Home enjoying the TEMPORARY silence of the house. This is my base & makes everything I endure worth it. I live with a King & I am a Queen. We are both equally important but he is the leader, I follow and show our son how to follow.

I want my son to find a woman when he gets older that will follow him and acknowledge his role as the man as the leader of the household. I don’t want him to have a combative woman that fights him on everything, a second guesses his every decision. So im going to show him by example how a family should be set up.

His father is responsible for being the provider, protector, lead for our family. I am responsible for nurturing, loving, keeping us in good health. And I am ok with that. Works for us. It took four years for us to get this understood and implemented.

I used to be the typical damaged woman that society creates, thinking independent woman, don’t need a man for anything type thing #mistake. I’ve watched women who have no male leadership lead their lives making mistake after mistake, over and over. It finally hit me, the man was missing but why.There are a plethora of reasons why women and men don’t get along, but the primary reason is that as women we are not taught to fall back and let a man do his thing.

We are taught to do it all ourselves. If we do it all ourselves what good are the men we seek? What will be their function? What need will they fulfill? What does a man that has no requirements in life do? The answer is what they do now NOTHING. When you enable a man to accept a lifestyle with no responsibility he learns and expects that nothing is REQUIRED of him. And he gives absolutely nothing!! When he knows you that you will tell him what he did is not good enough, or you can do it better he will lose respect for you. After he loses respect for you the love and intimacy you once shared will shortly follow, and eventually you will be alone.

Once I learned the role of a woman I learned what a mother, wife, sister, daughter, friend should be. Man and Woman are made for each other. One cant be without the other. Man and woman cant be if they are both competing for the same position in life. One has to voluntarily step back and follow. If you cant follow means you cant trust and if you cant trust why are you trying to be with this person.

This blogger has lost her a part of her spirit. It truly hurts when
you wake up & truly realize your time and efforts mean noting!!! It
doubly hurts when you have no recourse for things that happen to you.
For the last few years I literally mean years go to a place that sucks
the life out of me. While I lose a piece of me each day they work on
demoralizing me and breaking me down to get me to believe I am worthless.
I KNOW THIS IS NOT TRUE BECAUSE I KNOW MYSELF WORTH!

I have left my sick child with someone else else when I should have been caring for
him, I’ve missed tons of family events , I’ve gotten into car
accidents going there in bad weather because they don’t shut down for
anything, and I’ve come in when I am barely able to breathe but I can
not and will not be harassed each day in addition to never being able
to have an unplanned event. The bull crap that is thrown at me daily
makes me understand that ill never be better than what I am in my
current situation. I am exhausted daily which leads to loss of sleep,
or too much sleep 8-12 hours a day. I ended up sleeping away my problems,
withdrawing from life hoping things will get better. I know hope wont fix it.
I’m doing my part learning new skills, and seeking higher education but in
the mean time each day is daily suffering and it has become too much for me.
Each day I pray for an end to this nonsense I forced to deal with.

I have a solution. I am not 30 yet I can start over and be ok. But how do I
go home and tell my dad that although he can survive without a high school diploma
or college degree his daughter called it quits with a diploma, and a degree. My father has
always taken care of me with everything you can imagine, and he has always done this flawlessly.
I can not help but feel like a failure because I have allowed this foolishness to go on too long, and
take a piece of me. I truly understand what its like to be slave. No I have not been beaten,
physically raped, or transported by a boat. But I cant not show up, I cant be sick,
I cant ask questions, give feed back, do anything but what I am told, or ever expect anything
that’s not mandated by law. I am not even acknowledged when I am in the same space
as others. Now how do I go home and tell DAD I know you worked your entire life for me
to be successful but I have failed and need to start again?

I only want some peace of mind, and the ability to live again. I honestly can say this
paycheck is not worth any of this I endure. If I could make this page cry I would. But
after being in the situation so long I am numb. I wake up each day and can function because
I know I am one day closer to ending this suffering.

Thank you for ears.

]]> http://bluesodacake.wordpress.com/2010/04/02/a-piece-of-me/feed/ 8 md20737 tears http://bluesodacake.wordpress.com/2010/03/24/mommy-i-need-to-talk-to-you/ http://bluesodacake.wordpress.com/2010/03/24/mommy-i-need-to-talk-to-you/#comments Wed, 24 Mar 2010 14:58:23 +0000 md20737 http://bluesodacake.wordpress.com/?p=195 ]]>

“Mommy I need to talk to you” is how my son starts off his sentences when he wants to tell me something he thinks is important, or something new he has learned. The other day he explained to me that Batman was also Bruce Wayne who had a friend named Robin, and that Batman liked Catwoman. After that he told me he was Robin, Daddy was Batman, and I was CatWoman. I’m going to assume he meant Cat Woman like Eartha Kit back in the day. I can imagine being a sexy cat like her lol I imagined myself in her sexy little black cat suit , and her half mask she wore on the show. I was bought back to reality by my son who still going on about his batman game. He than told me about the Joker, the Riddler, and the Penguin. As I spoke with him about I acted like it was my first time hearing this, he was so happy to share with me his new knowledge. And I was happy to listen.

