Sheeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeesssssssssssssshhhhhhhh!!!!

Damn... I been through it this past couple of weeks. Between wrapping up finals at school and moving(some big shit)my personal life, and dealing with people who think less of you, I can finally say that Im seeing the light at the end of the tunnel. It's blinding but it feels so good. You know when its cold and your walking and you walk into that little patch of sun that was put there just for you by God... it feels so good on your face and warms you so much.

Aight aight, so I finished my finals and I am proud to say that I have a mere 4 classes left at Parsons The New School for Design. I like where Im at right now in terms of my design asthetic and Im starting to really appreciate my work for what it is. Still finetuning my portfolio but I'll let you check me out in a little bit. The final came out to be a precise hybrid of Doris Day and Beyonce.... don't try to understand it.

I really dont know how I came out of it cause I was running on E for the last three weeks. 3 internships ( TSE,LaRok,Nicole Miller) 5 classes, and 14hours at Bloomindgales I had no time to find a place to live... hence the uncontrolable crying fits... in public none the less!!! I was going mad... didnt wanna go back to VA didnt wanna leave Stuy Town, didnt wanna move to a whole in the wall, didnt want to admit things I knew were obviouse. This doesnt even really deserve press but the long and short of it is that I came out on top. I dont live in the subway and I moved all by my damn self, I passed all my classes, and I have some pretty good options lying ahead, which do deserve press... so ....

1. Today my nephew/godchild was born to my best friend. Now if you know Ms. Broudy, formerly Ms. Engleman, you know she was so primped and so proper that even she didnt see a hubby and a baby in her cards just yet. But if you really knew her you knew that she doesnt waste a minute and after love and marriage, the baby and the baby carrage were not far behind. Im so proud of her and excited to see her in action as a Mommy. Erica being the first of my friends to have a baby Im even more excited because its kinda like me having a baby. Think about it... if your best friend has a baby, who do you think your gonna be hanging with and dealing with??? Mommy and Baby. The great thing about this is that I DIDNT have the baby!!! So I get to hang with the little man but leave him when Im ready to go!!! Im telling you being an Auntie/ GodMommy is the life!!! I have six nieces and nephews and I would go as far as to say that when it comes to the little ones, Im a professional. I know Ive been hesitant in the past but Im not gonna front... I look forward to having children in 15 years. This weekend my sister is bringing the little ones up to see me, and its gonna be so good seeing them. I miss my babies and nothing makes me happier than to hear them say my name or show me the latest thing theyve learned. Yeah children are some sick businees and as simple as they are they are sooo amazing.

I only hope that if and when Im blessed to bless the earth with my offspring that she (or he) makes me proud, cause thats all I ever wanted to do for my parents... make them proud!

Girl Crush: Erykah Badu

Crisis

I NEED MICRODERMABRASION!!!!

Ive been eating Cheetos and NY Super Fudge Chunk all Winter and now I'm a fat ass and my whole face is one big blemish.


Shit

Sexy Can I ?....Why yes you can!!!

So I'm just gonna skip over the last two months like nothing happened ok? Ok!


I'm so excited for spring to be here that I really cant contain myself. The count down is on and I will be done with school in apx. 4 weeks! It will be hell to get through for the next four but I'm up for it! My internships will be over, and the only things I will have to do is focus on cranking out some fly ass finals and peaceing.

I keep hemming and hawing about the summer but I feel torn. A part of me really wants to be in
NY for the summer, but coming home for spring break and seeing all the people I love has me feeling some kind of way. NY has the heat, the concerts, the block parties and the fun, everyones out, theres always something to do, and something/someone to see! In VA, all my friends are there, Fridays at Sunset, Martini Kitchen(my fav little spot, I miss those shrimp) Erica's having my God Baby, My Babies(Efe, Elohor, Ibori) which are growing up so fast, and all my other little favorite hang out spots. I just want to have a good time this summer, a little sun, a couple of drinks, good music, maybe some summer love, in white skinny jeans and cute sandals. I sat with my roommate a couple of days ago and we talked about how we could taste summer, but we didn't know what flavor it was. My summer is so up in the air that I don't know what the heck I will be doing. I need to be stacking, but to have the summer I want its gonna cost. Everybody knows I love NY but its a working city and I really need to vacay. VA was so clean and calm and relaxed when I went. The people were all smiling and shiny and new (lol) and I was like OK Richmond, I see you. But if I go back to VA I wont even be in Richmond, I'll be in NOVA and I haven't lived there since high school and I'm not sure whats there for me. My family yes, which needs me right now, and thats important but Ive gotta make sure that I'm some good to them. Whatever summers about its gotta be precise because when August hits, its on. I have 4 more classes and I'm done with this fashion journey. I'm not sure whats at the end of that path, but I'm so glad I chose it. To finish is gonna be surreal and when I think about this coming December, theres gonna be lots of stuff going on for this girl. I just need to make it through this summer,finish out 2008 and pop 09 off. Yeah I'm done with this year, 4 months in and I'm done already. Maybe I wont even plan, I'll just go through the motions and let the days past and before I know it, it will be December and I'll need to pick out Christmas cards. I keep saying I wanna line my envelopes and maybe I'll get around to that this year, yeah, Christmas, its only 8 month's away. That's nothing!

Word.... Happy Holidays Y'all!

Perspective: Paradigm Shift

1. Henry Louis Gates Jr. and Marc Jacobs Inspire me to do better

2. My Homie Tone

3. Class now is in session

4. Let me tell you what I ain't.


1. I was invited to the Schomburg to hear Henry Louis Gates Jr. speak about the African American National Biography that he edited. This 8 volume collection is a semblence of biographies of variouse African Americans. I sat there and learned things I didnt know about Black history. Now I'll never run around and say that Im one of those black people that know my history, (sad but the truth) but I was surprised at some of the stuff I heard that day. The volumes are written by many different people and will be added onto from its current 4000 entries as it is transfered to the internet for everyone to have access to. He had us laughing as he talked about the different entries, and made his own excitement about the project touch you. Its said to be the most extensive collecion of African American biograpies, and for a mere $800 every home, office, and class should have a copy.

Or we could wait until the online version comes out.
Me, personally, I might have to wait.

We got to join him for dinner afterwards and that was the cherry on top. He was funny and theatrical and amazing all at the same time. I know people have reservations about his ideals and such but above all you have to respect this man for his wealth of knowledge. We got to this little Moroccan place and hes like "I hope y'all got some hot sauce." The coolest historian you will ever meet, Im sure of it! When we left he shook our hands and said "Nice to have met you, I always enjoy meeting new Negros" Gotta love it!

