Midday Randomness: QOTD

“Even the wisest woman you talk to is ignorant of something you may know, but an elegant woman never forgets her elegance."

Oliver Wendell Holmes

Blacks & HBCUs (Pt. II: Is it the institutions, or is it us?)

Last week I pointed out some of the misconceptions about HBCUs that I have heard purported by blacks. Maybe these ideas were put in their heads by someone who was "guiding" them, perhaps they come from their own experiences or observed experiences or others. More than likely, however, they are steeped in the negative stereotypes that we as Blacks have endured for years.

But what about the numbers? Men lie, women lie, numbers don't, right? *snicker, eye roll*

So do we do worse at our own schools? Well according to some statistics, such as the one from this USA Today article, the percentage of blacks who graduate from HBCUs within six years averages about 37%. Yes, this is a dismal figure. (I won't go into how I don't believe this is a fair or accurate number, since this does not give consideration for students who transfer, whose education takes longer than 6 years for whatever reason, deaths, etc. We'll just roll with the numbers we've got.) However, our counterparts at PWIs don't fair much better. The national graduation rate is only 41%.

So that brings me to another issue: Is it really the institution we attend, or is it us? The "us" that I speak of is the black community as a whole. Those of "us" who have graduated, HBCU or PWI, do we encourage our classmates and those that come after us to continue working towards their degree? Those of "us" who have dropped out or for whatever reason did not graduate, are we planning on pursuing that degree at some point or have we already found gainful (legal) employment? Those of "us" who are in any sort of leadership capacity: are we extolling the importance of higher education and stressing that their are many possibilities and opportunities that become available through education?

How do we encourage young blacks to stay in school? The Root has an... interesting article on "Making School Cool." Is it enough? Is it effective? What more can be done?

And what, if anything, are we doing for our institutions? Many suffer from lack of funding which leads to a myriad of other issues (of which I am honestly just too lazy/sleepy to get into right now). What contributions are we making?

Trip Down Memory Lane

Although I would never wish to go back to high school, there is one thing that I have missed since the day I walked across that stage: the choir. Yes, I'm still in the choir at church, but it's just not the same. There was nothing like giving an amazing performance that moves people even when they don't understand the language! And the feeling of getting up in front of other groups--mostly white groups who assumed that this almost all-black choir wasn't really 'bout nothin--and not only blowing them away but taking EVERYTHING at competitions? Nothing like it!!

So since I'm feeling a bit nostalgic, I pulled out some of my old music and threw a mini concert at Casa de Tori D. Since I'm not brave enough to put my own singing up on here, I found some videos of my fav choral and madrigal pieces. I really wish I had video of our choir (Murrah High School '00-'03, I can't vouch for the rest of yall! lol). We had the BEST choir director in the history of directors, IMO. Mr. Browning put his SOUL into teaching and directing us, and you could see it in his movements & facial expressions as well as the collective movements and expressions of the choir as we followed his lead. Good times man, good times...

Oh yeah, the videos!

" Die Nacht ist kommen" Petrus Herbert, 1566



"Vita De La Mia Vita" Chanticleer (first song that ever made me seriously want to sing something other than gospel/r&b)



"Paratum Cor Ejus" A. Vivaldi (to 2:10)

I think I was almost had...

by a pair of knockoffs! *cues dramatic music and the blood-curdling scream*

To be honest, I am not sure if these shoes are a knockoff or authentic Christian Louboutin. I have seen this shoe before in black, and I am certain that those are indeed Louboutin.
However, the blue ones? Never ever seen before. I want to believe they are real... God, I wanna believe! I mean, they're freakin' blue & white, so of course I need them in my life! But something about these still don't seem right. Maybe it's because they are from a site I've never heard of and the fact that they are selling it for only $224 (Hiebay.com is getting the serious side-eye from me right now). And there is the fact that I've never seen this particular shoe in any color but black. And the more I look at that bow from the back, the more I'm convinced that someone may have just painted the bottom and tacked a ribbon onto the back of a regular old shoe...

Stop perping, people. For the love of Louboutins, don't do it!

I'm off to find some verified designer shoes to fawn over.


Tori D. Edit: after seeing the back of the real Louboutin and looking a bit more closely at the top pic to see the not-so-great MS Paint job that was done on the sole of the shoe, I feel like a fool -_- But at least I'm not a fool who bought Loubooties.

Eight-year-old Entrepreneur and Candy Sushi Chef

Read the story here

Maybe it's the fact that I'm kinda warming up to kids and getting a little mushy when I see cute stories like this.

Maybe it's my pride in such a young little guy being responsible and creative enough to start this business.

Maybe it's my own muted entrepreneurial spirit living vicariously.

Maybe its my sweet tooth that starting to kick in...

Either way, I absolutely love stories like this! I want to see and hear more stories like this, highlighting black kids who are doing something positive for themselves (especially in business and the arts, cuz I happen to have a soft spot for those areas). And one day my non-profit will produce these types of success stories on the regular. This youngun has realized early in life that he doesn't have to spend his life making money for someone else; he can do it for himself. I wish I'd had the initiative to make my own dreams of working for myself come true as a youth. (Still gonna happen, but the head start would've been nice) Do your thing, Mr. Louison, I ain't mad atcha!

'Biggest Loser' Wedding -- Let Them Eat Cake

'Biggest Loser' Wedding -- Let Them Eat Cake

Posted Aug 17th 2009 3:00PM by TMZ Staff

They lost a combined 264 pounds since being on "The Biggest Loser" --
but this weekend, Nicole Brewer and Damien Gurganious decided their wedding was
the perfect chance to let their diet slide a little bit!
TMZ got a copy of the menu for their big day in Long Island this past
Sunday, where they did a pretty good job of serving healthy low-fat meals --
with the exception of the super-delicious cake! Not that we blame them one
bit...

Appetizers: miniature meat rolls, spring rolls and crab cakes

Entrees: fish, sauteed chicken and grilled beef

Cake: sweet potato-praline/vanilla, Bourbon-butterscotch layered cake
filled with bourbon infused candied sweet potato and hazelnut buttercream

Sidenote: Jillian Michaels did not jump out of the cake and force everyone
who had a piece to run up a mountainside until they puked.

This is a beautiful story to me! I love that they were able to take off & keep off the weight. I should try to get on the show... *lol* But I guess until then, I need to get serious (again) about my diet & exercise. This is just more inspiration to do that!

BTW, that menu sounds delish.... *drool*