Each day I watch my son learn something new. It is great to watch him identify and solve problems. I am both proud and tickled when he comes to me explaining his new finds. He explains it to me with such pride and confidence, and I’m tickled because he breaks it down as if I am not his teacher. The other teacher is his father.

My son does everything his dad does. My son believes if he sees his dad do it, than it is automatically ok for him to do it. That is not the case, but that’s how my three year old views the world right now. My boyfriend takes the time to think about his actions and what he wants our son to learn. I often fall back and let him lead the household, and try not to interfere with the lessons he is teaching our son. I say try because I am opinionated and I often give my opinion when no one is asking me anything lol

Watching the two of them interact together shows me that I have made good decisions in my life so far. I am glad the man I love is such a great person, and father. Watching my son grow into nice young man, fills me with joy. Watching him learn how to be a man from his dad makes me happy beyond belief.

The people we allow into our lives, impact us in different ways. Some impact us in a positive way, some not so positive. I am happy to have the family that I have and the life that I have.

Please share with me the people that make you happy in life.

Dear Machine ,

I know I am a bottom of the totem pole worker, a bee in your hive, a worker ant in you colony. But is it too much to ask that my job not be at risk because of unforeseen illnesses. Yes I know about FMLA. But all sickness do not require lengthy time outs. Although you have a doctors note at my job any unplanned time off is held against you. You would have to file FMLA to keep any disciplinary actions off you. Makes no sense to me either.

In the last month I have had two separate instances where I have been sick but require 1-2 days to recover, now its my son. My first instinct was to stay by his side to hold him while he cries and aches in pain. I want to be there to support him and teach him how to endure pain until we can get a remedy. So as I sat on the couch stunned this morning pondering how I can spin some time off at the job, it hit me I can not. I used all my sick time on my own illnesses. Not only will the time I need to take be unpaid, but even with medical documentation I can and will be punished for it.

So the reality hit me. I am stuck. I need the job for the health insurance it provides for me, but I can barely use the health insurance because if I am ever sick unexpectedly I must still go to work. I can’t say forget it and work because than I really couldn’t afford to get sick. At this point I know this post is a ramble but I must voice my disgust with this system. Its never ok to be sick. I don’t get why we are not seen as people with jobs, not just workers.

How am I supposed to function and automate these tasks with no resources you give me to do , when my mind is in worry mode? How can I swallow my pride and overlook the second class status I am given here, if I don’t have the peace of mind that my child is ok? How can I stomach the fact that I will never receive a pay increase or cost of living increase working here and still do my job, if my home life isn’t taken care of? Why don’t you attempt to act like you know a happy worker is a productive worker?

So I am off to the doctors with my baby boy and will be back to not take a lunch and work a longer day to make up my time ensuring my son’s health is ok.

 Sincerely I Am A Person, Not A Machine

Before I get into the post I would like to send payers to Shaniya Davis’ family. What took place this week was disturbing beyond belief. If you are not aware of what happened a young girl from Fayetteville NC was sold a child prostitute by her mother and ended up dead a few days later. Why this child had to die is still unreal to me. I dont understand how a parent could intentionally put their child in harm’s way.  So I would like to share with a post from The Tales of a Literary Nobody an opportunity for bloggers to unite against violence http://bit.ly/2A6f4E  .  So I would like to add this banner to my post to support LiteraryNobody a talented and kind writer !!

I have been contemplating life a lot lately. I am stuck in the self actualization phase of my existence. So many questions, so much uncertainty. It got a little a heavy for a while. It seems as if it will be a life long journey to satisfy my craving for this knowledge about self. Who created us, why did they create us, what do they want from us? Is it a they, or just one? Who has the true story? These are questions that I have spent many days and nights trying to answer. Do I have the answer NO! But the process of finding out that I do not have the answer and I am no where near knowing the answer has allowed me to open up to all schools of thought. By entertaining, and not necessarily accepting all the  schools of thought I have become much more at peace with not knowing. But to learning new things and considering different outcomes has relaxed me and focused me in an indescribable way.

Besides my constant worrying about what life has in store for me, I have been sick for almost a month. That’s a bit unusual for me. All of it was avoidable but it was just my luck (JML). I was in such a slump that I had to go home to my mommas and get treated like a baby to get better lol It was like a flash from the past 10 years back. My baby sister was getting me medicine, juice, pajamas, and everything else. My mother was running around getting ready to work talking to me in between, and my step dad was busy talking about how nobody listen to him. It was surreal, I just passed out and went to sleep. That was the best sleep I have had in months. It was like being back in the womb, yes it was that good. I was fed, protected, and sleep the entire time.