So I got to go to the Marc By Marc show room for a presentation of the spring collection for Bloomingdales. Now I previously wasnt really with Marc Jacobs and wondered why all the little Asian kids at school would swoon over his stuff. I swear we would sit in classes on the first day and go around and mention our fav designers. Between Marc Jacobs and Alexander McQueen you would think that no one else existed. This show however converted me. I mean beautiful candy colors for the spring, jewel tones and yall know I love color. The collection was actually HOT! I have my eye on these two bags and when they come in I think I need to make one of them mine! LAAAAAAAAAALLAAAAAAAALLALAL Wait till I get my money right!
I love the camel color its so lush, and the shapes are relaxed with the long hanging strap but sophisticated with the short one! If anyone wants to give me a gift, they should feel more than free to !

So in one week I found so much inspiartion, that I didnt know what to do with myself. I wanted to rip out my croquise book and start sketching collection after collection. I was really moved by the lecture and wanted to learn more and more about these people that are sometimes forgotten because they arent your typical history makers, but where none the less the first to do a number of great things for black people. Cool.

2. So my homie Tonia finally came to NY to visit, and as expected she loved it. She got in on Friday night and Sat we chilled and visited the fab Julee Wilson. Julee and Sabon are stops on my visit me in NY tour and are always crowd pleasers. Call Tonia and she will explain to you the sickness that is Sabon and soft skin. Tonia got toys from Julee and I was a little jelous cause I don't have the necessary humans with the nessecary members to get the same toys. It's all good though, its all good! Jen was there and she is a show alone! Shes growing so much and everytime I see Jen I am more and more impressed with her. Im so amazed that she is in LA doing her damn thing. Thats some big shit!! to me!
So we went to Melbas for din din and it was delisciouse, Julee always knows where to get the best of the best. Sunday we chilled and for old times sake I did Tonia's hair. Some how I always end up doing LaTonia's hair some kind of way. Freshman year I was curling it. Sophmore year I was giving her some kind of braids . Junior year it was a twist set and senior year it was all about the gel twist. Now two years out of school Im straightening her hair.

Aint she pretty!

It came out FAB which was our goal since we would be going to see Fertile Ground and Eric Roberson later that night. We had dinner with a friend at this little Jamaican place called Brawta in Brooklyn. The food was decent but it has been better. Strangest night of my life until the concert. They say alot about me or maybe they don't, but you already know what I ain't.

Fertile ground killed the show, and had me in tears, Eric Roberson was on some love shit that I enjoyed (well really not really). Sometimes love songs get on my damn nerves, it gets to be too much of the same thing over and over. How many times can you say that you love someone or that your impressed with them or that your are attracted to them. Theres got to be balance in your music, you know. How about some, Nigga you aint shit songs, LOL... just kidding. He performed Pretty Girl and I was satisfied with that and could have gone home happy. It was cold as hell but we braved it and had an awesome weekend. Between giving her the marathon tour of NY, Harlem, Brooklyn, Midtown she was happy except for when we came home and she started talkin some shit about her legs being green. Yall know Tonia's a hypocondriac(LOL) and waking me up at damn 8 in the morning on that teacher bull. Erica does that same shit, call me at 9 am. My clock doesnt have an hour before 11, Note to Bitches! DONT CALL ME BEFORE 11, shit!

3. So school is back in session and I have to say that I marched down 14th with some apprehension. I was so shook from the the previouse semester that I wasnt sure I was up to going back. I started yesterday with three classes and they were actually cool. Im excited about the projects and look forward to what the rest of the semester has to offer. I need to find an internship since Versace fell through, then I'll be good and I can start focusing on what Im gonna do for the summer. So much to think about but Im glad to be busy. It's the best way to be.

4. So in the last week while I've been inspired I've also had some heart to hearts with a few people and learned some interesting things about myself. There are but a few things you could do to send me into a rage, insult my intelligence, or not listen to me. Im not the smartest by far and I try very hard to remember that, but when you try to play me for the fool, it really ticks me off and I can become quit the tyrant. I will afford you no leway and above all else I will make you feel like shit. Apparently I bit someones head off this weekend,(thats what Tonia said) but I feel like it was deserved for various reasons. This brings me to my second point of rage. If I tell you how I feel over and over and over , tell you my POV over and over and over don't grab your chest when I hurt your feelings. I'm known as a bit of a bitch, mean girl, whatever, but Im really on this thing of being upfront and truthful with people. Now that doesnt mean I throw tack and discretion to the wind and fly off the handle, but if I have a question Im gonna ask, and If what your saying doesnt make sense to me, Im gonna ask for clarification.

We had this conversation at dinner the Henry Louis Gates Jr. We were discussing how men and women communicate and were using the example of a friend that went on a date with a guy and wasnt really feeling it. As she watched him leave her house she saw him jumping up and down in the parking lot as if he just won an olympic medal. One of these kids is doing their own thing. How on earth could he walk away thinking that he had really had a great meeting with her and she walk away feeling like she would never do it again. We decided that men and women communicate differently and because of that there is often a lag. Carry, Mr. Gates friend mentioned that somtimes women have to break things down to apples and oranges and thruthfully this dosnt only apply to men and women. You ever had a conversation with someone and mid way they ask you what the hell you ment by some shit you said 15 sentances ago. I hate when people give you the "uh huh" when they dont know what the hell your talking about. Gates said, to ask for clarification is to make oneself vulnerable. I agree, vulnerable is the last feeling people want to have when they already find themselves in a state of bewilderment. Asking the question seems so simple, but most people wouldnt do it. I've only learned to do so recently, as a result of me learning that you look even more stupid when your ignorance is exposed...and it always gets exposed at some point or another.

So back to me having my hat handed to me. It wasnt really handed to me, but I thought I had my wits about me and was choosing my words so very carfully. I like to keep in mind the power of words and try very hard not to use them wrecklessly. So Im reflecting and Im wondering if I was not clear. Though everyone will not see things from your perspective, if you explain your POV, then shouldnt they at the very least see where your coming from???? Anyway, it got me down, I started to feel bad about myself. I talked with another friend about it and she had this to say. She said that she's werry of people who try to give me the attitude adjustment speech because shes privy to alot more about my life and what I've been through then most people are. I agreed that my life has something to do with it, but I don't want to be that girl thats running around hiding behind past transgressions in the name of " thats why I am who I am" it matters but after a certain point you have to give up the ghost. She said" You work too hard to not be proud of who you are and what you've done with your life" which is also true. So, as much as I and everyone else wants to be accomodating to people and deal situationally with people you can't compromise yourself for their inability to do their own speaking up. I might come of out left field with some of my questions or approach but its nothing that your not thinking.

"Secretly though I know you admire that
Say Hello
You wish you had the balls to fire back."

Note To Bitches: Say Hello

Say hello To the bad guy
They say i'm a bad guy
I come from the bottom, but now i'm mad fly
They say i'm a menace That's the picture they paint
They say a lot about me Let me yell ya what i ain't

They say i'm a bad guy Say Hi to the bad guy
I come from the bottom But now i'm mad fly
They say i'm a menace That's the picture they paint
They say a lot about me Let me tell ya what i ain't
They say a lot about me Let me tell you what i ain't

I ain't playing, Life's short, so i aimed
I ain't waiting for life to start portrayin' em
Its twice as hard to get a job that's paying
So i ain't payin' attention to what you saying
Rain-drops keep falling on my brain
Constant in the drop, all flames
I'm so hot even if the weather change
I don't have no top, i'm insane

Remember darkskinned Jermaine?
Swayed in the rain, im sorta kinda the same
Except i'm no lame and you gonna know my name
Before i go to work and feel my pain
Saying, i'm a bad guy, why's that?
Cause when my back's against the wall, nigga, i react
Secretly though, i know you admire that
You wish you had the balls to fire back-- Say hello, uh, uh, hello, uh.

You wish you had the balls to fire back

Slow it down so I can spead it up (Pay close attention)

Table Of Contents

1. Parsons The New School For Design
2. Christmas
3.New Years
4. Resolutions


1.So you ever notices that I have yet to announce via Beautifully Deep that I am in Fashion School. To tell the truth I just realized that shit my self. I swear I finished my draping final(a DVF/Norma Kamali Hybrid that got shot down and evolved into something a little more Calvin Kelin-esk) and literally looked around and was like "Oh wow, Im a fashion student!" The reason is a combination of the fact that many dont make it, and me just being severly jaded. Im not in LALA land, on cloud 9 or any of that, it just took me the whole entire semester to get acquainted with the city, the school and most importantly myself. I looked up 12 days into vacay and realized that I have to go back to school in just a few short weeks. Im not ready. People sleep on fashion but I suggest they watch that scene from The Devil Wears Prada because she so eloquently and brutally(the latter being my favorite.....yall know me) explains what fashion is. Its largely the result of experience but definalty the result of training.

Its far more than magazines and shopping, its colors and patterns, and research and exposure and over exposure, and pushing and pushing and pushing and when your at the edge of the cliff, you have to jump the fuck off.....and maybe mid plumit, you might strike upon something otherwise your headed for the bottom, hard. Then you get back up and run the race all over again. I definately cried alot more than I normally do during this semester and all nighters turn into doubles(48 hour strectches) all so you can show up to class and get a "Generally good.....but do again" We all know fashion is not forgiving. Yeah people sleep, cause the work load and intensity is above and beyond on some law/med school type shit.

But alas I have completed my first semester and at the end I have created garments that I am truely proud of. Im official with that fashion shit. I will jump off the bridge and say that. Ask me, I know a lil bit and though my stlye might not be for you....thats still cool cause by design...it aint for everybody.

2. Christmas was good but not what I wanted. Yall know Im a Christmas Freak and If it were up to me I would have had the place decked out with trees and wreaths and shit but given the high cost of fabric and notions I had to scale it down, to damn near non esistance. Plus yall know Christmas just aint christmas without the one you love,(Mazoltov Bitches...I know some of yall dont want to hear that). I kept it gangsta and stayed focues on school until it was over which was just a few days before the holiday anyway. Dipped south for a brief second, very brief (sorry I didnt get to see many of you but I will be back in VA soon) and came back to work in NY(Yall know I got that Jamaican work virus...gotta keep a job and an hour is not just an hour its a billable hour...somebodys got to pay!)

3. New Years was cool, last minute but cool none the less. I chilled with some quietly amazing people and had a good time just toasting the New Year. Sorry no pictures, but yall know how I dispise pictures from the club where your hair is all fucked up and you look like you decided to jog a few miles then hit up the party spot. I hope a few of you made resloutions to put a stop that shit, cause you dont look cool! NOTE TO BITCHES!

4. I thought of making resloutions this year but was ever so frankly reminded that a day will not change my wayward mind and heart. So no resolutions even though at 10:30 12/31/07 I just knew that nothing would get in the way of me being at work at 12:50 the following day! Needless to say I was late, not even my normal infraction of 30 min, but severly....try an hour and a half. (stop shaking your head).

I started thinking about it. I was once told that I was in love with ideas, which is entirely true. I just took a cue from cupid but now I KNOW it was stupid....Im not sorry though!

Tom Ford, Micheal Kors and Peace on Earth: My Christmas List

MY CHRISTMAS LIST!!!!!!

1. Carols Daughter Shea Souffle- Love this stuff, great for the winter and beautifully scented. The set lets you sample a little of the three best scents Groove, Almond Cookie, and Mango Melange. $32 at Sephora

2. Ive always loved the way these soaps looked and these three dressed up in gold foiled paper get me going even more! Cute just to decorate with and even better for actual use. $ 42 at Sephora

3. NARS Lip Lacquer feels moisturizing and not just sticky and excessivly shiney. I have a purpleish color that looks sick on me, I thik Im ready for the brown though. $

4. I love Joe Malone, his products seem so rich and smell sooo good. Ive only tried the lip conditioner, and though everything smells great Im not that much of a product diva to venture that way. The candles however will do just fine.

$45 at Bloomingdales.

5. I frequent B&N far too often, its MY Barnies! I should probably get a membership so I can get a discount on all the wonderful note books and maggies that I must buy everymonth. Get a subcription, you say? I just feel like theyre more official from B&N $25 at Barnes and Noble

6. So I've recently fallen in love with Michael Kors. He used to annoy me with his behavior on Project Runway( Avery does a hilariouse immitation..."It's too matrionly") plus his clothes would always get returned at Macy's because theyre so cheaply made. This watch is sick and on my arm is the freakin plague. $180 at Bloomingdales

The resine or the brown leather, you decide!

7. I absolutely LOVE this ABS Dress. The rosettes are adorable and in silk or velvet its the shit. The velvet is holiday but the silk is year round(nude fishnets and cute hot pink shoes....dammit) $320 at edressme.com or Bloomingdales.

8. Now dont laugh but I really want these pills so my hair can grow. Theyre supposed to make your hair and nails grow and who could'nt use more hair??? Tell the truth?

$50 at Sephora

9. Sabon- Damn, this shit right here. THIS SHIT RIGHT HERE! THIS SHIT RIGHT HERE! There are really words, well, on your part there arent. His words will be something along the effects of "Damn baby your skin is so soft!" Trust me! My girl Sarah put me on, and though Ive been using scrubs for years this stuff will take the above to the umph degree! $16-$38 at Sabon.

10. Grace put me on to Fauchon, and with the packaging being adorable I was hooked before I tasted anything. Some really good Madelines, great with Cocoa!

$17 at Fauchon





11. Another one. This one is so beautiful though, silver burn out flowers, draped back so when you walk it kinda blows in the wind. I need it. I NEED IT! $418 ish at Bloomingdales

12. This is another great candle. I really love candles they relax me! This one comes is some really amazing scents and don't hurt the pockets as much as Joe's. $18 at Anthropologie

13. Yall know I cant get enough of these chocolates. I just went through a pack about a week ago. Its the hazelnuts. Sooooo good! $20 at most grocers( I want the big one.. to last me a few days(hours))

14. Its about time I retire my green bag and step it up. I deserve a nice bag like this Betsey Johnson bag. Love the faceted buttons, like the Marc by Marc Jacobs coat I want(letting yall off the hook on that $548 baby!) $ at Bloomindales

15. I think these boots are so cute, far cuter than UGGS but with the same purpose. $248 at Nordstrom.com

16. Ive wanted these boots since summer and I have tried on about 4 pair in hopes that my big ass man calfs will one day magically fit into them. But alas I am a freak and have been cast down to only wear booties. Is it tacky if I dont zip them up all the way? Nobodys gonna be all up in the inside of my calf right?$225 at Nordstrom.

