Authentic Filters

Smash and Grabs

You’ve probably seen the crazy videos of groups of people banning together to rob high-end luxury and electronic stores across the country. Most notably, in California and some surrounding areas. Happening in split seconds groups of 10+ people brazenly bum-rush these places and try to take as much as they can. 

Surely this isn’t what our society has come to. People doing what they want when they want and thinking there are no consequences behind it. We as a country are better than that; we as people are better than that. 

Agencies Reloaded

It’s been over 21 months since we applied for the EIDL program with the SBA in the Covid-19 relief. We’ve been denied multiple times for reasons that didn’t match up to the previous and we’re now in our final request for reconsideration.

A program that was supposed to exist to help small business in a time of a global pandemic has failed in many ways to help thousands of people that were forced to close for good. Only time will tell if we get approved. 

With a backup of millions of tax returns, the IRS has been in a mess for quite some time. An institution that has been around for decades, one would think their systems would be able to handle the workload, but that certainly doesn’t seem to be the case. 

Finally, as the Biden Administration tries to enforce vaccine shots for all Federal workers and other sectors, it appears they are offering a safety net of sorts for those that choose not to get vaccinated for whatever reason and loose their jobs. Unemployment benefits. Could this incentivize those holding out to continue to do so knowing they’ll at least have some form of payment coming in? And for how long will it last before it’s cut off? 

Welcome to Episode 11 of Season 2 for Authentic Filters. If you enjoyed this episode, please be sure to subscribe and leave us a 5-Star Review on Apple Podcast or wherever you listen. Share with your family & friends…Let’s get into it.

Rittenhouse…Not Guilty

This past week, the Jury decided the outcome of the fatal shootings by then 17 year old Kyle Rittenhouse. Not Guilty. A verdict that elated some but majorly disappointed others. Two men lost their lives and a third forever altered at the hands of Rittenhouse due to his careless actions of possessing a military style gun and choosing to go to the protest with that very weapon. 

Every action has a reaction whether good or bad and this simply put, was avoidable. At some point people must be held accountable for their actions and not allowed to just do what they want when they want and not face any consequences especially when it so clearly and devastatingly has affected others & their loved ones.

Justice for Ahmaud Arbery

Back on February 23, 2020, Ahmaud Arbery, a twenty-five-year-old African American man was jogging near his home in Brunswick, Georgia on a Sunday afternoon. Ahmaud was chased down and killed by three white men with guns. Travis McMichael, his father Gregory McMichael, and their neighbor William Bryan Jr. These three white men saw a black man and decided to confront Ahmaud accusing him of burglary and tried to conduct a citizen’s arrest. When Ahmaud tried to protect himself, by fighting them off, he was shot in cold blood. The crime was videotaped by the neighbor, William Bryan Jr.

Once this story got media attention and it went mainstream, black people demanded that justice be served and that all three men be charged with Ahmaud’s murder. Now, eighteen months later, the men are on trial and facing malice murder and felony murder for killing Ahmaud Arbery. 

Hundreds of people including pastors around the world are rallying outside the Courthouse. The Defense has requested several mistrials and the judge keeps denying their request. In addition, the Defense attorney crossed the line by requesting from the judge that no Black Pastors be allowed in the courtroom. He referred to both Al Sharpton and Jesse Jackson being a distraction to the jurors. 

Closing arguments are expected on Monday and the family of Ahmaud Arbery is looking for justice for their son.

Welcome to Episode 10 of Season 2 for Authentic Filters. If you enjoyed this episode, please be sure to subscribe and leave us a 5-Star Review on Apple Podcast or wherever you listen. Share with your family & friends…Let’s get into it.

Affairs in Order

No one knows when their time on earth will expire. We don’t have a crystal ball nor can we predict what the future holds; but one thing is for sure, life on earth is temporary, so don’t procrastinate when it comes to making sure all your “Affairs are in Order”, before you depart from this world.

One of the most selfless acts one can do is to invest in purchasing life insurance for their loved ones. It is important to have a life insurance policy in place to ensure that when you’re gone, your family can carry on with life and not have to worry about struggling to pay bills. 

Make sure to have a Last Will and Testament in place to ensure that your final wishes are carried out but be wise and add a POA (Power of Attorney) that outlines who will take over your medical and financial decisions, in the event that you become unable to make those decisions for yourself.

Many families have gone through the motions of dealing with horrible family members that don’t do the right thing when loved ones pass away. It’s important that you take care of your affairs and that you leave behind an ironclad Will to ensure that no one can step in and take over how your final wishes will be handled or cause unnecessary havoc to your family.