While I was home I also was reminded of how sweet my baby sis is. She is the most helpful and sweetest little sister you could ever ask for. Since it was pure nostalgia I totally forgot that she is teenager with raging hormones, and the natural instinct to do whatever the opposite is of what we tell her. In recent months I have been frustrated with her lack of knowledge or plan of what she wants to do with her life after high school. What I forgot was she is a teenager and teenagers are not known for their decision making skills. Now that I have been in her presence again I know everything will be ok because she has an awesome spirit about her, and she is a beautiful and magnificent young woman. When I was a teen I hated that people told me what to do, so I must remember my teen years to help her through hers. LONG STORY SHORT I LOVE MY BABY BOO.

Going home has allowed me to get out of my funk and keep it moving. I’m back In action !! Write y’all some more later. Just happy to be able to post again. LEAVE ME A LINE LET ME KNOW WHATS GOOD WITH YOU…

I want to leave  you with this poem by Ruyard Kipling it’s a piece of advice from my father that I will carry with me throughout life and draw strength from when things get tough.

Rudyard Kipling
If

Usually I am blogging about my perspective on life, or interviewing music artists helping to get word out about them and their work. Today is the beginning of my Black & Professional series. I am starting a new part of my blog that highlights the success professional blacks ( teachers, public servants, writers, electricians, mechanics, nurses, executives, bankers, HR Reps, etc). I am highlighting those who don’t usually get shine, but deserve it. I would like to introduce Young Mclayton brand to the world.

Let start with your professional beginnings, you are a college graduate. What college did you attend, and what made you seek higher education?

Keystone College 94-96, Lincoln University class of 98’ Well education was embedded in me since a young child, since my mother worked in a school first as a school aide then as a substitute teacher my parents stressed the importance of education to me and my sister. Growing up my mother made sure that my sister and me learned to read at an early age, and pretty much force-fed us education at an early age. It’s funny because growing up school was always easy for me, meaning the work; I always got in trouble because I was the class jokester. I remember going to parent teacher conferences with my parents and all of my teachers would say, “well your son is smart and has good grades, but… he just can’t keep his mouth shut”. So I guess that was the beginning of Young M. Clayton.

For me real talk I wanted to go to college because of  “A Different World” I wanted to go to a HBCU so bad and meet me a Whitley Gilbert so to speak, and be able to experience going to a HBCU. Also I played sports in H.S & in college and I was like every other inner city youth having dreams to make it to the NBA or the NFL.

What is your profession?

Coordinator of Employment & Training services for Catholic Charities HomeBase, I know that title sounds like a mouthful. But my job is to develop job readiness curriculums and work closely with our job developers to help our clients who are facing eviction, or who have serious rental arrears.  Find meaningful employment, while arming them with the necessary life skills to be able to sustain, housing and employment. I have worked in the social service field for about 8 yrs. I started out running my family owned and operated Security Training School, made a lot of money then once that biz slowed down I worked for Inwood House as a Job Developer for 3yrs which is a maternity shelter for pregnant teens. Once I left there I have been at Catholic charities ever since. I started of as a Job developer for the Youth & Employment Training program, then promoted to job trainer, the Coordinator all within in 3yrs. (here is a clip off my company website. I’m in like the first couple of seconds of the video, they taped me teaching my class) http://www.catholiccharitiesny.org/about-us/video-catholic-charities/

 Most people will be familiar with you from your blog www.youngmclayton.wordpress.com, what inspired the blog?

Well I got the idea one day while attending a monthly think tank meeting called M.O.BM (Meeting of The Business Minds) where I first met my family all whom are on twitter @goteebk (founder) @fmos @iamashcash @lmoney21 @jimmymartinezjr @veazy247 @jaymegga. After listening to all of these cool young “Black” professionals talk about all of the cool projects that they working on. I realized that besides working with my cousin FMOS I really didn’t have any personal projects that I was working on. So I thought about if for a min and I said why not use the gift/curse that I have of running my mouth, and just let world know how I felt about real issues that effect the black community.  So while listening to Fmos song  (Straight Talk) and reading a @sheisfocused (another talented writer who’s blog I used a the blueprint for my blog) I came up with the name of my Blog I’m Just Sayin’. Which is the hook of the song:  “I’m just saying things are changing game ain’t the same goodness gracious, my determination and my patience. Forget it I gotta say it what. It’s NY baby you don’t like the flow why you so crazy”-FMOS straight talk NY. And that’s how I came up wit the concept of my Blog.

I know you as young focused go-getter who is building an empire. Please tell us about your current project the Soapbox Chronicles.

The Soap Box Chronicles

What is it: Video Blog cultural commentator segments featuring Young M. Clayton as “The People’s Voice” performing impromptu town crier topic discussions held at random locations throughout New York City and the Tri-State Area.

