Happy New Year!
I’d like to wish everyone a Happy New Year. I have a lot planned for the new year. Thanks for all the support and comments throughout the year. Be safe.
Podcast: What I’m Talkin About – Ujamaa – 12/29/07
Show Notes – Special Kwanzaa Episode – Ujamaa
What I’m Talkin’ About
Learn more about the principles of Kwanzaa at Mandrake Society Radio
Group Discussion on the principle of Ujamaa
Guest Participants:
Martin Hodges – Liberate Magazine
Benin Mwangi – beninmwangi.com
Mugure Mugo – Preciss Data
Special thanks to Preciss Data for providing a transcription of the podcast
Black Business Buzz
SportAcular Players
Black History Hero
Ephren Taylor – America’s Youngest Black CEO
Independent Music Showcase
The Caliban Project
“Rein” (mp3)
from “Rein”
(Paragon Inc)
Buy at iTunes Music Store
Buy at eMusic
Stream from Rhapsody
Buy at Rhapsody
Buy at Napster
Buy at Amazon
Buy at GroupieTunes
More On This Album
Announcements
I’m a member of a new social networking site at www.cre8buzz.com. I need to build up the black population, so come join me. It’s open to the public. Come see me at cre8Buzz > People > African American community
New Domain to Get to the Site – theotalks.net
Hear My Show on the Blubrry Network
Spread the word about this podcast
Contact Information
Feel free to leave comments on the website or call the voicemail line at 972-464-1899
Intro & Background Music
The intro & closing music clip was written and performed by PsykoSoul Music
“Family Affair” by PsykoSoul Music featuring CB Harris and Calvin
Don’t Forget to Check Your Credit
Filed under: Blog Entries, Community, Education, Personal Finance, Society & Culture
Just a quick reminder to check your credit report before the end of the year. I know it’s last minute, but if you haven’t done so, get to it. Every year the government gives you a free credit report check so you can make sure there are no fraudulent inquiries on your record.
I do it every year for my family because identity theft can make your life miserable. When you run the check, you can get your report from the top three credit agencies: Equifax, TransUnion and Experian. While the credit report is free, you do not get access to your Fico score. To check your fico score, it costs $7.95, which in my opinion is well worth the cost. If you do see something on your report that doesn’t belong, you can report it to the credit agencies and follow the process to get it removed.
You can get your 30-day free credit report by visiting annualcreditreport.com or call 1-877-322-8228.
Come Join Me in the Village at AfricanPath
Filed under: Blog Entries, Business, Community, Technology, Think Global
There’s a new social networking site for people interested in creating relationships with Africa, discovering African cultures and reconnecting with Africans worldwide in a fun and dynamic environment. In my quest to “think global” I joined and I’m on my way to learning more about ways to do business in Africa.
It’s always been something I’ve been interested in, so we’ll see how it goes. I was invited by fellow blogger Benin Mwangi who has been integral in helping me learn more about the continent of Africa. I enjoy meeting people from other parts of the world and the Internet has made doing so easier.
Check out the Village at African Path and let me know what you think.
Prayer for a Fellow Blogger
Filed under: Black Blogger Postings, Blog Entries, Community, General, My Thoughts
This wasn’t a planned post, but fellow blogger Vanessa Byers is asking for prayer on her blog and I felt it necessary to let the readers of this blog know also. I’m a strong believer in the power of prayer and have seen what it can do. My dad passed away in 2001, but 15 years before that, the doctors didn’t give him much more time due to a brain stem stroke. My mom told as many people as possible and asked all who had it in their heart to pray for him. He’s not here now, but he did get 15 more years the doctors said he wouldn’t have. Because of the prayers from others, he got to see me graduate from high school, college and get married.
So when you get a chance, check out her blog post and pray for Vanessa and her family. God gives us prayer for a reason.
Request for Prayer for Healing, Uplift and Strength
Digital Television Countdown Begins Jan 1st
Filed under: Blog Entries, Business, Entertainment & Sports, General, Technology
You soon won’t be able to turn around without hearing about “digital television” and its potential impact on you. Even though there is still a limited (but growing) universe of true high definition programming available over the air, Channel 8 and every other TV station in North Texas is sending out a digital signal right alongside its traditional “analog” transmission.
But all those analog signals will be switched off permanently on Feb. 17, 2009 by government mandate. That means if you’re watching Channel 8 on an older TV set and you get your picture with an off-air antenna, you’ll see nothing but snow starting on that date.
You should know, however, that old TVs can be used for years into the future with the help of a friendly little box to convert the new digital channels into an analog-friendly signal. While these converter boxes are expected to cost about $60 each, every family in the U.S. is entitled to receive up to two coupons with a value of $40 each that can be used to buy the adapters. You can sign up for the coupons starting Jan. 1, 2008.
