Quote Of The Day

"Nothing the future brings can defeat a people who have come through 300 years of slavery and humiliation and privation with heads high and eyes clear and straight." -Paul Robeson

Sunday's Op-Ed: The Financial Bamboozle

The prime news story globally has been the economy. From country to country, news outlets have been pontificating on dire financial states. In NY, the home of the stock exchange, people are especially fearful of their financial future. However, a deeper analysis reveals that there is much more than a "recession" going on.

While there has been a continuous slashing of jobs, the government has not curbed there spending. Some examples are: NYC relinquishing 9-figures of taxpayers' money to build a new Yankee Stadium right next door to the legendary old one [CLICK HERE for the story]; George Bush's National Air Conditioner Initiative, which is reportedly is attempting to dedicate TRILLIONS of dollars to build a laughable 800-mile air-conditioner [CLICK HERE for the story]; On-going expensive NASA trips to outer space; the $700 Billion bailout; The exorbitant cost of an on-going war [CLICK HERE for the story]; as well as little things that add up to big things- like having Brooklyn's Grand Army Plaza fountain spewing water 24/7. I must question, if there is truly a dearth of money, would municipal powers be able to use taxpayers' money to fuel such non-necessities?

Slashing jobs, bleeding the employed for taxes and fees, and spending money on frivolousness is what's sinking the economy; not market trends of supply and demand, and a downturn of civilian spending. Ergo, this leads to a bigger question: Why would the government want to sink the economy? Conspiracy theorists, who are looking like realists right about now, are having a field day theorizing about this. However, I digress.

What I do acknowledge is the universal law that the more we feed into something the bigger it becomes, and the quicker it comes into reality. This is where the media's consistent coverage of our "economic woes" comes into play. The mainstream media reports have been giving a largely one-sided analysis of our current financial state, using language that is putting some people into panic mode just listening to it. However, for the most part, the media has failed to give a detailed checklist of the out-of-control government spending that would obviously put any budget in the red.

People's fears are being played into 9/11 style. Most people logically are adverse to poverty and having a lack of necessities. That is why playing into this fear, while skating away with the loot is a disaster waiting to happen. The question is how do we stop the monetary hemmoraging that seems to be an intentional blood-letting? (If you have any viable ideas, please post them in the comments section).

The only answers I could come up with are as follows:

(1) If we believe the philosophies that are expressed in the Holy Books, and books like: "The Secret," and "What The Bleep Do We Know?!" our thoughts are powerful. Our thoughts become things. Therefore, it would probably behoove us not to mentally and emotionally feed into this manufactured panic. While it is good (and sometimes necessary), to be informed, let's turn off the "Bad News" stations every once in a while. Being spiritual beings, we should also always remember the power of prayer.

(2) Let's attempt to address our personal and community economical status in a rational, methodical way. Cut down on spending, if necessary. We can also acknowledge that while it is nice to give and receive, Christmas gifts aren't the end all be all.

(3) Let's spend our money with businesses that are likely to infuse our dollars back into our community, so there is a circulation of money within our community instead of an economic drain.

(4) Share the wealth. This doesn't necessarily mean dollars. Share resources, time, skills, and tangible items other than money. You may be able to set up a barter with someone that will be just as valuable as an exchange of legal tender.

(5) Let's stay informed of the facts, as opposed to the emotional posturing. Let's present these facts to our elected officials letting them know that the community is either pleased or displeased with the integrity that they use to disburse their budget.

Again, if you have anything to add, please feel welcomed to post it in the comments section.

Peace & Prosperity!

Today's Fly Or Die Commerce Report: Bailout

According to Investopedia a bailout is: "A situation in which a business, individual or government offers money to a failing business in order to prevent the consequences that arise from a business's downfall. Bailouts can take the form of loans, bonds, stocks or cash. They may or may not require reimbursement."

Elsie Law's Daily Dose Of The Law

According to Black's Law Dictionary a bailout consists of "various procedures whereby the owners of an entity can obtain its profits with favorable tax consequences."

Quote Of The Day

"God loved the birds and invented trees. Man loved the birds and invented cages." -Jacques Deval

Today's Fly Or Die Commerce Report: Dividend Reinvestment Plans (DRIPs)

Dividend Reinvestment Plans (DRIPs) allows people to invest in stocks in a manner that requires low, or non-existent fees. For the most part, you can invest in a bevy of DRIPs without using a broker.

The parameters of Dividend Reinvestment Plans are just like the name suggests. Instead of dividends being paid when a stock is profitable, the dividends are reinvested in the company- thus, increasing the amount of the investor's shares in the company in lieu of a cash reward.

