Shamontiel L. Vaughn
 
So I finally got fed up with RCN constantly raising their rates and paying ridiculous rental prices for the modem and digital converters so I went back to my original Internet, cable and phone provider, Comcast. I'm a reviewer of music, movies, books and fragrances so I'm quick to tell you the truth. But when I see something I like, I have to give credit where credit is due.

I love Comcast's voicemail system. The SmartZone communication system will let you see that you have a voicemail no matter where you are, open it like an e-mail, and play it the way you would a song (it's like an attachment). I love this feature!

Either I'm easily impressed or this is one of the best features they ever came up with. On top of that, I'm saving myself $20 on paying for this stuff so I say kudos to Comcast!

The only downside was the tech guy who hooked my stuff up used my bathroom, did not put the seat down and I didn't see him wash his hands. I disinfected everything as soon as he left.

Folks, please wash your hands when you leave the bathroom. It's really not that hard nor does it take that much time.
 
 
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I know that subject line makes you wonder, "Where is she going with this?" but hear me out. I'm currently completing a contract assignment with an educational publisher, and its library is closing. I'm always sad to hear about any library closing, but I was surely happy to take some free books and magazines off their hands. In addition to a few books, I snatched up two handfuls of "People" and "Time" magazine, mainly of Michael Jackson issues for my mother and Obama issues for myself. And in almost every single issue, I see First Lady Michelle Obama and President Barack Obama smooching it up or staring at each other like they'd rather be alone. See that "People" photo above? I love it. I don't see that enough.

I don't know what is going on with the news lately, but people are obsessed with talking about how single, black women will never find a man. Today, I heard a discussion about it on "The Steve Harvey Show" driving to work, and then on my way home "The Doug Banks Show" was covering how other races felt about dating black women. When did we get to be the guinea pigs? "Oh, test this one out and see if you like her." *shrug*

Anyway, I think all of this talk about how black women will be single for life and so many black men going to prison or being killed is becoming a self-fulfilling prophecy, and women will really start to believe it. I feel like when you're searching for something you won't find it. In all of the relationships I've been in, I've never been the one looking for the guy. I don't feel there's any rush. He'll come when it's time, but in the meantime, enjoy your own company.

Anyway, so I keep hearing about how black women are undateable, but I'm looking through these "People" magazines and seeing the most prominent African-American couple in the nation clearly proving that black women can find good men. Why not pay attention to them instead of harping on those who aren't? If we concentrate on negativity, that's all we'll get is negativity. (Yes, this includes being hostile to interracial dating as well. These guys are not assigned to date you nor are you them. Date who you want to and let them do the same.) 

Then there's the other tired argument. I've heard the same complaints about dark-skinned women versus light-skinned women, and how one is perceived to be more pretty than the other. Then I check out Trey Songz video "Neighbors Know My Name" today with a beautiful brown-skinned woman. I won't even get into how he walks the line between sexy and raunchy, but he surely does it very, very well. Anyway, this is another clear indication of a very attractive star who has a brown-skinned woman as his lead. I took this even further with my article, "Ode to Brown-Skinned Women, Do Musicians Show Them Love?" He's not the only one who thinks chocolate women are sexy.
 
First Lady Michelle Obama is not only a black woman but a brown-skinned black woman, too, who found a great man. Ladies, I honestly think we need to stop paying attention to these reports and talk shows trying to tell us we won't find anybody and start paying attention to clear proof that we're not down and out.

But in the meantime, I think it's cool to be happily single and enjoying life.
 
 
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Chicago is reminding me how beautiful it is in the spring and summer months today, but it was also decent yesterday while I was downtown for the Weird Chicago Tour event. On my way back to the Red Line, I walked by a building I'd never seen before, The Anti-Cruelty Society, and saw all of these beautiful dogs from the window.

Those who know me well know that I love dogs. This is why I'm so supportive of groups like the Carroll Care Center, The HSUS and now The Anti-Cruelty Society. I want to help continue to bring awareness for animal rights. So I've decided to participate in the Bark in the Park fundraiser for The Anti-Cruelty Society. Please feel free to donate what you can!

Click my dog, Shep, at the top of this blog for details. I had Shep for 13 years and our whole family was so sad when he finally passed. Of course I love my parents semi-new dog Faith that they've had, but there's nothing like that very first pet. I love my Faith, too, though even though those two dogs have zip zero in common. Talk about night and day between him and her.  

