He-va

 No not 'Shiva', the (often purple-ish blue) Hindu god of destruction or transformation...

 Nor the Black 'Sheeva' from Mortal Kombat...

 Not even the (reputed) Illuminati connected H.O.V.A, ...

Newsweek decided to portray Barack Obama as a new type of god.
Unlike Shiva, he is not of a purple-ish blue hue - but his lips are often purple.
While not female - he is Black.
While often reputed to be linked to some secret society or another - he is not Jay-Z.
Let's just call him Heva (a combination of all of the above) - the Tea Party's (and Mad Ave's) god of destruction or transformation.

Back In The Day

People hate to hire me to build houses - I'm too expensive.
I use real wood trim and mouldings not Melamine.
I use 2x6 lumber for exterior walls not 2x4's.
I insert fire blocks every four feet in height instead of leaving weak, unsupported studs.
I add boards to hang cabinets, toilet paper holders or curtains to every wall.
I use plywood not MDF or OSB.

But this is all because of my upbringing.
We were accustomed to seeing buildings which also functioned as Fallout Shelters.
The average age of public school buildings in America is 42 years.
But these buildings were built using rebar reinforced and concrete filled cinder blocks with a brick facade - not steel studs, foam and stucco.
Many older schools were built to withstand an expected nuclear attack.
Today, most schools could not withstand tornadoes, hurricanes or earthquakes.

It's Okay Not To Like Tyler Perry (Or Oprah)

I'm not mad.
I'm not begging.
I'm not a victim.
So far, Tyler Perry has nothing to say to me.
His characters are not those upon whom I'd like to model my behavior.
His topics are not those I'd like to revisit.
His sense of humor is more silly than it is clever.

Really?
Not liking Tyler Perry movies makes me a 'hater'?
What if I don't like Woody Allen movies?
I'm I hating on him as well?
(Or do I just not like Woody Allen movies?)

Simple Arithmetic

 Back in the day, figuring out how much one owned and to whom was easy to figure out.

 But the the mandate became "Growth".
With most people who could afford a home living in a home - what was the next step?
Balloon payments seemed like a good idea for those seeking the American Dream.
But what happens when the note come due?

To avoid huge losses for their super rich investors - Wall Street tapped students inclined towards math and science to come up with a new formula.
After 'derivatives' became the easiest way to make money (on paper) - the super rich were granted a reprieve.
But then everyone realized that everyone had paid too much for what they'd owned.
Panic ensued and the super rich enticed Washington to come to their rescue.

Tell the truth - you knew how much your house was really worth.
You were just looking for a sucker bigger than yourself to sell it to.

What You Don't Know...

I just finished a one-day remodel on an old beauty salon from which the owner gave me six padded Eames shell chairs from the fifties.
Sure, I had to spend $18.00 ($3.00 each set) for those little plastic things on the bottom of the legs.
Resale price on e-bay?
$250,00-$650.00.
EACH!

Other People's Money

Most people are suckers.
Most people only wish to have all the material goods to show off to friends instead of generating any type of real wealth.
As I wrote earlier, sometimes I run nightclubs.
But the thing is, I hate running nightclubs.
Most people only call after what they were doing has failed.
But as in construction - rebuilding is more expensive than building.

As is often the case, I've been approached by a group of guys who love to floss their platinum and diamond watches and jewelery.
"I'll get you one of these.", one guy said as he looked at my old Gruen, Hamilton or Patek Phillipe watches.
(I didn't buy them, they were my grandfather's from back in the forties and fifties. MY cost; $0.00 - resale value, more than $0.00. THEIR cost; thousands - resale value, less than thousands. Why pay for something that loses value?)

My standard agreement is payment from the increase in sales.
But if the group is dumb enough to agree to such terms I just decline the offer.
An increase in sales is not the same as an increase in profits.
Anyone not knowing this is too dumb to succeed.
After someone points out that they do understand this, we then negotiate a percentage of the increase in profits which I will receive.

While I'm working on my humility - I must be good at what I do.
Most people who open new clubs offer to give me a percentage of their business (usually 30%) if I reach my sales and profit goals.
I then sell this percentage back to them (If I choose) or sell this percentage to another investor.
People are suckers.
Most are so anxious to be thought of as being cool that they will allow you to make money with their money.

The Untended Garden

As I listen to parents complain that their children are scrubs - I have to remind them that it is largely their own fault.

