I Like PBS

If you follow me on Twitter, you probably know that I do my share of hash tagging. I also participate in a few trending topics (TT). Well Saturday night I saw #BlackGirlNerdDatingTips and I had to tweet my tips. Well one of my tweets was “If you haven't watched PBS since you stopped watching Sesame Street, give me the remote & never return #BlackGirlNerdDatingTips”.  A few people retweeted my tweet and even a few guys admitted to still watching PBS. Well this blog topic was born.

I remember during the 2012 Presidential debate and everyone was up in arms because Mitt Romney said his plan to defund PBS. I remembering going to Twitter (Oh you think I’m frank & candid here on Blogger. On Twitter, I don’t hold anything back.) to complain at anyone complaining about defunding PBS when most of them haven’t watched it since childhood. I also said if they cared about PBS start watching it. I don’t want to hear it. My family got cable when I was 3 in the 80’s. I watched both "Sesame Street" & "Pinwheel" (aging myself) on Nickelodeon. So no excuse. People don't watch because it's not pop culture TV. Well Downton Abby is pop culture (No I don't watch that particular show. Ran into my "Boardwalk Empire" & "Treme" watching), but most of it's programming is not.  How many of you reading this actually watch PBS? Wait, how many of you watch PBS other than the children’s programming with your little one(s)?

Well I like watching PBS. After I left the “Sesame Street”, “Reading Rainbow” & “Mr. Roger’s Neighborhood” Stages, there is where I discovered a show called “Degrassi Junior High” that then turned into “Degrassi High”. It was about some of characters that are now parents, guardians, teachers & principals on the current Degrassi: The Next Generation (I have teenage niece). I also used to watch a wonderful cook named “Justin Wilson”. I gar-on-tee I could smell his cooking through the screen. Then I graduated to "Austin City Limits" (music showcase), & "Great Performances" (plays & musical). Now they also have PBS World (I think it’s just World now) so my viewership has really increased because I also watch" AfroPop", "Independent Lens", "America Reframed", "Global Voices", & "POV." When Tavis Smiley left BET I nicely follow him over PBS to watch his talk show. When the Cambridge police falsely arrested Henry Louis Gates, I knew they didn’t watch PBS because he has a few shows ("Unchained Memories", "African American Lives", "Finding Your Roots", & "Faces of America") on there. How do I know about "Mr. Bean"? I watched him and his funny antics on PBS. That is just some of the stuff I watch on PBS. I won’t go into Saturdays spent watching "Religion & Ethics Newsweekly" & "American Masters". I also won’t talk about randomly singing The Dragon Tales & Bob the Builder theme songs because Yes, I Can!!!

Now, I never got into "Nova", "Red Dwarf', "The Red Green Show" or "This Old House". But at least fans of these show are watching PBS and like it like I do. They didn’t abandon it after “Electric Company” or “TeleTubbies” went off the air or only watch it when the teacher put “Eyes on the Prize” on during February. So yeah don’t question me for watching PBS. Watch it or Leave!

As Always, Talking to You in Adult Terms

OUTSPOKEN_DIVA The TV Show

Ok so I got a chance to catch Blerd (Black + Nerd) Chat on Twitter. I don’t get to catch it often. Tonight’s topic was Diversity in TV Entertainment. It is very fun. Thursday at 6pm CST on Twitter join #blerdchat Of course unless your life is the pop culture definition of life, you like me are not truly seen on TV. Well my mind started swirling with what would the perfect show about me, OUTSPOKEN_DIVA be like. I started laughing at the perfect possibilities.

1.       I’m Christian and not ashamed of it. Since I don’t believe in most of the cons of going to church especially a black church of course I have to show my character going to church sometime.

2.       I’m Plus Size, Wear Comfortable Trendy clothing & shoes, shapewear & stockings and still rock a relaxer 85% of the time without a weave Probably will show my awkward attack by Team Natural and lamenting to my Naturalista sister, family & friends about it (Team Natural has become a negative and Naturalista is a term of endearment for me (was supposed to write a blog but life got in the way)

3.       I’m Formally Educated and I still live in the hood So I’ll have a basic professional job. Probably the job I initially went to college for…School Nurse, more than likely in the public school system. I’ll have the neighbors who don’t understand why I don’t hang with them often and don’t understand why they like me. Oh and the occasional newspaper will gets stolen (that really happens some weeks)

4.       I’m Single, Over 30 and Comfortable with it. So my occasional dating life would be shown. Probably would have an up & down romantic rapport with some longtime pal. Give myself a When will they… storyline

5.       Social Life is occasional but it will awkward. I have to stay true to my Social life. See me get geeked up about going out, see me try to fashionably dress myself to go out, go out and depending on the situation have a good time or not. I actually do know how to line dance well. So no bumping into people off beat. Maybe goofily learning the latest one. Oh I will have a “club” name, one for the white or multi-racial clubs and one for predominantly black clubs like in real life.

