Carolyn's Opinions - November 2014

* Comedian Bill Cosby is in a mess. So many women eager to talk about his unchecked libido forced on them. He has never been charged with any of the allegations of rape and sexual abuse some forty-five years ago, and the statute of limitations has expired. So why did comedian Hannibal Burress bring it up in his comedy routine? Why hasn’t anyone asked him why he did it? If it was part of his act, he should say so and diminish some of this controversy. Why is he being left out of the fray?

But now it’s too late. The hounds have picked up the scent, and women are coming from everywhere to accuse Poor Bill of his past decades of indiscretions. All unproven to date. Even the money we’re told Cosby paid to many of them on a monthly basis is on the word of one man who claims he was the one who mailed the money orders.

Bill Cosby’s tour dates are being canceled left and right. And, there are others who will suffer in this situation right with Bill Cosby. TV Land and other networks have taken his family show off the air. I’m sure Cosby won’t miss the residuals. Even from his canceled live shows. But what about the other cast members? Some of them are probably living off the residuals. If so, they too, will never recover from such short notice of termination.

* In Massachusetts, the Methuen Police Department used the Veterans Day holiday to conduct a practice drill in a high school. The practice carried out drills for cases in which a school shooting takes place. The first of its kind, how to track a shooter. Excellent idea.

* National crime sprees are up: Breaking into cars at shopping malls, stolen cars, gun robberies, people attacked for their money, stolen clothes and tools. All are indications of the poor economy.

* Mental illness needs to be addressed on a national level. There has been an epidemic of mentally ill people abusing, handicapping and killing others. School and campus shootings are becoming commonplace as children as well as adults are killing our future. Teachers are sexually assaulting their pupils. Pupils are sexually assaulting their teachers.

There needs to be an increase in public service announcements to educate and take away the stigma of mental illness. Get help for these people before they suffer a personal health crisis and take it out on others. They need help, not shot down in a hail of police fire after the fact.

* I am not in favor of drones. The use of drones is an idea that is a disaster waiting to happen. We can’t even navigate highways without accidents, let alone drones flying in the air. Now we’ll have to watch out for cars running into us on the ground, as well as drones falling on our heads. There have already been near accidents with anonymous drones and airplanes in the air. I wish the Powers that Be would reconsider its use.

* The NoNoPro hair removal system: This product costs $270 plus s&h. WTF! Are we that cursed with unwanted hair on our bodies? What about using the plastic razor blade that we use under our arms? Those still work….

* I heard Patti LaBelle sing on The View. Even in her seventies, she still has a beautiful multi-ranged voice, clear, and controlled.

* I hope I never do anything ‘interesting’ that shows up in the natural news. I would definitely be embarrassed or extremely angry. The series “Law and Order - SVU” did a program on the Baltimore Ravens football player Ray Rice domestic dispute fiasco, where he allegedly punched out his wife in an elevator. I was embarrassed for the attention the portrayed TV wife received on the show with her “Stand by Your Man” at all costs attitude.

* Although the offices of Vogue have moved into One World Trade in New York City, Editor-in-Chief Anna Wintour refuses to until the rats are exterminated from the building. Sounds like a reasonable request to me, although the building is so large, it may never happen. However, what does it say about Wintour who still has her employees work there while she works elsewhere? Hmmm….

Carolyn's Opinions - June to October 2014

It’s been a while since I’ve written on this blog. With good reasons – I have had the attention of several different issues for the past four months.

I have been writing articles on my two web sites and other web sites where I contribute:

http://www.carolynscorner.com

http://www.synergyprofessionals.com

http://carolyn2008.Hubpages.com

http://carolyngibson.Hubpages.com

* Working on two books – one fiction, the other on property management

* Partial house cleaning, throwing away useless things

* Host to a nephew I hadn’t seen in a while and his family’s special visit

* Recuperating from an extended illness

* Learning how to work with a home care person

* Working with a nurse and several home care therapists for the past 4 months

* Kissing and hugging my cat Tuxedo every day

In Other Views

It’s a crying shame that Beyonce and Jay-Z allow their child Blue Ivy to go around without her hair combed. They call it the ‘natural’ look. I call it the ‘nappy’ look. I mean, what are they thinking? They don’t leave their homes without their hair being greased and combed. Beyonce has her hair styled every day. I think they’re too lazy to fight with her every day while they comb her hair. They should hire someone to do it.

Tip – When you put a web site name on your page, make sure you test it and it works before presenting it to the world.

Carolyn's Opinions - April and May 2014

Former Sesame Street Elmo puppeteer Kevin Clash has had all three sexual charges against him dropped due to the statute of limitations. What next for the puppeteer?

Kidnap Prevention: Every child should be given a secret word that will let him or her know its safe to go with a person. Even if it’s a relative-if the person doesn’t know the secret word, teach children to not go with the person.

I recently dyed my hair. Now every time I pass a mirror, I scare myself.

One could make an argument that United States citizens are an unforgiving people. I was watching a story about writer Jayson Blair. He was a reporter for the New York Times newspaper that was caught falsifying news stories. It made me curious about others who have made national mistakes, like former Washington Post journalist Janet Cooke (30 years ago) popular cook Paula Deen, golfer Tiger Woods, R&B singer Chris Brown, and more recently, the infamous Monica Lewinski.

Interesting to see that even the very, very rich have family problems. In the case of the elevator fight between Jay Z and Beyonce’s sister Solange, money apparently couldn’t give Solange class. I guess Jay Z has one more problem. Um, Um, Um.

