Will a Portuguese Water Dog be America’s next First Pooch? Seriously? Why in the world is that any of our business and how in the world have we become a society that sits in anticipation as the Obama’s dog choice makes the evening news? Yes, it is kind of cute that there are sites online that allow you to vote on the breed of dog they should buy but we already eat, sleep, and drink literally every move of President Barack Obama, Michelle Obama, Malia Obama, Sasha Obama, and now Spot Obama? You’re kidding me!

Here is my question, if we are this involved in the White House dog, which is really not our poop to scoop and is none our business because it has absolutely nothing to do with the running of this country, should we be privy to other things pertaining to the Barack Obama family? If they are this open with this piece of their life, will they be this open with the not so cutesy stuff?

Since Malia is the oldest I will use her; what if Malia did something wrong? Something that would make the country’s heads roll? Should we be privy to that information also? When do we mind our own business, take care of our own dogs and let them have at least a portion of life that is their own? Shouldn’t some things just be “their” business? They didn’t sign up for a reality show, just the Presidency! I know with some positions in life come instantaneously stardom but at some point shouldn’t a line be drawn and shouldn’t we let them have some family intimacy regarding matters the public never knows about? I’m just saying…

What do you think? Should we get to go inside and be a part of every aspect of the Obamas’ lives? Tell me what you think. Holla back!

This is America. We don’t do what is easy, we do what is necessary!
–Barack Obama

Was the President wonderful last night or what! He was his usual graceful, inspiring, motivating, encouraging, hopeful self! To me, he left no stone unturned when it came to giving us an understanding of what is really going on and how he plans to make things better and take our country to the next level. I thoroughly enjoyed hearing what he had to say, and although I was sitting down for most of it, I too felt like standing on occasion and applauding! Wasn’t that a long procession of people coming in and visiting with friends and colleagues along the way? Could we find anybody as excited as The Speaker of the House? And didn’t it just pull on your heart strings when he recognized his wife, the First Lady and she mouthed the words, I love you and blew him a kiss? I must admit, I teared up a bit at that moment. All those things were good but what he said/declared/promised was even better!

One of my favorites was, “We will rebuild, We will recover, and the United States will emerge stronger than before”! Whew! That is saying a lot! I tell you, during parts of his speech, I actually became nervous. I do not want him to fail! Not just because I like him so very much but because he is the gentleman that is taking us along with him these four years; so if he fails we fail! I feel as if his openness and honesty, and conscious effort to involve the country, gives us all a piece of the pie but also a share of the responsibility. Did you hear him when he said, he has already found 2 trillion dollars in savings!

Of course his main focus was on energy, healthcare and education. Here are some things he said that resonated with me and made an impact on me and my growing belief in the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act.
• Over the next 2 years this plan will save or create 3.5 million jobs, 90% in the private sector
• Healthcare reform will not wait another year, it is weighing down the economy
• He vowed to make college affordable to a million more students and by the year 2020 we will have the highest proportion of college graduates.  He also asked that every American commit to at least one year of higher education
• He vowed to end education programs that don’t work and come up with new incentive for teachers
• He vowed to hold his cabinet accountable for every dollar they spend and launch a website so WE can see what they spend (Wow)
• He vowed to end tax breaks for the top 2% of the rich and for companies that send jobs overseas and give tax breaks to 95% of working families

But even as optimistic as he is, he talked about the hurdles we will have to get over. What he told us was:
• Even if we manage this plan flawlessly, there will be no real recovery unless we clean up the credit crisis that is severely weakening our financial system
• The weight of this crisis will not determine the destiny of this nation
• Cost of action is great but cost of inaction is even greater

He even scolded us and challenged us by telling Americans:
• What got us here is many people buying houses they couldn’t afford
• When it comes to education, it is the parent’s responsibility. It is not a democrat issue or a republican issue but an American issue
• Not to pass the debt we can’t pay down to our children. (That one statement got one of the biggest stand ovations and Barack jokingly said, “I knew we could get some consensus in here!”)

He elegantly kept it real!  How do you feel about the direction our country is headed and what did you think of his speech? You know what to do…holla back!

At the end of the day she is wife, mother, daughter, sister, neighbor and friend. But for the world, 45 year old Michelle LaVaughn Robinson Obama recently transitioned in a role only 43 women have preceded her in filling, wife of President of the United States, Barack Obama and the first African-American First Lady of the United States.

Born and raised on the South Side of Chicago and graduating from Princeton University and Harvard Law School, Michelle Obama is the most talked about woman in the United States…maybe in the world! She is constantly being dissected and each and every part is analyzed from every angle. I think the overwhelming consensus is: Isn’t she lovely!

