2) Aren’t you surprised as hell that President Bush pardoned rapper/producer John Forte? YES!

3) Could the Knicks have handled the Marbury sitation any worse? I don’t do basketball….GEAUX SAINTS!!

4) With all of these Clinton-era throwbacks in the Obama cabinet, doesn’t it feel like Hillary won the election? No.

5) Speaking of Hillary Clinton, didn’t Obama trash her foreign policy credentials 6 months before choosing her as Secretary of State? It’s called Politics baby!

6) Does anyone believe women on a first date when they pretend to reach for their wallets to “pay the bill?” Only a fool will believe a woman wants to pay the bill if she doesn’t pay the bill.

7) Isn’t it hard to feel sympathetic for the automotive industry after they thumbed their noses at environmentalists and consumers for decades? Yes.

At the same time, isn’t everyone being tougher on them compared to the equally unscrupulous banks? Yes.

9) Who the hell keeps casting Cuba Gooding Jr. in ghetto roles? Cuba Gooding Jr.

10) After getting outshined on the Ludacris new album, shouldn’t Jay-Z stop appearing on tracks with Nas? Yes but No. There are some whom wouldn’t give Nas a listen if Jay-z was not on the track.

11) Isn’t it a shame that T-Pain is getting credit for the current synthesizer craze, when Roger Troutman did it decades ago? A crying shame! but a lot of us don’t take time to learn our real world history let alone musical.

12) If Plaxico Burress was really worried about his safety, why not hire a security team instead of carrying an illegal weapon? In the words of Soulja Slim “Ain’t nobody gone ride like I’m gone ride for me and ain’t nobody gone die like I’m gone die for me.” R.I.P Soulja Slim

13) Has there ever been a less funny television show than Tyler Perry’s “House of Payne?” Never in the history of television has there been a less funnier show…and yes ,I’ve seen homeboys in outerspace.

14) Why do people take MySpace and Facebook so damn seriously? Because they do not understand the concept of mixing a personal life and the internet.

15) Why do people always pretend that the seat next to them on the train is occupied? Because you’re black >

16) Before Michelle Obama, would Salon.com have written an article about any First Lady’s butt? Salon.com was disrespectful. But in their defense when has there been a First Lady with such ample assests, you know a sista’s butt can make a sane person do some strange thangs!!!

17) Isn’t Charles Barkley right to say that Lebron James is being disrespectful to the Cleveland Cavs by talking about his 2010 free agency? Again, I don’t do basketball….GEAUX SAINTS!!

18) Why do people look in the tissue after they blow their noses? Cause we’re all nasty on some level

19) Does anyone believe a boxer or a rapper when they say they’re going to retire? Heeheehee, rhetorical question, you almost got me.

20) With all other Philly teams underachieving, is it baseball season yet? ummmm. …GEAUX SAINTS!!!!

Unfortunately he is just not “leading man material”. like Denzel or Will.. Its not a Black or White thing its a “sex appeal” thing.

His Whitte equivalent would be a guy like Anthony Hopkins… great talent but no bedroom eyes.

No, I didn’t go to church this morning. And I don’t have a good excuse either! I just felt sluggish this morning and didn’t feel like getting dressed (its been a long week). But I’ll make up for it with a Wed. service. Besides, I prayer and read the Bible at home anyway!

I wish you all the best with the “woman of your dreams”!!! Since you paid for lunch, it sounds like you’re already well on your way!!!

Just curious!

Also, you’ll be happy to know I enjoyed a double date lunch with the woman of my dreams yesterday and the other fellow and myself were all to pleased to picked up the tab for both of these wonderful women. Pray for my progress, please!!

My intentions are VERY HONORABLE!!!

I’m glad that you both understand that Adam and Eve is the “second” creation story. But from your comments regarding it, I don’t get the impression that you fully know or understand the FIRST creation story.

Rob, as you mentioned, in the Torah is states that GOD blew breath into both man and woman. But the Torah does not state that, that woman was Eve! B/c it wasn’t Eve! It was Lilith, Adams FIRST wife!!!

As I’m sure you both know, there are a few books of the Bible that are not included in the distributed version of the Bible. As you know the early scholars and theologians strongly believed that the majority of people would not be able to “handle” and properly understand certain books in the Bible, and so, they deemed it best to leave those books out. They feared that a slight misinterpretation of these books would be so damaging to society, that it would be best to just not include them in the Bible at all.

Well, the first creation story, the story of Adam and Lilith, is one of those “lost books” of the Bible.

