A Fan of My Fans: @TenaciousTeej - Personally Personified

Never have I encountered someone who exemplified the adjective in which they used to describe themselves so Perfectly. Teej, or Boo Thang as I affectionately call her in my mind (shhh, don’t tell on me), is extremely well rounded in the areas of Beauty, Class, Intelligence, Humor, Sexiness and Overall Original Self Expression. 


If you are looking for “Run-of-the-Mill” then you wont like her, Sorry. If you aren't about Drama she is very easy to get along with and has all the great qualities as a “One of the Fellas” type female friend with all the “Oh What I’d do to her Given the Chance” attractiveness you’d expect from a woman of her Caliber. Go on ahead and hit that Follow button while I’m being nice and sharing with you.


PS: Tell her I sent You
(Brownie Points On Deck)

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Cause & Effect: Internet Shopping Hurting Your Local Economy

 

In this day and age we have so many avenues in which to reach the information super highway easily that all it takes is a flick of the wrist from Phone in holster to World Gather information on any Product, Service or Question ever asked in the History of our Existence, so why go to Retail Stores to shop when you can research, order, purchase without waiting lines and have everything you'd ever need shipped to you from the comfort of your own home?

Many people don't recognize the negative impacts online shopping, both legal and illegally have done to our Local communities. While it has opened up the markets to Mom & Pop shops to compete on a larger scale because of the trends and misunderstood nature of the common shopper it is set to do far more harm than good.

 

Right now Many retail companies are battling with the Business model that you need people to sell products, as crazy as that sounds think about it... Whens the last time you NEEDED a sales person? How often do you go to a store and need no one except a person to point you in the direction of what you need and a cashier to ring you up? How many times have you used the self checkout line instead of an actual cashier even when there is no line in either? How many times have you utilized the Purchase online and pick up in the store option because you've done all your research? It may seem crazy but the Machines that do the self checkout are more profitable than actual people. Hiring a minimum wage employee, giving them benefits and annual raises, break rooms, specific working conditions actually cost companies Billions of Dollars a year when internet can eliminate most costs, checking out millions of people at once and following all best business practices 100% of the time without needing to be trained or Monitored. With the way things are going, you will see far less people in stores and far more Machines to retrieve and ship these internet orders.

 

Another HUGE area people don't take into account is Tax revenue. Did you know that if an internet site does not have a Physical Brick & Mortar store in your state that there is no sales tax? That could equate to some very hefty savings from the customer and most would jump right on it, but that is also money taken away from Local Schools, Road Maintenance, the Legal system etc. etc. etc. Aren't we all annoyed with this trend that the annoying out of country Tech Support or customer service agent we have to speak to to get help was a job that could've gone here but Greedy corporations would rather cheaper Labor to pad their pockets? Well guess what? When We purchase things online trying to save a dollar here and there, not recognizing if its an American company we are supporting, then you are that Greedy person using cheap Labor to pad your pockets. Scary huh? You have now become a part of the very same corporate greed community that has setback our communities. And don't even get me started on you Bootlegg Movie and CD people, you will spend $600 on some Fancy European shoes but not $10 to support an artist from YOUR city that you enjoy the music of. You are crippling America but As Long as you look "Fly" I guess it doesn't matter right? Smh.

All I'm trying to point out here is that your community's success is on your shoulders, if you are not willing to reinvest back into it, how can you be mad when the government doesn't either? Step up and go to your local store, spend that extra $3 and purchase locally, get the extra additives that you know you need instead of stealing them all from torrent websites. I'm not saying be a saint, but at least Limit the negative impact you have in your own Neighborhood or else the next time you find you’re not able to get a job because "No ones Hiring" it'll be YOUR fault because the Internet took your job due to cheap labor, not foreigners.

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Knowledge In Pain by Johnny Magnum

 

Secret Pain

Disdain

Refrain from speaking to me.

The Holy Spirit goes through me but the evil remains a true beast.

I am truly unique and you speak of solidarity, But I'm a rarity.

One of a kind at one with my mind,

You could never invade my thoughts.

Because I react with instinct, I'm distinct,

My distance from despair has never dissolved…

But this solves my need for drama.

I feel Hopeless,

but know this day I need change like Homeless man campaigning for Obama.

With God imma formulate a plan

Cause I can't let another man control my fate like a suicide bomber for Osama.

I don't need 72 virgins in the afterlife,

I just need to know my purpose after life.

I mean I've been forewarned, but I've been so wrong, and its been so long that…

I don't even know what comes after right; So I have to write.

Cause my prayers are in these pages

I’m tryna get to Eden if u seein what I’m sayin.

