smart enough to see through the smoke and mirrors of the Republican Party.  I am hopeful, that people will not fall for the McShame and Sara Who foolishness.  This recent bump in the polls will eventually fade and we can focus on the issues.  In a minute the media will stop treading so lightly and put the screws to Sara Who they way they did to everyone associated with Barack Obama.

Allegedly ABC News will interview Sara Who tonight.  I’m sure her speech writers have given her talking points, and I’m sure Charles Gibson will give her ample time to pontificate on her small town values and being a hockey mom blah blah blah!  I’m sure I will have to stifle a vomit as she gushes with syrupy sweetness all while trying to play the part of the pit bull in lipstick (notice I didn’t say pig…LOL)!  These things, I’m sure of, but the mind of American voters puzzles me.  In my original question I asked about Condi.  I know I wouldn’t vote for her for the same reason I refuse to go to Wal-Mart.  Why set myself up for the disappointment?  Black woman or not, she doesn’t seem to care about the issues that concern me, and I wouldn’t give her four years to run a-muck just because she was a sistah. Is that wrong?

As the convention dust settles and the candidates get back on the campaign trail, issues will once again take center stage. Sweet Jesus be a dose of common sense for these recent McShame/Sara Who converts. What is the fascination with this chick?  Is voting your gender really that big of a deal?  The repercussions of this election will be felt for years to come.  Isn’t it more important to keep your homes and put your kids through college than to one day tell your grandkids that you helped elect the first female Vice President (and ended up living in a trailer park because you lost your job to Ramesh and Gupti)?
JerzeeChick

My last post was “Sara Who?” because I was wondering how McShame came to think she was the right person to choose as a running mate. As I read through the comments, I realized I wasn’t alone in my thinking. Against my better judgment, I watched the RNC in primetime tonight.  It was great.  It was a mess!!! Somebody slap me.  Somebody slap Rudy Giuliani!!!  For a moment I thought was watching an episode of Def Comedy Jam….then they panned through the audience and I saw all those tired outfits and old people cornballs and realized Russell Simmons would not be taking the stage.  John McShame did take the stage looking Presidential like a claymation Fire Marshall Bill.

Do I feel better about Sara Who…..NOPE!!!!!  Nothing she said made me feel even remotely better about her being in the number 2 spot.  I googled her last week so she said nothing I didn’t already know. She gave us the 411 about her family (again), she told us about her “refusal” of congress’s “bridge to nowhere” (yawn), and she showed us hygiene wasn’t a big deal in her house (did y’all see that little girl slick that baby’s hair down with spit…YUCK)! She did a lot of McShame schmoozing, but that was to be expected.  Basically I feel the same way I did yesterday…they plucked her to appeal to women and the conservative Republican base.  She has no new ideas and nothing of substance to bring to the White House or this country.

I heard a few jabs about Obama’s time as a community organizer.  It just goes to show you how out of touch the Republicans are.  A Presidential Candidate that is actually concerned with his community is a good thing.  A candidate concerned with the plight of the poor and under-served to me is more desirable than a candidate that won Ms. Congeniality.

The Republicans love to paint Obama as “elitist” and say he appeals to celebrities and not regular people.  Again they have it all wrong.  Obama appeals to people with SENSE.  Obama appeals to people wanting something different than this mess the Republicans want to keep going.  Obama appeals to the people that want to END THE WAR.  I don’t need to hear about us staying the course in Iraq.  I don’t need to hear about McShame getting it right with the surge.  What about people with no healthcare?  What about all the jobs that keep going overseas?   I want to hear how you are going to make college affordable for our kids.  Sweet Jesus be a reality check and shake some sense into the Pantsuit Posse.  John McShame and Sara Who do not have our best interests at heart.  Their pseudo-conservative values and fear tactics (If I hear them allude to Obama not being tough on terror one more time…..) are exactly what we DON’T need!

The media is falling all over themselves complimenting her speech and talking about how “tough” she was.  GIVE ME A BREAK…..so what she gave a tough speech. The speech was written by a George Bush speech writer.  I’ll say it again SARA WHO?????

JerzeeChick

Okay so I was supposed to wait until Thursday to blog….but I couldn’t resist.  Sara Who???  I refuse to watch the dog and pony show that will be the Republican National Convention.  We all know the Democrats already stole the proverbial show last week.  Michelle Obama gave an awesome speech.  Tiny Tears and Bill did what they needed to do and as expected Obama brought it home.  All was right with the world, and here come the Republicans.

We expected the Republicans to be desperate, and at the end the day nothing they do should surprise us….but Sara Who?  Relatively speaking I’m sure there were some decent VP candidates out there.  Does John McCain really think the Pantsuit Posse is so desperate they will vote for anyone with ta-ta’s?  After making such a big case about Obama’s experience, John McCain plucks a chick he spoke to TWICE?

