just Rondering

The Audacity of Norma "Roe" McCorvey to Pray for Obama

2009-05-18T04:36:00.000-07:00

I was but a mere 16-year old, stupid, uninterested in government punk when the Jane Roe v. Henry Wade abortion case made history.

In January 1973, the United States Supreme Court deemed that women had fundamental right under the Constitution of the United States to abort a pregnancy.

Norma McCorvey, a 21 year-old rape victim was Jane Roe and fought for the right for women to abort any unwanted pregnancies. She never had an abortion, opting to give her third child up for adoption.

Fast forward to May 2009. Norma “Jane Roe” McCorvey is now an anti-abortion crusader and founder of her own pro-life Roe No More Ministry. She has flipped the script. Nothing wrong with that. Women have always had the right to change their minds.

However, there she was with the likes of Alan Keyes and Randall Terry on television at the University of Notre Dame protesting a May 17, 2009 commencement speech by pro-choice supporter and U. S. President Barack Obama.

Again, nothing really wrong or unusual with exercising one’s 1^st Amendment right to peacefully protest, even if it’s against a private institution. Not until she opened her mouth.

However, I thought I would die when I heard her say she was praying for Obama’s soul because he supported the same right for all women that McCorvey had served as the poster child for 36 years ago. She thought it was wrong for him to speak at a Christian education center although the faculty invited him. If her audacity wasn't the equivalant of Rush Limbaugh praying for Amy Winehouse, I don't know what is.

It took every muscle in my head to not scream, “Bitch you’re the one who lead the fight to legalize abortion, gave up all three of your children, worked in abortion clinics, had drug and alcohol problems, and dabbled in bisexual relationships until your sudden conversion to Christianity. And you’re praying for Obama? When do you pray for yourself?”

But I didn’t. I aborted the thought. Then immediately directed my attention to God and asked him/her what became of McCorvey’s prayers for Obama.

I‘m still waiting for God to answer while hoping he/she continues to protect me from his/her followers.

Obama Takes First White House Poop

2009-01-21T19:05:00.000-08:00

Wednesday, January 21, 2009

At 5:53am eastern standard time, President Obama took his first crap in the presidential pooper. He used green floral print with Presidential logo, double-ply Charmin to wipe his ass.

His aides refused to disclose whether he folds or balls his toilet paper. That info will not be released until after his first 100 days.

Obama, fulfilling his promise of change, said he was humbled to be the first president to allow "the people" see him in his most vulnerable position.

Update. It has just been reported that a sample of Obama's stool sample has just been put on eBay. Starting bid...Priceless.

There is a winning bid. However, the winner's name has not been disclosed but is said to be a high ranking member of the Republican National Committee who wants to determine why it doesn't stink.

Obama the racist. Period.

2009-01-01T10:15:00.000-08:00

Obama campaigned hard on a race-bridging platform.

Oh, how we loved the story about his white grandparents and how Obama is the new, true face of Americana.

Pure, unadulterated bullshit.

Obama is a racist right up there with the likes of Trent Lott, Jesse Helms, Strom Thurmond, George Wallace, and David Duke.

You're waiting for proof. Hold on a second. The proof is in the pudding.

First, Katon Dawson is campaigning for the chairmanship of the Republican National Committee. However, he has resigned from an all white country club after that fact was made public. Why did he have to do that? What is wrong with associating with your race-common peers? We use that argument when we select juries, don't we.

We have black only organizations like the NAACP, Miss Black America, Mr. Black Olympia, and other black only events.

Barack Obama campaigned for the presidency of the United States while still a member of one of the most racist organizations in America--The Congressional Black Caucus.

Obama hails from Chicago, one of our most blatantly racially divided, not diverse, cities, which has its own political Black Caucus. Ironically, an alderman with an over 80% black constituency was denied membership to the Chicago Black Caucus because he was white.

How dare we say we are moving forward from our hurtful history of white-only water fountains, sports leagues, and schools when we elect a man who belongs to a race based organization. If Bush belonged to the Congressional White Caucus, oh, wait, there is no such thing as a white caucus. That would be deemed racist.

The reopend conflict about the satire, "Barack the Magic Negro lives in DC," should not be a conflict at all. It should read, "Barack the Racist Negro supports the BCC."

Oh, the audacity of Barack to say he is a race uniter.

Please, no coments about blacks can't be racist.

My sister is the biggest racist I know, and she is black. And she is one of the biggest Obama fanatics, too.

Birds of a feather.

Why Not Ban Christmas and Marriage

2008-12-26T05:57:00.000-08:00

This is a Fox News report:

COVINA, Calif. — Stinging from an acrimonious divorce, a man plotting revenge against his ex-wife dressed up like Santa, went to his former in-laws' Christmas Eve party and slaughtered at least eight people before killing himself hours later.

Bruce Pardo's ex-wife and her parents were believed to be among the dead. Investigators planned to return to the scene Friday and sift through the ashes of the home, which Pardo set ablaze using a bizarre homemade device that sprayed flammable liquid.

A car that Pardo apparently parked near his brother's home, where Pardo was found dead, exploded Thursday evening and more ammunition was found in it, Los Angeles police Sgt. Francisco Wheeling said. She had no immediate details on what set off the explosion. No one was hurt.

Investigators seeking further information about Pardo's motives have begun searching his home in the suburban Los Angeles community of Montrose.