Check out the WFAA.com DTV 2009 Countdown section for answers to questions. Don’t go into debt trying to buy a television you can’t afford. For now just use the coupon and apply for it as soon as you can. It’s been in the making for a while, so I didn’t think they would pass it and get it going as soon as they did. But the time to convert is coming and I want you to be prepared. Here are some other documents that may help also.
Digital TV Fact Sheet Contract
Preparing For The Digital TV Transition
What the President Has Signed Into Law – November 2007
The purpose for this post is to inform you of the new laws enacted by President Bush. It’s good to know what’s going on because some of them may benefit us as a people. It’s important for us to watch every step our government takes. We elect them, so we need to make sure they are doing their job. The laws I list are posted at whitehouse.gov. For a more unbiased version, I’d recommend doing additional research at govtrack.us. As always feel free to leave any additional comments on the enacted laws.
On Monday, November 5, 2007, the President signed into law:
H.R. 327, the “Joshua Omvig Veterans Suicide Prevention Act,” which requires VA to develop and implement a comprehensive program to reduce the incidence of suicide among veterans; and
H.R. 1284, the “Veterans’ Compensation Cost-of-Living Adjustment Act of 2007,” which provides a cost-of-living increase for the beneficiaries of veterans’ disability compensation and dependency and indemnity compensation.
On Thursday, November 8, 2007, the President signed into law:
H.R. 1808, which designates the Department of Veterans Affairs Medical Center in Augusta, Georgia, as the Charlie Norwood Department of Veterans Affairs Medical Center; and
S. 2106, the “Procedural Fairness for September 11 Victims Act of 2007,” which provides for nationwide service of subpoenaes in litigation arising out of the hijacking and subsequent crashes of the terrorist-related flights of September 11, 2001.
On Tuesday, November 13, 2007, the President signed into law:
H.R. 2779, which recognizes the Navy UDT-SEAL Museum, located in Fort Pierce, Florida, as the official national museum of Navy SEALs and their predecessors; and
H.R. 3222, which provides FY 2008 appropriations for the Department of Defense (DOD) military programs; and provides FY 2008 appropriations for continuing projects and activities of the Federal Government through Friday, December 14, 2007.
On Thursday, November 15, 2007, the President signed into law:
H.R. 2546, which designates the Department of Veterans Affairs Medical Center in Asheville, North Carolina, as the “Charles George Department of Veterans Affairs Medical Center.”
On Friday, November 16, 2007, the President signed into law:
H.R. 2602, which designates the Department of Veterans medical facility in Iron Mountain, Michigan, as the Oscar G. Johnson Department of Veterans Affairs Medical Facility; and
S.J.Res. 7, which reappoints Roger W. Sant as a citizen regent of the Board of Regents of the Smithsonian Institution.
On Monday, November 19, 2007, the President signed into law:
S. 2206, which extends until December 1, 2009, the deadline for the congressional Joint Committee on the Library to enter into an agreement to obtain a statue of Rosa Parks to be placed in the U.S. Capitol in National Statuary Hall; and allows the Joint Committee to authorize the Architect of the Capitol to enter into the agreement on its behalf.
Podcast: See Ya Next Year – #33 – 12/09/07
Show Notes – Episode 33 – See Ya Next Year
What I’m Talkin’ About
My Thoughts and Review of Come On People
Blogging While Brown Conference
World AIDS Day
Black Blogging to End AIDS
Kwanzaa Show for Mandrake Radio will air December 29th
Plans for 2008
Black History Hero
Pickney Benton Stewart Pinchback – First Black Govenor of Louisiana
Independent Music Showcase
Eric Reed
“Angels In The Snow” (mp3)
from “Merry Magic”
(MAXJAZZ)
Buy at iTunes Music Store
Buy at eMusic
Stream from Rhapsody
Buy at Rhapsody
Buy at Napster
Buy at Amazon
Buy at GroupieTunes
More On This Album
Announcements
I’m a member of a new social networking site at www.cre8buzz.com. I need to build up the black population, so come join me. It’s open to the public. Come see me at cre8Buzz > People > African American community
New Domain to Get to the Site – theotalks.net
Hear My Show on the Blubrry Network
Spread the word about this podcast
Contact Information
Feel free to leave comments on the website or call the voicemail line at 972-464-1899
Intro & Background Music
The intro & closing music clip was written and performed by PsykoSoul Music
“Family Affair” by PsykoSoul Music featuring CB Harris and Calvin
Cosby and Poussaint urge us to ‘Come On People’
Filed under: Blog Entries, Business, Community, Education, Entertainment & Sports, Health, Life, My Thoughts, Society & Culture
I grew up listening to Bill Cosby. My dad had almost every album he put out and I remember sitting around the record player with my younger brother laughing at his comedy routine. I grew up on Fat Albert & the Cosby Kids, the stories of him and his brother Russell and Buck, Buck. As a teen I watched Cosby Show and a Different World. And even as an adult, I watch Little Bill with my son. So I can honestly say, I had high expectations for the book Come On People and knew there would be a lesson for everyone who read it.