The Rittenhouse Trial

Many Americans are currently awaiting the verdict of the Kyle Rittenhouse trial in which the then 17 year old  fatally shot 2 and injured a 3rd during riots in Kenosha, Wisconsin in Summer 2020 over racial unrest. With closing arguments taking place Monday November 15th, 2021, his fate seems to lay in the hands of the jurors.

This was all brought about for Kyle as a result of the police shooting of Jacob Blake which left him paralzyed. Many felt justice needed to be served upon the officer who fired the shots and it was amplified with what seemed like shooting after shooting of African Americans by officers for no just reason.

Rittenhouse took to the streets armed with an AR-15 style rifle that he was legally not capable of getting on his own due to age. As a result, he had his friend Mr. Black (who also faces charges of his own) purchase the gun for him. A can of worms in itself, Americans wait to here the fate of both Rittenhouse and Mr. Black. 

Welcome to Episode 9 of Season 2 for Authentic Filters. If you enjoyed this episode, please be sure to subscribe  and leave us a 5-Star Review on Apple Podcast or wherever you listen. Share with your family & friends…Let’s get into it.

Rebuilding America

Late Friday night on November 5th, the Democrats finally got an Infrastructure Bill passed. The initiative to Build Back Better is a huge undertaking, but one that the country as a whole needs. New highways, bridges, railroads; commitment to combating climate change and investing in services such as high speed internet for all and EV charging stations isn’t a “political” thing, it’s a “better future for all” thing. 

America has consistently been at the forefront of innovation in the world, which is why it’s one of the best places to live. We’ve also been a leader among nations who look to us for insights on doing the right thing. Well, this is the right thing; not just for some, but for all. This is a win for America...this is a win for the world.

Another Senseless Killing

The African American community continues to struggle with, The Senseless Killings of promising black people at the hands of police officers.

On August 5, 2016, Jamarion Robinson a 26-year-old African American man who was diagnosed with paranoid schizophrenia was shot 59 times and killed during an attempted fugitive arrest in Georgia.

After years of protesting and demanding justice, five years later, the officers responsible for Jamarion’s murder are being charged with his death. One of the officer’s is U.S. Marshal, Eric Heinze and the other is a Clayton County police officer, Kristopher Hutchens.

The family of Jamarion is thankful that this tragic incident is getting media attention and the officers that are responsible for this heinous crime are finally being charged. We hope and pray that his family is vindicated, and that justice is served for Jamarion.

Welcome to Episode 8 of Season 2 for Authentic Filters. If you enjoyed this episode, please be sure to subscribe and leave us a 5-Star Review on Apple Podcast or wherever you listen. Share with your family & friends…Let’s get into it.

Trying To Undo a Wrong

Just recently, it was reported by Fox News and The Wall Street Journal that the Biden Administration plans to pay illegal immigrant families $450k to $1 million dollars for the hardship that was inflicted upon them when they crossed the US border illegally and were separated from their loved ones during the Trump Administration.

There are several agencies that are on board with this plan such as the Dept. of Justice, Homeland Security, and Health and Human Services that believe we should compensate these families that were treated inhuman even though they broke the law. This gives the new administration the opportunity to Undo a Wrong by the previous administration.

Many Republicans feel that this is a “horrific decision” and is wrong to use taxpayers’ money to turn illegal immigrants into potential millionaires.

If this payout comes about, it is said to be more than what families currently receive when they lose a loved one in the military if they are killed in action during their service.

In addition, slavery one of the most inhumane histories of America for African American’s is a wrong that can never be undone. Yet, reparations are still in a “study”phase for something that started over 400 years ago.

It’s a hot Hot Market

Across the country, from coast to coast and throughout the Midwest, the Real Estate market has been blazing hot with record sales prices. Thanks to historically low interest rates, a massive upcoming generation who is ready to buy and a pandemic which caused many Americans to rethink what they truly want out of work and life, now more than ever it seems people are making their way into a market where the demand is overwhelming the supply. 

Some analysts wonder just how long such a wave can sustain itself and whether or not we are heading to another Bubble. However, economists are predicting the market to remain strong through the rest of 2021 and most of 2022 because there simply isn’t enough inventory. 

In all, we’d need to bring in more than 7 million homes nationally in order for the market to correct itself and become more balanced. When will that happen?…Only time will tell. For now, it’s a Seller’s market and it’s hot, Hot, HOT. 

Welcome to Episode 7of Season 2 for Authentic Filters. If you enjoyed this episode, please be sure to subscribe and leave us a 5-Star Review on Apple Podcast or wherever you listen. Share with your family & friends…Let’s get into it.

