Ok, it’s been a year, five months and two days since I last posted an entry.  The past year bought a lot of changes, some good and some bad but I weathered the storm.  The site will be going through some major changes over the next few months to reflect the new direction I will be navigating my world.  Stay tuned.

Jennifer Carter, 45 year old ex DPS employee

So I found out that  in my hometown of Denver, CO, a Denver Public School secretary, Jennifer Carter was accused of duct taping an “unruly” 6 year old on 22 October 2009.  Here’s the article when it was first reported. I don’t care how “unruly” a child may get it does not give anyone license to put their hands on them.  The CO child abuse/neglect laws have seen to that. The following are just some of the comments made in regards to this incident.

“This is a complete overreaction, they put tape on a otherwise uncontrollable kid. Maybe he would not act so ‘Rowdy’ if he had stronger discipline at home. I thing mommy is just looking for a pay out.”-TheGodfather (Nico C)

“Where’s the father? Why is he not disciplining his son? Isn’t this what fathers are supposed to do?

Oh, wait, that’s right, in order for a mother to receive “benefits” (yes, I’m saying it) she must not be married to a husband, or, if she is, he must not be gainfully employed.

Maybe if this mother was more selective in who she procreates with, she would have a strong father-figure in the family that this boy would respect and appropriately fear consequences of misbehavior.

Chalk up another victory in the war on poverty, we’ve created multi-generations of women who don’t worry about having a father around to help raise their children. Why bother when the government will be there instead?”-Alan9074 (Alan M)

“Good for this secretary. Give her a raise. I can remember when I was young and schools were allowed to discipline kids. (With in reason) The key question here was harm done to the kid?”-littlerascal (Larry M)

As you will notice some of the comments made are completely admonishing the child and his mother but not Carter.  On 27 October 2009 charges were filed against Carter and she was arrested. Ashyle Tenner, the mother of the 6 year old stated:

“I’m pleased that the (Police Department) is taking this as seriously as I took it.  I think this will send a message, obviously, to her, but also the principal, who didn’t handle it right, and to the school district that this kind of treatment of children . . . shouldn’t be tolerated.”

One of the things I found most interesting about all of this is that I know of Carter personally and I can honestly say I am NOT a fan.  This a grown ass woman who seems to have lost her ever loving mind.  Carter s a mother of two (adult children) herself so I don’t understand why she didn’t stop to think before she acted.  Yes I do, the woman lacks common sense and she is as manipulative as they come.  Even her own children can’t stand her.  She uses those around her to for personal gain and to try and feel powerful. If one is stupid enough (and believe me I can name 5 right off the top of my head) to fall for her game she will use the personal knowledge she’s learned about you against you later on to do her personal bidding.

Momma always said “You do ugly, you get ugly.”  That might explain why Carter has had heart surgery within the past year, is currently on oxygen and has Type II Diabetes.

I’ve said it time and time again, the US is a country founded on a laundry list of ills and wrongs and just because there’s a black President does not mean that racism is dead.  Far from it.  Since Obama has taken office we have more and more incidents of racism occurring all because the offenders think they can say and do whatever they want without consequences.  There are just some things that are not ok to do or say and most likely never will be.  Case in point.

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John Taylor and his wife, Donna who live in North Carolina, recently went in to COSTCO in Greensboro and could not believe what they saw perched on the shelf for sale.  As the photos show, the baby doll is being hugged by
a monkey and the doll has a cap on its head that says ” lil’ monkey”! They have lodged complaints with the COSTCO Corporate Headquarters and while their efforts succeeded in getting the doll pulled from the Greensboro store, the doll is still on sale in Winston, Salem, and likely in other locations. These dolls are an insult to us all and need to be pulled from all COSTCO stores or wherever they are being sold.

COSTCO also owes their customers an apology.  I hope you are as outraged as I am and if so, call COSTCO headquarters and demand that this product be removed from their shelves without delay. It is the “Cuddle Baby” product #404860 and the corporate headquarters number is 800-7742678.

Here’s Costco’s response to this incident.  Do you think it’s sufficient or do you think African Americans, Blacks or whatever we choose to call ourselves are being oversensitive in this whole matter?

