Are You Holding the Purse?

I have two quotes on my computer. One is by Marianne Williamson that says, "Our deepest fear is not that we are inadequate. Our deepest fear is that we are powerful beyond measure! The other quote is by an unknown author that says "To get something you've never had, you have to do something you've never done, and sometimes you have to leave behind who you are to become who you're supposed to be!" My New Years Resolution in 2009 is to "stop holding the purse" and start "playing the game!" Life is too short to stand on the sidelines. Memories are created only if you make them. Goals are reached only if you strive to reach them. Are you ready to stop holding the purse?

d-the-VIP

The Secret Millionaire: Must Watch TV!

This is the season of giving and Fox is leading the pack with what I believe is one of the best shows on television. It's called Secret Millionaire, (airs Wednesday's on FOX). This “reality” show takes multi-millionaires out of their luxurious surroundings and places them "undercover" for 1 week in some of America's poorest most underserved neighborhoods. The millionaires, most of whom, are used to traveling by private jet, driving expensive cars, dining in exclusive restaurants, wearing tailored top label attire, and blowing wads of cash on everything from dinners with friends to trips to Vegas, now have to live on minimum wage and decide which person or organization they'll give $100,000 or more of their own money to. It's a serious "reality check” for some of the millionaires who because they are self-made approach the experience with the idea that they are going to help encourage the people they meet to do better, reach higher, and go further. By the end of the show, however the people the millionaires have met and the situation's they’ve encountered change them forever. The check that they end up writing truly is a symbol of change on their part as there seems to be a renewed appreciation for what they have and also a commitment to continue to help those who are less fortunate. As a viewer you receive the gift of hope and a renewed belief in humanity and the concept that one person can make a difference.

~d-the-VIP

Birkin Bags are OUT! Black folks are IN!

The hottest accessory at this years New York Society party is not the Birkin bag it's an African American! At least that's what one person working for a prominent PR firm responsible for planning New York's most exclusive parties, has confessed. According to "loose lips" a memo called "Diversified Holiday Guests" was sent out informing staff that clients are heavily encouraging the addition of African-Americans to their Holiday guest lists. It seems that the newly elected first families ethnicity played a huge role in the decision. To ensure that everyone knew who was "acceptable" to invite. The memo also listed, in order of desirability, the top 10 "most desirable" African American New Yorkers. Just in case you're wondering who made the cut. Here's the list:



1. Bonnie Morrison

Bonnie Morrison (PR)-Publicity Director for KCD renowned PR firm for fashion designers

2. Genevieve Jones

Genevieve Jones (Socialite)-I don't know if that title quite applies to her. Although she has been seen with a who's who list of New York society and is always immaculately dressed in the latest designer looks, it seems that she's from moderate beginnings, an Engineer father and homemaker mom from Louisiana. But don't cry for Genevieve she may soon earn her title as her jewelry line is coming out soon.

3. Maggie Betts

Maggie Betts (Socialite)- Her father is Roland Betts, developer of Chelsea Piers in New York. She is very good friends with the Bush Twins, apparently her father, a staunch democrat is GW's frat brother and the two families vacation together often.

4. Malcolm Harris

Malcolm Harris (Designer)-Creator of Mal Sirrah clothing line/brand used Youtube to promote brand. Is passionately campaigning for aid to Darfur.

5. Moises De La Renta

Moises De La Renta (Son of Oscar)-The only son of Fashion Icon Oscar De La Renta was adopted as an infant however we'll see if his pops great taste in fashion has rubbed off as he will unvail a ready to wear line called MDLR, (his initials)

6. Kehinde Wiley

Kehinde Wiley(Artist)-Very popular artist. Works sell for between $12-40, 000 uses Hip-Hop imagery in art.

7. Nicola Vassell

Nicola Vassell-(Deitch Gallery Director)-A Model from Jamaica she is formerly a writer for Trace Magazine and Vibe.

8. Rachel Roy

Rachel Roy-(Designer)-Best known for her marriage to Damon Dash former partner of Rapper Jay Z and co-owner of Roc-a-fella records, Roy recently announced a $4 Billion dollar deal with Jones Apparel Inc.

9. Jason Campbell

Jason Campbell-(Journalist)-Editor of fashion site the JCReport, Campbell held the sites launch party at the swanky W hotel.

