Just 2 things

I haven't been inspired to write much lately but I have 2 things I'd like to get at today.

One popped in my head as I was watching Rachel Maddow today from last night's episode. They were discussing Afghanistan and I couldn't completely follow the conversation because I have no concept of the real conflict because I do not know it's history. So much, if not all of what's going on in the middle east stems from a millennial ago, straight biblical times and to understand how it's manifested itself into the current war you have to understand their history. I'm not saying you have to be a middle eastern history scholar to get it but you need to know shiite vs. sunni and why they're beefing; Who originated in what area; and how how much religion plays into it. And I know practically none of it! I feel so cheated! Like high school completely failed in teaching me anything about the world.

If I was to grade Oak Park High School on their ability to educate they would get a big F and a 5 for bad behavior! I've had to teach myself a lot about even our own country because my school system neglected to teach it. That's a whole nother story but just know they failed LOL.

With so much of our foreign policy having to do with the middle east you would think there would be more of an in emphasis on that area. I can't recall ever learning anything but the countries that inhabit the area and its maybe its demographics and that its the desert. Any and everything else was completely left out. This area is too important to be glossed over. sad.

I'm going to make it a point to teach myself about that area and what foreign policy it effects. I want to know more about the war and any previous wars in Afghanistan and the area as a whole.

Can you really honestly participate in the political dialogue in this country without some knowledge of the middle east??

Afghanistan/Pakistan is on my get to know more about them list!

The second thing I want to talk about is this awesome guy from Malawi. His name is William Kamkwamba who at the age of 14 built a homemade windmill for his house. The thing is his parents couldn't afford to pay for him to go to school and he was going to the library to teach himself. He saw a book and looked at the pictures and built the windmill from that. What kind of awesome awe inspiring stuff is that?! This boy could not read the words in the book And built a working windmill!

He couldn't go to school and what did he do?? He went to the library.

Here in Detroit, here in most of urban U.S. we have to beg our kids to just show up to school and its FREE! What has happened to our people?! Where are our awe inspiring stories? Sure we have them, but they are few and far between and with all we have to offer the people in our country we should be producing more!

I'm going to take my butt to the library and build me a windmill. I'm inspired to do more, to be better!

Mad at Obama

So, I'm one of Obama's biggest cheerleader ever.

But, I'm a little upset with him in his reaction to the Auto Industry woes.

He treats the auto industry as if it could just disappear and it wouldn't have any impact on the US.

The auto industry has already personally effected my state, my family, heck even me and we're not even an auto worker on any level. I just so happen to live in Michigan and work for a company that relies on a lot from the Auto Industry. Before it even got to where it is now; before it was a big national deal my company was effected. And now my salary is cut 10% and I make less than I did 2 years ago, no more bonuses (though I wasn't get much anyway), and no more raises. Did I mention I just moved?? Yeah so this auto thing is lot more personal and painful for me and mine than it would be someone whose livelihood wasn't effected and I think the President needs to re-evaluate what his action or inaction would do for those of us involved.

We have one of the highest unemployment rate and one of those people recently unemployed is a close relative. It would quadruple if one, not even 2, just one of the big three were allowed to fail.

Do they need to restructure? Yep

Are they responsible for their issues? Partially

But while we're shaking our collective heads at the big three and opening our collective wallets for the banks who have brought the whole world down, my salary and the salary of my co-workers are cut by 10%. I'm one of those check to check people, barely making enough to get by and that 10% is a big deal.

So Obama I'm a little upset with you.

Sure we need a secure banking system but we also need our auto industry and if you're going to scrutinize and criticize and demonize the big three you should be doing that 10 times as hard and as long to the banks.

And bank of america I'm mad at you too for this bogus $2 extra you put on top of the atm fee I already paid while the ceo is making millions. Cut his salary and get rid of this new $2 fee that I don't even think I was told about. Forget mad, I hate boa!

Advertising and the black dollar

I was inspired to write this blog after reading Marissa Miley’s article, “Don't Bypass African-Americans,” in the February 2nd issue of Advertising Age. The article is basically about how marketers have continued to ignore the black market. It states that black people have a $913 billion buying power and will hit the trillion dollar mark by 2013, (2011 according to www.emarketer.com) and we’re being bypassed/overlooked/ignored in the advertising field. It goes on about the Hispanic marketing and how much is spent there and the theory behind it and all that (you can read the article for more details).

What I believe is wrong with black advertising, and nothing I have to say about it is based on anything factual, is that those that do venture into that field they target one-two categories and don’t treat us overall as a whole (which adds a whole different argument). The two categories I believe they spend too much time on are hip hop (which ruined hip hop) and church in some instances. Now, the “hip hop” generation will spend the big bucks on whatever is deemed cool at the time but I do think if they treated us as they treat white America, make it a broader appeal (and not just throw black actors in a white ad, please we know the difference) then they would successfully reach the black audience.

We are not all apart of the hip hop generation, especially the one you see on tv all commercialized, and we do not all congregate around the bible (I guess that is more black on black marketing than non black companies marketing their products for black folks so we’ll leave that one out). We eat McDonald's just like the average white person, and we're not bobbing our heads to a wack/fake hip hop beat in the process.

What I’d like to see, is regular products (and not products made for black people like the relaxed and natural line of Pantene Pro-V) marketed towards brown people. We buy some of the same stuff white people buy and we’d like to know our money is wanted.

There has to be some way that they can market to us without turning us into a caricature. They market to the average joe white person 99% of the time, take that, flip it towards how your product can address our needs and there you go! An ad for a black person who doesn't feel like they need to listen to commercialized rap to enjoy your product! :)


Is that really how we look???

It does seem weird to me in commercials where there is a group of people and it is 4-5 white people, one black or Hispanic/latino, and one asian. We know what that’s saying lol.

Anywho, I can’t think of anything else to say.

Maybe I’ll add more

Maybe not lol

President Obama

So now that I have my president of choice I feel so lackluster toward politics now lol

I'll be back to give my big long (hopefully) view of things that have happened since 11/04/2008

Awesomeness

Colin Powell Endorses:

Barack Obama!

Sarah Palin SNL Hilfreakingarious!