To Be a N-word, an A-word & a G-Word (I Blame Pop Culture)

Okay before we start this installment of "I Blame Pop Culture" let's take a test.

Pick out the Nerdy, Awkward, Geeky person or character

Steve Urkel

Bill Haverchuck
Character from "Freaks and Geeks" 

Aisha Tyler

On Friday Night name the activity or activities would a nerd, awkward person or geeky person would be doing

Cosplay

Line Dancing

Reading

Name the show(s) that the nerdy, awkward, geeky watch

Cosmos

Scandal

Game of Thrones

Okay the answer is All of the Above!!! How did you do?

Like every topic in the world, Nerds, the Awkward and Geeks have been pop culturally define. And like all other topics pop culture has defined, the definition is based on stereotypes, popular attitudes & trends. . You're not a "real" nerd. No, you're not nerdy enough.That seems to okay to say these days.So it is safe to say those that are of this population are annoyed with it.  Well at least this awkward nerdy geek is.

First lets discuss the non-nerds & geeks in hiding (I won't pull a Perez Hilton on you) views on others that identify as being nerd. I thank you for drinking Pop Culture's kool-aid and believing all that it has told you what being nerdy, awkward, and geeky is. I won't call you a "meat-head" but if you only want believe what it has told you well I might have to.

Those glasses don't make a person a nerd or geek. It means that person can't see without them and the don't have the money to buy another pair. A geek is a person that feels they are an expert or enthusiast or a person obsessed with a hobby or intellectual pursuit. Nerds are people who may spend many amounts of time on  non-mainstream activities, which are generally either highly technical or relating to topics of fiction or fantasy. An awkward person is in an emotional state of intense discomfort with oneself very frequently. Thank you Wikipedia, for the general definition help. None of these definitions use the word Only. They can be interested, know about, and enjoy mainstream activities. What only the non-geek can join in the "water cooler" conversation? Just because a guy Cos Plays on Saturday doesn't mean he can't enjoy a ball game on Saturday. Just because she watches Housewives at 7 doesn't mean afterwards she's not watching Cosmos at 8 (I live in Central Standard Time.). Don't let Pop Culture tell you that.So what if doing popular dances is not what your fellow educator knows.So is what their rhythm is off. Are their bills paid? You know the latest ones but did you have to borrow money to pay for lunch today. Spent to much at bar, maybe??? Know a person who identifies as a nerd, geek or awkward as a person not a stereotype. 

Oh nerds, geeks, awkward people, stop signifying. You are next. Stop Nerd Checking each other. What's this not "Not Nerdy Enough" crap, we got going on. Oh Pop Culture poison our "grog" also (yep I said grog). 

I say we. My nerdness has never been questioned directly to me. I'm not a hypocrite because I Am a Hypocrite. I "Nerd Card Checked" someone once. I bought a some $$$ worth of books. and this lady said "Oh you are book nerd like me". My rude self said, "Oh really. You have more books than shoes too". She said "Well No. I". I cut her off by walking away. Yeah, I must have sipped some that day too. I felt horrible later on. She could've been a book nerd and a shoe whore. I didn't know that lady. I know with the rise popularity of Nerd Curiosity and fake cultures of the Geek Chic, we feel as the hip slang says "Some Kind of Way". It still should not make us pigeonhole those in the community. There is not one kind of "Nerdy", "Geeky", or "Awkward" person. You don't know everyone in the community's story. Like the non-nerdy, We have to know them as a people and not by "our self-made standards". Just because they've never played D & D doesn't mean they don't have a kick a-word Marvel comic book and figurine collection. They may not can afford to go to Comic Con International. Yet, they are at their local Con front and center every year since the local Con started. Fantasy Fiction, Textbooks, Romance, Comedy, Memoirs or Historical Diaries are all books. Be happy that person is reading, period. Stop tearing down our own. Mainstream does enough it by itself.

One day this blog post will be obsolete because Nerds, Geeks, & the Awkward will be seen as just people. But until the story stops being Unique it still has to be told correctly. But That's what happens when you are an outlier of the Mainstream Machine called Pop Culture. 

As Always, Talking to You in Adult Terms

Movie Remakes (I Blame Pop Culture)

Hollywood is really trying my patience. Can we get Original movies of Quality, please? If I look up and see another Remake, I’m going to scream. What is the purpose to Re-tell great stories? It’s like Hollywood never heard the statement, “If it Ain’t Broke Don’t Fix It”.

Weird Science is one of my favorite John Hughes movies (Sixteen Candles is my other fave). Now someone wants to remake it. They claim it needs to be edgier. Weird Science was edgy by 1980’s standards. What they meant to say is “We want to make a millennial, Pop Cultured defined version of “Weird Science” because we are too lazy to make an original screenplay about the awkward, geeky, and nerdy”. Yes, I said it. Lazy!!!