10. Marc Baptiste

Marc Baptiste-(Photographer)-A celebrity and fashion photographer. Baptiste has worked for everybody from Vibe to Vogue.


Pretty impressive list. It's a shame Diddy didn't make the cut! Doesn't he run New York??? Well,there's always next year!

~d-the-VIP

Congress: Stop acting like Scrooge!!!

Does it seem like the government is being extra hard on the auto industry? Sure they deserve to be scrutinized, their poor planning, not just the poor economy got them in the predicament they're in, but the same could've been said for the banking industry. It seems that our government wrote a $700 billion dollar check with minimal fuss for the banking industry while picking apart every facet of the auto industry bailout. Is it a case of the importance or higher value placed on "white collar" workers versus "blue collar" workers? Is our government placing greater value on a banking community who preyed on the dreams of the ignorant by providing loans that they couldn't afford, essentially raping and pillaging millions, all for the benefit of their stockholders and corporate heads versus the car industry who were warned back in 1973, (after the oil embargo), that they should start investing in the research and production of more fuel efficient cars, but instead focused on building prettier more luxurious gas guzzlers? Maybe the governments’ hesitation is truly a case of learning from the banking bailout and wanting to ensure that the auto industry's CEO's don't walk away with $250 million dollars like Mr. Fuld of Lehman Brothers. I can't help but ask myself how many weeks will our government allow the families of auto workers to languish not knowing if their jobs will exist? How many Auto industry families have not bought holiday gifts because they are afraid to use money that they may need for necessities should the bailout not be approved, while our Congress and Senate members shop freely knowing that their jobs are secure? I agree that strict guidelines should be in place to ensure that the government is paid back and that no handful of people benefit royally from the bailout but I also agree that it's time for Congress to put aside the finger pointing and browbeating and roll up their sleeves to create a deal that both the government and the Auto Industry can live with! At least the government can be compassionate enough to come to an agreement by the end of this week so that families, holding their collective breath's until this deal goes through, can breathe a sigh of relief, knowing that their job's are a little more secure. It will give them just enough time to finally get into the spirit of the Holidays!

~d-the-VIP

Why I should be an SOBU Blogger

My blog should be selected to attend the SOBU because of the diversity of the topics written about and the diversity of the audience reading. While I’ve written about everything, from the Banking Bailout to the Real Housewives of Atlanta, the sometimes comical, sometimes serious but always interesting and intriguing blog appeals to readers from various ages, ethnicity's, and socio-economic backgrounds. In the blogging world that is quite rare. D-the-VIP.com is like radio back in the days when you could hear Michael Jackson, Prince, Madonna, Shirley Murdock, and Duran-Duran all on the same station. The contributions I would make as an invited blogger would be significant. I'm smart, I'm witty but most of all I have my finger on the pulse of what's going on in and around the community. You want to talk about the recession? I'm ready, (especially since we're finally admitting we're in one! You want to talk about the astronomical foreclosure rates and the sub-prime loans that caused them? I'm ready! You want to talk lay-off's and the free trade agreement that helped get us there? I'm ready! And if you want to discuss rap lyric's and why Rapper's should censor their lyric's, I'm ready! I may not agree with you but one things for sure I will always have an opinion!

Snitchin or Steppin Up?

Rapper TI, (Clifford Harris), was in court a couple of weeks ago testifying in the case of his best friends murder, (See Video Above). What amazes me is how quickly and easily he was labeled a "snitch" for what amounted to a testimony to confirm facts. Have mafia/gangster movies blurred the lines of what is snitchin and what isn't to such a degree that we believe anybody who talks to the cops or testifies in a case is snitchin? A snitch, by street terms, is a person who commits a crime with sombody and tells the cops about that person after s/he gets arrested. So basically if you and I robbed a bank, I got arrested, and told the cops you were with me, I'd be a snitch. However, if you and I were walking down the street, and you got killed, and I told the cops who killed you, that is NOT, nor has it ever been, SNITCHIN!!! Unless of course you're Sunny Corleone and I'm Don Vito Corleone, (from the movie Godfather). You wanna know why? Because they are all in the same gang, the mafia, they may play for different teams but they are all in essence "robbing the bank together". So, when Sammy "the Bull" Gravano, long time "compadre" of John Gotti, testified against Gotti he snitched! However when, TI "Clifford Harris" testified in the murder trial of his best friend, he was just a man Steppin Up!

~d-the-VIP