We’re still trying to figure out why after all this time we are still hearing from, people are talking about,and we are seeing almost everywhere reports about Sarah “The Quitter” Palin. Take a look at
this video excerpt from a recent episode of the Colbert Report on Comedy Central…..

Which brings us to Palin’s use of the word “satire”. She says the big fat guy on the radio was using satire when he referred to liberals as being retarded. She says it wasn’t an insult. She says President Obama’s Chief Of Staff should be fired for his use of the same word in a private conversation because she’s offended by his use of the word. Was he talking to her? About her?

We are pleased to accept Stephen Colbert’s invitation to say Sarah “The Terrah” Palin-the former Alaska governor is an effin’ retard!

“Failure is not a word I accept”~ John H. Johnson, Publisher

John H. Johnson was an American businessman, founder of the Johnson Publishing Company. He was the chairman of Johnson Publishing Company and he also chaired the Fashion Fair Cosmetics Company, a company created by his wife Eunice Walker Johnson.

Under his leadership both Jet and Ebony Magazines flourished. Readership and circulation grew every year from 1945 the year in which they were first published.

The magazines were named by his wife Eunice and the start-up money came from a $500 loan  from his mother. She allowed Johnson to use her furniture as collateral for the loan.

His business success is nothing short of meteoric. He rose from the depths of poverty, spending a short time on the welfare rolls to becoming the first Black African American to be included in the Forbes 400 list of richest Americans.

“Indomitable spirit”, that is how many describe Johnson’ secret to success. He was creative and innovative. He always found a solution. when faced with blatant racial discrimination when he was denied approval to buy a lot in downtown Chicago, Johnson hired a white attorney to buy the property in trust for him.  By this action he became the first black to construct a major structure in Chicago’s bustling downtown business area.

From President Bill Clinton, John H. Johnson received the nation’s highest  civilian award  the Presidential Medal Of Freedom.

During his business career because of his business expertise Johnson was chosen to serve as director of several important American corporations including Twentieth Century Fox Film Corporation, Continental Banks and Dillard’s Department Stores. He was also a trustee of United Negro College Fund and the Conference of Christians And Jews.

John H. Johnson  is recognized as the first entrepreneur to acknowledge the
awesome buying power of the Black African American consumer.

The word of warning is DON’T! Do Not share everything about your life on the Internet…as fascinating as you may find it, or you believe others may find it so, some nefarious individuals may find it even more so…

We advise what is private must remain private.

It is said a word to the wise is sufficient and if you happen to be unwise then a picture is worth at least a thousand words…

“We use the ability to lower the armrests as the gauge, as the armrests are truly the definitive boundary between each seat.”

Blanche Africa Reilly Dark has her say about Southwest Airlines and movie director Kevin Smith.

Over the past weekend the Internet was all a buzz with news a young fat movie director was ejected in a manner he considers inappropriate whether he is a well known fat dude flying the people’s airline or just one of the unknown people who fly affordable air transportation. I should add right here I agree with Smith. The disrespect and humiliation demonstrated toward him was absolutely unacceptable! It’s unsatisfactory to be rude to any paying customer in any industry.

According to Southwest Airlines own web site this policy for “customers of size”–read that phrase as a euphemism for fat, overweight or obese,  has been followed “for 29 of our 38 years of operation, but only became more vigilant regarding the additional purchase when we began seeing an increase in the number of valid complaints from passengers who traveled without full access to the seat purchased because a large Customer infringed upon the adjacent seating space.”

Many Americans are overweight. Many airline seats are too small and uncomfortable to accommodate regular size, “normal” size, American travelers. Seventeen inches wide indeed!  My office desk chair is an inch wider. It does not mean I wish to sit in it for a two hour flight!

I believe Smith and his wife when they say he’s got the body of a stout fellow; that he’s not a  portly man whose body can be accurately described as one encroaching into another passenger’s territory .

“.Purchasing two seats on Southwest Airlines is significantly less expensive than purchasing one first class seat on another airline..” from the Southwest Airlines web site Customer Of Size Q & A page

I believe Smith when he says he buys two seats on the regular because he can afford to do so to insure his traveling privacy and comfort given the seats are really small.

To end this controversy I suggest there be a scale to weight passengers, just like the luggage is weighed, before the board the aircraft.

A tip to the heavyweights who choose air travel over car, bus or train, make sure you’re not the last fat chick or fat dude to board the plane.

I say this because as I listened to Kevin Smith’s description of his experience of Southwest Airlines poor customer service it became quite clear he was, as a passenger flying on stand-by status, the last fat man to board the plane. This by no means justifies the maltreatment he received.

In fact it is a call for larger seats, and more respect for the not so skinny average American traveler. Shame on you Gary Kelly and your band of corporate associates. All your platitudes and lofty musings have not trickled down to the rank and file as courteous action. Tsk! Tsk!

Blanche predicts more passengers will begin to ditch Southwest and book flights with the competition.

Unless Southwest Airlines CEO Gary Kelly, Greg Crum, VP Operations, who I understand is responsible for those who interact with the public, as well as Matt Hafner, (Ground Operations executive) and Mike Hafner, (Inflight Services); –I wonder are those two brothers?… and company can reinvigorate in their personnel with some of that Southwest Airlines culture– the “warrior spirit”, “a servant’s heart” and that well promoted “fun-LUVing attitude” along with some real love toward the flying public whether they are Kate Moss skinny, Moni’que big or chubby like comedian Earthquake or hefty like Ralphie May.

If you ignore this matter Southwest Airlines could go the way of Pan Am.

“We are the world, we are the children…”
Lionel Richie

In March of 1985 forty-five American singing stars gathered at the A&M music studio to record a song composed by the late Michael Jackson and lyricist Lionel Richie. The featured singers from several genres of music joined to make a record that would be sold to raise money for the charity USA For Africa. They raised over $30 million to help the less fortunate overseas.

On February 1, 2010 a new generation of celebrities, count’em 80, singers, actors, and the like–joined by some old school participants from the first recording, have gathered to do a remake of the original song We Are The World. This time money raised will go the benefit the survivors of last month’s devastating earthquake in Haiti. The organization is We Are The World 25 For Haiti.

“There’s a choice we’re making.
We’re saving our own lives…”-Lionel Richie

Nearly twenty-five years after the initial recording of the song created by the late Michael Jackson with lyrics by Lionel Richie, a new generation of Hollywood celebrities, singers, actors, models and people just known for being known, gathered to record a remake of the song that raised in 1985 more than $30 million for the charity USA For Africa.

This new crop of celebrities met on February 1, 2010, almost 25 years after the first gathering headed by music producer Quincy Jones, to record the cover to raise money for the survivors of the recent devastating earthquake in Haiti.

We’ve decided to revisit the original recording from 1985:

We’ve posted the lyrics indicating which artist is singing what part.

Lionel Richie
There comes a time when we heed a certain call

We are the world….

See if you can recognize who is present for the historic session from twenty-five years ago. In the next article we will take a look at the 2010 version We Are The World 25 for Haiti.

The first person of black African descent to travel in space was the Cuban cosmonaut Arnaldo Tamayo Méndez, who is also the first Hispanic in space.

Guion “Guy” Bluford, now retired from NASA and the Air Force since 1993, currently serves as vice president and general manager of the Science and Engineering Group,  Aerospace Sector of Federal Data Corporation in Maryland. Dr. Bluford has received  many honors not the least of which was his 1997 induction into the International Space Hall of Fame .

This Pennsylvania State University grad
holds degrees in aerospace engineering, including a doctorate with a minor in laser physics, is the veteran of four shuttle flights where he performed the tasks of mission specialist and flight engineer.

Guion Bluford is an Eagle Scout, and retired U.S. Air Force Colonel, who is also a member of Omega Si Phi fraternity with more than 600 hours logged in outer space.

We want you to know and remember Martin Luther King, Jr was substantive, not just a dreamer. He was a strategist and a man of action who used the same principles as India’s Gandhi, to lead the greatest movement for equality and freedom the world has ever seen. There is a difference between non-resistance and non-violent resistance to evil acts.

The late Dr. King, a recipient of the Nobel Prize for Peace, inspired a national movement and a worldwide following.

This landmark presentation delivered by the late Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King Jr describes the conditions that brought about the public demonstration by thousands of Americans, of all races and religions, to change the policy of the times. He implores the government to remove the barriers that limit freedom for anyone who is not white.

He expresses the purpose for the gathering. He eloquently explains what is desired by the national black community.

Note how he predicts continued unrest if the demand for equal rights is not adequately addressed and soon. The philosopher reminds those who protest the racist policies to remain peaceful but steadfast. King also speaks of the interconnectedness of both blacks and whites.

And in the end he describes his dream and his hope the nation will live up to its full promise allowing freedom to ring from every mountain, village, hamlet, city, and state.

Mostly this bad behavior is from the so-called “loyal opposition”. From what we’d previously observed the Republicans in the Congress know the rules and the policies. That’s how they always manage to best the Dems at the game.

This lapse in socially acceptable, good behavior, gives us reason to believe the Democrats may have a shot at growing a spine or having one implanted if the official GOP reps continue to act out.

Last week during President Obama’s very first State Of The Union Address a federal Supreme Court justice was seen mouthing an opposing reaction. Traditionally the justices of the court are to remain impartial. That means no public demonstration of support or opposition to anything the president says during the SOTUA.

Of course the lack of impartiality became very apparent during the selection of George W. Bush in 2000 when the court took sides and chose Bush over Al Gore; we think this happened because the decision was based on who arrived at the courthouse door first. In this case it was BushCo.

Last year during a speech to the Congress some representative could not control himself and blurted out from the audience calling the president a liar. He later apologized. No apology would be necessary if he did not demonstrate such blatant disrespect

Where do these people think they are? The UK? The Parliament or the House of Lords? Shouting and calling out at the administrative leader is what is done across the pond. It is not good form in the U.S. of A.

We’ve noted many have expressed their rudeness and disrespect for our current president. Jimmy Carter says the maltreatment Barack Obama is receiving is because he’s black. Perhaps. It may also be a sign of the frustration of the times. Our country is in a mess. It isn’t his fault. It was like this when he came into office.

Mark Fiore, political cartoonist gives his version of the president giving a speech….

This piece which uses some outstanding trick photography, is by Joezjny a comic filmmaker on the Dutch Comedy Central…remember it’s only a joke.

Rather than dismiss Larry Platt as just some old guy who received a benevolent 15 minutes of stardom, we found him interesting enough to conduct some research.

We found he is an American treasure. He is a part of living American History. General Larry Platt is an activist who survived the Civil Rights Era to bring us this lively tune; it is the foundation on which so many others have built a creative tower.

Just watch as Jimmy Fallon, who we believe was the first to pick up the tune, performs it as Neil Young.

See Jimmy Fallon, as his television persona, when he plays Larry Platt’s song with one of the American Idol judges, bassist Randy Jackson in a jam session with musical group The ROOTS. BTW we are fans of The ROOTS.

Now watch, comic actor, comedienne and writer/producer, Wanda Sykes, as character “General Mamma Gram”, do her parody of Larry Platt’s song, “Boobs Outcha Blouse”.

Interestingly enough this is what Bill Cosby, President Barack Obama, Shiela Johnson owner of three professional sports franchises, are speaking of when they discuss the style of dress of young people.

We know everyone who dresses inappropriately won’t get the hint.
We hope many will be successful in beautifying America.

There has been much buzz about the new iPad, which looks to us like a big-A phone for old people.

We found this video produced about three years ago by MadTV around the time the first murmurs of an iPad product were heard. We concur with the opinion expressed by the off the wall writers at MadTV.

Watch an enjoy…

We found this piece called “How To Report The News” by British journalist and writer of satire Charlie Brooker to be comical as well as  informative.

Fellow bloggers–especially those who produce online videos, please take note…

Bachmann was rude and disrespectful to Senator Specter. She continuously interrupted him, and when he requested she allow him to speak she continued to talk over him.

We understand she was ecstatic about the victory of Scott “I’m-Pimping-My-Daughters-Worldwide” Brown, that Republican male model guy who won the Massachusetts senate seat held by the late Ted Kennedy for forty years. Brown won election  over the Princess of Entitlement Martha “I-Don’t-Know-Nuthin’-About-Nuthin’-Not-Even-The Law- And-I’m-The-Head-Lawyer-For Massachusetts” Coakley.

We will also add the defeat of Coakley by Brown is really nothing to brag about. Brown’s victory over Coakley is like stuntman Steve-O beating out Lauren Caitlin Upton, Miss South Carolina Teen USA from a few years ago in a speech contest. It’d be real easy for Steve-O to win. There only competition is who is the least inarticulate.

We understand there is a difference of opinion considering Specter left Bachmann’s party to return to his roots in the Democrat party. However Bachmann, junk yard bulldog in lipstick and heavy make-up, that she is could give a shot at being civil. Tone down the hyperbole and the histrionics to

However there is no excuse for behaving in an unseemly manner.  There is something to be said for the many years the 80 year-old Senator has been in politics, the years in the Senate and the roles he has played in major historic events

Bachmann badgered Specter until the elder statesman had to remind her to behave like a lady.

If this newest of the female Republican firebrand isn’t careful she could end up like the late, great for 15 minutes, former congresswoman Katherine Harris of Florida..tossed away like a used Kleenex.

It would be hilarious if it not for the possibility our future may be policed in every aspect. Our lives could be over turned and disrupted for the sake of providing security. Our privacy destroyed.

Imagine driving across town and being stopped several times en route to have your vehicle searched and your person patted down. Routine security checks would be the norm when traveling by train in the city, from one city to another, from state to state, not because the authorities are searching for a fugitive, because this is how your safety is manifested as the priority of law enforcement.

It begins with complying with the request for personal information when it isn’t necessary to provide it. Once we, the public, are trained to be accepting of such requests, and we’re almost there–why does Wal-Mart need your identification when returning an item for refund? They did not require it when you made the purchase either cash or credit card…we will be totally under the control of whatever power that rules for whatever purpose they choose.

Here’s an excerpt from an episode of Bravo Channel’s Inside the Actors Studio featuring Conan O’Brien as guest.

This interview took place in 2009 prior to O’Brien taking over as host of the Tonight Show.

Tune was selected because O’Brien admired the late comedian and actor Bob Hope. It was also chosen because Lipton who worked with Hope on several of his birthday specials also crafted customized lyrics for those televised celebrations.

