Category Archives: ~ my 2cents …

See anything odd about this advertisment ?


 Product Review
After receiving the advertisement below I decided I needed to write . So, on October 14, 2013 I wrote to krysosandchandi.com to express how I felt about the ad and the model‘s representing or misrepresenting what I felt was something other than selling jewelry. In full disclosure … I added more for this post but the question remains the same.
I have a subscription to Daily Candy and while I enjoy some of the articles, there are times when I find there are or their co-horts go beyond the pale… so to speak. It is with great sadness that the ad plays with skin colour and to be quite honest the jewelry is no longer an issue. I saw only the model’s change of skin colour not the jewelry or the colour of it and why old man winter is to blame for the dark days and whatnot. It is sad, I do not know if others will see this ad or the skin colour changes … make up or otherwise… but skin lightening is a bad practice and using it to play games with the consumer is just as bad. I had… past tense intense issues with my skin and spent months under heat lamps meds to take back control. I love my skin now though it’s not perfect I would never tell my daughters or her friends that lighter brighter whiter is the best for those dark days.  We all know great jewelry makes us feel different emotionally and in some cases jewelry of colour such as gold, sterling silver etc. looks great on different organic skin tones. I understand trying to fix skin problems including hyper-pigmentation but to be told that we should lighten up for those dark days is beyond offensive. If you look at the split photo of a model clearly darker on one side the other lighter with the jewelry being sold does look brighter but it is because the model is clearly lighter, this is a definite misrepresentation of what jewelry does …and sad that it appears to tell women that being dark may be a bad thing.
It’s my opinion
 Thank you for your time
I did not receive a response
However, here it is October 22, 2013 and sadly, I get yet the same advertisement from daily candy and i guess Krysos & Chandi, I will admit the advertisement’s words seem a little different, yet my eyes are drawn to the photos of what looks like one dark skin model and one lighter apparently after putting on jewelry? This time I sent it to some family and friends wondering what other inquiring minds had to say, some thought it was an advertisement for foundation some said it is to provoke and get more clicks. I have been writing about stepping away from skin lighteners and find this to be another self-esteem hurdle to jump over for women. This ad pushed several hot buttons of mine so; I announced I could not buy anything from Krysos & Chandi ever . I sell online but the ads are clear lest we talk about the fact that lighter brighter whiter does not always improve your social status … right?
Anyway, look below … what say you
“Surely you can feel Old Man Winter breathing down your neck.Delay the inevitable black cloud (of clothes) with bright pieces by Brooklyn-based designer Avneet Basi.The FIT grad’s love of ancient jewelry opulence led her to launch Krysos + Chandi, a made-to-order line of bracelets, rings, earrings, and necklaces that add pop to even the darkest ensembles.Spice up your weekly sweater rotation with the tassel bangle (spun with silver, gold, and colored cotton) in maroon, navy, and neon; a necklace of the same design brings new life to your favorite tee.Basi’s sterling silver and gold-plated brass Trikona rings, set with green onyx and amethyst stones, put puzzle skills to the test; daring bijou builders can stack until nail beds interfere.Go ahead, fall for it.Available at krysosandchandi.com, $28-$165.”
The text above is by the Companies
krysos + chandi!Photos: Courtesy of Krysos + Chandi 

~~~ 6 tips for putting your words to music ~~~


I am not a songwriter, but I love to read and definitely hear the spoken word.

My interest is in movement, specifically dance, but great words put to music with innovative patterns can invigorate, irritate, and make you feel good. So good that you want to move.

They also say that music is said to soothe the savage beast, or at the very least, we love to talk about how music impacts us physically and what’s inside our souls

…  And

We all love to love …

1) Make it personal because reading someone’s experience with love at first sight, first love, lust, long-term love, or a one-night stand brings a sense of connection that folks sometimes look for. Setting it to music can only make a good lyric better, right?

2) Be authentic because, as a music lover and voracious reader, I make an effort to learn the lyrics to songs I enjoy and occasionally end up loving them. Most can sense that the performer’s passion is real, not an attempt to be someone else. Sincere lyrics can actually be heard and felt through the spoken word.

3) The music that makes an impression on me also provides imagery, a vision of something of what the song is about; even if it is abstract, the image is sort of like a coffee table object. The meaning of the images can change and are sometimes left up for interpretation, depending on who is listening to, reading, or learning the lyrics. Of course, when it comes to love, when someone is singing to you, take the time to listen.