Pardo, 45, had no criminal record and no history of violence, according to police, but he was angry following last week's settlement of his divorce after a marriage that lasted barely a year.

"It was not an amicable divorce," police Lt. Pat Buchanan said.

I am just rondering here. The marriage didn't even last that long. Pardo(n) my cynicism, but how could he have killed someone he hadn't owned more than a year?

My big question is, if this had been a story about a gay man dressed as a woman who did this because of a relationship breakup, wouldn't we be hearing preachers(Rick Warren, John Hagee, etc...) calling for a ban on gay marriage and homosexuality? After all, didn't they suggest Hurricane Katrina was God's wrath against gays?

I was 50; she was only 8, but I fell in love with her

2008-12-20T04:31:00.000-08:00

Each year a few local organizations take children from area after school programs Christmas shopping.

This particular organization was a regional liquor association, a group of bars, taverns, saloons, pubs, liquor stores, restaurants, diners, etc..., had raised enough money throughout the year to give 250 kids ages 6-10 a $50 Christmas shopping spree.

So it was, 250 kids and about 50 adult volunteers on an early, blustery, snowy Sunday morning at Target. A 5:1 ratio was doable. At 15 minutes per five kids, we would all be done in less than 90 minutes.

I stood in the adult line waiting for the next kid to come forth, hoping it was a boy with an idea of what he wanted. Well, things do not always work out that way.

Next up was a cute, yet homely looking girl. She was just as afraid of me as I was of her. She waved bye to her daddy, who probably had his own doubts about me, and walked ahead of me.

I broke the ice. " Hi, how are you, and what's your name?

"I'm Cindy(not her real name) and I am fine."

"Nice to meet you. Do you know what you want to buy with your $50?"

"Well, my daddy said to buy some clothes."

Shit. Just what I needed. She has no idea what size she wears, and I ain't going nowhere near a dressing room with a an 8 year-old girl who looks nothing like me.

"OK. So do you have something in mind like shoes or jeans?"

"I don't know," she said, as we entered the girls' clothing section.

She picked up several things as I tabulated in my head, $7.99, $14.25, $22.80, $29.35. "You have about $20.00 left," suggesting she pick up the pace as it was now about 20 minutes later.

She then put everything down and had a look that said she was going to start all over. At the same time I'm thinking her dad must be thinking what's this guy doing with my daughter all this time.

Then she looked up at me with a confused, guilty look and asked, " Do I have to buy stuff only for myself?"

"Well, you were chosen for this trip because you earned it somehow. Probably because you are a good girl. So, I would say yes."

Her eyes told me I had disappointed her. The little runt was really starting to try my patience. It was now going on 30 minutes, and I had seen several other adults with their second and third child.

Looking up at me, she whispered, " I don't want anything. Do you think I would be in trouble if I bought my little brother something?"

Damn. Just that quick, this little brat had morphed into the most loving , unselfish, considerate creature.

"I'm sure that would be ok, but we need to hurry."

She picked up her step and marched over to the toy section, grabbing stuff at random.$5.99, $12.00, $21.00, $32.00, I calculated. "You have about $18 left," I warned her with the urgence of a referee's two minute whistle.

"OK, " she said, grabbing just one more thing, a big truck, "that's it."

Thankful my hour was almost up, I led the way to the register. Without realizing it, I traced our steps back through the girls' section. I found her previous choices on the floor where she had dropped them. I picked them up and headed to the event's designated register.

Before the clerk began ringing the items, I explained to her that I would cover the amount over the $50 limit. By my count, the total should have been almost $90.

She quickly scanned the items and said, "Wow, that's exactly $50. What a smart shopper you are," smiling at my little shopping companion and giving me a wink, pushing my $50 bill back into my hand.

I watched Cindy sprint to her dad with two big bags dragging the floor. He picked her up, giving me an approving smile.

Meanwhile, my wife, who had taken about four kids shopping during that same time, asked how things went.

"It was an adventure, " I said.

"Took you long enough. I thought you had met someone and fallen in love."

"I did," was all I could say as I watched Cindy and her dad leave the store.

I knew John McCain was full of crap

2008-12-15T05:19:00.000-08:00

If things had worked out differently, Sarah Palin would be on the verge of running this country in less than a month.

Oh, but it didn't happen that way.

Remember, oh, way back in September/October when John McCain said with full confidence that Sarah Palin was capable of assuming the role of president on day one should something happen to him in the interim? That meant on January 20, 2009, Mrs. Palin could have been sworn in as president with McCain's full endorsement, presumably from his grave.

Yet, now McCain says he can't say he would support her candidacy four years hence. He even mentioned a couple of other GOP governors (none from Illinois) that would make great candidates worthy of his support.

How is it that she was the best choice 60 days ago, but won't be in four years?

Help me. I can't think of the appropriate words to describe McCain.

War hero doesn't immediately come to mind.

Maverick, my ass.

4 year-old's Pledge of Allegiance to Obama

2008-12-01T07:11:00.000-08:00

Obama's got it easy

2008-12-01T04:31:00.000-08:00

Historic, yes. Precedent, yes. Difficult, no.

Much is being made of Barack Obama being the first non-white dude to be president. Unlike all the race barrier breaking heroes before him, Obama's task is much less daunting.

History is on Obama's side.

When Jackie Robinson broke the major league baseball color line, he had to be superior to most of his fellow white ballplayers in order for future black ball players to get a chance. He had to perform at or above the level of such names as Ted Williams, Joe DiMaggio, Stan Musial, Enos Slaughter and many more. While doing this, he had to endure threats against his life without the benefit of Secret Service protection.

