Citizenship 101 For Bubba

This is an emergency educational intervention post. Bubba needs me to give the the straight skivvy on citizenship.

I put the diversionary blame really on Ding who wrote a guest post on Bitch Ph.D, she got me riled up. I wanted to write about the STEM educational movement that seeks to add science, technology, engineering and math and de-emphases or remove/reduce liberal arts and non-tactile education. Oh well, some other time.

Kathleen Parker wrote an opinion column in the Chicago Tribune and the column was syndicated to other publications about The Bubba Vote. This is an extract from her commentary:

"A full-blooded American" That's how 24-year-old Josh Fry of West Virginia described his preference for John McCain over Barack Obama. His feelings aren't racist, he explained. He would just be more comfortable with "someone who is a full-blooded American as president."

Whether Fry was referring to McCain's military service or Obama's Kenyan father isn't clear, but he may have hit upon something essential in this presidential race.

Full-bloodedness is an old coin that's gaining currency in the new American realm. Meaning: Politics may no longer be so much about race and gender as about heritage, core values, and made-in-America. Just as we once and still have a cultural divide in this country, we now have a patriot divide.

No, we have a seriously uninformed young man. I don't know where to begin with Kathleen's problems. Never mind, I got to get Bubba squared away first. I feel for him, He might have been one of the first group to graduate under No Child Left Behind. You know, teach to the test and not to cognition? Maybe, maybe not.

Dude, I can help on this one! Check it; you can't become President of the United States unless you are a born citizen. Really. It is in the U.S. Constitution, Article 2, Section 1. There are no exceptions. There is no quota or minority set asides.

There is also no DNA test to measure how American you are or if one person is more American than another. Yes, I'm telling you straight up they can nab you for paternity but there is no way to determine American citizenship via a blood test.

Over at Obsidian Wings:

If I wanted to get into bloodlines, I might note that Barack Obama's grandfather fought in Patton's army, or that he's related to Dick Cheney and Brad Pitt. But I don't. American values are not passed on by blood. They are not found in anyone's DNA. Barack Obama was born and raised here. He doesn't "have to study" American values

So if that was the thing bothering you then rest easy. You can now evaluate the candidates based on merit and not blood type. What else am I forgetting? Oh yeah. Now I know you are concerned about citizenship and the appearance on one person having more citizenship than the other.

Here is the thing Bubba, once you become a citizen you have the full rights and responsibilities of being a citizen. No more and no less. So Bubba, sweetie you can't be more of a citizen than I can be less of one no matter what Kathleen and the other people tell you.

It is written in the 14th amendment of that ole pesky Constitution that guarantees your right to guns and to practice your faith. So long as you respect my right not to have a gun, and not to practice your faith. I got my own. It is like grilling meat with barbecue sauce versus putting it on after you grill your meat.

Respect the differences and appreciate the similarities. Sara at Syndicate & Hague also wants you to know that:

If you think that people don’t deserve the same rights and privileges that you have because you’re afraid of a level playing field, you need to really think about what that means. It means you don’t think you’re good enough, it means you’re insecure about your position in the world, and it means you are petty and exploitative and just plain mean.

I can put my mind to ease knowing that you have now been informed of essential information you should have gotten in civic class except that you didn't because it was cut out with music, art and non-competition sports. So I want to leave you with a few Civics resources (this ain't got nothing to do with cars, just so you know)

For the little shavers you might have them check out Ben's Guide to U.S. Government where they can learn about Citizenship, the rights of citizens and the responsibilities of citizens.

If you home school or you are a teacher you can take advantage parts of the McCormick Tribune Interactive Freedom Museum where test out what you know versus the facts. You can also listen to podcasts about the topic.

There is a lengthy commentary by Thomas Lindsey at Inside Higher Ed that put a wee bit more thought into Becoming American and what colleges and universities can do to help..

I am a contributing editor at BlogHer and it is rough writing three separate post a week.

Technorati Tags: election,blood equity,politics,civics,citizenship

Chambers Brothers on The Finally Friday Freakout

On the mellow side of the freakout this week I'm going with The Chambers Brothers and People Get Ready. After the events in China and Burma I can't ring this gong hard enough.



Californians are you listening? I know you are concerned about how you are going to fill up that SUV or mini SUV but you might want to stock up on canned food and batteries. Lay in a supply of books cuz you will not be able to video game you way out of relief when our ticket gets punched for the earthquake express.

Over at the U.S. Geological Survey you can get a look all those magnitude 4.0+ and higher quakes that have been rumbling around the world. Guam got on the hit list, China is still having aftershocks after their 7.9 and Japan had one on May 2nd.

The Red Cross has information on emergency preparedness in case of an emergency. For you multimedia folks who don't want to read text you can view an animated movie on what to do at Prepared.org

The Los Angeles Fire Department has an online booklet on earthquake survival and preparations. And you certainly can go to the FEMA web page on being prepared.

The Language of Political Speech and Power

I've been reading the posts about Hillary Clinton, the language she used and the shades of intended meaning about her remarks. Maria Niles covered this aspect in her post. Beneath the surface of her remarks there is so much more going on.

Let me state flat out that I do not know or specialize in social linguistics, public relations or have a clue on how to run a political campaign. But I do know when something is said but another meaning is intended. And that always leads me to questions. I'm not trying to prove or disprove anything. I guess what I am attempting is sharing a process of how I feel about this incredible turn of events concerning Hillary Clinton's public image.

I found a few possible answers in an unexpected place. In March 2008 I attended Media Re:Public conference. There were many speakers at the conference but the one relevant to this topic was given by Professor Manuel Castells, Annenberg School of Communications, University of Southern California.

My understanding of the major points:

• Power relationships are foundations of Democracy. Whoever has the power has the ability to define the relationships, goals and aspirations of their society.
• Power is constructed by two factors coercion and the construction of meaning in the minds of people. The closer the "leader" demonstrates that his or her vision is a match for the society as a whole or that there is a connection between the hopes and aspirations of that society then the greater the support the leader will enjoy.
• Here was the tough one for me but it makes sense. The feelings and emotions of the members of society is a source of power. Harness that power (or play a very sophisticated version of "rope a dope", my words not his) and you will have the support of the members of society. You get the power.

You can harness power by fear or by envisioning a better world. If you can convince enough people to feel or experience a connection with you or your ideas you are in business.

So what happened in Hillary's statement? I think it was a verbal demonstration that she had the power. And Hillary implied intentionally or accidentally that her power emanated from a specific demographic group (Caucasian working class males) to validate that a certain socio-economic group supported her; and by extension you can too. And the opposite message, i.e. "You don't want some smart ass college kid walking in here, you don't want to be confused with facts and figures. I understand you, how could he? He is the other."

Unless you are not from that specific racial or socio-economic group. Here is a quote from The Republic of T:

Perhaps no one in the Clinton campaign understands this, so let me make it plain. Black folks can hear that dog whistle too. I guarantee that in Black homes across America, where two or more are gathered and listened to that interview, one turned to the others and asked “You all heard that, right?” And the answer came back, “Mmmm hmmm,” followed by a collective sigh.

Over at The Centretarian blog there is this:

The only reason she remains in the race is to illustrate 'white people' will not vote for the 'boy' who dared challenge them. After she wins West Virginia she will crow and cackle over the proof white people will not vote for Obama. She is masterfully orchestrating racist sentiments for her own political advantage just like Wallace, that other Democrat, did. Lift the screen and under the elitism charge, is Wallace's ravings about thoughtful intellectuals. When she refused to say whether Barak was a Muslim she was a cynically cute as George at his worst. By the end of his life I think Wallace regretted what he did. Also he lived in less enlightened times. He can more easily be forgiven.

