Show Me the Money
Filed under: Blog Entries, Personal Finance, Politics, Society & Culture
All I have to say is, it’s about time. This economy has been in turmoil for at least a year and they are finally getting around to doing something about it. Congress is making plans to create an economic stimulus package that would give checks of $600 per individual and $1,200 per couple who paid income tax and who filed jointly. If you did not pay taxes but had earned income of more than $3,000 would get checks of $300 per individual or $600 per couple. The checks would go to those who earned up to $75,000 individually or up to $150,000 as a couple.
This deal is still in the making because both parties have stipulations they want added to the package to make it seem like they’re the one who helped America in its time of need. I hope they get their act together and put together a package that Bush will sign. And I hope he is willing to compromise on some of the things in it so people can get some much needed help from their government.
The ten million dollar question is what would you do with some extra cash from the government? The idea is to get it into the hands of the lower and middle class because they know it will be spent as soon as it gets there. There are a lot of people in need who could really use the money. Energy prices are up and the price of gas is making everything else go up. Jobs aren’t paying as much as they used to and the dollar doesn’t buy as much as it used to. But I hope America is paying attention to what is happening. The housing crisis can’t be fully blamed on predatory lending. High credit card debt isn’t an issue the government should be concerned about. Some of this blame needs to go to the consumer. We overspent, we over-endulged and our eyes in some cases were bigger than our pocket book.
So whatever happens, I hope you are making ’08 the year to get out of debt. It’s a nice thing and you don’t have to be rich to do it. It takes some work and delayed gratification, but in the end it’s worth it. So spend yo money wisely!
“People who want to get rich fall into temptation and a trap and into many foolish and harmful desires that plunge men into ruin and destruction.” I Timothy 6:9, NIV
Podcast: What MLK Day Means to Me – #35 – 01/21/08
Show Notes – Episode 35 – What MLK Day Means to Me
What I’m Talkin’ About
What do you do on Martin Luther King Jr. Day? What does it mean to you?
Black History Hero
Queen Mother Audley Moore – Activist
From the book “Great Negroes Past And Present Vol. 2″
www.africanamericanimages.com
Independent Music Showcase
Eloise Wilson
“Don’t Let Me Be Wrong” (mp3)
from “Movement Soul Vol. 2″
(ESP Disk)
Buy at iTunes Music Store
Stream from Rhapsody
Buy at Napster
Buy at Rhapsody
Buy at Amazon
Buy at mTraks Download
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
I had to get a new voicemail phone number – 972.535.THEO (8436)
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 972.535.THEO (8436)
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
“I Have a Dream Speech” by Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.
10 Reasons To Become A Mentor
Filed under: Blog Entries, Community, Society & Culture
My church is making a big push to do even more this year in the community. There’s a local school that is in need of some help and we’re making it our mission to make sure they receive it. The men are being asked to lead the charge, because most of the students in need are young black men. Most don’t have a male figure in their lives, so I think it will be good for them to see there are some that care about them.
I think we sometimes overlook the importance of a male role-model in a child’s life. I found this list for 10 reasons to be a mentor over at Today’s Drum:
- Because young people need positive, successful adult role models;
- Because young people need guidance in setting and achieving goals;
- Because a relationship works two ways. You stand to gain from the insights of young people and helping them succeed is a great source of satisfaction;
- You enrich your life by helping to build a child’s character & self-esteem;
- You’ve had help along the way, people believe in you and now it’s your turn;
- Because it’s a great way to serve your community;
- When teens become parents or engage in a life of drugs or crime, it’s everyone’s problem;
- The children who are waiting for mentors are tomorrow’s work force;
- You will be a hero to a child;
- Mentoring Works!
These are just a few reasons to become a mentor. Even if it’s just a small amount of time, you have the opportunity to make a difference in someone’s life. Let’s make ’08 a year to get involved. You and your mentee will be better for it.
Circle of Promise
This year, one of the things I’d like to do is focus on our health. There are a lot of topics to cover, but I’d like the first to be about breast cancer. I was listening to the radio and some of the facts they mentioned about black women and breast cancer led me to put this post together.
I was reading an article that stated African-American women experience the longest diagnostic, treatment and clinical delay of breast cancer treatment. It was found that 77% of African-American women survive five years after diagnosis as compared to 90% for white women. African-American women also have a 6 percent higher death rate than white women.