Many Writers are Lazy. They have to be. No other explanation for why one would just go obtain the rights of a perfectly good movie and rewrite some of the script. Some don’t even let it be known except in the opening “credits” that the film is a remake. Who know the movie “What a Girl Wants” is a remake of “The Reluctant Debutante” made in 1958. Yep I had to go back and watch the opening of the movie. Where are the writers of original scripts? Oh I know they are making Independent films because many of them can’t get the big dollars to get their new idea on the big screen. 

Big Budget Entertainment Companies are lazy. Why crunch that many numbers of a film that the fans may or may not accept? Here is a perfectly good storyline that has made millions of dollars before. The fans looked that film then they should love this “current generational”, “other cultural based”, or “based off the stage” version of this story.  

Movie fans are lazy. Fans hear about a popular story and no matter how many times it is said it is a remake, the fans will flood the theaters. Do sales of the original story go up as well? Ask Pop Culture for the answer. For example, how many people have seen “Dreamgirls”, the movie then went to see as a musical or bought the music of the 1982 original soundtrack? I won’t wait for the answer. The numbers tell the story quite well. Yes, I saw the musical as a revival years before the movie was released. And yes, I like the musical better.

I’m not a Hypocrite because I am a Hypocrite. Some of my favorite movies (“Polly” (“Pollyanna”) & “Annie” (A Broadway Hit) are remakes. I also saw both in the original forms also and I like them both. And in my defense, they would be on my favorites list had no one remade them. So thanks Pop Culture for ruining my taste in cinema also.

One would think the “Remakes” would've slow down after the debacles or “Fame”, “Footloose”, and “The Bad News Bears”. These remakes and others convoluted the storyline of the originals in horrible ways. And Why??? Just to make it “relevant” to whatever populations it was geared towards. Movie fans are lazy but not dumb. Take a page out of part of Disney’s book, Re-release the Originals. It introduces the story to the populations that are unfamiliar with it. It also will bring the original admirers out to see it for the memories or just for another look see.

But who am I? Just a hypocritical movie goer that just want to see some New & Fresh ideas on the Big Screen and not in the 5 for 20, Straight to Cable DVD or Made for Cable or TV bin in stores.

I will say one thing. I will be protesting the remake of “Weird Science”. John Hughes probably rolled over in his grave when this news broke. The rise of the awareness of Nerd, Geeks, and the Awkward is part of pop culture now. I know there is an innovative screenplay (at least some ideas or backstories) out there that is “Big Screen” worthy. Stop being lazy and go find it. Don’t Touch This Classic Piece called “Weird Science”.

As Always, Talking to You in Adult Terms

Sorry SNL, I'm Not That Useful

So if you have not heard about the SNL Slavery Joke controversy, go Here and Here. I know popular reality was on and you were more interested in that than SNL. (No snark intended) I get it. So go read it and come back.

Okay you're back. So yeah, folks are not happy with Ms. Leslie Jones and SNL. Yeah,  I'm not pleased with the joke, either. I get the joke. I also get how the joke is offensive to Black people. In my opinion, attacking it racially is too easy. The “Oh Lawd, I’ Lonely” tone the joke had was what broke my heart.

Are folks that desperate to be “Booed” up or want a date that Forced Slave Breeding would seem better? Did I miss the "Low Self-Esteem & Frantic for a Date" memo that went out to the single people? I tend to do that sometimes. Somedays, all the single people on my Facebook timeline all complain at once about being lonely, While I’m happy I got a good nights sleep on my side of the bed without fighting for the top sheet all night long, every night.

I know we all want to be wanted and asked out. That’s feels good. Being pushed with someone just to make more people does not feel good. Ms. Jones was so sure she would be able produce what Massa wanted. What if the big black buck & she could not produce Shaq, Kobe, or Sinbad even? Big Black Buck and she would have been beaten or sold. Oh wait she said Drafted. Umm drafting has choices in it's involvement. No slave had options to my knowledge when being sold. So, give me the loneliness any day. Slavery does not sound sexy or romantic at all.

I’m a fan of Leslie Jones’s standup. I know her work and I was very happy when she became a writer on SNL. I just don't like this joke, though. I'm so lonely that I could be content with Massa being my matchmaker. Yeah, I don't agree. I'll wait until somebody sees me as pretty as Lupita and not useful as Leslie

As Always, Talking to You in Adult Terms

Harrison Wright Replacements???

