Carolyn's Corner - February 2014

The U.S. is experiencing major snow storms. At the same time, the movie ‘The Day After Tomorrow’ is on TV almost every three days, every week. Are they trying to tell us something? And, who are “They”, anyway? Meanwhile, the West Coast is suffering from a major drought. Has the Earth turned on its axis? What’s going on?

I think Jimmy Fallon was an excellent choice to replace Jay Leno. I wish him luck.

Watched the 2013 TV documentary “Finding the Funk”, about the evolution of funk music. Great to see performers that I followed back in the Day.

‘The Biggest Loser’ TV show is a CONTEST. The premise is, whoever loses the most weight wins. Rachel Frederickson lost the most weight. The 24 year old lost 155 lbs. down to 105 lbs, a size 2 at 5’4”, continuing the diet plan given to her by one of the show’s dieticians. She won two hundred and fifty thousand dollars. Now everyone is appalled that she looks too thin. This what happens when the program doesn’t place restrictions on contestant weight loss.

The 2006 movie ‘Dreamgirls’ and Jennifer Hudson’s Oscar winning performance still gives me chills every time I watch it. In my opinion, singer-song writer Siedah Garrett would have won an Oscar for one of her two nominated songs if the winning song the year before hadn’t been ‘It’s Hard Out Here for a Pimp.’

Saw a Black History Month movie, the 1996 ‘Panther’, about the founding of the Black Panther Party. Many recognizable veteran actors and civil rights activists of the era are in it. Educational regarding the Panther’s Ten Point Program, and the times when we were trying to act as an organized community on the national level. Also surprising that the Movie Network would show it. Kudos to them.

As we stay cooped up indoors, let’s make sure we check and change our smoke and carbon monoxide detector batteries so we don’t die in our sleep.

Jennifer Hudson’s singing tribute to Aretha Franklin on the BET Honors 2014 television program brought chills up and down my spine.

Carolyn's Opinions - January 2014

I am soooo glad I didn’t charge anything from Target for Christmas

I may be old-fashioned. But I remember a time when the word ‘bullshit’ never came out of anyone's mouth on television. Now people say it at will.

Why does the heat come on every time I pass my thermostat?

Watching ‘Cops’ on TV. If you’re carrying drugs and have a broken taillight, you’re going to jail. If you have drugs on you, and a pocket full of money, you’re stupid and going to jail. If you keep your hands in your pockets, and the police ask you to take them out, and you don’t, you could end up in handcuffs, on the ground, tazed, or in jail, or all of the above. What a show.

Justin Bieber used to be such a nice singer. Now he’s just ordinary.

Carolyn's Opinions December 2013 Part 3 of 3

On the Arsenio Hall Show, Chance the Rapper talked about starting a union for rappers. It’s a good idea. I wish he were able to better articulate the process. Rapper novices in particular need a venue where they get the opportunity to work their craft without getting ripped off on the way up. I hope he’s able to bring it to fruition.

So, Saturday Night Live can afford to hire superstars Jimmy Fallon, Madonna, Sir Paul McCartney, Justin Timberlake, Barry Gibb, and New York City Mayor Michael Bloomberg, all for the same show. All white people by the way, and I love them all. But, I notice that the show still can’t seem to spend that same kind of money toward finding a black female comedienne cast member. Hmmmm.

The Target credit card fiasco proved one thing. That having a Christmas club where you cash out is the best way to do Christmas shopping. I am lucky I didn’t go to Target this year, and I plan to use cash next year.

Good Morning America newscaster Robin Roberts finally came out by thanking her girlfriend of ten years. It’s about time.

I was watching the1949 version of the Walt Disney cartoon Cinderella. It's funny - when you are a kid and you watch a movie, you don't notice everything. As an adult I noticed that when Cinderella is turned into a princess, she has blonde hair. Yet, when she's turned back into regular Cinderella, her hair is dark brown. Is that Disney's way of saying that blondes have more fun and success?

Also, why are the two sisters sleeping in the same bed in a huge mansion? I think this movie is trying to tell us a lot more than a Disney movie should.

I think Season Six of the Real Housewives of Atlanta is about all I will be able to suffer. These women are too long in the tooth to be acting the way they do. Their actions are too repetitive, and after six years of watching grown women implode every week, my television taste has gone into other directions.

I had a good Christmas!