I have to admit, while reading it I received a lot of mixed messages. You can tell they were trying to get their point across without offending too many people. It was definitely a toned down version of Cosby’s usual rants about the black community and I feel a lot of what they wrote was common sense. But along with the criticism, they gave a lot of advice on things we can do to improve our lives and lives of those around us. The book included topics on parenting, health, finances, community involvement and personal responsibility.
The first chapter covers the topic of the black male (or lack thereof) and offers advice on some of the things we can do as men to benefit our families and the community. I thought this was a great way to start the book because I think the role and concept of a real black man has been skewed. They ask the question, “What’s going on with black men?” and encourage men to build on the legacy of the those in the past. They ask men to re-dedicate themselves to the family and rebuild relationships that may have gone bad in an effort to be with their kids.
I was also glad to see some advice in the book for ex-offenders. Those who are looking to change have a hard time after they are release and there is a word for them in various chapters of the book. No one in the book was free from criticism, but everyone received some advice. Black men, woman and kids can get something out of the book, but you really have to take it as constructive criticism. There’s a lot in this book to take in, so I thought I’d list the topic of each chapter. Each chapter has different subtopics that touch on different things we face as a people.
Chapter 1: What’s Going On with Black Men?
Chapter 2: It Takes a Community
Chapter 3: We All Start Out as Children
Chapter 4: Teach Your Children Well
Chapter 5: The Media You Deserve
Chapter 6: Healthy Hearts and Minds
Chapter 7: The High Price of Violence
Chapter 8: From Poverty to Prosperity
My overall opinion is that Come On People gives the same general message as every other book I’ve read regarding the black community. It’s going to be up to us to make a change in what happens in our community. Dr. Cosby tends to get a lot of flack for what he says. But sometimes we need to hear the tough words. I’m sure this book will catch a lot of criticism, but if he didn’t care about our community, I’m sure he could just sit on his mounds of money relaxing on the beach. Many may not agree with their methods in how the message is presented, but Drs. Cosby and Poussaint have gotten people to talk about the issues. While this book may not apply to the majority of people who read it, I hope it does move us to get out there and make a difference where we can. It’s going to be up to us to take what’s said here and us it to help empower others.
I’ve provided some links below, if you would like to read a few chapters from the book. If you’ve read it, then I’d like to know how you feel. If not, then it’s a book worthy of adding to your collection. I’ll be giving some additional comments of Come On People on the next podcast.
http://treasures.billcosby.com/pdf/ComeonPeople-pg77-88.pdf
http://treasures.billcosby.com/pdf/ComeonPeople-pg124-132.pdf
http://treasures.billcosby.com/pdf/ComeonPeople-pg168-174.pdf
In keeping with full disclosure, I did want to let everyone know the reason for this review was because I received a copy from Team Cosby. The only requirements were that I read and post an open and honest review in a month’s time. You can rest assured that I did just as they asked.
The Passing of UGK’s Pimp C
Filed under: Blog Entries, Community, Entertainment & Sports, Music Reviews, My Thoughts
It was last night that I heard about the passing of legendary UGK hip-hop artist Pimp C. I’m a native Houstonian so I’m aware of the impact he had on the city as a pioneer of the Houston rap scene. If there’s one thing I’ve learned it’s that in every death, there’s a lesson in life. Born Chad Butler, this young brotha was only 33 years old and was on his way to opening new chapters in his life and business.
I’m 31, so this hits close to home because it reminds me that life is not promised. We get mad at people over little things and we hold unnecessary grudges and beefs that could easily be resolved. We fight, disrespect and kill each other without realizing the impact it has on our society and community. On the radio this morning I was listening to an interview with Pimp C and how he was talking about the benefits of working together. There’s power in numbers and there’s no limit to the positive impact we can make if we only work together.
I can’t say that I agree with everything he’s said and done, I hope to have an impact on the lives of others as he did. It’s evident that his loss will be felt in the hip-hop community. So continue to pray for his family and those close to him that they’ll be able to have strength through the grieving process ahead.
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