Sunday, February 13, 2011

Vacation Styles of the Broke and Restless: I: The Time-share

I recently went out with this guy who was an Upper who traded vacation stories with me. Uppers devote much time flapping their gums to give the illusion of being better off than they actually are. The worst kind of Upper is borderline delusional and somehow expects no one to deduce or cross reference anything they say with what they do or who they are. They rarely look like their life or sage has afforded them the opportunities they claim to have experienced. In this case, the guy wanted to appear as a cultured, cool profligate. But I could see through his vacation lies to the spirit of his broke hustle.

Saturday, February 12, 2011

Jobs I've Hated: Walmart

Of all of the customer service jobs I have suffered through in my youth, Walmart had to be the worst. There was no part I remotely could connect with to lessen the agony. Everything from the 100 ineffective customer service, department, assistant, co and store managers per store, to the people that shopped there became the dregs of my life for 6-9 hours out of my day.  Although most average public will at some point in life find themselves in this hell hole, I came to hate the base demographic that the chain holds dear. Don't get me wrong I'm no discount store snob. I also shop at Target, and will do a quick run to the dollar store. 

 Many Walmart shoppers take things to a higher level of horrible.

Annoying Clothing Habits

Everybody has committed a fashion faux pas at some point in their lives. There are outfits we would not dare to consider for a variety of reasons: body type mis-match, color, cut,  fadd-ishness, hell- general whackness reason enough to hate someones gear. Sometimes one might not appreciate how culture, features, or age appropriateness make an article look on an individual.  Here are a few things I have hated  in my life (not necessarily at the same time).

Leather Jackets w/ Tassels- Good for bikers (some), horrible for average Joe's in sneakers
Classic cut jeans- this high waist with no ass room only looks marginally ok on old white ladies.
Super Saggy jeans- who still wears this?
Skinny jeans on men -especially on black guys

Dingy boxers prominently displayed with saggy jeans

Thursday, February 10, 2011

Boomers Aren't Rebellious Anymore..Are they Delusional?

      I was reading an article the other day about how companies accomodate the rebellious spirit of Baby Boomers- those born between 1946 and 1964. They will be approaching 65 soon and entering into category called the young old. This made me to think of every montage in present day movies that give us a feel for what this generation is supposed to be about. Images of of the 1950's, MLK, integrated crowds, the Kennedy's, Vietnam, the pill, acid, cocaine, and the pot smoking free love key party-er all dance across our minds in 30 seconds of footage. It makes me wonder, how long does rebellion last?  Boomers are getting old, don't want to see themselves this way, and protest even more when it seems the world isn't offering them a youthful delusion to hold on to.

Sunday, February 6, 2011

Insight on LOUD BLACK PEOPLE IN MOVIE THEATERS

For every stereotype there is something, some call it grain of truth -or at least perceived grain of truth regarding idea. Culture and context play a role in our perceptions and behavior. So today I will give a little insight on loud black people in movie theaters

It seems everyone has heard about or even suffered through with talkative black people in movie theater: talking to back to the screen, loudly predicting what will happen in the next scene or "If that was me...," providing much commentary. No this does not apply to all but I have witnessed this myself- even at home, my sister will make a thousand comments, tell some BS story of how she can or can't relate- along with a couple of digressions, then turn around and ask me questions about what she missed while talking.- As if there were 2 Me's: 1's job is to follow the movie and fill her in when asked;  the other to listen to her story giving her my undivided attention. As a peaceful (naturally quiet) move goer I HATE THIS, but nobody in my clique cares-lol

In a super thin nut shell, call and response and interactivity is a large part of the black experience and communication in African culture and subsequently African American/Black culture. (For example, ever been to and felt the high energy levels of a predominantly black non-Catholic church?)

Superbowl A New Holiday?

People are funny, treating Superbowl like it's a new holiday: All week I have been hearing planned menus and preparations for Superbowl Sunday. People  -familiars and strangers alike have been asking me all week "what are you doing for Sunday?" or "What are you doin for the Superbowl?" -Stated with both curiosity and compassion as if they don't want me to be alone on this day.-lol