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You think Dr. Pepper is only sexist?

Not only does a 10 calorie drink being advertised as a man-only beverage unleash sexism so did a class field trip to KDKA-TV.

As my honors mass media class entered the doors for our KDKA tour today, no one would have thought that our tour guide would be sexist. And sexist to who? Me. Yes, today during the tv station tour I was called out for sitting in a chair.

After standing on the main floor of the studio, we moved to the control deck where one person controls the cameras and the TelePrompter resides. As we make our way in this small long space, I end up in front of a chair and instead of dealing with that awkward feeling of “Oh there is a chair behind me and I am standing right in front of it, I don’t want to fall over.” So I sat down and within seconds the tour guide tells me that “Young men should not sit when young ladies are standing.”

I let her repeat herself a couple of times because I wanted to see what she is insinuating with her tone of voice. Well, I got the picture that she wanted me to move out of my seat for a girl who was around me. So I asked the girls around if they wanted to sit down. They all declined. Then I turned back to the guide and said they all said no. Well, I then asked if she herself would like to sit down in the chair. She smiled and said no. Then she muttered that we will suck it up and as she was about to turn to continue her presentation I explain to her that I am gay.

I said that because I wanted to get the point across that I am gay and by that I feel more like a woman as oppose to a straight male. I naturally feel more for women. She responded I know. And then I tell her that she was being sexist. She denied it and we repeated ourselves twice, then I quickly knew oh lets move on because obviously she wasn’t going to budge. So I say okay and with my look on my face told her that she needs to continue her presentation.

_______

That was the story of the day for me. The epitome of negativity that I experienced thus far. I was appalled by the simple fact that she knew I was gay and still categorized me under gender specific qualities to tell me when to sit and when not to sit. Blatantly being sexist. It might be a misfire to manners, but like my mother said chivalry is dead. It has been dead for many years. And because I am Gay that should prescribe me with some notion that I have a feminine essence stored within my personality to relate to women and fit in more smoothly. Greater than that, no one cares about who got to the seat first. Males and Females, Females and Males are the same.

I am deeply impacted by this situation and will not be giving KDKA my time or efforts for anything. What took place is uncalled for and even if the station is in the top 20 for the market, I rather not become sexist in any industry I choose to work for.

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Categories Blog, Blogging, Careers, Culture, Debate, Late Night, Life, Opinion, Television

Tangled Slinky: The lies in higher education and beyond

11 Oct

A post like this one has gone on by for too long.

My so called University (if you do extensive research, you will figure it out, but that is NOT the point), has the audacity to lie to me about my financial aid. Ok, so apparently, I was quote on quote “missing” a document. A verification worksheet document. I find out today that this document, this flimsy sheet of paper, is to verify my government standing based on my status as a student and how much money I actually make.

A week ago, my mom told me that I was missing a part of my financial aid packet and it was this Verification Worksheet. Well, I go to the office and the counselor ( I actually forget her name) informed me that “Oh, Bernard. I am sorry but looks like we lost this sheet when you filled it out before.”

Well, the Bernard who expects everything to be in order at all times courageously speaks up and asks for his file. The file comes and no verification form was present in there for this school year. Ok, maybe there was another office mess up. Of course. Every year there has to be something wrong with financial aid. Does anyone else have these problems? Leave a comment!

After I get a copy of this document, which mind you is on a piece of cardstock, I just had various flashbacks to the summer. My mom is into scrapbooking so feeling the weight of this paper immediately transported me back to when I was home in the scrapbooking room. My summer had some rumblings of family affairs, that honestly are out of my control and I am giving it all back to Mother Earth to deal with, because I choose not to.

So with the frustration of having to fill this sheet out to verify my life and to tell my mom that I needed her signature and then realizing afterwards we are not rich just hit me all at once. Yes sometimes, I wander outside of myself and believe that my family is secretly hoarding millions of dollars. Nope, not at all! My mother doesn’t have a fax machine and doesn’t work, so I am glad this school believes in a high-class lifestyle. I simply forget that it is a private school, and rich kids go here. Silly of me to have amnesia when it comes to class warfare. Well, I called my mom to tell her what happened and to get a signature nonetheless. We poor folks rely on the U.S. Postal Service, which in itself is a joke because they will shred your headphones if you mail them. So don’t mail your headphones!

Literally, my boyfriend (yes I am gay) received his headphones in the mail cut apart. Logically thinking would tell me that squishing would have flattened the buds, not slice wires into two pieces. Nope, the wires have been sliced! And I sure as hell did not do it. If I was angry or upset with him ( my Self-Observation skills are impeccable see Chakra Awakening to understand) he and everyone else will clearly feel the wrath of this fiery Aries more in-depth and it does not require destroying headphones to make my point clear. Yes, so I am not sure who exactly chopped up my boyfriend’s headphones, all I know and sense is that corporations, government, and ignorant (in its truest form) people are not reliable and we need alternative humanistic metaphysical practices to transform these times.

Coming back, from a small tangent, well in the course of a week. I learned much more about this paper and this school. I learned that the school will lie to its students in order to get a paper completed. I also learned today that this paper was to be filled out not only because it was lost or misplaced, but because I was “randomly” chosen to verify my standing in money. I don’t know how accurate random means in this regard, because I am aware that governments, corporations, and mean people will do anything sneaky and clandestine without proper communication.

