Cops Blane Salamoni and Howie Lake II Shoot and Kill Alton Sterling

Howie Lake II and Blane Salamoni

Another black male, Alton Sterling, gets gunned down by the police. And as we have all heard before, the officers felt the need to shoot him dead because they thought he had a gun.

Yes. They thought he had a gun because a random person yelled "He's got a gun! Gun!"

According to The Advocate newspaper, the store owner said the police removed a gun from Sterling's pocket after they already shot him dead.

If you've seen the video, footage shows that Sterling was pinned down to the ground and posed no physical threat. Why shoot him?

The cops involved? Blane Salamoni and Howie Lake II and yes, they are white!

As we are all used to seeing, there will be civil unrest. There will be protests. There will be marches. According to ABC News, the federal government is now leading a civil rights investigation behind the shooting.

This is not the first time a black male -- armed or not -- has been gunned down by a cop. We've seen rallies. We've seen marches. We've seen investigations. What we haven't seen is change. 

What is it going to take for police departments to realize that they can't prey on black males? The aforementioned attempts are not bringing success. There must be change. A change in our approach towards the injustices of this system. 

Viola Davis' Emmy Award: Opportunity For Natural Sisters?

Viola Davis won an Emmy for Outstanding Leading Actress in a Drama Series last night -- congratulations to her.

This is a big deal; Hollywood is known for being prejudice towards Black actors. They are not afforded the same opportunity as Whites. They don't win as many Oscars or Emmy awards as Whites. Davis knows this and said, "You cannot win an Emmy for roles that are simply not there."

In having saying that, when a person of color wins in a world of white supremacy, yes, it is  a big deal.

More importantly, what makes this more of a deal is that Davis has become a rebel in Hollywood. In a world that defines beauty as having long, straight hair, and a lighter skin tone, Davis, a dark skinned woman, tends to wear her hair natural -- a coiled Afro. In 2016, she will be starring alongside Will Smith and Jared Leto in Suicide Squad and dons her Afro. In addition, Davis addressed the racial injustices that exist in Hollywood during her moment of glory -- donning her coiled Afro.

What does this mean for women of color in Hollywood? Has Davis redefined the image of Hollywood? Can Sisters go natural in Hollywood and still have leading roles? Has Viola Davis created an opportunity for women of color to feel confident and beautiful without assimilating into Hollywood's warped idea of beauty?

Is Banning the Confederate Flag Progress?

Terrorist Dylan Roof

The insidious and prejudice terrorist, Dylan Roof, with  supreme hatred for African-Americans, opens fires in a church filled with the aforementioned race, killing nine, and America decides it's time to ban Confederate flags. 

Yes, it's 2015 and America is  now  deciding that Confederate flags aren't a good idea -- at the expense of nine African-American lives, of course.

Why is this supposedly significant? The Confederate flag is supposed to be a symbol of hate. If you don't know American history, the Confederate South did not want to abolish slavery. They were the ones that still wanted to keep Africans slaves while the North, known as the Union, was seeking to abolish slavery -- there's more to that story.

South Carolina is amongst the Confederate states.

In a nutshell, anyone with a raised Confederate flag pretty much hates your guts if you're an African-American; to them, you're just a free nigger; lost property. I saw my first Confederate flag while living on Canal Road in Deltona, Florida and yes, it was erected with pride on someone's porch.

In any event, is this  actually  progress? Is banning the Confederate flag progress for society? Will banning the Confederate flag put an end to racism and discrimination endured by African-Americans by the hands of prejudice Whites? 

No.

Confederate bas relief of Civil War leaders; Stone Mountain, GA

The Confederate fag is indeed overt hatred, but what about the Whites that are smart enough to hate Blacks covertly? Moreover, if America bans the Confederate flag, it will have to eradicate  everything  associated with the Confederacy -- flags, memorials, bas reliefs, and statues. For instance, in Stone Mountain Park (Stone Mountain, Georgia), there's a bas relief of Civil War leaders and they were Confederates. If America bans Confederate flags, but allow Confederate monuments and memorials to still exist, is there any  true  significance in banning a flag?