The sentiment expressed is for the sadness of having O’Brien leave the 1230 late night time slot for the alleged greener pastures of the 1135 time period.

Watch this video showing how these creatures use their intelligence to create a clever way to capture their food.

We love Sea World and
all the places where humans can interact with these seemingly docile animals…and no they are not fish. They are mammals like us humans.

Think about that for a minute.  The man is the spokesman for millions of people who tune into his program. Millions of people who are faceless.

We also decided that his statement about the fact the other nation that shares the island of Hispaniola, the Dominica Republic is thriving because in his estimation, they did not make a deal with the devil. WE beg to differ with Pat Robertson.

In fact we found a letter, allegedly from Satan stating exactly the reasons why Robertson is o wrong….

Dear Pat Robertson,

I know that you know that all press is good press, so I appreciate the shout-out. And you make God look like a big mean bully who kicks people when they are down, so I’m all over that action.

But when you say that Haiti has made a pact with me, it is totally humiliating. I may be evil incarnate, but I’m no welcher. The way you put it, making a deal with me leaves folks desperate and impoverished.

Sure, in the afterlife, but when I strike bargains with people, they first get something here on earth — glamour, beauty, talent, wealth, fame, glory, a golden fiddle. Those Haitians have nothing, and I mean nothing. And that was before the earthquake. Haven’t you seen “Crossroads”? Or “Damn Yankees”?

If I had a thing going with Haiti, there’d be lots of banks, skyscrapers, SUVs, exclusive night clubs, Botox — that kind of thing. An 80 percent poverty rate is so not my style. Nothing against it — I’m just saying: Not how I roll.

You’re doing great work, Pat, and I don’t want to clip your wings — just, come on, you’re making me look bad. And not the good kind of bad. Keep blaming God. That’s working. But leave me out of it, please. Or we may need to renegotiate your own contract.

Best, Satan

LILY COYLE, MINNEAPOLIS

The former drummer for Harold Melvin And The Blue Notes, left the group to become a wildly successful solo act and star of Philadelphia International Records, especially when he became the first to perform “Ladies Only” concerts, establishing a musical program marketing brand targeted for the ladies….demographic 18 to 80. All the females swoon for Teddy.

All of Philadelphia mourns along with his surviving family members, as does the world, the passing of one of music’s legendary figures.

Memorial services are scheduled for Friday, January 22, 2010 in Philadelphia.

Though the lyrics are repetitive the sentiment is catchy and we believe Secretary Janet Napolitano might find it will help TSA employees better perform their airport security duties.

The lyrics for General Larry Platt
Pants on the ground,
Pants on the ground,
Lookin’ like a fool with your pants on the ground!

With the gold in your mouth,
Hat turned sideways,
Pants hit the ground,
Call yourself a cool cat,
Lookin’ like a fool,
Walkin’ downtown with your pants on the ground!

Get it up, hey!
Get your pants off the ground,
Lookin’ like a fool,
Walkin’ talkin’ with your pants on the ground.

Get it up, hey!
Get your pants off the ground,
Lookin’ like a fool with your pants on the ground!

Certainly parents, guardians, school and work counselors everywhere will be singing this tune….

Robertson recently announced on the religious television variety/talk show The 700 Club that the disaster in Haiti is the punishing curse the result of a pact made with the devil some years ago by the Haitian people (??) during the war for liberation from the French under the Emperor Napoleon. This is Robertson’s lame atteempt at revisionist history.

Limbaugh has suggested the recent natural earthquake disaster which has decimated the island nation has helped to enhance the image of  U.S. President Barack Obama. Among Limbaugh’s ridiculous remarks, the big man on the radio says the earthquake has played into Obama’s hands, allowing the president appear “compassionate” and “humanitarian” while simultaneously bolstering his standing in both the “light-skinned and dark-skinned black community in this country.”  The last part is a riff on the factual statement recently made by Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid, (D. Nevada). [In describing then candidate Senator Obama's potential marketability to the American voters he said obama is a light skinned with no Negro dialect unless he wants to have one.]

We believe neither Robertson nor Limbaugh should complain because the United States has sent its military to Haiti to help keep the peace. All the other nations of the world have donated humanitarian aid such as medicines, doctors, food provisions, money; from China to Germany, from Spain to Ireland; from France to Mexico all have given aid that does not include a military presence.

The United States has continued its tradition of sending its military to intimidate  and control Haitians, a policy established when the U.S. made that great real estate transaction with the French government more than 200 yuears ago known as the  Louisiana Purchase which today is now 13 American states.

We believe the nutty preacher and the really big guy on the radio, clearly a very odd couple,  have no reason to complain. Our U.S. government are doing what it has always done in Haiti.

If you wish to help the survivors of the Caribbean disaster make donations
to Yele Haiti the fund organized by Haiti’s musical gift to the world Wyclef Jean.

We especially like that Dave Letterman has sanely, reasonably, generously offered a solution to the late night programming issues at the competing network NBC. Needless to say, but we’ll say it anyway, we like old Dave’s suggestion. Watch what he has to say around 3:30 into the 5 minute piece you’ll see Letterman deliver a great solution to the problem.

It’s the 21st Century answer to a boring tired, getting-to-be-lame format that everyone believes needs an injection of ” Truly NEW and IMPROVED”.

We believe David Letterman makes this suggestion because he believes, as a respectful broadcaster who honors the innovators of the past, and as a basically good guy, like Conan O’Brien, the Tonight Show franchise is the greatest in the history of the medium.

No offense to Jay Leno who has never worked in television prior to his appearances on variety shows and talk shows. Jay is a stand-up comic who is at his best on the road in club dates and theaters.

Jeff Zucker, whose background does not include any time before a camera or behind a microphone, isn’t listening to anyone. Zucker reportedly threatens to keep Conan O’Brien off the air for three and a half years because O’Brien will not go on the air with the Tonight Show at 12:05, which according to all clocks is no longer Tonight, but in fact tomorrow. Conan’s representatives counter Zucker/NBC could be looking at the wrong end of a law suit if any attempt is made to make that threat a reality. All this is according to reports we’ve received from Hollywood late this afternoon.

Stay tuned….this can only get better…..

Few people are aware of another man’s dream.
In 2007 Tiger Woods, the greatest PGA champion of all time said,
“I had a dream. In my dream I became the first billion dollar sports figure. I dreamed my beautiful wife and two lovely young children, a son and a daughter, were living happily with me in our home in the ritzy gated community in the Orlando, Florida area. I was living a charmed life…in my dream life was great!”

Several months before the single car accident on Thanksgiving evening at his home in Florida; before the shocking revelations which followed that car crash Tiger had a dream, too.

“Then, in my dream, there came an argument with my wife about sex. She was questioning me about sexual affairs she suspected I may have had during the PGA tour. I denied everything, telling her how much I love her and the kids, as I sent text messages to my latest jump-off.

“It all begin late one night during a holiday. I can not recall if it were Thanksgiving or Christmas in my dream. All I know is that my wife was relentless in her questioning and when I did not give the answer she was seeking,  she struck me across the face me with a nine iron. She inflicted some serious damage in my dream. More about that later.

“In my dream I tried to  escape from her fury by driving off in my SUV. Dressed only in  shorts and Tee-shirt, without shoes or sandals I jumped into the vehicle to make my escape, but in my dream Elin smashed the rear window, I hit a fire hydrant and a tree. I never made it out of the driveway.

“In my dream, when I awoke I was in a local hospital trying to answer questions as to how I obtained my injuries. I was pretty messed up. A deep gash across my face and a couple of broken teeth. Whoever said ‘Hell hath no fury like a woman scorned’ knew what he was talking about. In my dream Elin could swing a mighty mean golf club even though I maintained I’d done nothing to hurt or betray her or our children.

“The next morning, in my dream, by the end of the day, only one or two instances of indiscretions were disclosed. By the end of my dream an astronomical number of sexual liaisons with too many hootchies to count were disclosed to the media;

“I was accused of engaging in sexual manage-a-trois with men, as well as women. Fortunately they did not include animals in their tales of my sex-capades. I was so distraught, in my dream, I was calling other personalities for advice such as Hugh Grant, and Senator David Vitter, since they both have dealt with similar situations and they’re still popular and earning substantial incomes. I even sent a text message to Florida Republican former member of the House Mark Foley, asking for his advice.

“My wholesome family man image was destroyed and the pieces of my life were left like confetti in a media whirlwind. It was worse than a media circus. It was a typhoon of calamity.

“Everyday there were new revelations about me and some other female saying she’d done more than kissed and now she was telling…for cash payment. Actually I can not blame them for getting the money since I never spent a dime on them…in my dream.

“In fact there were so many women one tabloid made a picture calender of all the females I allegedly bedded.

“I even dreamed one of my friends, one of my closest comrades, it may have been Michael Jordan or Charles Barkley or maybe one of the less well known members of my TW inner circle, who had talked to the media telling all he knew about my roguish escapades. He did this after I had spoken to him in confidence. Well you know what we Buddhists say about those who break confidence…it’s the responsibility of he who breaks the confidence to deal with his own conscious.

“Fortunately, I woke up from this dream turned nightmare just as my contracts for commercial endorsements were being canceled because of something called “moral turpitude”. I woke up from that horror relieved knowing I’m Tiger Woods and nothing or nobody can damage my wholesome, cardboard, Cablinasian family man image.

“At least nine Detroit area high school juniors are in trouble for wearing sweat shirts bearing a design that evokes the terrorist attacks that destroyed the World Trade Center’s Twin Towers.”
The Detroit News and the Detroit Free Press report a spokesman for the authorities of  Dearborn Public Schools believe the shirts worn by the boys on Monday at Edsel Ford High School, members of the graduating class of 2011, is “offensive” and in “poor taste”. The boys are scheduled to meet with the school authorities.  News reports say no suspensions are planned.

In defense of the young men who live in a predominately Arab suburb of Detroit, we say perhaps the education officials are a might too sensitive, given the possibility many of the relatives of those same young men have been killed or maimed or displaced  because of the overzealous actions of the U.S. government’s disruption in the Middle East.

We like the intention these young men are conveying. We interpret their statement as one of confidence and tenacity of purpose. To us they are saying we are young, determined and we can not be brought down. We believe theirs is as patriotic a statement as one could want from the children of immigrants. No doubt the young men involved in the controversy are American born and wish to show their interest in doing good in the world despite the bigotry and institutional racism they face daily.

Let us not return to the so-called good old days when we were searching for a Communist sympathizer under every shrub and rock. Or to the days when young black males were hunted down and killed for being young, male and black.

Let cooler heads prevail. The CIA, the TSA and the military by their actions are doing more than the terror cell recruiters to grow more really scary bomb igniting young terrorists into this fight.

Let’s not be so sensitive about our situation. Let’s walk a mile in the shoes of some other folks for a change.

After all it’s only a piece of clothing. It’s not a sophisticated missile  or even an improvised explosive device.

We just read an article written by Mike Adams who is known online as the Health Ranger. Mike’s salient explanation of how a bomb of the type it is said Mutallab was packing works seems as plausible as the explanations being given to the gullible American public the last three or four days.

Here’s what Adams says…

“Had this explosive packet actually been set off, I can tell you exactly what would have happened: There would have been a really loud pop, immediately followed by in-flight pieces of exploding butt cheeks.

I’m not trying to be funny here. This is a true description of the way bombs work. They explode outward, destroying whatever is closest to them first. And this guy actually had this bomb wedged in between his butt cheeks. A sort of “wedgie bomb”, if you will. A wedgie with a bang….”

And this is the most important point of Adams’ article:

“Think about it. In World War II films, you know how you always see brave soldiers throwing themselves on an enemy grenade to protect their squad buddies? That actually works because whoever is on top of the grenade absorbs the explosion. It’s basic physics…”

Instead of being the villain it’s possible to spin this story so that Umar Farouk Abdul Mutallab is the lifesaving hero and not the blood thirsty bumbling teevee sitcom terrorist he’s being made out to be.

Hmmm now that’s something to think about.

Contemplate these questions too

Are American still too gullible and easily manipulated by the government and the media? Have we lost our ability to think independently? Is this another plot by the government to keep us livning in fear…remember shock and awe..?

We have been asked to believe the young Nigerian man, Umar Farouk Abdul Mutallab, who comes from a wealthy family, is a bumbling idiot near do well, whose father reported him to the U.S. security authorities. (Think Brad Pitt’s character in “Twelve Monkeys”.) We are asked to accept the fact Mutallab was in the terror data base with out restriction placed to keep an eye on him

We think our country is like the spouse whose life partner has chosen to be unfaithful and no one, no friends, family or acquaintances will tell the naive spouse they gettin’ played.

We propose this scenario which may be better received from a public growing more cynical every day.

Umar Farouk Abdul Mutallab was in the data base and selected by the CIA or some other nefarious U.S. security agency to fake attempting to blow up a transcontinental flight on Christmas Day. We’ll call it the fake Al-Qaeda…Al See-aye-A-did. In the Obama Era, as proven during the BushCo years, even a failed attempted act of terror can keep the public in awe and completely shock the sheeple.

Let’s even say Mutallab didn’t even know he was gettin’ punked to be a part of the scheme to keep Americans frightened of the big bad Al Qaeda boogie man. Let’s say Mutallab thought he was taking a stand against the great Satan on behalf of dissident insurgents throughout the world. Let’s say he was given a tranquillizer to dull his senses, and faulty equipment like charcoal lighter fluid, silly putty and some bogus powdery substance to simulate the explosive.

What we present is just as plausible as the story presented by law enforcement authorities.

UPDATE: The fake Al-Qaeda…Al See-aye-A-did has taken responsibility for the failed attempt to blow up the flight 253 on Christmas Day just moments before it landed in Detroit.

After it was reported the Christmas Day bomber, 23 year-old Umar Farouk Abdul Mutallab, had fashioned the explosive into the shape of an extra long penis, the TSA has been inundated with applications for employment by females wanting to work as security checkers at the gates.

TSA is considering hiring these females because it believes men might not look at the penis closely enough to determine if it is real or not.

TSA is also now warning to beware of terrorist bombers with plastic breasts, amputees with fake legs and anyone with excessively long fake nails. All of these items can be lighted and used an endangerment to the flying public.
It’s also being reported Al Qaeda has adopted as its anthem the song, made popular by Jose Feliciano and later by the Doors, “Come One Baby Light My Fire”.

Rivera, the mother of two, became blind due to a rare disease called uveitis.

Fortunately, Dr. C. Michael Samson, his fellow Dr. Vincente Diaz, and their surgical team at the New York Ear and Eye Infirmary (NYEE) were able to restore the young woman’s vision.

Watch the following video to see and hear Rivera describe the first time she saw her daughter….

Many were proud and pleased to see him receive the honor; others were perplexed by the irony that the man who recently determined to escalate the war in Afghanistan is the most recent recipient of a prize that pays tribute to peace.As we present an excerpt from the opening of his acceptance, we, too, note the contradictory nature of this historic event.

Your Majesties, Your Royal Highnesses, Distinguished Members of the Norwegian Nobel Committee, citizens of America, and citizens of the world:

I receive this honor with deep gratitude and great humility. It is an award that speaks to our highest aspirations – that for all the cruelty and hardship of our world, we are not mere prisoners of fate. Our actions matter, and can bend history in the direction of justice.

And yet I would be remiss if I did not acknowledge the considerable controversy that your generous decision has generated. In part, this is because I am at the beginning, and not the end, of my labors on the world stage. Compared to some of the giants of history who have received this prize – Schweitzer and King; Marshall and Mandela – my accomplishments are slight. And then there are the men and women around the world who have been jailed and beaten in the pursuit of justice; those who toil in humanitarian organizations to relieve suffering; the unrecognized millions whose quiet acts of courage and compassion inspire even the most hardened of cynics. I cannot argue with those who find these men and women – some known, some obscure to all but those they help – to be far more deserving of this honor than I.

But perhaps the most profound issue surrounding my receipt of this prize is the fact that I am the Commander-in-Chief of a nation in the midst of two wars. One of these wars is winding down. The other is a conflict that America did not seek; one in which we are joined by forty three other countries – including Norway – in an effort to defend ourselves and all nations from further attacks.

Still, we are at war, and I am responsible for the deployment of thousands of young Americans to battle in a distant land. Some will kill. Some will be killed. And so I come here with an acute sense of the cost of armed conflict – filled with difficult questions about the relationship between war and peace, and our effort to replace one with the other.

To Be Continued…..

We were among the thousands who wrote to the president asking him not to commit more troops to the war in Afghanistan.

We are among the millions who know there is more to this story than meets the eye.

We heard Mr. Obama’s elegant and eloquent obfuscation of the facts. We heard him say the security of the United States is at risk.

Hmmm, that sounds to us like they have something in Afghanistan, like the Panama Canal, or the oil in Iraq, vital to our existence. It sounds like they have something we want. It sounds like the usual spin on the facts. Something belonging to another sovereign nation must be confiscated by our military in order to further the U.S. goal of world domination.

Tell the truth Mr. President. We implore you! The true reason for the surge in Afghanistan. Tell us the truth about the strategy to take what does not belong to us. Tell us the truth about minimizing the sovereignty of another nation. Didn’t we do this already in Iraq when our troops invaded in 2003?

Visit msnbc.com for breaking news, world news, and news about the economy

As we look back on that fateful night in November 2008 when Barack Obama won election we realize the surge in Afghanistan announced this week is not what we bargained for.

We did not elect Obama to give us more of the same. The language of President Barack Obama’s speech  is the same as predecessor George W. Bush when he determined 30,000 troops, the same number as for Afghanistan, would be the number of troops needed for the 2007 surge in Iraq.

Many  voters, young and old alike believed you would bring us change and hope for our future. We believed you when you said your administration would not conduct politics as usual.

The only change we can see is the color of the leader of the free world. Although you are considered to be an iconic leader of the nation, an icon for the planet, you are not living up to the expectations or the promises you made to all of us young and old who believed you…at least as regards the warring nature of our country.

President Obama is better than most American politicians. He’s told half truths and not complete lies.

We do not believe the military commitment to Afghanistan will be for 18 months. We believe it will be as you stated your opponents’ wish an engagement lasting for many  years into the future.

The millions of lives that will be lost as a result of your devastating decision to send more troops to Afghanistan is just the tip of the iceberg.

For years our expert military generals planned strategies to roust the Soviets from the same area. Karma dictates the former Soviets, now Russians, will pay back American generals for the terrible time given them when they were in Afghanistan for eight years. This could become even more of a boondoggle  entanglement than Viet Nam.

We are extremely saddened to realize you are the same as your predecessors. You are not our man. You not a man of the people. You have proven yourself to be their man. You are one of them.

Given the choice between John McCain and Barack Obama perhaps we should have gone with good old Johnny and Sarah the Terror instead of Barry and Joey.

During the past month more than 25 Georgians have been briefly detained in South Ossetia and Abkhazia for border violations. These actions are straining tempers which flared over a year when South Ossetia was the focus of a five-day war between Russia and Georgia.

All except the teenagers have been quickly released. South Ossetia says the Red Cross has been given access to the teenagers. As representative  of the EU and Sweden, Reinfeldt urges the Ossetians to release the teens.

The European Union president has also denounced the Azerbaijan court’s decision in the case of two bloggers.

On Wednesday, November 11, 2009 Emin Milli received a sentence of 2 years 6 months and Adnan Hajizade, was sentenced to two years for their part in a fight in a restaurant last July. Some in Azerbaijan believe the young activists were arrested for their activism.

Even the EU presidency states its regret “the trial proceedings did not reflect due process and believes that the court decision may further undermine the freedom of expression” in Azerbaijan.

Prime Minister/President Reinfeldt has also spoken against the recent execution in China of nine people for their participation in the ethnic riots in Xinjiang last July. That’s when the Uighurs attacked majority Han Chinese in regional capital Urumqi after taking to the streets to protest against attacks on Uighur workers at a factory in southern China in June that left two Uighurs dead. The area is the Chinese-controlled far western majority Muslim region.

Reinfeldt condemned the executions calling on China to abolish the death penalty. it was concerned about the way the trials were carried out.

“The EU calls on China to review urgently the cases of those who remain under sentence of death for their alleged involvement in this year’s unrest and for their sentences to be commuted.”

The Chinese foreign ministry responded with a MYOB statement. (Mind Your Own Business). In his comments Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesman Qin Gang charged the European Union was interfering in China’s internal affairs.

“We are extremely dissatisfied,”

Qin said in reference to the remarks by Reinfeldt. The full statement and the news conference in its entirety can be found on the ministry’s website (www.mfa.gov.cn).

China is a country ruled by laws, carried out the trials properly, and no outsider has a right to get involved, he said.

Qin said China

“demands the European side stop making the same mistakes again and again, earnestly respect the principles of equality and mutual respect, and do more to benefit the healthy and stable development of China-EU relations,”

We’re wondering if the EU Presidency will be speaking out against incidents of injustice, human rights violations here in the good old U.S. of A, Incidents like those reports describing law enforcement personnel tazing defenseless elderly and the young; incidents where police attack citizens who generally pose no serious life ending threat to police …Hmmmmm gives you something to think about.

Send your donation of money, clothing, computers, other school supplies and food to:
Love and Charity Homeless Mission
1031 Douglas Avenue
Racine Wisconsin 53403
Or telephone: 262-634-7059 to offer your time to be a helper in whatever way you can.

from their June 2008, five week appearance on the Today Show as contestants in the Race to The Altar competition; where one lucky couple wins an all expense paid televised wedding and private, lavish honeymoon.

I knew they were winners going into the competition. Handsome, confident, intelligent Darnell from St. Louis, Missouri and Decatur, Georgia along with, at the time his lovely fiance LaDonna from historic Tuskegee, Alabama–a true southern beauty, who is as brilliant as she is good looking, were the couple to watch.

And indeed millions did watch, as I did , as these two very accomplished young adults won the competition and were married on June 25, 2008, live, on the NBC television network.

Well this is what electrical/computer engineering professionals do after they marry each other. They establish a foundation. The Suggs Foundation, Inc, is a non-profit corporation, to promote scholastic values for those who follow them.

LaDonna and Darnell, oh I think they are so cute together; have decided to encourage others to pursue careers in Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics fields, known as STEM, through the Suggs Foundation while providing young people with resources for simplifying the decision making process when facing the challenges of making pivotal life changes;  advancing responsible citizenship, shielding the beneficial social and cultural ecology and inspiring social action.

They’re a very clever couple. The focus of their foundation’s work is defined in  three parts. It’s a formula for what they call SUGGS-cess©. You know the children have the term copyrighted. I told you they’re smart.

Firstly, there’s the goal to increase the number of Americans pursuing careers in the STEM fields. Darnell and LaDonna use their foundation to promote the professional opportunities within these career areas. Lawd knows we need more scientists and engineers. Is there anyone out there today who can do simple math without a calculator?

Secondly, the Suggs recognize the difficulty many young people experience when making important decisive change from scholarly pursuits, the world of work/profession and relationships. In particular, the sometimes fragile transition between high school and college; followed by college and the work force, dating and subsequent marriage. The Suggs have noted the major moments in the life of a human being and have set out to make the life odyssey a more  welcome adventure.

Finally, the third part of the SUGGS-cess© formula is service. Their philosophy is advocating and teaching civic responsibility along with environmental responsibility can inspire community activism/ involvement.

What I admire about these exemplary, smart, good looking young people is they have decided to use their celebrity as a stage from which to sincerely share their passions.

They are available for public speaking engagements through which they will raise money for the foundation. Darnell and LaDonna are using the Suggs Foundation to raise funds by holding charitable events, and they also accept public and private donations.

The Suggs Foundation is striving to give a voice to academic and professional issues affecting our society, in order to strengthen the fabric of our country.

Darlings, that’s what I call SUGGS-cess©!

For more information on how to support STEM education
contact The Suggs Foundation by email thesuggs@meetthesuggs.com

The Unitarian Universalists Society’s Religious Education Committee’s successful Explorations collaborative, now presented on Wednesday evenings as the Wednesday Evening Explorations, (WEE), will be featuring two Life Long Learning series with Jim Strayer, biologist and lecturer, as moderator. Both programs will be covering the subject How Science is Done:Two Examples and will begin at 7pm. Contact 386-441-2811 or 386-672-2556 for more information.

First on Wednesday, November 4, Part 1 Joseph Priestley.
Joseph Priestly was a scientist who is widely known for his discovery of oxygen. According to the Wikipedia

“Priestley’s science was integral to his theology, and he consistently tried to fuse Enlightenment rationalism with Christian theism.[3] In his metaphysical texts, Priestley attempted to combine theism, materialism, and determinism, a project that has been called “audacious and original”.He believed that a proper understanding of the natural world would promote human progress and eventually bring about the Christian Millennium. Priestley, who strongly believed in the free and open exchange of ideas, advocated toleration and equal rights for religious Dissenters, which also led him to help found Unitarianism in England. The controversial nature of Priestley’s publications combined with his outspoken support of the French Revolution aroused public and governmental suspicion; he was eventually forced to flee, in 1791, first to London, and then to the United States, after a mob burned down his home and church. He spent the last ten years of his life living in Northumberland County, Pennsylvania.”

In the second presentation in the series How Science is Done:Two Examples, on Wednesday, November 11 Part 2 Masters and Johnson. Scientist Jim Strayer will provide information about William Masters, renowned American gynecologist and his research associate Virginia Johnson, psychologist; together they comprised one of the first scientific research teams to investigate human sexual response in the laboratory.

Alfred Kinsey, earlier, had conducted his controversial research through personal interviews.

The study of human sexuality, sexology, was an area mostly neglected by scientists due to provincial social conventions during the mid 20th Century.

Join the Unitarian Universalists for an evening of thought provoking topics. For complete details call 386-441-2811 or 386-672-2556

“France has been with the No. 59 Brumos Porsche since the inception of the Daytona Prototype class in 2003. He was the first overall winner in the history of the class, joining Hurley Haywood in the No. 59 Fabcar for back-to-back victories at Homestead and Phoenix in 2003. He has co-driven the No. 59 Riley for the past two seasons with Joao Barbosa. His best finish since then was third in the 2009 Rolex 24, joined by Haywood, Barbosa and Terry Borcheller. A veteran of three different types of motorcycle racing – flat track, road racing and motocross – France drove in the KONI Challenge in 2002 before joining the Rolex Series.

France and Barbosa are currently eighth in the Daytona Prototype standings, only two points out of sixth. The 2008 winner of the Jim Trueman Award, France holds a 202-point lead over Rob Finlay as he bids to become the first two-time winner of Grand-Am’s  ‘Gentleman Driver’ award.”~ from news item August 2009.

The recent arrest and subsequent charges surrounding the adolescent episode of 44 year-old Jamison C. (Jamie) France, grandson of NASCAR founder,the late Bill France Sr., son of Jim France, founder of the Grand-Am circuit and cousin to Brian France, NASCAR CEO and chairman; reminds us of a scheme that might have been concocted by two characters from the Will Ferrell, John C. Riley film called “Step Brothers”. It’s the 21st Century version of “Dumb and Dumber” starring middle-aged men.

The film comedy is the story of Brennan Huff and Dale Dobeck two middle aged, very spoiled guys, who become competitive step brothers when their formerly single parents marry. We had no idea, in addition to being local ce-lout-brities big deals, a Hollywood film had been made about France and his step brother.

Jamison C. (J.C.) or Jamie France and his step brother, Russell Van Richmond were racing around the streets of Daytona Beach, Florida early Thursday morning in their expensive sports cars.  Both were charged with DUI, speeding and possession of illegal substances.

This story is so bizarre it caused the staff of YouThinkWhat to speculate along with our leader Henry T. Gandolph as to why a rich guy, who owns the Grand-Am car, a Brumos Porsche,  he and the team drove to win at least one victory this racing season; with one more race left, would choose to self sabotage a racing career. What would cause him to make the boneheaded decision to race on the Seabreeze Bridge in Daytona Beach, Florida after a night of partying?

Everyone knows, even tourists, the Daytona Beach Police are very vigilant for drivers under the influence of alcohol or drugs late at night or early morning  coming across the bridge to the mainland at a high rate of speed, especially in the days leading up to what amounts to a local racing enthusiast biker “holiday” week of events.

In this part of Florida October means BIKE-tober Fest. It’s the time of year when bikers from everywhere come to Daytona to party. The City Of Daytona calls in law enforcement officers from all over the state just to keep the local residents and the visitors safe during this time.

Considering all the extreme safety consciousness of the authorities and  the Daytona Beach, Florida community why would a member of the town’s allegedly premier family flaunt such reckless behavior?

We’ve kicked this around and come up with what we believe is a plausible answer. Using the perspective of the screen characters, Brennan Huff and Dale Dobeck, mentioned at the beginning of this article. If you’ve seen the film you’ll understand the irrational logic we’re using to reach our unscientific, speculative conclusion.

The grandson of NASCAR founder Bill France, the son of Grand-Am founder Jim France; and cousin of Brian France chairman and CEO of NASCAR, is not comfortable being a driver on the Grand-Am circuit. The family has given him this spot in the family business in order to keep it all in the family.

He buys a car. They let him drive and let him think he’s captain of the team. He’s a co-driver with a guy who has trained and really knows and loves his job. We believe at this point, six years into driving and traveling the circuit, France is itching to get back to his decadent lifestyle. The cynosure to the Daytona Beach drunks, druggies and whores was desperate to return to his life before becoming a Grand-Am racing circuit driver.

On the circuit he has to stay morally straight, clean and upright. No booze, no drugs, what a drag. Drunks and druggies are not permitted to drive the circuit. Additionally they are disparaged by Brian France CEO and chairman of NASCAR which owns the Grand-AM.

Despite the fact there is a crew, a team of mechanics, engineers, drivers and man servants who wait on him hand and foot 24/7 who rely on him for a paycheck, France is self absorbed, self centered and conspires with his step brother to go out in a blaze of notoriety by doing some outrageous act that will get him suspended from the circuit for an undetermined amount of time, indefinite period,  forever, perhaps even for life.

In the deranged mind of this infamously shameful local slug-lebrity , thug-lebrity celebrity and his wanna-be step brother, the plan is logical because it serves his main intention which is to get back to all that hard partying and drugging he’s been missing. There’s a lot of catching up to do in that area.  The cost to him of $15K is like jukebox money; that’s the total fee for bail in this incident for him and his stepbrother. it’s the price of doing business to get out of racing. It’s way less than the cost of paying salaries in the off season or even for the last race of the season.

With no regard for those who are depending on him and only one race left the grandson of NASCAR founder Bill France, the son of Grand-Am founder Jim France; and cousin of Brian France chairman and CEO of NASCAR managed to disgrace himself, bring shame to his associates–his name is toxic to anyone who works worked for him who wishes to be hired by a reputable entity; the family and negative publicity to the family business Grand-Am and NASCAR . There are some who believe, as Henry T. Gandolph does, all publicity is good publicity when you are in business.

Win or lose he could have announced his departure from the circuit for less worthwhile endeavors. The mind mentally disordered by drugs often gives no consideration how his actions will affect, or disrupt the lives of others; and mostly he does not give a care.

Nonetheless this spawn of the France family has won the tri-fecta of stupid self serving decisions; he got what he wanted, screwed up several lives so he is further vilified by more people than already know him as a lout while garnering headlines around the world, the racing world that is, proving once again it doesn’t take a genius to bring the media to ones turf.

And so the grandson of NASCAR founder Bill France, the son of Grand-Am founder Jim France; and cousin of Brian France chairman and CEO of NASCAR,  will, if fortunate, live to see another day.

It will be interesting to see how the rest of the story unfolds. Will the judge favor France, like the bail that was set for $4500 for France and $10K for his step brother? Or will there be disparity of treatment because France is a bigger cheese than most who come to court in Daytona Beach, Florida. Stay tuned….mean while… (see next article)

The bold progressives over at the Progressive Change Campaign Committee (PCCC) are celebrating and promoting a boost/shoutout they recently received from teevee commentator Rachel Maddow.

Last night on her highly viewed and extremely popular cable teevee program Rachel Maddow mentioned a petition begun by and being circulated by the Progressive Change Campaign Committee demanding an “up or down vote” on the strongly debated healthcare legislation.
Maddow showed the petition addressed to Senate Majority Whip Harry Reid, (D-Nevada),  on her program last night, which simply states the signers are giving an ultimatum to the Democrat senators. The signers of the petition agree those who support ” a Republican attempt to block a vote on health care reform should be stripped of their leadership titles.”

The PCCC says Reid was instrumental in returning Joe Lieberman to the Democrats’ caucus after he boldly endorsed  Republican John McCain for the presidency. PCCC believes Reid is obligated to lead the senators as his title suggests for the benefit of the voters who put him in office.

Democrats who side with Republicans on basic procedural things like allowing or denying a vote are behaving in a manner unacceptable to the welfare of the people.

Millions of Americans are without proper health care coverage; foot-dragging along with bureaucratic sandbagging is not what is needed when our people are in such desperate need.

The goal is to get 75,000 registered voters to sign the demand for a proper vote on the matter in the senate.
Visit the Progressive Change Campaign Committee’s web site to sign the petition and while you’re there make a donation. These bold progressives do good and important work.

Some may wonder why we are so outraged by the actions of prosecutors in California, members of the federal justice department and the department of state. These authorities are upholding a thoroughly abhorrent American tradition in law enforcement. The long arm of the law has a very long memory. It was not so long ago in the United States where a slave was a slave forever. Operating under the rule, “Once a slave, always a slave”, despite emancipation by an owner in one state, one could always be arrested and enslaved again in another jurisdiction. America has a tradition of turning likely productive citizens into fugitives.

The timing of this arrest of Polanski and the ensuing attempts to have him returned to the U.S. could not have come at a worse time. President Obama is trotting all over the globe attempting to improve our image among the world community, when some bonehead judge, assisted by an equally incompetent prosecutor, in flaky California, decides his ego is too big to  let a 76 year-old man live in peace; he has to cause an international incident, disrupting the life of a great artist and his family in order to satisfy the arbitrary whims of government. This is major bullsnit and the whole world knows it.

We are happy and glad to know there are at least two countries in the world with the courage to speak up on Polanski’s behalf; of course doing so may very well cause the French government and the government of Poland to incur the wrath of the United States. As someone once said, “No good deed goes unpunished.” Especially when a not-so- super power opposes the United States of America in matters pertaining to liberty. We seem to think we’ve cornered the market in that area. Imagine that. The big lie appears again.

Polanski is in detention after Swiss police arrested him Saturday on an international warrant as he was arriving in Zurich to receive a lifetime achievement award from a film festival.

We say American authorities are foolishly belligerent about a matter that at this point is of no consequence. Samantha Geimer, who was the young girl involved in the sex scandal more than 32 years ago, has settled with Polanski for an undisclosed sum of money; she says she wants the case to be over. Are you listening Mr./Ms Los Angeles Prosecutor.

The original judge in the matter, who has been found culpable for his misconduct in the case–seems he agreed to a plea bargain and then tried to renege on the deal. This anti-judicial role model is dead.

We are appalled to know the current Los Angeles judge hearing the case, the one who refused Polanski’s request for the dismissal of the case, has a huge ego, no compassion and watches HBO dramatic presentations pertaining to the cases for research when making decisions which will influence the lives of plaintiffs and defendants whose case are brought before him.

As Blanche Africa Reilly Dark, mother of Clark Dark and a very wise lady would say, “Y’all need to stop it! Just stop it!”

We paraphrase the words of the late Godfather of Soul, “Give it up! Turn’im loose!” Free Polanski Now!

“the Bureau of Labor Statistics released the employment situation report for August, which is the 20th month of the economic downturn.  The report showed an additional 216,000 jobs lost in August for a total of 6.9 million jobs lost this recession.

The good news is that the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act (ARRA) is providing a significant boost to the labor market.  Over the last three months, the labor market has shed an average of 318,000 jobs per month.”

Basically the unemployed are not finding gigs; the speed of job loss has slowed.

14.9 million workers are  unemployed with about 5 million having been without employment for more than six months. That is more than the record set in 1983.

In July 2009 there was a slight decline in the unemployment rate. An unusually large number of workers dropped out of the labor force causing the numbers to ratchet back up during August.

EPI reports:

” …unemployment reestablished its steady upward climb in August, rising from 9.4% to 9.7%.  Unemployment has more than doubled since its pre-recession low of 4.4% in March 2007, and has nearly doubled from 4.9% at the start of the recession in December 2007.  While the unemployment rate has not reached its post-WWII peak of 10.8% at the end of 1982, the increase in unemployment over this recession — 4.8 percentage points — has far surpassed the overall increase of 3.6 percentage points in the recession of 1981.”

What they’re saying is we’re going for the record in this installment of capitalism it’s an adventure.

And as usual we can count on our government to tell us their version of the truth.  EPI found this fact:

“… the official unemployment count understates the slack in the labor market by counting neither those who want a job but have given up looking for work (‘marginally attached’), nor workers who are working but can’t get the full-time hours they want (‘involuntary part-time workers’).

There are currently 14.9 million unemployed workers in the United States, but if the marginally attached and involuntary part-time workers are included, the number swells to 26.4 million.  Currently one in six U.S. workers (16.8%) is either un- or underemployed.”

Always during these times as in the past certain groups are typically more affected than others. Those groups are racial and ethnic minorities, men, workers with lower levels of schooling, and younger workers.

Last month, August 2009 among Blacks and Hispanics the jobless rate was
about 28 %–15% and 13% respectively; while the rate among whites was 8.9%

More men were unemployed than women; and workers with high school education was more than twice that of those with college degrees.

For workers 16 to 24 the rate of joblessness was more than 18% and for those 25 to 54 the rate was about half; in the 55 plus age group the rate of unemployment was nearly 7%.

But wait…that’s not all…6.9 million jobs lost since December 2007, which is when the government says this recession officially began. Let’s not forget the population continues to grow.  To keep pace with population growth the economy requires two and a half million jobs for the period December 2007 through August 2009, 20 months of economic decline; that would be about 127,000 jobs each month.

The bottom line here is that when the Congress meets again next week the first order of business should be to extend the benefits for about 500,000 unemployed workers whose benefits will end September 30, 2009

Goodell personally met with Vick for about an hour in New Jersey. The news of Michael Vick being clearedto be fully reinstated came prior to the Eagles losing 38-27 to the New York Jets in their final pre-season game.

Goodell who originally said he might hold off on reinstating the former Atlanta Falcons star until Week 6 of the current NFL season, publicly announced the good news on Thursday, September 3, 2009 from the league’s New York City headquarters after meeting with Vick.

Eligibility to play in Week 3 required Vick be one of 53 players on the final team roster in order to practice before the game set in Philadelphia. That roster is finalized today.

According to Commissioner Goodell his decision to fully reinstate Vick, who is on probation after serving a 20 month sentence for his part in abusing dogs in a dogfighting ring, was based, in part, on input from Eagles’ coach Andy Reid regarding the quarter back’s progress with the team.

The Mid-Atlantic Dachshund Phest is an annual event, originally known as Bark in the Park, featuring wiener dog races, dancing dogs, photo opps with Santa, a special Halloween costume contest and doggie parades.

There is no admission charge; nor is there registration required for your dachshund pooch to compete in the two weiner dog races.

Dog owners, dog lovers, or if you just want to have a fun filled day with this breed of man’s best friend, visit the 8th Mid-Atlantic Dachshund Phest. All are welcome. It’s indoors.The event will be held rain or shine, and it’s free.

This very sweet production was one of the 2009 Cannes Lions winners.

The Cannes Lions is an award given during the International Advertising Festival (IAF). It’s a meeting for those working in advertising and related fields. According to Wikipedia it is currently the largest gathering of worldwide advertising professionals and advertisers.

Watch this classic tale of boy meets girl with a modern twist. Enjoy this diversion and enjoy the Labor Day holiday weekend.

Edward Kennedy will be remembered as the protector of the dream. This is a reference to the dream of the founding fathers of this nation as well as to the dream of equality spoken of by Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr.

Senator Kennedy was the legislative champion in the senate for the millions who are less fortunate in this country. He was the kind of senate representative who worked for the interests of the people he represented.

We are reminded of his frailty, his shortcomings by those who would discount the fact he did not have to work as diligently as he did for the people of Massachusetts or the people of the United States.

We have also been reminded by his loving family of the strength, the love and compassion he exhibited when faced with the challenge of being the patriarch–he almiost never missed a family event, including those for the children of his brothers, as well as his own.

Ted, as he was known by his colleagues and friends in the senate, was a tireless worker; even through his terminal illness he continued to promote the universal health care legislation which he advocated for nearly fifty years of his political career.

The name of Edward M. Kennedy can be found on hundreds of pieces of legislation from immigration, to education, to labor issues such as minimum wage and family medical leave laws; from legislation to protect citizens with disabilities to the much debated and still not yet passed law to provide universal health care for 47 million Americans who are at risk because they lack health insurance.

To members of the loyal opposition, Kennedy, who was a fiercely loyal Democrat,was admired and respected his work. He was passionate in his quests.  Edward Kennedy never made his attacks personal when debating laws. He was respectful, playful– an all  ’round affable guy to his associates in the senate.

Your job is well done Edward M. Kennedy. Rest In peace, Senator.

In Brooklyn’s Prospect Park, Spike Lee has invited fans of the King Of Pop to attend a celebration of his birth and his life. More than 10,000 guests are expected.

We invite you to remember Michael Jackson here in this video.

All right people! Get it over it! I’m hearing all this fuss over Washington, D.C. Mayor Adrian Fenty’s decision, with his wife, to send his children to a so-called “good” public school; one that is better than his neighborhood school.

Will someone explain to me why this is a problem?!

The man has kept his campaign promise to send his youngsters to a public school. Fine! Let’s give him an atta-boy for keeping his promise. He’s the mayor. There are certain privileges that come with leadership positions. Why else would anyone run for public office? Satisfying personal ego demands are part of what makes Adrian, or Mike or Barack or Nancy or Hillary,  anyone run.

I see this camflamma as simply another distraction from the issue of health care for citizens who are at risk without it. Lack of health care for 47 million citizens is disgraceful. The mayor of Washington D.C. sending his children to  the best public school to meet their educational needs is not in the same category as the great nation we say we are leaving the people who make it great without access to proper medical care.

So local D.C. folks get over the moral outrage about the mayor’s kids issue, and direct some indignation toward this health care legislation.

DEMAND health care reform NOW!

We’re wondering why a venerable institution like Bank Skank of America would require its customers to sign off on such an agreement.

In what is it the bank is doing to expose them to a possible class action lawsuit? Could their lawyers be paranoid about being sued? Does legal counsel for Bank Of America believe something illegal is being done to cause outraged consumers to sue?  Geez! It wouldn’t be the first time; and furthermore some would consider it is the price of doing business in today’s litigious market place.

We believe such an agreement would not be necessary if banks would do they job they were originally intended to do. That job is to protect the consumers’ deposits with integrity rather than the standard of today, greed and avarice.

If you wish to hear the call go to Forty Days For Health Reform.

40 Minutes for Health Reform is sponsored by:
National Baptist Convention, USA, Inc.; Progressive National Baptist Convention; Religious Action Center of Reform Judaism; NETWORK, A National Catholic Social Justice Lobby; United Methodist Church General Board of Church and Society; The Episcopal Church; Samuel DeWitt Proctor Conference; Jewish Council for Public Affairs; Gamaliel Foundation; Faithful Reform in Health Care; Unitarian Universalist Association; African Methodist Episcopal Church (AME); The New Evangelicals; National Council of Churches in Christ; Evangelical Lutheran Church in America; United Church of Christ; The Latino Leadership Circle; Christian Community Development Association; Islamic Society of North America; Washington Office of Women’s Divisions, General Board of Global Ministries, United Methodist Church; Jewish Women International; Islamic Medical Association of North America; Presbyterian Church (USA), Washington Office; Disciples Center for Public Witness; Disciples Justice Action Network; Catholics United; Faith in Public Life; Faithful America; PICO National Network; Catholics in Alliance for the Common Good; Sojourners

If you are a person of faith who wishes to be active in supporting comprehensive health care reform,  Sign The Petition.

Walk the walk that goes with the faith based language  you’ve been talking.

Get the word out to our leaders. Health care reform will benefit our entire nation. Our people must be strong and healthy to keep our nation strong. We must have proper health care reform and we must have it NOW!

Senator Kennedy, the youngest of the Kennedy brothers, died peacefully at his home in Hyannis Port, Massachusetts. He succumbed to brain cancer. He was 77 years-old.

Millions of citizens are without insurance. Living without health insurance is detrimental to anyone’s health.

This fact is a moral disgrace! It reeks of the kind of moral depravity we’ve read about in ancient times.

Late last night one of the most influential men  in the U.S. Senate, a man who has spent the last forty years of his life working to secure the rights–economic, health care and civil, for minorities and the less fortunate, died.

Senator Ted Kennedy of Massachusetts always a passionate advocate for universal health care in this country declared last summer in Denver Colorado at the meeting of the Democratic National Convention, the issue of universal health care is the “cause of his life”.  He worked tirelessly for the passage of the legislation that will provide coverage for an estimated 46 million people for are now at health risk.

We urge all the congressional representatives, Democrat and Republican alike to do whatever is necessary to pass this important bill with the single payer option. Honor Ted Kennedy’s dedication to helping the less fortunate. We want coverage and we want it NOW!

Your tenure  in the United States Senate or the House of Representatives will definitely depend on how you vote on the universal health care bill. Make no mistake about that!

Where you stand on this matter, how you vote will be a major consideration as to whether or not you remain a player in the nation’s capital.

Take action to insure you are not among the future unemployed–we’ve heard this economic downturn may continue for a couple more years.

Our lives and the lives of our children depend on the passage of this bill. The future of our nation is dependent on  strong, healthy citizens.

Give Us Universal  Health Coverage NOW!

Watch his 1980 presentation, at the Democratic National Convention held in New York City, wherein he fully commits to continuing to fight for economic, health and civil rights for everyone.

Garret Keizer is now joined by Larry Flynt. That’s right, Larry Flynt, the publisher of Hustler has written an article in support of a general strike.

Many Americans  are beginning to feel similar frustrations expressed by the man, Joe Ferraro, aka The Nerd, who  said so when calling in a question to a Philadelphia radio talk show on which the president was appearing to answer questions about the health care issue.

We’re not just frustrated and upset about health care in this country, though it is an important issue. The heath care crisis  affects our elderly citizens and our youngest most vulnerable citizens. The children are our hope for the future. As well documented in recent news reports this is a great source of concern as well as frustration.

We’re getting batted around like a party pinata because of the inequality in the justice system; banks continuing predatory policies despite using our money to keep their failed enterprises afloat. The continuing housing crisis; or the uncontrolled use of tasers by police to exert their authorityl whether necessary  or not.   The crisis we face in employment with jobs being sent overseas. And we’re all fed up with politicians. Even the divinely eloqient Mr. Obama and crew.

Interestingly, Flynt has titled his piece “Common Sense 2009″. We have always thought it makes good common sense to hold a general strike to get the American public’s point of view across.

The last time this was attempted the momentum was built online by bloggers. There was support for a general strike from sites such as the Daily Kos.

There were different dates October 17th or November 6th or Black Friday…have a general strike once a month until the powers that be capitulate. It does not have to be a one time  event to be effective.

A series of protests to let the government know they must heed what we, the people, have to say.

People from every part of the country. Military veterans, school teachers, doctors, lawyers, blue collar workers, sanitation personnel, mothers, fathers. Everybody who has a stake in keeping this ship of state afloat should be in the streets to demonstrate we want meaningful change. Not rhetoric.

We can do something about this. We can organize peaceful, sensible, non-violent demonstrations. People around the world have organized in this way. Mexicans for more than six months following a presidential election they did not like. Ukrainians and others have carried on to get the attention of the oligarchs who control their country.

We, Americans, are capable. We can set a strategy to send a message to our government we will not be doormats any longer! We are mad as hell and we are not going to take it anymore!

The glove was a gift to Walter “Clyde” Orange of the Commodores back in 1983 at the Motown 25 tee vee celebration when Michael debuted the glove and his innovative version of the urban dance step, the moonwalk.

Orange says he hopes the glove will find a home in the Rock And Roll  Hall of Fame for everyone to see the accessory that accompanied Jackson as he catapulted to international fame as a solo act.

When Vick suits up with the Philadelphia Eagles he’ll be wearing the number 7, as he did when he played for the Falcons in Atlanta before serving time in a federal prison for killing and abusing dogs.
Philadelphia Eagles coach Andy Reid reports Vick is focused and eager to get his career on track.

Starting quarter back Donovan McNabb endorses Vick coming to the Eagles. “I pretty much lobbied to get him here, because everybody deserves a second chance.” What part Michael Vick will play on the team’s offense is not yet clear.

Eleven year-old Damon Weaver of Canal Point, Florida
is a student reporter at the Katherine E. Cunningham Elementary School in Canal Point, Palm Beach County, Florida. Damon Weaver has conducted an interview at the White House with President Barack Obama. Watch it here:

After interviewing Vice President Joe Biden when the then senator-candidate visited Palm Beach County last fall during the presidential election campaign, Damon Weaver began his quest to get the scoop of his lifetime by winning an exclusive interview with the man who would be America’s first black president.

We’ve always supported Damon’s desires to be the ace number one cub reporter. We championed Damon’s request for credentials to be at President Obama’s historical inauguration. We reported when Damon was successful and received those highly prized press credentials.

We are proud and pleased to announce he’s captured an interview with the President Of The United States. Congratulations to Damon Weaver. We wish you much success in the future.

We agree with the “Birthers”. Barack Obama was not born in the United States of America; in fact he wasn’t even born on this planet.

The current occupant of the White House was born on the planet Mongo, located in another universe. He was delivered here to this planet in the same manner as the so-called “Man of Steel”. That’s right an alien space ship dropped him off as the passengers and crew were on their way to catch the party train to Mars.

Here’s a video by Lee Camp to provide a moment of clarity on the subject of President Obama’s birth and Professor Gates’ recent arrest.

Certain opponents to the health care reform proposals are counting on the fact the public will not read the proposed bill. Their stock and trade is in fear. “If we can scare the people we’ve got control”.

As a public service YouThinkWhat presents the controversial Page 425 of the current proposed legislation. Read it for yourself. Do not let some tired old tee vee actor, former Republican politician with a talk-radio program tell you what it says. Read it for yourself.

Here is the actual full section in question taken from the Library of Congress Thomas legislative website.
SEC. 1233. ADVANCE CARE PLANNING CONSULTATION.

(a) Medicare-

(1) IN GENERAL- Section 1861 of the Social Security Act (42 U.S.C. 1395x) is amended–

(A) in subsection (s)(2)–

(i) by striking `and’ at the end of subparagraph (DD);

(ii) by adding `and’ at the end of subparagraph (EE); and

(iii) by adding at the end the following new subparagraph:

`(FF) advance care planning consultation (as defined in subsection (hhh)(1));’; and

(B) by adding at the end the following new subsection:

Advance Care Planning Consultation

`(hhh)(1) Subject to paragraphs (3) and (4), the term `advance care planning consultation’ means a consultation between the individual and a practitioner described in paragraph (2) regarding advance care planning, if, subject to paragraph (3), the individual involved has not had such a consultation within the last 5 years. Such consultation shall include the following:

`(A) An explanation by the practitioner of advance care planning, including key questions and considerations, important steps, and suggested people to talk to.

`(B) An explanation by the practitioner of advance directives, including living wills and durable powers of attorney, and their uses.

`(C) An explanation by the practitioner of the role and responsibilities of a health care proxy.

`(D) The provision by the practitioner of a list of national and State-specific resources to assist consumers and their families with advance care planning, including the national toll-free hotline, the advance care planning clearinghouses, and State legal service organizations (including those funded through the Older Americans Act of 1965).

`(E) An explanation by the practitioner of the continuum of end-of-life services and supports available, including palliative care and hospice, and benefits for such services and supports that are available under this title.

`(F)(i) Subject to clause (ii), an explanation of orders regarding life sustaining treatment or similar orders, which shall include–

`(I) the reasons why the development of such an order is beneficial to the individual and the individual’s family and the reasons why such an order should be updated periodically as the health of the individual changes;

`(II) the information needed for an individual or legal surrogate to make informed decisions regarding the completion of such an order; and

`(III) the identification of resources that an individual may use to determine the requirements of the State in which such individual resides so that the treatment wishes of that individual will be carried out if the individual is unable to communicate those wishes, including requirements regarding the designation of a surrogate decisionmaker (also known as a health care proxy).

`(ii) The Secretary shall limit the requirement for explanations under clause (i) to consultations furnished in a State–

`(I) in which all legal barriers have been addressed for enabling orders for life sustaining treatment to constitute a set of medical orders respected across all care settings; and

`(II) that has in effect a program for orders for life sustaining treatment described in clause (iii).

`(iii) A program for orders for life sustaining treatment for a States described in this clause is a program that–

`(I) ensures such orders are standardized and uniquely identifiable throughout the State;

`(II) distributes or makes accessible such orders to physicians and other health professionals that (acting within the scope of the professional’s authority under State law) may sign orders for life sustaining treatment;

`(III) provides training for health care professionals across the continuum of care about the goals and use of orders for life sustaining treatment; and

`(IV) is guided by a coalition of stakeholders includes representatives from emergency medical services, emergency department physicians or nurses, state long-term care association, state medical association, state surveyors, agency responsible for senior services, state department of health, state hospital association, home health association, state bar association, and state hospice association.

`(2) A practitioner described in this paragraph is–

`(A) a physician (as defined in subsection (r )(1)); and

`(B) a nurse practitioner or physician’s assistant who has the authority under State law to sign orders for life sustaining treatments.

`(3)(A) An initial preventive physical examination under subsection (WW), including any related discussion during such examination, shall not be considered an advance care planning consultation for purposes of applying the 5-year limitation under paragraph (1).

`(B) An advance care planning consultation with respect to an individual may be conducted more frequently than provided under paragraph (1) if there is a significant change in the health condition of the individual, including diagnosis of a chronic, progressive, life-limiting disease, a life-threatening or terminal diagnosis or life-threatening injury, or upon admission to a skilled nursing facility, a long-term care facility (as defined by the Secretary), or a hospice program.

`(4) A consultation under this subsection may include the formulation of an order regarding life sustaining treatment or a similar order.

`(5)(A) For purposes of this section, the term `order regarding life sustaining treatment’ means, with respect to an individual, an actionable medical order relating to the treatment of that individual that–

`(i) is signed and dated by a physician (as defined in subsection (r )(1)) or another health care professional (as specified by the Secretary and who is acting within the scope of the professional’s authority under State law in signing such an order, including a nurse practitioner or physician assistant) and is in a form that permits it to stay with the individual and be followed by health care professionals and providers across the continuum of care;

`(ii) effectively communicates the individual’s preferences regarding life sustaining treatment, including an indication of the treatment and care desired by the individual;

`(iii) is uniquely identifiable and standardized within a given locality, region, or State (as identified by the Secretary); and

`(iv) may incorporate any advance directive (as defined in section 1866(f)(3)) if executed by the individual.

`(B) The level of treatment indicated under subparagraph (A)(ii) may range from an indication for full treatment to an indication to limit some or all or specified interventions. Such indicated levels of treatment may include indications respecting, among other items–

`(i) the intensity of medical intervention if the patient is pulse less, apneic, or has serious cardiac or pulmonary problems;

`(ii) the individual’s desire regarding transfer to a hospital or remaining at the current care setting;

`(iii) the use of antibiotics; and

`(iv) the use of artificially administered nutrition and hydration.’.

(2) PAYMENT- Section 1848(j)(3) of such Act (42 U.S.C. 1395w-4(j)(3)) is amended by inserting `(2)(FF),’ after `(2)(EE),’.

(3) FREQUENCY LIMITATION- Section 1862(a) of such Act (42 U.S.C. 1395y(a)) is amended–

(A) in paragraph (1)–

(i) in subparagraph (N), by striking `and’ at the end;

(ii) in subparagraph (O) by striking the semicolon at the end and inserting `, and’; and

(iii) by adding at the end the following new subparagraph:

`(P) in the case of advance care planning consultations (as defined in section 1861(hhh)(1)), which are performed more frequently than is covered under such section;’; and

(B) in paragraph (7), by striking `or (K)’ and inserting `(K), or (P)’.

(4) EFFECTIVE DATE- The amendments made by this subsection shall apply to consultations furnished on or after January 1, 2011.

(b) Expansion of Physician Quality Reporting Initiative for End of Life Care-

(1) Physician’S QUALITY REPORTING INITIATIVE- Section 1848(k)(2) of the Social Security Act (42 U.S.C. 1395w-4(k)(2)) is amended by adding at the end the following new paragraphs:

`(3) Physician’S QUALITY REPORTING INITIATIVE-

`(A) IN GENERAL- For purposes of reporting data on quality measures for covered professional services furnished during 2011 and any subsequent year, to the extent that measures are available, the Secretary shall include quality measures on end of life care and advanced care planning that have been adopted or endorsed by a consensus-based organization, if appropriate. Such measures shall measure both the creation of and adherence to orders for life-sustaining treatment.

`(B) PROPOSED SET OF MEASURES- The Secretary shall publish in the Federal Register proposed quality measures on end of life care and advanced care planning that the Secretary determines are described in subparagraph (A) and would be appropriate for eligible professionals to use to submit data to the Secretary. The Secretary shall provide for a period of public comment on such set of measures before finalizing such proposed measures.’.

(c) Inclusion of Information in Medicare & You Handbook-

(1) MEDICARE & YOU HANDBOOK-

(A) IN GENERAL- Not later than 1 year after the date of the enactment of this Act, the Secretary of Health and Human Services shall update the online version of the Medicare & You Handbook to include the following:

(i) An explanation of advance care planning and advance directives, including–

(I) living wills;

(II) durable power of attorney;

(III) orders of life-sustaining treatment; and

(IV) health care proxies.

(ii) A description of Federal and State resources available to assist individuals and their families with advance care planning and advance directives, including–

(I) available State legal service organizations to assist individuals with advance care planning, including those organizations that receive funding pursuant to the Older Americans Act of 1965 (42 U.S.C. 93001 et seq.);

(II) website links or addresses for State-specific advance directive forms; and

(III) any additional information, as determined by the Secretary.

(B) UPDATE OF PAPER AND SUBSEQUENT VERSIONS- The Secretary shall include the information described in subparagraph (A) in all paper and electronic versions of the Medicare & You Handbook that are published on or after the date that is 1 year after the date of the enactment of this Act.

Here’s Merle Hazard singing his latest release, “Bail Out”. Enjoy!

We have been thinking about this accusation. Just like Bernie Madoff, R. Allen Stanford is accused of doing that ponzi scheme thing. Often described as “any fraudulent investment scheme that pays returns to investors from their own money or money paid by subsequent investors rather than from any actual profit earned”, this definition brings us to conclude, banks do the same thing.

We ask the question: Why is R. Allen Stanford’s business different than Bank Of America, or as we like to call the company Skank Of America. What separates R. Allen Stanford’s operation from say Citi, or as we have named the huge financial conglomerate Sniti. How is R. Allen Stanford’s banking empire different than Wachovia, or as we say Wacky-skank?

Other than the fact the head man is a criminally indicted person we do not see much difference.

Requests for assistance, i.e. loan modification, from consumers facing foreclosure or those who have received notice of foreclosure from the lender(s) who hold the mortgage(s) on their house, have increased.

The lenders do not find it profitable to help save your home. Even with the government money for the banks as incentive to help consumers, the banks skanks do not find it is profitable to help save families and communities. Glori-osky what a revelation! We are wondering how those bankers sleep at night.

Just as in the past, so it is today, the banks will be preserved at all costs.

The economic experts from the Federal Reserve Bank in Boston conducted research with results that state it would have worked better if the money given to the banks skanks–$75 Billion earlier this year had been given to the home owners to pay off those non-performing assets.

Fact is, if that $75 Billion had been given to John Q. and/or Madeline Homeowner-In-Default to pay off the debt, the bank would have no assets, non-performing or otherwise.

Let us waste no further time discussing what “should have happened”. Let’s talk about what is happening. Let’s find a solution to the situation.

It is important for the banks to have assets. It is important at all costs; even if it means keeping a class of financially indentured slaves so encumbered far into the future. How else will the banking class live the extravagant lifestyle they believe they are entitled to have?

Utilizing this measure in full would insure every  one of the banks goes out of business, NSF, overdrawn.

Why should the very people who have bailed out the banks repeatedly with billions of dollars, then trillions of dollars, be mercilessly hounded and ruthlessly attacked when the banks, the so-called money experts, cannot balance their own books. They have resorted to the same public they prey upon to rescue them.

For an investment of about six million dollars you can start a bank of your own. Think of all the benefits to be derived from owning a bank. It’s  a very exclusive club. You can mismanage funds and receive more money from the government when you do.

All you have to do to get the free funding is promise to make money available to consumers. When you get the cash renege on your agreement to make loans. Invest the money received to make a profit for at least six months, then begin to repay the government with a penalty applied. It’s simply seen as the price of doing business because you’ve made a very large profit from money that was never yours to invest. This is a great example of using other people’s money. It is a business model to be taught, learned and followed.

Neither man was considered a likely candidate to become world famous; nor did it seem Davis or Jackson was destined to be successful in life at all. They were born poor, male and black in America at a time when many thought those characteristics a distinct disadvantage.

These men began their entertainment careers at about the same age. What made them different was the innate talent possessed by both. Music, rhythm, song, dance and intelligence resonated with them both. All of those elements converged at just the right moment in time to give the world two of the greatest entertainers ever known.

Davis was a show biz veteran by the age of ten; He had previously traveled and appeared on stage with both his parents. When his mother retired from the stage little Sammy, Jr. joined with his father Sam, Sr. and his uncles. They were the Will Maston Trio. Three experienced dancers and Sam, “the kid”.

Michael Jackson came to prominence when he and his four brothers were discovered by Gladys Knight. Berry Gordy, president and founder of Motown Records, who signed the group to a recording contract, thought it would be a better legend if his favorite Supreme, Diana Ross, was attributed with discovering the five young men, and the rest of their talented family. Later When Michael and his brothers left the company, they were prohibited from using their name, The Jackson 5, by Berry Gordy Motown founder.

All has been forgiven. There appears to be no bad feelings on the part of the Jackson family as indicated by Gordy’s presence at Tuesday’s dignified memorial service in Los Angeles, California. Berry Gordy, a recording executive of mega-influence made this profound pronouncement when he spoke, calling Michael Jackson the greatest entertainer of all time. Many agree.

We always heard about Jackson paying money to someone else. We rarely heard of Jackson getting paid, and keeping or holding on to the money. Stories of his generosity are legendary.

There are tales, too, of his excessive spending, for example bidding approximately a million dollars on the bones of John Merrick, aka the Elephant Man, in 1987. Some of those stories of outrageous expenditures are said to have been planted by the ultimate showman, Jackson, himself.

We know he paid millions to get free by divorce from the daughter of The King, Lisa Marie Presley. Michael Jackson even had to use his earnings as collateral for loans with our favorite banking institution, Bank Skank Of America. Everyone should know by now a loan with those vultures will bankrupt all but the richest of the rich. If your name is de Rothschild you can afford to be a customer at Bank Skank of America

We heard ad nauseum of the money spent to settle cases wherein Jackson was alleged to have molested a minor; or daily reports of the millions spent to launch a legal defense when charged with child molestation. He was acquitted of all charges in the case. Michael Jackson’s finances were slowly draining away as he got older.

It was the same with Sammy. We always saw him with lots of flashy jewelry. We’d heard of his extravagance and excesses. Davis, too, was well known for his generosity. We almost never heard of anyone paying him. In fact when he died he was heavily indebted. His widow was left nearly penniless.

Sammy Davis, Jr. grew up during the era of segregation in the United States. To get a sense of what his life was like read his autobiographies, “Yes, I Can!”, “Why Me?” and “Sammy” all written with Burt and Jane Boyar.

Jackson became successful during the end of the non-violent civil rights era and the beginnings of the more militant black movement in America. He was faced with those who wished to place limits on where he would take his talent. His loving determined attitude and awesome showmanship took him to heights of acclaim never achieved by any other human. Michael Jackson changed the world, and he asked us to join him in making that change.

Both Davis and Jackson, with their families, experienced the pain of not being accepted in the real world. Both men used their artistic ability to break down racial barriers. They used their skills to unify diverse people. Both men were admired, adored, almost loved to death, by their fans; both suffered excruciating loneliness away from their work.

No matter what they looked like, Michael going from a cute little black boy, to attractive young black man to strange looking white woman to some kind of other being whose skin was so white it was whiter than any Caucasian skin because of the skin disorder vitiligo; or Sammy Davis Jr. who also began as a cute little black boy; who later matured into an attractive young dancer. musician- he played several musical instruments, and impressionist, who later ended up with a broken nose, eye patch, or glass eye as trophies from a staged auto accident intended to take his life; the celebrated controversial conversion to Judaism and serial marriages.

No matter what their political affiliation, who they married or socialized with both men always knew they could find much loving acceptance in the black community.They came from us, and they belonged to the world.

We say this to point out the fact in America, as in many nations, it is challenging to be a successful child star and transition into a show business path as an adult with an equally successful, possibly fulfilling entertainment career. It is even more difficult when you are a sensitive, creative genius who just happens to be a black male presenting your art.

We are grateful to have been able to enjoy their talent, they shared their genius with the world. We are grateful for the time they were on this planet

Watch as Sammy Davis, Jr. sings his version of Michael Jackson’s “Bad”.

From 1989 all star birthday tribute to the late Sammy Davis Jr. Michael Jackson pays homage to his progenitor.

We’re glad to say we had the opportunity to spend some time on the planet during their era. What a fantastic experience! Two great entertainers..Sammy Davis, Jr. and now the man who will forever be known as the greatest entertainer of them all, Michael Jackson.

Serena has won three of the past four Grand Slam titles.

Richard Williams, father and coach of the tennis champs, has said his youngest daughter, Serena, would be the better of the two. We’ve checked the stats and found Serena leads in Grand Slam titles (11-7), in head-to-head matches (11-10), and in all-Williams major finals (6-2).

This was the 14th Grand Slam final for each of the Williams sisters; no other active woman participated in more than four. Serena is 11-3 in such matches; Venus fell to 7-7, with all but one defeat coming against her sister.

Some in tennis circles are critical saying their dominance of the sport is boring. The game lacks excitement because they’re always playing each other.

We say the Champion Williams Sisters are the athletes who make the game exciting. We love Venus and Serena. Congratulations to them both for their athletic achievements.

On that auspicious occasion the stakes were raised, the ante was upped and our nation’s leaders declared our independence from the British crown.

It was the beginning of a history that continues to unfold.

 As a West Point cadet Dan Choi was trained to  forego cheating, lying and stealing. As a commissioned officer Dan Choi is sworn to practice integrity everyday. The powers that be in the Department of the Army, and the Pentagon have taken steps to court martial and dishonorably discharge Dan Choi for doing what he has sworn to do as an officer in the United States military.

On Tuesday, June 30, 2009 at 8 a.m., Lt. Dan Choi of the U.S. Army will stand trial for announcing: “I am gay.”
 
On Tuesday, he will be facing a panel of colonels who will decide whether or not to fire Lt. Dan Choi.– They will consider discharging Lt. Choi for “moral and professional dereliction” under the military’s “Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell” policy.

Dan wishes to remain in the military. Help him to stay. Sign the petition.
We don’t understand why anyone would want to go into military service in the first place.  We especially do not unerstand why a gay, lesbian, transgender or bi-secual person would want to present himself for the obvious ridicule and abuse by others in the service.  Apparently it is because they have no other alternative.

We do believe someone who is in the army, who has served the nation well, who wishes to remain in service to his country, should be allowed to stay. Dan Choi does not deserve to be disgraced because of a bad law.

We are told by those who know, there are those who remain in all branches of the armed forces who have more serious social issues than simple sexual preference. Horror stories of child and wife beaters, drug and alcohol addicts who were in charge of fixing or flying airplanes, mentally ill officers in charge of many men and women, adulterers, and even a military doctor who was sexually abusing patients, including the widow of a downed pilot. Military officials didn’t throw them out of the service.  There is no justice in a gay person being discharged from the military for no good reason.

We’ve said it before, we will say it again,”Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell is a bad law! it should be repealed, but until it is, do not fire any more gay military personnel for simply being themselves.

When it comes to repealing bad laws the Congress of the United States of America and the President should work together to take this very bad law off the books as quickly as possible..

For example both Ed McMahon and Farrah Fawcett have died. As did Billy Mays a teevee pitchman for organic cleaners who also began his career just like Johnny Carson’s sidekick McMahon, on the boardwalk in Atlantic City.

We know there is trouble in Iran, The Honduran president has been overthrown in a military coup.

We know the governor of South Carolina is having some marital troubles along with a lack of support from his fellow Republicans. His actions sure take the heat off another Republican named Ensign.

Silvio Berlusconi’s, “I-Did-Not-Pay-For-Sex” scandal has made headlines around the world, too.

To those who are critical of the attention being paid to the passing of international super-star Michael Jackson we say consider the mourning that took place when Ronald Reagan died. He certainly deserved the media attention not because of his exceptional talent; he was after all an actor in low budget, “B” movies. it was only because he was president of our nation he received overwhelming, some would say excessive, media recognition upon his death.

We think it is only fitting for a man as generous, as talented, as dedicated and hardworking, who touched the lives of so many and influenced the people of the planet for so many years receive our well deserved love and attention.

Now, in other news……

Happy Father’s Day to everyone who nurtures a child!

This time it’s American dairy farmers. That’s right folks banks across the country are cutting off farmers’ access to credit and at least two dairy farmers have committed suicide in California.
The most recent speculation is the drop in domestic milk prices could result in a loss of  30 percent of the remaining dairy farmers by December 2009. That would be about 20,000 family dairy farmers off the land–out of the dairy farming business by the end of 2009.

Losing so many family farmers around the nation will have a further devastating economic effect on American farmers;  the loss will wipe out more than $52 billion of economic development in less than one year.

Some experts say a critical gap in U.S. food safety will be created as foreign milk protein concentrate (MPC) imports from countries such as Mexico, India and China  will increase dramatically. It is said these countries have lower food safety standards than the U.S.

We ask you to write to the Secretary of the Agriculture, Tom Vilsack , to request he use his authority set forth under Section 608c (18) of the Agricultural Marketing Agreement Act of 1937 to adjust the price of milk paid to farmers to “reflect the price” of production. This legally mandated “floor price” should be at least $17.50 cwt.