The Great Resignation

What a time to be alive. What a time to have an awakening. What a time to disrupt an industry. A trio of three things that have aligned for many people since the hit of COVID-19. What was certainly a nightmare scenario, has since caused people around the country to question what they are really doing with their lives. 

In August 2021, the U.S. saw some of the highest resignation rates at over 4 million people. While a little over 1 million of that group was let go by the employer, it still is a significant number of unemployed Americans who have said enough is enough. Being dubbed The Great Resignation, the American workforce is rethinking what it truly wants out of a career from paying people what they're actually worth, to working hours & flexibility of remote options, to balancing personal life and the need to shut off work when one clocks out. 

With labor shortages and supply chain woes, it’s safe to say many industries are prime for disruption in how they treat and take care of their employees.

Cold Gun

Just recently, there was a fatality on the movie set, “Rust”, starring actor Alec Baldwin. During a shooting scene, Alec was given a firearm by the Assistant Director. As the firearm was handed to him, someone yelled out the code word: Cold Gun. That is the que to let everyone know that it’s okay to shoot a firearm because it’s not loaded with real rounds and is safe to use. 

Unfortunately, we are all now mourning the loss of Halyna Hutchins due to the negligence of others. Another crew member, Joel Souza was also injured on the set, but he is currently recovering.

Many of us around the world are trying to understand what happened and why there weren't better protocols in place to prevent such a tragic event. The last time a fatality like this occurred on a movie set was 28 years ago, with the late actor, Brandon Lee. It was the year 1993, when Lee was filming the movie, “The Crow”, when he was hit by a dummy bullet while performing a scene involving a gun. 

These types of events will hopefully change the trajectory for making movies and implementing better safety measures and controls while working on production sets. 

Welcome to Episode 6 of Season 2 for Authentic Filters. If you enjoyed this episode, please be sure to hit that subscribe and leave us a 5-Star Review on Apple Podcast or wherever you listen. Share with your family & friends…Let’s get into it.

Women are Invisible

As the saying goes, If you see something wrong, do something about it. People today are not living by that motto. 

Just recently, a woman was riding the Septa train in Philadelphia when a man assaulted and raped her on the train in plain view of all the other riders. Many of the passengers on the train stood by and watched. This incident occurred around 8:00pm at night when there was a good number of traffic and the entire time this happened, no one stopped to intervene and help. However, some did feel the need to videotape the horrific incident on their cell phones….can you imagine?

It's hard to believe and understand that this is the world we live in. For decades, women have been treated poorly, objectified, and in the present day, not much has changed.

As a nation, as human beings, this should not and can not stand. An incident that could have been prevented if bystanders simply would have acted rather than watched. A sad moment in history for everyone that was there and a horrendous moment in time that the victim can never wipe away.

SBA Deja Vu

We are at it again...applying for reconsideration of our EIDL loan that started way back when in March of 2020. It was a process then and still very much a process now. With all the fraud that took place and the SBA giving money out like running water, it’s surprising in many ways that the pot has run out again. But, unfortunately as with most things, the COVID-19 relief fund will be ending December 2021. 

We are very hopeful that with the new changes to the program, learning from past mistakes, and under the current Biden Administration we’ll qualify for the EIDL loan but only time will tell. 

Welcome to Episode 5 of Season 2 for Authentic Filters. If you enjoyed this episode, please be sure to subscribe and leave us a 5-Star Review on Apple Podcast or wherever you listen. Do us a favor please!...Share with your family & friends. Let’s get into it.

Trump 2024?

Bill Maher said it best when describing Trump as a “shark who simply has gone out to sea”...not away. Slowly eating people one by one and turning them into supporters to further push his agenda. 

If you remember, the Trump years were full of complete chaos. Every week seemed like a reality show: the intro, the drama, a climactic moment, and the need to stay tuned for next week’s episode. This went on for 4 years! And let’s not forget the insurrection that took place on Jan 6th even after Trump lost the 2020 election. As Bill Maher said, he’s creating a slow-moving coup. 

The possibility of Trump becoming president for a 2nd term in 2024 is very real if people become too laxed. The difference this time? He’s learned from his past mistakes on what not to do if he wants to stay in power. People need to realize, Trump isn’t running for president...he’s running for King. 

The Neighbors from Hell

An African American family moved into a prominent neighborhood located in Virginia Beach. They were in a great school district for their kids, an ideal commute to and from work, and had an overall sense of happiness.

As time went by, they started to notice strange behaviors from their next-door neighbor. Whenever they would leave and return home, there would be flashing lights coming from the neighbor’s house. The neighbor would play loud music, followed by monkey noises and chatter of the n-word being used.