US' War On Crime: The Faux Agenda

President Richard Nixon; War On Crime

President Lyndon B. Johnson aspired that 1965 ought to be the year that the United States make "a thorough, intelligent, and effective war against crime". The idea was revisited by President Richard Nixon, who stated that war  should be used "in the fight against crime".

When politicians are seeking a coveted office, they are often heard saying that they want to deter crime. They promise to fight crime if voted in. As a former resident of NYC, I remember former Mayor Rudy Giuliani and Michael Bloomberg and their quest to stop crime. And if you know like I know, you better not had been an African-American male.

Mayor Michael Bloomberg and Commissioner Ray Kelly

The Daily Double is this -- Does the US really want to stop crime? Is the war on crime just political rhetoric, or is it a farce employed by the US government to mislead the American people into thinking that they are actually safe?

If you aren't in-the-know, the prison industry system is a multi-billion dollar business! CBSnews.com reported that the US houses 25% of the world's prisoners, which is $80 billion a year and $260 each household -- yes, when Daquan gets arrested for jumping the train, you have to pay for it, too!

In having saying that, why would the US want to fight crime?

Obviously, the US is raking in billions  for incarcerating criminals, who are mainly African-American and Hispanic males. According to Global Research, investing in the prison system is the equivalent of finding a pot of gold. This is why prisons are booming more than ever; this is why the jails are overpopulated; this is why people, mainly African-American and Hispanic males, are arrested for sophmoric things. Is it starting to make sense?

US' War On Crime is a really business. It's a way to generate revenue. In reality, why would law enforcement want to keep criminals off the street? If there are no criminals, there's no money to pay cops. If there are no criminals, there's no money for jails. If there are no criminals, there's no money for judges and lawyers. The criminal justice would be of no value. Criminals are obviously needed. The war on crime is the focus of one thing and one thing only -- money.

Freddie Gray and the Baltimore Riots.

Freddie Gray and the riots in Baltimore, Maryland, have blanketed the news and social media for the past few days. It has garnered much attention because Gray, a black male,  was arrested and later died in police's custody. This is a situation that has become prevalent -- black men losing their lives at the hands of the police. As a result, mixed emotions flared throughout the United States, especially in Baltimore, where riots have been so violent, the National Guard has been deployed -- at least that's the media's version of the story.

In any event, I'm against police brutality. Why wouldn't I be? The last time I checked, I was a black male. And if you didn't know, black males are the number one recipients of police brutality in America. No, I don't have a stat report to share with you, but we can both agree that black men are dying at the hands of the police at an alarming rate. But as I was saying, I am opposed to the police killing unarmed black men. I am even more appalled at the police murdering black men and not being adequately punished for doing so.

But before I or anyone else can express anger over Gray's death, what about the lives of black men and  women that are slaughtered by our own people daily? Where are the riots and protests when we (members of the black community) murder each other? Where is the civil unrest when we steal from each other, rape each other, and abandon our children to be raised by single-mothers? We have killed each other over high-priced Jordan sneakers. We have killed each other because one of us is a Blood and the other, a Crip. We have killed each other because of a turf way, claiming a block or neighborhood to sell drugs in. We have continued and continued to kill one another as if our lives are meaningless. If we are to be angry and gray over the death of our own at the hands of the police, then we must share the same sentiment when it is being down within our own communities.

I understand what's taking place in Baltimore. We have a right to be upset. We have a right to be angry. We have a right to be violent. We have a right to assert that Black lives matter. Freddie Gray's death was unfortunate and unjust. His life mattered. But just as we express anger and frustration over Gray's death, we must  express the same  anger and frustration when we kill each other and start acting like black lives really matter to us and not just when we are murdered by the police.

Bill Cosby, The Premiere Rapist.

Frank Scotti admits to pay-offs for Bill Cosby.

This isn't new news -- allegations of Bill Cosby being a sexual predator has surfaced before, but with alleged victims coming forward on a daily basis, it may be hard this time to ignore the allegations and sweep them under the rug.