Target Audience: Urban young adults ages 21-40 who have an interest in culture and politics; educated and/or socially aware; currently disappointed by mainstream ‘urban’ media outlets’ lack of viable contents and relevant information.

Objective/ Aim: To entertain and bring light to issues relevant to the young conscience urban dweller; to offer solutions to specific problems dealing with life in urban cities; to bring attention to or collectively engage in group discussions about matters specific to race and culture via the web; to make urban dissent more productive; to encourage discussion and open debates as a problem solving tool.

Innovativeness & Usefulness: the Internet has allowed bloggers to reach a mass audience however the target audience is presumed to be only interested in pop culture and celebrity gossip. The Soap Box Chronicles seeks to use a traditional form of communication (soap box) to highlight concerns relevant to the ‘common’ man struggles while also extending the audience beyond the confines of a physical location. May be useful in highlighting businesses, forums, programs that may be relevant to the target audience; may also be used to voice disapproval of a business, forum or program.

Market Potential & Competitive Advantage: The Soap Box Chronicles is unique and may potentially make money through endorsements or through public speaking engagements; the advantage is realized through the choice of topics chosen for discussion; the locations to be used for taping may have a historical significance. 

I first came into contact with you searching for help with promotion, advertising, marketing. Tell us about your promotion consultations.

I have worked with Rocawear, Artful Dodger, Gifted Apparel, FMOS, Ash Cash, and currently I am working with a super dope Publicist @allIcanb (can’t tell you what label she works for, just know it’s a major label and there are some mega stars on the label) she has put me under her wing and is showing me the in’s and out’s of PR work. I just feel blessed to be in the right lane right now. A couple of years ago I would have never imagined that I would be doing the type of work that I love to do. I just want to learn as much as I can and then parlay that knowledge into developing the Young M. Clayton brand!

After tweeting with you and getting to know you, I also discovered you are a motivator, and possess and share the tools to help others empower themselves to be successful. What is the determining factor in life that supports your decision to help others gain success?

“I think there is a lack of young successful black motivational speakers out there, so we decided to use the tools that we are blessed with to help motivate and uplift our people… I have always been good with motivating and speaking to people, I love it, it gives me such a rush to help people and have them hang on your every word” I noticed while teaching my workshops that I had this great ability to get my message across through the use of humor, passion, and connecting with people on a level that makes each person that I’m speaking to in the crowd feel like the message I’m conveying was just for them. I guess I’m just blessed with the gift for Gab. That plus some of the connections that I have in the non-profit sector, lead my good friend Ash’ Cash to ask me to help promote him as a public speak. So for your readers if you want to book a dynamic speaker holla at me. I got you covered.

You are currently promoting 10 Laws of Financial Freedom by Ash Cash, what separates this book from all other financial advice books?

Well Ash’Cash is a financial literacy advocate, motivational speaker, entrepreneur and banking professional with more than 10 years of experience. His mission is to bring the knowledge of financial literacy to every spectrum of humanity and vows to deliver this message until its heard Loud and Clear!!!

Mind Right, Money Right: 10 Laws of Financial Freedom written by Ash’Cash is a book comprised of 10 laws that anyone can use to effectively become financially free.

There have been many finance books written but not one effectively targets the 18-35yr old urban demographic. Starting with the power of self confidence the book discusses in detail how having a positive mental attitude, paying yourself first, budgeting, and planning for the future are all ways to immediately change your financial situation.

Mind Right, Money Right demonstrates how your mind set plays a tremendous role in creating financial abundance. By using examples of successful people such as Sean Combs, Kevin Liles, Tyler Perry, Oprah Winfrey, Shawn Carter, Curtis Jackson, Chris Lighty and many others, the reader is given a real life account of how these laws have worked for others. This book I feel is neccesaary for for every persoon of color who is serious about trully changing their current economic situation. There are few if any books that teach finacial literacy.  Shameless plug in 5.4.3.2…1 for more info about Ash’Cash checkout his site www.IamAshCash.com

Young M Clayton is also in the music industry, working closely with FMOS an up and coming Harlem Bred artist. What would you like to accomplish with FMOS and inside the industry?

My goal is to make FMOS a household name, he is really a talented artist (notice I said artist because he is more than just a Rapper) he is a talented songwriter. And I think that with his mixture of personality, intellect, will lead to various opportunities where he can reach the suburbs as well as the hood. Making him an artist that everyone can identify with. Once we get him where he needs to needs to be we will be able to work on our vision of owning & operating our own business. You know me I will never cosign anything that I don’t personally agree with, or believe in. That’s why every chance I get I work on getting his name and image out there. Some people say that “I’m always promoting him to much”, but my response to that is “Look that’s the job of a good Publicist, if you don’t hear about FMOS 50 times a day that means I’m not working hard enough.