Obama's timely ascension to the White House finds him with less of a task at hand. Yes, the whole world will be watching. But Obama only has to be better than the worst white president, and fortunately for him, that is the guy he is replacing.

Create one new job. He is better than Bush. Tell one less lie to the American people. He is better than Bush. Keep one less person from his administration from being federally indicted. He is bettter than Bush. Keep our troops one day less in Iraq. He is better than Bush. Spend one dollar less on that same war. He is better than Bush. Don't hire Colin Powell. He is better than Bush.

Obama doesn't have to make the All-Star team or lead his team to the Super Bowl. Basically, Obama can do absolutely nothing and he will have accomplished more than Bush.

So, Mr. First Black President, just do your best. Whatever you do will be better than our last eight years. And whatever you do, don't try to be the best black president. Just be the best president you can be.

Hopefully, history will remember you as a great president more than it will for being the first black one.

We remember Jackie Robinson because he was great. Does anyone remember(without Google's help) the first black NBA, NHL, or NFL player?

What Obama's change really means to a 4 year-old

2008-11-28T07:52:00.000-08:00

Think we haven't been Obamanized?

This is my granddaughter's rendition ofThe Pledge of Allegiance.

Just to make sure I heard it correctly, I had her do it a few times.

Obama of a nighted State of America

And to the replug it

Which it stands

One nation

Under God

Indivis-a-gull

with liverty

and justice for all.

Is this the change Obama was talking about?

True story; I Found My Crown in The Crapper

2008-11-19T09:21:00.000-08:00

Contrary to what you may think, the title was not chosen to attract attention. I found my crown in the toilet is the whole story.

It began June 7th of this year. While eating a delicious pulled-pork sandwich, I swallowed my crown. Once I realized what I had done, I quickly drank two Miller Lites to wash it down.

At my wife's urging, nice word for bitching, I went to the hospital to get an x-ray. By the way, you can't just walk into the hospital and tell them you need an x-ray. Tried that. They looked at me as if I had walked into Burger King and ordered a McFeast.

After the obligatory family history questionnaire and insurance verification, the tech took pictures of my chest. There it was, turned sideways just under my left nipple. I saw the metal post looking like a small penis, so I said, "Aw look, I am having a boy. "The tech didn't find that comment funny, either.

The doctor on call told me to just go home and it would pass in five-seven days. He also gave me a shit kit. That is a plastic sombrero looking thing that goes over the toilet for me to collect my deposit. It also included a dozen or so throat compressors. No instructions provided or necessary.

I searched daily at 6:00 am, as thoroughly as an archeologist looking through centuries-old shit for a prized artifact. After 30 days or stirring and gagging and mistaking undigested, bloated corn kernals for my tooth, I gave up.

Well, November 18 arrived. After doing my bodily business, I flushed. I flushed again. Still, one of those cling-ons wouldn't go down. I flushed a third time. Bingo.

A few minutes later, my wife screams, "Oh shit." It was one of those, "Damn, I dropped my eyeliner down the drain." type screams, so I paid little attention. Then she said, " You're not going to believe this. I found your crown."

Sure enough, there it was in the toilet. She reached in, pulled it out, and handed it to me. She's a great wife. It was intact. Beautiful. I put it in a baggie for safekeeping.

Then we laughed because just the day before, we had been haggling with our dentist about who was responsible for the cost of replacing it.

Now, I have to call him back and tell him where I found it. Five months, 11 days later.

Moral of this story, don't ever take shit for granted.

Led Zeppelin Must Die

2008-11-15T11:26:00.000-08:00

My grandson is almost seven years old and has been performing with his dad as Michael Jackson impersonators since he was three. Whenever he is not the "Gloved One," he also performs live as a rock-n-roll star.

His favorite song to sing and play guitar to is Whole Lotta Love by Led Zeppelin. Performing the song with his Gigi's (short for grandmother in denial) band backing him for three years, he thinks of the song as his.

It started out innocently, as Whole Lotta Yuv. Working the stage and handling the mic like a seasoned pro, he delights a crowd. Big friends (his words for adult fans) love him. Although he can't really play the guitar, he knows all the words and moves. From a distance, you would actually think he is playing it.

For the small price of a bag of Skittles, he gives a true performance, jumping up and down to the beat, putting every little grunt he can muster into the "unh, unh, unh, unh, whole lotta yuv, whole lotta yuv." Even when he makes up his own words like "I wanna bring you back around, and give you everything of my love" it is a pleasant surprise to not hear him say, " I wanna be your back door man and give you every inch of my love."

As I said, he is almost seven and is paying more attention to detail. One night before a recent performance, I found some vintage 1973 Led Zeppelin on Youtube.

He watched it intently as I tried to explain that those were the real guys who wrote and still own the song. After it finished, I couldn't wait for his impression.

Quite proud of myself, I asked, "So, what did you think? Did you see how they really rocked the guitar?"

"Those guys made that song?" he seemed somewhat puzzled.

Sensing his loss of ownership, I said,"Yes, they made that one and a whole lot more. But you can still sing it when you want to."

" Well, those guys are really old. So, if they die, then it can be only my song." sounding so matter of fact.

" That is not how it works. If they die, then their kids get to keep the song. "

Pondering for a bit, out came, " Then they just gonna have to die, cuz that is my song. And you can give his kids my Skittles."