6.       Oh I am a Southerner (Texas). I live in a metropolitan area.  I will not have an annoying Southern Drawl (like in the movie Jason’s Lyric (I can’t stand that movie for that reason) Wait maybe my dislike for that movie can be a topic). But I will go to a State Fair, the weather will be hot in the spring, summer, & fall and cold in the winter time and there would be some southern sayings pop up (well except "Make Groceries" (I've never made those))

7.       Yes I’ll have family & friends that will reflect my real life ones. I have a diverse group of friends (relationship status, sexuality, gender, race, wait everyone is a Christian oh but wait they are all different denominations)

8.       Avid Book reader. Probably see me with a E-reader, Tablet, or book 60% of the time. Oh and I will represent writing a blog, being on Twitter and Facebook and not understanding why Myspace is still the fad anymore. Oh and my love for Web Shows & Indie Films.

9.       Still like stuff from my Childhood in the 80’s and Teen Years in the 90’s So I’ll have nostalgia moment that lead to flashbacks

I know missed something. Now I wrote this blog so if I see my story come across a screen I want my credit. Ha Ha, Heck, I will sue. So who would watch a show about me? Does it sound fun? What would your show be about? Would I want to watch it? Talk about diversity. Humph, Pop Culture would not know how to handle my story. I’ll freak Pop Culture out. *evil laugh*

As Always, Talking to You in Adult Terms

I Like: Independent Movies

I am sort of purist when it comes to telling a story. Just tell the story well and let the rest follow. Hollywood in my opinion does not understand that sometimes. But Hollywood is what drives & dictates pop culture so many of its followers are blinded to the beauty of just plain storytelling. This is the reason why Independent Films are mock with descriptions as “Low-Budget”, “Kitchen-Made”, and “Bootlegged”. But the funny part about the mocking names, many Best Picture Oscar winners like “Crash” & “Slumdog Millionaire” are Independent Films. So some of independent films have taking those mocking descriptions and opened nice bank accounts. So poo on those always down independent films and here some of my favorites

My favorite movie of all time is an independent film. It is call “Amour Infinity: A Brooklyn Love Story”.  

I first saw it on TV and I fell in love with the story. Two people are in a relationship but one’s life’s laid path is already known to that person. This story make you consider what love is. It also examines friendship, parenthood, and infidelity. I love this movie. It is such a pure story.

The epitome of a Thanksgiving movie is an indie gem call “Pieces of April”. 

April decides to cook her first Thanksgiving dinner for her family in the home that she shares with her boyfriend. As her conservative family travels to April’s apartment, anything that could go wrong, goes wrong. This movie stars a younger Dereck Luke, shortly after his starting role as “Antwon Fischer” and the future former Mrs. Tom Cruise, Katie Holmes in the title role.  A “Before They Stars” facts.

 

 

 

 Like “Crash” many big stars are in independent movies even when they are known stars. “House of D”, “Lars and the Real Girl” and “She Hate Me” have big star powers. Never heard of “House of D”?

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

I bet you have heard of David Duchovny, Tea Leoni, Erykah Badu, and Robin Williams. They take part in a tale of an American man who tell his Parisian wife about the year he turned 13 on the night of their son’s 13^th birthday. Robin Williams deserves an Oscar for his portrayal of the mentally challenged, Pappas.

Lars is a recluse who make a sex doll his girlfriend, while his family and the town watch and play along. “” stars Ryan Gosling of “The Notebook” fame. The trailer to the movie "Her" reminds me of "Lars and the Real Girl"

Star power is rampart in “She Hate Me”. A hilarious story where a corporate whistle blower turn to impregnating lesbians to make ends meet has Woody Harrleson, Ellen Barkin, Ossie Davis, Jim Brown and Kerry Washington in it. I chased this movie to HBO because at the time, it was only at the Angelika and by the time I was able to get to it, the movie was not in theater. It finally saw it on HBO and I saw the movie’s stars mysterious eyes and heard his bold speech and instantly put him on the “Eye Candy” list and he has stayed put since that day. That man’s name is Anthony Mackie. Yep, this is the movie where first discovered him.

All the actors on my “Eye Candy” list have been in Independent Films at one point in their careers. I have seen all and own but one of the indie films that Lamman Rucker has been in. I don’t own “I'm Through with White Girls (The Inevitable Undoing of Jay Brooks)”, yet.

