It's Crazy Out Here...

Happy Independence Day, and Everything Stays the Same!

2010-07-04T14:48:00.000-07:00

Happy Independence Day. I haven't quite worked out what this day means to me personally, other than being an American Citizen as opposed to some other citizen.

Here in Denver, we have a virtual gumbo of nationalities; not all of them feel the same way about American independence as those of us who have grown up with it. I was reminded of that today when my husband and I went out for dim sum after church this morning. Although there were many non-Chinese people in the crowded restaurant, we were the only African Americans. "Happy 45th of July," server after server pushing steaming carts told us, none of them really able to master English, and me being the only one who really understood what they were saying, because I've gone to the same restaurant for the past 10 years and my husband only goes when I get a severe hankering and drag him along with me.

After dim sum, as is my tradition, I love to go over to the Vietnamese bakery for dessert, which I can never eat just then (after having stuffed myself with dim sum) but is always good in the middle of the night. I love the sweet yellow-bean dessert with the sweet coconut cream topping. And, once again, I was reminded of the social hierarchy of this race-based society of ours, even in such a diverse community as "Vietnam Town" in West Denver. Standing at the counter with my desserts and something else that I picked up (I had no idea what it was - looked like sweetened dried apricots, and I'm an adventurous eater), I stood there for a good 4-5 minutes while the lady behind the counter counted money and spoke rapidly in Vietnamese to the man behind the counter with her. Meanwhile, a white man was in line behind me, looking at the freshly baked bread. Finally, the woman took my money, added up my purchases wrong a couple of times, then getting it right took my $7.50. Thank you!

As I'm heading out the door, I was mildly surprised to hear her come out of her coma and, in her best, high pitched, highly accented voice chirp: "Hello Sir! How may I help you?!?!?"

Okay, so maybe I wasn't surprised at all. After all, even new immigrants know how our social hierarchy works - white men first, black women fall somewhere towards the bottom, who knows, maybe even lower than her newly immigrant self in her eyes. Wow. Well, it won't keep me from patronizing the Vietnamese bakery, but it is a little sad to see other, more recent immigrants bowing, scraping, and generally acting like buffoons, not realizing that it's not going to get them anywhere.

They'll see.

Tea Party Crazies Keep Losing Credibility – Keep up the Good Work!

2010-02-09T11:52:00.000-08:00

Yesterday’s appearance of Meghan McCain on the View gave me the tiniest glimmer of hope for our country when she condemned the so-called “Tea Party” agenda. To quote:

"And I think it's why young people are turned off by this movement." And I'm sorry [but] revolutions start with young people. Not with 65-year-old people talking about literacy tests and people who can't say the word 'vote' in English. It's ridiculous."

The fact that the so-called "Tea Party" would invite Sarah Palin to be the keynote speaker and pay her $100K is one clue to the ridiculousness of their agenda, but the $349 entry fee for the convention only puts it out of reach of the average Joe that they claim to represent. If you were fortunate enough (as if!) to attend the banquet and hear Palin, you would have paid $549. $100K for a speaker who never makes a point and reads notes out of her hand like an adolescent! I have another bone to pick with Palin. Rahm Emmanuel should never have used the phrase “f*ckin’ retard” in public, in my humble opinion, but it was in a private setting, and when the drug-addled Rush (perfect name for a blowbag) Limbaugh says it on the airwaves in front of millions, she makes excuses for him, saying he is "using satire." Her hypocrisy is stunning. I do hope she runs for president in 2012 and makes it easy for our candidates.

Finally, the straw that broke the camel’s back for the so-called "Tea Baggers" is their incredibly stupid decision to have Tom Tancredo as opening speaker at their convention. I can’t even speak ill of him any more, because he is so pathetic. The more his handlers allow him out in public to spout hatred, it seems the easier it gets for him and he gets even crazier. I’m embarrassed that he’s from my state. He started out expressing his racism subtlety, but gets worse every time he opens his mouth, to the point where he actually had the audacity to say:

"we do not have a civics literacy test before people can vote... People who could not even spell the word 'vote' or say it in English put a committed socialist ideologue in the White House."

Is Tancredo really that ignorant that he doesn’t know the history of so-called literacy tests and how they were used to prevent African Americans from voting? And as a man of Italian descent, is he so clueless as to not know how his own people were discriminated against when they first arrived in this country? Yet two generations or so down the road he thinks it's okay for him to do the same to other immigrants?

Let’s just hope that Meghan McCain and others like her represent the future of the Republican Party, and not the rich codgers who call themselves the “Tea Party.” Perhaps the young people will make a difference in the future of this country.

Some “Players” Should Stick to the Game They Know How to Play

2009-12-08T13:02:00.000-08:00

I tried hard to ignore the whole Tiger Woods story for the first few days. I felt that there really wasn’t anything unusual about a dashing young multi-millionaire athlete getting caught cheating on his wife; distasteful as it is to the public palate, it happens all the time. But as the story continues to unfold, it is starting to be so surreal that you can’t help but notice.

Saline enhanced? Gullible? Sleazy? I want YOU!

It just goes to show you that regardless of what you think you may know about someone in the public eye, you really don’t know a damn thing. Carefully crafted “images” are usually just that after all – images. Consider the Tiger Woods that we think we know: wholesome family man, squeaky clean, wonderful relationship with a beautiful wife and adorable children. Now contrast that with the picture that is starting to emerge: a prescription drug abusing, sneaky, lying, egomaniacal womanizer. As a new picture takes shape, I find myself squirming in disbelief. Woman after woman, after woman, keep coming forward, each less “wholesome” than the next. As my disbelief mounts, so does my empathy for his lovely wife (who may have taken a golf club to him). Mr. Wholesome, publicly unveiled, is starting to look like a very sinister character indeed. In fact, in my unprofessional opinion he’s “totally messed up” in the head. This is no minor lapse in judgment; this isn’t him “not being true to his values.” Clearly, his demons come before any values that he may have had, if any. He needs professional help, quick.

All that sexaholism or whatever he suffers from aside, he clearly hasn’t a clue as to how to play a “Player’s” game. As good as he is at golf, he is a rank amateur in the running ladies department. A pitiful pisher.

First of all, he doesn’t need that many women, regardless of how many he thinks he needs. Quality, not quantity. There is only so much of Tiger to go around. Perhaps he took his nickname too literally? Anyway, with as much money as this guy has, he should have used it wisely to buy the loyalty of his paramours. If those women had been getting paid for their services, chances are they would have been more protective of his privacy. Who wants to bite the hand that feed them? Everyone should have had a wonderful place to live, the flashy car of their choice and a tidy “allowance;” had he arranged that then he would have realized that he didn’t need so many. Secondly, he made the ridiculous mistake of letting them believe that they were the “only ones.” Now, instead of one woman scorned he has 10 or so. Okay granted, they were stupid thinking they could expect loyalty from a man who happens to be married to another woman, but who knows what he told them in his bumbling attempt to be a “Player?”

I hope for a positive outcome for Tiger and his family, but it’s going to take a lot of hard work and the situation is probably already irretrievably broken. It will take a woman who is almost a Saint to love a man that much after so much public humiliation and embarrassment, but perhaps Elin loves her husband that much and took her vows as seriously as he didn’t. One lesson I hope he has learned, and that other “Players” should learn from this as well – stick to the game you know.

Hatred in the Hallowed Halls

2009-09-12T17:23:00.000-07:00

Let me preface this by stating that I am a fan of Barack Obama's, and that I believe that our current health care system is in dire need of reform. I'm disgusted with sky high premiums for insurance companies who refuse to pay claims when their customers actually get sick (so their executives can get paid exhorbitant bonuses). I'm disgusted by a system that treats illnesses without addressing prevention and healthy lifestyles (perhaps because someone is profiting greatly from illness?). So I was inspired watching Obama's address to Congress last Wednesday, grinning as he said all the right things, perhaps distracted by the constant applause and ovation after ovation, but nevertheless inspired.