That interaction was back in August. Since then, he has written two of his very own songs:" Cool Jam" and " Help Me." They are, in his own words, the best songs he has ever heard.

They should be available at a store near you in 2020.

The Obama White House in blackspeak

2008-11-13T04:22:00.000-08:00

"Yo, yo, yo, Ron. We in da house, my man." the jubilant brother said, as he put up his fist, awaiting my return dap. " Barack did it. You said it wasn't gonna happen."

"Actually, Rico(not his real name), I said I hoped it wouldn't happen because I don't want another JFK story." I corrected him.

"Aight(pronounced ah-ite), aight. But you know what it means, though."

"It means we have a new president and another positive, much needed footnote to our history." the diplomat in me responded.

"Yo, Ron. Stop being all political and stuff. Save that for your column. Times gon' change, man. I'm telling you, they already changed. Now, when I walk into any place, they gotta recognize me as a black man." he proclaimed.

Slipping into "hood- mode," I said, " Yo, Rico. On a national and hopefully international level, I hope Obama generates a lot of change. But down here with you and me, the only change we'll see is the change we make. Just because a black man is president, that doesn't change your credit score or anything on your resume. And it won't make you be on time for work, help you pass a pre-employment drug screen, or guarantee you free cable."

"I see what you on, Ron. I'm out." sounding dejected as he walked away.

Then there was my girl, Suz. One of the most wonderful creatures God put on this earth. She's close to my age, and has more common sense, compassion, and giving spirit than anyone other than my stepdad I have ever met.

"Good morning, America," she shouts everytime she sees me, regardless of the time of day.

"Sup Suz." is always my brief greeting because I know what's to come.

"I'll tell you what's up, my nigga. Michelle Obama in the White House. She's measuring drapes, changing the dinnerware to styrofoam, and putting plastic all over the furniture. It's a new day baby. Ok, Ron. I'm just kidding.

"Look, Suz. If she just learns how to dress, I will be happy. She can't be wearing bright fire-engine red everyday. She has to accentuate those hips. You know I'm a butt man. And a lips, boobs, and ankles man, too. So, she's only batting 25 percent with me."

"Naw, seriously, though." she went on. "Michelle gonna be a classy bitch. She gon' bring up da hoodwinks and heffas to a new level, baby."

Interrupting her, " You know what Suz? You talk just like Michelle Obama."

"The hell I do. That woman is educated. I heard her talking on television. She speaks very well." Suz added, with an uppity tone to her voice.

"Exactly. And that is what I hopes she takes to da White House.

White Folks Say Darndest Things To Me, by popular demand

2008-11-12T07:03:00.000-08:00

Actually, only one person suggested I share this, but I have always wanted to say something of mine was requested" by popular demand."

While going to college supported by the G I Bill, I worked for a L.A. Times newspaper distributor to supplement my lifestyle. Okay, I delivered papers seven days a week from 2am-6 am in North San Diego County. One of my additional duties was to train new drivers.

One morning while driving around a newbie, we passed a snow ski equipment and instruction business. It had a mechanical training slope outside the front door.

Breaking the silence, my white trainee spoke out. " Now that's my sport. I love the slopes. Only thing I don't like is seeing blacks on the white stuff. They belong on the courts, not the mountains."

"Never desired to ski, although it looks like fun," I mumbled, just to see where the chat was going, but never letting on that I wasn't the Hispanic, Greek, Iranian, or whatever he assumed I was.

The conversation returned to the task at hand for the next couple of hours. I worked with him for two more days, and he was on his own.

Then one morning sometime later as all the drivers were tying up their papers and loading their vehicles while engaging in idle chatter, someone made a reference to my ethnicity. Speaking as the authority on all things black, I noticed the former trainee look up at me with an "Oh, shit!" look on his face. This was the moment I had been waiting for.

After his route, he aproached me. "Ron, dude, I'm sorry. I didn't.. I didn't know you were black."

"No problem. Lots of folks don't know that. It doesn't matter anyway." I tried to convince him, but he continued.

"It's just that you don't look black. I thought you were Mexican or something, and you don't talk black. You talk liberal."

I cut him off." And I show up for work on time, too. And I go to college, huh?"

We talked for a few minutes. I did my best to assure him that no harm was done. I cut the conversation short as I had to get home to shower before class.

"I'll see you in the morning at two," I said.

He stuck out his arm to offer a handshake, " Ron, you're pretty cool, dude."

"Duh. I 'm black." I smiled.

Marriage is like baseball..Pre Prop 8 prediction

2008-11-11T12:18:00.000-08:00

California'a Prop 8 hate ban caused me to return to my achives.

I have long been an advocate of marriage. From Brittany Spears's 55-hour union or marriages of death row inmantes, marriage is marriage is marriage.

This is from July 2003.

Marriage as we know it is a great institution. Even with its fifty-plus percent failure rate, it’s still a revered part of our society. Marriage is a like another great American pastime, baseball, where the best hitters fail two out of three times.

Marriage is commonly defined as a legal union between two people of the opposite gender that is sanctioned by God and/or the government. That means any legal age male and female may marry.

To demonstrate how wonderful marriage is, two drug addicts, two alcoholics, two people with AIDS, or two obese people may get married as long as one of them is a male and the other is a female. A young twenty-something woman may marry a very wealthy man in his nineties who has less than a 30-day life expectancy. A free, educated woman may marry a man on death row. A couple in their 90's in a nursing home may marry. Even two really stupid people, as long as they are of the opposite sex, can marry. And I thought the seven ways a batter can safely reach first base without getting a hit was strange.

