Don Cornelius’ “Soul Train” became the longest-running first-run nationally syndicated show in television history, bringing African American music and style to the world for 35 years. Cornelius started in the insurance business, then became a radio DJ and television news announcer and sportscaster.

Inspired by “American Bandstand,” he devised a similar program spotlighting black music and introduced it on the Chicago UHF station WCIU in 1970. It was syndicated in 1971, and Cornelius soon moved the production to Hollywood. Cornelius was the deep-voiced host, and in addition to major black artists the show also attracted such R&B-leaning rock performers as David Bowie and Robert Palmer.

Cornelius stopped hosting in 1993, and though “Soul Train” ceased production in 2006, its archives continue to circulate through YouTube, DVD sets and BET’s Centric channel.

Cornelius died Feb. 1, 2012, of a gunshot wound to head at Cedars-Sinai Medical Center in Los Angeles. He was 75.

Soul Train Legend Remembered as Pioneer

How many times have you heard the aphorism, "the quickest way to a man's heart is through his stomach?" In other words, if you're a good cook, this enhances your chances of finding a man. Another fallacy is to find a man who is "God-fearing," "church-going," or "equally yoked." Equally yoked entails more than a religious connotation, and should not be used as such. Doing so, leads to the indictment of one's character, when you know very little about the individual. The idiom is actually biblical; it's used religiously and taken literally, because of the bible passage below.

• 2 Corinthians 6:14, "Do not be unequally yoked with unbelievers. For what partnership has righteousness with lawlessness? Or what fellowship has light with darkness?"

What is critical in two people coming together and staying together, is that they are on the same page; they are both financially responsible; can handle pressure situations without resorting to scapegoating, and the quality of each others character coupled with spiritual maturity. Religious beliefs are more hereditary than anything else and often serves as a clandestine smoke screen that can do irreparable damage to a relationship.

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I took a course, about 20 years ago, called, "The Psychological Issues in Black, Male/Female Relationships." The class was very interesting but most of the semester we argued back and forth and the instructor was more of a facilitator or referee. At the end of the day (end of the course) we really didn't learn very much because most of our debates were confrontational, as most debates regarding black, male/female relationships are today. Until we all get to a level where we are beyond scapegoating, beyond religious differences, beyond the inner conflict that exist between black folks, we will always disagree.

I have written quite a few articles about relationships. This does not make me an expert on the subject. However, through years of research, being in a few relationships, and the quiet reflection that comes with spending time alone, affords me the opportunity to shed some serious light on the issue of why we can't get along.

It never really matters whether the reader agrees or disagrees. What matters is, did he or she get the intended point of the article?

The point is always the same, and it's an old Indian proverb that states, "We're branches of the same tree, how foolish for those branches to fight amongst themselves." This is what we continue to do, not only within the black race, but throughout the human race.

I'm at the point now where I truly don't believe we will see much of a positive difference in our lifetime, maybe in our children's lifetime, but not in ours.

We are too far gone to turn it around now. Collectively, as a human race we are more inclined to move toward absurd, uneducated decisions based on greed and jealousy, rather than come together and support a logical decision based on mutual admiration, respect, research, study, and love.

We talk a good game, when we're sitting in church, when we're faced with adversity, but the norm is indifference, arrogance, and disdain for one another. To our misfortune and detriment, there is no immediate end in sight to our spiritual confusion and moral ignorance.

B. E. Shaw Sr.

An email conversation between myself and a female acquaintance, went something like this:

Barry: If she likes to hang with her girlfriends every so often, I would not have a problem with that, as long as she's faithful to me, she could even go to a male-strip-club if she wanted, with her friends, because that would only get her fired up, and when she gets home, I'd be waiting to "scratch that itch" for her.

Jeannie: I couldn't help but chuckle at your strip club comment. My ex would've never in a million years said yes! But then of course he had major insecurity issues. I wouldn't have a problem with the person I'm with hitting "hot spots" occasionally with friends either as long as respect is never forgotten. Shoot, I just might be motivated enough to buy my own stripper pole...lol!

Allow me to school women on the whole "stripper issue." And your comments are encouraged.

First of all, I don't go to strip clubs. I used to, years ago, but even then it was infrequent. I never made strip clubs a habit for two reasons: (1) strips clubs are very expensive, and (2) you really get nothing for the money you're spending except an erection. Unless you're paying major bucks to sit in the VIP section you can't lay a finger on the strippers. If you do, you are immediately kicked out of the club - it happened to a friend of mine and it was extremely hilarious because he's like, "let's go guys," and we're like, "you better go sit your ass in the car, we're not being escorted out - you are." Furthermore, if a woman has a man that likes to hang out at strip clubs she has an entirely different set of problems.

I understand it's different with the women strip clubs, I'm told women can touch the guys.

I wouldn't mind my woman going every now and then because I know that it wouldn't do anything but TURN HER OWN, and when she comes home I'm going to WAX that AZZ good! (sorry to be so blunt, just making a point).

Now, about the "stripper pole." There was an episode of "King of Queens" that said it all. If you're not familiar, or have never seen the sitcom or this particular episode, then you don't know what I'm talking about (view the clip in the video below this blog post). The bottom line, every woman doesn't do well with the stripper pole, and really, instead of turning your man on, it is really more of a turn-off. Most women don't quite comprehend a man's mentality behind the pole. I believe women have the false impression that because it has become rather popular, and there are stripper-pole-classes, that most men automatically like it. What the wife or girlfriend doesn't grasp is that when we see women on the stripper pole these women have bodies/figures like Angela Bassett; asses like J-Lo; look like fashion models, and are in the age range of 20-25. To top it off, these are women that we cannot have which only adds to the allure and lust of the situation. However, when we see our significant other on that stripper pole, and in many cases she has no idea what she's doing, it sheds a whole new light on the pole. And we can't really say what's on our mind at that particular time because it would come off as offensive, she gets mad, won't give you any, you're left high and dry, then you have to go out and buy flowers just to smooth the situation over.

We see you all the time! We see you when you're not looking your best (we still love you of course) and we see you when you're looking absolutely stunning. We walk in the bathroom right after you've come out (and vice versa). I'm saying all of this to say that the "stripper pole" is a bit overrated and not for every couple.

View Pole Dancing Episode of King of Queens - Part 1
View Pole Dancing Episode of King of Queens - Part 2

A pyramid scheme is a non-sustainable business that involves the exchange of money, usually in the form of a sign-up fee, and usually has no product or service. They are illegal. The only people that are able to make money on a pyramid scheme are the people at the top of the pyramid.

Pyramid schemes promise very high returns in a short period of time for doing nothing other than handing over your money and getting others to do the same. The fraudsters behind a pyramid scheme may go to great lengths to make the program look like a legitimate multi-level marketing program. But despite their claims to have legitimate products or services to sell, these fraudsters simply use money coming in from new recruits to pay off early stage investors.

Difference between Pyramid and Multi-Level

One difference is that members at any level of a multi-level marketing model can make income through the company’s products and/or services without signing up any new members. The second difference is that multi-level marketing companies are LEGAL!

Examples of Multi-Level Marketing Companies

* Avon Products;
* Tupperware;
* Herbalife;
* World Financial Group;
* Nu Skin/Pharmanex/Big Planet;
* Xango