I want to talk about one of the most important jobs you have in life, being a father. As a young black people its important we promote parenthood, loyalty, family, and education. You often post pictures of your son, or speak of fatherhood in a very positive rewarding way. What would you say the best thing about fatherhood is? And what do you want to leave as your legacy for your child to build upon?

Well Fatherhood has been the best thing that has ever happened to me. It has truly changed my life in a positive way. It has literally forced me to be responsible (not saying that I wasn’t a responsible person prior to my son being born) and accountable for all of my action. Everything that I do is geared towards insuring that my son Marc Anthony has the best possible future. As a parent you always want your child/children to be better than you, as did my parents. So I want to be able to tell my son that if he wants to go to Lincoln, Howard, Morgan St., Yale, Princeton etc, he can because daddy can afford to send him there, and not place emphasis on him playing a sport in order for him to get a scholarship for college. I refuse to teach my son that he has to have a “wicked jump shot or push crack rock. Nope not me, I teach my son morals, and instill in him a great since of pride and self-worth especially being that my son is mixed (Black & Puerto Rican). I want him to embrace both sides of his culture an allow him to be the best person he can be. I want my son to be able to carry on my name and be just as successful as me, because I truly don’t plan on doing this forever. I want to be able to hand over the reigns to my son and let him run the empire that I have built.

What else can we expect from the Young M. Clayton Brand?

Well besides the Soapbox chronicles I will be finally launching my t-shirt line. I am blessed to be working with two-dope artist. One graphic artist @lordlike who is my partner in crime & http://twitter.com/@LAURENLUNA   who is an extremely talented artist out of the Ohio area. We will be launching a limited edition series of shirts in a couple of weeks. The drop a full line of shirts by the spring, I’m pumped about this project. But my long-term goal is to work on Young M. Clayton as a brand my goal is to start my own PR/Management Company. The goal is to assemble some of the best & talented graphic artist, Talent Scouts, Managers, Designers and bring them together like Voltron and form the best “Young Management Co”. Wanna become the official one stop shop for, signing & developing new artist, if you need advertising you can see us, if you need promotion you can see us, If you graphic artist you can see us, if you need an stylist you can see us. So you see where I’m going with this… I truly want to be synonymous with success. This is my goal, this is my mission.

What is De-U Records?

De-U Records is a family owned & operated record label that was started in Ft. Washington, Maryland by my father the CEO/President David Printis & my uncle Steven Printis the Vice President. De-U Records has been around for many many years but was officially established as an indie label in the year 1999. We have a few Hip-Hop, R&B, & GoGo acts but we’ve received the most success with our EduBaiscs CD’s/DVD’s that we produced, manufactured, & marketed ourselves. These products have been featured in media outlets such as MSNBC, The Washington Post, NPR, Business Week, CNBC, News Channel 8, Black Enterprise, as well as BET News & have sold over 150,000 units throughout the DMV area & abroad. We also have Shirley Ables & The Joy Gospel Singers signed under our Gospel division of the De-U label. They were inducted into the Gospel Hall of Fame in the year 2003 & have a greatest hits CD out released through De-U Records available exclusively through us as well as online.

How did the idea of edubasics come about?

Back in the day my father made a poor man’s version of “Multiplication Hip-Hop” on cassette tape when I was a child in elementary school in the late 80′s to help me memorize my times tables & it worked. In the year 1999 we moved the studio from out of the basement to a location in the Ft. Washington business/club district. Once we moved my father found that he needed to create something that would keep the new studio bills paid aside from the normal studio sessions we already charged recording artists for. He came up with the idea for an audio CD called “Multiplication Hip-Hop” our first of many future EduBasics products. He got my cousin Angie who’s an aspiring artist to do the artwork creating the initial “EduBasics” characters while me, my cousin MLG, & my pops lent our voices to the multiplication CD via Auto-Tune so our adult voices would sound more childlike. Once we got the initially copies back us De-U rappers/artists/producers started going to K-Mart/Target parking lots & downtown streets corners aggressively selling the CD’s & passing out fliers non-stop. Most of us had no other day jobs or source of income including my father so essentially we had no choice but to make sales or we’d have no studio & no way to eat or pay bills. We did this on a daily basis until we organically grew to the point where we’re at now in 2009 with the original “Multiplication Hip-Hop” CD now being available in 50 different FYE stores across the country, 4 different audio CD’s, 3 DVD’s, & 2 life sized cartoon costumed characters who perform at schools daily & do a full blown educational concert for kids at least once a year.

Explain how hiphop and music translates into learning?

Hip-Hop music is the only music beside pop that kids of all colors are into now. Our products seem cool to most kids because they incorporate Hip-Hop music. (no rapping or rhymes just music) Older parents tend to say “Why Hip-Hop music” but it’s just the Hip-Hop music that grabs the kids attention more than anything. Kids listen to rap songs trying to learn the words but with our CD’s kids listen to Hip-Hop beats & try to memorize educational facts instead.