The new family tried to seek help from local authorities but were told there was nothing they could do because the neighbor did not break any rules or cause harm to them. The court system also couldn’t help. The family went in front of a judge, only to be told…there is nothing they can do since the neighbor didn’t commit a crime or bodily injury to anyone.

Will this family get the help that they need or will they be forced to leave a neighborhood that they once enjoyed living in?

Welcome to Episode 4 of Season 2  for Authentic Filters.  If you enjoyed this episode, please be sure to hit that subscribe and leave us a 5-Star Review on Apple Podcast or wherever you listen. Share with your family & friends…Let’s get into it. 

It’s time to officially Free Britney

Imagine being one of the biggest stars in the world, at the height of your career with a pedigree that still hasn’t been topped till this day. Sold out global tours, iconic #1 albums, videos, and a fan base that has been down since day 1. Now imagine having your entire world turned upside down because of the stress and pressure society has put on you and being scrutinized day in and day out. From how you dress, to your personal life, and even how you raise your kids. Stalked constantly by paparazzi 24/7 with no relief from anyone it seems. At some point, it can get to be too much and you can easily snap. 

Well, that’s exactly what happened to Britney and at the age of 26, she was placed into a Conservatorship with her Father for what has lasted 13 years. A Conservatorship that many feel was never necessary in the first place, but one that has not only left Britney with mental and emotional trauma, but has funded so many people’s lifestyles that took advantage of the situation just to get their hands in the pot. 

The #FreeBritney movement has been going on since the Conservatorship started and many of the fans have expressed concern and disdain for how the entire process played out and went down. Some 13 years later with Britney’s father removed from the Conservatorship, it appears we may be nearing the end of what seemed like a prison sentence for all those years. No longer will we say Free Britney, but instead Britney is Free. 

Supply Chain Still Facing Global Challenges

The Global Pandemic has been going on for almost 2 years now and many sectors in the world are still very much impacted from this. One of the major services that is still facing worldwide challenges is the Supply Chain. There are many entities within the supply chain such as retailers, warehouses, transportation companies, vendors, producers and distributors all whom have been affected. Currently, each area of the supply chain is facing high demand and low inventory. From car dealerships selling vehicles well over the MSRP, to cargo ships being anchored at the ports in Los Angeles and New York. 

There was a recent article published by Business Insider about the backlog of cargo ships with thousands of shipping containers filled with goods such as clothing, electronics, toys, furniture, etc. at a standstill in the ports unloaded for over 4 weeks. The reasoning behind this is due to the shortage of labor, equipment, and time. 

Many analysts are hoping that the government will step in and intervene in the matter to come up with a solution to this global problem. One that could leave lasting impacts and cause a major chain reaction during the Holiday Season.

If the supply chain issues continue to go on, distributors will continue to go out of business and we might find ourselves in a recession.

Welcome to Episode 3 of Season 2  for Authentic Filters.  If you enjoyed this episode, please be sure to hit that subscribe and leave us a 5-Star Review on Apple Podcast or wherever you listen. Share with your family & friends…Let’s get into it. 

The Haitian’s Journey to a Better Life

America is known as the land of opportunity, which is why so many from different countries decide to take a chance and come here. Just recently, over 15,000 Haitians left their native land with only the clothes on their backs. Many of them took the journey by foot, crossing through and around 11 countries while others traveled by plane or bus as they made their way to what many felt would be a new beginning. 

Through misinformation about their chances of asylum, many were blocked at the border in Texas. After several days, some were denied entry into the United States, while others were deported back to Haiti,  leaving only a few thousand access to stay in America.

Many Americans were puzzled to learn the desperation and the determination the Haitians endured by escaping from Haiti, a country that is in disarray, with uninhabitable conditions and politically corrupt leaders offering little protection for their people.

Mask Mandate

Heading almost 2 years into the pandemic, the science has shown that wearing a face mask will help protect you from and reduce your chances of contracting the Covid-19 virus. Yet debating & complaining about mask mandates in schools, grocery stores and restaurants is still a thing. Many parents are upset that their kids are forced to wear a face mask while in school. Some don’t care that the mask saves lives, nor are they listening to the “Science”.

We have to do better when it comes to fighting this virus. As of today, over 4.7 million people have died from Covid globally. If we continue to go against the “Science”, things will not get better, and what has now become the Delta Variant will continue to mutate.

Welcome to Episode 2 of Season 2  for Authentic Filters.  If you enjoyed this episode, please be sure to hit that subscribe and leave us a 5-Star Review on Apple Podcast or wherever you listen. Share with your family & friends…Let’s get into it.