Elsie Law's Daily Dose Of The Law

According to Black's Law Dictionary to disfranchise is "to deprive of the rights and privileges of a free citizen; to deprive of chartered rights and immunities; to deprive of any franchise, as of the right of voting in elections, etc. In any election where the party system furnishes the means by which the citizen's right of suffrage is made effective, denial of his party's right to participate in the election accomplishes the 'disfranchisement of voters' or compels them, if they vote, to vote for representatives of political parties other than that to which they belong, and the deprivation of the right of selection is a deprivation of the right of franchise."

Quote Of The Day

"I only went through tenth grade, but you'll see all kinds of textbooks around me. The more popular I become, the more I miss education. Whether you play the blues or whatever, don't let people keep you like you were." -B.B. King

Book Excerpt Of The Week: Part 2- "Souls Of My Brothers" Edited By: Daniels & Sandy

"Power doesn't need to be overt, but it needs to be consistent." -From, "Souls Of My Brothers" Edited By: Daniels & Sandy

Book Excerpt Of The Week: Part 1- "Souls Of My Sisters" Edited By: Daniels & Sandy

"[When] we don't really know who we are, we're suckers for all kinds of stories. This is the danger of living an unconscious life: people can define you, label you and talk about you, and not only will you care, you'll believe them." -From, "Souls Of My Sisters" Edited By: Daniels & Sandy

TODAY IS...

PLEASE PASS THIS ON! (EACH ONE TEACH ONE OR TWO!) THIS IS PHASE ONE ON HOW WE CAN HELP TO STRENGTHEN & EMPOWER OUR COMMUNITY:The 2008 not guilty verdict in the Sean Bell case evoked outrage, emotion, and debate. It is not an anomaly that the police officers involved in the Sean Bell slaying were acquitted of all charges on all counts in State Supreme Court. I could run out of ink printing the names of people who have been victimized by the inaptly named justice system.

The American justice system has been especially terroristic towards the African American community. Many community members can cite historic and personal accounts to prove this. Therefore, it would be foolhardy (at the least) to turn to a system that has methodically oppressed us, and request that they free us. We can only free ourselves through extreme discipline and intelligent planning.

As a community we have been too compliant with leaders who organize ineffective, delayed reactions. The only strategy that can save us in this last hour is one that calls for a collective code of conduct that will be conducive to improving the conditions of our community, and shifting the paradigm of how we are treated by outside entities. The first step of this code of conduct should be based on economics.

The old adage of “money talks,” still reigns true in the new millennium. Any political scientist worth his or her library card will tell you that: “Economic powerlessness equals political powerlessness,” and conversely “economic power equals political power.” This means that if we continue to allow our wealth to be extracted from our community, we will remain impotent.

The power of the collective “Black Dollar” is often discussed. However, that power has been left unchanneled. Today is the day to change that. A one-time boycott is not going to bring long-term change and respect to our community. Our community has launched boycotts before. Our success and ascension will be based on what we consistently do. For this reason, we should initiate “BUY BLACK FRIDAYS.”

BUY BLACK FRIDAYS is a small step towards our community acquiring power via controlling our economics. Every Friday, people who acknowledge the injustice and oppression that the African American community has been consistently subjected to should do one of the following:

Option #1: Spend $0 on Friday
Option #2: Spend no more than $10 on Friday
Option #3: Only Shop at Black Businesses on Friday
[PLEASE NOTE THAT THE ABOVE OPTIONS CAN & SHOULD BE EXERCISED ON A DAILY BASIS. However, we can all at the very least focus on Fridays. This way we can take a collective stand and build our collective discipline. Please remember that this is only Phase 1!].

To the people who are tempted to label “BUY BLACK FRIDAYS” as racist, I say this: In the big scheme of things, this is about right & wrong, justice & injustice. The African American community is a strong, proud community that has endured the brunt of America’s iron fist. We must stop the pounding. I feel that any fair-minded individual will concur, and join in.

ANY business that is privileged to enjoy the support of the African American community MUST return that support.

I thank you in advance for your effort and dedication.

-Elsie Law AKA Starface

Today's Fly Or Die Commerce Report: Equity REITs, Mortgage REITs, and Hybrid REITs

Yesterday, we discussed the basics of REITs. Today, we explore three types of REITs.

According to Investopedia, "Equity REITs: Equity REITs invest in and own properties (thus responsible for the equity or value of their real estate assets). Their revenues come principally from their properties' rents.

Mortgage REITs: Mortgage REITs deal in investment and ownership of property mortgages. These REITs loan money for mortgages to owners of real estate, or purchase existing mortgages or mortgage-backed securities. Their revenues are generated primarily by the interest that they earn on the mortgage loans.

Hybrid REITs: Hybrid REITs combine the investment strategies of equity REITs and mortgage REITs by investing in both properties and mortgages."