My feelings upon hearing the cretin shout out “You Lie!” were mirrored on the mortified, and yet furious face of Speaker Nancy Pelosi. Was I looking at a Town Hall meeting, or were these supposed to be elected officials listening to an address given by the President of the United States of America? When did it become okay to be that disrespectful of your colleagues, or the American people? When I learned who the offensive Congressman was and where he was from, sadly, I chalked it up to plain old racism, especially after seeing the picture of him with his face contorted with straight-up hatred that he couldn't be bothered to contain. But then I talked to my sister, who told me to take another look at the photograph and to look at the faces of the Congressmen seated on either side of the infantile Joe Wilson, and when I did I skipped a breath. Again, pure, unadulterated hatred. No, not just an “I disagree with you” look, not a rolling of the eyes, but a look of “Screw you, President Darkie, you MF. I hate you.” No, this is no ordinary political disagreement. It is unrestrained, ugly, disheartening hatred of some so-called human beings against the Leader of the Free World, not for political reasons, but for purely human reasons. It has a name – Racism.

In spite of my Pollyana-ish attitude about life in general and faith in the human spirit, I have concluded that there are people out there who just don't like a Black Man as President, no matter how good a leader, how educated, smart, inspiring, and faithful and loyal to a beautiful family - admirable values for anyone. What else can I conclude? In my lifetime, I have seen reactions to politicians before, but never anything even remotely at this level. I have never seen people who call themselves “Men of God,” e.g. Pastors of churches, tell their sheep-like flocks to pray for rain for a Presidential Address, or worse, admit that they are praying for the death of the President. In my eyes, that ought to be labeled for what it is and punished accordingly – treason. I've not seen irresponsible radio talk show hosts transform “Black Man,” to “Socialist,” tell bald-faced lies on the air and get away with it. I literally threw my hands in the air when I heard about people threatening to keep their children out of school to avoid hearing the Presidential Address to schoolchildren (not a new idea) about the value of an education. How sickening to know that uneducated people are continuing the cycle of stupid with their children; even more so knowing that these people are allowed to vote and procreate.

I take refuge in the knowledge that these people certainly don't represent the majority of the American people. After all, Obama was elected by a clear majority. What does worry me is that people appear to be getting crazier. I can't imagine how anyone thought it was okay to go hear the President speak while packing heat. Why? More importantly, why would such a lunatic be interviewed on a television news program instead of thrown in the slammer face down with a boot to the back of the neck? I mean seriously, the last President spied on citizen's private telephone conversations, and you could have been arrested for just speaking disparagingly about him. Elderly people's cookie swaps were raided. Teenage boys with “Islamic sounding” names were put on terrorist lists that caused them to be stopped at airports. Wars were started under false pretenses that plundered the Treasury. I didn't like any of it. But hatred? C'mon. The former administration included human beings just like the rest of us (with a few aliens mixed in, I'm sure). I feel that we were lucky more damage wasn't done before they left. And to his credit, the former President has kept a low profile since he left (unlike the aliens).

The elected officials who can't contain their hate need to be voted out. They are an embarrassment to themselves, their constituents and to our country. They are supposed to be role models and they are supposed to represent everyone, not just the people who share their skin pigment. I was ecstatic to hear that Joe Wilson's former-marine opponent in the next election was given a $500,000 windfall the next day after Wilson's ridiculous outburst by an enraged public. It made me proud of my country.

What I've learned about Friends, Facebook Style

2009-09-11T17:25:00.000-07:00

Being a tech-savy, middle-aged Grandma, I jumped right in after learning about MySpace, then Facebook. Wow! Being “Friended” by old high-school acquaintances after 30 or more years, looking at pictures of my cousins kids and their kids, how cool is this! By the time I had reached closed to 300 Friends I started to notice certain patterns emerging. I'm listing them in this article, and betting that as you read this you see that you have Friends that fit into each one of these categories.

1. The Swift-Fingered Avenger – Everyone has been wronged by someone. The Swift-Fingered Avenger is the poster who takes obvious revenge online. A typical post will read something like “Don't you just love it when your so-called friends stab you in the back and can't be bothered to return your calls? Some people just need to grow up.” The Swift-Fingered Avenger's objective is settling a score without having to actually say anything to the Offender. The Offender is obviously an online Friend, or the friend of one who, knowing all about the situation (because the Swift-Fingered Avenger can't get revenge without making sure that the Offender gets wind of the post) can't wait to rush back and tell them what was written about them. Often the messenger has a scathing rebuttal comment, or the Swift-Fingered Avenger's Friends will make sympathetic comments. So, I've learned that Facebook affords one the opportunity to slap a face without actually having to face anyone. Okay, so it's cowardly, but convenient, and oh-so satisfying if used correctly.

2. The Visual Narcissist – Hopefully your new Friend will have photo albums posted in their profile, especially if you haven't seen them in many years. However, if you start looking at their photo albums, and the album lists 400 or more photos, and as you click through them you start to realize (with horror) that most or all of the photos are of the Friend, some in clusters of 100 or more in the same outfit on the same night, file this Friend in the Visual Narcissist File. The typical Visual Narcissist is between the ages of 18-30, with some variation in either direction. Their typical photo shows them grinning becomingly into a close-up camera (close because their arms are only so long, and you will see the arms extended on the sides of the shot). You see their very best come-hither seductive pose, always showing their “best side.” Or you will see them pictured out on a Friday night at the club, wearing a very cute outfit, with their hair on point, posing with everyone in the club. However, the one thing all the shots will have in common is that your Friend is in them. All of them. Okay, WE GET IT. You looked really cute that night, but 300 shots? Very quickly I learned that if I get notification that one of my Visual Narcissist Friends has posted photos, I don't have to look at them. I've seen them before.

3. The TMI Narcissist differs from the Visual Narcissist in that their preferred update method is mundane information, e.g. “Tom just brushed his teeth and is now leaving for work” or “Candie had a tuna sandwich, chips and a pickle for lunch.” Now we all love Tom and Candie, but many posts aren't really worth all the clutter on my news feed page. Everyone wakes up and brushes his/her teeth, or has lunch. Big deal. I love to read about your exotic vacation, your personal achievements, and your new children/grandchildren, but really. TMI Narcissists, resist the urge to type an update if you don't have anything to say! What really gets to me is when they “Like” their own mundane post, or comment on it! You want to just call these people up and invite them to a movie for their sake, to save them from their own boring lives, but I've learned that if you do, you risk reading about it in atrocious detail later on Facebook.

4. The Emotional Objector – One of the first things I learned on Facebook is that if your Friends have a different political opinion than yours, you will learn quickly. And that's okay. After all, many of my Friends are really just casual acquaintances. Plus, everyone has an opinion and nobody's is more valuable than anyone else's. Another valuable lesson is that you never reply angry. The Emotional Objector disregards all that (because surely, only their point of view matters), to the point where you are tempted to de-friend them. I've learned that if you are interested in maintaining that relationship, just filter out their updates. That way, you don't have to look at their predictable, angry screeds, but can send them a message, or check in on them from time to time when you want to. This method also works for the other Facebook types listed in this column.

5. The Zealot – Once again, “Okay Friend. WE GET IT.” The Zealot has a Mission and they want to make damn sure you understand what it it. Post after post (after post) about their cause, sometimes 10 at a time. At first you read them because you are excited about reconnecting with them and want to see what they have done with their lives. Then, after a while, you realize that, well, something has snapped, and you respond politely, sometimes with a friendly “Like” just so they think you are still connected (why you care, you don't know; maybe in remembrance of that fun person you used to know!) when they've posted something you may agree with. While it's a nice gesture, remember, that it's risky behavior on your part. It's enabling, and you are just leading them on. I've learned that the best way to deal with Zealots is to ignore them, unless they are commenting on one of your own updates that has nothing to do with their cause.

Those are just a few of my observations. It's challenging juggling communications with 300 “Friends” on a regular basis, but can also be quite rewarding if you can keep up. You just have to take the time to learn the ropes.

Sexual Ambiguity, Sports, and Life

2009-08-20T10:11:00.000-07:00

So now, amazingly enough, we have officially entered the age of "Gender Discrimination" against women who may or may not be woman enough.

You heard me. Apparently, having too many "male characteristics" while being a woman is enough to disqualify you from competing against other women in athletic events these days, or at least if you are a South African girl named Caster Semenya.

Caster Semenya is a running sensation. She beat the world's record by running the 800m in 1:56.72, astounding the world, and that's the problem. After she stepped up her game and blew everyone else out of the park in the July, 2009 African Junior Championships, the International Association of Athletics Federation insisted that she take a "gender verification test" to prove that she is indeed a female.