17.If you've smelled it you understand, no explaination necessary! The sexiest fragrance beside Prada. This is for grown folks almost on some No. 5 shit, but not so 50 years old!

$65 for the 1.7 at Bloomingdales

18. I know thats like four, perfumes on my list but I collect and I need to catch up. Narciso Rodriquez- Perfect everyday scent. Ive fallen off my perfume game, I love this one its just what I need to get right for the new year!

$62 at Bloomingdales

See that wasnt that bad, not that much stuff right. If I think of anything else I will revise. Thanks in advance!

Merry Christmas!

Christmas!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Soooooooo its almost Christmas, I'm making a list and checking it twice!!!

I know Santa's supposed to do that but it cant hurt to both make and check!!!

Stay posted! I figured it would be easier for you all to have one list at your easy convenience for referencing so I didn't end up with more than one of the same Nicole Miller dress!

And just so you all know, I totally appreciate you all skipping that student loan payment to get my Christmas gift!

Remember what goes around comes around!!!


Merry Christmas!

The folks you meet on a NY street.

So, I know NY is different from Richmond. Different in a number of ways.
-There are bags for your drinks at the fast food places
-Every store has two floors (The Grocery Store, Forever 21, Arden B, Every store!)
-People talk on their phones while their at work, dealing with customers(like Walgreen's)
-NY people say "On Line" when they mean "In line"
-You buy your live Christmas tree on the street, right across from the Duane Reid and the local chicken/burger spot
-The bus doesn't take dollar bills
-You ride the bus


I could go on for days but the most interesting and different part about NY is the things that NY people feel so comfortable with saying and sharing with you.

Two examples....




Example 1.

So, apparently dark skinned women are a commodity in NY. I see them everywhere but for whatever reason, the men in NY loose their minds.... really. Ive been called everything in the book for my complexion..."bottle of a boot", black, smokey the bear, midnight, spook, and I'm not even really that dark. Ive grown to love it and apparently some residents of NY do to. My roommate Kim makes fun of me because I often get called "Chocolate" by men(some homeless, some dusty). They make a point to pipe up in their loudest voice to proclaim that I have "beautiful skin, hair, legs (the legs confuse me...i think they just talkin shit)" Now normally all this is great because a VA dude just doesn't have the balls, but there's always one to spoil it for the bunch.

I'm walking around 5th ave near 17th, checking out the holiday sets and just having some me time when I walk past this guy that yells at me
"Take your chocolate ass home!"
now... I'm of course startled and confused and scared and cant decide if I need to run or give him a "fuck you muthafucka" look and keep it gangsta. I however choose to just look confused. He proceeds

" I like em' dark... umph.... The blacker the berry, the sweeter the pussy!"

He prompts

"right?...... Right???"

I run.


Example 2.

I'm at Starbucks after a usually wack ass day at Bloomingdale's. I love working at the SOHO store because I see lots of characters on the way to and from work. There are the black folks who have chosen to revive the regalia of the 80's including HUGE doorknocker earrings, bright colors, and yes, even stone washed jeans, the kinda hippie Anthropologie/LL Bean/Salvation Army(cant believe I just named that like its a brand) folks and the rude ass spatially challenged tourist laden with shopping bags, talkin loud as hell, and looking at the sky or either end of Broadway trying to find their way out. So I'm at Starbucks and the barista proceeds to take my order and while I am clearly at the register this women walks up to my barista while talking on the phone. Shes talking so loud I cant really remember what the hell I was ordering but I finally get it out and proceed to pay. My barista ask my name and I reply.

"Brown"

The lady has finished her conversation at this point and turns to me (because she doesn't understand that you should stand behind me not beside me, because its my damn turn)

"Really, your name is Brown?"

I respond casually and kinda not interested "Yeah"

She checks once more "Brown?"

My barista cant hear me...because of loud hoe...and I confirm the name "Brown, Like the color" to both of them.

Rude Hoe responds " That's perfect!"

Me really just interested in getting some spiced cider, keeps it moving " Its a really common name, I'm surprised you've never heard of it."

My barista roles his eyes ( and hes not the eye rolling type) and says, "yeah really common!" kinda angry like.

I proceed to the end of the bar to pick up my cider( with the caramel and whip cream...so good!) and barista 2 gives me this half laugh/half shaking head look and not until then do I realize why my last name is sooooooo perfect!

Now considering this hoe is clearly crazy to say some out the way shit like that 1. aloud and 2. to an even crazier hoe like myself, I decide that tonight is not lecture night, tonight is not educate the masses night and of all nights that it is not, its not show her ass why my name is so perfect because I'm bout to be just as "brown" as your stereotype of "brown" people is!

I run

this time from ignorance, or both times from ignorance, the second being just a little more sad. I know I can say some out the way shit, hell, I say it right here on this blog, but that was some serious socially offensive behavior...... or just so New York type shit.

Interesting Article: The Black KKK killed Sean Taylor

Taylor's death a grim reminder for us all

by Jason Whitlock

There's a reason I call them the Black KKK. The pain, the fear and the destruction are all the same.

Someone who loved Sean Taylor is crying right now. The life they knew has been destroyed, an 18-month-old baby lost her father, and, if you're a black man living in America, you've been reminded once again that your life is in constant jeopardy of violent death.

The Black KKK claimed another victim, a high-profile professional football player with a checkered past this time.

No, we don't know for certain the circumstances surrounding Taylor's death. I could very well be proven wrong for engaging in this sort of aggressive speculation. But it's no different than if you saw a fat man fall to the ground clutching his chest. You'd assume a heart attack, and you'd know, no matter the cause, the man needed to lose weight.

Well, when shots are fired and a black man hits the pavement, there's every statistical reason to believe another black man pulled the trigger. That's not some negative, unfair stereotype. It's a reality we've been living with, tolerating and rationalizing for far too long.

When the traditional, white KKK lynched, terrorized and intimidated black folks at a slower rate than its modern-day dark-skinned replacement, at least we had the good sense to be outraged and in no mood to contemplate rationalizations or be fooled by distractions.
Our new millennium strategy is to pray the Black KKK goes away or ignores us. How's that working?

About as well as the attempt to shift attention away from this uniquely African-American crisis by focusing on an alleged injustice the white media allegedly perpetrated against Sean Taylor.
Within hours of his death, there was a story circulating that members of the black press were complaining that news outlets were disrespecting Taylor's victimhood by reporting on his troubled past.

