Kodak files for bankruptcy

If you've ever taken a picture in your lifetime, held a camera or bought roles of film and had them developed...telling my age here...you know the name Kodak.

According to USA Today and just about all of the world's business reports, Kodak has filed Chapter 11 ...who's taking a pic of that?

It's sad to hear they have to fold....they're an icon in the photogrophy world, and the inovator of the digital camera....so how could this be?

With Kodak going belly up, who do you think will take the spotlight? Do you think that Kodak can remain on top of their game, even in bankruptcy stages?

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All work and no play can get you fired!!

How absurd is this?  ABC News reported a story of a woman being fired for skipping lunch and denied unemployment benefits.  She took her case to court and won her case.

Good for her!!!

I know quite a few of us are guilty for doing this. We get so bogged down with work that "has to get done", we end up sitting through out lunch hour to do it.  I know I'm VERY guilty of doing that at least 4 times a week. Matter of fact, I did it just yesterday. I can't imagine my boss firing me for doing HIS/HER work during MY lunch hour. I mean, if its a problem of paying me over time, then understand that I need MY time. Anything 'urgent' will have to simmer until I return from Macy's.

Kudo's to her for fighting her battle and winning, what was deemed a lost cause. Sometimes you have to take matters into your own hands. Now she can have a peaceful lunch.

How many of you actually sit through your lunch hour doing your boss' work? Do you do it for 'employee of the month' recognition, or do you do it because you're NOT hungry?...come on now tell the truth!!!

Sanaa Lathan...the New face of Pantene

My eye caught an article on  the Huffington Post earlier and just had to share it with you.

According to the article Sanaa Lathan is the new face (or head of hair rather) endorsed to promote Pantene Pro-V's Nature Fusion Collection...

...I don't know about you, but I LOVE me some Pantene. When Pantene introduced their Relaxed and Natural line of hair care products, I just KNEW I was gonna have a head full of long bouncy flowing hair. If I'd stop cutting my hair...I just might.

A bouncy coif or not, Pantene is a staple in my shower...and Sanaa just encouraged me to buy and try the Nature Fusion.

Would you be trying it?

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A Little At a Time

Year of the 35...my first blog post after a long hiatus from blogging tells you where I've been and what I was doing. So it took me a while to get back to this, but I'm back.

I guess I wasn't sure what my purpose of blogging was and seeing the many 'famous' bloggers and their sites run the gamut, I didn't know what I wanted to project.  Since I just simply adore the outlet, I figured it would simply be my own way of growing. I'm no pro, but damn it, I like it.  Someone may read it and feel inspired, in some way.

I started off blogging with "Collections of a See Through Soul"... It was a series of writings that reflected my thoughts as I went through a disturbing heart break. But I evolved from it, and so did my blog.

I then began pursuing my opportunity to publish my poetry...and that I did. And I revealed the "so called writer in me"....I say so called because I am YET to break the barrier I truly want to. But I've been enjoying the journey. I write for Outlish Magazine...a fun, dramatic magazine that showcases the ins and outs of young Trinidadians....if you didn't know, I AM a very proud Trinidad born living in America. The opportunity to write for Outlish has been an outstanding one, and I look forward to a writing for them for a long time to come.

During my hiatus from my blog, I also began writing for eWoman Empowerment Magazine ( online and in print) and their sister site Women of Power BVI  I'm still fresh, but look forward to a long run with them....they're amazing!!!

And aside from those writing stints, I have been working on my 1st novel for the past two years. Yes! Two years. I start and stop, and live and lose track, and doubt and believe...its an ongoing series of distractions.. And here you are... Welcome to MY Writer's Block...

So now that I'm back I aim to finally use this blogging space as a collage of it all... My see through soul, my distractions, my writing journey and to share a little entertainment...interviews, updates, giveaways (when I can)...I'm making it my own.

So to commemorate the rebirth of my blog...there'd be grand give aways coming next week...you're no blogger if you don't do give aways ... So stay tuned for the announcement for my 1st of 5 giveways. I promise it'd be exciting.


Hope you enjoy, and visit often...

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Joyful Noise - To see or not to see!!

To simply state... its A MUST SEE!!!!

Now that I have the silly grin off my face and my tears are dried up, I can concentrate on writing this blog. 

Two days ago I get a DM on Twitter from my tweet pal @socamomDC inviting me to the preview of Joyful Noise, DC which was sponsored by Rolling Out Magazine and American Airlines. I was thrilled. Not only would it give me a chance to meet her for the first time, but to actually get out of my daily routine of work, commute and spending the evening watching reality tv shows that makes me seem like I have turrets syndrome.

Queen Latifah has definitely landed on the tippy top of the hip-hop totem pole. She has outdone herself as the Executive Producer of this Warner Bros. film. I'll admit, I woke up one morning and saw the trailer for it on tv. Said to myself "Nicki Minaj sings one line about Dolly Parton and here she is starring in a movie." Really I did say that. I even rolled over and didn't think twice of the movie. Then I saw it again later that day and paid attention...ahhhh a movie I can take in one Sunday afternoon. But my Sunday came sooner than I thought.