Of course, no one wants to believe that the lauded Cliff Huxtable is a sexual predator, but when you have one accusation after the other, well, there is little room for doubt, especially when the victim-count is piled up to 16.

More importantly, most, if not all the allegations, sound the same -- the alleged victim was drugged. it was at this point of mental disarray that Cosby pounced on his prey. This signifies consistency in his behavior -- he drugs his victims before sexually assaulting them.

Again, little room for doubt.

For instance, in 2005, Californian Lawyer, Tamara Green, appeared on the Today show and accused Cosby of drugging and sexually assaulting her during the 1970's. In addition to this, during the mid-1980's, Cosby was in a relationship with Beth Ferrier, who also alleged Cosby drugging her. She claims that she woke up in her car disoriented with her bra undone and clothes in disarray. As if developing a pattern, Cosby is then accused of assaulting another woman -- Barbara Bowman. According to People, Cosby's assaulted Bowman in 1986, using the same tactics  -- a drug.

Bill Cosby as Cliff Huxtable

And the list of accusers goes on: Joan Tarshis, Linda Joy Traitz, and Janice Dickinson.

If I was a betting man, I'd say Cosby did sexually assault those females. But why speculate with little evidence? According to the Daily News, Frank Scotti was responsible for handling hush-money. He admitted that young models were in Cosby's dressing room and that he had them paid off.

This seems to be the reason why this kind of news is just now reaching epic proportions -- either defense attorneys didn't want to prosecute or victims settled out of court, which helped the allegations disappear.

Crush

Buddhists say we suffer when we want what we can't have.

And like sunshine, 

She brightens my day.

And each time I see her from away --

My mind blanks; I forget what to say.

This thing is real . . .

I'm confident, but I doubt myself.

I get nervous, which is not myself.

Do I need Eros?

Cause without the help --

She might slip away . . . 

And though I wait patiently,

Time never had a reason to wait for me.

Do I give it another day

And make the mistake to see?

Or do I seize the moment?

Let's wait and seee . . .

So it's up to me and no one else.

If I don't take a chance,

Can only blame myself.

This is a Love I've never felt.

What will I do . . .?

" . . . You Don't Deserve Me At My Best"

If you're a guy, you've probably heard some femme that you was banging spew this irrational garbage to you. If you're a female, more than likely, you've used this filth on a dude that you liked. What you probably don't know is that this is a quote from Marilyn Monroe.

Yes, the Marilyn Monroe. John F. Kennedy-Monroe. Pornography-Monroe.

In any event, my sentiment towards this saying isn't harmonious because it signifies ignorance and negativity. Here it is we have a woman admitting that she's selfish, impatient, and just about everything else that signifies a flaw and a shortcoming. Instead of her trying to become a better person, she'd rather you accept her the way she is -- imperfect.

Marilyn Monroe -- "Deserve Me At My Best"

Question -- what man in his right mind wants to put up with a woman that is selfish? I don't know any person that likes selfish individuals. What man in is right mind wants to put up with a woman that is "hard to handle"? Who wants to work all day and then come home to a difficult, out of control woman? That's additional headaches and stress.

According to the Blonde Bimbo, if you're not man enough to deal with her and her shortcomings, then you're not worthy to be with her when she has her expletive together.

Question -- if a woman knows that she has imperfections, why isn't she taking the necessary steps to better herself as an individual? Why does a man have to "handle" her as if she's a zoo animal?

This ideology is nothing more but warped thinking and the femmes that cosign this garbage need to reconsider the people they adulate.

Are You A Queen and Goddess?

The way we act determines how people will treat us. People's actions are a direct response to the way we think and act. Meaning what? Well, if we carry ouselves with decorum, people will treat us as dignified individuals.

Women (not all) have this desire to be treated like Queens and Goddesses; yet, their actions (again, not all) aren't even't remotely regal or divine. You can't be belligerent, boisterous, and bitchy, but expect to treated like a Queen and a Goddess at the same time; there's nothing regal or divine about being beligerent, boisterous, or bitchy.

