Return to the Blogosphere: Magazine Haul

Hello World! Happy New Year!

After months of an involuntary blogging hiatus, I have something new to share, a concept inspired by some of my favorite fashion/style bloggers.

On YouTube, you can find what vloggers call a haul. The haul can be clothes, shoes, accessories, makeup, whatever, but it's different items they have acquired over a period of time, say, a month. I will admit that even though I like fashion, I am not one to go nuts on clothes. Instead, I got nuts on magazines. Yes, magazines! I study them at Emerson, so why not?

Enough of the chitchat. Here is what I've snagged lately!

First is the group I had to buy for class purposes. I take magazine editing, which takes a look at several prominent magazines and others, and we discuss the content, the pieces, the target audiences, etc.

February issues of Runners World featuring the half-marathon calendar for the year

• Elle's annual Women in TV issue
• Vanity Fair celebrating Jimmy Fallon and his bringing Late Night back to NYC. There's also a piece I read about this international student that was randomly killed last summer in Oklahoma and their lives were effected.
• Vogue is excited about Lena Dunham being their cover girl, though I don't think she's captured in a way that reflects her personality. Also, there was controversy about Ms. Dunham possibly having been photo-shopped. What else is new?

The Jan 27 issue of The New Yorker. As you can see, it's been through a bit because I keep taking it with me to various places. Currently reading the feature piece on Obama's next three years and what it could mean for his presidency.

Annnnd here is the fun bag. Some mags I've been buying several issues and should probably subscribe, and others I want to start getting into.

1. Feb issue of W Magazine -The Movie Issue featuring one of my favorite new it girls, Luptia Nyong'o
2. Spring issue of Where Women Create Business - I had no idea this magazine existed until I stumbled upon it. It's a quarterly for women who want to start a business in an artsy way, like selling vintage clothes or making decorate fortune cookies.
3. Feb 1 issue of Billboard Magazine - I saw this cover on instagram, and I wanted to have it. Funny enough, Beyonce and Jay Z are number one on their Power 100 list. Who could blame them? They changed how we see marketing music.
4. Feb issue of Harper's Bazaar - Haven't looked into this one a whole lot yet, but I liked seeing a model on the page. To me, that captures the true essence of magazine. I can only hope that there's more of a mix between models and celebrities.
5. Feb issue of Inc - If I'm going to have a business someday, I would love to read about other companies, how they maintain themselves, and the people behind the scenes.
6. Feb 3 issue of New York - I've fallen in love with this magazine. It's weekly and local to NYC, but it's so rich with engaging articles about culture, entertainment, politics, and whatnot. This issue was just in time for Super Bowl weekend, which was really in New Jersey. Who's looking though?
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8. Jan/Feb issue of AFAR - one of my classmates actually inspired me to look into this mag. It's for the "experiential traveler", so leave the fanny packs at home, people. 
9. Jan issue of Entrepreneur - again, starting my own business. Need reading material!
10. Spring issue of The Knot - I try not to buy every issue because I don't want to come off as one of those women planning their weddings before even meeting the guy. No. I just like weddings! Wedding magazines make me happy. If I could work for one, I'd give it a whirl.
11. Dec/Jan issue of UPTOWN - last but not least, UPTOWN sets itself apart from EBONY and Essence (if you're not familiar with these two, all you have to do is find your nearest drug store. They're everywhere!!!). The target audience is AAAs (Affulent African Americans), and there are city editions available as well. This issue talks about Babyface and Toni Braxton's new album Love, Marriage & Divorce. 

And there you have it! I would highly recommend you go pick up these issues if any of them interest you. My goal is to step up my blogging game and blog about cultural things I go see and such. 

Until then, a beintot and happy reading!        

Book Review and Thoughts: The Happy Atheist

Though I have to burn the morning oil in about seven hours, I had to get this post out. I picked up this galley of a book called The Happy Atheist by PZ Myers. My internship boss happens to be a judge for this year's National Book Award, so he got the pleasure of receiving plenty of books from all over to be considered for nomination. This particular title caught my eye because I used to be an atheist, and I find their way of thinking fascinating in comparison to the Christian perspective. I also thought it would be a quick read, so what the hey.