For those that don’t know, Sara Who is the Governor of Alaska.  She is mid-way through her first term, and prior to that she was the mayor of a small town.  She has no foreign policy experience. She met John McCain one time a while back, and then John McCain called her last week to ask her if she wanted to be Vice President.   He ought to be ashamed of himself.  I had to go through a harder interview process when I applied for a seasonal job at Bloomingdales!

So what do we know about Sara.  Well, she is under investigation for trying to get her brother-in-law fired from his job.  I can’t knock her hustle though….if I felt my sister’s husband dogged her out, and I had a little pull, I might try to get him tossed from his job too…..but I’m not about to be Vice President.  Why on earth would McShame select a candidate already involved in a scandal?  Oh yeah, he’s trying to steal the Pantsuit Posse votes.  Now had Tiny Tears not been nursing her sour grapes for so long, her Traveling Pantsuit Posse wouldn’t be so much of a factor right now…but I digress.

What else do we know about Sara…she’s about to be a grandma.  Her seventeen-year-old daughter is pregnant and about to marry the “baby daddy”.  Far be it for me to judge her parenting skills, but if her kids are running wild do we really want her as second in command?  Let’s not kid ourselves, McShame isn’t getting any younger and if she couldn’t juggle running Alaska and her household what happens if she becomes top dog?

Regarding her policies and voting records, she was a proponent of “Abstinence Only” programs in public schools.  We see how well that one worked out for her.  Don’t get me wrong; the pregnant teenage daughter is sort of irrelevant in the grand scheme of things.  What is relevant is why John McShame would pick HER.  Sara Who????  I can’t believe the crazy right wing media is falling for this mess too!  Come on now….are you kidding me?????

Obama is going to win, so it doesn’t really matter, but I am slightly insulted that the Republican’s think so little of voters in this election.  This country is screaming for CHANGE and McShame picks a running mate that embodies all those old school Republican ideals that have been making us miserable since forever!   I just hope the Pantsuit Posse will come to their senses and realize this was just a ploy to steal their votes and a vote for McShame and Sara Who is a vote for Republican Mess.  When I saw the initial press conference announcing Sara Who as the running mate I was shocked and floored.  Five days later, you can add disgusted to the list.  So Epiphanyblog tell me….what’s your take on Sara Who?
JerzeeChick

Tonight, I say to the American people, to Democrats and Republicans and Independents across this great land - enough! This moment - this election - is our chance to keep, in the 21st century, the American promise alive. Because next week, in Minnesota, the same party that brought you two terms of George Bush and Dick Cheney will ask this country for a third. And we are here because we love this country too much to let the next four years look like the last eight. On November 4th, we must stand up and say: “Eight is enough.”  –Barack Obama

I sat on the couch and watched the Barack Obama acceptance speech last night.  I hung on to his every word, and often applauded as if I was right there among that huge crowd.  Obama brought it home last night, and I was so proud!  He got his jabs in without sounding like an “angry black man” (I hate that term by the way).Of course the main stream commentators are picking him apart for not detailing how he planned to pay for all his new ideas, but he spoke for over forty minutes, and last night was not the time for nickel and dime figures. 

On the 40^th Anniversary of Martin Luther King’s “I Have A Dream” speech, we saw a black man stand in front of the world to say:  “with profound gratitude and great humility, I accept your nomination for the presidency of the United States”.  He was definitely humble, and grateful for the support we’ve given thus far, but it’s not over yet.  We must all remain engaged in this political process.  The election is a few months away and I expect there to be a lot of the same tomfoolery we saw in the last two elections (hanging chads, pantsuit protests, et al). 

Last night when Obama said “What the nay-sayers don’t understand is that this election has never been about me. It’s been about you,” I applauded.  This election is about more than having a black man in the White House, it’s about having THE RIGHT MAN in the White House (the fact that he’s black is just an added bonus)!  As we watch Obama campaign for these next few months lets continue to be diligent in our support.  He’s only going to get elected if we continue to support him, so let’s not drop the ball now. 

Change comes to Washington. Change happens because the American people demand it - because they rise up and insist on new ideas and new leadership, a new politics for a new time.  We can all agree that eight is enough, and like I said earlier in the week…..The Obama’s are the choice of a new generation!  I know I am not the only person that watched last night, so I am interested to hear how we all felt as we came one step closer to making the YES WE CAN dream a reality!

JerzeeChick

I didn’t grow up in a time where there were separate water fountains for “colored” and “white” people.  I didn’t attend a segregated school system, and I never had to enter a hotel through the kitchen.  Even though I grew up in a northern city in the seventies and eighties, I know racism is a reality and people of color still experience injustices on a daily basis.  Having said that, I wanted to take a moment to highlight this monumental moment in our history.