Granted, Semenya has an athletic build. She is muscular, not very feminine in her mannerisms and has a deep voice. But has anyone else besides me been watching the WC Track and Field games in Berlin? Muscular bodies, deep voices and athletic prowess prevail. I'm sorry, but a weave and acrylic nails don't make anyone feminine. Serious athletes have serious muscle tone and sacrifice some of their more "feminine attributes" for their sport. You lose fat and gain muscle, which includes breast tissue for some. I'm not a doctor and can't explain what this does to one's body, but I do have to wonder where we draw the line between who is a woman and who isn't. Apparently, genitalia isn't enough any more. It's complicated and calls for many specialists to determine the presence of hormonal and/or chromosonal disorders.

But the question for me is, how many people in your life do you know who have some sexual ambiguity? Does that mean they can't compete in athletic events? More importantly does it mean that they should be publicly humiliated and stripped of their accomplishments?

I'm ashamed of the powers that be at the WC in Berlin for their treatment of this young woman, especially in light of the fact that if they had any question in the first place they should have handled it before now (and certainly less publicly). I'm also ashamed of a society that wouldn't take the feelings of a young woman into account for the sake of their insistence on "black or white and nothing else."

What's in YOUR Pizza?

2009-04-16T18:00:00.000-07:00

Let's be perfectly clear. In no way is the Internet responsible for the fruits and nuts that have access to is; the ones who are able to post anythibg they want to it, as free citizens. I use the Internet every day and I'm grateful for it. I don't have to settle for local news; I can go across the pond and see what's going on in Europe or Africa. I can post angry responses to stories that irk me. I can post videos for my family to see. However, common sense has to prevail. What do you do with people who are as dumb as a bag of hammers?

A couple of days ago, two of these people posted videos of themselves spitting and putting buggers on sandwiches, and wiping a dishwashing sponge between (his) butt cheeks before washing dishes with the same sponge. I was horrified. I sat there wathing, and wishing the most virulent, horrific death on these two. I wished that they would come down with a pox that would turn their faces to searing oatmeal, while the flames of hell licked them on their behinds - nothing could be punishment enough. See, I order pizza. I eat at restaurants, and although it may happen more than I would like to believe, I like to think that I am eating food that I would feed to my own family.

Those videos tried really hard to destroy my faith.

Who is to stop people from punishing those who they feel may have slighted them? Is there anyone out ther monitoring, when the bosses have gone home to their own families but you can still order a drunken pizza in the middle of the night? How do we know they don't have nasty sinus infections, and spit rot into food that would be indistinguishable from the honey-mustard dressing? Okay sorry, that was gross, but my stomach is turning just talking about it.

Here's the deal. Please, let's throw the book at these monstrosities. Throw them in an arena of Sunday football fans who eat Dominoes and let the people have their way. In the words of Marcellus, "let's get medieval on their a$$es." I would like to think that may discourage some people, but maybe not. In the meantime, it's going to be a long time before I order a pizza. A long time. And when I do, I will be very nice to the people on the other end of the phone when I call (well, usually I am anyway, if I'm not on hold too long), and I will tip the delivery person considerably. I hope this helps.

On Facebook Surveys and Designer Purses

2009-04-06T18:28:00.000-07:00

I totally love Facebook. I am interacting, on a daily basis, with folks I haven’t seen or talked to in, literally years! And thanks to nifty little applications disguised as surveys and top-fives, I’m learning a lot about them and who they’ve become over the years. I’m also interacting with a lot of young people - the children of my peers - and learning about their culture. And it’s been a ride.

I love the Top-5 things. You are supposed to name your favorite Top-5 on many different subjects - book, albums, celebrity crushes, even breeds of dogs. The one that turned up on my “Wall” today threw me for a loop. I had to take a few deep breaths and say to myself, “remember, they don’t really know you, this is a networking page and they are sharing!” Because surely if you knew me you wouldn’t ask me to name my top five, grossly overpriced and seriously ugly designer purses.

First things first. If I’m going to spend a fortune on a purse, it will be one which I plan to keep forever, and it should be practical. So most likely it would be a Coach bag. But, I’m never going to spend a fortune on a purse. They have perfectly lovely bags at Kohls and Target that don’t cost a fortune.

I'm supposed to pay EXTRA for jive like this? LOL!

Secondly, I don’t get the concept of me, paying extra, to advertise for somebody else. Shouldn’t they be paying me? I mean, if I’m going to walk around with this oversized ugly bag, and everyone is going to look at it and say, Oooooh, that’s a Juicy, or a Gucci, shouldn’t I get paid the same fee they pay to Vanity Fair, or wherever else they advertise? Where do they get off thinking that I should pay, and not just pay but pay exorbitantly, to advertise THEIR product?
Now please understand, as a Designer myself I totally get the concept of getting paid for what you design. But is a normal-looking bag worth four times what it should be just because it features a jaunty, but boring, beige plaid? Am I alone here?So no, I can’t participate in the “Purse…one of a gals best pals” top five survey. I don’t think there are categories for “cute, with pouches for my cell phone and powder” or “functional in a funky color.” If they come up with a survey with graphic interpretations, I will select purses, as long as they are within my price range. Blame it on my practical (read: cheap) Capricorn nature, I don’t care. And if you want me to carry your fancy purse, pay me.

Who is she?

2009-04-01T15:45:00.000-07:00

Can someone please tell me who Angie Harmon is? She has been in the news for two days now, and for the life of me I don't recognize her and don't care what she says. Should I? Who is she?

Alfred Hitchcock May Have Been On To Something

2009-02-16T20:51:00.000-08:00

The party’s over, they’re out to get us. After 105 years or so, they’ve declared enough. The skies belong to us. The birds are coming.

buzzard attack yesterday in Southern Florida

That’s right, the days of human dominance over the skies is coming to a halt. After never having even heard of bird strikes prior to the Miracle on the Hudson, I’m now reading about them every day. They are not only taking down commercial jetliners, but causing them to abort flights and causing emergency landings. What the heck?

I have one theory. The other night I was watching Animal Planet while dozing off, and saw a story about a man who trains baby geese and cranes to fly after him in an ultra-light plane to teach them about migration. I figure the geese and cranes are sharing the news that they are getting food and knowledge from the ultra-light, and greedier birds are figuring, well, if that little thing hands out food imagine what one of these really big ones is handing out! Let’s get it!

Or perhaps it’s more sinister. Maybe they really do hate us. Maybe they are tired of all of the air traffic, noise and pollution, and are coming together as bird kamikazes, or avian suicide bombers to stop the madness. Maybe they are tired of hearing the stories of comrades locked up in cages in windows, or zoos. I don’t know. Whatever it is, I just hope the birds and us can reach a peaceful resolution before this thing gets any more out of hand.

Cadillac Records

2008-12-08T18:45:00.000-08:00

Spent a couple of hours this afternoon with some buttered popcorn, a diet coke (my standard movie fare) and Cadillac Records. Which I loved, but which merits some discussion.

First off, the music was off the chart. A lot of this music was recorded and were hits before I was born, but I sure do remember hearing them, and in fact, Howlin’ Wolf’s “Smokestack Lightening” is on one of my favorite mix CD’s. And goodness, can I just say that the actor who plays Howlin’ Wolf, Eamonn Walker, is smoking hot and I wish that they would have shown more of him?

Anyway, I digress. Cadillac Records is the semi-true story of a 1950’s record label, Chess Records, who helped define what Blues enthusiasts called the “Chicago Blues” by recording artists such as Muddy Waters, Howlin’ Wolf, Little Walter, Willie Dixon, etc. Adrian Brody stars as Leonard Chess, but in reality there were two brothers who founded the label and I don’t know why the movie doesn’t mention Phil Chess.

The movie focuses on Muddy Waters and his experience coming from the Mississippi Delta to Chicago to find fame and fortune with his craft. He finds a beautiful woman early (the lovely Gabrielle Union, but good grief, can’t the girl get a dialect coach? Her standard Valley-Girl talk somehow doesn’t fit in a movie about black immigrants from the South in the 1950’s) but is never faithful, and in fact becomes notorious for his womanizing, one of his hits being “Hoochie Coochie Man.” He also befriends a 17-year old harmonica player named “Little Walter” who becomes pivotal to the film as we watch him peak and then deconstruct as he discovers the magic of booze and smack.