While the numbers over the years have improved, there’s more work to be done. The key factor in decreasing the amount of women who die from breast cancer is education and early detection. The Susan G. Komen foundation has started a group called the Circle of Promise, which was created to ensure that African-American women are empowered with the information and tools they need to take charge of their own health and serve as ambassadors in their local communities. Essence magazine and Ford Motor company have also teamed up with the Circle of Promise to do their part in bringing awareness to the black community.
Now, I’m sure the million dollar question is why is a black man talking about breast cancer awareness? The answer is simple. I have a wife, a mom, a grandmother, family members and friends that could benefit from this type of information. If brest cancer can affect the people in my community, then it also affects me.
Related Links:
NPR : Breast Cancer Differences in African-American Women
Obama Looking to the Hip Hop Gen for Help
Filed under: Blog Entries, Community, Politics, Society & Culture
You can’t tell me this guy isn’t on his grind to win this thing. Barack Obama is looking to get support from Jay Z and Kanye West to reach the young voters and I think this is definitely a step in the right direction. I heard a comment on the radio that stated if 20% of the young voters participated in the election, he could win the presidency. How true that is, I’m not sure. But I am glad to see him reach out to the younger generation to get them involved in the political process.
Obama’s recognizes the importance of their vote and I hope his intentions are real. I’m glad to see younger people get involved because the laws and policy enacted today will affect them the most. For us old guys, this is our chance to encourage them to get involved. If you don’t vote, you have no reason to complain about anything our government is doing. Many people have put their lives on the line so that we could have the right to vote. So whomever you vote for, encourage others to do so also. It’s our right as Americans.
And while I’m on my soapbox, let’s not forget about those who have paved the way for this to happen.
What the President Has Signed Into Law – December 2007
Filed under: Blog Entries, Community, Our Rights, Politics
This year is going to be an amazing year in politics. There’s a lot going on with the elections and the candidates, but let’s not lose focus of what’s currently going on. The purpose for this post is to inform you of the new laws and acts 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 Thursday, December 6, 2007, the President signed into law:
H.R. 50, the “Multinational Species Conservation Funds Reauthorization Act of 2007,” which reauthorizes the African Elephant Conservation Act and the Rhinoceros and Tiger Conservation Act of 1994 through fiscal year 2012; and
H.R. 465, the “Asian Elephant Conservation Reauthorization Act of 2007,” which reauthorizes the Asian Elephant Conservation Act of 1997 through fiscal year 2012.
On Wednesday, December 12, 2007, the President signed into law:
H.R. 1429, the “Improving Head Start for School Readiness Act of 2007,” which reauthorizes the Head Start program for 5 years. This is a bill to reauthorize Head Start. Over the past 40 years, Head Start has provided comprehensive child-development services to more than 20 million low-income children and their families to promote school readiness. Because of the National Reporting System, we know that more Head Start programs are helping children gain early reading and math skills. But we must take steps to improve Head Start to ensure that low-income children arrive at school ready to learn.
On Friday, December 14, 2007, the President signed into law:
H.J.Res. 69, which makes further continuing appropriations for the fiscal year 2008; and
H.R. 4252, which extends the authorizations of certain Small Business Administration programs until May 23, 2008.
President Bush and President Garcia of Peru Sign H.R. 3688, the United States-Peru Trade Promotion Agreement Implementation Act
On Tuesday, December 18, 2007, the President signed into law:
H.R. 3315, which designates the great hall of the Capitol Visitor Center as Emancipation Hall.
On Wednesday, December 19, 2007, the President signed:
H.R. 6, the Energy Independence and Security Act of 2007. Here’s a link to the fact sheet for more information.
H.R. 4118, the Prevent Taxation of Payments to Virginia Tech Victims and Families Act
On Thursday, December 20, 2007, the President signed:
H.R. 3648, The Mortgage Forgiveness Debt Relief Act of 2007. This act will help homeowners who are struggling with rising mortgage payments. The Mortgage Forgiveness Debt Relief Act of 2007 will protect families from higher taxes when they refinance their homes. It will help hardworking Americans take steps to avoid foreclosure during a period of uncertainty in the housing market.
On Wednesday, December 26, 2007, the President signed into law:
H.R. 2764, legislation that will fund the Federal Government within the reasonable and responsible spending levels without raising taxes and without the most objectionable policy changes considered by the Congress. This law provides a down payment for the resources our troops need, without arbitrary timelines for withdrawal.