So here is my review: I don't really like it. It's not written very well. There's lots of opinion and the same tired lines atheists like to throw around (yes, they are tired): the bible is a bunch of myths, Jesus was just a prophet, but he didn't really do anything for anyone, God doesn't exist, etc. I was looking forward to seeing what makes him a happy atheist and how he debunks theology and faith as a whole, and I was left with much to be desired. I checked out a few review of the book, and apparently the book is a culmination of blog posts. I have seen a good way and bad way of this culmination. The bad way was a book released earlier this year geared towards Christian women.

I didn't actually read the book, but I read some of the blog posts that were featured in the book, and figured there was no need to buy the book. If it appears in a library, I just might check it out to save money, but based on the blog posts, I might pass.

The good way is a book I am currently reading, Paris in Love by Eloisa James. She gave a heads up that the majority of the book were Facebook posts from when she was in Paris with her family for a year. Since she chronicled her time a smaller spurts and some of those spurts coincide with one another, the book flows rather well. Not to mention my fondness for Paris has increased all the more. Will have a review for the book as soon as I finish!

But I digress. The book served the basic purpose of challenging me and what I believe, but there was no proof of the delusion of millions of people seem to be living. The little blue galley is going straight back to school.

My thoughts: since Dr. Myers decided to omit any proof of God's nonexistence, I just figured he's this disgruntled biologist that is clinging to Darwinism for dear life and seriously take it to the grave. He mentions that critics have often said that he just doesn't understand, and unfortunately, I will have to agree. All he bashed were the culturally known Christians and specifically Catholics. What his beef with Catholicism is I have no clue.

Since I'm not Catholic, I cannot adequately defend the faith and all its doctrine. I just know Baptist in the simplest form. What struck me the most was the fact that he kept saying that people give into the lie that doing all this good will lead to paradise or heaven after death. That is the greatest misconception about Christianity. Come on, Dr. Myers. I thought you were smarter than that.

I would have for sure thought he knew indirect that only belief and faith in God through Jesus will connect humanity with God. Duh! That's what the entire bible comes to. Works are the outflow of that faith. People are always these do-gooders we like to think we are. We wanna cuss people out so they can feel are tiny moments of wrath towards their shortcomings, and it's very easy to ignore the poor, in America and abroad. We're not good, plain and simple, no matter we may aspire to be good people.

If I could ask Dr. Myers anything without him calling me some insane lunatic, I would ask him, "if we are all here by chance, then what's the point in being here in the first place?" One of the biggest questions I've pondered is what our purpose is here on Earth. If there is none, then we might as well just die and call it a day. What he calls freedom to do whatever you want is a silly lie we want to believe when in reality it's not satisfying to the level we expect.

Whether he wants to admit it or not, many people want something to believe in. We're just wired that way. They want purpose. They want to make sense of the world they live in. What he still fails to see is the fact that Christians don't live in a fantasy world. We want to be recognized for the stuff we do as much as the next person, but there's something deeper that motivates us to do what we do. Chance does not provide enough motivation to get rich and care for others. In fact, in the six years I've been a Christian, I've slowly but surely learned the good that comes from not just thinking about myself all the time. Thinking about and caring for others is extremely profound.

But that's my spiel. Please, do not go buy this book. It came out earlier this month, and unless you want to get your kicks at the expense of believers, then be my guest.

I shall return with a more positive post in the next few days and a special post for this coming Thursday!!!!! Stay tuned.

Drika

My Send Off to Mr. Zimmerman

If anyone watches Melissa Harris-Perry's show on MSNBC, you might be familiar with the letters that she does on the show in which she addresses someone or people for the week. I'm going to do something similar. This is my send off to George Zimmerman.

Dear George,

Congratulations on your recent acquittal. I can only imagine what the last 17 months have been like for you. You're out on a neighborhood post one night, and the next thing you know, you're on national news, being prosecuted by your state and looked down upon by many, but you made it, man.

Kudos to your defense team. They made the victim's loved ones feel super silly on the witness stand, but they proved you innocent. Your self-defense cost someone else's life, but hey, you're still alive. They were rather impressive. I bet you're thankful for your supporters too, the people that saw nothing wrong with defending yourself, while the now deceased was attacking you, and you feared for your life.

And to the people who think you're a cold monster, well, they just don't understand. They were up in arms for no reason while you were carrying on before your arrest. They waited for months to see if this lost child will get his "justice." They were just throwing the race card all over the place, and for what?

So now you get to go free. People are relieved and upset. Rallies have sprung up across the country, and trust me, they could care less about how you feel. You don't matter. Some want you dead. It won't bring back Trayvon, but that whole eye-for-an-eye concept doesn't sound too bad either. Most of the opposing side feel that you didn't need to get out of your car, that Trayvon didn't look suspicious at all. He just looked like a teen going home.