Let's take the god of the Bible. The god of the Bible is identified as being a jealous god. In fact, his name is jealous (Joshua 8:14). I don't know about you, but I find it hard to accept that an entity can be omnipotent and be jealous at the same time. How can a god be jealous of an idol or anything else for that matter when that god is supposedly all-powerful?

The same logic applies to women that are from Queenlike in their behavior and thinking. The same logic applies to men that are from god-like or King-like in their behavior and thinking. If you want to be treated like a Queen and a Goddess, perhaps you should act like one. If you want to be treated like a King and a God, perhaps you should start acting like one.

The Sun Is God.

The Sun is God --

So Nature sings.

Dies in the Winter;

Resurrects in Spring.

Don't fly too close;

Will melt your wings.

Better find shade;

Sun rays sting.

K.O.C. --

Great as Louis the King,

XIV of France.

I dance in a ring;

Circle of Fire --

Bless Shiva Nataraja.

Rosary beads, or Aksamala?

No, not Janus, but Brahma:

Rig, Sama, Yajur, Atharva.

I seek the Book, the Swan, the Lotus.

Knowledge and the Universe is my focus.

But it's hard when you work hard.

Especially, when it's two jobs,

Write a few blogs;

On top of that -- hand out cards and network.

All this aspiration to augment my net worth.

Just to find out success hurts --

The loss of sleep, pseudo-friends,

Women that pretend;

When does it end?

When did it begin?

I swear the world's ruthless --

To every Jesus, a Judas.

For every Ceasar, a Brutus.

The history of Rome . . .

But you're Alicia Silverstone -- Clueless.

The Truth is always hidden in plain sight.

Taste death then resurrect in the same night.

Which pill to swallow?

It's Helios, or Apollo.

In these days of Darkness, the Sun I follow.

Forgetting Your Ex . . .

When is it too soon to forget your ex? I guess one can never really forget a former love. Especially when that person was your everything. Especially when the two of you were close and spent time together.

I mean, of course we live our lives day-to-day as we should. Eventually, we all move on, but does that necessarily mean that we forget our ex?

I remember forcing myself to do so. I'd try to keep myself busy -- exercise, read a book, see a movie. Anything to not think of her. But when you spent so much time with a person, it's kind of difficult to forget that person.

As of late, it's been kind of hard forgetting that person. I guess it's the timing; May, June, and the summer as a whole, are significant months; we began our relationship in May. June was our pseudo-honeymoon. I remember being very pensive about this person this time last year.

Some say the quickest way to get over an ex is to find someone new. But what if no else compares? What if no one else qualifies? What if  there isn't a person to help you forget your ex and you're confined to thinking about that person daily?

I don't know. I'm just throwing different ideas into the mix. It's kind of hard for me because everything little thing reminds  me of that person -- a song, an outfit, a hair-style, shopping, a Volkswagen . . . a Florida license plate.

Or maybe some of us aren't permitted to forget our exes? Perhaps some of us are confined to memories as punishment? Maybe pictures and cards of that person are life-lessons to teach value and appreciation of someone that is dear and irreplaceable?

Perfectly Flawed.

andRe Christos Helios

My imperfections are countered by corrections;

The obsession of this god-man is perfection.

I look at my past for better direction;

A better future --

God and Creator of my blessings.

I don't know the answer to every question --

No, I don't know it all.

And although nobody likes a know-it-all.

I won't settle till I'm on a level where I know it all.

You think it's difficult --

Mission Impossible: Ghost Protocol.

Not Ethan or Nimrod, but I hunt knowledge.

Just not at Hunter College.

Ready to die, unlike Christopher Wallace . . .

Death by suicide.

I believe in suicide.

But only if it's to crucify my lower-self.

A true Teacher delves within oneself.

The Path of Enlightenment --

A road you must walk alone yourself.

Just a few words of Wisdom:

You can't define the Divine.

If you don't understand, that's fine.

Suffer from impaired vision; won't ever see the light;

Blinded to the prism; cursed is their sight.