Elsie Law's Daily Dose Of The Law

According to Black's Law Dictionary, police power is: "An authority conferred by the American constitutional system in the Tenth Amendment, U.S. Const., upon the individual states, and in turn delegated to local governments, through which they are enabled to establish a special department of police; adopt such laws and regulations as tend to prevent the commission of fraud and crime, and secure generally the comfort, safety, morals, health, and prosperity of its citizens by preserving the public order, preventing a conflict of rights in the common intercourse of the citizens, and insuring to each an uninterrupted enjoyment of all the privileges conferred upon him or her by the general laws.

The power of the State to place restraints on the personal freedom and property rights of persons for the protection of the public safety, health, and morals or the promotion of the public convenience and general prosperity. THE POLICE POWER IS SUBJECT TO LIMITATIONS OF THE FEDERAL AND STATE CONSTITUTIONS, AND ESPECIALLY TO THE REQUIREMENT OF DUE PROCESS." (Note: All caps emphasis is my own).

Quote Of The Day

"We have made no radical changes in the economic servitude of the black masses." -Adam Clayton Powell Jr.

The First African-American Secret Service Agent To Guard An American President

"...Abraham Bolden, who in 1961, had been the first Black man ever assigned to the secret service detail guarding American presidents. In May 1964, Bolden made an attempt to contact the Warren Commission concerning two matters he felt should be brought to light: (1) A rumored plot to assassinate JFK at a college football game in Chicago on November 2, 1963, which rumor Bolden and other secret servicemen had investigated (the President ended up canceling his trip); and (2) Heavy drinking and 'general laxity' among the secret service agents assigned to Kennedy.

Suddenly, Bolden found himself under indictment for allegedly selling evidence to a counterfeit ring. Convicted in August 1964, on what Bolden claimed were trumped-up charges to keep him away from the Warren Commission, he ended up serving a 6-year sentence." -From, "The Man Who Knew Too Much" By: Dick Russell

Anecdote Of The Week: How Irrational Are Your Fears?

"Jean Deeds, author of 'There Are Mountains To Climb,' wrote of one harrowing night alone on the Appalachian Trail, listening to a bear snuffling and shuffling outside her tent. Lying very still, she hardly slept, hoping that the beast would not decide to tear into her nylon shelter.

The next morning Jean peeked outside directly into the face of the meandering creature- a cow, calmly munching some wild grass.

A cow is not to be trifled with, but it is certainly not a bear. One responds differently to each. In the same way, when you experience inertia or encounter a difficulty completing a goal, be aware that it may not be weak willpower snuffling outside your tent- it may be self-doubt, the fear of failure, or another impostor chewing its cud.

If you lack a clear purpose, misjudge the size of a task, or feel innate resistance to change, don't berate yourself for having a weak will; rather, apply your attention and will to transcending these pretenders." -From, "Everyday Enlightenment" By: Dan Millman

Video Of The Week

A family friend told me about this...I got a little bit of a kick out of it, and thought that I would share the laugh...


Couldn't you see this animal replacing the house cat as the #1 pet in America, in the near future? Lol.

[MY TELLING TALES OUT OF SCHOOL SIDEBAR: I went to school with a girl who would fall over and play dead just like that every time an altercation (that she usually provoked) commenced...lol. I kid you not.]

Today's Fly Or Die Commerce Report: Real Estate Investment Trusts (REIT)

According to Investopedia, a Real Estate Investment Trust (REIT) is, "A security that sells like a stock on the major exchanges and invests in real estate directly, either through properties or mortgages.

REITs receive special tax considerations and typically offer investors high yields, as well as a highly liquid method of investing in real estate.

Individuals can invest in REITs either by purchasing their shares directly on an open exchange or by investing in a mutual fund that specializes in public real estate.

An additional benefit to investing in REITs is the fact that many are accompanied by dividend reinvestment plans (DRIPs). Among other things, REITs invest in shopping malls, office buildings, apartments, warehouses and hotels. Some REITs will invest specifically in one area of real estate- shopping malls, for example- or in one specific region, state or country.

Investing in REITs is a liquid, dividend-paying means of participating in the real estate market."

Elsie Law's Daily Dose Of The Law

The Clayton Act, which was passed by Congress in 1914, included provisions that were supposed to protect organized labor.

"The Act stated that, 'the labor of a human being is not commodity or article of commerce,' and provided further that nothing contained in the Federal antitrust laws: 'Shall be construed to forbid the existence and operation of
labor...organizations...nor shall such organizations, or the members thereof, be held or construed to be illegal combinations or conspiracies in restraint of trade under the anti-trust laws.'"

Quote Of The Day

"The trouble is, if you don't risk anything, you risk even more." -Erica Jong