Beyonce becomes a major player in the film, about halfway though, in her portrayal as Etta James. Beyonce is, of course, as beautiful as she always is; even with the extra weight she put on for the movie she’s stunning in her blonde wig. I just felt uncomfortable with her scenes when she wasn’t singing, though, and I don’t know why. I’m wondering if perhaps that’s the vibe she was putting out - discomfort.

Mos Def as Chuck Berry is adorable. Before I saw this movie I didn’t know that Chuck Berry had successfully sued the Beach Boys for “Surfin’ USA,” because they had copied “Sweet Sixteen.” I also didn’t know that he had served time in prison for messing with “Young” (read white) women. Chuck Berry goes on to create a “new sound” that becomes what we know today as Rock and Roll.

Anyway, the movie has some flaws in it’s truthfulness, but what “true story” doesn’t? Bottom line is that the movie is good, and if you are a music fan you should enjoy it.

Poor, Poor Ashley Todd, McCain Supporter

2008-10-24T10:08:00.000-07:00

Ashley's "injuries"

Ashley Todd, if you haven’t heard the story, is a young republican McCain volunteer who claims to have been mugged in a “shady” area of Pittsburgh by a black mugger, who is apparently a support of Obama.

Prior to getting lost looking for a BOA ATM, she twittered that she was lost in a bad area, apparently setting the stage for her scheme. After apparently withdrawing $60, a 6’4” black man, dressed only in a wife-beater t-shirt and jeans, at 10:00 at night in October in Pittsburgh, came up behind her and demanded, you guess it, $60, which she gave to him, then headed to her car. If you picture the scenario in your head, as I did, the dullard of a mugger, rather than run away, and after having committed a crime, stood there, no doubt with his mouth open and a thin stream of drool coming out of the left corner, and watched her go to her car. He probably went around (in the dark, mind you) to the back of her car, as she got in and spotted her McCain bumper sticker and became enraged. But wait, Ashley reported that the dim-witted mugger hit her in the back of her head as she was headed to her McCain-bumper-sticker-sporting car, so my guess is that he took a wild leap of faith that the white woman WAS going to get in the car that said “McCain,” after he had carefully checked all the cars for bumper stickers.

Anyway, after punching her in the eye leaving a neat dark circle that resembles what you would see on a panda bear or raccoon, this mugger pulled out a knife and, holding her chin and ordering her to be still so he could do his dirty deed, carved a backwards “B” into her cheek with his dirty switchblade, probably. He probably then glared at her angrily, said “Vote Barack!” and THEN ran off.

There are many things wrong with this story. First of all, why a B? Wouldn’t an O have been easier to carve? At least he wouldn’t have had to worry about it being backwards. And who, pray tell, goes around saying “vote for Barack?” Everyone I know says they are voting for Obama, not “Barack” or even “John.” Wow, this mugger must have really been stupid, or at least in Ms. Todd’s minds eye this is how black muggers think.

Second of all, that black eye was awfully neat and prim. Because I used to study martial arts, I’ve seen many black eyes. All are accompanied by swelling, and usually the white part of the eye has some red from broken blood vessels. Yet, her whites were shining through nice and clear, and there was absolutely no swelling.

Third, why was the B backwards? Could it be that the mugger was dyslexic? Perhaps he pushed her down and did the carving from the top of her head? Most likely, Todd, being the rocket scientist that she obviously is, carved the B into her own face looking in a mirror, carving it the right way based on the mirror image which would make it backwards. However, Todd reported to police that after kicking and punching her, the assailant knocked her down, sat on her chest, pinning her hands down with his knees, and, after telling her “you are going to be a Barack supporter!”, he proceeded to carve (scratch, rather, based on looking at the photo) a backwards B into her cheek.

Both McCain and Palin have called Todd to express their outrage and condolences, and the Obama campaign has expressed dismay and best wishes to her as well. I would like to offer up my condolences too. Not because of the mugging, but because I know what mental illness looks like and this is a glaring example. I hope someone is able to get some help for the poor child.

Update: I'm watching CNN now as they discuss her "hoax," as she's apparently confessed.

Amy Winehouse

2008-10-01T08:09:00.000-07:00

I'm really worried about her. She's an incredible artist, one of my favorites, and I can relate to the pain in her music - she injects herself into it like many can't. I don't want to see her going down the path of Jimi, Jim, Janice, etc., but we fans don't get to control it. This is a beautiful picture of her I found and this is how I want to see her again, and that's all I have to say.

Colorado Women Vote and Read!

2008-09-23T11:36:00.000-07:00

Yesterday, I took my sister to the doctor and had a couple of hours to kill while waiting for her. I was listening to my favorite radio station 760 AM and Jay Marvin, and they mentioned there was a rally at noon on the west steps of the capital - Women against McCain/Palin. Since I was very close to the capital I decided to swing over and see what was going on.

I was a few minutes early so I took my Time magazine to read, the one with Palin on the cover, ironically. I read the article and it reinforced what I already believed about her - that she, while apparently very ambitious and willing to do whatever it takes to advance her career, isn’t particularly, well, “special.” She’s no great scholar. She’s a “regular woman” who loves her family. Also, she does things that a lot of us “city women” probably don’t, like shoot a beautiful animal in the throat, then gut and skin it “for sport.” I‘m from the school of, if you have a gun and the beautiful animal doesn’t, then you have an unfair advantage - and it’s not really sport when you know that the gun will produce sure death if you are even close enough to wound it. If you are a true “sportsman/woman,” then use a bow and arrow and aim precisely and humanely, so the animal doesn’t lay there and suffer with a huge smoking gaping hole in it’s side, but oh well, I digress.

A Colorado woman, with her children, let's us know how she feels

Anyway as I was sitting in the shade waiting for the rally to begin I struck up a conversation with a couple of older women who were sitting near me, expressing distaste at McCain’s pandering choice of a VP. The people who were starting to gather were mostly middle-aged and older women, with some younger moms and their children. Some of these younger women had their mothers with them, so it was truly inter-generational, and there was also a fair representation of men, straight and gay. There was also the occasional indignant tourist, just trying to take pictures of the beautiful gold-plated dome of the capital and resenting the people handing out leaflets and otherwise trying to engage them.

Women gathering on the steps preparing for speakers

Then, almost all at once, the lunch crowd appeared - the downtown workers out for a little afternoon protest during their lunch break, mostly 20-30ish women with their lunch buddies (and my friend who works downtown, who I had earlier called), dressed in business attire, and it was time to begin.

"Sara Palin" awes the crowd with her bullets and beauty-queen persona, with Colorado Senator Betty Boyd in background

Someone waved us over to the steps to gather around the podium and hold up our signs; the woman next to me handed me a lovely, understated hand-made sign that said, “Peace.” We gathered around the first speaker, House Majority Leader Alice Madden, who gave a rousing opening. “Why do women matter? We make up half the population, and gave birth to the rest!” The crowd went wild.

Polly Baca speaks - other speakers included Colorado Representative Alice Madden (in black) and Elbra Wedgeworth (to her right)

Other strong and sassy women speakers followed - former City Councilwoman Elbra Wedgeworth, former State Senator and LARASA CEO Polly Baca, and State Senator (and Health and Human Services Vice-Chair) Betty Boyd. I could relate to every message, things like women having the right to choose for themselves, strong leadership, and an economy that works for all of us - not just the wealthy. The speakers, while strong, were polite and left the heckling to the crowd, like when one speaker mentioned that Palin supported abstinence-only education, my friend hooted “It didn’t work for her!” and the woman next to her screamed “and it didn’t work for her daughter!” The message of a failed Bush administration was hammered home, along with the strong message that a McCain/Palin administration would be just more of the same, and that we, our families and communities simply can’t afford it.

Although there were many news cameras and photographers, apparently the rally wasn’t news because I didn’t see it reported anywhere. Oh well, thanks to the blogosphere I can talk about it anyway, and publish photos that I took with my little digital camera that I take everywhere with me.

Overall it was a perfect day for a rally - a picture-perfect, sunny Colorado day, a lovely way to spend a lunch hour. I’m grateful to live in a community that cares enough to be fed up and wants to do something about it, and the polls as of today are showing that Obama has pulled ahead of McCain in Colorado! I was also heartened to see with my own eyes that women, in general (and of course, there are exceptions) are intelligent enough to not allow themselves to be manipulated by the McCain campaign into believing that he can just pull voters who had supported the smart, sophisticated, educated and vetted Hillary Clinton with another candidate just because she’s a woman. Sorry, but no cigar, we ain’t buying it. There’s no comparison. Thanks though!