I leave you with one of the concepts Professor Castells mentioned in the video. He said it takes four times the effort to get people to hear something other than what they believe. Maybe it is time to be more aware of what is being said and act accordingly. No more excuses.

Other Resources:

In the International Journal of Communications, Professor Castells has a full article on Communication, Power and Counter-power in the Network Society. This will open as an Adobe PDF in your browser window.

Brian Leirer has an interview with Amy Gershkoff on micro-targeting and politics.

Over at The Angry Black Women there are a group of comments that express very specific emotions on using fear and race as a demonstration of power.

CE Gena Haskett also a Contributing Editor at BlogHer.

The DiVynls - The Finally Friday Freakout

Life and death. Then you got death. And then there is La Petit Morte. That is great if you have someone to help you get there and back.

Not everybody does. This is when you have to take matters into your own hands. For some this is a no brainier and for others they gotta jump over a half dozen cultural and religious hoops.

Yes, this is about solo sex because this is National Masturbation Month. Ten digits and one body. Yours. I recently wrote a post over at BlogHer about it. I was really trying to find educators and sexologists or just women folks that were writing honestly and non-salaciously about the topic.

All I initially came up with was a boat load of trolls and spammers. I know folks are out there writing about. If you are tuned into certain social networks you know about them. But what if you are not?

Anyway I asked the question where do you go if you want to know more about technique, fantasy, video, statistics. I got one, Literotica.

So I'm going to toss out a few more but this is not over.

Lemme see, if you can mix activism with pleasure we could all do our part by visiting Masturbation for Peace, and from the looks of things this could be a full time volunteer effort.

A women friendly store Babeland has toys for interested (adult) boys and girls. They have a sex information page and on one of those pages somebody asked the question of Rachel and Claire is there something more I could be doing? They also have a blog where they keep up with the doings in there neck of the woods.

Good Vibrations in San Francisco is the promoter of National Masturbation Month. They also have products, DVDs and other resources to help you motivate yourself in times of need.

You can start with Good Vibes Magazine which is a collection of fiction stories, real life journey and tips on what to do if you really want to do it.

Vibrator Museum is what it is a photo listing of how your dear grandma, great grandma and great, great grandma plugging into the infinite when there was a need for speed. Not all of the gizmo where electrical powers, check out the hand cranked devices.

Slate Magazine also has a text article on the History of the Vibrator. Good Vibrations also has photos and text on the Ancient techno wonders of pleasure.

We can't leave sexual representation just to the sleazy. What am I saying. I know I'm going to get x amount of friends of Beevis finding the need to respond.

So there you have it, a too brief listing of safe places to go and see. Oh, hey these are not safe for work. You do know that right? Keep that dude in Japan in mind 700,000+ hours watching whoo-ha at work. He wasn't fired, just demoted to working for $80 US a week.

Torey Malatia Talking About Vocalo

On March 27th I attended Media Re:Public forum that was held on the campus of the University of Southern California, Annenberg School for Communication.

The actual folks that created the forum was The Berkman Center for Internet & Society at the Harvard Law School.

Truth was I got in on a mercy ticket. I also thought the forum would be different than what actually occurred. More on that in a future post.

Anyway I went to a number of sessions and of course I brought old faithful. In this video, Torey Malatia is talking about a new project that is being created. My understanding is that it will be a social participation portal. The name of the project is Vocalo

This is the Windows Media Video Version
This is the QuickTime Video Version
This is the iPod/M4V Version

Contributors can create content that can be uploaded to the site. Some of that user generated content could be ported over to the radio station and once folks get digital that content could also be displayed on a digital channel of the radio station.

There are a number of concerns I had that I wished I could have asked him about.

He mentioned that there are segments of the population that basically has no relationship with public radio and that group sees no need to develop one. He did not mention race but he did mention class as a possible reason for the disconnect.

I wouldn't disagree or agree but I think it is also a matter of content. There has been a systematic homogenization of public radio for years. I do like many of the programs but NPR and American Public Radio does its best to sound like every one is exactly the same with the same wants and needs. It is Lake Woebegone. (No disrespect intended)

Er, no. There is no room for non-pasteurized content or people. And if you don't connect with the multiple communities that a radio station services why should I listen?

I'm getting off track again. Where was I? Oh yeah, Another question I wanted to ask Torey about the decision not to be transparent about the connection to the radio station.

Hey if you are going to fling words like "social networking" then you really have to understand that you gotta be up front from jump street. Hiding your connection to NPR will do you no favors.

Say to your listening community - NPR wants you. I'm going to give him a freebie. Find out where the local poets hang out. Commission them to create content for the site. Make it clear they own their own stuff and give them a running start on how to podcast for you.

Boom. Content and word of mouth marketing in one swoop. Then do the same for the painters, the gardeners, the low riders and anybody who has something to say and has been waiting to be asked.

Just a thought.

Can't We All Get Along? MSM and Bloggers #973

So, there are some writers and journalists that really hate blogs? I'm shocked, shocked. I'm temporarily violating my promise of not writing about sports because I really don't know anything I could write or contribute about the topic.

I have never been invited to participate in sports and from all of the cultural messages I get professional and amateur sports has got no use for me either. Fair enough. But diss blogging? Now you are in my neck of the woods.

Look, I understand the guy's frustration. I hate going to crappy blogs. Just as I hate wasting money on crappy articles, newspapers and magazines that are "phone it in reporting" and inaccurate. But just as I would not hold his writing in judgment because of the letters to the editor he might received he shouldn't hold a blogger totally accountable for the trolls and anonymous posters who will say anything to get a rise out of someone.

Hey, they have phone screeners at talk radio stations, right? Isn't there a seven second delay on live television shows. So I should blame the shows for an occasional idiot who gets through?

In blogging as in print media there is a spectrum of publications. I don't buy the National Inquirer. Some folks do. I buy computer magazines, some folks don't. I don't lump all print media as being the same and I wish to hell that journalists/television news performers would learn to do the same.

Buzz, baby bust out of L7. Find you a sport person you trust that can lead you to the quality sports blogs that have good reporting, civil comments and a fair exchange between writers and participants.

Or stay off of the Internet, seriously. Don't stress yourself out and get all worked up over something you don't understand or respect. Stick with print, it's working for you, you seem to have a lot of readers who like your work.

Deep breaths. It is ok. For now.

Other Views On The Topic:

• TV Barns and Bob Costas talk http://blogs.kansascity.com/tvbarn/2008/05/bob-costas-buzz.html
• Philly Burbs short take on this flare-up http://blogs.phillyburbs.com/blog.php/?p=28973&cat=0
• Bleacher Report - Mainstream Media Vs Bloggers http://bleacherreport.com/articles/20787-Mainstream-Media-Versus-Bloggers-The-Leitch-Bissinger-Episode
• The Buzz in the Blogosphere: Two Points to Bear in Mind http://www.dawgsports.com/story/2008/5/1/7535/18238

Citizen Journalism Training from SPJ

I want to let folks know that there are some opportunities for citizen journalism training that are happening around the country. The Society of Professional Journalists is having, I guess you could call them, workshops/seminars in how to use journalism techniques in blogs and vlogs.