With this being the first presidential election I have followed this closely, I am not an expert on any of the other first ladies. I do think we have had some lovely first ladies. Nancy Reagan brought the unique Hollywood glamour she so elegantly exuded. Hillary Clinton had such a strong presence; I think we all knew we would see her again, with or without Bill. To me, Laura Bush is the epitome of all things right. I can’t say enough about her but… Mrs. Michelle brings a style and sassiness I don’t believe the White House or politics has ever seen!  She is what some may consider the most envied wife/woman with every advantage life has to offer, yet she keeps it real!

According to articles and stories, her White House décor comes from Pottery Barn. Her daughters, Malia and Sasha do not have a nanny as she is determined to keep continuity in the routine of her family, regardless of the monumental life they are living. She chooses to dress in J. Crew, use American designers and has even appeared on camera with dresses off the rack. She is not afraid of PDA (public displays of affection) and although her husband is President of the United States, they still have date night and romantic dinners and are not timid about sharing it with the world!

One of the cutest things I have seen is an interview with Barack and Michelle where they corrected each other and had little side conversations while the interviewer sits waiting to resume the interview. Already they have done some of the sweetest things, ever witnessed, by a President and First Lady. You would have to be blind to miss the love and respect they have for each other. Have you seen the picture of them on an elevator, inauguration night, where she has his jacket around her shoulders and they have their foreheads together looking at each other, with Secret Service all around them? Priceless and obviously a Kodak moment!

Her style has been compared to Jackie O. For me, I don’t see that but no matter, it is a compliment! She carries herself with a chic-ness and grace all her own. She is a strong lady yet feminine. Without a doubt, very intelligent yet you can see a countenance ready and willing to listen and learn. She appears happy and satisfied with what has happened but determined to keep the change process moving! As much as we have patted ourselves on the back for choosing such a great leader, I’m not sure we realize the two in one deal we’ve been given!

In 1993, she founded Public Allies Chicago which provided young adults with leadership training for public service careers. In 1996, she joined the University of Chicago as associate dean of student services, and established its first community service program. She’s not just a pretty face! Currently her passion is military families of deployed soldiers. As a military wife this thrills me. I really don’t think she could have picked a more overlooked cause. For this and all Michelle has brought, is bringing, and will continue to bring to us, thank you First Lady Michelle Obama. It is a delight to have you as our First Lady!

What do you think about Michelle Obama as First Lady of the United States? Holla back!

P.S. – Entertainment tonight is doing a series on Michelle Obama’s first 100 days of fashion. Check it out!

I’ll admit it. I’m addicted! Can you remember life before Brown and Madea?

Once again Tyler Perry does what he does best, makes you goes into the ugly laugh watching Madea Goes to Jail. I went to see the movie last night, and although I did arrive early, I must say it is the first time I have ever stood in line to see a movie. When my sister told me my niece had gone to two movie theaters and they were sold out, I knew I’d better get my ticket early. And I did!

So like all of Tyler Perry movies/plays, Madea Goes To Jail tells a story, gives a clear message, offers hope, gives a subtle recommendation of how to overcome your plight in life, and makes you laugh! Will it win him an Oscar? Probably not. It is the greatest story ever told. No. Is the storyline predicable? Yes it is. Did I walk away smiling, feeling good and glad I went? ABSOLUTELY!

According to the one and only review I read here is what they had to say about Madea Goes to Jail and Tyler Perry movies in general: A) they are review-proof as they’re not screened for critics, and they make tons of money on their own, anyway, and B) not made “for” white people, so if white people see them and don’t get them, it’s because they’re, well, white people. I don’t agree with either, especially B. The part I like the most is: and they make tons of money on their own!

I think I have seen every play and movie that Tyler Perry has done. I probably have scar tissue in my belly from laughing so hard at him and his stuff. Although his plays are just as long as the movies, for some reason, they seem a little more connected, story wise, than his movies. Notably The Family That Preys and Madea Goes to Jail, until about an hour and a half into the movie, felt disconnected.  I was anxious for it to hurry and all be tied together. I knew we were going to get there eventually but I will admit, last night at one point I looked at the time because I knew we were pretty deep in the movie and Madea had still not gone to jail! I guess I thought much more of the movie was going to actually be about Madea being in jail. Uh uh. Not at all. Very little happened in jail, but as I think about what did happen in jail, I begin to smile. Madea is a mess!