Okay before I start this post, let me address a troll whose comment I delete on the blog about the Scandal Season 3 Finale . Troll called me a racist because I said Columbus Short was "the only OUTSPOKEN_DIVA approved hunk on the show". Since I deleted the comment, troll has sent a email every day since trying to debate me. Here is my official statement:
      Pop Culture tells you I have to say that Fitz & Jake are attractive. The Key Phrase is "tells you". Pop Culture does not tell me who I think is attractive. I do not think the actors who play Fitz or Jake are handsome. I also don't think the actor who played Olivia Pope's former love interest, Edison was either. So that's the hammer I will use to smash your racist accusations. Boom!!! This is my blog and also my choice of "hunkiness". Stop trying to goad me in to a argument about it.

Well, Columbus Short will not be returning back to Scandal after the summer break.

 I told you Shonda Rhimes does not play with Scandal (pun not intended). I've seen many talk about who could replace Columbus short as Harrison Wright. I only have one choice, Brian Wright.

But actually I don't want any actor replacing Harrison Wright. Replacing Columbus Short with anyone as Harrison Wright is like replacing Aunt Vivian on Fresh Prince or Harriet on Family Matters. This is not the 1990's. Writers Know 1) We all don't look a like. 2) Casting is not fooling anyone.

I expect Shonda Rhimes to Introduce another Gladiator at some point in the storyline (Yeah I have some ideas. Follow me on Twitter to find out). We will have to see what she does. If you watch Grey's Anatomy, the "Cardio God" after Isaiah Washington's departure was not a Black Man. It was a White Lesbian. So the newest Gladiator may not be a Black Man. But if he is here a my Top 3 choices.

Larenz Tate I know he's been bumped up from Recurring to Regular on Fx's show Rescue Me. But in my opinion, he can do both. I've never watched Rescue Me. I saw him as guest star on The Mindy Project, recently. He was smooth talking political candidate named Tracy Whitfield. We also know from the role O-Dog in Menace to Society when he was younger. He can handle a gun. And yes, if he can't do both, the political candidate player can be a guest star needing Olivia's fixing (It's NO secret, I want Olivia Pope to get back to TRUE Fixer work).

Las Alonzo He played an FBI agent in the one season show, Deception. Which means he has experience being crime wielding and fact finding. Plus, I think Alonzo has the personality to corral the Gladiator spirits into positivity like Harrison Wright. Now, can keep Alonzo's Tweets out his mouth and not cause any more minor controversies?

Aldis Hodge He not just an OUTSPOKEN_DIVA approved hunk. He's currently on the eye candy list. All because of a little show called Leverage. Hodge played a criminal hacker turned good guy. Often he had to play crazy characters to get good results. Because Huck may need some help because he'll be going through with the fallout of the family issue and/or his antic with the quinnteresting, Quinn. Now I know Hodge looks a little young to be a Gladiator but so does Quinn.

Yes, these picture posted were divisive. Other than Huck, all the Gladiators dress nice. I showed these actors dressing nice on purpose. They are all OUTSPOKEN_DIVA hunk approved. But most importantly IMO they would be great as Gladiators if Shonda Rhimes is going to stick with Black Male. I'll have to put more thought into "Other That Can Be Gladiators". Just dealing with the surface level interest. So stay tune for another blog dealing with that topic. Okay so, who would you like to see as a Gladiator? Let me know in the comments below.

As Always, Talking to You in Adult Terms

Love is in the Air YET I Get Questioned...

OMG, I had the most Loving weekend. I watched my little cousin, my cousin's daughter, get married. It was short and sweet. Hung out with the young couple the next day, The new husband totally fits in with our family. And finally one of my "Chosen Family" members announced she Engaged on Sunday. Her fiancé has been welcomed since day 1 of meeting him. So, I totally approve of this engagement. All this excitement for other people and folks want to ask me when will get married. First at my Foundation church by this old deacon and then on Facebook (just this morning). I actually deleted the comment before someone else saw it and an argument exploded. I have some argumentative FBF.

This is one of the annoyances of weddings for me. "When are you getting married"? "Oh, honey you're next". "You're not getting any younger". I didn't grow up with a "must be marriage", "must-have grandkids" type of mother. Actually, until I graduated from college, I thought that attitude was something that was made for TV. Then one of my late neighbors asked it and my grandmother told him off before I could say anything. I think that popped the corked "You need to be married" bottle in my life. Why is there a need for me to be married? Why are people that are not me desperate for me to be married? Oh all the things I am not, why is not being married the concerned?

My mother taught us to "Let God Order You Into Marriage". I am not against being married. I want to spend forever with someone who truly loves God and me. Yes, in that order.  If he loves God and is praying to find me, his bride, I know God is leading him to me And it also means he's preparing me to be found. I feel like it is God's will when or if I get married. I just really want him to Clamp man's mouth shut with the questions about when he wants me to do it.