Non-Stereotypical black guy who dates white women think that every time the relationship goes wrong it’s the race of the woman is the problem. So he goes cold turkey dating them and develops code “Brown Sugar” seek out a compatible black woman for him to date. The title caught my eye. Lamman Rucker being Jay’s best friend made me watch it. The funny storyline made me love it. It is on my “to buy” list on Amazon. Anyone that would love to blessed me with this DVD will be more that welcomed to.  

 

 

 

 

 So those are some of the indie films I love. I don’t like all of them. Still don’t understand how “Slum Dog Millionaire” got all the accolades. The story did nothing for me. It’s just my cup of tea in stories. Any guys out there wanting to date me. A trip to the Angelika is better than a trip to my favorite restaurant, Cheesecake Factory. A trip to the Angelika and to Cheesecake Factory is even better. *smile* *chuckle* I’m just a simple lady who like a good story. That’s all!!!  

As Always, Talking to You in Adult Terms

 

Just the “Other Woman”

I refuse to watch “Scandal” and “Being Mary Jane” with anyone other than my mother. I only live discuss Scandal on Twitter. I avoid opinion pieces about both shows and movie of Being Mary Jane. Why? I get tired of the popular perception of these two characters as only being the “Side Line Chick”, “Side Piece” or the “Other Woman”. You know the woman that is Knowingly Sleeping with a Married Man. I first became of the perception when my BFF, who doesn’t watch Scandal, thought that the show was about Olivia Pope sleeping with the TV POTUS because of what she saw in her news feed on Facebook.

Amazing how many of us know, have been or are the “Side Line Chick”, “Side Piece” or the “Other Woman”. Oh these women are not new and unless infidelity or cheating is infinitely abolished from the face of the Earth won’t be going anywhere. I’ve been the first one to say I don’t understand the women and men might I add who are these people. But how dare we reduce these people to just “Side Line Chick (Dude)”, “Side Piece” or the “Other Woman (Man)”. Actually we don’t reduce them to that.  They are still our friends, loved ones, co-workers, associates or ourselves, living other parts of life other than having sex with someone who is married.

 So why do we describe a TV character by just that? I know it’s just TV but gosh is that the only thing people are getting from these characters. Mary Jane is a TV News Journalist who is a loving friend, a daughter who is supporting her parents, siblings and other family members. All while juggling her romantic life one that may or may not include a married man and another non-committal man (The show just started Episode 1). Out of all that the first thing people want to describe her as is a “Side Piece”. If memory serves correct Mary Jane didn’t start off knowing she was sleeping with a married man in the movie. And it was the end of the first episode after she fought to stay away from the guy that she finally sleep with him again. Okay I’ll leave that alone.

I love Olivia Pope. Not because she is sleeping with the TV POTUS. I love her because she is “The Fixer”. She and her gang of Gladiators gets other people out of Scandals. Also if memory serves in the beginning of this show also “she was not sleeping with TV POTUS anymore. Actually, she had declare war on him and the TV White House. She didn’t lure him, he chased and continues to chase her. And let’s talk about that. The women are the called “Other Women” but in both cases, neither lured those men into those relationships. Actually the men did the enticing and pursuing. Yet no one talks about their gross dog a-words for doing that. Men get to be men yet the women are the bad guys getting unsophisticated descriptions.

Again I know these are TV characters but I think they were made to show that the “Strong Black Woman” is a myth. She has cracks in her armor. The ladies being a part of an extra-marital affair in one of their crack among many flaws they have. Stop only describing them by that one.

So let’s try it again. Who is Mary Jane Paul? What is Sandal about?

As Always, Talking to You in Adult Terms

*side eye* Barnes & Noble... Get it Together

Child Finds Porn On Bookstore E-Reader « CBS Dallas / Fort Worth

I must really like you guys because I was web searching for this article after hearing it on the news and I know my internet use is being monitored. No LoL's. Dear U.S. Government, as you can clearly see I was looking for a article not looking up pictures of children in a lewd way.

Okay so here in a North Texas Barnes & Noble store a parent saw their 4 year old child looking at porn on a demo Nook in the children's area of the bookstore. The parent was outraged and took to social media to issue a warning. The store Execs issued an apology & confirmed the demo Nooks have no filtered controls on them.