No disrespect to Taylor, but he controlled the way he would be remembered by the way he lived. His immature, undisciplined behavior with his employer, his run-ins with law enforcement, which included allegedly threatening a man with a loaded gun, and the fact a vehicle he owned was once sprayed with bullets are all pertinent details when you've been murdered.

Marcellus Wiley, a former NFL player, made the radio circuit Wednesday, singing the tune that athletes are targets. That was his explanation for the murders of Taylor and Broncos cornerback Darrent Williams and the armed robberies of NBA players Antoine Walker and Eddy Curry.

Really?

Let's cut through the bull(manure) and deal with reality. Black men are targets of black men. Period. Go check the coroner's office and talk with a police detective. These bullets aren't checking W-2s.

Rather than whine about white folks' insensitivity or reserve a special place of sorrow for rich athletes, we'd be better served mustering the kind of outrage and courage it took in the 1950s and 1960s to stop the white KKK from hanging black men from trees.

But we don't want to deal with ourselves. We take great joy in prescribing medicine to cure the hate in other people's hearts. Meanwhile, our self-hatred, on full display for the world to see, remains untreated, undiagnosed and unrepentant.

Our self-hatred has been set to music and reinforced by a pervasive culture that promotes a crab-in-barrel mentality.

You're damn straight I blame hip hop for playing a role in the genocide of American black men. When your leading causes of death and dysfunction are murder, ignorance and incarceration, there's no reason to give a free pass to a culture that celebrates murder, ignorance and incarceration.

Of course there are other catalysts, but until we recapture the minds of black youth, convince them that it's not OK to "super man dat ho" and end any and every dispute by "cocking on your bitch," nothing will change.

Does a Soulja Boy want an education?

HBO did a fascinating documentary on Little Rock Central High School, the Arkansas school that required the National Guard so that nine black kids could attend in the 1950s. Fifty years later, the school is one of the nation's best in terms of funding and educational opportunities. It's 60 percent black and located in a poor black community.

Watch the documentary and ask yourself why nine poor kids in the '50s risked their lives to get a good education and a thousand poor black kids today ignore the opportunity that is served to them on a platter.

Blame drugs, blame Ronald Reagan, blame George Bush, blame it on the rain or whatever. There's only one group of people who can change the rotten, anti-education, pro-violence culture our kids have adopted. We have to do it.

According to reports, Sean Taylor had difficulty breaking free from the unsavory characters he associated with during his youth.

The "keepin' it real" mantra of hip hop is in direct defiance to evolution. There's always someone ready to tell you you're selling out if you move away from the immature and dangerous activities you used to do, you're selling out if you speak proper English, embrace education, dress like a grown man, do anything mainstream.

The Black KKK is enforcing the same crippling standards as its parent organization. It wants to keep black men in their place — uneducated, outside the mainstream and six feet deep.
In all likelihood, the Black Klan and its mentality buried Sean Taylor, and any black man or boy reading this could be next.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Now, Im not very familiar with the case beyond what detailed here(which is clearly partial and positioned), nor am I familiar with these football figures but the theory that he tries to prescribe could fit a number of cases that I am far more familiar with.

I do agree that hip hop can perpetuate some violent imagery but a very important point that he failed to address is the parental component. My sister LOVES Tupac, my other sister LOVES Prince, yet neither of them grew up to be thugs or freaks!

He did however make a great point that upon your death you are remembered by the life you lead. That reigns true no matter what you do, but it is also important to remember that your parents equipe you with a guard agaist allowing peers and media influences to define you, but without that guard you are subject to following the example set.

Finally, I have to say I too was taken aback when I realized exactly what supermanning the hoe was all about. It could easily mean rescuing her from harms way with your super human strength folks!!! However, I do feel that if he would like to quote Soulja Boy he should do so correctly... its "Bitch ASS" not simply bitch.... Theres a difference Jason !!!

Parting is such sweet sorrow.

Sisters:
A young wife sat on a sofa on a hot humid day, drinking iced tea and visiting with her Mother. As they talked about life, about marriage, about the responsibilities of life and the obligations of adulthood, the mother clinked the ice cubes in her glass thoughtfully and turned a clear, sober glance upon her daughter. 'Don't forget your Sisters,' she advised, swirling the tea leaves to the bottom of her glass. 'They'll be more important as you get older. No matter how much you love your husband, no matter how much you love the children you may have, you are still going to need Sisters. Remember to go places with them now and then; do things with them.' 'Remember that 'Sisters' means ALL the women... your girlfriends, your daughters, and all your other women relatives too. 'You'll need other women. Women always do.' What a funny piece of advice!' the young woman thought. Haven't I just gotten married? Haven't I just joined the couple-world? I'm now a married woman, for goodness sake! A grownup! Surely my husband and the family we may start will be all I need to make my life worthwhile!' But she listened to her Mother. She kept contact with her Sisters and made more women friends each year. As the years tumbled by, one after another, she gradually came to understand that her Mom really knew what she was talking about. As time and nat ure work their changes and their mysteries upon a woman, Sisters are the mainstays of her life. After more than 50 years of living in this world, here is what I've learned:

Time passes.

Life happens.

Distance separates.

Children grow up.

Jobs come and go.

Love waxes and wanes.

Men don't do what they're supposed to do.

Hearts break.

Parents die.

Colleagues forget favors.

Careers end.

BUT.... Sisters are there, no matter how much time and how many miles are between you. A girl friend is never farther away than needing her can reach. When you have to walk that lonesome valley and you have to walk it by yourself, the women in your life will be on the valley's rim, cheering you on, praying for you, pulling for you, intervening on your behalf, and waiting with open arms at the valley's end. Sometimes, they will even break the rules and walk beside you...Or come in and carry you out. Girlfriends, daughters, granddaughters, daughters-in-law, sisters, sisters-in-law, Mothers, Grandmothers, aunties, nieces, cousins, and extended family, all bless our life! The world wouldn't be the same without women, and neither would I. When we began this adventure called womanhood, we had no idea of the incredible joys or sorrows that lay ahead. Nor did we know how much would need each other.

Every day, we need each other still.

Pass this on to all the women who help make your life meaningful. I just did. Short and very sweet: There are more than twenty angels in this world. Ten are peacefully sleeping on clouds. Nine are playing. And one is reading her email at this moment. Send this message to ten of your friends including me. If you get 5 replies, someone you love will surprise you. Happy days! Don't break this; it's working

So Danielle sent me this, and how timely considering her (along with Erica and Andrea) recent visit to the NYC. I wasnt sure what to do with them. I spent a few weeks trying to figure out what to do and still didnt come up with much. I wanted to show them the city and show them all the amazing things that Ive discovered but I didnt know how to go about it with 2 who wanted to paint the town and 1expecting, which technically makes her count twice, I barely had the time to think! They got in kinda late and while we missed our dinner reservations at Joya we made it work in the apt with my 100% Trader Joes cuisine! The weekend was great and we had a good time just being in NY but the best times were us just sitting around talking. GOD, what I wouldnt give for a good old fashion Pow Wow! I mean a true Pow Wow including The regulars, me, Erin, Sam, Krystal. The commentary crew, Shannon, Erica, and Andrea. The Dynamic, Joycelyn. & The Voices of Reason Danielle and Baby K! I mean whats a girl gotta do to get her crew back together???? At the rate school is going I'll be hospitalized soon and maybe they'll turn out to cheer me up before I pass. Killing myself??? Yeah I am, all for a "Generally Good" . Anyway, QT was great especially dinner at Sylvias with Julee. Politics and baby names of fried catfish was comforting like a hug from LRGB herself! OK Andrea, we promise not to vote along party lines alone .....and Erica we understand that your poor... (says the two time home owner, thats expecting the heiress to the Ralph Lauren (or Laren, or La'ren..whatever) throne!)

