The Tweet Heard Around The World

CNN contributor Roland Martin was tweeting during the Super Bowl, and ended up making some controversial comments that were interpreted by some people as homophobic and disrespectful. Martin,at first, defended himself against groups like GLAAD who worked tirelessly to get him fired. Eventually Roland Martin apologized for his remarks, however, CNN ended up suspending him indefinitely. On a show titled Reliable Sources, Howard Kurtz and his entire panel argued about whether this as the right or fair decision for CNN to make. Some issues raised were the fact that other commentators have gotten away with more risqué comments, and CNN may have been a bit too harsh. Others argue that Twitter is supposed to be a person's private life and as citizens of the United States are afforded the freedom of speech and/or expression.

Me personally, I feel as if the decision CNN made was a sound decision. It should never be acceptable for anyone to make a comment that is disrespectful for any given group of people or person, and it's time that these commentators take responsibility for some of the hurtful things that are said about other people. Especially when you are representing a company such as CNN and other large news stations. People need to understand that the words of workers can potentially cost the company large sums of money, and whether you are on the air or not, if you say something in a situation that can be heard or read by millions of people, if it's negative you ought to be able to pay the consequences of your actions. CNN did the right thing. Maybe this will set the standard for some of the other anchors on what they should or should not post on social networks.

I want to hear from you? What side of the argument do you stand on. Leave your comments below.

VH1's Reality Check

         I believe I'm like millions of viewers who have ever wondered if Reality Television was real or fake. I've always assumed a camera followed a group of "interesting" people around and brought back an explosion of drama. It wasn't until watching Vh1's Love & Hip hop that I had an epiphany. I came to realize that there's no way anyone's life could be as juicy and as exciting as the lives of the cast of the hit reality show.
      Well I caught up with the latest episode titled Reality Check. This episode featured the show's stars giving their own unscripted views of their lives, the lives of their cast mates and the show. First up was Chrissy Lampkin. Homegirl was livid about the fact that the show painted her in a negative light. Chrissy got so mad as to quit the show when cameras weren't running. Her reason? She feels as if the show instigated and fueled the ongoing beef between herself and cast mate Yandy Smith. Tonight's episode gave viewers a first hand experience of Chrissy's real emotions. "The reality about this show is, a lot of this show isn't real." said Somaya Reese. Erica Mena feels as if "the show was edited to make her look bad." After plenty of untold drama and behind the scene clips, the episode wrapped with the producer, Mona Scott Young wrapping her hands around a crying Erica and reminding her that, "Life is about growth, and these shows don't represent everything you are."
     I think that about sums it up for the viewers. While reality shows feature real people instead of actresses and actors, the story line and focus of the show is heavily scripted and edited thus taking away from the authenticity of real life. This leaves me with the question: Is Reality TV [really] keeping it real? You be the judge.

He's Special Because He's Beautiful By: Richaunda Curry

When asked to describe this person, there's a celebratory parade of emotions that begin to flood my veins. For a lack of better words, he is beautiful; that's what makes him special, at least to me. Every encounter with him is breathtaking, from hello to goodbye. His thick eyebrows invite me to take in all the features of his beautiful face. Warm creamy complexion, strong well defined nose, thick luscious lips. He opens his mouth and smiles; I'm tranquilized by the array of perfect teeth. He speaks, and I'm baptized by the invigorating sweetness of his breath. Just beautiful.

Have a couple of minutes? Bask in his presence and discover how beautiful his personality is. He tell stories as smooth as a baby's bottom. No conversation is considered taboo for him. He's experienced. Engage in conversation with him and you'll feel like the luckiest woman alive. He listens with both ears, and offers advice usually unheard of. What an awesome friend he is to have. Just down right beautiful.

What capitalizes on his beauty is his unwavering love for his son. This bond; This relationship is beautiful. It is what makes him special to me. The passion that he shows his son is intoxicating. He's more than just a concerned father; More than just a happy dad. He is a proud parent, and each time the topic of parenthood is resurrected his heart beams with pride. His hard exterior melts like molten rock; he softens and his pressure goes down. And this is by observation alone. Bring up the subject of his little boy, or any little boy for that matter, and the world stops spinning. Speak an ill will about a child and be wary of his wrath. There is nothing more beautiful than to witness the love that a father has for his son. Despite everything else that I love about this man, his love for his son is what ultimately makes him special; makes him beautiful

Full Figure Lips

And who said big lips weren't beautiful??.....BOOM!