Imagine the shock and awe felt by marriage traditionalists when the US Supreme Court ruled that homosexuality was no longer a crime. The ruling was actually protecting our right to privacy. The case involved two men in Texas who were arrested for being intimate in their own home. It is now legal for two men or two women to show the same affection as a man and a woman might show each other, as long as it’s done in private. Public passion is still a no-no for everyone.

There is now unfounded mass hysteria that homosexuals will someday be allowed to get married. Efforts are now underway to propose a constitutional amendment to ban homosexual marriage in the United States(was I ahead of my time or what). Gay marriages are legal in Belgium and the Netherlands, with Canada soon to follow. The last time America witnessed such an uproar was when the designated hitter was instituted in the junior division of Major League Baseball.

How dare our highest court override God. How dare the court open the door of possibility for two people of the same gender, who love and cherish and promise to be faithful to each other until death do they part, the right to the same benefits and privileges as normal people. Doesn’t the court know that decriminalizing homosexuality can only lead to gay marriages? What next? Will gays want to get an education, own businesses, teach, preach, vote, pay taxes, run for public office, serve our country in the military, and God forbid, move into our neighborhoods? Wait. They already do those things and the world hasn’t come to an end.

Yep, marriage is a lot like baseball. When the rules were changed to allow other players to bat for pitchers, some purists said God was angry. Many are speaking for God now about the threat to life as we know it. Of course, God only allows heterosexuals to speak for him.

There is some historical precedence for changing long held traditions. According to some, at one time God said slavery was okay. He changed his mind about that, didn’t he?

Or was that another Supreme Court undoing?
Author tags:

Post Election Ignorance and Fear

2008-11-11T08:29:00.000-08:00

It was the day after the world stood still. In other words, it was the 5th of November. Barack Obama had been annointed the president-elect of the United States of America. A day I'll always remember. Okay, I admit, I stole that line from the Temptations.

What does that mean? It means discomfort.

Contrary to the election blowout, there is still an overwhelming number of Americans who are uncomfortable with a "nigger" being president.

In an attempt to guage the attiudes of those in my little rural community just 50 miles south of Obama's hometown of Chicago, my wife and I went to a couple of local hangouts.

We stopped at a bar and grill that is well known for its serious meat pizza. It just happens to be located on the West side of town. Unwritten code word for white/staunch Republican side of town. The bar owners know us as former bar owners and me from my weekly column. Their regulars do not.

We ordered our pizza and watched the headline news that was being shown on about three flat screen TV's. As highlights of Barack Obama's historical election played, one patron voiced his opinion of our future.

"We (meaning whites) will all be picking cotton now," he said to the dismay of his seven other tablemates. "What?, ain't no blacks in here," he said in defense.

He was almost right. Normally this establishment has about two blacks that frequent it on a regular basis and both those men have white spouses or girlfriends. But they were not present. And most whites never suspect that I am black.

I could write a big book of the things whites have volunteered to me about blacks. And a sequel of their back pedaling when they learned I was black. God does have a sense of humor.

This guy's comments caught the ear of my wife, who is Cape Verde and looks Hispanic and is as fiesty as she is beautiful. She shot a stern look of disappointment in his direction. He ended his conversation.

I stuck a big piece of pizza in my mouth and began to pray.

Oh, what are black folks saying? That is a whole 'nother blog.

Chicago kids should move if they want to live

2008-10-28T11:43:00.000-07:00

Seven year-old Julian King was found dead in an abandoned vehicle on the west side of Chicago. He had been shot in the face.

Lately, for those of us living within an hour's drive from Chicago, it is not shocking to learn that a child has been murdered on the South or West side of the city. For the better part of almost two years, it seems criminals have taken the NO Child Left Behind mandate seriously.

At last count, more than 30 Chicago Public School kids have been killed in the past year.

But Julian's death has made national news. See, he wasn't just another happy-go-lucky Chicago kid. He was the nephew of an Oscar winning actress and rising star in the music industry, Jennifer Hudson. Sadly, Ms. Hudson's mother and brother were also found murdered a couple of days earlier.

It hurts even when God takes a child's life without any explanation. It is worse when a child's life is taken by others. It is more sad when that child's death is given more attention only because he or she may be related to a popular public figure. It is most sad when the life expectancy of a demographic is directly correlated to the neighborhood they live. Who wants to tell a child that to live a long life, you need to move? No one does, but it's a reality.

Yes, many of us may have been told to go away to college, see the world, learn a lot. But not just to make it to see your 18th birthday.

Kids in Iraq have a greater chance of living to voting age than some Chicago kids. That's because we're spending billions of dollars to protect their neighborhoods.

Make a dollar; call United Van Lines; move out. That is the key to survival.

Look at the gangsta rappers. They don't live in the hoods they rap about or depict in their videos. No, no. And they don't marry the girls in their videos either.

Not even the mayor of Chicago will admit that moving out of some parts of his city is the only way to survive, and he has been the mayor of his city longer than any other man. He works harder to maintain better relations with a sister city in Ireland than he does with certain parts of his own city.

By the way, Julian's former hometown has a ban on private citizens owning guns. Go figure.

How's that bull crap working, Mayor Daley?

Here is an interesting stat to chew on. Over 100,000 black kids will be killed in Chicago before the Cubs win a World Series.