A pet is one of the easiest ways to learn to be loyal and care for another life. I think all sane kids should have that opportunity and adults, too. So why not walk your dark, get some exercise and help animal cruelty at the same time? Donate.
 
 
As an AC Source Writer, I write about a lot of different topics. Since I became an AC Arts & Entertainment Contributor, I write more about entertainment than I ever have before. But this weekend, I was hired to write two articles—what advice I would give to incoming college freshmen from my alma mater and what I did with my college degree. There were a few professors that I wanted to give credit to, but I couldn’t remember one guy’s name so I started digging in my journals hoping I’d mentioned him.

Finding one person’s name is not an easy task, especially if this wasn’t someone you regularly wrote about so of course I got caught up reading old journal entries. You know that old saying about “If I only knew then what I know now”? That’s how I felt reading about past relationships, and boy, did I mouth off about these guys. I don’t even believe people need therapy when it comes to relationships or even reading relationship advice, although I still enjoy being the Chicago Relationships Examiner. I went through at least 10 journals trying to find this professor’s name but got sucked into relationship after relationship. At one point, I wanted to muff myself for even giving some of these cats the time of day. But then there were other entries that had me reminiscing. 

I recall one particular ex telling me, “You don’t know what you’ve got ‘till it’s gone,” and that was the one I wrote the most positive journal entries about. Words of advice to the writers out there. The next time you get into a relationship and seriously want to make it work, go through your old journals. Re-read all of the stuff you didn’t like and all the things you did like. Avoid repeating the same mistakes again.

FYI: It took me over an hour to find the professor's name, but I finally did. The entry should be posted on AC sometime this week.
 
 
I pumped my fists at 9:45 p.m., when the health care bill got its 216 visits. The health care industry has been getting by overcharging people and denying those with "preexisting conditions" for far too long. I don't think the Republicans who claim they care about health care really do because if they did, this would've been a major topic during the Bush presidency, otherwise known as eight years of stupidity. (Sorry, I'm usually above borderline name calling, but Bush was the worst president ever. I hear Ronald Reagan was worse from some people, but the way Bush handeled Hurricane Katrina was repulsive and Condolezza Rice going shoe shopping through it was even worse.)

I agree with Roland S. Martin from CNN who frankly said the Republicans who accused Obama of communism are "stuck on stupid." I was so tired of folks faking like they cared about those who didn't have health insurance. I've been on both ends of the health care dilemma, uninsured and insured. I wholeheartedly support the health care bill.

I have been very vocal about how I feel about President Barack H. Obama, abortion and health care. I'm elated that it finally passed!

And then at 10:07 p.m., the Dems got the 216 (actually 232) they needed to stop the Republicans from changing the language. That "baby killer" comment doesn't even phase me. Joe Wilson Jr., huh?

Personally I think it's psychotic for people to completely turn a blind eye to those whose health insurance dropped them when they got really sick and needed it and women who were turned down because they were raped or molested. I understand being worried about those who use abortions like they're birth control, but to be so emotional about something that is a forming human being and not those who are walking around, living, breathing and suffering at this very moment is counterproductive. I'm very much pro-choice, but I'm far more concerned with the health care industry playing the insure-you-insure-you-not game with people who are going bankrupt and really need it. Yes, taxes may be higher for the rich, but when you're blowing the money on lavish dinners and vacations, it's hard for me to be convinced you need it the way someone who is suffering from a fatal disease with no money for medicine or doctor's visits would.

Either way, the foolishness doesn't matter. It passed the House of Representatives. It made history. Obama's going on the trail, but he's already got my support. Senate, don't disappoint me now. Let's get this bill done with no changes and get to work!
 
 
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Some of you who follow my work may know I started off as the Chicago Black Hair and Health Examiner, left and then came back. Well, I’m back full force now. At first I was wondering whether I could stay interested in talking about hair. But over Christmas break, I started having countless discussions with family and friends about their hair care issues. The more I chatted with them, especially the ones who asked me how did I manage to keep my hair thick and continuously growing, the more I thought about my paternal grandmother. 

I remember when I was four years old and had to get up from nap time because my grandmother was there to pick me up to go to the beauty salon. At the time I thought it was pointless, but I wanted to get this beauty salon thing over with so I could sit in my grandparents’ living room and hang out with my favorite person on Planet Earth, Grandad. There is nobody I could have as much fun with than my grandfather. I learned how to play pool, Poker, Blackjack, Tonk, War, how to write Roman numerals and learned some cooking tips from my grandfather. To this day, there's not one topic I won't talk with my grandfather about. (Yes, that too.) 

