e-Celebration of KWANZAA:Good For You (ROD)My Heart Just Wasn't In It This Year

e-Celebration of KWANZAA:
My Heart Just Wasn't In It This Year

by N. Abdul-Wakil

(A Guest Nubian Knight's Perspective)

Peace, Rod:

I see that you moved ahead with e-celebration of Kwanzaa via posts to your blog. Good for you. My heart just wasn't in it this year.

Perhaps, it's the cumulative effect of having lived in the ghetto of Bed-Stuy for over three and a half years. I feel good that my voice for progressive movement is heard by a handful of people online. However, I don't even have to leave my apartment to be aware that my activism only creates one small air bubble surfacing among the relentless tide of ignorance that is eroding the coasts of this nation in daily massive waves. No one hears the faint calls for social justice, black nationalism, or reminders of the lessons taught by our great, martyred leaders of the twentieth century. No one hears above the mobile phones plastered to their ears. No one hears through the black, blonde or "ghetto fabulous" loud pink, horsetail-hair helmets that two thirds of Black women don daily to compete for attention among the dwindling number of straight Black men temporarily on the streets between jail terms. No one wants to hear about how their use of the "N" word denigrates their racial self-esteem (and passes it along to their children). It's not as though this is racial self-hatred. This is a hip form of camaraderie. It must be. They see usage of this word affirmed by music videos and popular films. No one even gives a hoot about recycling (which is the law). Why should they? Hasn't it always been easier to just throw the empty liquor bottles and cans out the window? Surely, it's better to do this than to risk everyone in one's building noticing the overwhelming number of vodka bottles in the recycle can. By throwing trash out the windows it's easier to wallow in the denial that no one knows what building residents have drinking problems. Right?

HAPPY KWANZAA! Day Four (4): December 29th Habari Gani? Ujamaa (oo-JAH-mah-AH): Cooperative Economics

Today, December 29th,
is the Fourth Day of Kwanzaa!




The Fourth Principle of Kwanzaa is:

Ujamaa (oo-JAH-mah-AH): Cooperative Economics



- To build and maintain our own stores, shops and
other businesses and to profit from them together.
(Light The Middle Red Candle on the Left) 

Traditional Greeting: "Habari Gani?"
(Translation: "What's the Word?" or "What's the News?")
Response on December 29th: "Ujamaa!"


Find a meaningful way to instill Ujamaa in your life today,
and in the coming year.

HAPPY KWANZAA!

Kwanzaa Libations -- powered by eHow.com

Running Time: 2 Min, 48 Sec

Seven Principles of Kwanzaa: Ujamaa -- powered by eHow.com

4TH KWANZAA PRINCIPLE: UJAMAA (COOPERATIVE ECONOMICS)
Running Time: 1 Min, 19 Sec

The Black Candle: A KWANZAA Celebration DVD

HAPPY KWANZAA! Day Three (3): December 28th Habari Gani? Ujima (oo-JEE-mah): Collective Work and Responsibility

Today, December 28th,
is the Third Day of Kwanzaa!




The Third Principle of Kwanzaa is:
Ujima (oo-JEE-mah): Collective Work and Responsibility




- To build and maintain our community together
and make our brother's and sister's problems our problems
and to solve them together.
(Light The Farthest Green Candle On The Right) 

Traditional Greeting: "Habari Gani?"
(Translation: "What's the Word?" or "What's the News?")
Response on December 28th: "Ujima!"


Find a meaningful way to instill Ujima in your life today,
and in the coming year.

HAPPY KWANZAA!

Kwanzaa Plants, Books and Gifts -- powered by eHow.com

Running Time: 2 Min, 12 Sec

Seven Principles of Kwanzaa: Ujima -- powered by eHow.com
3RD PRINCIPLE: UJIMA (COLLECTIVE WORK AND RESPONSIBILITY)Running Time: 1 Min, 23 Sec



The Black Candle: A KWANZAA Celebration DVD

HAPPY KWANZAA! Day Two (2): December 27th Habari Gani? Kujichagulia (koo-GEE-chah-GOO-lee-AH): Self-Determination

Today, December 27th,
is the Second Day of Kwanzaa!

The Second Principle of Kwanzaa is:

Kujichagulia (koo-GEE-chah-GOO-lee-AH): Self-Determination

- To define ourselves, name ourselves,
create for ourselves and speak for ourselves.
(Light The Farthest Red Candle On The Left)


Traditional Greeting: "Habari Gani?"
(Translation: "What's the Word?" or "What's the News?")
Response on December 27th: "Kujichagulia!"