Thanks to you, people will feel uncomfortable letting their teenage sons out at night to go grab some snacks, in fear that some dude from another ethnicity will profile him and try to get into a fight. Thanks to you, people are heartbroken, and two parents have to look at their government and get the sense that they're saying "Trayvon caused his own death." Thanks to you, people are talking a little more about the racial divide that still stifles America today, and ignorance runs rampant. 

Enjoy your wife. She must sincerely love you. Enjoy the youth you still have intact. You could have faced life in the pen. Enjoy the "freedom" you now have, where no one has respect for you and will call you a cowardly murderer for the rest of your life.

Lastly, pray. Seek Jesus man. Whether you feel remorse or not, there is absolutely no excuse for killing another person. NONE. Talk to God. Form a relationship with Him. Wherever you are in life, He will meet you. People are extremely unforgiving, but God is not. Redemption is attainable. Cling to God and ask Him to help you move you forward...and keep you alive.

Sincerely,
Shondrika

*with the exception of the last paragraph, there are levels of sarcasm and cynicism throughout. Please do not take it too seriously. Just my thoughts.

BET Awards 2013

After a few years of doing other things in my life, I was finally able to watch the BET Awards again live in real time. The last year I saw it live was 2009, when BET had only a good four days to scramble together an adjusted program because Michael Jackson has passed away. Since that summer, I was doing a mission trip in Memphis in 2010, I was in France in 2011, and I just couldn't watch at home last summer. After seeing who was going to perform and who the host was, I was really looking forward to watching. As a teen, I used to watch every year as the awards show further developed and because THE awards show to watch for great black star power. In latter years, however, I've noticed a decline in the luster of the show, and it hasn't ever broken 15 years. But I digress. I shall share some of my favorite moments and what I hope would happen in preparation in future.

I really enjoyed Robin Thicke's performance featuring Pharrell and T.I. "Blurred Lines." It had a sexiness to it, and it never hurts to see artists I have a great respect for. I may not be a huge fan of Thicke, but he is one soulful guy, and I'm glad he was able to perform his big hit right now, made popular by Beats by Dre. Kendrick Lamar's performance was interesting, but I didn't pay too much mind until Erykah Badu appeared on the stage. Now, she doesn't provide vocals on the recorded track, but it was awesome having her bring a little more soul to the live performance. 

My absolute favorite performance was the tribute to Charlie Wilson. Like seriously. The awards show had become a cookout in the middle of the summer. How fitting. It's the end of June/beginning of July, and we were hearing some great live music, and I mean some feel-good music. Something young people can hear and dance around. What set Uncle Charlie apart from other Lifetime Achievement award recipients is the fact that he came back to the music scene and worked with the new generation of artists out. So not only do my peers know who he is, but our parents and grandparents maybe. That's incredible. He was able to perform hits from his days with Gap Band AND his music with Snoop Dogg and Pharrell and Justin Timberlake. Like what? People were not only on their feet, but singing, grooving, dancing, smiling, and that was just the people there. I was dancing and jumping around in my living room grooving to the music. Major kudos for BET for capturing that moment. This is what BET has been been known for: chronicling black star power in ways no other network/organization can do.

After seeing Mrs. Tamela Mann perform at Celebration of Gospel, I knew she had to sing again at BET Awards. No question about it. She let God sing through her, and you can't help but feel your spirit stirring when you hear her voice and her style of singing. Mind you, she is 47 years old, and she sounds better than some of these 30-something and 40-something singers that have been singing the same length of time (about 20 years). I'll tell you what, God makes known some of His chosen people through their gifts. There was a moment when the chorus was cut short and went straight to the bridge, and you can tell Tamela was caught off guard. She had sang through in past performances (if you ever heard "Take Me To the King" or seen the performances, then you know what I mean), so I was a little upset that whoever had set up the song that way. Nonetheless, she kept going and ab libbed until she got to a more comfortable spot in the song. Tamela was phenomenal, and her dress was fierce. For once, I didn't look to see if most people were going to be sitting down because it was a gospel song.