Mr. Uppity

2008-09-06T17:26:00.001-07:00

Georgia’s Rep. Lynn Westmoreland used the word “uppity” to describe Michelle and Barack Obama last Thursday. Yes, he said uppity.

Anyone who was around during the civil rights movement (I was, and although I was just a child I understand “uppity”) knows what that word means to a white southerner like Westmoreland - it is used to describe black people who don’t know how to stay in their place, who have the nerve to want more than a servile place in life. “Uppity” is used by a white southerner to describe a black person who dares to challenge the status quo and has the audacity to consider themselves at an equal level to white people.

I wish I’d have been there to witness it! After he spit that word, the stunned reporters asked for clarification: “did you say uppity?” “Uppity, yeah,” he said. You know, I would probably make a lousy reporter. Hand on hip and head snapping I would probably have had my finger in his ridiculous face as I called him out. People would be dropping their microphones trying to hold me back.

As the pressure mounted and people started blowing up the switchboard in his office, he claimed innocence. He expects us to believe that he, a 58 year old man from the south, didn’t know that the term “uppity,” when applied to a black person, has racial implications. Please. On ABC’s “This Week,” political consultant David Gergen said that “as a native of the south, I can tell you, when you see this Charlton Heston ad, “The One,” that’s code for “he’s uppity, he ought to stay in his place.” Everyone gets that who is from a Southern background.””

This is one of the major problems I have with republicans, they simply don’t know how to “man-up” and admit they were wrong and inappropriate when they say incredibly stupid things. They either say “it was a joke,” or plead ignorance, and there’s a reason for it. Even if the later apologize, they’ve already made an impression on the stupidest of their constituency, and they know that what they said will stick even if they apologize later. So Rep. Westmoreland was speaking to the most ignorant of his backwoods constituents who, he knows damn well, well say ‘yeah!“That thur’s one uppity n!gger, and the dadgum congressman said so!”

Shame on him!

US Magazine

2008-09-05T15:48:00.000-07:00

I went out and bought myself an US Magazine today, along with the National Enquirer I was planning to get to read about Sarah Palin's alleged affair with her husband's former business partner. There wasn't much meat to the Enquirer article; hopefully they will provide more later. I wouldn't have even paid attention had not McCain's campaign threatened a lawsuit against the Enquirer. Say what you will about the paper, but in my experience they usually nail it.

I bought the US Magazine because of an article I read on MSNBC.com about the backlash against their cover story. Apparently, there are people who are angry about the current edition's cover, which features a photo of a smiling Palin holding her sleeping baby "Trig," and the headline reads "John McCain's VP Sarah Palin - Babies, Lies & Scandal." Courtney Hazlett says in "The Scoop" that the publication has lost 5,000 or more angry subscribers who feel that Palin is getting a raw deal with that choice of headline, and the article, which discusses all the dirt that was already out there. I don't know about the rest of the world, but controversy like this just makes me go out and spend $3.99 for a magazine that I normally wouldn't read. I don't suppose my $3.99 makes up for the alleged 5,000 that US is supposedly losing for its choice of a cover story, but I also suspect that there are at least 5,000 people who, just like me, went out and purchased a copy of the magazine to see what all the hoopla is about. And, there's a lot to this Palin story that just "makes you go hmmmm...." It will be interesting to see how it all shakes out.

Separated At Birth?

I saw an article today about the troubled McKenzie Phillips, who never seems to the be in the news any more unless she's being arrested on a drug charge. When I saw her, I thought it was Heidi Fleiss and wondered whether they had been separated at birth:

Palin Schmalin

2008-09-03T20:15:00.000-07:00

Watching Sarah Palin’s address. The first thing that stands out so vividly to me is how much the audience looks alike, so unlike the Democratic Convention. Everyone is old and white. I have seen exactly one older black woman, one older black man and one older Asian man. Otherwise, everyone else is the same. I saw one older woman wearing a pin that holds Palin up as “the Hottest VP candidate. Wow, so this is the extent of her qualifications, her hottness? Please, she reminds me of those polygamist women in Texas with that hairdo. I just saw another geezer with a button that said “Hoosiers for the Hot Chick.” Never mind that she is running an office that deserves more respect than her outward appearance, to these cretins she is a “hot chick.”

She is talking about McCain shuffling (incredibly, at the mention of the word “shuffle” the camera pans into another old black man’s face) along as a prisoner of war. LOL!

And now, one of the things I most hate about McCain. The entire Palin family is out there enjoying the applause of the old white heads, and here he comes on stage, saving his short arms and starfish-like hands, trying to steal the limelight. It’s totally a control thing.

I saw, and I’m not convinced. Not now, not ever. McCain screwed up big time.

Update: Just read a Huffpo article that says McCain is about to sue the Enquirer for publishing a story about Palin having an affair with her husbands former business partner. Call me crazy, but in my experience, the Enquirer is usually right on time with the sh!t before anyone else.

Who's Watching the Children?

2008-09-03T11:07:00.001-07:00

Yesterday I spent some time browsing the blogosphere after receiving an email from my sister about what Levi Johnston (Sarah Palin's daughter's baby-daddy) stated on his MySpace page. He boasted about being a "f*ckin' redneck." He also says "ya f*ck with me I'll kick your ass," and his profile informs us he doesn't want kids. Nice. If you haven't had the talk with your children about what's appropriate to blast to the entire world on MySpace, now is the time.

Another site showed pregnant teenage daughter Bristol (what's with those NAMES?!? Track? Trig?) partying at the age of 16 with her girlfriends. They are holding empty booze bottles in an obvious state of inebriation, and sticking their tongues out into each other's mouths.

I have been to Alaska, actually been to the Palin's home city Wasilla. It's very different from where I live. For teenagers, there's nothing to do. Unless you love to spend your time hunting, fishing, canoeing and enjoying the great outdoors (especially the small town of Trapper Creek where we stayed), drinking and having sex are attractive options. But listen, we are talking about the children of neo-cons. Haven't they learned in school that these things are sinful? Oh wait a minute, they are probably home-schooled. Who's teaching at that home school? Couldn't be Mom, who is busy running a state and for VP while simultaneously raising a special-needs infant, where does she find the time? Just makes you wonder.

Oh Yes, She'll Serve...

2008-09-01T11:41:00.000-07:00

A different spin on why McCain was hovering so controllingly around Sarah Palin when she gave her acceptance speech. I was thinking it was because he wanted to make damn sure she knew who was in control, but maybe it was something else...hilarious!!

Rain of Biblical Proportions

2008-08-31T08:03:00.001-07:00

The Democratic National Convention was a raging success. I have photographs and stories to share - just give me a few days to put them together and online. My perspective is one from a member of the Denver Community as well as a Democrat.

In the meantime, I just talked to my mother who lives in the Florida panhandle; she says they aren't evacuating because Gustav is expected to be a tropical storm in the panhandle, but weather professionals are saying that it is going to be a Category 5 hurricane further down the coast and hit Mississippi, and sadly, New Orleans, which has called for a mandatory evacuation. It just breaks my heart.

It sounds like this storm is also going to affect the Republican Convention, wow. You can't help but wonder - let's see, the evangelicals to my south called for rain of biblical proportions for Obama's acceptance speech, and we had picture-perfect weather all week. Now that the Republicans are about to convene, a storm names Gustav threatens to steal their "thunder." Hmmm, ever heard that saying "God don't like ugly?" Comes to mind.

New Orleans Swamp Tour

2008-08-01T09:28:00.000-07:00

There is much to discuss about Louisiana and New Orleans. This is coming. However, in light of the story yesterday about a Slidell boy getting his arm eaten off by a suburban alligator, I thought I would share my alligator footage of critters enjoying marshmallows on a swamp tour. I'm feeling a little bamboozled. Our tour guide stressed over and over that alligators don't really like to attack people. Either the Slidell 'gator (incidently that's where we stayed) was psychotic or our tour guide is blinded by his fondness for the things. You make the call.

Video of kind, cute 'gators:

Now, reality:

http://www.nola.com/news/t-p/frontpage/index.ssf?/base/news-11/1217568042216280.xml&coll=1

A Favorite Video

2008-06-03T22:29:00.001-07:00

So much has transpired in the last week that I need to share my thoughts about. Tonight - history. Since I haven't taken the time to compose my thoughts I thought I would just share a video from a favorite artist of mine - Zap Mama. I dragged my U2-lovin' friend Susan down to Boulder last fall to see them in concert, and she says it was one of the best she's ever seen. 'Nuff said.