The price is right and the topics are timely such as (from the web site) :

• Journalism ethics. The new-media landscape is rife with dilemmas for anyone wanting to report accurately, fairly and outside the bounds of special interests.
• The basics of media law. The same longstanding laws concerning libel, slander and access to people and information apply to 21st-century news-gatherers.
• Access to pubic records and meetings. Public information can add substance and value to every news story. But knowing where to look for it can be tough.
  

If I can swing it I think I will attend. I'm pretty sure the conversation will be from the top down but I do think there are some intersections between journalists and bloggers that are common ground. Finding information, being accurate in what you write and being transparent. We want the same things. Honest, we do.

But I don't want "journalists" telling me that they are more legit than a good blogger who does his/her homework. Not after the boners that are spilling out from the professional side of the fence. Don't make me recite the long list of hack jobs like the L.A. Times and Sean Combs, that so-called debate with ABC's Gibson and Stephanopoulos, or the lack of questioning of those "military advisers" who all said the same thing at the same time. Y'all got played big time on that one.

Teddy Pendergrass - The Finally Friday Freakout

Yes in-deed, it is Friday evening and it was a long day. But I just got back from dinner with a friend who made me have a margarita with salt on the rim and dinner. I feel much better.

Now she was lusting after the waiter, on account he was a tasty treat. I dunno. I wanted the full meal kinda man. Someone like, oh maybe this guy:

Ladies, (and interested men folks) go fetch some Two Buck Chuck and enjoy the dulcet tones of Teddy Pendergrass. I would love to find out where folks are finding these videos. I thought anything from the late 70s - early 80s were impossible to find.

I know some of the stuff is coming from Europe, or lost time checks from local dance shows. I don't where this one came from but it is a beauty. It so perfectly captures what Teddy did to an audience. Now I'm thinking this is from Europe because the ladies are way too quiet.

Status Report on The New System

Well it is stable. Trying to find the serial numbers and software keys to unlock programs I bought. I had a bad habit of not always printing out those kind of receipts. Cheers to Tech Smith for making it easy for me to re-install Snag-It.

The others I got to dig up proof that I purchased the products. Well the video freeze out is almost over. Soon as I get the serial number of one of my video editing programs I'll be good to go. As an added bonus cuz I don't want Teddy singing by his lonesome lets do this; presenting Miss Barbara Mason followed by the Three Degrees

Remember, if you are going to upchuck the Chuck, Stay Home!

Black Balloons Teaching About C02

My computer system is almost stable. I've lost a boat load of email and a couple thousand bookmark links. I was stupid ok? I should never do anything at 1am that requires any form of thought and I was bone angry at having to tinker with my system in the first place. I didn't lose video or documents. I can't figure out how I forgot to back-up e-mail and browser folders.



Anyway this is a video from Austrialia that is very well done. I'm not getting into the global warning issue. I gotta go to work but if you look at it from a waste/consumption point of view you gotta ask yourself, "How much do we need?" and "How much energy do we waste?"

Tom Browne on The Finally Friday Freakout

The Freakout is starting early today because I don't know when my system will be back 100%. There are performers I have never seen but have benefited from their talent. This week it is a great joy to share with you not an ordinary guy, Mr. Tom Browne and company with their tuneful rendition of Funking for Jamaica.



Ah technology. When it works you don't appreciate how good you have it until it goes wonky. My system has been wonky for weeks. So I gotta take Precious down to factory install and reload 1/3 of what I have. Like books I have acquired programs like a dogs got fleas.

I tried to nurse Precious back to health, do the right thing and next thing you know Kaspersky doesn't want to play with Firefox any more, none of my video editing programs work and well, here is the embarrassing part. I have a 250GB storage drive, maxed out. I go out and buy another external hard drive.

I can't decide between the 500GB and the 1 terabyte. I'm figuring, it is a sin for me to have a terabyte drive, I just need to clear out some junk. I'll never use the capacity of that sized drive. I go with the 500GB. It was cheaper and I couldn't have that much stuff.

Yeah, I maxed out the 500GB. Sigh. I am doing a system back up of just the essentials and then I'm wiping the sucker clean. I have all of the software and most of the serial numbers, I hope.

You should wipe your system clean at least twice a year to clear the gunk (if you have been doing regular back ups) You do back your stuff up once a week/month/whenever right? If not, go do it now. So happy cyber spring cleaning and I'll catch you on the flip side.

The Animals Finally Friday Freak Out

Oh, my goodness what a week! This edition of the Finally Friday Freak Out is dedicated to Charlie and George who didn't have a clue as to what the American people wanted to know about the candidates running for office.

I will say this, they did succeed in pissing off both liberal and conservative voters. Yes, we gotta get out of this place. From 1965 The Animals!

I don't know who wrote those questions but I can pull up a hell of a lot better ones http://www.10questions.com/ Now true these aren't seasoned journalists but I'll take a person asking questions about the budget, governmental transparency or plans for Iraq over which side you wear a flag on your lapel.

George, yeah I get it. There was a relationship with his former employer. What that wasn't taken into consideration as a possible reason NOT to have him sit on a debate panel I don't know.

Charlie, what the heck happened man? Didn't someone clue you into that speech Obama made a few weeks back? Did all the producers just nodded their heads when these questions came up for a vote? When did the journalism part kick into to review if the question matched up with what the American public wanted to know?

With people losing their jobs, homes and access to health care you want to link Obama to events that occurred during his childhood? How many people have you met that have done bad things and you sat across the table from them and smiled?

Folks don't ask me, ask De Newsman! I'm just a blogger so you shouldn't even be reading this. I am responsible for people not wanting to watch the network news or buying newspapers. So am I told.

I do know this. There is a point where folks will not accept crap. This is it. Folks are taking this election more seriously than I have ever experienced in my adult life.

Keep playing us stupid ok? Cuz when they flip the switch to digital in 2009 you do know your medium will under a transformation.

Oh, shoot, I wasn't supposed to tell. My bad.

Technorati Tags: citizenship,election,music,debate

Nokia (Cell Phone) Filmmaking Contest

If you have a cell phone that can shoot video you will want in on this. Watch the video below or boogie on over to David Howell's blog to get the straight skivvy.



David is a filmmaker and vlogger and a cool dude to have a burger with on Hollywood Blvd. So if you have a cell phone that shoots video (doesn't have to be a Nokia phone) and you are over 15 years of age you can participate.

In brief here is what you need to do: (from David's blog)

Contest Rules:

Videos must be 1 of 4 following themes,

1: Film an act of kindness.
2: Film the best part of today.
3: Film the next thing that makes you smile.
4: Film the next person to inspire you.

Videos must be no longer than 2 minutes in length.
Your video must be shot on a mobile device.
All videos must be uploaded to share.ovi.com/pangeaday.

All videos will be judged based on content, creativity and originality.

So as far as I'm concerned so long as you are not driving while mobile vlogging you ought to do this. Okay, that is my rule but I'm not running the contest. Use the force and make with the story!

Once In A Lifetime - the Finally Friday Freakout

It is warm. The Santa Ana winds are gently blowing. Folks are driving crazy. Buses are breaking down, and the only thought most of us had was "I gotta get the hell out of here."

Not verbal but I can tell you the guy who rang me up at Trader Joe's was thinking it and doing a bad job of trying to hid it. I was not deterred. I had my bottle of Italian Blood Orange Soda. I missed this years crop of Blood Orange juice so I did what I had to do.