Every kid is a genius until about the fifth grade.
Most parents can assist their kids with their homework at the elementary school level - it is only after the child's classes become too difficult for a parent to understand that a child becomes 'stupid'.
Even if a parent once knew the material, without use, most information is forgotten.
The teachers at my cousin's school were shocked that I asked to buy the same text books from the classes my cousins were taking.
When I explained that I needed them to review the material so I could better tutor my cousins with their homework the principal loaned me the teacher's versions at no cost.

ed says, "Birds don't teach their chicks to fly by chirping at them.".
This is true.
Most parents fail to take the time to teach their children anything.
Most just tell their children instead.
Most set rules but few follow through with consequences.
Most reward their children for their own shortcomings as parents.
But this is not love - this is just lazy.

Most bad kids come from bad parents.
Most bad parents don't tend to their children.
If one fails to tend to his garden and it fails to produce fruit but instead becomes overgrown with weeds - who is at fault?
Is it not the fault of the parent for failing to tend to the true needs of his child?
"My son (or daughter) ain't shit!", is a common complaint from many parents.
But if the seeds to being a scrub were all that were planted and nurtured by the parent - how can they be mad that the children turned out to be anything else?

Know Your Place ?

 The hardest thing about doing business in many parts of the South is the old school thinking of many of it's residents.
(Besides Amanda) How many women would approve of the above image?
In this day and age - not many.

But I meet countless Blacks who still hold onto the beliefs of their parents and grandparents.
Many people still believe that their value is determined by the rules set by others who have no real power over them.
Many of these still choose to remain on the plantation even after emancipation.
Many have become so inculcated with a culture of inferiority that they cannot even imagine what freedom looks like or how it feels.
May are so accustomed to prison that they cannot acclimate to a world without limitations.

This past week I had a group of employees at a club revolt against my teachings.
These people were so upset with me that many were on the verge of tears.
One guy decided to 'man-up' and confront me because I had apologized to some disappointed patrons because his skills as a DJ were lacking.
His (hostess) girlfriend then told me that I needed to 'Know (my) place.".

Most people who work these clubs have other jobs.
Some are secretaries for judge so-and-so or assistant managers at some store or laborers for some company.
But each has some sort of title.
"You don't even really work here.", the girl said angrily.
Which is true - I just advise owners and train staffs.
My livelihood does not depend on nightly tips.
But these people were mad because I had taken it upon myself to ensure that every patron had a good time and was properly served.
I make sure that every patron gets his money's worth.

But these employees don't see things the same way.
If it isn't in their job description, they don't do it.
Most will not clear a table because doing so would be beneath them.
Most will not clean up a spill because that is also thought to be beneath them.
Most defer responsibility up through a chain of command instead of taking the responsibility themselves.

But the thing is, I did know my place.
The club owner heard the grumblings and left early to avoid confrontation. (A weak leader.)
As I listened to the employee complaints, "Know (my) place.", was all that I seemed to remember.
This is the same thinking that keeps people from taking full advantage of opportunities.
This is the same thinking that causes people to settle for less even though more is readily made available.
This is the same thinking which keeps one safe but also keeps one subjugated.
In the end, the DJ was shifted to working the door and the hostess was dismissed.
(I guess they now also know my place.)

But this incident brought to mind the parable of the Unjust Steward.
The guy could not dig yet he was too proud to beg.
Many people from underprivileged areas are so caught up in their tenuous positions or titles that they will not do the work which needs to be done.
Others are so accustomed to being ruled that they cannot function when given responsibility.

Another blogger once mentioned that while living in the hood his mother always taught him that they did not belong there.
Apparently, he did know his place but he knew that it was not where he was at that time.
It seems that many in the South do 'know their place' and these are those who live with the consequences of poorly performing schools, crime infested neighborhoods, crooked political representation and poor familial structures.
Sometimes it's good to know your place,
as long as that place is not determined by someone else.

Daphne

 While most guys have no problem with seeing women dressed in football-type uniforms - most (unknowingly) have no problem with seeing men dressed as women either.

 How many guys have gone through the ritualistic high school hazing of dressing like cheerleaders?

 TMZ mogul Harvey Levin even dressed as Gloria Alred this past Halloween.

 And lets not forget (or maybe we should) seeing Wesley Snipes in To Wong Foo, or Robin Williams in Miss Doubtfire, or John Lithgow in The World According to Garp, Tom Hanks in Bosom Buddies, or countless other examples of men in drag.

But should a young boy be able to dress as Daphne from Scooby Doo for Halloween?
Would I let one of my young cousins or nephews?
(Hell no.)
But a recent Jay Leno Show showed a clip of Terry Bradshaw in drag,
and I just flipped past an episode of M.A.S.H. in which Jamie Farr regularly appears in drag.
When is it 'acting gay' and when is it just having fun?