Attack of the Penis

2008-05-20T09:33:00.000-07:00

Kremlin critic and former chess champion Garry Kasparov was attacked last weekend by a flying penis during an address to Kremlin opposition activists. That's right, a flying penis came buzzing toward him as he gave his address, in a move he called "below the belt." Check out the video:

According to the Moscow Times, the penis-prank was staged by a couple of Young Russian Activists. I love the look on the bodyguard's face as he first sees the flying terror, and then slaps it out of the air.

Right Wing Conservative Talk Show Host - Moron!

2008-05-16T10:00:00.000-07:00

This is one of the funniest clips I've ever seen, I just have to share. I have never even heard of this guy, Kevin James, but his ignorance has made him infamous. Hilarious!

How Healthy is John McCain?

2008-05-16T08:25:00.000-07:00

“It was the size of a dime and as thick as a nickel—a discolored blotch on John McCain's left temple,” starts the article in Time Magazine that asks, “How Healthy is John McCain.” The article then goes on to how he didn’t pay much attention to it during the 2000 Republican primaries, and then finally took the time to have it checked after being defeated.

Now, I have to tell you that, if I see anything new ON MY FACE the size of a dime and as thick as a nickel, that almost merits a visit to the emergency room. Hello, am I alone on this? Truthfully, if anything shows up ANYWHERE ON MY BODY that wasn’t there before that’s the size of a dime and the thickness of a nickel needs immediate medical attention!

Okay, I have admit that as I get older, I get strange things on my skin that I never saw when I was a younger woman. Once a wart-like thing appeared on the tip of my nose. I made an appointment with the dermatologist but there was a two month wait (apparently I’m not the only one who thinks that things that show up on your skin overnight aren’t good). But before I could get the thing checked, seemingly overnight it morphed into a sharp-pointed monstrosity that stuck out like about 1/16 of an inch. I panicked and call the dermatologist and said the “witches wart” (my son’s affectionate term, which he named while I was waiting for my appointment) had changed and I couldn’t wait for the appointment. She agreed and told me to come in the next day. While I was sitting and waiting for her, the medical assistant came in with a large needle which she jabbed in my nose and numbed it. Wow, I’m thinking, they are pretty no-nonsense. But then the doctor comes in, moves the thing around and to my complete surprise and horror, whips out a razor blade, that’s right, just like those things you see in your shaving device, and slices the tiny horror right off the tip of my nose and drops it in a vial of alcohol. While I’m sitting there in shock she presses a sterilized gauze pad to my nose to stem the bleeding, then a band-aid. Well then. “I don’t think it’s anything but we will call you as soon as we get the lab results,” she says, ushering me out. The whole thing probably took five minutes.

I get the call a couple of days later. “Good news,” says the nurse who called me. “Your skin lesion is only a Keratosis, also known as an OLD AGE BARNACLE. It’s totally harmless, but come back and see us if it grows back.” An Old Age Barnacle. Now that’s a sobering thing to have growing on your face, right on the tip of your nose.

But back to the dime sized, as thick as a nickel growth on John McCain’s face. I know how men are. They don’t like going to the Doctor, and sometimes have to be pushed. But c’mon. A COIN growing on your face is surely cause for alarm. It turned out to be malignant melanoma when he finally got to the doctor to get it checked and required 5 ½ hours of surgery. That’s right, melanoma. Bob Marley died of melanoma! The article also states that he had a malignant melanoma removed from his shoulder in 1993. You have to ask - if that had been you, wouldn’t the appearance of a dime sized lesion the thickness of a nickel be cause for alarm? What if he had won the nomination? Would he have gone on campaigning, not taking time to have the thing checked out and really put his life in danger? The article states that there’s a 40% chance of a melanoma re-occurring, and that when it re-occurs it’s usually trickier because it will often not appear on the skin but inside the body. I don’t know, 40% seems like some pretty high odds to me, especially for a man his age.

Just something to think about. Although I hope with all my heart that McCain gets stomped by the Democratic nominee (and I say Obama!) because the Republicans have just done a miserable job over the past 8 years, after reading this article I now additionally hope he loses because of the stress running a campaign and (God forbid!) being President would put on his body. If I were his wife I would tell him to go sit down somewhere.

Morehouse Glee Club Concert

2008-05-15T10:59:00.000-07:00

Music lover that I am I have a deep appreciation for most musical instruments, but am particularly fond of the piano. I have even learned to appreciate the bagpipe, after learning that it was intended to be played outdoors (they had a bagpipe player once in church playing "Amazing Grace" and I almost jumped out of my skin), and even the much-maligned accordian. However, over the years I've come to the conclusion that there is no finer instrument than the human voice.

So I was really looking forward to last Saturday's concert - the Morehouse Glee Club was making another appearance at New Hope Baptist Church. I didn't see them the last time they were here but heard rave reviews from people who had seen them. I got there about 10 minutes before the concert was to start so had to sit in the balcony, because there were 1,200 people there! The concert was a fund raiser for the Alphonse Robinson African American Music Association, so it appeared to be a successful concert for them.

I was talking to the people around me and they came in so quickly and quietly that I was startled - there were about 40 African American young men dressed to the nines in tuxedos - multi-hued, from bald to dreads, and beautiful to behold. But when they opened their mouths and started singing I was floored. The voices were so pure and crisp that it seemed almost fake. Almost every song was sung a capella; some with a piano accompaniment. I felt myself tear up a couple of times, so that's one of my measures of good music - for it me it means I'm actually feeling the music as well as hearing it.

After an intermission the young men came back (quickly and precisely, almost militaristic) in sports coats and ties. The Quartet performed and had the audience in the palm of their hands with their hilarious (and skillful) performance poking fun at the black church. Then the choir reassembled themselves and pulled out bongo and conga drums and tambourines for a rousing performance of "Betehelemu," sung in Yoruba, with precision clapping (in the air) that is hard to describe, but let me just stay that I had to struggle to stay in my seat. Check out the video I found on YouTube of them performing this song at Spellman during the Christmas Holidays:

This song earned them a standing ovation. After another African-inspired song with drums, the rest of the second half was dedicated to traditional spiritual music and we were treated to several breathtaking solos. After their performance each young man stated his name, class and major (quickly and precisely, probably only taking four minutes or so), then all the Morehouse alumni were invited down to sing the Morehouse Song. It made me puff up with pride to see all those unbelievably talented, accomplished and smart young men keeping the tradition of the Morehouse Glee Club alive. So, if you are lucky enough to have them come through your city you owe it to yourself to see their performance. Or go to their webhouse to learn more about them and purchase a CD:

http://www.mcgclub.com/

Also, check out the story on CBS.com today about Morehouse's first white Valedictorian:

http://www.cbsnews.com/stories/2008/05/15/national/main4098548.shtml

Lucille's Creole Cafe

2008-05-15T09:09:00.000-07:00

So, my Auntie has been in town for two weeks (visiting her daughter, celebrating my cousin's birthday and Mother's Day) and left last night. We celebrated her last day here with lunch at Lucille's Creole Cafe at Alameda and Logan. This made my third visit, my first lunch. I've been there for breakfast twice before.

Beignet

Biscuit

My first time at Lucille's was breakfast, and I had the Oyster's Rockefeller. This was a bed of steamed (just right) spinach topped with scrambled eggs and fried oysters, dripping with Rockefeller sauce (I can't tell you what's in this sauce, only that it's rich and delicious). Oh, and you get the giant biscuit, grits or potatoes, or the half and half of grits and potatoes, which I opted for. This was on President's Day, before our annual movie marathon, and we were hungry and had eyes bigger than our tummies, so we ordered beignets BEFORE the meal. And, since it was a Creole Cafe I had the delicious chicory coffee. The beignets were brown fried dough pillows that reminded me very much of sopapillas (but for the thick coating of powdered sugar they put on them), and Lucille's offers strawberry preserves and apple butter to dress them up with. We tried both and I preferred the strawberry preserves. The giant biscuit they bring with the meal was frustrating, because it was hot and delicious but you have to decide. If you eat it, you won't be able to eat your meal. I ate some of it, with butter and some of the strawberry preserves. It was light, crunchy on top and simply delicious. The Oyster's Rockefeller was a piece of art. The oysters were crunchy on the outside and juicy on the inside, and the spinach was steamed to perfection, not mushy. On my second breakfast I had the "Creole Breakfast," which was a serving of meaty (with ham) red beans, topped with a couple of poached eggs and hollandaise sauce, grits and potatoes. A rich combination of fiery creole seasoning (in the beans) tempered by the creamy hollandaise. Oh and that huge biscuit. I fell in love with the red beans - spicy, perfect and meaty. I recommend this dish.