We often hear the music and skim the lyrics, but we weren’t feeling it

 What gets folks onto the dance floor …

4) Rhymes, Reason, and Rhythm, because who doesn’t like movement?  Usually, rhymes, reason, and rhythm are what make tracks work.  That is what kind of music makes great artists move up into the stratosphere.  I dance because I have to, even as a kid, and if you have a great hook, added to a great bass, or syncopation, it definitely will get played more than once in my house.

The rhythm of life

5) Always assume a video of your creation is a possibility, so … be that visionary

 

6)     🙂  Always believe you were born to make music  (:
 

Source: Nativegrl77

The 2009 summer of my discontent… has become 5yrs of Republican nonsense


Just another rant from 2009

The summer of 2009, filled with what apparently was just the beginning of nasty Teapublican behavior ugly rhetoric and a whole lot of pollution spewing out of all their holes… I called it the summer of my discontent

 I believe in the right to freedom of speech, I do not believe that the speech should invoke fear, hate, lies and death. Americans should not go overseas and speak ill of the President, no matter who is in office. The position of President should be held with great regard definitely not disrespected by any American while in other countries.

 I am a person of colour (mixed decent) from a huge family who has had to live with the fear of being non-white while driving, walking, shopping etc. Fact is, people of colour live this way, and it is not right. In the year 2009, we were blessed to have our first person of colour (Bi-Racial) as our President. I do not know him personally, but he seems to be kind, gentle, calm, cool and definitely not an angry man and has had nothing but angry words, behavior, and hate spewed at him. It is disguised by some as freedom of speech, others as a fear of government take overs; most if not all attitudes exposed a fear of change and (republicans)  definitely get it,  don’t want it  and caused a $24billion shut down to express it. The election in both 2008&2013 results showed a diverse group of say 53% voted for Obama as our next President. It is a worthy reminder to Republicans because they lack a sense of acceptance that these events actually took place. However, we all know Republicans met the same night Barack Obama took the office of President devising a plan a of attack which has turned out to be… obstruction.  The last administration failed us in my view, my opinion and right to freedom of speech. I don’t think I am alone in that feeling but I don’t wish he(bush) were dead, or any ill will on any level to him(bush).  Yet,  the comments from the likes of Joe Wilson or a rush Limbaugh, g beck and so many members of Congress and or Conservatives has taken me back because I feel the hate right through the TV. The lies and the miss-information has reached an all-time peak, I found myself so irritated, I had to join the effort to fight back against the Teapublicans rhetoric . As some ex and current people in politics use our 24/7 news cycles as a platform to spread what they call “news” which sounds and feels like old style Southern propaganda, once laced with disrespectful language against the Office of the President has become an all-out assault. Yes, as a person of colour I am upset, compelled to respond to each tweet that even remotely sounds like racial hate, fear, and whatnot. I was repulsed, it was disrespectful, it was sad, and inappropriate. I ask Congress , where are the grownups, knowing Joe Wilson and his other Teapublican comrades had/have to be told this behavior was inappropriate, told to apologize is beyond my understanding of adult behavior. Yes, this is what the first amendment covers, yet, I would wager that given the right circumstance this gross misuse of our 1st amendment rights by the democratic party would be given the hammer until they apologized on national TV.

 Oh wait, this is happening.

 What we all heard spewed by righties back in 2009 continues in 2013 seemingly embodied by  southern men acting in old style southern political tactics and if you know your history, understand it, it is clear enough. Then add that old cliché : what goes around comes around and its meaning (A person’s actions, whether good or bad, will often have consequences for that person-wiki) is definitely scary but we must all Stand Up Speak Out and fight against that old cliché becoming an ugly reality. The GOP shutdown was just the beginning of a train to derail what could be an improvement of American lives, yet ole’school politics would rather increase the casualties

Our President is a man who wants to put us back on track because some greedy fools derailed it.

 The solutions to our economic problem should have nothing to do with the colour of our President’s skin. It should be about folks who saw the problem, wanted to change it in a bipartisan way and Barack won the office twice.  Though Teapublicans decided, “Just say no” was a much better way to do the People’s business. We all know change is hard, it takes time and obviously a certain group of people have been led to believe that President Obama is not only taking us somewhere else that could be bad for America, they use heritage, his skin colour and edit his conversation to portray him as the “the other.” or worse

These claims are outrageous.

