Dance Team Wardrobe Debacle....

Image Captured through Google Images

Mrs. Traci Young-Byron was introduced to us on a few episodes of "Bring It" a lifetime reality series that follows a Mississippi high school majorette dance team. Mrs Young-Byron from Miami came and knocked the competition her group participating in OUWT the park. I guess the audience loved her so much Lifetime gave her her own show that lasting one season.

That's just a little history for those who may not follow. I would like to bring up the wardrobe debacle that took place the weekend Trump was trying to fire all the blacks from the NFL for taking a knee exercising their first amendment right, but that's neither here nor there.

I don't know Mrs. Young-Byron personally, but from what I have seen on TV and through following her on social media, she appears to be an upright woman with an honest agenda. She's married to a supportive husband they do not have any children, but took on the responsibility of raising a younger sibling when her mother passed-away. I assume they are in their mid to late thirties.

None of that is really relevant for people's opinion unless you are honest enough to base your opinion on character, then those things may matter. (Most of us are not willing to do that because that would mean we have to question our own character to even judge and in doing that we find out we're not in the place to have an opinion on the topic, but please continue reading).

I had to ask myself, would a wife and a mother-figure and a mentor train a child up to be a whore or a stripper which are the accusations of social media. I do not think so!

But see, we don't care about that we don't care about the fact that we're beating someone up who have devoted their life to young people, which is something most of us would not do.

I also would like to know, why do strippers and whores have to own everything sexual. These young women seem to be guided properly. Yes, these young women wore lace tights. They are also disciplined and focused professionally trained dancers on top of that they are performers.

I won't even tap into the race issue and the bias when little white girls prance in tutus....(that's cute and they're professionals...Child BYE!!!!)

I'm not asking anyone to agree with me as a matter of fact I feel better if you do not, because that would keep me in the category of people that think outside the box and who encourage creative people to continue on challenging the norm.  

I love God and I am grateful for Jesus, but I am sorry I am not in the religious clique of judging the outer man of others when I know most of the people in the church innerman has more struggles than many outside of the church. The righteous pedestal that some people stand on needs to be pulled right from under them. My question to people when youth are involved and they have an opinion is always show me the fruit you've produced!!! SHOW US!!!

Is Journalism Still Valuable to Our Democracy?

New York Times Reporter Photo

HELL YES!!!! LOL!!!!! Did you all see the story about the journalist that caught Trump's attorneys talking about hidden documents openly in a restaurant in D.C. Who'll catch the tea if you do not have journalist. It's true everyone have cameras now, which has been a huge transition for journalist, but how many everyday people know who Trump's attorneys are? No one but a journalist who covers a beat in D.C. and hangs in the same local bar as attorneys.

I mean, you could not had made that story up. Trump who IS under investigation by a special counsel regarding ties to Russia in the 2016 election and given that, his personal attorneys are in a restaurant discussing the investigation and then mentions some hidden documents that may be related to the probe and a journalist is sitting right there, and can hear them.

The journalist in me is like a kid listening to this, like I thought this stuff only happens in the movies and the budding screenwriter in me cannot wait to see how this will be depicted in the movie, OMG!!! What will they call it. All the President's Men fit, but that's been done before thanks to Watergate.

This Russia thing is worse than watergate though, but journalist were just as relevant then as they are now and will always be.

Journalist are important to a democracy. Although the craft is under fire right now, the facts matter and they have to be reported.

True, there's fake news out there. Trump knows better than anyone with his love for Russia, knowing they had all kinds of fake stories on Hilary Clinton during the campaign that is why he can say it so boldly, he knew!

Anyway, although facts can change, and they do, but when it comes to knowing and having the information facts are important. Its the best way to get to the truth.

Affordable Care Act (ACA)/ Obamacare....I’m just gonna say what I feel!

Keep Your Eyes on the Son ~ Stay in the Light

The "muslim negro boy" wants "christian white males" to see the common sense in healthier young Americans picking up the weight of older more sicker Americans fiscally in healthcare, and evangelical christians have a problem with this, yes the ones who see Trump as today's Moses, heck maybe even the Messiah if we listen to what that fool Paula White has to say. Does these particular groups of white Americans get that we's can read now?

I don't know, I have never been to an evangelical christian church, but I wonder if they teach that people of dark skin live under a curse because of Noah's son Ham, read the story. And that all “illegitimate children” (born outside of marriage) are muslim, because Ishmael, Abraham son went off and created the Muslim nation, Idk....

It doesn't matter how they wrongfully divide the text to use it to manipulate and control people, with this matter what every Christian is called to do is clear-cut. The Jesus in their bible says the same thing in every book that is a tool for living ~ take care of old and sick people, okay not quite like that, but you get the point.

When John McCain, senator in Arizona who has recently been diagnosed with brain cancer gave the thumbs down to the skinny repeal of ACA it pissed people off, consertives, because he did not allow the senate to get the number of votes they needed to re-write the bill. How the hell, can this man considering his condition agree with taking away a law that will literally allow people to die and he's living with a condition that can take him out anyday. See how God works, He's always working. Nothing on earf (I know how to spell), but nothing on earf happens by coincidence (not even Trump ~ I do think God is using him to show us the condition of our hearts). Even if they move forward and change it God allowed that man to give them a warning.