Above - Red beans and rice with andouille sausage, and corn bread below

Yesterday at lunch I had the Oyster Po' Boy. I asked them to substitute a side of red beans instead of the slaw or french fries, which they were happy to do. The Po' Boy was served on a kind of ciabatta bread with artichoke-mayo, lettuce and those delightful oysters. And instead of just a regular pickle, I was delighted to bite into a crunchy, pickled okra-pod pickle. In the end I ended up just eating the inside of the sandwich after struggling with all that bread, because I couldn't resist those red beans and ate them first. Auntie and girl-cousin had red beans and rice, which was served andouille sausage and slabs of moist, delicious corn bread. Boy-cousin had some standard bacon-and-egg breakfast, and complained that it wasn't enough food, although it was served with one of those mondo-biscuits.

Oyster Po'Boy with Red beans

I couldn't help noticing what the people at the next table were eating, especially since they were all up in our conversation after my loud boy-cousin launched into an incredible story about the court hearing of a family member had them all intrigued. The Bloody Mary's that they were drinking looked, well, sinful - course black pepper floating around in rich tomato, with a lovely kebab of an olive, okra-pickle and pink shrimp. They split this spicy, cheesy-looking casserole full of sausage and had a pink sauce they spooned over their biscuits, which was probably Lucille's version of sausage gravy. It looked fantastic, so that's what I will have next time. In the meantime, check out Lucille's for breakfast, lunch, or both. It hasn't disappointed me yet.

http://www.luciles.com/flash/

Baby Bunny Update

2008-05-14T16:36:00.000-07:00

Some good and bad news on the bunnies. I suspected that they had been abandoned by their mother, because they were on top of the dirt for several days and had that wild-eyed abandoned-I'm-starving-help-me-who-the-hell-are-these-giants-looking-at-us look, and would dig furiously every time one of us came out the door to look at them. So, I thought briefly of getting an eye-dropper and feeding them warm milk, but remembered what my friend Judy told me about baby bunnies. She says they succumb easily to heart attacks when they are frightened, and for that reason wild baby bunnies cannot be raised by humans. Well, based on their reaction every time I came out I believe, but I couldn't just let them starve. So I did what any 10-year old would do - I set out a saucer of warm milk in the flower bed. Huddled together and shivering, they just stared with what looked like one huge eye. A couple of hours later I go out to check on them, and in their struggle and haste to get as far away from me as they could they kicked dirt and bark into the saucer of milk trying to dig into the dirt. So I took the saucer of milk away. Perhaps, I'm thinking, they are already weaned, and their mother just pushed them from the nest and wants them to find their own food. So, of course, I did what any 10-year old would do in these desperate circumstances and grated a carrot. I took the grated carrot out and sprinkled it in the dirt, and ignored the babies as they desperately tried to get away from me, tiny rear legs kicking frantically.

A couple of hours later I looked out the window and saw two things trying to make their way to the deck - a squirrel and a rabbit. Barging out the back door I yelled at the greedy squirrel to get away - I know he was after the grated carrots. The squirrels around here are the size of footballs; I can't figure out for the life of me how they can climb trees without breaking branches. The rabbit hopped away, but reluctantly, so I was happy, and assumed this was Mama coming back from her 4-day bender, or whatever she was up to. I wish there was such a thing as rabbit birth control, because that irresponsible ho was probably out there getting pregnant again, and then thought, "oh yeah! I have hungry, dependent babies!" before getting up off her back and coming back to the yard.

So the next afternoon, I go out to check on things, and there is this poor, pitiful little body, no bigger than a gerbil, lying lifeless in the dirt. The runt. The one that wasn't vigorous. The other two are gone. I figure she came back for her brood, and cruel nature, she only took the healthy ones and left the runt, or possibly even helped him out of this cruel world. But the two kickers are definately gone. Hopefully, I will see them again someday, and chase them out of my garden.

Tyra to Hilly

2008-05-14T16:31:00.000-07:00

Just finished watching John Edward's endorsement of Obama, and got tired of the talking head's analysis of it. I swear, they would analyze the crap out of a peanut butter and jelly sandwich if someone said Obama had left it on his plate in a diner after just taking a small bite.

Anyway, I need to share this video of Tyra Banks telling Hilly it's time to give it up because I found it so amusing. Enjoy:

Babies in my Flower Bed

2008-05-09T16:27:00.000-07:00

I have been harassed by rabbits for a while. Like a gang, they hang out under the bushes, on the deck, leaving their "pebbles" for people to clean up and digging holes in the yard. A couple of weeks ago I was having trouble with one fat-@ss who kept digging in a flower bed. She would dig holes, then I would add topsoil and fill it in only to notice it dug twice as deep two days later. And why, oh why, was she adding scraps of plastic and old flower pots to the flower bed? Was she planning on planting flowers in the flower bed, or maybe something else?

So I was surprised this morning to go out and notice two furballs in the dirt this morning, about the size of gerbils - one laying on his tummy, nose twitching, and one buried in the dirt with only a stub of a tail and a tiny rear leg showing. Baby bunnies!! I have never seen bunnies so small. The only thing that identified them as baby bunnies and not gerbils were the long ears, still only about two inches long because the lil' things are so tiny.

Well, I'm in love. I'm thinking about names, and fully intend to chronicle their growth and probably even provide carrots and bits of apple once they are weaned. I haven't seen the Mama lately, so I'm hoping she's around but I've but aside my contempt for long-eared rodents since discovering the tiny, precious babies.

Quick update: I just saw a red-tailed hawk circling over the yard from the window. I stopped typing and ran out, yelling and waving my arms. I don't know if the thing saw the babies, but I can't take any chances.

50 Cent Robbed in Angola

2008-05-06T11:52:00.000-07:00

In case you missed this video, here is 50 Cent being robbed of his necklace (right on stage!) in Angola. One has to wonder if this was a diamond necklace:

MSN Liars - Read the Truth

2008-05-03T20:06:00.001-07:00

From "The Field:"

Operation Anti-Chaos: The Narrative on “White Voters” Is Fiction
By Al Giordano

I turn on the TV, read the political columnists (and a significant number of analytically-challenged bloggers, too) and all I hear is a bunch of white folk prattling on about their favorite narrative: “Obama’s losing white voters!”

They’ve swallowed the Clinton racially-obsessed spin, hook, line and sinker. Some, because they are gullible, haven’t an original idea in their little pea brains, and follow the pack of what everybody else is talking about. Others, because they like to toss around knowing falsehoods. Nary a superdelegate can go on Fox News without being berated by an anchorperson screeching (this is pretty close to an exact quote): “But your duty as a superdelegate is to select the most electable and that’s Hillary Clinton!” That these anchorpersons are Republican partisans openly cheering for Senator Clinton is our first clue of the game afoot. One of the major successes of Rush Limbaugh’s Operation Chaos is that it has got all the right-wing pundits and reporters marching lockstep behind the effort to give Clinton enough oxygen to keep slashing away at Senator Obama, who remains the prohibitive likely Democratic nominee.

And when Clinton wins state primaries that, because of demographics, she was always going to win - last week, Pennsylvania and next week, Indiana - they then wave that event up like a blood-soaked flag as proof of their narrative: See? See? We told you so! White people won’t vote for Obama!

So imagine my pleasant surprise this morning to see a New York Times columnist, Charles Blow, who did what none of these chattering lunkheads have done. He looked at the hard data of how voters, white and black, view the two Democratic candidates - favorably or negatively? - and how those views have progressed over time. The data is based on multiple CBS-New York Times polls (among the most respected survey outfits among competing pollsters) over two years and more. Check it out:

(Go to the website to view the graphs - http://ruralvotes.com/thefield/?p=1144#comment-26926)

Nobody - not blogger, nor superdelegate, nor cable news anchor - should open their mouths with another word about this contest until they’ve studied those graphs and the numbers upon which they are based. Blow explains:

Since January, the Clintons have pummeled Barack Obama with racially tinged comments and questions about his character…

The question is this: Have white Democrats soured on Obama? Apparently not. Although his unfavorable rating from the group is up five percentage points since last summer in polls conducted by The New York Times and CBS News, his favorable rating is up just as much.