Chicken and Crab Explosion: Salad created by Richaunda Curry

One of the best salads I have ever made. I call this bad baby my Chicken and Crab EXPLOSION! Yes, take your tongue to an amusement park of flavor. Good until the very last drop...finger licking good! Try, if you must, at your own risk and I promise you a salad addiction that is sure to be one hard addiction to kick.

INGREDIENTS:

Spring mix lettuce (about a hand full)
2 individually wrapped artificial crab legs
1/2 cup of Tyson fully cooked chicken breast cubes (in the green bag)
1/4 cup of feta cheese crumbles
1 whole Roma tomato (or half of a large red tomato) (diced)
1/2 large cucumber (diced)
2 rings of red onion diced
Kraft Zesty Italian dressing
Kraft Catalina dressing

Directions:
(1) After washing and preparing your vegetables mix them by hand so that all vegetables are evenly distributed throughout your bowl
(2) Pour Zesty Italian dressing and Catalina dressing over your salad. Use as much or as less as you desire. (remember use more Catalina dressing than Italian dressing)
(3) Add feta cheese and your crab and chicken
(4) Give salad a complete shake to ensure that there is an even amount of dressing distributed over every ounce of your lettuce.

ENJOY....Chicken and Crab EXPLOSION...One great bite after the other.

Only In my dreams...A POEM WRITTEN BY Richaunda Curry

Is it possible that he knows?
I wonder.
And ponder.
Yet I'm still left without an answer.
His face.
Full of expression.
Expresses no definitive revelation of my feelings.
So it's killing me softly.
Every day I die in his presence.
Small parts of me melt beneath his smile.
My eyes have yet to see a man so beautiful.
His sophistication excites me.
I'm hungry for his knowledge.
Starving myself.
His intelligence my sustenance.
A woman so strong.
So weak when he is near.
Words turn to mumble.
Hands left to fumble.
Oh Doctor please.
Diagnose this affliction.
Something tells me he can sense it.
And perhaps.
By chance.
He too suffers from this oppression.
At least then.
If he does.
I wouldn't be left feeling...
Alone.
If only in my dreams.

Reality TV...REALLY?

Jersey Shore is back for it's 5th season. I repeat Jersey Shore is back for it's 5th season. ((picks up remote and changes the channel)) LOL. I'm not really sure why they call this a reality show. Whose reality is it? Wait...please don't tell me that there are real people out there who use drinking as a form of pain reliever for a Urinary Tract Infection. ((hint: see a doctor Snooki)). Is this what has become of our entertainment system? Its alleged that VH1 pays almost $100k per episode for the cast of Jersey Shore to drink and have sex all day. I wonder how much they are willing to pay a College student to sit around and read books all day? BTW does anyone watch the show?

To TWEET Or Not To TWEET...

Guy goes to the club with some friends. Guy meets up with HOT chick at the club. Guy leaves club with Hot ((AND NOW VERY DRUNK)) Chick. Someone takes a picture of Guy holding on to Hot Chick leaving the club, and posts these pictures on Twitter which is also linked to Facebook. Everything goes viral, Girlfriend of Guy breaks up with him. Guy tries to explain to Girlfriend he was only trying to help Drunk Chick get home safely.  Girlfriend does not want to hear any reasoning because she is "TOTALLY HUMILIATED" by her Facebook friends...UGH!! Sounds familiar? I'm wondering why people even still have Twitter, Facebook, Myspace etc? Is it just me or does these social media sites seem to be breaking up more relationships than affairs? Why is that? I'm wondering if there should be a line drawn between dating and social media? Am I just tripping?

I've seen numerous friendships and relationships ripped to shreds because of social media. Whose to blame? Some people get so offended if a partner, friend, FWB, associates etc. ignores a friend request, does not follow them back or posts on their wall. Is it really that serious? Is the American culture becoming influenced by these social sites so much that the culture itself becomes crippled because of it? Are we as a people taking things to far by blending personal life with social media, or is this the way things should be? People as a whole have strayed away from the dynamics of the social network and have somewhat become engulfed in the drama of it all.

What ever happened to the site where friends come together and look at each other's high school year book pictures, laugh about it and catch up on lost time? Now there is this new trend of internet thugging, FB beefing, and millions of micro managers floating around cyber space. Are people beginning to lose themselves to the Internet? Relationship decisions are being heavily influenced by these social networks and it leaves a person to wonder when enough will truly be enough.