Find a meaningful way to instill Kujichagulia in your life today,
and in the coming year.

HAPPY KWANZAA!

Kwanzaa Symbols -- powered by eHow.com

KWANZAA SYMBOLS
Running Time: 1 Min, 59 Sec

Seven Principles of Kwanzaa: Kujichagulia
-- powered by eHow.com

2ND PRINCIPLE: KUJICHAGULIA (SELF-DETERMINATION)
Running Time: 1 min, 08 sec

The Black Candle: A KWANZAA Celebration DVD

HAPPY KWANZAA!Day One (1): December 26th Habari Gani? Umoja (oo-MO-jah): Unity

Today, December 26th,
is the First Day of Kwanzaa!

The First Principle of Kwanzaa is:

Umoja (oo-MO-jah): Unity


- To strive for and maintain unity in the
family, community, nation and race.
(Light The Black Candle)



Traditional Greeting: "Habari Gani?"
(Translation: "What's the Word?" or "What's the News?")
Response on December 26th: "Umoja!"

Find a meaningful way to instill Umoja your life today,
and in the coming year.

HAPPY KWANZAA!

Kwanzaa History -- powered by eHow.com
KWANZAA HISTORY
Running Time: 1 min, 09 sec

Myths About Kwanzaa -- powered by eHow.com
MYTHS ABOUT KWANZAA
Running Time: 2 min, 14 sec

Seven Principles of Kwanzaa: Umoja -- powered by eHow.com
1ST PRINCIPLE: UMOJA (UNITY)
Running Time: 1 min, 32 sec



The Black Candle: A KWANZAA Celebration DVD

Spirit of Black Men (SBM) 201012-Month Wall CalendarMy Black Male Calendar Collection (80+)

Chris! Mr. June Pin-up Model For SMB 2010

Aiiight Y'all, The latest calendar in my Black male calendar collection that I just got is Spirit of Black Men (SBM) 2010. SBM is published every year by a Black owned company called Shades of Color.

This is their About Us mission statement:

Shades of Color is a Black Owned business dedicated to bringing you the highest quality African American products available. The company was started in 1995 as a means of filling the void that existed within the calendar business. Our mission is to bring positive images of African Americans to homes and offices everywhere.

So, with this purchase it pretty much completes my collection of 2010 Black male calendars. Unless some other Black male calendar(s) pops up unexpectedly, I don't expect to get any more calendars until the 2011 Black male calendars start rolling out next August of 2010.

Coincidentally, the later part of the summer each year is when the calendar publishing industry begins shipping the succeeding year's new calenders.

For y'all following my calendar blog entries, I previously reviewed and showed pics to the Ebony Soul 2010 18-month calendar and the City Gym Boys 2010 16-month calendar which are some of the highest quality Black male calendars out there (as a total package). These calendars are published every year (Ebony Soul every year and a half because they do 18-month calendars). On average I would place SBM in third place behind the two aforementioned calendars, but standings can fluctuate from year to between them except Ebony Soul which remains exceptionally in 1st place in my opinion every time they launch their product.

My purchases usually average about these 3 calendars per year but can be much more as there are always independent calendar publishers who pop up out of no where with a nice calendar product. Because SBM can be inconsistent from year to year I don't always get it. But this year's calendar is stronger than average. Davide is the photographer who draws the assignment almost every year to photograph these bruthaz. Some years he doesn't do it.

So, SBM 2010 is a standard 12-month calendar. The page preceding January 2010 has the standard mini September, October, November and December 2009 that a lot of calendars "cheat" on. (See picture below.). I say "cheat" because some calendars like Ebony Soul give you September, October, November and December as 4 separate wall hanging pages which I LOVE, and shows a dedication to the customer and it separates oneself from the typical calendar pack.

Mini September, October, November and December 2009 "Cheat"
On One Page As Opposed To Each Month Having It's Own
Wall Page Hanging (It's Typical On Most Calendars Though);
Pictured Again Is The Model Chris

Below I took some pics of my favorite sexy brutha models to show y'all. Click the pics to enlarge them...

Dimitrius, Mr. January 2010





Derek, Mr. February 2010





Marshall, Mr. April 2010-
Definitely My Favorite Brutha In The Entire Calendar.
I LOVE The Way Those LIPS Of His Are Pursed.
What A Beautiful Brutha.