I Ain't A Nigger; My Kids Are.

2008-10-23T09:01:00.000-07:00

"Let me tell all ya'll something. I ain't no nigger, my kids are. Now, one of ya'll better light my cigarette and bring me an ashtray."
My beloved mother, a mix of Irish and Cherokee, alcoholic, hurt and confused person, and all around troublemaker, uttered those famous words to my siblings and 13 year-old me.
Surprisingly, since it was said during a state of sobriety, we couldn't chock it up to her mere drunken honesty.
From that day to this one, I've been OK with who I am. Had it not been for my step-dad, a wonderful, honorable, caring, blue-black(code for very Miles Davis-dark) man, I could have let that label define me.
From birth to age 12 (less the 3 years, 31 days, 20 hours, 14 minutes, and 2 seconds spent in a couple of foster homes) I knew my mom only as a drunk. A loving as much as possible drunk, but a drunk nonetheless.
Growing up in a small community with well-defined racial boundaries, I often found myself stuck in the middle. The same black buddies who would share my bolgna sandwich would quickly turn on me and call me a halfbreed for no apparent reason or accuse me of talking white. Some of the white buddies who taught me to play hockey would not hesitate to remind me of my Jackie Robinson nigger status in this white man's game.
Yes, there was the that period during the early 1970s when I had to prove my "blackness". I grew the biggest and best kept afro(hairdo), had two girlfriends at all times, and could say "come heah bitch" the way it's supposed to be said, and spoke ebonics when out of my mother's hearing range.
So it was with mama's famous words and a few examples set by my step-dad that liberated me. I adjusted. I could go anywhere, hear anything, and work with anybody and not let their opinions of me bother me.
If I was just a nigger to my mother and she loved me in her own special way, then it didn't matter what others thought of me. Yet, ironically, it mattered to her what others thought of me.
Like the time a white 8th grade peer called me a nigger and we ended up in the principal's office. In the most mother-hen like manner, she spread her wings and climbed upon the white principal's desk and said, " If anybody in this school calls my son a nigger again, I'll whip your white ass all over this school."
Sitting back, proud but confused and in "shock and awe," I wanted to yell out, "but Mama, I am a nigger, remember, you're not."

Sarah Palin spends $150k on clothes in one month

2008-10-22T11:04:00.000-07:00

Talk about sharing the wealth. The RNC has doled out $150 thousand for GOP VP choice Sarah Palin to shop for clothes in the past Month.
Because none of it was my money, I guess I should be very careful in my observation. My step-dad always said, " Don't ever tell a man what to do with his own penny or his own penis." Actually, he said a man's dollar and his ..., well, you know what he said.
The RNC got this money from its little donors, of course. And they spent it on its leadership, Sarah Palin.
That's not Socialism, that's Communism.
Are we to assume those donors didn't know that expensive costume changes were in order? And couldn't Sarah Palin have gone to Wal-Mart in some of those little towns where she says "real Americans" live and shop? No, no. She shopped in Denver, CO and Minneapolis, MN.
I am pert near 52 years-old and I have not spent half that much on clothes in my life. And I lived in Denver for a while and have been to the Mall of America in Minneapolis a few times. Then again, I am a male. What do I know about fashion? Nothing. Seriously, just ask my wife. I know nothing about fashion and very little about much else.
I've worn the same belt for four years. Only had to put a couple of new holes in it. I own five pairs of shoes that include two pairs of very worn, cheap gym shoes.
What does $150k mean to folks in my little "real Americans" town? Well, you could probably purchase two really decent sized homes for that amount with some change left over to furnish them. That's providing you shopped at a discount furniture outlet. And maybe get a couple pairs of jeans at Wal-Mart.
Oh, and my non-profit after school youth program serving 60 kids per day, could run at break even point for five years on what Palin spent on clothes in one month's time.
Remember Joe the Plumber that McCain and Palin speak of too often? Couldn't he have used that $150 to make a 60 percent down payment on that business he wanted? Sure, McCain, Palin, and even Obama can relate to us. Sure they can.
I got it. This is why Obama wants a higher tax on folks making over $250k per year. So they can't go on extravagant shopping sprees.
What I would really like to know, did Tina Fey spend the same amount buying replicas of Palins wardrobe?
Change we need. Can you spare some Sarah Palin?

Fox News vs Any Cable Network

2008-10-19T20:46:00.000-07:00

The same story, different spin. You decide.

Ever notice the very different spin Fox Network puts on every story? Well, here is an example.

Hi, this is Andy Coolson, welcome to ANN Right Now.

AC: We open tonight with a heart wrenching story. Thanks to one of our regular I-nosey phone camera reporters, we have some very revealing and troubling video. Be warned, this not for the weak kneed.

As you can see, Sen Obama is speaking to a crowd somewhere in Central Arkansas when he is suddenly surrounded by a large group of people wearing white robes and hoods. Some are carrying torches or what looks like burning crosses. Notice as the camera focuses on Obama, you can see the obvious concern in his eyes. But let's listen as he is speaking. Here we go. Listen carefully.

Sen Obama: "Look, let me make this clear."

AC: Now he is pointing his finger at one of them, saying, "Now, take you and your lovely family, I want you to have health care in case you suffer a severe burn on your person or white garments while you are celebrating Labor Day. Thats my plan."

AC: Wait, what was that inaudible sound from the back. Play it again John. John is our producer.

