Food Lines

 

Modern Day Soup line

 

 

I saw some depressing statistics today concerning Americans and the number of families on the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (Food Stamps).

Over 36 million people are currently receiving food stamps and the number is rapidly growing. The government has appropriated 54$ Billion dollars this year and 60$ Billion dollars for the next fiscal year, which begins in October.

The average person receives 133$ with the average family getting 293$ dollars.

 

Depression Era food line

 

 

As the leader of the free world and the self-proclaimed greatest nation on the planet, what are we doing wrong?  Are we unable or un-willing to help our own.

I found the second picture profound. What do you think?

Random Things

Some of the things I saw today that I found interesting and made me want to opine about are:

 

The Bean

 

 

Boston’s Election Day- Tomorrow is Election Day in Boston.  Two candidates for Mayor and several others for City Council seats. With two at-large councilors giving up their seats (Flaherty & Yoon) the race to replace them is wide open. As for the Mayors seat, the incumbent Tom Menino and his challenger Mike Flaherty have spent a busy 6 months campaigning and trying to get their message across to the residents/voters. Without endorsing one candidate over another make sure you exercise your right to vote. Active participation leads to a more responsive government. If there has been one good thing about this election is that the present Mayor hasn’t been able (not without effort though) to avoid debating the issues with his challengers. Remember incumbents love voter apathy because it usually means being able to hold on to power longer.

 

Give me your money!

California’s Plan to rob their citizens- I came across this in the L.A. Times and thought, “What the eff are they thinking”? Come on Cali, do you not realize that revolutions have been started for things like this. The Governator must think he’s in a movie or something. Hey Arnold you’re putting serious doubts in my head about my plans to retire to the Left Coast! Handle your finances better but please don’t rob your citizens because that’s exactly what you’re doing. Is Arnold the new Don Rafael Montero? (Shout out to the Zorro fans out there)

 

Massachusetts NIMBY Flag

 

 

 

Massachusetts and more Laws- While looking at the Herald today I came across an article about how a dog was mauled while at a Doggy Day Care. I felt sorry for the owners but of course good old Massachusetts has seen another way to over-regulate something (just recently legislation was filed that would require day-care workers to brush kids teeth when their parents won’t) and now a member of the legislature thinks we should institute new regulations for kennels and doggy day cares. In Massachusetts speak that means charging more money for licenses and fees. Sorry for the dog but why would you get a dog then put the pet in “day care” when there are people at home? Don’t get me wrong I love dogs but I can’t stand stupid owners or busy body politicians who introduce legislation to offset human stupidity.

Inter-Racial Marriage

One Love

Reading about the judge in Louisiana who refused to issue a marriage license to a couple, based on the fact that they were an inter-racial couple.  Beth Humphrey, 30, and her boyfriend Terrance McKay, 32, were planning to have a “simple ceremony” “to make things right before God”. Fair enough.

The judge felt concerned about the couple’s future children, ““I don’t do interracial marriages because I don’t want to put children in a situation they didn’t bring on themselves,” Keith Bardwell said. “In my heart, I feel the children will later suffer.”

Huh?

And the best one of all time, “I’m not a racist,” Bardwell said. “I do ceremonies for black couples right here in my house”, followed by “I have piles and piles of black friends”.

Ah the obligatory I have black friends so I can’t be a racist statement. When are people going to realize that that statement and any form of it, is the most insincere thing to say?

Glad to see we as Americans are progressing forward. We’re getting closer to that great utopian society that we try to force feed down other countries throats. You know, be like us ‘cause we’re the best. Good Ole U.S. of A. (wave the flag while thumping the Bible time)

I really don’t get as upset as much as I use to. I’d rather have racists just be racists. Don’t hide behind a smile; just keep it out in the open. It makes it easier to deal or not to deal with people who are like that.

When I first came on the job I had an officer who told me that he had “nothing against mixed marriages “I just think the kids come out fucked up in the head”. This was a guy who worked with my father so he knew my ethnic background. At that time I wasn’t sure of his intent. Was it a bad attempt at humor or was he trying to incite me to react. I never found out what his intent was and on those rare occasions I do see him, I just laugh at him.

For me, no matter how much “society” says things have changed, the truth is people are people and when push comes to shove their true believes will always come out.

Oh, and Mr. Bardwell alls I can say is thats mighty fines of yu lettin’ us coloreds use yor’ batroom sir.

NASA and Quarantine

A couple of things in the news today sparked my interest and gained my attention. One was NASA and the LCROSS project and the other is the MASS state reps and their quarantine bill.

First up NASA.

NASA Moon Bomb

Today NASA tested crashed, yes crashed! On purpose, one rocket and one satellite into the moon. The LCROSS project is designed to determine if there is water present on the moon. Slamming rockets into the moon will generate moon dust NASA hopes to analyze.

What the fluck? When I first heard and read this I thought you got to be kidding, is it April Fools Day the second! Let me see, crash rockets into the moon to see if there’s water? Brilliant idea! Dam the torpedoes, full speed ahead. This has got to be the stupidest idea from NASA yet.

Poor Mr Man in the Moon

Here’s a simple idea, if you want to know if there’ water, I don’t know, how about returning to the moon and test the soil or something. The moon has been there since the beginning of time. Do you think that they know whether or not the moon will be adversely affected? They don’t.

This is another example of too much time on your hands with the difference being our taxpayer money. 45 million Americans are without health-care and we’re test-crashing rockets into the moon. Nice way to spend taxpayer money.

Next up are the state of Massachusetts State Representatives and the recently passed quarantine bill. The state can now force you into quarantine and also force you to get the swine flu shot. Supposedly for the greater good and to stop the pandemic. The only “Pandemic” I see are people’s fears taking over. Public Health people are becoming zealots in their desire to control us from ourselves.