What the Heck??? What is Barnes & Nobles and any other stores that are doing this thinking about? Public libraries, government agencies & schools block sensitive materials that can be found on the web. Why can't a public store not do the same? Oh I came up with several ways how the porn ended up on the demo Nook in the first place. 1) Some pervert looked it up in the children's area just to get his jollies off. 2) Some one with hacker potential, looked it up just to see if Barnes & Noble had it blocked. 3) Some curious preteen, caught his parent(s) not looking and went to a site he heard his peers talk about. Now I could come up with that many reasons how the porn was even on the Nook, Barnes & Noble has not good excuse why they didn't foresee this issue. This is not a vanilla world. Too much known crap is out here not to anticipate all possible problems. I don't understand how any of the demo Nooks were able to have access to any porn, governmental sites, banking websites, etc., etc. No one who visit your sore should be able to access sensitive areas of the net. That is common sense.

So Barnes and Noble and other public places not using Internet Filter controls, Shame, Shame, Shame on you for being stupid. No one comes to your store wanting to see porn. Get it together, you have a brand to protect. Get some Firewalls.

As Always Talking to You in Adult Terms

Help Me Understand: Not Practicing Safe Sex

If you can make me understand this, I’ll give you a big hug and erase this blog and never bring it ever again. I know I've talked about this before. What is wrong with practicing safe sex? All the diseases be it curable and non-curable out there, people are still not protecting their sexual organs. All the unwanted & surprise pregnancies happening every second, people not using all ways to prevent them.

Yes, this blog comes on the cusp of news of basketball player Dewayne Wade & rapper Ludacris having children born because of their sexual activities during breaks with their long-time girlfriends. Praise God, blessing & miracles were born from these sexual rapports but it could have gone a lot different. I don’t care what you think, Sexual Diseases are real. (I sound like my friend Candiladi’s mom who says as a warning “AIDS is real”) All of them are not curable and even if some of those don’t get treated can kill you too. I know someone who die in Millennial years of syphilis. He was not old, He was 29 years old. Those guys could have given their girlfriends a disease or diseases after their break. So that was a possibility but what have should have been a thought to use protection, is to protect yourself. Be selfish enough that you don’t want to catch anything.

And I said that them having kids was a good possibility that came from these situations. Actually the children being born causes issues also. The women that they are not in loving relationship with had their children. So now they will have to deal with her for the rest of the child’s life. If Gabrielle Union and the girlfriend of Luda decide to leave the bond, they are free. These gentlemen are not. Also what if these ladies after the break did not accept these new developments. A loving relationship has been ruined because he could not wrap it up. Now, let’s take the selfish approach of seeing this. That’s another person that will need to be taken care of. People cost. That’s money out of your pocket. Condoms cost how much? Babies cost how much? That’s what I thought.

Now ladies don’t think because the names that are talked about are men that we are exempt from sexual protecting ourselves. The women who have had these men's children were sexually irresponsible also. Who said these men were not “dirty” when they had sex with them? Men can have diseases without showing any physical signs. Did they show clean bills of health before they had sex with them? I doubt it. Okay but they didn’t report anyone caught a STD or STI. They did have children. Now they have to involve with these men and anyone that is in the men’s lives for the rest of that child’s life. That’s drama that could have been avoided with the slipping on of a condom, swallowing of a pill, the stick of a shot or any other the various forms of protection. Minutes of a pause compared to years of sleeplessness, worries, and more bills.  Because let’s face it, those new little ones will more than likely be living with the mothers. So who is getting up all the time? Who is buying the formula, clothes & milk.  Those guys have money but who will be doing most of the actual physical purchasing. Yes, the ladies having sex with these men unprotected during the break.

I know if people thought like me the world’s population would dwindle and people would be grumpy many days. But thinking my way, the population in foster care would decrease, the rise in New HIV cases would lessen, child support case would reduce and the deaths because of child abuse, child neglect & AIDS would decline.

I know writing this blog is me pissing in the wind. Adults are going to do what they want. There excuses will forever live. Condoms don’t feel good. He got me pregnant on purpose (Yes that one still exist). I’m allergic to latex (even though there condom made out of polyurethane). I’m afraid of needles (get fitted for a diaphragm). All that ruins the mood (so does scratching your genitals & babies crying).

Come people we have to do better. Is sex really worth it? Well babies, yes. But I know it not worth STD’s or STI’s.

As Always, Talking to You in Adult Terms

Hi in 2014

Hey Guys!!! Happy New Year!!! How is 2014 treating you? So far for me it’s been pretty normal. If you know me offline, you know normal is a good thing.

Expect two new blog series this year. “Things OutSpoken_Diva Like” and OutSpoken_Diva Talks to Her Younger Self”. “With Your Rude @ss” will be resurrecting from 2012 and of course Blogs about random articles, topics, news stories and books and “Help Me Understand” (next blog, actually) will be coming back this year.

And if you think there is something I should be talking about send me a suggestion email to c.out.spoken.diva@gmail.com. Alright All Minds Clear??? Good!!!

As Always, Talking to You in Adult Terms