Van Jones

Van Jones
The world woke up to news that Van Jones the green czar for the Obama administration resigned from his position. In recent times, television’s pundits have been at Jones for his numerous controversial statements and ideologies. This comes at a shock to some who expected him to stay in the position. It is quite alarming that the prudent research that Obama’s team should be doing to find out an applicant’s past is not being done efficiently. Although his resignation was not forced by Obama it would appear that on air talk shows are keeping the administration honest with their activities.
The tapes that came to the fore of Van Jones calling republicans ass holes were not hidden tapes. These were recordings done recently which he was aware of, which would have documented for the vetting team to view. Clearly thing went wrong with this process because the moment Jones was announced to advice the president there were clear oppositions to his appointment. Good riddance, someone who is a tyrant and supports communism should not be welcomed in the government, especially in America.
Bigger Issue
Obama in the presidential run had to defend his pastor and many other radical relationships he had in his past. The media was so in love with Obama that these were not cutinised and the truth sought. Recently, his appointments of czars and his policies are being questioned not only by his oppositions but also those in his own party. Show me your company and I’ll tell you who you are – a thought for Obama. We want young black men to be successful and serve their country; but for crying out loud, young, black and honourable please.
Compromises
After a long hard day at work, Sarah walks into her home. She kisses her husband and says “Good evening”. After the brief greeting she hurries to the kitchen grabbing the refrigerator door taking out a fresh can of coke. Moments after drinking the juice she tosses the can in the bin. She notices burnt cigarette buts in the garbage bin. She storms to the room shouting “Roger, Roger!”
Roger was on the balcony talking on the cell phone when she saw him. She hurries over to him and begins to shout. “Why were you smoking?”
He ignores her and hangs up the phone. He then shouted “What is your problem?”
Smoking is not only an issue for those who don’t but it can be a breaker. It is normally an addictive behaviour that just creeps on you not allowing the smoker to let go. Sarah is clearly at her wits ends because she thought Roger was over his smoking tendencies. Not only is she thinking it can harm his life but it was deal for him not to; and don’t forget the fumes are dangerous to her health as well.
I am currently training employees how to be tolerant to both smokers and non-smokers within their establishments. Businesses create an environment conducive to both because they want to make a profit at the end of the day. Although relationships are based on compromises, what compromise would you not make?
Swimming!
If you follow my blog then you would have read weeks ago that on my vacation I did learn how to swim. Well, I have a picture below to prove , not that I needed to but it would add supn supn to the blog. I have videos but I will try to edit before posting at the next Water Cooler session – every Sunday.
Be YOU – Don’t Imitate
You have studied hard for your examination and there beside you is someone who is intent on copying your answers. What do you do? It may be a great feeling for those who see it as helping out another but dishonesty cannot be rewarded. In Jamaica, the entertainers here have a bad habit or it may be a culture where they imitate popular songs internationally and write lyrics to make it their own with the same mix. A more recent case saw one of Jamaica’s dancehall artistes Vybz Kartel and Spice with a song called Ramping Shop (very sexual I might add) copying Neyo’s Miss Independent Woman. Only when the song was very popular internationally did Neyo file papers to stop these unscrupulous artistes from profiting from his work. Alicia Keys, Beyonce etc are all victims of this.
Neyo’s Miss Independent – Original Song
The Imitation
Alicia Keys – Sleeping with a Broken Heart
The Jamaican Copy by Various Jamaican Dancehall Artistes
The Diva Beyonce
Do you see elements of Beyonce’s style in this video?
To imitate means to copy the actions, appearance, mannerisms, or speech of; mimic. In a recent post I expressed my admiration for Beyonce. I knew the regular readers would find that as a surprise. My love for her is more than an appreciation for her music but more so an admiration in the way she carries herself and performs in the music industry. Her team led by her dad treats her like a product – which is actually is.
I may also like her because her father has many years experience in Marketing and knows the application and the understanding of such. I will agree with her critics that she isn’t the best singer the world has seen and she is overrated. However, what Beyonce has is a commanding stage presence, her performances are amazing and insiders in the music industry express many times over again that she works hard. To her credits, she has won tens of Grammies and reached many number ones on the biggest charts internationally. Anytime she exits the stage you would have known she gave her best and you would have been entertained by Sasha Fierce her alter ego. When you look at Lady Gaga, Rihanna, Alicia Keys; these artistes are popular because of their originality and the freshness they bring to the music industry. I have a problem with people imitating established artistes. Interesting I say that knowing I have a business background where you copy an invention or a process to make profits. However, I believe artistes who imitate are short on talent and lack the creativity they need to survive. It is also interesting to observe that artistes just starting out are the ones who imitate because they idolize these established artistes.
Here in Jamaica, there is a female dancehall artiste who goes by the name D’Angel. I remember years ago in an interview she stated that her idol or the person she looks up to Beyonce. I didn’t know that idolizing an artiste would make you imitate their actions even their style of performane but that is imitation.
The trend of imitating the hardest working female in the music industry even exist in USA I saw a video recently and the props, production of the video resembles one Beyonce did earlier in her career. Many people will not notice similarities like this except for the ones who are looking for the details. What if an artiste imitated Lady Gaga, then maybe the imitation would be clear for everyone to see. It appears the more mild the imitation artistes get a free pass on stealing someone’s ideas and make it their own to generate profits.
For those who are able to dig up the singers Beyonce imitated will agree that some of her ideas may not be new but she uses her own style to add to what was done before to make it her own.
I believe in making your own self. Each one of us has unique talents and gifts that make us special. What if everyone blogged the same way, sang the same way, listened to classical music etc we wouldn’t have diversity.
Oprah recently produced a show to highlight the crises in Haiti. On the program Rihanna was featured singing Bob Marley’s Redemption Song. Here she sings an established song – sang it word for word but added her own style and creativity to the song – which turned out great. I cannot stop listening to this song which was produced to help raise money for the Haitians.
Entertainers should desist from imitating artistes all in the name to make a profit. These songs are played on the internet and on local radio stations and I would assume they make money from appearance fees singing these songs. I am tired of it.
Rate this: