Good morning/afternoon/evening! How are you?
I'm Shamontiel, a freelance editor, writer and fact-checker. I've been working in print and digital news since 2005. Before I can peacefully do any of the above, I start my day walking my unemployed security guard (and occasionally other neighborhood dogs). Post-walk, I clear my mind with at least 15 minutes of Pilates or weight training, and 10 minutes of morning meditation. I prioritize plant-based cooking (21-year vegetarian) for breakfast, followed by reviewing the latest trends in politics, news and culture. Then, it's time to grind. Want to know more? Check out some of my posts (below) and my top five.

MOST RECENT SUBSTACK POSTS

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Photo credit: ChatGPT Photo Generator
1. I DO SEE COLOR: Buying a home isn't the only way Black people are making money ~ Top three ways Black people are most likely to invest, bottom three ways Black people are least likely to invest in

2. BLACKTECHLOGY: Is it just me or is blocking YouTube ads not working? ~ Advertisers are flocking to streaming services over cable stations to promote their products

3. BLACK GIRL IN A DOGGONE WORLD™: Is adopting a puppy while owning a senior dog just asking for trouble? ~ Pros, cons and tips for juggling Zoomies and high-puppy energy with laid-back older dogs

4. AAC-PACK: Forget the cake, perimenopause will make you eat the icing ~ Understanding the link between estrogen, insulin sensitivity and perimenopause

5. AAC-PACK: Welcome to AAC-PACK: African-American, Childless, Perimenopausal And Craving Knowledge ~ Even if you know the basics of perimenopause, has anyone told you menstrual cycles can last 17 straight days? Yeah. Me neither.
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Photo credit: Daniel Benavides/Wikimedia Commons
6. I DO SEE COLOR: 'That Was Us' podcast ponders on the way to discuss racism with youth Black journalists — without babysitters — offer a necessary and introspective look at racism in the news

7. BLACK GIRL IN A DOGGONE WORLD™: Even with shorter lifespans, dogs are my best investment ~ Mixed feelings from people who like pets but don't want them because they die quickly

8. I DO SEE COLOR: Stop blaming Oprah Winfrey for Dr. Oz ~ What Oprah did that "America's Next Top Model" creator Tyra Banks did not do

9. BLACK GIRL IN A DOGGONE WORLD™: No doggie day care? Bordetella vaccines may be worth it anyway ~ How a pro-vaxxer learned a valuable doggie day care lesson about being an anti-vaxxer for dogs

10. HOMEGROWN TALES: Key-only locks are a fire hazard waiting to happen ~ The pros and cons of choosing thumb-turn or push-button locks