Wait. The numbers show that the cynical effort to turn the 2008 campaign into a race riot has hurt the popularity of one candidate among an important demographic, and it’s not Barack Obama:

On the other hand, black Democrats’ opinion of Hillary Clinton has deteriorated substantially (her favorable rating among them is down 36 percentage points over the same period).

So, to sum up: Look at the damn graphs. You can see that Clinton is in a staggering free-fall among African-American voters, her favorability is down 36 points while 17 percent view her more negatively than before, while Obama’s favorable and negative ratings among whites have paired at five point increases. You can even see the small dip - about two percentage points - in his popularity among whites that can be attributed to the news cycles about his ex-pastor, and see that it has leveled out and is now on a straight horizontal line (meanwhile, Clinton’s numbers among blacks continue on an extreme downward precipice). The greater context is that even including Obama’s slight dip, he’s more popular today among white voters than he ever was prior to February.

Not since Ronald Reagan has an American presidential candidate withstood such an assault in the media and seen his popularity not hurt by it, but, rather, galvanized by it. That’s what is meant, in politics, by the term “Teflon.”

Those facts won’t stop many media (and Internet) talking heads from continuing - whether out of gullibility or intentional dishonesty - to prop up the “white voters” narrative, but it ought to inoculate you, kind reader, from believing it.

Don’t let yourself get upset when some idiot repeats the false media narrative. Don’t plead with them to tell the truth (they won’t; remember, they’re either stupid or dishonest). Mock them. Ridicule them. Expose them as the lightweights they are showing themselves to be, with all the confidence that understanding the hard data ought to provide you.

Let Operation Anti-Chaos begin!

McCain's Wright (but much worse!)

2008-04-30T15:30:00.000-07:00

I guess only black preachers are controversial and allowed to cost black candidates an election. I listened to Rev. Jeremiah Wrights comments on Monday and don't really know what he said that was so terribly offensive. This wack-job, John Hagee, who John McCain stood next to and said he was honored to have an endorsement from, is a "whole 'nuther" story. I mean, I was horribly offended. Any American should be, but why haven't we heard a blessed thing about this? Could it be, nah, it can't!! But could it be there's a double standard where black people are concerned? Ya' think?!?

Detroit Madness

2008-04-29T15:34:00.000-07:00

My goodness, I just finished reading text messages between Detroit Mayor Kwame Kilpatrick and his former Chief of Staff Christine Beatty and my face is burning:

http://www.clickondetroit.com/news/16057009/detail.html

Shame on them both for being so stupid. How could two "educated" people not know that city-owned equipment is maintained and monitored by city personnel? How could they be so delusional to think that the world is theirs and everyone else is just inhabiting it? How could they be so callous and disrespectful of their own families?

Although I'm disgusted with both of them, she really irks me. How are you going to lay up there with someone else's husband and send him text messages on city-owned and maintained equipment about sucking him off and being jealous of the wife whose friend you are pretending to be? Men will be men, they are just dogs and will say anything to get laid, but women are our own worst enemies. Face it lady, you been played, you been had, bamboozled. You were his ho. He said what he had to say to get laid and then went home to his wife and children. You made a fool of yourself publicly and privately. Let's hope you learn from this horrid experience.

And the other thing - both of you, man up! You've been caught, and you look like some d@mn fools denying what is out there for all the world to see! Have a shred of dignity and own what you did!

WTF is Wrong With Us?

2008-04-29T08:51:00.000-07:00

Yesterday the news was dominated by a couple of people: the Rev. Jeremiah Wright and Miley Cyrus. The media is digging every scrap of dirt they can find out about this guy (who in my opinion is FAAAARRR less racist than motormouths like, let's see, Jerry Falwell or that scumbag racist Patrick Buchanan), and some teenager who made pretty pictures (although I have to say that in the one showing her bare back, her facial expression looks like she's about to vomit). Who frickin' cares? Have any of these people who think these things are news gone to a gas station lately? Now that will make you want to throw up! Maybe Miley just filled her gas tank before going to the photo shoot. Or have they been to a grocery store lately? You almost have to take out a loan to eat nowadays.

Why aren't we outraged? WTF? Here we are brawling in the mud like a bunch of snotty-nosed kindergartners about stuff that doesn't matter, while ignoring the fact that we are being brutally RAPED by the oil companies and suffering the trickle-down effects of their extortion. And while we can't NOT drive anymore, personally I'm giving them as little as they can. I've been catching the bus and leaving the box in the garage as much as I can. Last week I even walked to the store! Got some fresh air and although my body protested initially, it thanked me later. Who knows, if I can keep doing that I may even shed a few pounds. There's a couple of short-term solutions, but whatever are we going to do in the long run?

"Cultural" Thangs

2008-04-28T18:55:00.000-07:00

Complete, Total Audacity

Okay, now this one's almost too funny to be believed. Overweight inmate Broderick Lloyd Laswell has filed a prisoner civil rights lawsuit against his jailers for not feeding his big self enough. That's right, coming in at 413 pounds, he is now down to a measly 308 based on the bad prison food he is receiving, which isn't enough to sustain his bulk. He wants the prison to fry him up two pounds of bacon and 18 eggs for breakfast like his mama did, 6 packages of bologna and 2 packs of cheese with white bread and a whole jar of mayonnaise and 6 bags of greasy potato chips for lunch, and 4 buckets of fried chicken with 12 pounds of mashed potatoes and gravy, 3 whole pies and a gallon of ice cream for his suppa'. That's what he's used to, by George, and as a law-abidin' free white man goddam it that's what he needs in jail!!!!

Just finished reading a story on AOL about the 2008 Coachella Valley Music And Arts Festival . Wow, such non-news. So many pictures of Sienna Miller. Who exactly is the girl, and why the f*ck is she dominating the festival? I understand that she's a Brittish actress but I can't honestly name a single thing she's been in that I've seen or admired, and I'm a hard-core movie-loving-Netflix-wh*re.

Abrubt change, I have to comment on the "media's" back-stabbing change of heart on our next President, Obama. Makes me want to roll my eyes real hard, how stupid they are, all turning on him, as if they get to determine how we vote in the long run. It's laughable, isn't it? Ha Ha!!!!Ha Ha Ha Ha!!!! These simpletons actually believe that, what they say matters, that all of the sudden America is going to change how they feel because they have written some negative stories and posted questionable polls! Haa! Ha! Makes me want to go pee. On a newspaper. Or someone's toes.

I shouldn't say that it doesn't matter to everyone, because as we thinking people all know, the knuckle-draggers are content to let others do their thinking for them and unfortunately, they get to vote. However, we have to fight the good fight, be stoic and let the dufus media run their course. They will see come Indiana, won't they?

Texas Polygamists

2008-04-15T16:06:00.000-07:00

I just watched a couple of videos on ABCnews.com showing Polygamist cult member mothers crying over the loss of their children. I’m really torn about this issue. I can’t imagine what it must be like for the government to sweep in and take your children away from you. These women must be devastated and suffering horribly. They are probably wondering what kind of a country do they live in, where it’s okay to take someone’s children based on their religious beliefs.

On the other hand, are these children in any kind of actual danger? There are allegations of, what basically amounts to child rape. Girls as young as 14 are forced to marry sometimes much older men, and must immediately consummate the “marriage.” There’s a special bed right in the temple for such use - they don’t even have to wait to go home. Also, there was something about the video I just watched that was very disturbing to me. The “crying” women were all dry-eyed, dabbing at dry, clear eyes with tissue while making pitiful, mournful crying sounds. It as if they were all being drama queens to garner sympathy. Why else would they have allowed cameras onto a compound that is closed to “outsiders?” One woman spoke of a little boy who was taken away with Down’s syndrome and Hershberg disease. I have to wonder, while looking at these people, how many children are afflicted with diseases that could have been prevented had they not been so inbred? I'm sorry, but the women all looked, well, just a little off. Kind of inbred.

At any rate, there’s no easy solution to this situation. I just hope the CSP in Texas really thought this out before they raided.