I refuse to be foolhardy & hasty in attitude to be married. I see so many who are and it pains me. I never gave myself an age to get married and I'm not going to now. Wait that's not true. If I hold out until age 65, he can't say I married him for his money. Yes, that is a joke.

So, get the message out. Don't ask Me when am I going to get married. Go ask God!!! He knows it all. I will not let people stress me out about a life-long decision. Congratulations to my loved ones that were married & got engaged this past weekend. God bless you in the New Step in Life!!!

As Always, Talking to You in Adult Terms

Twerking Craze (I Blame Pop Culture)

 

I am not a hypocrite because I Am a hypocrite. I am (Not *was* because my Heart is still there) a Teenager of the 90’s. So, of course in 1993, I was twerking when DJ Jubilee told us to on his song “Jubilee All”. But then I had been Booty Bouncing, Shake My Butt, Backing My Thang Up, and Humping With It for years. I still do. I can’t Drop It Like It Hot, Warm or Cold anymore but I still shake it sometimes. Now I said 1993, I was twerking. So why is there a “Twerking Craze” now? I will not throw down the race card but I blame one thing is fuels, Pop Culture.

My mom called it the Funky WahTuSi back when she was younger in the 1960’s. I came home from school and she was teaching my younger cousins and I swear her legs haven’t been right since (Yes, that is a joke). Now all of a sudden there are all these “How To Twerk” video popping up. Everywhere you go random people are asking “Is this how you twerk?”.  Miley Cyrus, The Golden Sisters (I love them. I truly do.), and other of these pop stars are Not doing anything New. What do you think “Shake, Shake! Shake, Shake! Shake your Booty”, looked like on the dance floor? Yet, somebody trendy in the entertainment world does a dance and calls in a name people don’t recognize and there is a media storm. Pop Culture Media, let me tell you and maybe you’ll get the word out “Twerking it Not New”. The world listens to you.

I am Not sorry to pop Pop Culture’s bubble about this new dance called twerking. Pop Culture knew twerking was not new. It just didn’t want to let the masses know. The funny part is the masses already knew. We just let Pop Culture look foolish. I bet Dollars to Donut, everyone reading this blog is saying “D’uh” and agreeing with me. Hopefully they are also telling the few out here asking “What is Twerking” the same things I am saying in this blog. If you are reading this and you did not know that, now you do. Now go tell a friend.

 Oh and hat's off to the Microsoft dictionaries that don't recognize "twerk" as a word. Now, I’m off to swing my upside down teardrop shape tail to some 90’s Southern Bass Music & Hip Hop. Yeah a lot of it is riddle with misogyny and sex but “Tootsie Roll” & “Get It Ready, Ready” never get old. They get me going. I told y’all, I’m not a hypocrite because I Am a Hypocrite..

As Always, Talking to You in Adult Terms

Just Want a Maxi Dress *whining* (What I Wear)

Pimps aren’t the only people having a rough time. It’s hard out here for a short plus size diva like me. It’s a lot you don’t see in pictures. I’m just 5’2”. I have short legs, torso and arms. I also have a Medium B Width foot.  Shopping can get sometimes frustrating to me.

For the 5 years in a row, I have fail to find many affordable sleeveless Maxi dress (sleeved ones look like muumuus IMO) in petite plus size. I did find one this year. Sounds like one somebody heard my cry.

I’ve yet to find a cap sleeve shirt that does not fit me like a short sleeve. See this dress with my attempt to shorten the sleeve. (This dress gets a lot of wear)

Still Not as short as it looked in the ad. I gave up trying to wear short skirts in high school. Since I have a big bust I use to pull my tight knit skirt under my bust to shorten them. Now I’m too old to wear my skirts that short.

Let me also talk to shoe industry. Can a lady with a B width foot but a wide leg get a well-crafted fashionable comfortable heel or boot? Any shoe (mostly boots) that I own that is made for plus size women are stuffed at the toe. They are too wide. I know I could go to all the other stores and get any shoe I want and I do. But I like getting my shoes from Plus Size retailers because the shoes is better crafted for a larger frame. This is one of the few B width shoe bought from a Plus Size retailer I own and was from the internet not an in-person store.

I just want to dress like everyone else and be able to pay for it also. It‘s bad enough that plus size clothes cost a little more than average. (I saw a Petite Plus Size Maxie Dress for $98) It’s already bad enough the fashion industry is very slow to understand that the “Big Girls” don’t want to dress in geriatric wear.  I just want someone to understand the “squatted” ladies are here and we want to look nice too. Don’t tell me to just get it tailored. Sometimes that cost almost as much as the item. Oh well back to whining. “I just want more than one sleeveless. Maxi dress”. LMBO

As Always, Talking to You in Adult Terms