Thought Catalog: 5 Ways To Make Every Job A Stepping Stone

Guess what? I seem to have been attracting interest in these stepping stone jobs since I've graduated from Morehouse in 2009. Either way during this period, I've ran into people who never learned these 5 ways. They're very important and something to keep in mind for myself as well.

Besides if only I've learned this lesson myself in the past 5 years. Would I be better off now?

Special Report: Bill Cosby in trouble pt. 2

Earlier this year sexual assault allegations have re-emerged about Bill Cosby. A number of women and especially other women from Hollywood had claimed that Cosby had drugged them before having sex with them.

There was a point in time where I didn't want to believe these charges. Why did it take these women years to finally come forward to say he assaulted them?

Cosby is a famous man and I'm sure he did get some attention from various women. To the point where it's known that he's carried on affairs with other women than his wife, Camille. Why would he risk his reputation by using sedatives on women before sex?

Unfortunately while he's never been charged with a crime - although it has come out he admitted in a deposition use of sedatives with women - his reputation has suffered. No more Cosby Show reruns in the near future. He gave up his position as trustee at Temple University in Philadelphia. His fellow comedians Jerry Seinfeld and David Letterman removed their endorsements to a biography of Bill Cosby.

Today it was reports that Spelman College has discontinued an endowed professorship with Bill and his wife's name on it. Probably a key move since Spelman is a women's college and they probaby wouldn't want the appearance of support for an alleged rapist.

As for whether or not I believe these allegations, it's pretty damning when a deposition comes out and he admits the usages of sedatives on women for sex. It definitely tips the scales against Cosby and it feels wrong. At the same time, it's time for him to actually answer these charges. That's with the counsel of his lawyers of course.

Hard to believe I discussed this over 10 years ago.

Sandra Bland

I've been hearing about the odd case of Sandra Bland. She had been arrested after a very tense traffic stop and then later found in her jail cell hanged. It seems since what happened to Michael Brown in Ferguson, MO that police have been taking a beating from the Black community.

I would dare say in some cases such as what happened to that man in South Carolina shot fleeing from police, rightfully so. In other cases I can't say it's in black & white but the story of Ms. Bland raises my eyebrow. Bland had actually moved to Texas to work at her college alma mater Prairie View A & M.

Officially her death is ruled a suicide and apparently there is evidence that she suffered from mainly a videoblog where she discussed having depression & PTSD. Odd case, did this young woman really commit suicide? Or was she in serious need of psychological help?

Rightfully the fact that she was found hanging in a jail cell should raise all of our concerns whether or not you consider this a racial issue or not. Especially to determine if there was any foul play involved...

WGN-TV posted dashcam footage of Bland's traffic stop released from the Texas Dept. of Public Safety. I have no plans to watch - although thankfully nothing violent happened even if there was some physicality - perhaps it might show something as well. If I did watch I wouldn't be sure what to look for.

I've also just learned that her death is being investigated as a murder so hopefully we can piece together what happened to her.

Minimum wage in Chicago is now $10/hr

Before this past mayoral election the city council passed a minimum wage ordinance which mandates an increase by 2019 to $13/hour. Today minimum wage went up to $10/hr...

If I had stayed at one of my last jobs I'd have made it to $10, but thankfully I got a bit of a headstart and exceeded it by changing jobs. Still my feelings are mixed as to whether this incremental increase of the minimum wage in Chicago is truly a good idea.

It kind of sucks that there are some jobs as the one I once held refused to raise wages until a government decided to raise the minimum. It could be bad business but I've never had to be concerned with payroll!

"The Late Shift"

[VIDEO] This is one of the opening scenes of The Late Shift. Shown on HBO in 1996 this film was based on a book written by Bill Carter which illustrated the fight for NBC's Tonight Show after Johnny Carson called it quits in 1991.

I liked this movie when it was released but at that point in time I was still a teenager. There was a lot about this movie that went over my head back then but understand it more now than ever. As a matter of fact in recent years we've seen more shifts in late night TV. Jay Leno retired twice, the Tonight Show essentially has gone through three hosts since at least 2009. After Jay, Conan O'Brien and after Jay again Jimmy Fallon with both Conan & Jimmy having hosted Late Night.

As we see in this movie and of course in reality Letterman moved over to CBS to host their Late Show after failing to get his dream job at Tonight. It was fun to see the positioning of both Letterman, Leno and all the players who made their pitches. In terms of what happened since Letterman retired from hosting Late Show.

If I recall correctly at times Comedy Central has shown this film. Now while this story involves two comedians at least, this doesn't strike me as a comedy, more as a drama. Some of what we see aren't meant to be funny although we see the actors who portray these comedians portray their roles adopting each comedians mannerisms. The comedians tell their jokes for the most part and as a result it seems the drama is portrayed by network executives & agents.

BTW, the scene above shows Letterman after a show lamenting how the crowd responded to him. He's definitely hyper even with a message to comedienne Sandra Bernhard that starts this scene off right. It's amusing, but an important part of this drama.

ALSO, this book has a sequel which revolves around "the late shift" that occurred in 2010 again with NBC's Tonight Show. After 7 months hosting NBC's signature late night franchise O'Brien was pushed out in favor of a returning Jay Leno. I'd like to see that adapted into a film in the near future.