Sounds like some one yelled, "Hey, figure, you get out of here." And now Obama can be seen looking for his security.

We'll be back with more on this disturbing turn of events. Please stay tuned.

Now same story reported on Fox with Shunny Habbitty.

SH: Good even folks. We start our show tonight with some proof of a grave injustice to Americans. Thanks to one of our great American conservatives out there, we have some very troubling video. Let me warn you, you have to see this to believe it, and so do your kids. Go ahead guys, run it.

See, look at this, Sen. Barack Obama, a proven friend of terrorists is speaking about something .Then this group of fine conservative, patriotic Americans move in closer to hear what the senator is saying. Lets listen in.

Look, immediately, Obama starts pointing his finger at them saying,

"Look you idiots, you can't wear white after Labor Day. I'll make sure of that"

SH: My friends, that is unacceptable for a US senator to insult fine Americans like you and me. Is that the kind of person you want leading this country? No, it isn't.

Lets listen a lil more. Wait, there is someone yelling from the crowd. We cant be sure what he said but it sounded like the southern gentlemen said, " Honorable Sir, get bigger government out of here.

And we agree with that. Oh, brother. Now look, Obama has his security from P Diddy bum rushing the Great Americans who are just expressing their constitutional right to protest and assemble. Is this what we can come to expect from an Obama administration? I'm sorry to say, but yes, it is and probably worse.

We'll be back in moment. Don't go away. There is more disgusting video. I'm Shunny Habbity. Thanks for tuning in tonight.

Ban cigarette and political ads from TV

2008-10-19T05:27:00.000-07:00

Once upon a time there were some pretty cool cigarette ads on TV.

Are you old enough to remember when it it was better to fight than switch and the smokers had the black-eye to prove it? The beautiful White Owl girls? Ever wish to go to Marlboro Country? How about the one cigarette that "taste good like a cigarette should"?

Then one day while on the way to the gas station to buy mom a carton of Kool for less than $5.00, the ads disappeared from television.

Doctors began to notice an increase in lung cancer and that correlated with increase in smokers. So, who did the doctors blame and target? The smokers? Nope. They targeted television ads. And they put their findings in the Reader's Digest. Oh, my God, the Readers's Digest.

Yes, the Reader's Digest, a publication that had at one time more clout and readership than Perez Hilton's blog. Ten years after that story ran, all television cigarette ads disappered, people quit smoking, and lung cancer has disappeared, too.

What we learned almost 50 years ago was that if something can be determined to make us sick, we should just remove it from television. We never learned that removing anything from TV worked, though.

Actually, that line of thinking has proved to be effective in some cases. How quickly was "Frank's Place," "Lateline w/Al Franken," "The Magic Johnson Show," and other short-lived television shows removed after viewers got sick?

So, the process can work. Which leads me to ask, why don't we ban political ads from TV? They make me sick. They don't promote anything remotely healthy or beneficial. And only the dumbest of the dumb even buy what they are selling.

I'm hoping for a committee to prepare a study of the correlation between sick, angry, depressed people and those who watch political ads and those who actually vote for the liars in the ads.

Maybe they can pitch that report to the Readers's Digest blog.

James T. Harris first Fox Network Negro

2008-10-16T18:08:00.000-07:00

America could see two barrier breaking brothers by January 2009.

We all know the Barack Obama story. As he edges closer to becoming America's first black president, another precedent is in the making.

James Harris, the latest black media darling is poised to become the first black person to host a show on Fox Network. Sorry, but Tiki Barber and Juan Williams don't count. After becoming an overnight sensation by appearing in the front row of a John McCain rally, Harris is in high demand. He is loved by more white people than O.J. Simpson(before the murders).

Harris, a self-decribed black conservative radio host from Milwaukee, is a hot commodity. His national emergence began after "begging" John McCain to stop the Obama train in its tracks. By begging, I mean he opined like a black man in a gasoline-soaked toga at a Klan rally.

Since he spoke those words, he has appeared on Fox Network with aplomb. He is comfortable there, unlike his CNN stint where he walked off the air because of unflattering dialogue.

If Fox ever wanted a black host, James Harris is "that one." They love him at Fox. He may look like Armstrong Williams, (don't all black conservatives look alike) but sounds like Sean Hannity, Elizabeth Hasselbeck and Bill O'Reilly dubbed into one voice. He can spew the conservative mantra better than Steve Ducey can deliver the weather.

It's inevitable and just a matter of time before the premeir of the Fox Network's new "Fair and Balanced and Black Show with James Harris." Conservatism with a tinge of color.

Tune in to the James Harris Show tomorrow when President Barack Obama and James discuss what it's like to make black history in any month other than February.

John McCain is no George Wallace, he's more a

2008-10-14T05:01:00.000-07:00

It was wrong and highly inaccurate for fellow congressman John Lewis of Georgia to compare John McCain to the late, reformed racist George Wallace.

After tiring of the McCain campaign for targeting Barack Obama with consorting with American terrorist Bill Ayers, Rep. Lewis went on the defensive accusing McCain of being a racist comparable to the despicable segregationist practices of Alabama Governor Wallace in the1950s.

Yes, Wallace had a history of staunch racism. His segregation now, segregation forever policy changed over the years. At least publicly. It's amazing how a bullet can reduce a person to the lowest common denominator- human frailty.