Talking Head's Once In a Lifetime on YouTube

Well, I gotta deal we the critter in the back yard. I think it is a possum. Possums are ugly and mean. Really ugly. I don't know how people got close enough to shoot them let alone eat them.

In California they have rights. If you call Animal Control they will not come get them no matter how "un-hygienic" there dropping might be to the environment.

I got two choices. Call a professional to remove him/her and relocate Possum to an alternative plane of existence. I don't wanna kill the creepy thing just have him do the biologicals elsewhere.

The other option is I can smell like a bear. Possums don't like the strong smell of Ammonia because it reminds them there are creatures bigger and hungrier than they are. I was told to douse towels and sheets with ammonia near the traffic area and this will discourage early morning visitations. Or the one going on now in late afternoon.

It worked last year. It is time for another treatment.

International Pillow Fight Day - Los Angeles

Well, it is a little late but you gotta go with the flow. On March 22 it was IPF Day and this is a reflection of what happened in Los Angeles in Pershing Square.

Click to View Windows Video
Click to View QuickTime Video
Click to View iPod/M4v Video

The music is from Hattie Hart and the name of the tune is "Won't You Be Kind" from the Internet Archive.

Eco-Bunnies Teach About Carbon Footprints

I'm doing some research on green, ecology and sustainability issues. I'm a newbie at this and I have many questions and suspicions about the green movement. Is it truly a movement or a fad or a new wave marketing opportunity?

I don't know. I'm in research mode so I'm looking around and checking out how information is being presented about important green and sustainability topics. I started with the bunnies. Eco-Bunnies to be exact.



For those of you that are true green please don't be hating on the bunnies. Everybody has a job to do so let the bunnies alone. Like I said, I'm open to learning and I'm just trying to get a grip on a very big topic.

For the record, I am a tree lover and hugger. I don't like to see men with saws near trees and see no reason why we can't plant one tree per person on the planet.

How do we turn that into a reality? One thought at a time.

Buddy Miles Tribute - Them Changes

I'm always the last to know. Mr. Buddy Miles passed in February. I just found out a few minute ago when I was looking for something else, I can't remember. I just so bummed about it. So in this premier edition of the Friday afternoon Freak Out we lay tribute to a prime innovator in American music with a little help from Carlos Santana.


You couldn't get through the seventies in my neighborhood without somebody cranking up "Them Changes" and not move some part of your body. Absolutely that tune is evidence of the intersection of rock, soul and the funk nation about to be birth.

For more information about Buddy Miles check out:

• All Music Biography and Discography on Buddy Miles
• Drummer World has a nice tribute and a slamming but short video of him on drums playing Peter Gunn
• Wikipedia Page on George Allen Miles including info on his work with Jimi Hendrix and the California Raisins.

People, get the damn check-up, cut back on the grease and move something other than the digits on the keyboard. Seriously.

Elspeth Revere - Speaking at Media Re:public

I have heard the name MacArthur Foundation for as long as I have been watching public television and public radio. To be honest, it didn't mean anything to me. Perhaps it was reverse elitism or something.

I didn't believe that corporations and foundations gave away millions of dollars out of a need to advance the public good or to assist in making this world a better place to be. Nope. I chalk it up to how many ways can you say tax write off or cost of doing business and wait for the show to begin.

I may have to re-think my biases. I attended the Media Re:public conference that was given by The Berkman Center for Internet & Society at Harvard University. The conference was held at the University of California. I was hip deep in the academia and Journalists and other folks. More on that later.

As I listen to Elspeth talk I realized how many programs I have seen that had been funded or underwritten by the MacArthur Foundation. What I didn't know was the extent that the foundation gave to both U.S. and International organizations.

So this is a seven minute discussion on what the MacArthur Foundation does and why they are interested in participatory media.

Other Resources:

Amy Jussel of Shaping Youth lead me to a twelve publications by the MacArthur Foundation that have an free open access online version.

Amy King over at Amy King's Alias let folks know that the MacArthur Foundation and Guggenheim fellowship winner John Ashbery has been name MTVu Poet Laureate. You can sample his poetry on the MTVu site.

When Creativity and Politics Meet - Ron Paul Ad

I am not a supporter of Ron Paul. I am still making up my mind about who I will vote for in the election. But I do like to pay attention to how a candidates ideas are presented.

Ron Paul - The High Tide Video on YouTube

After viewing this ad/promotional video I have an understanding on his position on the war, the presidency and we are in a whole heap of trouble. It is simple, concise and put his voice out there.

It invokes the same resonance that the Obama video does; that is to engage the viewer in the vision of the candidate. There will be more of this to come.

I'm Cooked - Christopher Walken

I was checking out Megan's Video Runway blog and discovered a new video distribution service called I'm Cooked.

Christopher Walking working on
Chicken and Pears at I'm Cooked.

I love to see this guy dance especially in music videos or in movies. Of course his a great actor as well. I didn't know he could cook as well. A man who dances and cooks. Stone dreamy.

Sorry, I had to yank the video. It was really loud and I couldn't find out how to pause it or turn it down. But click the above link and it will take you right to it.

Letter To My Body on This Day

I resisted this. I wanted not to share the personal because there is so much that need to be seen and experienced beyond the self. I like exploring outside of myself.

Hmm. Yeah. I don't know how to do this so I avoid. LainaD over at BlogHer asked women of color to post letters to their bodies. I kept waiting for folks to start posting links so that I could read about our struggles with having our bodies in this culture. I'd check in every other day but I heard the cyber equivalent of crickets.

I did a Google search on "The Letter" and as of this day 124,000+ mentions and 5,830 blog posts about women writing about their bodies. Dang, late to the party once again.

I didn't think I had anything to add. There are funny, moving powerful letters out there. I've been looking at a few. Women's magazines and mainstream media do not have a clue as to who we are, the only deal with the veneer of surface enough to know how to sell us something.

Dear Body:

We started in a fury having chosen to emerge during a snow storm. I thought it was a good idea at the time but being birthed during a blizzard does set up our pattern for how we've sloshed through life. You reflected my ancestors, both the voluntary and involuntary ones and some of those rascals were impatient to begin again.

My hair I now celebrate but in reality it is a hard won truce. It wasn't called pretty and hardly ever in style. I've pressed my hair with hot combs, relaxed it with lye, had it Jerri curled. I promise never, ever to do this again. I do remember being caught in a rain storm without an umbrella. Major apologies to the eyes for that dumb move.

Hair, you came back. Each and every time. Thank you.

As for the body. We've been though it haven't we? I'm sorry about pulling the toaster on your head when I was three, I hadn't mastered that cause and effect thing yet. The cord was just dangling there and you know, inquiring minds.

The N-word. High yellow. Tar black. The paper bag test. Having people look at my skin and make instant decisions on my intelligence, my ability to articulate the letters "Th" or their level of investment in being involved with me. Skin you caught hell from both sides. Intra-racism, External racism.

I fought fights in school because I was too light. In 1968 James Brown has a hit record called "Say It Loud, I'm Black and I'm Proud." I then fought the same people then said I wasn't black enough. How you survived the emotional blender of the 1960s is a miracle. It was something wasn't it?

I remember when I was eight or nine I tried to stay out in the sun so I could darken you up a bit more. Only worked in the summertime. I never hated you, I hated how people reacted to you and I had to defend you more than I was capable at the time. I know I wished I had skin like Gladys Knight but I really wished people would back off and see me.