Here’s the gist of that book:

In the beginning, GOD blew breath into Adam FIRST, and then, in the same equal way, blew breath into Lilith. The time came when GOD instructed Adam and Lilith to procreate, but Lilith didn’t want to have sex with Adam. Lilith preferred to go far off into the Garden of Eden, and have sex with herself (masturbate, she was evil). When Lilith did finally decide to have sex with Adam she would ONLY have sex with him while she was on top. This angered GOD b/c when a woman is on top it is impossible for her to conceive.

B/c Lilith would only be on top during sex with Adam, GOD punished her and turned her into an animal. (this is why women should NOT be on top during sex, b/c GOD punished Lilith for it) It is widely debated whether GOD turned Lilith into an owl or a snake. But most believe it was a snake, and in fact, that Lilith was the snake that tricked Eve into eating the apple.

So since GOD turned Lilith into an animal, Adam was the only human in the Garden of Eden for a while, and this is where Genesis picks up.

Genesis tells how GOD saw that Adam being alone was not good and while Adam was sleeping, he then took his rib to create Eve.

The fuller book on the creation story tells how GOD didn’t want to blow breath into Eve in the same equal way he created Adam, b/c that is how he created Lilith and Lilith was no good. Therefore, GOD wanted Adam (man) to be dominate over woman, and that is why woman was created from man’s rib.

So Rob, although you are right that GOD created Adam and Lilith in the same equal way, man was still created *FIRST*, which set the natural order, and that order was only solidified and intensified when GOD created Eve from his rib! This was the proper way. Man was not only created first, man was created more complete, as woman is only a small piece of man.

So both the “first” and the “second” creation stories validate man’s position over woman. – Man’s position as the Head!

There are a bunch of stories about Lilith all over the internet, some half true, some totally false. Wiki even has an entry on Lilith, it’s not accurate though, and it does have a bit on Adam and Lilith’s relationship, but it’s not accurate either.

Although the book of the full creation story is not in the circulated version of the Bible, the book is still available for those who wish to read it. It you go to your local Theologians Library you’ll be able to read the actually book and read the scriptures about Adam and Lilith.

PS – Many lesbians worship Lilith, since she rejected having sex with Adam (man). I’m sure Timaree might have a few stories about Lilith for you if you ask her!

In response to your #154:

I really want to be careful how I address this, but I have to be candid.

Although it seems you have a bit of animosity towards your grandfather (and maybe rightfully so), I’m sure there is something you admire about him, and I’m sure he was a good man is some way.

However, I would venture to state that it was your grandfather who was the bad tree that bore bad fruit, not patriarchy itself.

There are several people who abuse good things all the time. But that doesn’t make the “thing” bad, it makes the person bad.

I referred to your “Master Hoe” friend as an off base extreme b/c he was obviously a bad person abusing a good thing (chivalry). So he served no valid purpose to your argument.

It’s a good thing to open doors for women and treat them with respect and extra delicate care (chivalry). But your friend abused it with mal-intent. That makes HIM bad, not chivalry.

In that same regard, if your grandfather abused his position as the Head of the household, and caused pain to his wife and children, that makes HIM bad, not patriarchy.

Patriarchy is alive and well in my entire family, and it was alive and well in my household growing up! My father was the Head, and he never abused his “position”. My mother is an independent women and her and my father were partners that lived and ran the house as one. But my father was still the Head, the chivalrous Head, an our home ran like a well oiled machine b/c of it!

My mother was never a vulnerable figure (as you described your Auntie/grandma). And my patriarchal father raised me to be a strong and independent woman. I’m sure you can’t imagine me being “vulnerable” or subservient to any man!!! But I WILL allow natural order to take place and respect my husband as the Head.

Further, my father was the Captain of the ship and constantly fulfilled those duties. But my mother was still capable and ready to take over at any point. As I mentioned much earlier on in this thread, in my discussion with Blaxx, my father had Bell’s Palsy when I was a kid and he was bed ridden for 1 month. During that time, my mother had to step up and take over the ship. She became the Captain. My mother had to serve as the Head and take care of us and the household. AND SHE DID! We never skipped a beat! My mom is a strong wife and she took over for her husband. Although my father was always the Head, she was able to confidently take over that position, and my dad encouraged her to be ready for that when they married.

So patriarchy is NOT about abuse, and a man never wanting his wife to have any “power” or capability. It’s about a man recognizing that he has a GOD given dominance in his genes and that he is to take the wheel FIRST, but understands how to pass the wheel to his wife when needed. Likewise, a wife has to know when to give the wheel back to her husband, where it is meant to be (like my mom gave it back to my dad when he became well again).