The worst part though had to be the departure. It didnt hit me until I hailed that cab that"Hey I miss these girls!" I balled, like a 1st grader that missed the bus. It was awful, and still is. It made me remember people, like my sister, my other friends, my nieces and nephews, my boo, and ohhh my mom. Shit....... I need a hug. Considering I wont be home for any of the holidays.... none of them, I better get more pillows!

So Im reading Danielles forward and considering all the life going on around me and though forwards are such a cliche' the words become so meaningful and again I ball( its my new thing apparently) as I press foward. Dont get it twisted, I still keep it gangsta, dont think I sent that message to you bitches because I love you or something!

...and by bitches I totally mean "Sisters"

Smooches

Good Article: When Women Earn More.... We'll all be facing this pretty soon!

When women earn more…
By Yolonda Lawrence

The trouble began with a pair of shoes—my pink and black Prada Mary Janes. They’re fabulous, and I feel special whenever I have them on. So I wore them on my date with John. John was a 35-year-old struggling painter I’d met at a party. We’d gone on a few dates, and the more time we spent together, the more smitten I became. What was not to like? He was artistic, smart, and incredibly funny. After an evening filled with witty conversation and flirty repartee, I invited John upstairs for coffee. He made himself comfortable while I went into the kitchen and, doing my best 21st century Martha Stewart impression, figured out how to use an actual coffee press. An hour later, surrounded by empty coffee mugs, John and I were gazing into each other’s eyes. Or at least that’s what I thought was happening. Apparently, John had a wandering eye. He grabbed one of my recently discarded Mary Janes and asked, “How much did you pay for these?” I was confused. This seemed like an odd time to talk about… shoes. So I casually said, “I don’t remember,” then flashed him a flirtatious smile. Surely, our question and answer period had ended, and we would happily go back to gazing into each other’s eyes. Except that John was more interested in eyeing my shoes. “Come on!” he persisted. “Women always remember how much they pay for stuff.” It’s amazing how quickly one’s feelings can turn from amorous to annoyed. I almost got defensive, but stopped myself. Why fight? An hour earlier, I’d learned to use my coffee press for this man. Wasn’t that worth something? So I chose to be agreeable and honest. “I paid 400 dollars for the shoes,” I admitted. John was incredulous. This was not a good sign. “That’s more than half my rent. That’s ridiculous. You’re way too expensive for me.” I felt judged, and I didn’t like it. Not surprisingly, the mood was broken, and our date ended. That was the last time I saw John. Does money have to matter?That night I had trouble falling asleep. I couldn’t help but wonder if John had a point after all. Maybe he was right. Had I become too expensive? The truth was that after a decade-long financial struggle that included getting my car repossessed and wondering how I’d pay for groceries, I’d turned a corner. My hard work finally paid off and I’d become a well-paid television writer. But with my new success came a new dating dilemma: If I dated men who made less money, would I need to make adjustments in my lifestyle? Did my hard-won success — and my enjoyment of it — make me unattractive in the dating world? I woke up the next morning with a solution. I might not need to make adjustments, but I would have to lie. I could keep my penchant for the high-end hidden from my dates. Soon I became the woman I thought the men I dated wanted me to be, and I shoved my designer shoes into the back of my closet. Of course, I could have simply started dating investment bankers, but I’m attracted to artistic types. So I continued to date men who made less money—and somehow I managed to keep my finances a secret. But what began as little white lies turned into an endless stream of falsehoods and obfuscations. I even kept one guy from seeing the inside of my apartment and my art collection with what I thought was an ingenious excuse — fumigation — until I learned that when you use that explanation more than once, you sound like a slob and guys stop calling. How honest should you be?I knew when I met Peter, a preschool teacher whom I fell hard for, that I had to stop lying, but telling him the truth about my financial situation terrified me. I had to work up the nerve to clue him in about what I earned and how I spent it. When I finally said the words, I’m not sure what I expected, but it certainly wasn’t an insouciant shrug, followed by, “That’s cool, babe. Guess you’re paying for dinner. Hurry up. I’m starving.” I couldn’t stop smiling. With one brief exchange, I learned that after 20 years of dating and trying various ways to turn myself inside out to become what I thought men wanted me to be, things didn’t have to be so hard. A pair of fancy shoes revealed the ultimate truth. My salary wasn’t really the issue here, just as in the past it hadn’t really been my weight or my clothes or any other thing I felt insecure about. Instead, it came down to acceptance—my own and that of someone who might fall in love with me. I am who I am, and as long as Peter could deal with a closet full of expensive shoes, money would be the least of our issues.

Chillllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllll

My attitude real shitty, temper short

My mind cluttered like the streets of New York

I ain't tryna take a 'L', 'cause I casually fought

This shit, real serious not casual sport

Let time fly by as I pen these thoughts

And I'm speedin through life wit my car in park

And even in the day sometimes it's dark and that cloud hoverin low is not the worst part

Second guessin yourself, tryna remain sharp

See niggaz blowin up who ain't got yo SPARK, uh

and that alone is a burden to carry

Either you'll get strong or you'll get buried

and rap keep plenty room in the cemetery

Pull out your Blackberry's change yo itineraries

I mean, you could be the shit today and tomorrow wake up, fame blown away!

And homey on the real, ain't nothin you can say

That's why I work hard now, got later to lay

In the sands on the beach, mixin drinks wit Belvy

The world's gon' remember my name, muhfuckaz!

