The Gay Idol...

Americans are so confused. They love "talent", but when someone's personal life comes into conflict with their own "prejudice" the focus turns to a social dilemma.

Judge this person by their talent and take a good look in the mirror.

(link is to the new york times article)

Virgin Megastore

is closing in Union Square.  The Times Square location is already closed, but now we have a month before this one closes as well.  Too bad.  I got some great music that I couldn't find anywhere else.  I guess now I will order off of Amazon.com  I took this photo during lunch.

NPR's News and Notes

Slowly but surely options for people looking for news geared toward African Americans are fading.

Yes, BET exists but they cancelled their news program.  Explain to me how a network named Black Entertainment Television can't devote thirty minutes (even once a week) to a news program.  Oh well, Bob Johnson made a ton of money when he sold the network.

NPR (National Public Radio) that basin of diversified opinion cancelled their News and Notes program.  That show served the public and NPR even gets government funding.  I'd like to know who said it should be silenced.   It should just make sense that this program stay on the air.  The show "Wait, wait, Don't Tell Me" may get more ratings, but it doesn't mean that it's more important than News and Notes.

There are websites with tons of commentary...

BlackNews

AOL Black Voices

Black Report

Black Star News

Even with those informative sites, there's nothing like hearing a panel discussions about current events.  

I looked up their diversity statement and found...

Diversity at NPR

"National Public Radio will serve the individual; it will promote personal growth rather than corporate gains; it will regard the individual differences among men with respect and joy rather than derision and hate; it will celebrate the human experience as infinitely varied rather than vacuous and banal; it will encourage a sense of active, constructive participation, rather than apathetic helplessness."
-- Bill Siemering, NPR Co-Founder

NPR, please bring back News and Notes.  Take a look at the news landscape and you'll see there IS a place that News and Notes needs to fill.  As a service to the public you must provide it as a public service.  All voices must be heard.

(pic is of the News and Notes staff by Melissa Kuypers)

Don't do it Obama

You've got to fix heathcare for the United States instead of giving illegal immigrants a free ride.  

I'll say it again..."just because you committed a crime 30 years ago and didn't get caught doesn't make it legal now!"

(click title for the New York Times article)

PS3 milestone

The Playstation 3 outselling the Wii!! That's great. It may not last long, but at least some people are realizing that the PS3 is a great value and gaming console for people serious about playing games.

I'm so happy with my choice!

I'm reading a book called, The Race for the New Game Machine. It shows how Microsoft's chip was based on work that Sony, IBM and Toshiba had done for the PS3. I'm not done with it yet, but it's a fascinating look at the drama behind how the PS3 and Xbox 360 chips were developed.

Hair Open on Broadway, Tonight

One of my favorite shows, but not sure if I will see it. Part envy and part I've seen it about four times! I just had to give a shout out!

Sick Days

Well,

After being out Thursday and Friday from work I'm back and feeling better. Who knew there was still a flu going around. I am thankful and blessed to have a job. I still got paid even though I was out of the office for two days. Everyone in this country can't say that. People go to work sick.

Health (taking a deep breath)...

I don't take my health for granted. Soon in this great country of ours only the rich and poor will have peace of mind about their ability to have affordable health care. The rest will be hoping and praying that an expensive illness doesn't come knocking on their door.

Here are some yearly costs for treating certain cancers...

• Prostate $41,134
• Lung $39,891
• Breast $20,964

You might say, "I have health insurance and I'm covered, think again." If you've got a 80/20 split (regarding co-pay) and have Lung cancer you still have to come up with $7,978.20 a year for treatment. That's not even mentioning loss of work and transportation costs.

Let's say you lose your job. COBRA (Consolidated Omnibus Budget Reconciliation Act) allows you to keep your current company's insurance rate (for a limited time), but now you have to pay that expensive monthly bill. For me it would cost almost $500 a month to keep my company's insurance rate. Single plans are a lot more expensive. Try $1077.78 a month for an HMO (Health Maintenance Organization). Add that to your cancer cost and you've got a bill of $21,989.34 for the year.

Imagine getting laid off, unable to pay your bills, you have cancer and can't get new, possibly cheaper insurance because you have a pre-existing condition (cancer). Meanwhile, you have mounting costs for that you won't be able to pay back. Why do we allow this to continue in this country without outrage? I'll tell you why!

Because we are health now. When you are sick you won't be up to fighting the system. You need to reserve your strength to fight your illness. Think about it. The fight needs to happen now.

I thought if quit my job and took a low paying job to get me on the poverty level. I could have food stamps (for free food), medicaid (for free health care) and my housing cost subsidized by the state. Why should I work everyday. There is no incentive for everyday hard working people to be honest when you have people making 40 million dollars a year AND doing an awful job. I see why people take advantage of the system. It's so clear now.

That's my story...now back to work.

Their move...now what?

Something is fishy about this.  The insurance companies have every reason to be on the offensive.   When this economy gets on better footing the next project with be reforming health care in this country.  They are frightened of being put out of business.  I have no sympathy for companies that deny coverage to people who pay hundred of dollars a month to be covered.

Requiring all Americans to carry the insurance that already exists is a problem (click title for article).   Just because they want to ease restrictions on people who are already sick (pre-existing conditions).  There are still fundamental problems such as:

1. Pre-existing conditions (exclusion)
   
2. Procedures that aren't covered
   
3. Business plan model - (current system is set up to decrease cost/care and make money)
   
4. Cost of Premiums
   
5. Dental & Vision Excluded
   

I was a supporter of Hilary Clinton because of this main reason.  I'm not a huge fan of Obama's Heath care plan of putting health care in the hands of private companies and supplementing that with tax credits.  If teaching our children are important enough to put that under state control, then so is health care.  It's a no brainer.  I don't have children and my income taxes go toward educating children I don't have.  If you want to participate in Universal Heath Care, you don't have to.

I hope Obama makes them shake in their boots.  Personally, I'll wait in line and deal with issues with Universal Health Care.  I'd rather know I'm getting health care instead of wishing and hoping for it even after I pay $600 a month for standard bare bones care.

Twitter Rant

I like Twitter and have been using it for years. I have discovered some great websites and applications while participating in the community.

Now that it has hit the "mainstream" (i.e. there was a New York Times article) I'm tired of having people ask me over and over again, what is it for.

Below is my answer...

"Check twitter.com and if you don't know it's possibly not for you!" Goodness, is it that hard to understand?

Off Broadway Shines

Wow I don't remember the last time there was so much theatre written by black folk that was being staged at the same time. Outside of Hedda Gabbler (with Mary Louise Parker) it's the only reason I have to see the theatre. Everything else out there seems forgettable. Here's my list.


Ruined by Lynn Nottage
I love this playwright. She wrote of my favorite plays of this decade Intimate Apparell. Her stories are like fabric. Woven with care and attention to detail. I can't wait to see it.

The Good Negro by Tracey Scott Wilson
Don't know much about it, but it has quite a buzz going about it.


Inked Baby by Christina Anderson
Sounds like a good drama! More melodramatic, but at least black people aren't dancing and singing. I like singing and dancing, but it's great to see a variety of artistic expression.