What kind of heartless man goes into the children’s section of a public library and steals the pet turtle? What was on his alleged mind?

I don’t believe ex-Patriots football player and alleged murderer Aaron Hernandez will ever leave prison.

How many &#@*%$! Times are they going to show The Day After Tomorrow with Dennis Quaid on TV? What are they trying to tell us?

Prank Call or a Call for Help?

I received a telephone call this morning from a gentleman who apparently had nothing else to do but call strangers. After we exchanged hellos, he started to talk to me, initiating a conversation. He spoke as if we were friends. For a minute, I thought we were friends, and I just didn’t recognize his voice.

When I asked who he was, he expressed surprise and said he must have called the wrong person. Then he continued his conversation. It was clear to me that he was one of those weird guys who call strangers, and pick up idle conversation. I admit that I was a little intrigued.

After listening to his one-sided chitchat for a short time, I told him that I was going to get off the telephone so that he could call the person that he originally intended to call. He said, ”Well, to be honest with you, I like talking to you and hearing your voice rather than her”. That ended my superficial interest. I thanked him and hung up.

This type of prank call is something that has been going on since my college years. It's probably gone on even further than that in the telephone world. Strangers call your phone and begin a conversation, initially making you think you know him. Invariably, talk starts to veer into a sexual discussion. They try to keep you on the phone as long as possible, desperate to talk to anyone.

I sometimes wonder if these really are prank callers. It’s always a man. These guys are looking to connect with the outside world. I sometimes feel sorry for the person on the other end. The desire to have human contact so much that one just dials the telephone to speak to anyone who answers is a little compelling.

Of course, it’s probably just a man who pleasures himself as he talks. Either way, it’s best to hang up as soon as you discover you don’t know the person. Prank call or not, he’s someone taking up your valuable time.

Carolyn's Opinions - March 2014

Singer Chris Brown was thrown out of anger management rehab and was immediately tossed into jail. He will stay there until April 23rd. Mr. Brown has continued to be under court jurisdiction since he beat up singer Rihanna in 2009. Clearly, several stints in rehab could not rehabilitate Chris Brown. Maybe jail will.

Legendary R&B singer James Brown died in 2006, but is still buried in his daughter's back yard because the family is fighting over his 100 million dollar fortune. Pitiful.

Some hospitals are allowing long term patents to receive visits from their pet dogs. It improves morale. I hope they extend these visits to all hospitals, and allow cats, too.

Belated Black History Info from Wikipedia: Jester Joseph Hairston (July 9, 1901 – January 18, 2000) a Kappa Alpha Psi member (1925) was an American composer, songwriter, arranger, choral conductor, and actor. His notable compositions include "Amen," a gospel-tinged theme from the film Lilies of the Field and a 1963 hit for The Impressions, and the Christmas song "Mary's Boy Child".

Talk show host Conan O’Brien has the thinnest legs I have ever seen on a man. He’s 6’4” and his legs look like stilts. When he does his monologue, it’s very distracting.

Good for Jimmy Fallon for bringing comedian Joan Rivers back on The Tonight Show after a 26-year ridiculous banishment. This courageous act shows his maturity and clout in show business. Boo on Jay Leno. Long live the new King of Late Night!

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The Day After Tomorrow

There must be a reason why they keep showing the movie The Day After Tomorrow, about global warming and catastrophic climate changes, on television, released in 2004. Scientists said the movie was propaganda. Considering the extreme climate changes we’ve been experiencing lately, maybe it’s becoming closer to the truth. Maybe we need to start learning Spanish and thinking about moving below the Equator.

Question: Why do scientists say it’s not possible for the Earth to have another Ice Age?

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6 Reasons to Break Up with Your Man

Basketball star Dwayne Wade and actress Gabrielle Union were recently engaged. The pair had a close relationship for over four years. They then decided to take a ‘break’ away from each other. This was due primarily because Ms. Union had two movies scheduled back to back. Distance was an issue between the two.

During their break Mr. Wade had a baby with a close friend of his, the ex-girlfriend of Damon Wayans Jr. Four months later, the 32-year old Wade and Union got back together. Wade gave the 41-year old Union an engagement ring, which she accepted. This begs the question, if your man had a baby during a break in a relationship, would you take him back?

The term ‘break’ is one that needs to be explained and specifically defined. Technically, it usually means that a couple is separated and no longer a couple for a period of time. People are doing all kinds of things during a ‘break’ these days. And they usually believe that whatever they do during that period should not be held against them.

Taking a break means you are on a vacation from the relationship. But what you do during a break and with who should factor into whether or not you get back together. In my humble opinion, here are some circumstances about which I think it should be very difficult to go back into a relationship.

1. Your man has a baby with a woman during your break. This is such an egregious situation that it should now be called the “Union Break”

2. He has a baby by your best friend

3. Your man went back to his ex-girlfriend. Specifically, the one he had before you.

4. He dated your best friend - exclusively

5. He openly dated a coworker of yours

6. He married, and then divorced your best friend. If dating a best friend or having a baby by your former best friend is not enough, certainly his marrying your best friend should end one, if not both, relationships

Union says it was a mistake to schedule so much time away from Wade to make two movies. I say it shows his short attention span. Surely she will have to be away from Wade in the future for months if she plans to continue her acting career.

Why she took him back is a mystery. Still, the one good decision she plans to implement is to require her and Wade to sign a pre-nuptial agreement. She now understands his propensity to stray, and signing a pre-nup will ensure that her money, if not her heart, will be protected. .