Once again, we are in a crisis situation. It demands immediate and decisive action.

We, all of us, are friends to family farmers and as the United States Secretary of Agriculture, Tom Vilsack  is responsible to alleviate this situation.

YOU must act quickly. Encourage the Secretary ot institute reforms in dairy pricing to ensure a disaster like this  is averted in the future. Our American dairy farmers are counting on you. Contact the USDA today!

Letterman told a joke about Alaska’s governor and her family; he told a specific bad joke about one of her female children. He made a joke about the governor’s appearance, too.

We agree his jokes were not funny. A couple of them were in bad taste. Unlike radio personality Don Imus, David Letterman does not have a history of making coarse, off color remarks about young girls.
All you feminists, both male and female, who are outraged by the poor choice made by a late night teevee comedian to tell a joke that disparages  and exploits females, just hold on for one moment.

Other comedians have told similar jokes about the Alaskan first family. Maybe the governor’s hormones were slightly out of balance last week when some Republican agitator told her about the jokes.  Maybe some people in the GOP encouraged her to gin up the news to make an issue out of nothing. This is a move guaranteed to get her more face time in the press, the blogosphere and the electronic media.

The subject of the jokes has used her feminine attractiveness to obtain the political office she holds. If you remember she was the so-called “hot one” in position number two on the GOP’s 2008 presidential campaign ticket. We remember a comedian, not Letterman, said the governor and her family in the company of Senator John McCain reminded him of a family of grifters.

The governor of Alaska is,  a former beauty queen who knows very well how to use, shall we say exploit, her female comeliness to its best advantage.  she was also for a brief time in a small market a teevee personality.

David Letterman did not invent the culture we have today where women and girls are frequently demeaned. He is not the reason those types of jokes are taken as no big deal.

David Letterman is not responsible for the fact the female of our species is exploited for commercial gain, with or without her knowledge or permission in music, film, and every commercial form of enterprise one can name.

We like Letterman. No amount of bashing Dave, or calls for his ouster will change the fact we have a culture that heavily relies upon sex to persuade and influence decisions from which politico we elect to what car or shampoo or dog food we purchase. We say David Letterman is not the source of our society’s problems in respecting females.

To the governor of Alaska we say you can not have it both ways. One day you have your daughters promoting your candidacy; on another day you have the older of the three working as the public spokesman advocating for abstinence among young people. You heavily publicized your son’s military tour of duty during the presidential campaign last fall. You brought your youngest son to nearly every photo opportunity to show how you are a concerned mother with a child with special needs. Then the next time we hear from you, you are saying leave my children out of the limelight.

You can not have it both ways. If you wish your family to be private then do not parade them about in front of the media.

Now let’s compose ourselves and focus on why President Barack Obama is backing off of the corporations, the banks, the doctors and the health insurance companies. This Letterman-Alaska thing is just a distraction. Let’s get down to the real business at hand.

We recently met an interesting and sensitive lady named Laurie Moran. She modestly introduced herself as a music teacher. Laurie is so much more. She is a former rock and roll band member who now plays music to heal the broken souls of children and adults who have been the objects of addiction and abuse. Laurie Moran is  healer.

“There is a circle of love evident in the workshops…people are very present in telling and the healing takes place for them and for me.”~Laurie Moran

Laurie Moran is the creator and director of Heal the Child Program. More than ten years ago she and local therapist Dolores Schafer began delivering the spirit of hope from addiction and abuse through music. They put together an effective child abuse prevention and education project, along with formulating a music therapy program to instruct guidance counselors, parent groups, child development students, churches and community organizations how to help children and adults who are in pain.

Laurie Moran is a generous person who presents her original songs along with sharing her personal story of abuse to audiences across the country to increase awareness for the prevention of child abuse. In doing so she delivers a spirit of hope and healing through music.

Heal The Child, a child abuse prevention and education project as well as a training program for health care professionals, has at its heart the original music written and performed by Laurie Moran. Laurie accompanies herself on guitar and shares her personal experience, inviting audience participation. The musical program consists of songs about the pain of abuse but more importantly songs about the hope of healing and recovery.

Another important feature of the workshops is the prominence of talking. Abuse depends on silence. All around our nation problems such as juvenile crime, teen pregnancy and drug or alcohol dependency can be traced to a troubled child in a family where the children are instructed not to talk about family problems. There is it an inappropriate sense of loyalty associated with the “don’t talk” rule. By talking, the child is presumed to be breaking a trust, somehow betraying the family’s secret.

Heal The Child project teaches parents, teachers and all those adults who have an influence upon the lives of the children, the significance of establishing a safe culture for all of our children to talk, to verbalize, to speak to someone when they believe they are being mistreated.

An added extra is that Laurie’s sharing offers hope, support and a vision of healing that begins with breaking the silence.

Children who come from dysfunctional abusive families often as they grow into adulthood exhibit low self esteem, difficulty establishing healthy boundaries, inability to express feelings, shame and confusion about family loyalties, and ignorance about what a healthy family life is.

One of the great benefits derived from the Heal The Child Project workshops is that parents, adult survivors of child abuse discover they are not alone in their suffering. They reveal they can find acceptance guidance and a genuine hope for change with support.

The Heal the Child program creates an opportunity for dialog for a variety of audiences including teens, parents, teachers, child care advocates, counselors, graduate students and adult survivors.

Here’s how Mark Fiore one of our favorite political animated cartoonists, described back in April of this year just what we have going on in our automotive industry today. He calls it Barry’s Auto Emporium.Watch. We think this is funny and very true.(scroll down the page)..

Dr. Tiller was murdered last Sunday as he stood in the foyer at the Reformation Lutheran Church, where he was serving as an usher.

Security is expected to be tight because of the circumstances surrounding the murder of the controversial abortion doctor.

Signatures are being gathered at a web site commemorating more than twenty years of service during which Dr. Tiller and others provided care to women and their families.

Join the thousands who have already sign. Go to Remember Dr. Tiller .
Sign the memorial card. Honor his courage and compassion.

Demetricia Patterson is the owner of the consignment store and the creator of the Demetricia C. Patterson Foundation, a non-profit drug assistance program for people age fifty plus.

Ms Patterson says she established the foundation because she has witnessed  people in her community who must choose between purchasing necessary medication or buying food.

Ms Patterson says she is dedicated to this cause because many of the people who have to choose between food or medicine are those who helped her in her youth growing up in New Smyrna Beach, Florida. “My heart is full. I have so much gratitude,” says Patterson who helps her older friends with rides, meals and companionship

The Patterson Foundation provides prescription medications for seniors who are afflicted with medical conditions such as heart disease, hypertension, HIV/AIDS, diabetes or cancer.

Donations can be sent by USPS to P.O. Box 1323, New Smyrna Beach, Florida 32170. All donations are tax exempt.

You may call 386-428-8222 for the hours of operation of the store, Consignment Furniture Etc, located 628 N. Dixie Freeway .

To receive an application for assistance visit the Patterson Foundation web site.

We commend Demetricia Patterson for the community service she is providing.

The answer is Bethune-Cookman University’s Explorer program. On June 8, 2009, from 9am until 1pm orientation for young males who wish to improve themselves as they prepare for a better future will participate in this beneficial program which promotes education and career exploration along with social fun.

It was sixteen years ago when  Daytona Beach educator, Frederick T. Milton, heard about a program offered by Florida A&M University designed specifically for young males to prepare them for the challenges of attending and graduating college.

Mr. Milton took action. He wrote a grant proposal and received funding from the state of Florida for what is now known as the Bethune-Cookman University Explorer Program. It’s a mentoring program where the university students provide guidance to younger males to help them add polish to their abilities.

This college preparatory program developed by Mr. Milton provides young males in grades six through 12, a supportive system and an environment filled with the encouragement young males need to progress to adulthood.

The Explorer program is held year-round during weekends; however this year it is being offered as a summer session with the orientation scheduled in the University’s Fine Arts Building, Room 218. There is a fee of $50 for registration and there are scholarships available for applicants who qualify.

For more information call Frederick Milton 386-481-2143 or 386-252-2425

Word on The Street, Wall Street, that is, and it’s probably true, when banks begin a loan modification, aka loan mod, they stand to earn an extra $2,500, even if the modification is unsuccessful they are paid from our money $2,500. This does not sound like very much when one considers we’ve already been bilked out of  Billions and billions of dollars by Sniti Skank,  Skank Of America and Wachy Skank; but just think of the number of loans that need modification and we’re talking hundreds of millions of dollars to the skanks that are too big to fail.

The other talk on The Street, which will soon prove to be true, is that President Obama and his team of economic advisors are encouraging banks to accept less than what is owed on mortgages. This transaction is known as a Short Sale. The obvious and logical  incentive for banks is that with each Short Sale transaction they would receive a savings of a minimum of $60,000 to $100,000 . Once again when one considers the number of homeowners eligible for this type of transaction the savings to the lenders is tremendous.

We’re talking money they do not have to spend on lawyers or auction houses only to end up with the property and a big fat loss.

One thing that is important to know is the way the law is written when a homeowner agrees to rid himself of the ball and chain that is his over mortgaged dream nightmare of a house, he is not permitted by law to receive any monetary benefit. No monetary profits over or under the table.

Here’s the part that’s really ironic: the banks will be receiving a $6000 incentive for agreeing to Short Sale transactions.

We think the law could be re-written to benefit the family who has to move out of the home, as mandated by law. Six thousand dollars would be a good way to begin again. The money would be a good way to help families pay off other debts, to move.

We think the bankers have gotten enough of our money. They do not need to capitalize further by allegedly helping consumers out of their homes.

When confirmed Sotomayor will fill the seat of  Justice David Souter, a Reagan appointee who was confirmed by a Senate vote of 90-9.  Souter is retiring after 18 years of service on the court. It is said that he has

Despite the announcement by right-wing Republican activists to oppose her nomination and to make trouble during her Senate confirmation hearing we believe Judge Sonia Sotomayor will be the first Latina to serve on the Supreme Court of the United States of America.

We appreciate the courage shown by the men and women of the military, and we are grateful for the  sacrifices made by their families.
We the people thank you.

Yes, John Yoo. He is the man who justifies torture. During his 2001 to 2003 tenure in the Office of Legal Counsel as an assistant deputy attorney general, Yoo worked under Jay Bybee in the U.S. Department of Justice. It has bee widely reported Yoo was the author or co-author of the so-called torture memos. These memos provided the Bush White House with the legal advice, read that justification, to use enhanced interrogation techniques.

In one memo John Yoo says:

“The victim must experience intense pain or suffering of the kind that is equivalent to the pain that would be associated with serious physical injury, so severe that death, organ failure, or permanent damage resulting in a loss of significant body function will likely result.”

We agree with Colbert and a legion of other right thinking individuals including  Spanish National Court Judge Baltasar Garzon who is spearheading an investigation of  what is now known as “The Bush Six”. They are William J. Haynes II, then general counsel to the Department of Defense;  Douglas Feith, former undersecretary of defense for policy, John Yoo, Jay Bybee,   David Addington, the chief of staff under former Vice President Dick Cheney and our favorite,  former Attorney General Alberto “The Torturer” Gonzales. Sadly Dick Cheney former Vice President is not included.

Although these six could possibly face criminal charges in Spain
for enabling torture at Guantanamo and elsewher, (we suggest “The Bush Six” take Madrid off the European itinerary); we are not in favor of seeing them imprisoned or tried.  We look forward to see them publicly humiliated, shamed and disgraced for their part in the devastation and disruption of lives around the world.

According to a flier paid for by Volusia County Florida Council of PTAs, Volusia County Schools, like many public schools in the state of Florida, are facing a funding crisis.

We’ve read and reviewed the information. Our proposals for solution of the situation are as nonsensical as the ones being presented by the
Volusia County Council and the state legislators in Tallahassee.
If we were writing this material here’s how we’d say it:

We agree 50th out of 50 states is not good enough. We’re in danger of becoming number 49. We must take every available step to insure no other state including, Louisiana, Alabama, and Georgia, can push us out of the bottom slot.

Maximize flexibility and increase local control. Leave it to the local geniuses to reduce school hours to begin at 1100am and end at 2pm with an hour for lunch.

Enact no new K-12 mandates; in fact delay the 2009-2010 school year to begin in autumn 2011, possibly, to be determined.Class size amendment requirements by continuing school wide average. If school wide average must be 25 students per class, and we currently have 100 students per class, then it is necessary to add hundreds of classes with nobody in them until the average is reduced to less than 25. Great savings are to be found here, because there is no teacher, there are no students and there are no classrooms to be heated or cooled. These are virtual classrooms that exist only on paper or the legislature’s imagination, whichever you prefer.

Implement new high school grading and graduation requirements. If you actually get to high school, you automatically graduate.

Implementation of virtual k-8 virtual education. Stay home and learn how to play video games, and when you’re really good at it, we’ll enroll you for a day in high school; you will automatically graduate because you got there!

Expansion of middle school physical education requirements. Having dispensed with any book learning from k to grade 6  learning will be focused on physical education. Reading, writing and arithmetic who needs it?

Potential sources of increased revenue: Elimination of certain sales tax exemptions. Tax every mother-smucker for everything and do not pass it on.

Expanded collection of Internet sales tax revenue. Tax all those children who are no longer going to school and now spend their day ordering things on line.

Raising general sales tax by one percent. These kids are going to be too dumb to work we need to get our income from somewhere.

Repeal reductions in intangible taxes. Intangible taxes are taxes that don’t exist, non-tangible. Repeal their imaginary reductions.

Designation of existing gaming revenue primarily to public education, while tightening the gaming laws and educating the public about the dangers of gambling. This should ensure reduced income.

Increased tobacco and alcohol sales tax by media blitzing the children and adults that they should neither drink nor smoke. Raise the drinking age to 35;  raise the smoking age to 40.

The education of the young in Florida is general speaking a complete write off! Forget it they’re too stupid. We propose more bang for the buck. Make the computer smarter. No need to read or write. Teach the computers to understand “you all” ” youse” and other colloquialisms. Teach the computer to read to the students.

Smarter computers are the solution to everything. For example look at how successful our computers have been in the voting industry. This is a growth, meaning win-win,  opportunity if you are in the computer distribution industry. As everyone knows computers have to be replaced every four years because they are outdated.