All I know is that lies are being told instead of the truth, and this situation just proves to me that if you fall into the category of being “uneducated” then ignorant people, government, and corporations will assume you are stupid and just a number. So my advice is you need good self-observation skills and strong communication skills because anyone ignorant will abuse you and surround you with negativity so that it consumes your life and they will make sure you are in living in a fearful and oppressed state.

If you ever had similar experiences, please do share, because you are not alone!

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Categories Advice, Blog, Blogging, Careers, Clue, Culture, Debate, Family, Life, News, Opinion, World

Certified Crystal Healer

9 Oct

Oh, yes!

Bernard is officially certified in crystal healing thanks to Margaret Ann Lembo, author of Chakra Awakening: Transform Your Reality Using Crystals, Color, Aromatherapy & The Power of Positive Thought. For a five hour workshop at Journeys of Life in Shadeyside, Bernard and his executive board for The Human Element, a newly found student group on campus devoted to love and acceptance, entered a realm of Universal Laws, Color, Chakras, Crystals, and Aromatherapy. All basics that are mentioned in Chakra Awakening. (Purchase the book by clicking on the image)

The new age shop was lit by the early morning light and as we got out of the taxi cab, I knew instantly that this place would become my new safe haven away from trouble and despair. We entered the store like any other store, but something seemed to wash us clean. It eventually became a hot spot for all walks of life like ourselves to come and learn about the ancient ways as the bustle of the day awakened even more. After we checked ourselves in for the Crystal Healing workshop, I noticed just how fun, vibrant, and miscellaneous everything looked. But as I quickly assimilated to the cosmic air there was indeed a method, an order, to where everything was placed. There was a Halloween section, Egyptian section, candles, oils, salt lamps, and my favorite… crystals!

I plummeted to the ground immediately when I saw the assortment of crystals and gemstones. I later learned in the class that we can use those terms interchangeably, thank goodness because I was wondering if there was a difference. It is all about your preference. We always have choices as it was clearly stated by our teacher. Well, there were your common crystals like quartz and amethyst to your more intricate structures like pyrite and lapis lazuli snuggled in their little plastic compartments. All fairly priced I will say, which made me even more giddy with joy. Everyone in the group was flowing to every place in the store and it remained that way until we had to go.

After we browsed the store of every nook and cranny we could find, it was time to meet the one and only Margaret Ann Lembo and let our minds soak up her wisdom and knowledge that she carries from all over the world. Like a stream of energy each participant walked up the stairs, but this time the sight of books, tarot decks, magazines, and light hugged our eyes and even mine as big as they were from seeing a new floor could not pull from the gripping sight of books. Another money snatcher from my wallet. I just love my books.

Because there was no time to stop and sniff out the best books, I and the gang went to the classroom that was conveniently located next to a little kitchen and the bathroom. Time just evaporated after that and light poured into all our souls and the room was filled with peace and love. Something quite extraordinary to experience in a room full of strangers. But us being in that room on that very day, could mean that we’ve interacted with those beings before just in a different lifetime. so are they really strangers?

I’ve learned about the universal laws of everything being energy and energy vibrating. Thus in turn everything affecting everything else. I also learned more in depth that we have an aura which is made up of our past lives, memories, and chakras. Chakras were described in class like spinning wheels of light that actually don’t stick out like cones in front of your body, but like a hoola hoop around your body. This was a pretty sight to feel. Like any pretty sight, usually there is color. Color was mentioned in great detail, because each chakra has a different color and there are 7 chakras.

Root- Red

Navel- Orange

Solar Plexus- Yellow

Heart- Green/Pink

Throat- Blue

Third Eye- Purple

Crown- White

This bond between chakras and color pave the way to match specific crystals to each chakra. Margaret did a very good job in teaching us how to remember the crystals and in what ways they can be used for healing based on chakra teachings. For example, if you are in a situation where you need to work with someone or some people you would rather not soak up or digest their draining energies, then wear or surround yourself with the crystal of amber. This gemstone clearly defines what is your space and what is theirs. Because we are all vibrating energies, some of us are overly powerful than others. In using amber along with the Solar Plexus chakra which is about ingesting life both physically and spiritually this combination will help you balance the situation to deter any negativity.

Even though the class must end at some point, I was really moved to purchase Chakra Awakening, Smudge in Spray (a helpful mist to banish negativity), and a little vial of Auntie M’s Anti (natural anti-Bernard-Getting-Sick tool) all part of Margaret’s product lines to help people transform their own realities. I did get a chance to talk with her one on one and she immediately sensed my passion and drive and interesting enough she was swept away when I told her I am aspiring to become a talk show host.

“Will you let me be a guest on your show?” She asked. I did not have my business cards at the time, so I made a cute makeshift card and wrote down that she was amazing and yes she will be welcomed to come onto my show. I only allow genuine and life changing people to come on, so of course she fits the bill. The experience is worth posting on The Bernard Charles Show because it is another example of how my personality just shines through wherever I go. I know it will get me to where I need to be because even Auntie M. herself said so…