How has edubasics improved children’s learning?

It has been proven that some schools systems math scores have jumped up over 70% from one year to the next after incorporating our products into their classroom curriculum. In particular the “Multiplication Hip-Hop” audio CD.

What have do you think children are lacking their learning of the basics? What can teachers, parents, & educators do to better prepare children to learn? What void is edubasics filling that the school systems are not?

EduBasics is not here with the purpose or intentions of replacing any teachers or other teaching methods it’s just a fun learning aid that happens to work really well. EduBasics is just a fun way to help kids learn point blank. EduBasics provides kids with a way where they can laugh, joke, dance, clap, sing, all while in class but at the same time still learn a lot. Now days alot of kids are to grown for their own good & find shows we used to watch growing up like Barney, Mr. Rogers, & Seasame Steeet to be boring but yet & still know how to do all the newest Souljaboy dances. Our products help parents & teachers to bridge that cultural gap so to speak much like school house rock did back in the day. Kids can put our CD’s or DVD’s in their iPod, PS3, or Xbox360′s & feel like they’re not even learning but rather listening to a favorite song & remembering the words.

To be honest sadly I think that the children are lacking the positive reinforcement from their parents at home while not at school. You’d be surprised how many parents will walk past you with their kid saying “I want that mommy” but the mother saying to her child “you don’t need that bullshit baby” what kind of examples are we setting for our children when you have those types of mind states about education? So many parents expect a school, a teacher, or a product like ours to be their scapegoat in which they don’t have to teach their own child. When I was a child my mother & father would grill me everyday as to whether or not my homework was done & ask me what I did while in school. My mother would even make homemade crossword puzzles with my spelling words on them…LOL!!! You can’t expect someone else to put more energy into something that’s yours than you in fact do put in yourself. My daughter’s only 1 but she’s already learned her abc’s & 123′s from the EduBasics products without my instruction at all. You’d be surprised how many 1,000′s of parents in this area I’ve try to sell to who’s kids are 2-5 & the parent is telling me they’re too young for our products. You stunt your child’s intelligence with those type of ignorant mind states.

What are you favorite products? Where can we find them?

My favorite EduBasics product used to be “Science & Geography” back in the day because I produced “Solar System” & it played on NPR news. Now my favorite product is “Multiplication Hip-Hop in Concert” because my daughter gets so happy every time it on. You can find them all at www.edubasics.com

What else can we expect from the edubasics line?

You can expect us to release the DVD versions of our existing audio CD’s “Science & Geography” as well as “Addition & Subtraction”, You can also expect us to release an audio CD for the process of doing Division. We’ll be doing another live stage concert for the kids in the DMV soon so stay tuned to our websites for details www.edubasics.com .

Edu Basics Press

Edu-Basics products have appeared as favorites, must-haves and top gift picks in parenting publications, women’s magazines and holiday features alike. Here are some recent sightings of Edu-Basics in the press, as well as news releases on their latest products.

April, 2008
MSNBC
Count Down with Keith Olberman

August 15, 2004
Washington Post

September 26, 2003
National Public Radio “Morning Edition”

July 7, 2003
Washingont Post

December 2003
Black Enterprise Magazine

July 2003
WBAL TV 11 Baltimore MD

July 2003
News Channel 8 Washington D.C.

June 2003
WGCV AM Columbia SC

July 2003
WPGC & 1580 WPGC AM

Spring 2005
Business Week “Small Biz”

March 2003
WPGC 95.5 & 1580 WPGC AM

May 2001
BET

De-U Records, Inc.
711 Cady Drive
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In the midst of the struggle for health care reform Tuesday October 13, 2009 the Senate Finance Committee passed its version of a health care reform bill with the first round of republican support. There is a hint of bipartisan support and want for reform. This is progress, and could be the foundation for a major win for the American public.

Here are a few tips to arm yourself when dealing with health care providers, insurance companies, and when deciding if you are for or against reform:

The most important piece of information to know is what type of plan you have. Do you have a plan that has in network benefits and out of network benefits? Believe it or not some plans only have out of network benefits? You can and will be penalized for not checking with you insurer before receiving treatment even in emergency cases.

Do you know your appeals process? You always have the right to appeal. Your insurer can provide you with an address to send an appeal request.

Do you have a summary plan with details? Most human resources department can provide with details to your plan. This is important to have because you want to know if the location of your doctor’s visit will be covered. Example doctors offices, outpatient visits, and urgent cares all provide similar services but are billed differently and often have different levels of coverage.

Have you checked to see if you are required to have a primary care physician listed? Or if your doctor is a part of your insurance plan’s network ? All though you may have had the same doctor for five years he or she may no longer have a contract with your insurance plan. Things change annually, please be sure to check an out of network bill is always greater than an in network bill. Call and ask for a provider directory.