With that said, let me clarify, I love me some Tyler Perry and I will tell you why.  Tyler Perry does what nobody else is doing, he consistently employs black actors and actresses thus showcasing their talents, Tyler never ever gets too big to bring God and the “pull yourself up by the boot strap” message into everything he does, Tyler attracts some of the biggest and the best and they want to be a part of this season of his life, IE – in Madea Goes To Jail we had: Judge Mablean, Judge Mathis, Dr. Phil, Al Sharpton, Whoopi Goldberg, Sherri Shepherd, Joy Bahar, Elisabeth Hasselbeck, Michael Baisden, Steve Harvey, and Tom Joyner. Seeing all those folk pop on the screen was the icing on the cake!

I will continue to support Tyler and my Madea addiction by: buying my ticket early and standing in line, trying to boost his value as a powerhouse in Hollywood by seeing his movies the day they come out, laughing out loud, praying for his continued success, and encouraging others to see his work. Can I ask a favor of you? When you are ready to buy the DVD for your collection, please buy first quality and don’t buy a bootleg copy! Hear me; that is not true support! Don’t make me write an entire story about how I feel about that, and I won’t, but let me say this: that is so ghetto and country! If you are a single young mother with two kids, working two jobs, going to school full time, and trying to make ends meet, ok, I can see going the bootleg route (although… if you call me, I will buy you a fresh new one still factory sealed) other than that, I’m not hearing it! Surely God has blessed you to be able to afford a “real” DVD and if He hasn’t, maybe it is because you still live life with a poor man’s mentality, like buying bootleg copies of Tyler Perry’s DVDs!!! Here’s the thing, as long as we are buying bootleg copies, Tyler Perry, and the naysayers, will never be able to gauge his real success. The numbers won’t add up! I’m done. I’m off my soapbox. Just buy it new!

For now, Madea Goes To Jail is still in theaters and my guess is, will be for some weeks. It is rated PG13 but I didn’t see anything that would disallow you to take the whole family. He did it again y’all! Finally Madea went to jail with her bad self! Holla back!

So the stimulus bill is passed! This is what Obama wanted so for that; I look at this as a victory! But for me personally, I don’t know.

From what I understand, receiving your stimulus check this year will be a little different. Instead of going by the last four of your social security number and making you wait until the month that your numbers come up, this year filing your taxes will instantly trigger the government thus releasing your check.  The stimulus has decreased a bit:  $400.00 for singles and $800.00 for couples. Not being 100% politically or financially savvy leaves me without all the pieces needed to form a completely intelligent opinion, but I will say, it seems contradictory to the life long lesson of responsible spending.

I get exactly what they are trying to do and I am not oppose to the cause, but the effect they are expecting is something that I just don’t think is ever going to happen using this method. Well let me clarify, I don’t think the part of the stimulus package that doles out money earmarked for consumer spending, will work. I will not be going out on a shopping spree and coming back with my chest stuck out saying, I feel good because I have jump started the economy by spending my few little hundreds. No. I am more likely going to either bank it or save it – these days that is two different things when many don’t feel safe putting their money in the bank – or I am going to continue to pay off bills so I can peacefully sit at home feeling safe with little to no debt. Will my way of thinking help the economy and create new jobs? Absolutely not. Do I care about the economy ripening up and us being a healthy working country again? Absolutely yes, but I am scared! I do not want to be overly cautious but I don’t want to be stupid either. So I am inclined to play it safe. I will say thank you for the money and walk away in awe that we are once again given free money (well is it really free?) from the government. Other than that, I’ve got to do what is best for me and my personal economy!

Are you going to go out and spend yours? I recently bought a 52 inch screen TV and even more recently, I took it back! I am just nervous and frankly unsure as to what I should do. I’d love to hear other opinions and even be persuaded to change my mind and go out and buy me some shoes! I guess we could play the game:  if you do it, I’ll do it! But I gotta know; what are you going to do with your money? Holla back!

It has been a few weeks now since the world was shocked with the news of Nayda Suleman who had eight children within a 5 minute span. That in itself is shocking but our real shock came when we learned she already had six children at home! Well, at home but not “her” house, her parent’s house! Six kids ranging from age 2 to age 7! What in the world! Ok, I am not here today to talk bad about the woman but let’s run down just a few things. I won’t call them facts; I will just call them a strong possibility of factual information. According to news stories I have read:

• She is only 33 years old
• She is unemployed
• She is articulate with a bachelor’s degree, preparing to work on her master’s
• She lives with her parents
• Her mother helps take care of the children
*sidebar: her mother filed for bankruptcy last year for liabilities of $981,371
• Her mother, the grandmother, gave an interview slamming her daughter’s decision, calling her unconscionable, and also gave a tour of the cramped, messy home
• All 14 children do have the same biological father who had expressed a desire to get to know the first six children but now doesn’t know what to say about 14
• Her reasoning for having so many children is she is an only child and has always dreamed of having a large family
• She received $167,000 from worker’s compensation claims and kept it a secret
• She has launched a website for donations
• She is being compared to Angelina Jolie because #1. Some reports say she has undergone plastic surgery to look like her and #2. Both have large families
• Although she already had six children, she found a doctor who agreed to do in vitro, implanting six embryos

Here’s the thing, anything in excess can be too much (except money) because, at some point, something will be unattended and not given the attention it deserves. And is the attention we are talking about with this mother, attention for the children or attention for the mother? I am going to refer back to the question Ann Curry from The Today Show asked:  “to what degree is this too much about you and not enough about them?”

I have only hit a few highlights of this story. There are so many aspects and angles to this overwhelming event, I just can’t and won’t list them all; plus you have heard them. This woman has been ridiculed, made fun of, the brunt of so many jokes on late night TV, and on top of it all, she has received death threats!  I think much of this is extreme. Technically she hasn’t broken the law! Maybe a moral law in some people’s mind, but we cannot disgrace her for doing the most common and beautiful thing and that is bringing a child/children into the world. But with this turn of events, there are many questions being asked.

Here are my concerns and what I am anxious to hear you talk about: should we judge her for having so many children? As simple society and as tax payers, is it really any of our business? How will this affect future in vitro fertilization? And my biggest concerns are: at what point is one more child too many and will she be able to give the love, care, attention, and affection to each one of the 14 children?  Who will suffer?

According to doctors, one or more of these eight children will have some sort of challenge whether it be physical or mental or both! I think we would all be surprised if we didn’t see at least emotional challenges and issues somewhere in that brother and sister pack!  It is really something to shake your head about. I am still perplexed every time I hear some new addition to the saga. Personally, I think it is wrong.  But what do you think? Holla back!

HOT OFF THE PRESS!!!  Don’t Make Me Preach, I’m an Exhorter! is the latest release of Bishop J. Louis Fonzer.  Among his works are:  Life After You, The Wide World Of God, Cutting Edge Ministry, What Israel Ought To Do, Think Souls, Come Unto Me, Why Are All These People Running Around The Preacher, Is it a Prophet Or A Zealot, and So You Want To Be A Pastor, Huh.  

Seeking the best for Kingdom, Bishop Fonzer’s goal is to mentor ministers in their proper calling and send them out to build the Kingdom.  But everybody can’t preach!  Don’t Make Me Preach, I’m an Exhorter breaks it down and teaches us, we all have a place!  Ministry is in every pew, in every willing Christian, we just have to find our niche.  Don’t Make Me Preach, I’m an Exhorter challenges who we are and what we are called to do. 

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From Chapter 1: Don’t Make Me Preach; I’m An Exhorter
Congregations need to be taught about this indispensable ministry of exhortation and what it means to be an exhorter. Exhorters have long been misunderstood and undervalued. They have even misunderstood themselves.
In some circles, especially those churches that still have testimony services, there are almost always exhorters in the midst, using the gift God has given them. These saints are sometimes playfully and incorrectly referred to as “bootleg preachers” who have not accepted their calling. Some of them know they are not preachers; but unfortunately they don’t know what they are. They know only that they have a special calling and a fire in their bones; and they know that testimony service offers them a platform. Desiring to pursue a greater work for God, many of them chase after what they mistakenly feel are the greater gifts instead of understanding what a priceless gift they have in the gift of exhortation.

Because exhorters are so enthusiastic, have a wonderful gift of communication, and are well received, many pastors have mistaken them for preachers. When these pastors begin using them in a preacher’s role, they quickly understand their mistake. The same person who was so dynamic while clenching a pew or even venturing down the aisle a bit, sounds inept and even afraid in the pulpit. “What happened to them?” people ask. “Maybe it’s just stage fright” they add, for lack of a better answer.
…………….
The truth is that the pulpit is quite full of males in clergy collars and robes who are exhorters and not preachers. And because they are charismatic—and male—some of them are in the senior pastorate just because they are great at inspiring people to follow them.

What an injustice to us it is when we misidentify gifts and mislabel the bearers of gifts. It is no secret. There are apostles who mistakenly serve as pastors, teachers who serve as evangelists and prophets who serve in the wrong capacities as well. Adding to the chaos, certain spiritual gifts and offices are “back-staged” or minimized. If these gifts were put in their right place, they would bring much benefit to the Body—the true benefit that Christ intended.