I am definitely going to keep following this; we almost have no other choice, but it will be interesting to see how they will dismantle it to only redo what President Obama already did (if you’re awaken you get the shade in that).

* I know former President Barak Obama is not a Muslim and certainly not a boy ~ this line was used for tone.

Simple Chicken Alfredo Pasta

I learned how to cook living in an apartment watching Rachel Ray to prepare meals for my son and cooking kind of runs in the family. But, watching Rachel made me love cooking pasta because it's so easy. You can be a horrible cook but if you can pull off a pasta dish, look like a pro, especially to men and kids, lol. Anyway, this is an easy one I threw together from what I like it has: fettuccine pasta, cut boneless chicken thighs, broccoli florets and baby portabello mushrooms, topped with parmesan cheese and cracked pepper. You can watch the cooking process by clicking the link under the picture. 

https://splice.gopro.com/v?id=Vde4vJ

Shaped by Your Worse Boss.

I remember working for a company and I called my boss Miranda Priscley, from the movie "Devil Wears Prada." I began calling her that because of one-day, she asked me to complete a task, and it was where I had to send a document through an approval process. It had to go through a chain of individuals for review before senior management signed-off on it. It had to be reviewed by the legal and finance teams, and that was processed, then it had to go through the process on the executive level to get to senior management. When she handed me the document, before I got a chance to ask her where do I start, she said you're a smart girl you can figure it out.

　

To make a long story short, I did. I returned the signed document to her and I felt like Andrea or Andy Sachs did when she got those manuscripts for Miranda's twins in the movie.

　

There were so many examples like this. I don't like to seem haughty, but one day she came to me with a hand full of business cards and asked me to add them all to her contact list and I wanted to respond, "ma'am, I did not spend $50,000 on a degree to make sure you feel important with your loaded list of contacts that you'll never use." With that most of her emails, I drafted and sent, from her chicken scratch handwriting on a piece of paper from a legal pad.

I learned so much from that experience. For example, I learned to be patient with myself. I am so hard on myself and success is so important to me, like obtaining my goals. She taught me that along the way you're going have to deal with many different personalities and you cannot allow that to detour your plans. You have to get what you are supposed to get out of the experience so that you can go to your next level. As long as there is no disrespect or abuse, stick it out and be excellent you'll win in the end.

I also learned how to value time with my family more. I remember we were working on a project that required a contract being drafted and she was the one preparing it and there were multiple version floating between our office and the legal department. Her boss called in a panic at the end of the day one day requesting it. I told her that my boss was away but had been working on it and we'll send it as soon as she returns from the meeting she was attending, 30 minutes later she called back demanding the document, so I sent her the last one of the five in the folder indicating that it was the final one worked on but is still pending review, she thanked me. I came in the next morning with my boss beating me there which was unusual because emails were going back and forth all night because her boss sent this undone contract out to a client and it was written poorly. 

of course, I was blamed and initially felt bad because it represented all of us. It was resolved, but all day Miranda, I mean my boss, could not let it go. On the elevator leaving for the day and she was discussing it among others definitely not in our department. I politely turned to her and said, I'm over it, it was resolved I am going home to spend the few hours I get out of the day with my son and I refuse to take him baggage from work, he doesn't deserve that and neither does your daughter. She did not respond.

So, they challenge you and test your patience but it builds your character. Allow the experience, even if you want to work for yourself, you cannot build your character without relationships. When I decided to leave, she even reached in to give me a hug, and she was never that type of person, so that let me know that in someway I had an impact on her too. I did not hug her though. I maneuvered out, lol. I 

Trump Attacks the Press

I have to say, as a trained journalists I too have issue at times with the fine line drawn for what ethical journalistic practice might be. During the Hurricane Katrina coverage I was able to witness first hand some unethical practices by some of Chicago's reporters and it turned me completely off from news reporting, but I still had a heart for journalism.

When I heard Trump attack the media on Saturday's second visit to Texas from the president I was a bit disgusted, because I sat and watch CNN handle the reporting of Hurricane Harvey and those affected in Texas with respect and journalistic integrity. I felt the media this time was intricate in getting the hurricane victims stories out, reporting on the needs of the people, bringing awareness to the locations where people needed rescuing and even jumping in to rescue people themselves.

The president said that reporters were not willing to go to where the coast guards were to help people. I do not think that I would have to explain to anyone in their right mind why that does not make any sense.

I know there are still reporters out there that is ingrained in the if it bleeds it leads philosophy, meaning the bad stuff comes first and they'll do anything to make the grit more grit to get their story at the top of the news coverage, but true journalistic integrity pushes a true story-teller to seek the facts to help the people.

Just like any other field, you have your bad seeds. In this democracy we need journalism. I don't know why the president is hell-bent on causing the public to distrust the media, I am okay with people questioning everything and challenging facts, but you have to have a healthy portion of trust to believe that all outlets are not led by manipulation.