It is a lot better now. Thank for adding a bit more color as I aged. Thanks for covering my body as a reflection of what came before and what is to come.

You were round and never small as in skinny. Certainly never in style. We had to make our own path with many a misstep along the way. Sorry about trying to stuff the thighs into Fishnet and Window Pain stockings. Trying to wearing mini skirts and forever tugging them down. Clogs and boots I tried to teeter you on to be taller. I never developed the fashion gene so I kept you out of step. Sorry about that. You got additional grief because of it.

I'm sorry I stuffed you to null some of the pain of my life but I'm not sorry about what I stuff you with. Cheese Steak Hoagies with extra onions, cherry peppers and mushrooms. Tasky Kakes, Tandy Kakes, Rum Water Ice, Black Cherry Soda and pork rinds with a Pizza chaser. Oh and experimenting with other cultures foods. It was a good run while it lasted.

We know much better now don't we? We eat veggies and on occasion sample but not consume to our hearts content.

I'm sorry that man attacked you on the street. I wished I could have protected you better. And later on when you were physically ill I wished I could have fought harder faster so I could have gotten the help you needed. Unemployment and illness do not mix well.

I appreciate your patience as we search for the right partner. Thank you for not get pregnant with those that I shouldn't have been with in the first place.

Thank you for you continuing interest in the male species but you are gonna have to let mind and soul have jurisdiction over selecting folks. I do ask that you quit lusting after certain types of warm bodies. Mind knows what she is doing, you gotta trust it will be ok. I understand about the sexual munchies but you can't want to f*ck everything in pants. Bank that passion into learning and actually driving a car. In the meantime, I promise to find a better way of handling those needs.

Thanks to the knees for holding me up all these years and letting me know I need to pay attention to the weight load or there is gonna be trouble. Thanks to my feet who have taken me where I want to go when I wanted to do it.

Thank you to my flat feet for allowing me to walk from 69st in Upper Darby to 21st and Chestnut because I needed to heal and walking is a real good way to meditate. Thank you for being flat because I can feel more grass under my feet that way. Also in the tube I can move more water and feel embraced by circulation.

All in all I don't have many complaints about you. Ok, when I lose weight why do the boobs have to lose mass? All I'm asking for is resource allocation. Take from below and not from above.
I think this can be worked out with the thighs.

Just kidding. I didn't think we'd make it this far. We still got work to do and miles to go before we sleep. I appreciate the journey you have taken me on so far.

A Sampling of Other Letters:

Lady Beams http://ldbeams.wordpress.com/2008/03/17/a-letter-to-my-body
Yoka http://roadtoadopt.blogspot.com/2008/03/letter-to-my-body.html
Luna http://lifefromhere.wordpress.com/2008/03/07/letter-to-my-body/
Lady Shanny http://ladyshanny.wordpress.com/2008/03/01/a-letter-to-my-body/
Jeanne http://periodicstyle.blogspot.com/2008/03/letter-to-my-body.html
Andrea http://perlesdelasagesse.blogspot.com/2008/03/letter-to-my-body.html
Alyndabear http://alyndabear.com/?p=763
Honi http://healthyhoni.blogspot.com/2008/02/letter-to-my-body.html
Currently Dreaming http://currentlydreaming.wordpress.com/2008/02/25/letter-to-my-body/

If you want to get in the BlogHer Letter To Your Body all you gotta do is write a letter and let folks know where to find your post.

Prelude Letter To My Body - Part Four

Picture this, my mom trying to do my hair before I go to school. No such thing as an Afro at the time. There were however Plats. Not Micro-Braids, Braids or Cornrows. And a jar of Dixie Peach petroleum jelly. The best she could do was two up at the top and two in the back. And one of those would come lose if she didn't remember to rubber band them.

Man I hated those Plats! I am what you call tender headed. This does not mean I am easily moved. It means that you really can't tug and pull my hair into obedience. It physically hurts my scalp if you pull on my hair.

The ancestors have spoken and not only am I tender headed I got a double dose of the kinks. It took a while but I learned to appreciate the kinky, curly and authentic hair. Kids these days don't know how good they got it.

Video by Masoesa on YouTube

In in this society we are told from a young age via television that our hair is supposed to flow like silken threads of shimmering light. That when we turn our heads our hair tumbles into a cascade of curls like Jacklyn Smith taking off that helmet in Charlie's Angels.

There is one problem. As a rule, and their are non-chemical and non-textile exceptions, black hair doesn't do that without a great deal of alteration.

Even when you think you have it mental worked out sometimes you slip up. It happened to me. This is my testimony.

I was watching TV. I saw that infomercial for "Rio Girls." It promised to change my hair into a sexy mass of Brazilian curly delight. They had black people in those commercials. Women spoke of the new freedom they had found being a "Rio Girl." They even brought out the little kid with a beautiful head of hair.

I watched that infomercial sixteen times because I was going to get that stuff. At the bottom of the screen was the physical address. I go all the way across town. Other black women are pouring into what use to be known as the Helsinki Hair Club for Men.

Some of the Helsinki Men were standing around wondering what the heck was going on. The place was mobbed. I make my way to the counter. They didn't have brown anymore did I want to take black? I thought about it for a half second and said yeah! $45 later I'm walking out with my box of Rio Girl.

I put that stuff on just like they said. There was a change. It turned parts of my hair green. Apparently the manufactures added large amounts of copper to the mixture which is not a normal ingredient of any hair care product. For other "Rio Girls" they had scalp burns and major loss of hair.

The guys from the Helsinki Hair Club for Men were pissed, they had been displaced. A whole bunch of Black women were furious that we were chumped by our desire to have easy to manage hair. The Feds weren't too happy because you can't sell a product that causes physical harm to consumers. The Rio Girl Hair Care line disappeared without a trace.

I had to cut my hair, the stuff wrecked it. And I started thinking about what I was trying to buy in a box. Was it whiteness? Nope, I feel real sure about that. Was it acceptance? Possibly. Was it ease of hair care so I would keep people off my back and be able to get a job? Kinda.

I think it really was I didn't want to invest so much time and energy into doing my hair to be acceptable to people. But the truth was I bought into the hype. I had issues with my natural hair.

Now days I swing into what I feel like. Sometimes I cut it all off, I love how that feels in the shower. Sometimes I use a very mild relaxer so I can have an imitation curly Afro. Sometimes I wrap and go. The thing I learned it that I can do anything I want with my hair.

If the mainstream American society thinks that is a rebel or an extremist position to take so be it. It is my hair.

Prelude Letter To My Body - Part Three

I read the news today. Oh boy. There was an article about a visit author talking to middle school students about the long term effect of being a bully.

The author's name is Jodee Blanco. I like the fact that she has a tip page for students and for adult survivors of school bullies. You can listen to an interview at Eye On Books.

I read that article and I teared up on the bus. Every time I hear some teenager whacking a portion of his class I clench up. I don't in any way condone it. But I understand it to the core of my being. School is not necessarily a safe place. And now with the Internet there are a lot more cyber bullies, take a look.



If you are in any way "different" you get targeted. Consistently. Relentlessly. Physically. Emotionally. School is the place where we learn to conform and if the little darlings have a internal measuring gizmo that tells them you are the "other" your school life is toast.

I read the article and I flashed back. How did I survive that? I had a fight almost everyday in elementary school if I didn't manage to out run the bully of the day. It changed to verbal when I got to Junior High. Jodee gives good advice but I did tell adults what was happening to me.