An additional portion of the awards that I liked was the opportunity that filmmakers took to announce future movies. Two programs will be on BET this week alone: Being Mary Jane, a BET original film starring Gabrielle Union, and a documentary titled Imagine a Future that will premiere on Tuesday and Friday, respectively. Also, the cast of The Best Man is reuniting for The Best Man Holiday, set to be released for the 2013 holiday season (!!!). An indie film is going to released later this month, Friutvale Station, and Think Like A Man Too will be released next year (they've been filming in Vegas this past spring). Add The Butler later this summer into the mix, and you have some black films to look forward to see. Not to see that these films are specifically aimed towards black audiences, but seeing black ensembles perform in a work of great depth is a rarity in this age...still. 

I was a little disappointed by Chris Tucker being so awkward. For wonderfully awkward, they could have just had Kevin Hart back. Some of the segways were a little off, so I'm not sure if they ran that writing by anyone. The show itself did indeed run smoothly, so that's good. Not to put down Nicki Minaj, but since I don't like her very much, it doesn't matter. Her award could have been presented earlier. This is her fourth straight best female hip hop award, and it's by default (yawn). I would have loved to see Kerry Washington receive her best actress award because she deserved it, with her crazy successful show Scandal and Django Unchained. 

There was also this island music set that they decided to do, and it was pretty awesome. I love being able to see how Africans are in the arts far beyond our American borders with reggae music, for starters. I wish we knew that was coming. I believe BET took to the "anything can happen" theme seriously, and it left people a little confused. A little lackluster in my opinion. I would have love that set to have been longer with a few more artists featured.

Overall, this was the best show in a while. I have thoughts of how it should be better next year, but it consists of featuring only people I know or featuring more categories other than music, because....black stars are doing way more than just music. They're lighting up our screens and trying to change the world one little bit at a time. Watching the awards literally showed me why I'm here in Boston doing what I'm doing, pursing publishing. I want to create something for my people with great quality and substance, something that can read and shared with friends and offering content that people can take and really think about but enjoy. I have big dreams and a vision in my head, and it is my hope and prayer that I can bring it into fruition.

That's my view and spiel on the BET Awards 2013. Until the next major awards show, I will hang up my critiquing hat.

Drika

When Faith Finds You

When I came up with the title of my blog, I was looking forward to sharing how my faith and how it's been progressing while in Boston. Somehow that hasn't happened. I tend to be really into the things around me, and there is a disconnect between what I see everyday and what I believe beyond all that. Well, let me tell you, God showed out this past week. I have grown to be a little smarter with what I share online, but this is God at work. I gotta let it out.

I had found myself in a situation with rent...and not being able to pay it all...for a few months. I was left with some choices to get myself caught up, but I wasn't taking them very seriously, and every now and then I would ask God what to do, but not really stick with it. I became focused with finding a job, and not any ol job. I wanted to at least like the place or something, and then apply and wait for them to call me back. When that wasn't working, I would have a random moment of asking God, "what the heck is going on? How am I here?" Guilt was creeping up at a faster rate, and I began to feel less deserving to even keep the blessing I was granted last year.

Then Sunday happened. I went to church like I usually do, and sometime later, someone I don't know super well offered to give me the amount that I owe. Past, present, and future all at once. I was so shocked that I couldn't cry like I thought I would have expected to do. A humongous burden was lifted from my shoulders, and I was not on my knees crying out to God constantly. 

Not only did God offer His abounding grace, but He put me in my place. I am nothing without my faith. I don't care what anyone says. God helps and directs in His own timing to His liking to whomever He pleases because He's God. Point blank period. Why? Because He loves us. He has a plan for each and every one of us, and there is reward for those that follow Him, and it's not a gold star. It's much more, and you get to experience them little by little while you're still on earth. 

Habakkuk 2:4 says "Behold, his soul is puffed up; it is not upright within him, but the righteous shall live by his faith.(emphasis added)" 

The bible talks time and time again about how a man that follow his own ways heads into utter destruction with himself, yet I for one keep my pride fully blown. It's a severe struggle that I have that shows sometimes at work, and school, and maybe at church a time or two. Time and time again God has sat me down and reminded me that I am a mere human. I only have so much power. God likes to come from way left field just to show Himself, and in the end He gets the glory. Nothing is more humbling.

I've been wondering what I can do moving forward, besides a few obvious things, including loosening my grip on controlling my life and putting that control to better use. I still feel guilt-ridden because I battled myself when it came to taking action. My calmness turned into nonchalance, and that's not cool. But the learning lesson from it all is what life is about, especially in my 20s. I have learned so much about life in the last 4 1/2 years it's not even funny.