It is more accurate to compare McCain to his dear friend(hell, everybody is McCain's friend), former fellow Republican congressman and avowed racist Jesse Helms of North Carolina. Helms went to his death being a racist. His most formidable adviser, Charlie Black now advises McCain. Helms never wanted a Martin Luther King holiday. McCain held that same posture making his home state, Arizona the last to honor the national King holiday.

The only difference between Helms and McCain is that Helms was honest and forthright about his disdain for blacks and others. McCain is not. It is easy to respectfully disagree with the likes of Helms. You knew where you stood with him.

With McCain, you don't know anything. It's day-to-day or poll-to-poll with him. If he could denounce all blacks citizenship to win this election, he would. Only to name a black person to his cabinet after elected.

Recall the black radio host from Milwaukee who begged McCain to stop Obama? Well, Helms would never have used a black man just to get votes.

The biggest difference between McCain and almost anybody else is consistency. The only thing McCain is consistent with is his well documented POW experience. An era he seems to be stuck.

McCain is no George Wallace. And in a sad way, he is no Jesse Helms, either. He is just a sad, pathetic, old geezer who doesn't realize that even with having a younger wife, his prime has passed.

Cheaper gas is killing me

2008-10-13T05:21:00.000-07:00

Have you noticed the price of gas lately? The national average for regular gas is $3.39 per gallon. It's $3.10 in my neighborhood.

Guess the financial crisis and Hurricane Ike failed to do us in. We should be happy, but for some reason the cheaper the price per gallon of gas, the more I suffer.

Time is money according to Benjamin Franklin. I guess if you're a head doctor it is. Or if you are a food server who has to deal with bums hanging out in your section drinking coffee and not tipping.

But the cheaper the gas, the more pain I suffer.

See, I get my gas at one particular neighborhood convenient mart. I like the people there. It's a clean joint. I purchase my wares and can be gone on a matter of seconds. But now that gas is cheaper(not cheap, but cheaper), I find myself spending more time at the pump.

It takes longer to pump $40.00 at today's prices than it does at $4.00 per gallon. At $4.00 p/gallon, I am at the pump just time enough to say to my fellow pumper, " Hi, how are you?"

Now, as gas cost less per gallon, I have time to not only say, "Hi, how are you," but I have to listen to," Hey, did you know another alien space ship landed just outside of Moscow, Idaho. No kidding. I read about it in the National Stargazer." Or, What about those Cubs. This is their year." "Did you know that REO Speedwagon is coming to town?"

Folks, REO Speedwagon is not coming to my little farming community south of Chicago. Not even for cheap gas. And the Cubs were eliminated, losing in the first round in typical Cubs fashion, 3 games to none.

Spending $40.00, for 10.7 gallons and two minutes at the pump is not too long. Now, it's $40.00 for 12.9 gallons and another 45 seconds to listen to some nut job.

What a trade off. Less dollars per gallon of gas, more nutty conversation.

Ask yourself. Do we really want to see $1.00 per gallon of gas again?

Hockey Mom is a pit bull, Too

2008-10-10T19:07:00.000-07:00

We know she can hunt, but it looks like she can also witch hunt. And now we know the hockey mom from Wasilla, Alaska knows how to throw a hip check when things get personal.

Alaska governor, GOP vice president nominee, media darling, and Tina Fey wannabe Sarah Palin was found to have violated her public trust and unlawfully used her authority as governor when she tried to have her former brother-n-law fired from his job as a state trooper .

Like a pit bull, she didn't want to let go after she bit into her sister's ex- hubby's career.

An Alaska state legislative panel of seven republicans and four democrats found the governor to be in violation of state ethics laws. She used her public position for personal gain.

Will this hurt the McCain/Palin ticket? That remains to be seen, but she appears to fit the Dick Cheney mold and that unscrupulous mole has been in office eight years.

If she conducted herself unethically while running the smallest populated state in the union, what would she do in the second highest position in the country? Or when McCain kicked the bucket, as the highest authority in the country?

Sing along to the tune of Bon Jovi's "You Give Love a Bad Name":
Sarah Palin you're to blame. You give blondes a good name. Sarah Palin, you should be ashamed. You give blondes a good name.

The Queens of Music Brawl

2008-10-10T09:39:00.000-07:00

So, the Queen of Soul and the Queen of Rock have never simultaneously shared the same castle. Amazing.

Seems they don't share a mutual admiration, either.

In particular, Aretha Franklin, the Queen of Soul appears to want the exclusive title of music queen. That ain't gonna happen. The music world has many thrones for its queens. Aretha needs to learn to "Respect" that.

While the 68-year-old Tina Turner is still out there kicking up her 20-something looking legs, Aretha at 66, looks like she ain't "Never Loved a Meal" the way she loves a buffet.

Is it me, or is it very sad to see Aretha looking like one of the multiple overweight characters in an Eddie Murphy movie? Or did Aretha star in the movie, "Norbit"?

Recalling her hits, it's obvious she was singing of her fascination with food. While standing in line at the buffet, she found the inspiration for, "I Knew You Were Waiting," "Jump to It," "I Dreamed a Dream," "What You Eat is What You Sweat," " Dr. Foodgood," " Save Me," "Chain of Foodstores," "The Weight," and "Gravy I Love You."

Furthermore, who is her fashion consultant that allows her to wear spaghetti strapped dresses? Can't they see that the spaghetti straps sink into her flesh and make her look nauseatingly nude? Someone needs to be slapped.

There is definitely room for multiple music queens, but Aretha has physically outgrown her throne.