Now that we have computers in the voting industry,  in the virtual education, in reading and writing for our children, computer is the industry to be. Like plastics in the movie the “Graduate”.

By insuring our position of 50th out of 50 states we guarantee we will be at the vanguard of popular illiteracy and the computer expansion and distribution industries.

Our children can learn to speak from answering the phones ringing from the telemarketing industry. “Hello. My name is Ravjee and I like would make to you the offer special today….”

“What societies really, ideally, want is a citizenry which will simply obey the rules of society.

If a society succeeds in this, that society is about to perish.”

James Baldwin, “A Talk to Teachers,” 1963

According to data found at Wikipedia

…..” most of Baldwin’s work deals with racial and sexual issues in the mid-20th century in the United States. His novels are notable for the personal way in which they explore questions of identity as well as the way in which they mine complex social and psychological pressures related to being black and homosexual well before the social, cultural or political equality of these groups was improved.”

We thought we’d share it with our readers. It’s thought provoking. It is one man’s opinion.

This baseless rumor has been around for at least four years. The email which sends cell phone subscribers to the panic button has language like:

“Cell phone numbers are being released to the telemarketing companies. “

Or,

“You will be billed for these calls”

and

“You must call from the telephone number you wish to have blocked.”

It’s all a bunch of hooey! Read what the Federal Trade Commission, (FTC), said about this subject more than two years ago. Or check out the article by “The Gadget Hound” Ben Patterson who wrote in January of this year. In it Patterson says:

“Snopes.com—the exhaustive Web-based index of urban legends—has a thorough entry on this particular rumor, which it quickly busts like a piñata. “

As urban legends, rumors and hoaxes go, this one is resilient and seemingly will not die.

Besides after the camflamma over the proposed Food Safety Act of 2009 we’re not likely to publish anything without at least spending sometime conducting the most superficial research.

This one was easy. A quick query into the major search engines using the phrase “Cell Phone Number Go Public” provides enough fodder from the results returned to easily prove this announcement about cell phones to be erroneous. We believe Snopes is a credible source.

We’re dismissing this one for the fake alert it is proven to be….again.

“Any time someone puts a lock on something you own, against your wishes, and doesn’t give you the key, it’s not being done to your benefit.”

Cory Doctorow, an activist for technology issues, is also a science fiction novelist of renown, and a blogger.

We recently discovered video of a presentation he made earlier this year, during the O’Reilly Tools for Change for Publishing Conference, on the subject of Digital Rights Management or DRM.

We liked what he had to say. In fact, much of what he said with regard to copyright, and the recording industry in particular ,are sentiments we have expressed in the past. We fully support sharing music files.

It’s sort of like buying an article of clothing. Once you’ve made the purchase it belongs to you to do as you wish with it. The same applies to books and recordings of music.

Publishing houses, recording companies and their distributors would have you believe different.

Not only do they want control of the creator of the art form, the author of the work, be it music composer, lyricist or novelist, by wresting ownership of the creation and paying a small amount of the proceeds from the sale of that creation to the originator; they also want to and have begun to have control over the consumer as to how much we pay, how much and how long we have access to the material once we have purchased it. It’s just another example of the world of economic predators. We know a woman who speaks of them as economic terrorists.

Watch the video. It runs about 20 minutes; we believe it is worth your time.

Her father believed women should be educated, so his daughters learned Italian, Latin, Greek, history, and mathematics. Florence in particular received excellent early preparation in mathematics from her father and aunt. Later she was also tutored in mathematics.

Florence Nightingale is acknowledged for her work in the Crimean War. It is there she conducted statistical research later used for reform of the British military health-care system. While caring for the wounded and dying she noted, by utilizing techniques of statistical analysis,  the incidence of preventable deaths in the military. She made the connection between sanitary conditions and healing, an association that became an established standard.

Her insistence on adequate lighting, diet, hygiene, and activity shows she understood the mind and body work together. She promoted cleanliness, a predecessor to the clean and sterile techniques of today. In doing so Nightingale gave proof sanitary conditions are a major barrier to infection, which is also condusive to healing.

During the American Civil War, Florence Nightingale was called upon by the Union government as a consultant in organizing field medicine. Despite being a published author, and a well known expert for her work in nursing in combat conditions, her suggestions to the government officials were met with resistance. Once again Nightingale’s work  inspired the creation of a volunteer group,  the United States Sanitary Commission which became an official agency of the government through legislation signed by President Abraham Lincoln in 1861. 

Florence Nighingale is renown for her two crowning achievements –establishing nursing as a highly respected profession, not an easy task in the Victorian era; and hospital reform a no less daunting project at the time. Nighingale is also the inventor of the polar-area diagram which she used to prove social phenomena could be measured objectively and subjected to mathematical analysis. Nightingale, the Lady with the Lamp, is hailed as an innovator in the collection, tabulation, interpretation, and graphical display of descriptive statistics as well as her  contributions to healthcare and the field of nursing.

We were roundly criticized by some folks who actually read our articles. These folks are activists who had done their homework and tried to pull our coat to tell us what was going on with this interesting piece of legislation.

We read, as promised, the proposed bill. We did not see anything that looked like a red flag. So we went to one of the places we always go to check our facts. It’s the same place we would have gone if we’d had time back in March.
We stand corrected. We thank all of you for your interest in YouThinkWhat. We hope you will continue to tell us what you think and that you will let us know when you think we are wrong. There’s a good chance you could be right.

That’s what happened to Lt.  Dan Choi. He is one of the founding members of Knights Out, an organization of 35 gay and lesbian military officers , graduates of West Point, America’s prestigious military academy for Army officers, who say they refuse to live a lie. The incongruity is astounding when you consider they’ve been trained as West Point cadets to not lie, to not cheat and to not steal.

These GLBT officers say the Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell law is illegal, immoral and unethical. They say it’s just plain bad law.

President Barack Obama agrees. The president has stated he “intends to fulfill my commitment by repealing “Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell.”  He says it will take some time because the congress is involved in changing the law.

We think that is a too convenient cop out. If over the past eight years the office of the president used its powers to harm people and disrupt lives by using written presidential directives, we believe this administration is compelled to use the same powers to restore lives.

The military officers and troops, more than 1100 dismissed so far this year alone for disclosing their sexual orientation, each deserve to receive an honorable discharge and associated benefits for service to their country.

Are we so top heavy in Arabic linguists we can afford to be firing any of them who can best demonstrate our sincerity to re-establish good will in the Middle East?

A law that forces men and women to live a lie in order to express love of their country is wrong and should be repealed.

The real, important news is the fact President Jacob Zuma has three wives. Polygamy is legally recognized in South Africa.According to news reports all three Mrs. Zs attended the official inauguration on Saturday, May 9, 2009.

Nevermind that Trevor Manuel, the longest serving finance official in the G20, has been promoted to a more powerful finance position  in Zuma’s cabinet; or that after fifteen years South Africa’s unemployment rate is a whopping 23 per cent plus.

What is seemingly more news worthy is the fact Zuma has been married five times, and one of his former wives, Nkosazana Dlamini-Zuma, is  even in the cabinet. They are still friendly, though some who claim to know them  describe their current relationship as “frosty”.

What’s a nation to do when the chief executive has three wives simultaneously?

Which one is the real First Lady?

Will the role of First Lady be rotated among the three Mrs. Zumas?

Who goes first and how long will her turn as First Lady last before it’s time for the next Mrs. Zuma to assume the role of First Lady?
 
By our American standards this man,

President Jacob Zuma, South Africa has three wives

 with not one, not two, but three wives,  an ex-wife in the cabinet, domestic issues and domestic issues of state, should not be smiling.

“A baseball manager has learned a lot about his job from having played the game, but a parent has not learned a thing from having once been a child.”~ Bill Cosby

Happy Mother’s Day to all who are parenting, and those have parented and continue to parent.

It does not matter if you’ve given birth to the child or children you guide, you provide the consistency in their life;  you are the reliable adult your young humans require for their development.

It does not matter if you are a mother who has given birth or a father who is acting as both mother and father to some youngsters, we honor you all. You males are very special mothers, and that’s one word, not two.

Raising children is an incredibly hard and risky business in which no cumulative wisdom is gained: each generation repeats the mistakes the previous one made.~ Bill Cosby

On this day we offer wisdom from comedian and philosopher and teevee dad extraordinaire,  Dr.William H. Cosby, Jr.,  who holds the Ed.D. degree, better known to those who follow and admire him as Bill Cosby.

“In spite of the six thousand manuals on child raising in the bookstores, child raising is still a dark continent and no one really knows anything. You just need a lot of love and luck — and, of course, courage.”~ Bill Cosby

Last month we told you about the proposed bill in the Florida State House and the Florida State Senate known as SB 956 / HB 7149. It was described as having the potential to be “the most repressive voter bill in the nation.” Here’s an update on that important piece of legislation.

The American Civil Liberties Union of Florida, (ACLU Florida) in cooperation with the efforts of the NAACP (National Association for the Advancement of Colored People); American Association of Retired Persons,(AARP); Progress Florida,  Florida Public Interest Research Groups,
(PIRG); along with the League of Women Voters and about forty other public interest activist groups, was able to defeat the endeavors of the sponsors and supporters of SB 956 / HB 7149 in both the Florida House and the Florida Senate which would have been, if passed, the most repressive voter regulations in the country.

Fortunately, for all voters the largest coalition ever assembled in Florida for this purpose, mobilized their members to stop bad laws that would have further limited the number of IDs that voters could use at the polls, without offering a reasonable alternative.

Also defeated was the further disfranchisement of disabled voters by adding a four-year extension to the date when paper ballots were to be available for voters with disabilities.

The coalition’s action stopped laws that would restrict voter registration efforts and impose unnecessary restrictions on petition-gatherers.

As a result of this incredible union of civil rights, voting rights and civil  liberties organizations they were able to halt a proposal to force more voters to vote unnecessarily on provisional ballots, which have a high rejection rate.

This is a monumental achievement. Anyone who has ever cast a ballot in an election in Florida knows how meaningful, how important this winning action is to bringing a halt to this latest attempt to repress our voting rights.

Success in defeating bad laws came from the grassroots up. Community organizers working with ACLU lobbying personnel in the state capital, Tallahassee, who also worked with the ACLU’s Miami based  Voting Rights Project along with the more than 40 organizations and You. Your phone calls and emails to your circle of influence helped to bring about this astounding change for the better. You struck another blow for freedom.

As Courtaney Strickland, Director of Public Policy for the ACLU of Florida says,

“We wouldn’t have been able to defeat this legislation without you.”

We are glad we all know where the power base is.

Cinco de Mayo is not the Mexican celebration of independence from Spain. Mexican Independence Day is September 16th.

In 1862, in the city of Puebla, the outnumbered Mexican Army defeated the French who had invaded Mexico late in the previous year to force payment of an outstanding debt. The victory by the Mexican Army, led by General Ignacio Zaragoza Seguín, is noted because they not only conquered the larger, better trained and better equipped armed forces from France, they vanquished an army that had not been defeated in fifty years.

The Mexican defeat of the French attack at Puebla was a short lived success. In 1863 France invaded and occupied Mexico City, installed Ferdinand Maximilian Joseph, an Austrian, Maximilian I as Emperor of Mexico.

May 5th, however, is commemorated for its historical significance, though not a federal holiday in Mexico, it is proudly celebrated in the City of Puebla, as well as cities across the United States and a few locations around the world.

This idea has been a long time coming, but we believe the time is now to implement this policy for banking institutions who require our money to stay afloat.

It’s time consumers exercised the Golden Rule toward the bankers in order to trump the *Rusty Rule. That’s the rule that has been used against us as we go barreling toward the financial brick wall.

NSF charges for banks…just like us they will owe forever…banks are ruthless about NSF penalties…in your face about how you should know better…well they should know better!

You know how when your account is short $2 for a transaction of $20 because the bank has rearranged the way it pays debits from your account; or you just didn’t make it over to the bank in time to deposit a hundred dollars? You know what happens next. It’s an all too familiar scenario. $35 NSF. That’s $35 for insufficient funds or as the NSF acronym states “Not Sufficient Funds”. As a courtesy they pay the transaction. The bank does not return the item to whomever presented the debit because if you don’t get to the bank within 24 hours to top off your account they’ll make more money by charging another $35 overdraft fee, even though you did not ask them to pay off the debit.

Now you’re indebted to Sniti-bank or Skank Of America or any of those others institutions who tell you, “We treat your money like it’s our own…..” What is left unsaid is that once you deposit money into their care,  It Is Theirs! Ever try to find out your bank balance without having to give your blood type or your mother’s maiden name and her blood type? But anyone who has your account information and the bank’s routing number can drain your account all day everyday and into the night until BOA’s Ken Lewis comes home.

We think for the billions and billions of taxpayer dollars the banks have received they should be required to pay–and this is better than a stress test–an NSF and an overdraft fee.

After all isn’t that what they did with the loans they made? They did not have enough money. They over extended themselves. They made bad investments with poor returns. They should pay us just like we’ve had to pay them.

We think for every billion dollars of bail out money a penalty of $350 million should be levied against their accounts.  It’s as outrageous as the banks charging $35 for something that probably cost them less than $1.00 the first time it was set up to run by computer.

*The RUSTY RULE:  “Do unto others, in a predatory, malicious way, before they do unto you”. So named because when humans are pierced with a rusty metal instrument the result can be toxic.

Last fall it was announced, among other proclamations pertaining to the economic crisis and the banking industry, the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation-FDIC, would increase by double the amount of money covered in the event a bank defaulted. Everyone cheered. Bankers, government officials and the banking public were delighted and relieved.

Every week, since last October, banks continue to default .

We have been told up to $250,000 U.S.  in our accounts would be protected. This change in policy was received as wonderful news, and the general public is confident without knowing it is a temporary condition. It is a false confidence.The fact is this fantastic insurance benefit is not perpetual. It is a limited time offer good only through the end of 2009.

We’ve been convinced it’s a pretty good deal, and  it is at first glance a unique selling proposition designed to lure customers into making deposits into those greedy, sleazy banks that continue to mishandle our tax dollars and our personal money.

And the U.S. government is in on the campaign that is only “good until December 31, 2009.” It’s something not many bankers nor government officials are talking about.