Andre M. Jones, Jr., author of The Renaissance Generation: A Soapbox Polemic

In the early half of the 21^st Century – an era that will probably be remembered as the “Dark Ages” – André Melvin Jones, Jr., a 23 year old author from New Jersey, is making his latent convictions and concerns heard.  His latest book, The Renaissance Generation: A Soapbox Polemic, was born out of a desire to enlighten and inspire his contemporaries and also to contribute further to a greater discussion of where we need to be as Americans, right now, socially and politically.

WS: Why the title, The Renaissance Generation: A Soapbox Polemic?

AJ: After watching an episode of The Boondocks (The Block is Hot) which featured “Riley” (one of the main characters) handing out pamphlets from atop a soapbox, I had this nagging feeling that: A) I need to include “soapbox” somewhere in my book’s title; and B) young people need to rise up. Seeing the soapbox was a reminder of a classical mode of free-speech that Americans once exercised:  they would simply go outside; head into town; mount their soapbox; and, unapologetically, let their voices be heard!  You can either be militant—like “Riley”—or eloquent, but you can still be a contributor to the revolution.

WS:  Who’s your target audience?

AJ: I kept hearing and seeing things on the news.  I felt that my generation needed something more besides the stuff being presented in and on the news.  They needed a more relatable perspective—one seen through the lens of perhaps a close friend.  I really want to engage my generation with this book. I do hope, however, that the older generations are attracted to it as well.  I’m hoping for a universal audience.  I don’t want readers to get lost in a barrage of information and vocabulary.  It’s a peer-to-peer read.  It’s, honestly, as if we were all sitting down in a classroom – either taking notes, reading, following the teacher, whatever – and I just got up and went off on a tangent!

WS: You’re 23 years of age; do you think your generation will understand what you’re saying?

AJ: I think so.  With Obama running, becoming president and all that he’s done so far, I think he has activated us.  It’s time for us, now, to operate.  Maybe what I’ve written will strike a cord with some of them and possibly lead them to do their own research.  But I’m confident that it will be like music, universal.

WS: As writers we reveal a little about ourselves through our writings.  Are you ready for the criticism?

AJ: Interesting you should ask that.  There’s a quote by Martha Graham that comes to mind.  “There is a vitality, a life force, an energy, a quickening that is translated through you into action, and because there is only one of you in all of time, this expression is unique. And if you block it, it will never exist through any other medium and it will be lost. The world will not have it. It is not your business to determine how good it is nor how valuable nor how it compares with other expressions. It is your business to keep it yours clearly and directly, to keep the channel open. You do not even have to believe in yourself or your work. You have to keep yourself open and aware to the urges that motivate you. Keep the channel open. … No artist is pleased. [There is] no satisfaction whatever at any time. There is only a queer divine dissatisfaction, a blessed unrest that keeps us marching and makes us more alive than the others.”

I did ask myself, “Did I put too much of myself in this book?”   “Are people going to hate or scrutinize me for writing it?”  But so far I’ve received a lot of positive feedback.  And considering the tone and content of the book:  why should I care anyway?  Who knows who this may inspire into becoming a great leader, or activist or freedom fighter?  I see myself as a major component that is part of the bigger “body”.  And if you know anything about the body, then you know that all of the components are important.

WS: How long did it take you to write this?

AJ: Several months.  For a year I wasn’t really doing anything but writing. I spent a lot of time in local libraries and Barnes and Noble bookstores just reading and tapping into great minds the likes of Dr. Cornel West, Fredrich Nietzsche, Ralph Waldo Emerson, and a catalog of others—all of which, in some way, inspired my writing.  The writing itself, however, did take a mental toll.  After filling yourself with the dark inner workings of some of these men and how they thought, how could it not? But I felt like a major weight had been lifted off of my shoulders when I finished.  I was happy.

WS: Was there a particular event, situation or a series of events that led you to write this book?

AJ: It was a divine appointment.  A combination of political, social and economic situations led me to write this.  If I didn’t write it would’ve been very irresponsible of me.

WS: How are you promoting your book?

AJ: Word-of-mouth marketing is an old and powerful tool, so that, of course.  I’m also on Twitter and FaceBook.  I have some upcoming blog and magazine features, and I’ll be visiting a few college radio stations in the weeks ahead.  This type of book warrants a guerrilla grassroots type of marketing plan so I figured I stick with what I know:  the Internet.

WS: When does it hit stores?

AJ: Since I’m self publishing I’m looking at an early 2010 release date – I say about January, February.

Become a fan of André on FaceBook or follow him on Twitter.