Many of us have supported Obama for months and to that end today he became the official Democratic Nominee.  We have a BLACK man as our nominee!  I did not ever think I would see this in my lifetime and I am so proud.  I have written countless blogs supporting Barack Obama, and like many of you I believed in him and his message of change.  I watched the nay-sayers and the haters come out and try to knock his hustle.  I watched Tiny Tears and that silly 3AM ad.  I watched as political pundits criticized Obama’s message.  I watched the media try to assassinate his wife’s character and play the man out as un-patriotic.  I look forward to the acceptance speech tomorrow, and I look forward to watching the Obama’s take their first pictures as the official First Family.  Barack and Michelle can represent for me any day!

There are seventy four days until the election.  We’ve already made history, but we can’t stop now.  Apathy can not longer be accepted in our communities.  Barack has shown the world that if you work hard and believe in yourself and your ability to make things happen, nothing is impossible.  Kids in the hood that think being a rapper or a ball player is as good as it gets now have another option.  The Huxtable legacy might be a thing of the past, but the Obama’s are truly the choice of a new generation!

JerzeeChick

In an effort to be fair, I thought I would write something nice about Tiny Tears.  Truth be told, I think she gave an excellent speech.  The crowd seemed to enjoy it, and she did a good job of sticking it to McCain.  My problem is not with Tiny Tears….it’s with those blindly loyal followers.  If I didn’t know better I’d think Tiny Tears was passing out some Kool Aid a la Jim Jones at those rallies!  When I hear her supporters on the radio, or read about them in print, I’m like are you kidding me?

            I want to reiterate, Hillary gave a great speech last night.  I don’t think it was as good as Michelle’s from the previous night, but all in all she did what she came out to do.  With the convention half over, we still have these die hard Clinton supporters planning their own Bitter Ball.  Yes I see them dressed in their god-awful pantsuits, waving Hillary flags.  They are frowning and complaining because Tiny Tears didn’t win.  I don’t know what they thought would happen.  You lose, you go home.  You don’t try to strong arm the winner into giving you something you don’t deserve.

            They are now said to be bitter because Obama chose Biden as his running mate instead of Clinton, when she was clearly the better candidate.  They say Hillary deserved to be VP, and Obama stole it from her, so they refuse to give him their votes.  Some of them would rather put another Republican in the White House, than vote for Barack.  Tiny Tear’s pant suit posse is a mess and they need to get a grip!

            Everyone is applauding Hillary for all she’s done to unite the party.  Well correct me if I’m wrong, but had she shown a little grace months ago and stepped down when she knew she didn’t have a shot at winning, there wouldn’t be so many rifts to heal.  She took a chance and stayed in the race, hoping the tide would change in her direction.  When it was finally time to concede, and drop out, she did the flim-flam and only “suspended” her campaign.  So busy bigging herself up, she should have fully conceded and told the pant suit posse to climb on the Obama train then.

Here we are halfway through the convention and the pant suit posse is still threatening not to support Obama.  What is it going to take to get through to these people?  Hillary lost.  Hillary will not be VP.  If McCain wins because Tiny Tear’s supporters voted for him, I’ll be crushed……but I know one somebody in a pantsuit that will be doing an “I told you so” victory dance for sure!   

JerzeeChick

You work hard for what you want in life.  Your word is your bond.  You do what you say you’re going to do.  You treat people with dignity and respect even if you don’t know them and even if you don’t agree with them. –Michelle Obama

Normally I don’t blog until Thursday…but I think we can all agree this is not a normal situation.  We are about to have a black family as the “First Family”!  The Democratic National Convention got underway last night.  Caroline Kennedy did a great job of endorsing Obama again, and Ted Kennedy made the trip from his sick bed to show his support for Obama.  I have never really paid too much attention to the DNC, but again, this is not a normal situation.

I know the buzz in every office is Michelle Obama’s speech from last night.  Girlfriend was magnificent!!!  As a black woman, I was excited to see someone that looked like me deliver such a humble yet eloquent speech.  She spoke from her heart, and her words were genuine and true.  Her speech wasn’t a campaign speech.  It was a wife and mother talking about her husband and their dreams for their children. She delivered for Barack last night!  She even spoke nicely about Tiny Tears, which I think was very classy.  When Michelle said “your word is your bond”…I knew she was a city girl for real.  When was the last time you heard someone emphatically say “word is bond” as they swore a truth to you.  On the playground if you didn’t end it with “word is bond”, it meant nothing!  Word is bond…Michelle is alright with me!

If the Kennedy’s were Camelot, The Obama’s are royalty for a new generation.  Their message of values and personal responsibility is something that has been lacking in recent years.  I am not sure who is on the agenda for tonight, but I’ll be watching!  In the mean time, I wanted to open the “blog” for commentary from you all!  How do you think Michelle did last night?

JerzeeChick