All in all, praise God for sitting me down and taking over the situation. And if anyone who reads this was praying for me, from the bottom of my heart, I thank you. I barely give much thought to people praying for me, but I really needed it in this situation, and I see that those prayers were answered...loud and clear. Faith has found me again.

Drika

Paula Deen is Done For, Y'all

As if it was the Shot Heard Around the World all over again, some comments from Paula Deen have been released out into the world, and the world has had no problem tearing her up, so to speak, taking to social media and reacting to what she's said. What did she say, you ask?

Well, she said a few different things, but at the very root, she didn't hold African Americans in the most flattering light. Here are a few of the bombs:

• When asked if she has used the n-word, she responded with "why, of course," possibly nonchalantly, further stating that she was alive during segregation in the South, and it's been a very long time since she's used it.
• She mentioned for a small moment having the desire to have an antebellum-themed party at her restaurant or some similar place, accompanied with an all-black waitstaff, like slaves. Not sure if any black people would be invited to that shindig. 
• In an interview with The New York Times, she said a few odd things, saying a black man, Hollis, was as black as a blackboard, black folks were such an integral part of the South pre-Civil War, and they were like family. Turns out she is the great-granddaughter of a former slave owner who, at the end of the War, committed suicide because the loss of his son and his "labor" was too much change to bear.

While I wasn't quick to become offended and scream "racist!!!", I do believe this was poor taste of her to disclose her views in such a way. There are people that are rather sensitive to the race issue in this country, and you share thoughts of black people dressed as slaves at your dream party? Good luck finding volunteers for that venture, missy.

I think what bugs me about the party idea is the fact that being dressed as a slave is the most unflattering way to perceive an African American in this country, given the way that slaves were treated and subjected to be counted as not even a whole person just for their own personal gain. Slaves are not alive today, but we are the grandchildren, great-grandchildren, and even great-great-grandchildren of slaves and former slaves that lived on this land. I personally would not pretend to be anybody's slave unless it was for an artistic depiction (play, film). Not for a party to appease nobody's southern friends. 

Since everything has been release, Food Network announced that they would no longer renew her contract at the end of the month, ending her time on TV. From a publisher's perspective, I see possibly a domino effect. TV was her main source, which lead to books, a magazine, and appearances in Food Network Magazine. I wonder if publishers will follow suit and cease pursuing her for book deals. She also has cookware sets (nice cookware mind you) out in various retailers. Will that merchandise be pulled?

A blogger I follow asked a really good question, though I didn't think too deeply about it at the time. She asked how the Neelys would feel about the statements. For those who do not know, Pat and Gina Neely launched their Food Network career after appearing on one of their shows. They may or may not have felt indebted to her for the success that they now have, but I can imagine some level of indignation and sadness over the situation. 

Paula did ask for forgiveness, though I didn't find it to be sincere. Nonetheless, the most people can do is forgive the woman. Her empire is about to crumble, and I doubt she will be able to bounce back like Martha Stewart. She's not as famous, and some people had already turned away from her when she revealed that she had diabetes. For the believers out there that may be as into the story as I am, let's just pray for her. People are prone to be extremely unforgiving, but the God I serve forgives all because of Jesus. Who knows? Maybe this experience can be an opportunity for her to hear the gospel if she hasn't heard it already.

To Ms. Deen, I hope this serves as a lesson to you. People are not surprised that you said a word or thought a certain way, but the lack of awareness of the times and sensitivity of others gave way for a poor choice of words. We all have moments like that, but knowing your story and what you were able to build, I feel bad because people will not see you the same way anymore. Sure, you will have supporters, but not like the past.

The person currently suing Paula for sexual harassment and racial discrimination may get a big payday soon. Ouch.

One last note. Some people are saying "shame on Food Network for letting Paula go" and such, but I think it was a valid decision that was made. They did not fire her on the spot; she has one last week with them and she will be done. You have to think about the network and how they may be thinking. The backlash for them keeping her may be greater then the criticism of letting her go. Maybe they don't tolerate such viewpoints being shared. She did represent the network, you know, and sometimes disassociation is the best move to make. I'm not sure if they would consider having her come back in the future, but for the times we live in, I think Food Network did what was best for them.

Rap & Religion: a tumblr post from Trip Lee

I just read a post from Trip Lee talking about how religion has been tossed around in rap song in more recent years. He spoke truth about the severity of what rappers are doing. It's not just music. They're not spitting lyrics for the heck of it. Here is the link if you would like to give it a read: http://tmblr.co/ZtVEfxncQnpQ