Is your policy fully funded or self funded? This is determines if your policy has to abide by state mandates or federal mandates. If your policy is fully funded the insurer must abide by both state and federal mandates, if they are self funded they do not have to abide by sate mandates.

If you are covered by more than insurance please call to find out which policy is primary. There is a coordination of benefits policy all insurers follow. Depending on the type of insurance you have or others in your household have that are covered by you your coverage could be affected.

Finally learn about your insurers preexisting clause.  If you are going to switch coverage find out about what could possibly exclude you and your family from receiving coverage.

My grandmother and grandfather have been married for forty plus years. They have seven children together. It was not forty perfect or easy years of marriage. There are soooo many times I remember not seeing my grandfather for years at time. Then he would just pop back up, I mentioned to my father this and he said yes he noticed this as well before I came along. All I know about my grandfather is that he is a truck driver, from the Baltimore area. He did live with grandma but we never spent much time together because grandpa’s favorite past time was hanging out drinking at the bar. According to my grandmother he has been drinking since he was 12, grandpa is now 77.

Needless to say all the drinking and disappearing took a toll on the marriage. Last year was the first year I ever seen my grandfather not drunk, and it wasn’t voluntary. He is undergoing Chemo Therapy to try to combat the cancer in his liver. Grandpa is basically dying before our eyes. It was like a different person that I met. I never met this man before. It was strange, I sat there and talked to him andI found out a little family history. We took a picture together he played with my son. It was great. This is a far contrast from the man who used to chase the boys away with his shotgun.  Although he wasn’t around much it still doesn’t negate that he is my grandfather and I love him.

Since he had been in and out of grandma’s life for years she decided to permanently kick him out the house a few years back, but she still remained in contact with him. So this reunion took place at my uncle’s  (their son) house. So after all of the on again/off again drama my grandmother did one of the most selfless things I have ever seen. She took my grandfather back into her home so he could have a peaceful place to die. She said it was unfair that his kids take care of him in his last days. I was shocked because it had been years since he lived with her. I was in college last time he lived there ( I have been out of college for four years). Through all the ups and downs and numerous separations they remained husband and wife and civil. They demonstrate the bond that should not be broken between man and wife. I am proud of them, I love that they have endured. It’s given me more hope that marriage will and can last a lifetime. My grandpa is also happy telling anyone who will listen how good his wife is to him, while she still refers to him as “Rudy” or  “Grandpa” (not her husband) LMAO!! But we all know they are back together.

After witnessing what I believe is true love and commitment to one another. Listening to  Usher Papers makes me feel some strange way. All these questions go through my head when listening to this song. Can you really give up that easily? How long does it take to fix a marriage? What is a commitment and who does it apply too? Should we air some of the most personal feelings and disappointments in public? Are our careers being based on our marital status? I guess I’m old fashioned because once I say I do its a done deal (If you fck with me you stuck with me). I am not doing it a second time and I am not getting divorced unless something major happens like my husband intentionally kills a family member or tries to kill me, Goes to jail for 70 years, Goes on the run, Becomes a perverted predator, Becomes a woman, Likes a Man. You know big stuff like that!!

What are your thoughts on the state of marriage and commitment?

When you do something that you love, you are often successful. You discography shows that you have worked with new artists, artists that are on the rise, and superstars. How did you end up working with Britney Spears and Flo Rida?

The Britney Spears situation came about when I was working with my old homie Matt who was an intern out Will Smiths’ studio out in LA. The studio head was looking for several tracks for Britney’s comeback album “Blackout”. I submitted a couple of tracks and was told that the studio head liked 3 of them. The songs didn’t make the album cut, but I ended up creating my own remix to the song “Give Me More” which blew up, and got me lots of attention. The Flo Rida thing happened when I was in D.C. celebrating Charm’s album release party. They played a couple of the songs I produced for Charm at the party and the manager of an up and coming R&B artist named “Kevin Ross” actually ended up liking a couple of the tracks. He was looking for tracks for Kevin Ross and he had a connect with a couple of Flo Rida’s people. I sent them tracks for Kevin and Flo Rida.

Based on your discography you are able to produce Pop, R&B, and Hip Hop which one is your favorite genre to work with and why?

R&B & Pop are probably my favorite genres to produce for because of the time that actually goes into those productions. Not only the time,  but songwriting too. There’s just something special about being able to place a Pop or R&B record, it takes a lot more work. You have to think in concept of bridges and all when it comes to R&B & Pop. With Rap records, things are a little bit more simple.

There are not many producers that can operate successfully in Pop, R&B, and Hiphop you have. Ryan Leslie, Kanye West, Timberland, Missy Elliot, Dr. Dre, Scott Storch, and Kool and Dre, are a few others that have distinct sounds and success in many genres such as yourself. Please describe what your sound is, and what you want your sound to be known as.