"It's kid stuff, you have to learn to work it out." Sometimes it is kid stuff. And sometimes it is sadistic. Yes, I learned to fight back. I learned to suck it up. And I learned not to trust anyone unless absolutely necessary. My life got better when I went to high school in another part of town.

So if my future self could talk to my younger self I'd tell her to knock a certain SOB to the concrete sooner rather than later. And to open a bank account and pop quarters in it so I could have been a millionaire by now.

Downer huh? Not really. See I needed those PF Flyers. I needed safe places. I found resources that helped me stay sane. And I know a lot more good people than bad.

This is certainly not what I planned to write about but it feels right. Dissolving the old demons one by one.

Prelude Letter to My Body - Part Two

I had a thing for bell bottom pants. Elephant bell bottom pants. If I wasn't wearing overalls with a Jeff cap it was the bells. Thing was, I was never tall enough to wear those pants.

Lord knows I wanted to be. All of my bell bottom pants had torn bottoms cuz when I wasn't falling off of my clogs I wore sneakers. And none of that hip-hugger crap. I had a hard enough time getting into standard jeans. I had to work extra hard to keep the back of my front covered.

The bells bottom pants was my way of paying homage to Tamara. Truth be told I wanted to be Tamara Dobson.



Okay, I wanted to be as tall as Tamara Dobson in addition to looking like her. Either one or the other would have worked for me.

If I couldn't be Tamara Dobson then Pam Grier would have done just as well but I kind was in awe of Pam Grier. As in she'd scared me. You just didn't mess with Pam Grier in her movies. She'd hurt you really, bad.



I liked that. Well I like that she beat the hell out of anyone doing her wrong.

Now you might say how in the world can I look to these women as my heroic icons? Easy. They were the first. They were present. Everybody knew their names and said them with respect. These women acted in roles that didn't talk about getting their freedom that just assumed they had it and proceeded from that point.

Were some of their movies exploitative? Yes. I can't lie or deny that. As a teen these are the folks that popular media projected and I responded to. If I didn't like them I wouldn't have given them a second thought. Knowing that one or the other blew the hell out of some guy was very reassuring in a goofy kind of way.

Plus they were snazzy dressers, a skill I dreadfully lacked in the 70s.

And they had long legs. Men seems to like women with long legs so I thought it was something to aspire to. The concept of genetics and the immediate lack of tall relatives hadn't hit my conscious yet.

More than anything I wanted that kind of cool. Emancipated cool. I wanted to be that kind of black woman. The one that wouldn't take no stuff from no one.

It kind sunk in around sixteen I wasn't going to hit the heights. Or carry a gun. But they gave me a rough outline that I could take a look at and fill in to suit my life.

Oh, special shout out to Ready Betty Davis, I wanted to look like her too.

Prelude Letter To My Body - Part One

For the next few days I will be telling stories about my past. And my body. And my memories. This will probably cost me a future job, so be it. I might loose a potential partner. Well yes, if anything I write so freaks you out you can't love me then be on you way. We are not right for each other.

I write with the TV sound off. It is better that way. It causes me to look up from time to time and see what is being pitched for my possible consumption. So far it has been shoe commercials for stuff I can't wear.

I can't wear heels. I found out two years ago why I can't wear heels, one leg is slightly shorter than the other and I have flat feet. Really flat feet. Ducks look at me with envy.

But before I found this out I thought I was female challenged. I kept falling off my shoes. Like I was drunk. But I wasn't. I was unbalanced. I was trying to do something my body wasn't structurally able to do but I kept trying because adult women wear heels and pantyhose that helps to guide the male eyes up to your ass. Or so I've been told.

Three years before I found out the truth about my legs I gave up wearing heels, clogs and anything over 1.5 inches. I had to let it go, I wasn't good at propping up my body on two tiny points. My feet didn't like being squished and the falling thing gets old.

I had to re-create myself in my own image. One that was based on level ground. So when I see images of women with a pair of Cum F*ck Me Pumps I see and don't see. I never see people like me in slinky black dresses looking for a step ladder to gain the attention of some tall guy. I've given up on tall guys anyway. Let the heeled women have them. With time comes acceptance.

It isn't that I don't like shoes. Once upon a time I was fixated on having just the right shoe.



I thought if I had a pair of PF Flyers I would be invincible. I would not be picked on because I have cool sneaks instead of "Bo-Bo's". It seemed important at the time.

Live long enough and you might learn different. Maybe.

A Million Dollars Without The Music Company or RIAA Having Boo To Say About It

I wake up. I'm feeling good cuz I had a full night sleep. I check my RSS fees for the latest action. I'm reading AppScout and not only is Virgin Mobile Canada exploiting the Spitzer situation but there are people who paid 98 cents to hear his fee for services bed partner "sing."

With her vocal chords. You can sing with other parts of you body but yeah; Two million people. She gets 70% of the total profit.

Me, I want to know exactly how much. So after I found out what is 70% of .98 cents I did the calculations and then cyphered up 0.686*2,000,000 downloads = $1,372,000. In the spirit of one of the classic video bloggers of all time Drinking With Bob I quote, "Are You Freaking Kidding Me"?

Now I'm not hating on her original choice of career. I'm all for it. If the market place wants to pony up pennies to hear what her mouth is doing when it is unoccupied with her other professional duties so be it. I just hope the girl opens a ING account.

Here is the other story being ignored. Besides banks violating your financial privacy and turning information over to the Feds.

Anybody with promotion, not talent can make money quickly independent of the recording companies. A chunk of cash. Over a million dollars worth of cash. No manager, no agent, no A/R or accounting or bookkeeping malfunctions.

Just a bit to the online distributor and the bulk of the cash to the performer. I've been saying this for years. I've been waiting for folks to catch on but I didn't think the example would come quite this way.

Viva la independence and keep those dental dams and condoms handy. Seriously, I give her major props for insisting on protecting herself. If any good comes out this it will be an increase in condom sales by those in the business and those of us just trying to get busy.

Design and Structure - A Shot of Los Angeles

I have been trying to see. See colors, shapes and lines. See accidental art and intentional design. I did take a design class a few year ago. I think I failed it.

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I wasn't an "art-teeste" and I rarely see the same things that other folks do. Or I see more in the so called mundane. It isn't. There are levels and the environment to consider. There is form, function and a good looking bunch of bratwurst just aching for some spicy brown mustard and grilled onions.

So when I got the chance to play hooky from work I took old faithful to see what I could see in the real parts of Los Angeles. I found an angel and a bit more.

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In Memory of Gospel of Colonus

3/16/09 Update - Had a rough week, needed a little touch-up. The DVD still rocks the house: love the part where Oedipus is trying to sing his way into Colonus.

10/17/2008 Update - Hell must have have froze over because WNET and PBS are releasing the DVD of the Philadelphia performance. By the time you read this I will have pre-ordered my copy from Amazon.com and will be dogging the UPS guy something fierce. Thanks so much to Ivan in Jersey for the head's up.

The following is my original post on the play. Sadly the YouTube link is history but hey, do the right thing and buy the DVD.

PBS Great Performances aired this play twice about 20+ years ago. It was an Off-Broadway play and a recording was made of one of the performances. For those that saw the play it invokes passion. Mr. Morgan Freeman is lyrical to the Nth degree as the Narrator.