But I have to thank my grandmother for scooping me up every other Saturday from four years old until I was about 14 years old because she saved me a helluva lot of money. Sitting in beauty salon chairs for over a decade with three different hairdresses taught me a lot about hair care. And even when my grandmother stopped taking me to the beauty salon, I decided to chop all of my hair off and go back to the beauty salon to rock a million new hairstyles. 

What I found out immediately was that I stopped needing to go bi-weekly. Why? I’d watched so many beauticians stack, flip and curl hair. I knew how to perm hair by the time I was 12 and never paid anybody to do that. I’d permed family members and friends’ hair so many times I can’t count. When I want to rock a new hairstyle, chances are I can copy anything I see in a black hair magazine. But chances are if you see me now, it's a wrap, flowy curls or a pulled-back ponytail. However, when I really want to do it up, that's not a problem for me. I don't even know how many times I've cut my hair or how many hairstyles I've had, although I've grown bored with doing a billion different styles within the past couple years. The only thing you'll never see me rocking is weave. I just cannot make myself put somebody else's hair in my head. It grosses me out, and I think we spend there are some sistas who spend far too much time trying to look like someone else instead of themselves. The only time I came close to wearing hair that wasn't my own was rocking an afro puff for a '70s party, and even then, it looked natural.

I think I go to a beauty salon maybe once a year if that. And finally I was able to use my hair and health knowledge not just to save money but to make some dinero too. 

So check me out as Examiner.com’s Chicago Black Hair and Health Examiner.
 
 
I love everything about journalism. I love to learn new things about AP style. I enjoy interviewing, research and going on location. I like reading newspapers and checking out my favorite news station WGN News. I follow @Suntimes, @ChicagoTribune, @ColonelTribune and @WGNNews on Twitter. But one thing that bores me about journalism is following stories that we really have no business getting into. The most boring story to date is one of the hottest, and that’s this whole Tiger Woods debate. Why oh why did he hold that press conference? The only person he owed an apology to was his wife. 

Here’s my take on that Feb. 19 press conference conversation and the entire Tiger Woods debate.
 
 
Lately I’ve been working on a transcription project with the talk show host Johnny Carson. I started off not really caring for the show. There was nothing wrong with it, but it just wasn’t my cup of tea. However, after watching countless episodes, I’ve become quite the fan. Even on the days I take off, I find myself going back to watch the show. Here’s why Johnny Carson, the King of Late Night TV, was ahead of his time. Click here.
 
 
I jumped up and clapped my hands when President Barack H. Obama dusted his shoulders off during a campaign speaking event before he won the candidacy. It was fascinating to see how many people in the audience knew what he was doing and the artist he got that move from. I loved that he could connect to the younger, hip hop crowd that way. And then-Senator Hilary Clinton was hating at the time so I understood why he did it. There are those folks who just love to hate on another person due to jealousy and discomfort with another person rising to the top. We’ve heard enough songs describing haters so we know who they are. However, the hater songs have got to stop.

After Jay-Z’s “Dirt Off Your Shoulder,” we pretty much got the song of arrogance and determination we needed to ignore those who are determined to be negative. However, also take into consideration Common’s song “The 6th Sense,” that has the lyrics, “If I don’t like it, I don’t like it, that don’t mean that I’m hating.” Sometimes we use the term “hating” when in reality it’s constructive criticism. It’s just not realistic to believe that everybody is going to like your product, whether it’s music, writing or acting. And sometimes a critic can make your work better and has no intention of dragging you through the dirt. 

But what worries me is the amount of time spent on making songs about haters. Even worse the songs always confirm that the artists don’t care about the haters or feels they’re unimportant. But if they’re that unimportant, why make songs about haters? Why not just let them hate from afar and ignore them?
 
Here is my advice to you on how to handle a hater. Take it or leave it, but you'll save yourself a lot of stress if you know the difference between a constructive critic, a hater and when it's time to just live and let live.

Click here if you want tips on how to avoid haters.
 
The Letter Box 12/11/2009
 
This probably won't impress you, but Family Dollar has some of the most beautiful gift boxes in their Christmas selections, and I bought this one. It's 12.5 x 14 x 7.5. I have three shoeboxes that are falling apart full of letters and cards since elementary school, and I'd untaped and retaped them so many times. Now I could throw them away without replacing them for more years. This new box says "Live life passionately, Laugh until your belly hurts, Love unconditionally." 
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