I would describe my sound as a cross between all the genres you mentioned. I take bits and pieces of what I feel are the best of each genre, and utilize them into my productions. The end result is my sound. It’s pretty cool because my productions, whether they’re Rap, Pop or R&B, all work pretty well together. I also have a deep love for video game music which I also implement into my tracks. I love the dramatic scores in video games, they have a heavy influence on my sound.

By following you on twitter.com/lthagreat I have noticed that you are a humble person and not twitter celebrity/snob (that means only following celebrities not interacting with their fans). What keeps you grounded and motivated?

Well, I considered myself to be a normal human being, as I think ALL normal human beings should. Just because I’ve been blessed with a gift doesn’t mean that I have the right to act holier than thou. We all breathe the same air, and we all bleed red; so what gives me the right to think I’m above anyone or anything? I come from the same place as the people that love my music, so I’m able to connect with people easier than a lot of other producers or artist. Money changes a lot of people, but you can’t take it with you when you die!

In addition to being humble you offer your contact information for artists to contact you directly if they are an artist on the brink of actually cracking into this industry and need a little help getting started. That’s very generous action, and in addition you have started http://fruityloopsproducer.com/ to provide others with the same tools you have used to garner success. Please tell us about http://fruityloopsproducer.com/

Well, with flp.com I wanted to reach out to all the FL Studio producers who felt neglected by the music industry. Being an FL Studio producer comes with a lot of hate because you have those that believe that FL Studio is over saturating the beat game, and it is. There are those not willing to put in the same work as the big dogs. Even still, there are some pretty good FL Studio producers out there like 9th Wonder. I wanted to appeal to the FL Studio producers willing to work hard to make it to the top. We also conduct interviews on the site with FL Studio’s top big wigs. Over all I’m very proud of the site.

Why Fruity Loops and not Pro Tools or another program?

In my opinion, the functionality of FL Studio cannot be matched. I’m still discovering new things in the program and I’ve been producing with it for over 9 years now! The sequencer is still unmatched even with all the new DAWS dropping daily! The option to add VST plug-ins is a mega plus because you can turn FL Studio into a $20,000 + work station! Though I still use Pro Tools to track vocals, everything you can do with Pro Tools and other DAWS you can do with FLStudio, plus much much more! Lol sponsor me Image-Line!

What are a few of your favorites instruments, or sounds to be on a track?

Anybody that has payed attention to my production knows that I’m very heavy on synths, strings and 808′s. I layer a lot to get that big fat sound.

Who are few artists that you want to work with but have not gotten the chance to work with?

There are quite a few; I would love to do some records with Lady GaGa, I’m definitely digging her style and sound as an artist. She’s a breathe of fresh air. As far as the rap side goes, my dream would be to work with Jay – Z; if I was ever presented that opportunity, it would probably end up being a defining moment in my career. Lol what producer wouldn’t love to produce for Jay – Z? In the R&B realm, working with Usher would great.

If you had to produce an entire album for one rapper, one r&b artist, and one pop artist who would it be?

Lol pretty much the artist that I’ve already named, Jay- Z, Lady GaGa & Usher.

Who are a few new artists you suggest that we keep up with?

I’m going to  name my big three! Jet Phynx, Synsayshun & Charm. Jet Phynx is going to be the next big thing in the pop world, mark my words! His style is unmatched and he brings something very different to the pop scene. I’ve been working with Jet for over a year now, and he is one of the most unique and humble artist that I’ve had the pleasure of producing for! A rare breed! Synsayshun is a rap artist from Ohio currently doing her thing down in Atlanta. I actually got in contact with her through Twitter. One of her good friends is one of my homies on Twitter and he told me about her, so I decided to check her out. I was blown away! I’ve yet to hear a female rapper rhyme as crazy as she does, and the great thing is that we’re just getting started! She’s going to be huge because we’re bringing a totally different sound for a female rapper. On the R&B side of things, the third artist I’m working with Charm is making pretty big gains in the contemporary R&B world. Her work ethic is crazy as well as her writing skills, she’s going to be a force to reckon with!

If you had to choose a song to describe your life what would it be?

Jay – Z “Lucky Me”. I won’t describe the song, just check it out. lol.

If you could remake the song “Self Destruction” By KRS ONE who would you put on the track?

Hmm, very good question; I would have to lead things off with Common, than I’d add Talib Kweli, Dead Prez, Wyclef, Will IAm & Nas.

Do you think music with such a strong political message will ever be that popular again?

In this musical climate, it’s hard to say. Would I like for a political song like that to be popular again? Hell yes! We need positivity in this very negative industry!

Do you use auto tune, or are you willing to use it? If so can I get on get on a remix with it? Hahaha just kidding. 

I guess it would depend on the artist and the direction of the song. I’m not a big fan of auto – tune but I’m totally not in exclusive to it either. Lol auto -tune can make anyone sound good! So yeah, hop in your bag, meet me at the studio; and let’s get this money!