Carolyn’s Opinions December 2013 Part 2

A West London public housing management company came under fire for sending to the tenants a newsletter. It essentially told the tenants they wanted them to pay their rent for December.

The tenants were insulted that such a notice went out around Christmas time. However, the management company stated that over 46% of the tenants of the property were behind in their rent. It wanted to make sure that they could not use Christmas as an excuse to get even further behind in the rent.

I believe this is a good preventive decision by this management company. People in general tend to overindulge with Christmas presents and other festivities during the holidays. They should be reminded with a reality check that tenants should consider paying their rent first for December. Rent is what keeps a property maintained. Rent is just as important as the holidays, and needs to be acknowledged.

Carolyn’s Opinions – December 2013 - Part 1 of 3

* Watching “Hoarders–Buried Alive” television show. The relatives show up at the hoarders home, horrified and angry about the devastation. Almost without exception, the homes are filled almost to the ceiling with waste and clothes. The bathrooms are unusable. Mice run around everywhere.

The relatives say, “I never had a clue. Never in my wildest dreams.” I’m wondering, where were the relatives long before these homes were destroyed? Some of the children haven’t been to their parent’s home in years. The relatives should be ashamed of themselves.

* I think the TV show King of Queens Season 3 episode “Strike Out” is funny as Hell.

* I just saw ‘Five Easy Pieces’, starring Jack Nicholas, for the first time. I was not impressed at all.

* Mike Tyson was recently forbidden from entering Great Britain to promote his book because he is a convicted felon. Do you think that in the United States, that after one has served his or her time in prison, all rights as a citizen such as voting, housing, employment, etc. should be reinstated?

* What’s happened to comedian Carlos Mencia?

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Carolyn's Opinion - November 2013

Here’s a question. What do you do when your neighbor’s legal pot smoking is driving you crazy? The smell is permeating into your apartment. You have asthma. Short of moving out, what can you do?

If Jay Z is so concerned about his reputation regarding his deal with New York’s Barneys, he should pull out. He is rich enough to do business with people who don’t mistreat people of color. Even more, he has the ability to make Barney’s change their policies in exchange for his business with them. At what point is there not enough money in the world to do something?

I have to say that comedian Andrew Dice Clay’s acting has vastly improved over the years. I enjoyed his recent performance on the television show ‘The Blacklist.’

It seems like everything I buy is in a smaller and smaller package, and costs more and more money

Mickey Mouse and Minnie Mouse are still not married! I guess neither one wants to put a ring on it…Hmmm

Some advice from an article on the Internet – If you are seriously ill, call 911 from a landline. The police can better track where you are to send an ambulance if you are no longer able to speak, unlike on a cell phone. Good Advice for saving time getting to you

I believe that Hypocrisy is one of the biggest sins on this earth. Alleging to have characteristics that one lacks (Wikipedia). Acting in ways that you tell others not to do…

Who decides when a person speaking should be in subtitles on television? This happens a lot on the program ‘Beyond Scared Straight.’ They do it with both the prisoners and the juveniles.

First of all, I don’t have a problem understanding what they say. Do they allow the TV producer to decide who gets subtitles, or a committee of people? Second of all, when it’s done, it makes it seem like they have speech impediments, which they don’t. Third, I think it further stigmatizes urban people, suggesting that their speech is one reason why they are in trouble with the prison system, both black and white.

I know it’s just a cartoon. But killing off Brian the dog on The Family Guy was a mistake. He was the most functional one in the family, and balanced off all the others. I don’t know if I want to see the new character. It just seems like more dysfunction. Where’s the contrast now?

I would say this to any woman in the same position. Khloe Kardasian, dump that zero, and get you a hero. Life’s too short, and you’re still young enough to get a better partner. Lamar has to want to improve, and he’s clearly not ready yet.

If Amber Riley hadn’t won 2013 Dancing with the Stars, there would have been a serious problem. Congratulations!

A judge rejected 66-year-old O.J. Simpson’s request for a new trial. Is anyone surprised?

This week is the beginning of the 2013 holiday season. Subscribe here for more of Carolyn’s Opinions. Happy Thanksgiving!

Too Many Ways to Kill Humanity

There are so many "natural" disasters in the world. Global warming is just another way to say the world is sick of our abuse. It's fighting back with stronger and stronger ways to destroy us. And, by the time we decide to listen, many of us will die.