Funny little thing called love

(AIM convo with my good friend)
HMMMUWONDER (4:50:36 PM): how is your man
CassandraGarnett (4:50:51 PM): good(OBNOXIOUS SMILEY HERE)
HMMMUWONDER(4:51:05 PM): that's good
HMMMUWONDER (4:51:06 PM): lol
HMMMUWONDER(4:51:11 PM): love the smiley face
CassandraGarnett (4:51:16 PM): yeah, its like that
HMMMUWONDER(4:51:22 PM): lol
HMMMUWONDER (4:51:25 PM): mmmkkk
CassandraGarnett (4:51:49 PM): And yours
HMMMUWONDER(4:52:04 PM): which one?
HMMMUWONDER (4:52:11 PM): lol
CassandraGarnett (4:52:13 PM): your favorite
CassandraGarnett (4:52:15 PM): lol
HMMMUWONDER (4:52:29 PM): ummm..the one i love, is ok CassandraGarnett (4:52:37 PM): awwwww




So if you know me you know I'm all about LOVE, sucker for it, played the fool, all that jazz, but today after this conversation I had to snicker at young love. Young love, is that kind that happens between 18 and 24. Its the precarious type. Young love is the type that can make or break you, like the difference between going to college or just heading straight to work. When you think about it, its that serious, you could make one false move and wind up deciding who gets what, or you could be moving on to the next level of creating a legacy of love for your children to follow. Those 30-40-50 year marriages take time, you know? I look at some of my friends and its so funny to see how differently we all value it. Some of us crave it, some of us could go without and some of us are getting to a point in our lives were we are realizing that we cant go on much further without it. Marriage and engagements running rampant in my friend circle, I have to laugh at it all and muse. I mean look at Will and Jada, could you imagine that just a few short years ago she was dating Tupac, now hes passed away and shes built a beautiful family with the Fresh Prince of Bell Air, who rhymed about Summer Time and other obscure raps that never got half the love and reward that Tupac's own received. What a difference a day makes. My how things change, my how we grow and develop and abandon concepts that we were once soo soo staunch about.
Now were grown and time keeps on ticking and in a few short years were gonna look down and kids will be hanging from our skirt hems. What will the next five years bring to us. Hmmmm I wonder.

Don't let the applications fool you! You think you know, but you have no idea!

So, Ive already written about Facebook vs. Myspace but today after finally getting around to browsing some of the new applications I just had a few more choice words for Facebook. WHAT THE HELL. When you have an application that can help a woman calculate the date of her cycle and what day she is ovulating to avoid(or achieve) pregnancy, you've steped just a little too far. Why on earth? Why?

I know, I know, these programs are set up for us to some how correct the images that are sent out by our live and direct/face to face first impressions, along with present an altered ego, but you all dont need to know when Im having my period. Hate to be so cras about it but.... it is what it is, and Im sure you agree!

So clearly I pass on that application and opt for something of a little more substance or consequence to you, but even I find myself slightly tempted to load up on applications that let you get a good laugh, daily bible verse, hororscope, or see what type of outfit I would pick if I were shopping with you. But then in the midst I think, well, if you can find out everything you ever wanted to know about Ms. Cassandra N.(She Has No Middle Name) Brown why on earth would you bother to actually get to know me in person. Would this excess of facts, and pictures and favorite quotes somehow make me just a little more accessable to you, allowing you to feel much more comfortalb with me, and therefore make you actually wave at me when I cross your path?


Let me remind you of the BITCH that you suspected me to be. It matters not how many of my post you read, or how often you cruise my profile(presumptiouse??? Ya Damn right!) in my best T. I. voice

"Shouty youllnn know me! "

Good Article: Quite Complaining- It may make you feel worse.

Quit complaining — it may make you feel worse
Venting to friends about problems is unhelpful and unhealthy, experts say
By Melissa Dahl
Health writer
MSNBC


When confronted with a problem, Ashley Merydith has a routine for dealing with it: She talks about it. Incessantly. To anyone who will listen.
“‘So he did this, and then I said this, and then he texted me this,’” says Merydith, 23, describing the intricacies of a venting session. “It’s basically rehashing every conversation.”
Her goal is to get it off her chest and feel better about the issue. But often, Merydith finds that venting about her problems has the exact opposite effect. “It makes you more amped up about the problem,” says Merydith, of Charlotte, N.C.
Voicing your frustrations is a natural way of dealing with them — but watch out for when a conversation dissolves into a bitch session. Talking your problems to death can make you feel even worse.
A recent study found that teenage girls who vented to each other about their problems, from boy trouble to social slights, were more likely to develop depression and anxiety — and the same is likely true for adult women, says Amanda Rose, the author of the study.
“There’s a definite belief in our culture that talking about our problems makes you feel better,” says Rose, an associate professor of psychology at the University of Missouri, Columbia, whose research was published in the July issue of Developmental Psychology. “That’s true in moderation. ... It only becomes risky when it becomes excessive.”
Be more like a boyRose also studied the venting habits of young men, but found that guys don’t tend to analyze their problems as deeply as women. That might be because relationship issues tend to spark the most obsessive discussions, and that’s a subject women are more likely to dwell on.
Sometimes a kvetching session can spiral out of control, admits 21-year-old Amanda Beattie. Instead of making her feel better about the problem, it reinforces the small fears she already had — or even introduces new ones.
“It goes from statements about how I’m feeling to, ‘OK, so-and-so must hate me,’ to ‘I bet they never liked me in their life,’” says Beattie, who lives in Kansas City, Mo. “The more you talk, it hypes up your emotions.”
Still, there’s an upside to all that complaining. Rose points out that in her findings, the girls who vented to each other also reported feeling closer to their friends. It can establish an instant bond because the listeners know the complainer trusts them enough to spill their emotions — and the complainer’s just grateful that someone is willing to listen.
For 24-year-old Elizabeth Spencer-Green, a good griping session has often been a way to connect with other women. When she first moved to Seattle as a teenager, she hated her new school — and she bonded with a group of girls who felt the same way.
“I guess I used that as a way to fit in,” says Spencer-Green, who now lives in New York City.
But she noticed that as she complained with her friends about how much she hated the school, she started to hate it even more.
Confirming worst fearsThat’s the danger of talking to friends who let you wallow in your sorrows. It can confirm your worst fears: Maybe you weren’t overreacting. He really did wrong you. She really was flirting with him.
And now you’re convinced: This is so a big deal.
“If I tell you my problem, and the way you listen to me is sort of agreeing with me, then it escalates the feeling, without having a practical solution for it,” says Matthew Anderson, a psychologist based in Boca Raton, Fla. Instead of spilling your problems to those friends who encourage your rants, turn to someone who’ll point you toward a solution.
In Beattie’s case, that was her mom. Beattie was stressed about the tension between herself and her co-workers at her new internship, and she called her mom to talk about it.
“She’d let me run out of steam, and then she’d remind me of what I needed to do to remedy the situation,” says Beattie.
Psychologists also warn against ranting over and over to the same audience. You don’t want to become known as the complainer of the group. That can take a toll on friendships; it’s draining to be around someone who’s always moaning about their troubles.
When faced with someone who’s intent on wallowing in their problems, give them some time to talk it out — maybe 15 minutes, suggests Annette Annechild, a marriage and family counselor in Del Ray Beach, Fla. After that, move away from complaining and on to problem solving.
Merydith, the conversation rehasher, says she’s trying to redirect her venting habit into healthier territory by seeking solutions instead of just complaining. “If you talk about it forever and ever, at some point, you have to be like, ‘OK, let’s move on.’”

I won spider solitair. Feels like I havent been a winner in a long time. Game over though.