Food and Drinks

Food and Drinks. Women will come up out of their panties just for food and drinks. Not all women, just the ones that equate their worth with food and drinks.

What am I talking about? Well, most women will give their date some p_ssy after dinner and drinks. If you think I'm exaggerating, browse a few ads on Craigslist; there are women with posts suggesting, "take me out for dinner and drinks, and let's see where things go". Meaning what? If things goes well, she'll bang him by the end of their date -- all because he bought her food and drinks.

Yes -- food and drinks.

Whatever happened to being sexually intimate with someone because of a connection? Whatever happened to having sex with a person as a result of expressing love? I understand the concept of a woman valuing her p_ssy, but setting a price on it means that anyone can get some -- as long as the price is right. And there isn't anything special about that, my friend. What. So. Ever.

Moreover, it is these kind of situations that leads to irresponsible sex (i.e., std's, unexpected pregnancy, etc.).

In any event, it's really not about "food and drinks". It's about whether or not he spends money on her. According to them, he's a "gentleman". But if he was such a gentleman, why doesn't she hear from him anymore after their escapade? More importantly, why does he express disappointment and anger if she doesn't put out after he spent some cash on her? 

A true gentleman shows a woman a good time because he's just that -- a respectable male. A gentleman doesn't take a female out on a date with the hidden agenda of getting some ass when everything is said and done. That doesn't make him a gentleman, that makes him a trick. Where's the respect in that?

And let's be honest, food and drinks isn't that expensive, either. In fact, here in Atlanta, some women will pull their panties down for a pedicure and a manicure -- not  more than 50 bucks!

I find it to be a joke.

Michael Jordan: "Against All White People"

There was a point in his life when NBA legend Michael Jordan was "against all white people".

These are the words of Jordan in his latest biography, "Michael Jordan: The Life". Apparently, as most African-Americans did, Jordan experienced much prejudice, discrimination, and racism, while residing in North Carolina during the 1970's. 

During this era, the South's sentiment towards African-Americans was more overt than inconspicuous. As Jordan experienced, African-Americans were called niggers, considered inferior, and were the victims of blatant hatred.

This isn't to say that the South no longer harbors its racist views towards African-Americans in 2014, but it is rare that a white girl will call a black boy a nigger to his face (I'm certain whites allude to blacks as niggers in private). Such was the case with Michael when a white girl called him one at school back in '77.

Naturally, as most African-Americans would, Mike became irate at the racial slur and threw a soda can at her.

In any event, Michael expressed to author Roland Lazenby that with the combined presence of the KKK, watching Roots, and the white girl calling him nigger, that he developed the sentiment of being "against all white people".

Now Michael is fathering twins with a white woman.

Army Soldier Sheffey Refuses to Salute American Flag

Tariqka Sheffey refused to salute American flag

Enlisting into one of America's militia groups doesn't always translate patriotism. 

Tariqka Sheffey of the U.S. Army illustrated her lack of patriotism by refusing to salute the American flag -- she hid in her vehicle to avoid doing so.

I have no issue with what she did; not everyone enlists out of patriotism. Some people enlist as a means of paying for college tuition and there isn't anything wrong with that.

I don't find it disrespectful or rude; America doesn't have a squeaky clean reputation or history, and saluting the flag is honoring America and everything it has done -- I wouldn't have saluted that flag, either.

However, I do find it juvenile that she posted it on Instagram. Did she think she would post something potentially offensive and not get reprimanded for it? Did she think she could post something of that caliber and no one would have something to say about it?

Perhaps she should have taken some of her own advice and kept her comments to herself? If she didn't want to salute the flag, she had that luxury and did so. Nevertheless, what was the point in announcing it on Instagram? It wasn't thoughtful and incriminating. Now she's liable to be disciplined for her unpatriotic actions as a soldier.

Her post demonstrates the typical mentality of an ignorant, belligerent black woman -- outspoken, doesn't care who's offended, and thinks there's no one to answer to. Well, I salute you, Sheffey and your stupidity. Thanks for serving.