We following the leader, not even knowin why

Then we tithing 10% but donating zero time.

It seems the Eve of Destruction is the Apple of the Eye

But this is just my food for thought so I thought yall should have a bite.

It shouldn't have to be this literal,

But it’s critical for your spiritual to not cripple to individuals.

Those quick wit views are not always those quick to do the right thing.

So don't assume fools on teletubes choose who Satan’s crew uses to sell a bright dream,

cause see God made the rules and

God made the Blues,

So only Gods fit to choose what your sadness might mean.

It might seem sometimes that he doesn't Love Us,

But when you're all alone and there's Twilight in your zone be thankful…

You could’ve be devoured by Wolves and Blood Suckers.

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Whats the Difference? Being Able to: Buy vs Afford

 

As a finance major in college I found out how to tell the difference verbally in what I always knew instinctively; Its what's called the "Real Cost" of an item. Too often we look to the Price tag of an item and the amount we have in the bank account and make the determination of buying something based solely off that which only leads to uncontrollable debt, overdrafts and inordinate late payment/reconnection fees. So simply put here's the difference:

 

 

 

 

Scenario 1: You are about to purchase a used car and have saved up $3,000.

In the Able to Buy part of decision making you may start looking at a nice $2,800 Luxury vehicle with low miles in GREAT condition. Sitting in a luxury vehicle will definitely be an ego boost and you know its pretty reliable so it SEEMS like a good buy for you.

But you have to ask if you can actually afford it. What inevitable costs will be bound with the Car that you have not accounted for in the immediate and long term? Is there Sales Tax? How much will you have to pay for car registration? Do you have Car Insurance? How much of a deposit will need to be paid on the car before it can even be registered? How much will insurance be a month and do you have enough in your personal budget to account for it? How much does regular maintenance for the vehicle cost? When will it need to be done again?

Scenario 2: You saved up $300 and want to purchase a new Cell phone and deciding which phone and service you are going to go with.

You might decide you want the latest and greatest phone with unlimited plan and have enough to buy it but again you need to know if you can afford it, not only today, but the rest of the contract term you are signing. Have you checked How much the phone cost upon approval with Tax? Is there going to be a deposit? How much can you afford a month on a phone bill? How much is a carrying case and any other essential accessories you may need?

Scenario 3: You see that your favorite designer is/has released a new shoe, accessory, article of clothing that is unique and a Must have for you.

Now I KNOW yall have all seen this before: a cocky "fashionable" person is wearing some $300 Belt, a pair of $1,000 shoes, $500 purse and/or some gaudy chain/earrings flooding with diamonds but rocking a $5 white t-shirt, some Old Navy $1 flip flops or Flee Market Jordan's and cheap Dingy jeans/shorts yet bragging about their ensemble... word? Witcha Broke Self. If they could’ve afforded it then there would be no need to brag because it would be normal and your entire wardrobe would be of an equivalent nature. See the difference now?

Once you calculate the "Real Cost" of the items you are purchasing you may realize that the thing you can buy is something you actually can't afford to keep. There's nothing worse than buying a new car, phone device, clothing etc. that you broke the bank to get and can't even utilize because there's something else you need to make it look or work proper. Then to make matters worse some over extend themselves to do so and sacrifice something they need for something they want and end up in a cycle of "robbing Peter to pay Paul". Don't fall victim to the approval you seek from others with material things.

Able to Buy vs. Able to Afford

Don’t just jump from A to B, make sure you cover A to A.

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What Are Your Thoughts: Mandatory Drug Testing For Welfare Recipients

 

In Florida, as of July 1st, any adult applying for State/Federal aid will have to take and pass an illegal drug screening, at their own cost, before receiving their funds.

As of now their are two main arguments but I want to get everyday peoples thoughts on this matter. A few key points:

Families who paid and did not test positive for drugs will be reimbursed the funds they spent

Testing Positive does not disqualify you from receiving funds, you will simply have to name another person, who tests clean, and will agree to take responsibility for the Benefits.

Those who disagree feel that requiring drug tests on people, without probable cause, receiving governmental aid will inevitably spread to anyone receiving Financial Aid or Grants up to and including college students, science labs and elected officials.

On the other side, People for this revision feel like people are abusing the Food Stamp assistance to receive funds and trade them for cash for drugs while the kids suffer further with no progress for the families.

I want to know how you all feel about this Law that has been enacted as a Drug Deterrent and if it is worth the precedence set allowing the invasion of privacy to tax paying citizens.

Full Article: http://on.cnn.com/jkYUOm

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