Facebook vs Myspace

Man Im so ahead of the game.


Heres an article from MSN about Myspace Vs. Facebook. I kinda got the sense that Facebook would be just a little more affluent because its college related. But its all good if you ask me.


Class War: MySpace vs. Facebook
By Claire Cain Miller, Forbes.com

A flurry of recent articles have observed that young people are leaving MySpace for Facebook in droves, setting off speculation that MySpace is becoming the latest victim of fickle teens following the hot new thing.Not so, says University of California, Berkeley, researcher Danah Boyd. Not all teens are leaving MySpace, she wrote in a recent essay--instead, they're splitting up along class lines.Boyd confirms what teens in any high school across the country already know: Affluent kids from educated, well-to-do families have been fleeing MySpace for Facebook since it opened registration to the general public in September, while working-class kids still flock to MySpace.

That could have big implications for advertisers targeting the coveted teenaged population online, three-quarters of whom have a profile on a social network. Both sites have been powerhouses for advertisers because of their huge, wide-reaching audiences, says Robin Neifield, chief executive of interactive marketing agency NetPlus Marketing. That strategy could change if the sites become more like the niche social networks popping up across the Web for groups of like-minded people from similar backgrounds.

Boyd's essay came amid speculation about the future of the social network giants. Despite the fact that MySpace still gets more than twice as many unique visitors as Facebook, it's littered with postings announcing that users, often teens, are switching to its rival.The number of Facebook visitors ages 12 to 17 jumped 149% over the past year, while MySpace lost 27% of teens, according to ComScore Media Metrix. Rupert Murdoch, whose News Corp.owns MySpace, even lamented in an interview that he was losing readers to Facebook. News Corp. is rumored to be considering swapping MySpace for a 25% stake in Yahoo!.

Estimated ad revenue for 2007 calendar year for Facebook is $125 million, $525 million for MySpace, according to research firm eMarketer. Together, the two account for 72% of all online advertising on social networks.

There's a reason why the "goody-two-shoes, jocks, athletes or other 'good' kids" are going to Facebook, says Boyd, who studies social networks and youth culture and made her observations based on formal interviews with 90 teens, informal interviews with hundreds more, and the perusal of tens of thousands of teens' online profiles.

Facebook launched in 2004 as a site for Harvard students. Gradually, it opened up to other college students, then to high school kids if a college student invited them. "Facebook is what the college kids did. Not surprisingly, college-bound high schoolers desperately wanted in," Boyd writes.

MySpace, meanwhile, is the "cool working-class thing" for high school students getting a job after graduation rather than heading to the Ivy League, Boyd writes. Constant local news stories on predators targeting kids on MySpace further alienated the "good kids," she says. Both companies declined to comment on Boyd's essay.
___________________________________________________
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___________________________________________________
Her analysis could help marketers figure out which sites to target--help she says they desperately need. "Many of the advertisers that I have met are extremely savvy about offline marketing but complete fools when it comes to online marketing," ignorant of who visits Web sites and why, Boyd wrote in an e-mail interview with Forbes. Paying attention to demographics could help. Hot Topic should target MySpace, for example, while J. Crew should focus on Facebook.

"As an advertiser, in my opinion, Facebook users are more qualified to convert and more apt to buy a shirt, so I would go there before MySpace," says Josh Mohrer, director of retail for BustedTees, an online purveyor of hipster clothes and sometime Facebook advertiser.
Facebook can lure advertisers with its affluence, says Bill Tancer, general manager of global research at Hitwise, an online marketing analysis firm. His data backs up Boyd's conclusions that Facebook users are richer than those on MySpace. Still, MySpace attracts so many more viewers that "there's no way marketers are going to leave," he says.
NetPlus chief Neifield says she's not paying too much attention to Boyd's observations. Advertisers should look beyond demographics when placing ads and instead analyze online behavior like who visited other sites with similar content, who downloaded what or who clicked on which ads, she says. "It's not very often these days that we buy based on demographics alone."

Facebook/Myspace

So I took a second (OK, an hour) to browse around face book like I used to in college( OK I still do it) and I just had to laugh at some of the stuff I saw. The groups, the applications, the pictures, this Internet thing is getting outta hand a little. I decided to browse through some of the groups I'm in, just to see what they are really about. I do that about every couple of months or so because I know how much people(including myself) use these mechanisms to represent themselves. So I'm at the "Dark skin Girls are Gorgeous" group that I am defiantly a member of and I notice that there are a couple hundred pictures for this group. Now if you know me at all you know that being a dark skinned girl wont no crystal stair for me, and that it took me a long time, really long time, before I could really be happy with my complexion. I was told all sorts of things when I was little. One girl told me that if I drank white milk instead of chocolate milk I would get lighter, and that was why I was so dark, because I drank chocolate milk. The sadder part about that misinformation is that I actually started drinking white milk in hopes that it would make a difference, not even realizing that hey, I hate milk all together and you would never find a carton(you remember those little ones) on my tray because I hate milk. ( I don't eat cereal and if I do the excess milk goes down the sink....it makes me gag ) Anyway, I love to see a dark skinned girl anywhere, and if shes on point ( it is what it ) then that's all the more reason to lift my shoulders ( in that very Rho Mu way) and give her a compliment even if her life as a dark skinned girl was nothing like mine. I remember crying allllll the time to my sisters who have a little more cream in their complexion about it. My sister Sandy would break out the Essence and do her best to show me that I was beautiful, and that my complexion had everything and nothing to do with my beauty..... I didn't get it though. Definitely one of those lessons best taught by self.

Any way so, I'm looking at these self proclaimed dark skin girls and picture after picture came up brown. These girls were a far cry from dark skin. Some real honey, caramel, just down right brown skinned girls reppin this skin that just a few years ago they would have laughed at and theirs I would have longed for. I realized it was relative, complexions that is. Relative to your family, your friends, same with weight, class, financial status. I kinda cooled out.


My other interest became observing what some people chose to put on the Internet as their best shot. I know nowadays, there's more fun and folly in putting pictures on the Internet and the whole dynamic has totally changed, but some of the things that people where clearly trying to pull off as on the more so than not side of the attractive (meaning eye pleasing as opposed to pretty or cute) scale became far more interesting on both sides of the spectrum. I mean edges that had not recently been permed much less pressed( especially if the ends are trying to tell that story), sweat pouring down your face, outfits with the belt, earrings, shoes, bracelet, and beaded necklace in the contrasting color. I mused. We cant pretend it doesn't happen or that we are picture perfect everyday but the I didn't make up the term "picture perfect". It does mean something doesn't it? Beyond camera readiness, the most comical part was the persona that some gave off in their pictures. People want to display a side of themselves that they value the most. They want to express something about themselves that they may feel is understated. I get it.



And while I may not have pictures of my self in the club with my hair (mid its return to its natural state) sweeping across my face as I don my hottest, newest latest, or pictures of my latest adventure, I do write these post, so I guess I can call it even and turn in for the night.