I Get Attached . . .

I get attached . . .
I'm not afraid to say this.
I get attached . . .
My feelings aren't to play with.
I get attached . . .
I'm not ashamed to hug you.
I get attached . . .
I like to spoon and cuddle.
I get attached . . .
Not afraid to say, "I love you."
I get attached . . .
You're always on my mind.
I get attached . . .
Be more than just a Valentine.
I get attached . . .
The world knows about you.
I get attached . . .
Where would I be without you?
I get attached . . .
So I might not let you go.
I get attached . . .
I just want you to know . . .
I get attached.

Social Media and Selfies

This is pretty much what we see from femmes in the world of Social Media when it comes to selfies -- sexually explicit content.

A picture speaks a 1, 000 words. What does this say to you?

You're The Reason . . .

"You're The Reason", by andRe Christos Helios

You should look in the mirror . . .
You're your own reason why most men disrespect you;
Only want to sex you.
Look at what you advertise . . . 
"Sexy and Thick".
Then get mad when he sends pics of his dick.
Silly Rabbit . . . 
Looking for Love or a Trick?
Why do you need someone to spoil you?
What about a man that'll treat you royal?
Put everything before you . . . 
Simply adores you . . . 
A man that's loyal . . .
But that's not what you're looking for . . . 
Yeah, you're sexy, but tell me --
Can you cook at all?
What are you hobbies?
Do you have a personality?
What are your aspirations?
What's your reality?
In reality, most of you are absurd.
Most of you are vain; you got too much nerve . . . 
But in the end, you get what you deserve:
A lousy man that got with you for your curves . . .

CVS Pulls The Plug on Cigarettes

CVS will stop selling tobacco in the US by October.

In a bold and perhaps, juggernaut move, CVS has decided to stop selling tobacco products. According to nbcnews.com, cigarettes and tobacco products will be put out for good in 7,600 retail stores in the US by October. Apparently, CVS is leaning towards keeping Americans healthy. Even President Barack Obama managed to praise CVS doing its daring move.

Will CVS lose money by stop selling tobacco products? How's $2 billion a year sound? It's amazing that life-threatening products generate that much revenue. In any event, its courageous of CVS to take a stand against tobacco in this manner and I applaud them, too. After all, this is a capitalist society, but to sacrifice $2 billion to keep Americans healthy? That's called change. 

Although CVS isn't the first business to halt the sales of tobacco, it is the first large, retail pharmacy to do so. The American Pharmacists Association and American Medical Association have been pressuring stores that have pharmacies to stop selling tobacco for years. In 1996, Target stores stopped selling tobacco. 

I guess Rite Aid and Walmart are next? After all, it's a conflict of interest -- how you do have a pharmacy that's supposed to improve health, but sell tobacco at the same time?

It's not always about money. Sometimes it's about doing what's right. Stop selling cancer-sticks.

The Rules of Dating: Romance, Chivalry, and Love.

Valentine's Day is around the corner. Some of us have someone; some of us don't. Whether you're in a relationship or not; whether you have a Valentine's or not, there are questions that we all need to ask ourselves when it comes to the game of Love.  

How many of us know how to display love and affection to our partner? How many of us are romantic or believe in romance? How many of us practice chivalry? How many of us expect or want chivalry from our partner? Is chivalry something of the past? 

How many of us know what a date is? Is a date sitting at home watching Netflix? Is a date having a cup of coffee at Starbucks? Is a date dinner at a five-star restaurant? Is a date a walk in the park or on a pier? Is a date at a drive-through movie?

The way you expect to be treated is based on how you perceive your self-worth. The way your partner treats you is based on how that person values you. If you value your self, you will not settle for less. If your partner valued you, the effort to shower you with the best would be there.

Valentine's Day shouldn't be the only day when you receive flowers, a card, candy, or chocolate. Valentine's Day shouldn't be the only day when you go out for dinner, or see a movie. Valentine's Day shouldn't be the only day when you feel special. 

These things should be done frequently in a relationship.