You stated in #154:

“He so controlled Auntie’s life that after he died she was unable to live on her own without a man in the house.” – Rob

I hope you can understand that your grandfather’s “control” over his wife is NOT patriarchy. Patriarchy, contrary to popular belief, is NOT man’s control over a woman. It’s man’s duty in relation to a woman.

In addition, do you think your Auntie/grandma played any role in her own “demise”? She knew that there would be a 50/50 chance that he may depart before her and that she would have to take the lead at some point. Do you think she could of been more proactive in standing her ground and taking her “seat/wheel” in the household? Do you think she could have been more proactive in observing how he was tending to the home so that she would be able to effectively take over one day?

Do you REALLY think patriarchy is to blame for her not being able to take care of the house after her husband died???

Why are you trying to peg me the Barbershop Bully!?!?!?

I think I’ve already outlined quite effectively, on another post, that the “insults” I issue are in response to someone hurling one at me first! But that’s besides the point, I do need to take responsibility for my own actions, and I should never resort to calling anyone names, regardless. So I apologize!

Honestly, you’re the last person in the ‘Shop I would want to insult. Although you have hurled and initiated insults yourself, I think you still have been incredibly patient and mature. I know there have been times when I poke at you a little bit (only b/c you leave yourself WIDE open and I just can’t resist!) and you’ve responded maturely and didn’t poke back. So I think well of you, and I truly don’t have anything against you. Moreover, I am very sorry if I ever offended you. It won’t happen again!

I don’t insult you b/c I don’t have a response. I always respond, thoroughly! It just becomes frustrating when you hit 100 comments and it’s all repetitive, and it appears there’s no common understanding. So I throw a name out to get my frustration out, not to intentionally hurt you, or anyone else.

In #146 you asked me to spare you the insults. But I honestly don’t think I said anything previous to #146 that was insulting. I would appreciate it if you would inform me of what it was that insulted you prior to #146, so that I can be sure not to do it again.

Also, when I use CAPS, it’s NOT me yelling! I use CAPS to emphasize a word or point, or to highlight a phrase and cause it to stand out. My use of CAPS is identical to your use of italics, bold, and your fancy little gray sidebar! If, for some reason you think CAPS are more offensive than italics and/or bold, then please instruct me on how to italicize and/or bold text on this blog and I will gladly convert.

“it’s not going to kill us as women to approach a potential prospect and treat him to lunch. sometimes i fella may not notice you at first…but you may have noticed his fine ass all day. whatchya gonna do??? wait your life away for his late ass??? or are you gonna woman up and go for what you like?? me, i choose to do the latter…” – WYLTK

LMAO!!! I DO feel you on that!!! I totally understand your point there!

I’m a very assertive, go getter kind of woman. But I’ve never felt the need to approach a man, and I prefer NOT to. (and believe it or not there is scripture that suggests a woman shouldn’t {but I’m not going there right now!})

Please understand that I am NOT trying to tell you how to live your life, and I’m not passing judgment in anyway. You know what works best for you!!! Do you! I sincerely wish you the very best.

I just shared my opinion on the topic, that is all!

“Tanya, just because a man allows a woman to pay on a date (if she offers) does not equate his entire existance as a man.” – WYLTK

Darling I NEVER said that!!! Don’t get like Rob and start taking things to a ridiculous extreme.

I never said if a man doesn’t pay it defines his ENTIRE existence as a man. I said it TAKES AWAY from his manhood; meaning it lessens it, not defines it in its entirety.

Why do you guys interpret my comments in such absolute terms???

Of course when I offer my opinion I’m NOT talking about every single person in the entire world!!! I’m speaking generally, in terms of the majority, but mainly, in terms of my opinion.

If I say, “black women have perms”. Of course I don’t mean EVERY single black woman in the whole world!!! I just simply mean the majority. So I don’t thinks it’s necessary, or productive, for someone to defensively respond with “That’s not true, ALL black women DO NOT have perms. I wear my hair natural”. That type of response is pedantic and wastes time. Because I NEVER said ALL. My statements ARE NOT ABSOLUTE!!!

I DO NOT think it is a brush on ALL mens’ manhood if they don’t pay. I’m sure there are some (few) good men out there that would let a woman pay, for various reasons. A reason might be b/c in his culture the woman is the head and that’s what he’s use to! (like in the north eastern state of Meghalaya, India where the women are the Head and run the homes, businesses, and everything, and the men are the “stay-at-homes”)

If you find yourself a Meghalaya man, and he lets you pay, he’s probably a good guy. BUT, the vast majority of men who do let you pay are, most likely, NOT real, good, men. (and I explained WHY in my numerous comments above)

And that’s my final answer!

There’s no intent to offend anyone, that is just my honest take on it! The end!