Let me repeat this, this is a drama set to music based on the Greek story of Oedipus. It is not a gospel play. But this production had members of the Blind Boys of Alabama, J.J. Farley, Jevetta Steel, Sam Butler, Robert Earl Jones (with that wonderful voice) and a chorus that is just amazing.

In this selection, our man Oedipus has arrived at Colonus. He is petitioning for temporary residency. The locals are hesitant. These are the opening negotiations.



For those of you who have seen any version of the play I'm sorry to tell you that there is no legal DVD or VHS copy available. Even the bootleg action is kinda shaky. Um, not that I would know about that kind of thing.

I don't. Really. I got nothing for you. I checked the Great Performances' web site and in the FAQ they state that due to the cost of paying for clearances for the music and the performers there is no way for them to release it for sale.

PBS has no current plans to re-air the program. And after 20+ years I don't think they are about to budge on this point. Not that it hasn't stopped at bunch of you from asking. Myself included. But seriously, if they want to make some money re-run this at pledge time.

PBS said that a cast album is available on Amazon.com. You can hear other samples from the performance. I'm sure quiet a few folks have it on VHS tape in their closet from the original on air recording. Be very, very nice to those people.

And for the low life SOB that has taken another person's copy and didn't give it back a pox upon your soul.

Other Resources:

• Review of the play at Talkin' Broadway Off-Broadway
• Wikipedia Citation of the Play with a brief description and song list
• IMDB page on the Gospel At Colonus

In Honor of Barbara Seaman - Health Information Blogs

During March it is important to note those women who helped us along the path. Barbara Seaman was one of those women. She was an advocate of things we take for granted today; warning labels on medicine, patients rights and questions about the testing and quality of hormone replacement for menopausal women. You can read more about her at tribute at Our Bodies, Ourselves:

I saw that Barbara's questions went to the heart of the same issues troubling many birthing reformers: How was drug safety established? Why did women know so little about drugs they were given, and have so little to say about what they took into their bodies? Who controlled decisions at the FDA? I had also followed the career of Bostonian Dr. John Rock, one of the "fathers" of The Pill, and even organized a meeting where he spoke, so I knew that fear of women's fertility and world overpopulation were his driving motives, not women's safety.

So in that spirit let’s take a look at one of her legacies, providing healthcare education and information. There is a lot of health information out there. Some of that information comes from pharmaceutical companies, from fraud and tricksters and from legitimate medical and information sources.

These blogs and websites are written or reviewed by health care professionals or medical librarians. I’ll also toss in a few that deals with health topics from a news or ethical perspective.

Nurse Practitioner Barbara Phillips writes at http://www.HealthyAgingForWomen.com with information targeted to middle age and older women. If you have just crossed over and seeking info on midlife issues, staying healthy or how to do the best by your changing body she has a few ideas on the subject.

Rachel Walden is a medical librarian with two health related blogs. The first is Women's Health News which brings attention to health news that certainly would be of interest to BlogHer readers. An item like the American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists trying to float a statement on Conscientious Refusal or the right to deny care or treatment based on their personal, religious or ideological beliefs. Spooky, isn't it?

The other blog that Rachel toils at is Our Bodies,Our Blog. Along with Christine Cupaiuolo she touches on the medical and health headlines of the day such as Alabama arresting pregnant women who are drug users and a cross link with a response from the National Advocates for Pregnant Women.

Women's Bioethics Blog from the Women's Bioethics Project makes you think on multiple levels. What are the ethics of a transgender legally male person caring a child?

That was my starting point. There was an article about the right to die with a photo of her life before and after her disease. I'm not a fan of euthanasia but this courageous soul had the right to make that decision. Or did she? There is a CNN article on Chantal Sebire as well as a Time magazine article as well.

One of the articles that I was intrigued by was an attempt to defend the right to sell milk with rBST/rBGH funded by Monsanto.

This is even after most consumers and many retailers do not want to purchase milk with this growth hormone. Sabrina W. makes this point:

The central question at the heart of this issue is whether we should make an exception to the paradigm of consumer-driven marketing that is supposed to be a mainstay of a capitalist and free-market economy. Yes, producers should be free to choose whichever methods they like to make their product, so long as it is within basic safety standards established by federal regulation and is accurately labeled to allow consumers to choose their products. But in the end, it is supposed to be the consumer who is allowed to choose which brand and which type of product they exchange their money for to take home. In other words, you have a right to sell whatever you want, but you don't have a right to make other people buy it if they don't want it – Capitalism 101.

So thank you Barbara for the path that we now follow to continue to ask questions and seek valiantly for the answers.

This is a cross post on an article I wrote for BlogHer.

Construction - A Shot of Los Angeles

Maybe I should quit this vlogging thing. There, I said it. I don't mean it but sometimes it is frustrating. The idea in my head and the execution does not always match.

I want to tell stories. I want to show stories. I want to show a bit of video and let you make your own stories.

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There are days when I have to be the grown up and I get so tired of that. What am I saying, I've never liked it. I don't mind being an adult. I like being a woman, you couldn't pay me enough to relive my childhood and teen years. But being the grown up sometimes means you can't take the opportunity to see the life around you.

Last Tuesday I got that chance. So for the next couple of posts I want to show you what I saw when I opened my eyes and saw hidden in plan sight views of downtown Los Angeles. So this is your opportunity to take time and just watch, see what you can see.

I've missed three weeks of making videos because of duties and responsibilities. I have to find a way. You'd think I'd have this figured out by now. It keeps changing. I keep changing. Ok, if you have every read "Writing Down The Bones" you will understand what I am getting at. If not, no worries.

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Nina Simone - A Memory for African American Heritage Month

When I was a kid back in the day African American Heritage Month was called Black History Week. You spent that week learning about slavery, about George Washington Carver, Harriet Tubman and Sojurner Truth. Basically it was every dead black person who did something good and that took about a week. Then the next week you relearned everything that contradicted the week before.

This was also the time of the Nation of Islam whose participants went around the neighborhood selling bean pies, The Call, and dispensed knowledge at each and every opportunity. It was a time when folks in my neighborhood would read The Philadelphia Tribune, Jet, Ebony and other black publications to get the true scoop on who we were and were we came from.



The musical artists at the time did not just rock beats or pine in the sea of love. Some of them wrested with styles of communication that was lyrical and a heart ache away from madness. Let no one fool you. The sixties were a form of madness.

I would hear Nina Simon on the radio but not very often. Her voice was powerful. She could mess you up quick. Even if she was singing a tune like "I Put A Spell On You" she could discombobulate you when you least expect it. Truth be told I was a Funkateer long before the Age of Funkenstein so it would have been a hard sell to get me to listen.

I did not know until I started researching her background information that she had been banned from New York and Philadelphia radio station for her song 4 Women because of the implications of acknowledging variations of skin color and the reason therefore, as and by.

This is a 29 minute documentary of Nina recorded in 1969. It is extraordinary in that we get a glimpse of her process of performing, her fears but most of all her talent. This is but a brief introduction.

But I don't want to leave you with the story of a talent performer that has passed on. Because in addition to her many musical gifts she left us with one more. Here name is Lisa Simone Kelly, her daughter. Her daughter can sing. She has a new album about to come out but you can take a listen and hear for yourself, you can visit her website.