To get to know Bishop J. Louis Fonzer and purchase Don’t Make Me Preach, I’m an Exhorter or any of his other soul stirring books of guidance for Kingdom building visit: www.dontmakemepreach.com.

Whether one agrees with the man or not, and surely no one agrees with anyone about everything, Mr. Barack Obama is the 44th president of the United States of America.  Indeed this is a milestone in the history of this great country.

Still, I am concerned with the paradigm and language of a country, that while progressive in many respects still embraces a centuries’ old non-progressive mindset about the very thing from which it celebrates its liberation.

President Obama is proudly called the first black or African-American president in United States history, and so he is.  Both the public and the media mention his white family, but never does anyone say that he is white—but he is.  Mr. Barack Obama is as much a white president as he is a black president. 

I hold that we have only almost made it to the mountaintop that Dr. King dreamed of.  No, we are not there yet.  Because as long as white America and black America hold to the 1800’s belief that one drop of black blood or one black parent makes a person black, our thinking is as archaic as our slave-owning or enslaved forefathers was.  Both blacks and whites are wrong for only celebrating or referring to half of Obama’s culture, thus perpetuating the divide that we proudly say has been bridged by the new president’s election and inauguration.

Let it rather be said that, we have a president—our president, a black man, a white man or a man of color, someone we can all identify with whether black, white, red or yellow.   How about calling him a man, a man who was made in the image of God, a man who desperately needs our prayers?

Good Thursday Morning. Here is a question that Leah Lee has and wants our opinion. Let’s help her. Holla back!

My son is in his last year at IUPUI. He’s a single non-custodial parent working fulltime and attending classes 5 days a week. He recently withdrew an interest in pledging to a fraternity because there just was not enough time to accommodate. I originally supported his interests and silently prayed that he wouldn’t like it. Rush activities frightened me but I never let on. He stays on the Dean’s List and desires to follow up with a Master’s program. He lives on his own and seems to manage his life well. Is he really missing out not pledging? I was very relieved he didn’t but what are the goals and activities of these organizations?

Young ladies around the world that love him, women old enough to be his mother that still would date him, and others that just love his music are all wondering the same thing. What really happened Chris? Did the R&B superstar Rihanna get a beating by Chris Brown for giving him herpes? Initial reports came in on Monday morning saying that Chris Brown was arrested and booked on charges of domestic violence and making felony criminal threats. This came after a steamy argument on the streets of L.A. where the pop princess Rihanna was left crying to 911 and Mr. Brown was no where to be found. He is currently out on $50,000 bail and is expected to appear in court on March 5th. Since the initial reports came in, the internet has started absolutely buzzin’ as more and more information has been coming in.

Chris turned himself into Los Angeles police Sunday night (February 8th) after a woman came forward claiming that she was attacked by the singer after they got into dispute. Police had initially refused to reveal the identity of the woman but The Los Angeles Times has confirmed that it is Rihanna. Although there was much to debate, one thing became a fact. Chris Brown gave Ms. Umbrella more than a few raindrops, he gave her a beating. The superstar scuffle occurred early Sunday morning and police say Rihanna’s face had several scratches and suffered bruises. She received medical attention at a local hospital and was release in a short amount of time. Chris & Rihanna both canceled their scheduled performances at Sunday night’s 51st Grammy Awards, due to the incident.

Chris Brown, making his debut to the music world in 2005 with his hit single “Run It”, has did just that! Run it for the past 4 years! Whether he is dancing, singing, or acting; he’s had much success, and with a squeaky clean record…until now. Just one year ago Chris made an appearance on the Tyra Banks show where he talked in depth about his mother being a victim of abuse when he was growing up. He talked about being scared every night to the point he didn’t want to get out of bed, so he would pee the bed. He then vowed to never hit a woman. But those words somehow got lost along with his endorsements. His ads with Wrigley’s gum have been pulled from television and Brown is being suspended until his legal woes conclude.

Bouncing back could be hard for both performers, but I would think more so for Chris. With his music being directly attached to the female crowd, he may have lost some fans ‘forever’. While on the other hand, Rihanna has always been the bad girl type (although naming her new album “Good Girl Gone Bad”) and may just be able to put this in her bag of naughty cases and move on.  The next few months will tell a lot and hopefully we will still see them both back at the top of the charts.

What do you think about Chris Brown, Rihanna, and this tradegy?  Holla back!