André, Mr. July 2010





Terrance, Mr. August 2010
-
Great Picture!
Davide (The Photographer)
Has a Too Familiar Pattern Of Having His Models
"Crouching" Over Too Much.
It Works For This Model Though.



AND LASTLY...



Omatayo, Mr. November 2010
-
Hmmmm... He Definitly Gives Marshall (Mr. April)
A Run For The Money.
Definitely A Cutie And Has A Really Nice Name, Too.

So, overall I really like this year's Spirit of Black Calendar. I give this year's calendar 4 stars out of 5. Excellent!

PLEASE SUPPORT BLACK BUSINESSES! I had a Black owned business called Sister's Uptown Bookstore & Culture Center in Harlem, NYC (1942 Amsterdam Avenue, on the corner of 156th Street & Amsterdam; "C" train to 155th Street or #1 train to 157th Street; either train is a short 2 block walk) order the calendar for me. I think they still have a few in stock. You can call (212) 862-3680 and ask for either sistah Tracy or sistah Janifer and reference my name (ROD) and ask for the calendar. It retails for $14.95.

If you can't get to the bookstore or don't live in NYC then you can order it from another Black owned on-line business called CushCity.com (direct link to calendar web page) - I have ordered from them over the years and they are a reputable and reliable online Internet resource. So you can shop Black with confidence from them.

Shades of Color, the Black owned calendar publisher I mentioned before , (direct link to web page) has it as well.

Amazon.com's merchants also have it.

Happy eye candy!!

Janifer Wilson (pictured right), Store Owner of
Sister's Uptown Bookstore & Cultural Center

1942 Amsterdam Avenue
call (212) 862-3680

Verizon Wireless ETF (Early Termination Fee)Policies Validate Why We Need the FCC

Verizon ETF Policies Validate Why We Need the FCC
By Tony Bradley
Suject: Cell Phones / VoIP
December 19, 2009 10:15 PM

In response to an FCC request, Verizon Wireless has clarified its early termination fee (ETF) policies and the rationale behind doubling the fee from $175 to $350 for "advanced devices" like the Motorola Droid. The explanation is audacious and validates just why we need an organization like the FCC to stand up for consumers.
People who read this also read:

While the established and commonly understood purpose of the ETF is to recover the cost of subsidizing the hardware, Verizon's response expands the scope of the ETF to include a variety of costs and services including the cost of advertising to attract new customers, the cost of providing customer support, the costs associated with upgrading and maintaining the wireless infrastructure, and more.

I'm sorry, but isn't that what customers pay for each month? Advertising, support, and network infrastructure are part of the costs of doing business. All those $50 a month service plans, and $30 a month data plans, and other associated nickel and diming fees--don't those already pay for advertising, support, and network infrastructure?

The Verizon response reminds me of the sort of double-dipping business model that the insurance industry is built on. You pay your auto insurance premiums so that your insurer will cover repairs and compensate you for losses and damage in the event something happens to your car. But, if anything ever happens to your car the insurer will also raise your premiums to offset the "costs incurred" by having to make good on their end of that bargain.

The same logic holds true with property insurance, health insurance, etc. The point is that the premiums being paid month after month are already supposed to pay for the protection. There isn't an additional cost incurred just because the insurer has to actually deliver on its promise.

The same is true with Verizon wireless service. I agree that Verizon, and other wireless carriers, have the right to recover the costs incurred from discounting and subsidizing the cost of the mobile handset, but I reject the notion that it can roll in all manner of other costs that it will continue to incur regardless of a customer terminating early.

There is a difference in the amount subsidized, and potential loss from early termination, between handsets. Rather than setting a blanket ETF, wireless carriers should define the ETF as whatever the difference is between the no-contract price and the subsidized two-year contract price, and prorate that cost over the 24 months of the contract.

Verizon's response is bold, if nothing else. I suppose on some level Verizon should be commended for having the gall to defend the excessive ETF at all. It basically amounts to veiled blackmail to make it cost prohibitive for customers to choose freely between the carriers.

The Verizon ETF policy and response to the FCC validates just why we need the FCC to increase its oversight of the wireless industry. Issues like net neutrality, device exclusivity, and excessive ETF's are critical for consumer fairness. Left unsupervised, there is no historic evidence to suggest that the wireless carriers will ever choose ethics over profit.

Hopefully the FCC will quickly dismiss Verizon's flawed logic and enforce some consumer fairness within the wireless contract ETFs.