 The President’s agenda seems simple to me. Maybe he is ahead of his time or at least the clock that Teapublicans are trying to push us all onto. Americans deserve a right to live a good life, afford health-care, a life where upward mobility is possible, a right to be all we can be – educated, a right to jobs for the 21st century and equal rights should be the norm not a political football.

 During the summer of 2009, the path to prosperity or the lack thereof was being laid out right before our very eyes by folks like rep. Paul Ryan. I wonder why my fellow Professional Lefties did not see it then because we now have a Teapublican paper trail. I wonder if the PL knows how their members of Congress voted during President Obama’s 1st term, let alone the fact that a number of blue dogs sided with the extreme right. That was then and though most if not all bluedogs were voted out of office in 2010,  members of the tea party not only replaced most but have done their best to make our Government look silly chaotic seemingly without compassion morality and more Wall Street than Main Street

Those in public service , take an oath to do no harm call themselves Public Servants, but if you take a hard look at how the Congress of 112th,2nd Session has acted lest we talk about the 113th Congress

you would be feeling discontented too

Orange and Black : gets another season


Orange Is the New Black

I ~~ just recently heard about the online show from some folks I know online. I did not get the plot line but there were many sides being taken for some of the characters on the show like Piper, Red, Larry, Daya, Vee and more.  Then Saturday morning MPH had some of the cast on her show giving me as well as viewers a better idea and glimpse into the world of those on the other side of the plexiglass for women in lock up. The incarcerated and living what looks like … out loud, intense and worrisome for a couple of the inmate’s flows with great comedic flair. However, if you break it down the realities are quite different. Laverne Cox , who is and plays a transgendered female on the show pulls back the curtain on her life as a black man and the liabilities against the juxtaposition of being a transgendered female in lock up no less with all the complications the relationships and the anxiety of living life, let alone in lock up. Yet, it does look like living loving locked up and out loud seems to have gotten this great cast a 2nd Season. So, I am watching MH/ msnbc and find out that the show Orange is the new Black is based on the book and real life story about life in prison for 15 months of and  by Piper Kerman ~~ you should get the book too!

I say check it out. I am not sure how it helps get folks who are 50% or more likely to be in lock up in a funny mood … just saying

FYI: this show is from the creator of Weeds on Netflix

The comments above are my own …

All the information below about Orange is the new Black is from the internet!

‘Orange Is The New Black’ Season 2: New Set Photos Released On Facebook

‘Orange Is The New Black’ Season 2: New Set Photos Released On Facebook

Update: This one just hit Instagram:  Back in June, about two weeks before the first season was even released, Netflix announced that it has renewed Orange is the New Black for a second season….

‘Orange Is The New Black’ Season 2 Has Begun Filming

‘Orange Is The New Black’ Season 2 Has Begun Filming

Orange is the New Black continues to capture a great deal of buzz on the Internet nearly three weeks after the launch of the entire first season.  Netflix announced that it would produce a second seas…

‘Orange Is The New Black’ Cast Gets New Addition For Season 2

‘Orange Is The New Black’ Cast Gets New Addition For Season 2

Netflix’s new hit show Orange is the New Black has added a cast member for the second season, and promoted a couple of recurring cast members from the first season to regulars for the second one.   …

about failed Promises


thefacesMy take on failed promises, past present and future, which is what we are all experiencing under the Republican controlled House of Representatives versus change to or redirection of promises that President Obama has had to make on numerous occasions. It is obvious the two situations are quite different. The first two years of the Obama Admin the RTP as we know was spent on the floor of Congress saying no, blocking, making the Democratic Party scale back or run away from legitimate bills that RTP attached felonious amendments to that no member of Congress could in good conscience vote for. Then came the campaign for the midterm election that if you know your history gets few voters out to vote though in what definitely is a first of many first in this Presidency, the midterms were important yet folks did the same ole same, some opted out on purpose and even more voted right of center on purpose. While most know the outcome of the midterm elections, I think that many people do not understand what truly happened. President Obama said he got a shellacked and would try to make a move to be more bipartisan, though senator McConnell said if he wants us to consider compromise he would have to do, say and act like we want him to, essentially bow down to the Republican Tea Party. For the last 4.5 years, Americans have been hearing Republicans say that we need to create jobs. Mr. Boehner and his comrades definitely used the jobs, jobs, jobs slogan to win the House or Representatives. Sadly, these carpetbaggers have been waving one hand in the air while using the other to attack, slash, cut, and burn every effort to get our economy back on track. It may sound dramatic, but it feels as if the Republican Tea Party has wanted to eliminate the middle and lower class since then Senator Barack Obama became President and now I certainly feel our country is at risk with reckless, seemingly uneducated Republican members of Congress.