"And the beat goes on, and just like my love, ever lasting."
The Whispers

The Guilt of Finding Somebody to Love

On this day of commerce inspired reflections on love I first offer a musical interlude:



It has been a hard week for single women. Name calling, back-bitting and comparisons with bovine animals have been suggested. It is nothing new, let's call this round 98,343 in the "My Life Didn't Turn Out Like I Planned So I Blame The Women's Movement."

Lori Gottlieb wrote a column for the Atlantic Magazine about her desire to have a husband and kids. Nothing unusual about that, many folks want to have that experience. Got no problem with people wanting to be good parents.

It was the reasons she listed and the conclusions she derived from her experience that had folks banging their heads up against the wall. You'll have to go over that web site cuz I'm not going to interpret what she said for you. You have to come to your own understanding.

Ok, maybe one thing. On page three of the web article. If I wanted to date and I wanted to have a kid I need to make choices. If my desire to have a kid is stronger than the desire to date and find a guy then I have to accept all of the responsibilities for that choice.

What got my head rattling was that she chose to have the baby first. Ok, you are now a single parent. What part of parent did you not understand? You are going to be tired, time challenged and you might not smell that good either.

With a new baby you are not going to have the energy or time to date a guy. Did you not understand that? I'm a single woman with no kids and I understand that you can't put the kid on the shelf and then party on like nothing happened. You made a frigging choice! A decision.

Not as you said you had too many choices, you made this specific choice. And there are consequences that you will have to deal with for the next 18-21 years.

Aggh! My head hurts. Oh, yeah at the beginning of the article. Straight up No, I ain't dating no guy with halitosis. I ain't that needy. How do you kiss a guy with profound bad breath? Ain't no bank account big enough for me to approach him with a smile. There are things that are non-negotiable and that is one of them.

The inability to communicate verbally is another. I don't do grunts, snorts and "whatever".

Oh, and I am not so fearful about my future that I would sell my body for financial security. No knocking those that do, that is your business but she was advocating other women to consider it. That is my interpretation anyway. And to financially exploit men for your emotional needs, lordzy where do I begin with that one?

There have been responses. There is a doozy of one at Feministring which is a response to a conservative group perception of what feminist women have done to V-Day.

Even the some of the men folks are a little stirred up. Go read Lance's post on this.

I would be ticked too, being hunted by a bunch of disgruntled sperm snatcher money grubbing bio-clocks waiting to explode (My words on this particular concept and not of any actual living person).

It is too late for me. I was told years ago that I had a better chance being hit by a car, bus, boat and plane that to expect that anyone would love me once I crossed 30. I proved the f--ckers wrong but where do I go for the retraction?

So do the best you can. Own up to your choices. Marry. Don't Marry. Have premarital nookie. Or not. Like He-Man said, You Have the Power!

Caroline Kennedy, Education and Suport for Obama

Caroline Kennedy does not endorse candidates very often. In fact I think this is the first time in my memory that she has done so on a national level.

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In this clip she offers her reasons why she support Barack Obama. Some of those reasons include support for early childhood education and financial support for college; which in this case means $4,000 for tuition provided you render service to your community.

Folks my technique was a little shaky during recording so for those with queasy stomachs I offer a audio version of the video.

For the specifics on Barack Obama's Education platform visit his site.
For the specifics on Hillary Clintons' Education platform visit her site.

Other Voices

Learning By Heart has an blow by blow evaluation of McCain, Clinton and Obama's education proposals.

Authentic Education is a group blog but one of the post caught my eye, the one having to do with early childhood education and parental involvement. This was something that Caroline touched upon in her speech. You can't be involved if you have to go to work and have no flexibility on your child care needs.

If you are a parent, homeschooler or interested in how to teach the youngest of the young you can visit Kimberly's Pre-School Lesson Plans. This will give you a good idea of what to expect if looking for a quality preschool or teachable moment ideas to keep the brains a buzzing.

Oprah's Obama UCLA Rally Video

I wasn't planning to post this video of Oprah. But I listened again and I heard something different.

I hadn't heard this aspect of her voice before. She was testifying. For those of you safely outside the realm of church in this instance testifying means she is affirming her truth and her faith in belief that Barack Obama would make a great president.

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Oprah also did something else. She affirmed that she is a free woman. I thought about this for a moment. Didn't she get the memo during Black History Week back in the day? That Emancipation Proclamation and two year later Juneteenth? I think she was talking about something else. The freedom from preconceived expectations from friends and relations.

Choice. The ability to choose without restraint. In this clip from the UCLA Rally Oprah talks about how she is free from the boundaries of race and gender to choose who she feels is the best candidate for president.

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Rally Spirit With Mayor Norma Torres

One thing I occurred to me was that I usually don't get to hear politicians say their whole spiel. This isn't something that is usually encouraged because they can yack on for a spell or two.

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But with televised sound bites you rarely get to hear the full context of their speech unless you are in the room. Now I'm not naive, just because you are in the room doesn't mean you are going to hear solid talk. It just means you have the opportunity.

The other thing that occurred to me is that I rarely hear from Latina politicians. I didn't even know that Pomona had a Latina mayor. So let me introduce to you Mayor Norma Torres and by extension, the California earthquake stomp. She is making her case why she think Obama is the one.

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Why Do I Have To Choose?

Ah, the joys of rendering video. In the meantime I have photos and a wee bit of commentary on them.

It seemed as if I was in a constant state of waiting. Not blaming anyone in particular. Leaving at 8:00a.m. it took me about 2.5 hours to get to UCLA. Actually that is really good time on the bus. Thank goodness for the Rapid Lines.

I got there about 10:00 a.m. There was a line of folks wrapped around the Pavilion and the doors didn't open until 11:30am. I have to be honest. I didn't feel very social. I felt out of place because I wasn't a supporter. I came to hear why I should vote for this man.

Plus, there was this guy behind me yammering on about how frigging great New York is to Los Angeles. His friend did try to school him, "Manhattan is a smaller place. Things are more expansive out here. You are comparing apples or oranges"

It got old after 10 minutes and like I said we were standing out there for an hour and half. There was a diverse set of folks but not too much cross chatter. Folks were pretty much tribal.

We got inside and it was a bum rush for seats. A lot of folks headed for the floor area. I had a wee bit of problems navigating the steps so after scoping out a decent vantage point I plunked down and waited. And waited with loud music. And waited some more. The event didn't get started until 1:00 p.m.

This was the only protester I saw after the rally. Part of the reason for my headache actually. It seems that despite our higher goals it comes down to race and gender. Or race and loyalty. Or gender in the mist of making history.

The focus has shifted from who is best for the job to "Who is going to be the first "?" in the White House". Not the right question.

None of which has to do with electing a president. Here is what I want. Somebody who can think independent of other people. Someone who can listen to others and make up their own mind. I'd like a book worm quality but people skills are essential.

There is a huge honking national debt. Infrastructure work is needed in every state in the Union. The "Recession" word gives me the willies. We can't keep ignoring immigration reform.

I don't care if the next president is faith based or not, I don't need to know about it. I don't want the next president's faith attempting to remove any of my rights as an American.

And most of all I want substance over rhetoric. Inspire, yes. But I want action on day three.

Both the Democratic candidates can talk a mile a minute with grace and intelligence. Their spouses are forces of nature and not to be dismissed as the "husband" or the "wife".

I still don't know who I am voting for in the primary. I do know that this country has a lot of work to do and it must re-united itself or we are cosmic toast. It isn't the President that has to do this work.

It is the citizens that need to transform our thinking. I'm not sure we have a collective clue on how to make that happen.