On Saturday, December 29, 2007, the President signed into law:
H.R. 4839, the “Tax Technical Corrections Act of 2007,” which makes technical corrections to various provisions of tax law.
S. 2499, the “Medicare, Medicaid, and SCHIP Extension Act of 2007,” which Provides a 0.5 percent Medicare payment increase for physicians for 6 months; (2) extends SCHIP through March 31, 2009; and (3) extends the Medicaid Qualifying Individual provision, Title V Abstinence Education grant program, and Transitional Medical Assistance eligibility for Medicaid beneficiaries for 6 months.
On Monday, December 31, 2007, the President signed into law:
S. 2488, the “Openness Promotes Effectiveness in our National Government Act of 2007,” which amends the Freedom of Information Act (FOIA) by: (1) establishing a definition of “a representative of the news media;” (2) directing that required attorney fees be paid from an agency’s own appropriation rather than from the Judgment Fund; (3) prohibiting an agency from assessing certain fees if it fails to comply with FOIA deadlines; and (4) establishing an Office of Government Information Services in the National Archives and Records Administration to review agency compliance with FOIA.
Dallas Leads Country in Exonerated Prisoners
Dallas is making the news by leading the country in the number of exonerated prisoners freed due to new methods in DNA testing. The latest Charles Allen Chatman, was released after serving almost 27 years in prison for a rape crime he didn’t commit. He is one of fifteen former convicts from Dallas County to be freed based on DNA testing since 2001. District Attorney Craig Watkins has made this his priority named the “Innocence Project”.
I was listening to a radio interview with Watkins and I was impressed with his plan to make the system better. He has received a lot of criticism for is actions, but has stated his job is to seek justice for the people. If it means going back to verify the innocence of a few convicted prisoners, then he believes it is necessary. He said the systems has flaws and hopes to fix as much of it as he can.
Chatman has lost 27 years of his life and is now 47 years old. He has a lot to catch up on and I hope he gets the help he needs to reenter society.
Harvard Univ. Targets Lower & Middle Income Families
Filed under: Blog Entries, Community, Education, Personal Finance
Harvard University has recently revamped it’s financial aid program to ensure families with incomes below $60,000 are not asked to contribute to the cost of sending their children to Harvard. I blogged last year about Texas Tech having a similar program and wanted to spread the word about this program.
Now don’t get me wrong, there are a lot of great colleges out there and I do believe HBCU’s also offer a quality education. I just feel this is another opportunity for a struggling student to get a degree without having to go into debt. College can be expensive and it doesn’t always guarantee you a job after you graduate. But a quality education can benefit you in ways you’d never imagine.
At any rate, if you or someone you know falls within the income range and has the scores to get accepted, please pass this on. My momma always told me, the worst they can do is say ‘no’.
Harvard announces sweeping middle-income initiative
Arlington Residents to Discuss Hate Crime
Here’s another example of how acts of hate can turn a town upside-down. On December 19th, Grace Head beat Silk Littlejohn (a black woman) with a 2-by-4 in the front lawn of Littlejohn’s home in Arlington, Texas. Littlejohn and her fiancee are rebuilding their home because it was burned down a couple of days after they moved in two years ago. And a few days after the assault incident racist graffiti was sprayed on their garage door. With help from the Arlington NAACP chapter the charges against Head were upgraded to that of a hate crime.
In looking at the facts that have been presented, this attack on the black couple were unwarranted. This type of hatred is uncalled for and people are standing up for their rights and want to see an ended to this type of behavior. A town hall meeting is being held tonight at 7pm at Wimbish Elementary School
Arlington Residents to Discuss Hate Crime Concerns
Podcast: Happy New Year – #34 – 01/01/08
Show Notes – Episode 34 – Happy New Year
What I’m Talkin’ About
New changes for 2008
Blogging While Brown Conference
Closing the Digital Divide
Black Bloogger Highlight
Black In Business
Black History Hero
Thomas Jennings – The First African-American to receive a U.S. Patent
Independent Music Showcase
Sara Tavares
“Balance” (mp3)
from “Balance”
(World Connection BV / Times Square)
Buy at iTunes Music Store
Buy at eMusic
Buy at Napster
Buy at Rhapsody
Stream from Rhapsody
Buy at Amazon
Buy at GroupieTunes
Buy at Misrolas
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
Links of Interest
Site Feeds
MyBlogLog Readers