Here I was sitting in a theater room with Brian Dickens (you know him as Fantasia's manager), media personality Jawn Murray, and the event host Gospel recording artist Byron Cage...it was a packed house, with a very polite and orderly group of adults...this was grown folk mingling.

Where do I even begin about this movie??? So much to say. But I'll start by saying that Joyful Noise wasn't stuffed with the typical African American cast that consists of Taraji P. Henson, Morris Chestnut, Gabriel Union...nope, not-a-one. The cast was made up of fresh new faces that complimented each other well. They were fresh faces supported by Queen Latifah, Courtney B. Vance (of The Preachers Wife...yup he's a preacher again), KeKe Palmer (with her Angela Basset stance), and in a refreshing, returning and welcoming role Dolly Parton ( the legendary all American icon that she is).

Joyful Noise is about a small town Georgia church choir that has persistently competed in the Joyful Noise national competition. A competition they could never seem to win because of the choir lead by Kirk Franklin ... definitely a tough act to beat. When the beloved choir director dies, everyone seems to have lost hope that they have a chance to win the competition, unless some changes are made from their boring routine. Vi Rose (Queen Latifah) and G.G. Sparrow (Dolly Parton) can't seem to get their differences settled, bringing a small Christian, yet comical, feud between the two, yet uniting the choir all the way to the finals.

The movie is undeniably hilarious. Its clean plot, comical and inspiring and at times quirky quotes brings us a message of hope, love, joy and the unity of family.

I wouldn't steer you wrong. It's Glee meets Sister Act with a musical soundtrack feel of Dream Girls...one you can listen to just about everyday. Sure the plot is as predictable as can be, but it is totally refreshing from the reality tv shows that bombard us every day.

I say on January 13th, take the family out and enjoy some quality time...

Now if ONLY I can get the image of Lil Kim trying to bust out of Dolly Parton's face, I'll totally ignore the fact that I sat there expecting to see Queen Latifah bust out in her "Set if Off" persona ... I tell you there are some things you just can't let go...

Blogisode 2: And its a New Year...Happy! Indeed

Another year is upon us and we're all, I'm sure, thankful to be around to see what this year will bring.

Making resolutions are a big to-do for any new year. We assess what happened in the previous year, assess how we reacted to those events, and vow to be different in the year ahead of us. It was my thing to do too. But I've since realized that waiting for a new year to plan or change certain things, is a reason to procrastinate.

By October my goals for the coming year were set. By my 35th birthday I declared my resolutions...and the wheels are already turning.

I'm ready for 2012. Ready for enhancing the parts of me that fall short, and putting into practice the lessons I learned from situations I encountered.

Life is about learning, and with each new year you have the opportunity to make it better, tone it down, or reap what you have sowed and just be mellow.  I intend to do all 3. If more lands on my plate, I'm open for all the positive growth that comes my way...I won't turn away the opportunities for more.

I wish all of you a prosperous, constructive and blessed New Year!!!

Gathering of Waters by Bernice McFadden

I've admired words for a very long time. As a child I've spent hours to myself with my thumb in my mouth soaking in characters, scenes, plots, and imagining myself as one of the characters in the story.  But what I love the most is reading a story that gives my words a face. And only a few authors give me that vision.

Bernice L. McFadden does that for me. I see the features of each character as plain as day. And there's no better way to read a story.

Ms. McFadden is hands down my favorite author of my time. She's my Maya Angelou and Toni Morrison rolled up in one. She's an ancestral griot packed into a modern day mind. I have never picked up one of her books and had the need to say..."I bet this is a refurbished plot from a story I read long ago." No! Every one of her books introduces a character you're yet to meet, and a story that is yet to be told.

Gathering of Waters published by Akashic Books is a story narrated by the town of Money, Mississippi. A story narrated by a town? Who better to tell a story, than the town itself?  Money made me cry, laugh, think, imagine, applaud, sigh, and shiver (I looked over my shoulders in fear a few times).  The power of Bernice McFadden's words held me captive. I only put the book down when I had to drive, get off the metro, actually tend to a motion and memo at work, and to sleep. It was captivating. Enchanting. Haunting. Mesmerizing. Historic. All the while inviting you to a taste of history and how it could have possibly occurred.

This latest novel by Bernice L. McFadden is far more than a story being told through the eyes of a town. Its a compilation of the authors mind, inviting us to see how history is relevant. If you didn't know about Emmett Till, you definitely would want to research about him now. She gave him a side that I never imagined him to have. She gave him life. He was just a teenager brutally murdered who sparked the Civil Rights movement. Now! He is a brutally murdered teenage boy who has come to life.

When words in a novel move you to feel passion, dedication and a burning desire to learn...its a novel written beyond its expectation.

You'd have to read it yourself order your copy at Akashic Books and read a story that's going to move you mind, body and spirit.

Beautifully written and worthy of its praises. When history meets fiction the way this story is told...there's no option left but to give a standing ovation.