“Cell Phones for Soldiers was founded by teenagers Robbie and Brittany Bergquist from Norwell, Mass., with $21 of their own money. Since then, the registered 501c3 non-profit organization has raised almost $2 million in donations and distributed more than 500,000 prepaid calling cards to soldiers serving overseas.” Read more…

“Women for Women International provides women survivors of war, civil strife and other conflicts with the tools and resources to move from crisis and poverty to stability and self-sufficiency, thereby promoting viable civil societies.”

Read about more of what they do here.

Follow this organization on Twitter.

“Rudeness is the weak man’s imitation of strength.”

~ Eric Hoffer (1902-1983) ~

Rudeness leads to the deteioration of common sense, which is defined as sound practical judgement that is independent of specialized knowledge, training or the like; normal native intelligence.

Here are some questions to ask yourself.

• Are you chronically late?
• Have you ever typed an email while on the phone?
• Have you ever interrupted a face to face conversation to take a non urgent cell phone call?
• Have you stolen someone’s parking space when they’ve had their indicator light on?
• Have you taken someone’s else’s food or drink from the office refrigerator?
• Have you ever gossiped?

If you answered yes to any of the above then you’re considered to be rude and/or have displayed rude behavior. Stop and think about, if any of these things were done to you you’d be thoroughly pissed off and would consider the other person to be rude.  80% of Americans say that rudeness is a serious problem.  99% of those people say that they aren’t rude.

According to P.M. Forni author of Choosing Civility: The 25 Rules of Considerate Conduct states that the quality of our lives depends on how we treat others and that rudeness is bad for our health.  That there are specific hormones that cause our internal systems to break down.

Here are a few more actions that are considered to be rude:

• Cutting people off in traffic
• Rude customers
• Rude sales clerks
• Out of control children in public
• Snarky/group emails
• Coughing and/or sneezing without covering your mouth (plain ass nasty)
• Not washing your hands after using the restroom (again just plain ass nasty)
• Smoking around others and not asking or taking into consideration that it may bother them or not like it at all
• Having loud mobile phone conversations while out in public
• Mobile phones turned on at public events (i.e. church, movies, school plays, etc.)
• Texting while driving (this is just plain stupid)
• Texting while spending quality time with family and friends
• Taking phone calls while on a date
• Chewing gum with mouth open
• Interrupting others while they’re speaking
• Not tipping at a buffet; you’re still being provided a service

“We never touch people so lightly that we don’t leave a trace.” ~Peggy Tabor Millin~

Recently in a large French city a poster featuring a young, thin and tan woman appeared in the window of a gym.  It said:

This summer do you want to be a mermaid or a whale?

A middle aged woman, whose physical characteristics did not match those on the poster responded publicly to the question posed by the gym.

To Whom It May Concern:

Whales are always surrounded by friends (dolphins, sea lions and curious humans).  They have an active sex life, they get pregnant and have adorable baby whales.  They have a wonderful time with dolphins stuffing themselves with shrimp.  They play and swim in the seas, seeing wonderful places life Patagonia, the Barren Sea and the coral reefs of Polynesia.  Whales are wonderful singers and have even recorded CDs.  They are incredible creatures and virtually have no predators other than humans.  They are loved, protected and admired by almost everyone in the world.

Mermaids don’t exist.  If they did exist, they would be lining up outside offices of the Argentinean psychoanalysts due to identity crisis.  Fish or human?  They don’t have a sex life because they kill men who get close to them not to mention how could they have sex?  Therefore they don’t have kids either.  Not to mention who want to get close to a girl who smells life a fish store?

The choice is pretty clear to me, I want to be a whole.

We are in an age when media puts into our head the idea that only skinny people are beautiful but I prefer to enjoy an ice cream with my kids, a good dinner with a man who makes me shiver and a piece of chocolate with my friends.  With time we gain weight because accumulate so much information and wisdom in our heads that when there is no more room it distributes out to the rest of our bodies.  So we aren’t heavy, we are enormously cultured, educated and happy.  Beginning today, when I look at my butt in the mirror I will think, “Good gosh, look how smart I am.”

Walk the line between love and hate.

Walk the line between sanity and insanity.

Walk the line between reality and dream.

There are various lines that we walk on a daily basis often times more than one at a time.

How does one keep it balanced?

How does one keep from being totally immersed in one realm?

Is sanity all it’s cracked up to be?

Do we actually find freedom in an insane or unrealistic plane?

© 2007