Contrary to most if not all polls the anger or feelings of distrust and failed promises should be pointed at the way in which President’s govern? It was done poorly for eight years during the house of Bush, because when he took office there was a surplus… Question is, what did he do with it and how do we make sure this cannot happen again lest we talk about in times of American crisis both Political Parties and any entities involved must all come together to fix the issue … leaving ideology at the door!

… Community Organizer and Senator Obama watched from the sidelines, watched, heard, and knew the status quo had to change though we had no financial crisis to speak of things were not as they should be or more importantly not as they could be. The change we Americans need is one that moves all of us into the 21st Century. This effort to change has been misinterpreted in my opinion of one of socialism… folks have to know that our current system is outdated does not represent all of the people and if you are really listening. The Republicans want to go backward to a time when life was good but it was only good for the rich. Then Presidential candidate, Barack Obama had a plan for America. There were some financial issues are brewing, the house of Bush was focused only on the Iraq war, Obama’s ideas seemed far ahead of the other competitors. Americans saw and heard what he wanted to do and agreed, well at least 53% believed a change was needed in the way things are done on the Hill. However, change takes time maybe years.  If we had all participated, it could happen sooner with GOP co-operation but as the months passed by there were more rumblings of financial problems and then Senator Obama faced with lots of criticism became the main target and NOT our finances heading toward the ditch.  We voters heard or told to ask if Obama was an American, did he pal around with terrorists, could he bring in the vote of not only women but also white women and men on top of it all. I really feel people need to be reminded of when, what, where and who got us into an economic downward spiral. However, weeks went by more and more information is coming out, people notice that there were many layoffs happening, businesses closing up and some notice Bush is less available every day and while the backroom deals made by the house of Bush, McCain tells Americans that our economy is still sound and strong. In what seemed like only a month or few weeks before Americans had to vote for President of the United States. The House of Bush slowly opened the doors of pain and the possibility of our economic collapse. I still want to know why did they wait until the next administration was about to be put into place? Some say there is no such thing as a coincidence.

Wall Street, Main Street, AIG and a lot of Banks Crashed … with the house of Bush and Paulson making back room deals …

The day they swore in President Obama everyone knew there was quite a different Presidency he had walked into than most Presidents. This President has faced one crisis after another and contrary to what “the Media” wants us to feel or believe he has made failed and false promises. I do not believe he has made false promises, he has had to contemplate and change directions, he is still working for all Americans, and I am so proud to have voted for President Obama.

While the forces of the RTP say otherwise, we all need to understand the change, redirecting any and quite possibly all campaign promises if needed. Why? Because our lives have changed, they are more of a challenge now and the elements(theGOP) needed to create a better situation did not play by the rules choosing to sit on the sidelines. The banks flexed their muscles, lobbyists are stood in the way, Republicans/Conservatives cannot accept Obama as our President and have become more than just the party of no, some are trying to provoke fear and hate not bipartisanship, and I keep asking is socialist a code for the n word?

ConservaDems and definitely Republicans are not all in for the change the rest of us believed in want or voted for twice.  We need to tell members of  Congress! be outraged at the nonsense going on…We need to continue reforming that part of our economy monopolized by parts of Corporate America given the right to do so by folks on the Supreme Court. Vote out the TeaCarpetbaggers for a positive change.

While President Obama did promise change, he has kept over half of them, he also stated that he could not make changes alone … we all would have to participate. That comment is a hard reality given the crap that the Republican Tea Party keeps pulling out of somewhere disguised with them saying they are listening to what Americans want because Americans spoke thus the outcome of the midterm elections. Even if it were true, the promises the Republican Tea Party made before and have been making consistently are epic failures …like I said could put us at risk and as I finish a rant a rumor from twitter states Republicans might be considering a government shutdown. Republicans talk about not wanting big government but they do not deliver on their promise. In fact, they have been practicing failed promises and lies since the 112th Congress started. Mr. Boehner, Cantor and their comrades have failed to offer up a legitimate JOBS bill, failed to create a JOB and of course we can all debate whether that bush bonus giveaway has helped create, save and or stopped any outsourcing of jobs.

I ask the GOP, where and when are the JOBS among many other issues going to be brought to the floor of Congress! and the Epic Failure Promises describes the Republican Tea Party.