Understanding the Banking Crisis

Kudos to anyone who isn’t in the banking or investment industry that understands it. I have tried to keep up but by the time I think I’ve got it, something new pops. And given I only have a couple of pennies to my name and those are hidden under my mattress, I’ve decided perhaps that ignorance is bliss….at least for a day and then I once again start sorting through the business section (perhaps not so much now at the Washington Post) trying to decipher the health of the world economy.

HIV in the District is Out of Control

According to the Sunday’s Washington Post, you’re more likely to get HIV than win the lottery if you live in Washington, DC. In an article on the front page, and above the fold, the Washington Post reports on the severe epidemic of HIV/AIDS in the nation’s capitol, yes the same place where President Obama lives:

At least 3 percent of District residents have HIV or AIDS, a total that far surpasses the 1 percent threshold that constitutes a “generalized and severe” epidemic, according to a report scheduled to be released.

This Week in Washington: March 16, 2009

The White House: President Obama used his weekly address to announce his nominees for Commissioner and Principal Deputy Commissioner of the Food and Drug Administration, as well as announce new initiatives to increase food safety. This week, the President will meet with small business owners and community lenders to announce measures to assist small business owners in the credit crunch.

Learning As We Go

The articles I highlight are from other websites and I try to excerpt appropriately so that readers can get the gist of the story, and continue reading the full article on the original website. While discussing over email with a more established lady blogger, she alerted me to a debate going on in the blogosphere and the Internets on excerpting, fair use, and copyright infringement. This includes a number of pending lawsuits against bloggers who, as I understand it, get a little heavy on the copying and pasting.

Laid Off? Leave Gracefully, Not in a Blaze of Glory

It seems as if no industry is immune to layoffs. There doesn’t appear to be any rhyme or reason to it. Lay offs are hitting high-tech, law firms, manufacturers, restaurants, and the travel industry. Unfortunately for those of us that still have jobs, it doesn’t show any signs of abating. So what if it happens to you? How will you handle yourself? Will you go out metaphorically “guns blazing” or will you leave gracefully with your pride intact?

Disconnect Between Attitudes and Actions on Financial Planning

UrbanMecca.com reports on a new survey by The Smiley Group and Nationwide Insurance on the disconnect between attitudes and actions of African Americans when it comes to financial planning.

Random Questions and Thoughts

Why are people willing to divulge very personal information on Facebook in general, and the “25 Random Things  About Me” specifically? What does anyone see in the Jonas Brothers? Why is there only outrage when blacks are killed by whites, when statistics show that 94 percent of black murder victims were killed by black offenders? Why don’t [...]

Support of the Death Penalty Isn’t Black and White

Most debate on the death penalty focuses on evidence that capital sentences are given out disproportionately to black criminals. Specifically in the black community, it tends to be a debate on the criminal justice system and race. But rarely is there public discussion of the victims of these crimes.

This Week in Washington: March 9, 2009

President Obama used his weekly address to discuss steps his Administration took last week toward economic recovery. The U.S. Senate convenes on Monday will begin the week completing consideration on the Omnibus FY09 appropriations bill. The U.S. House of Representatives will consider the District of Columbia House Voting Rights Act delayed from last week in addition to suspension bills.

Seat Manners

When Karen Grigsby Bates, author of The New Basic Black: Home Training for Modern Times, announced her “Come Correct” blog on The Root several weeks ago, I couldn’t wait to start reading the series dedicated to civilized citizenry in the 21st century.  In brief, the blog highlights and educates on general etiquette rules, manners, and [...]

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