It’s another example of government crossing the line and stepping into the Big Brother zone. This “idea” reminds me of the movie Outbreak. Have you seen it? Confine people to a town and then bomb it to hell for the sake of humanity. I ask, after we quarantine those people, are we going to burn them too? Can we quarantine stupid people also? My first pick will be that any politician who dreams up useless legislation be BANNED IN BOSTON!

We're Watching You

I have to remind my self that no more posting before I have my first cup of Java.

5 way to become a Republican

Is there really anyone else?

1.  Watch Fox News- The only source of non-partisanship news we have in this country. Glen Beck, Bill ORielly et al, are great people who continue to shed light on the obfuscation that those others profess as the truth. Where would we be if Michelle Malkin didn’t pen those Nobel Prize winning books?

God prefers Americans

2.  Put the American Flag anywhere and everywhere- put it right next to the Irish flag and shamrock, the Italian one too. Tell those people with flags from Mexico, Haiti, Poland and others to take them down or leave the country. Red, Black & Green? They should feel happy we brought them here. Away from the Dark Continent to enjoy our hospitality. Blacks sold slaves too you know.

The Gipper

3.  Hang a framed picture of the great Ronald Reagan in your house- realize that Reagan was a godsend. His economic policies increased the 1%s wealth hundredfold and we were a much better country that way. The way he broke unions, genius. Stock portfolios skyrocketed under him. The tough talk and how we bombed Grenada back into line. John Wayne would be happy. We supported the mujahedeen against the Russian Bear, helped Sadaam in his 10-year war against Iran, arms and training (bio-weapons be damned) to Dictators.

"Native" American

4.  Become a “Birther”- We know that bastard wasn’t born in America; he refuses to show us his birth certificate. His middle name is Hussein people! Arabic name from his Arabic background. Hussein is a MUSLIM name! He supported that effing ACORN, who had the audacity of registering people to vote. We were happily fine with the way it was.

Real American Heroes

5.  Finally…When all else fails Blame everything on immigrants – Realize that all of America’s problems came about when we let those people enter the home of the brave. We were here before them and this is our land. They should go back to where they’re from, including those dam Indians. Aren’t they from Asia originally?

Follow these 5 principles and you too can become red-blooded Americans. God bless the N.R.A. and all of those like us.

What are you?… Multi-Racial

What am I?

A couple of weeks ago, I was watching the Tyra Banks show for a change. I’m usually not a fan of these types of shows; you know the ones that deal with deep and reflective issues in 60 minutes or less. My level of T.V. entertainment is usually restricted to Jerry, Maury and their ilk. Baby Mama Drama at its best.

But the subject matter that day was about multi-racial children and how they see themselves. The topic hits close to home so I decided to watch it.

It was interesting to find out that it’s the fastest growing demographic in America. In the latest census, over 5.2 million Americans checked off multiple boxes and considered themselves multi-racial. I was curious about what others like me thought.

Listening to how these people saw themselves was intriguing and also infuriating. Hearing how some people despised one side of their heritage, based only on the usual stereotypes, drove me crazy. I couldn’t understand it. One guest said he “don’t want to ever be called Mexican!” while his mother (the Mexican side of his heritage) sat in the crowd crying. I wanted to jump into the screen and put a foot in his ass!

It made me think about my own experience with being “multi-racial” and whether or not I agreed with some of the guest’s assertion that we deserve our own multi-racial check-off box.

Growing up, I lived in a diverse neighborhood. That particular section of the city resembled the rainbow coalition. My friends represented just about every possible color and ethnic background you can think of. We called ourselves the Zodiac Brothers and except for the occasional remark from the older kids, I can’t remember any crazy racist stories. Back then I thought it was the norm and I believed that crap about we’re all the same. Sesame Street and The Electric Company told me so!

Fast-forward to my teens and things started to change. My family by then had moved to a predominately black area and I now started to feel like I stood out. A grain of salt amongst the pepper.

All my friends from my teenage years were either black or Latino. We were into the whole B-Boy thing, where hip-hop culture (is there really such a thing?) was the way to go.

It was around these times that people started to ask me “what are you?” I would say that I was half-black and half-white. Reciting my ethnic lineage became quite the norm for me. Sometimes, the person would go “oh, that explains it” and other times I would get a skeptical look. One of those “ya right” looks. Like I would make it up, justifying my blackness in spite of my white skin. Where was the love?

Most of the bullshit I would experience back then came when I started dating. I think you tend to like what you see all the time and for me that meant girls of color.

I can’t think of many times where, while out on a date, people would leave us alone. Whites would give us nasty looks and blacks would scowl even harder. Many a time I would end up in a beef over some dude feeling the need to question my girls taste in men. A black guy with a white girl was o.k. , But a white dude with a black girl, well, that was a whole other story.

There were times back then when I wished I was darker and had more “black” features to my face. But I never wished I wasn’t half white (I loved St. Patrick’s Day too much) I just wanted to fit into my surroundings better. Maybe have fewer issues with people over the way I looked. Stop being told I talked “black” or dressed “black”. Whatever the fluck that’s supposed to mean.

I know I’m generalizing but most mixed people I’ve known that seem to “dislike” their “colored” side grew up in “white” areas or didn’t get to know the “colored” side of their family. {Interject funny/sad story here}. I was once visiting my cousins, the Twins (shout-out) in sunny Southern California, when they took me to a party in the Silver Lake area of L.A. The other party guests were for the most part cool people, until I met this dude who obviously had some darker roots. Having a conversation over cervezas, he couldn’t believe the Twins (another shout out) and I were related. After explaining the connection, I asked him about his roots. This clown told me that he wasn’t black because he hated his father! WTF! The only thing that kept me from adjusting his attitude was I didn’t want to embarrass the Twins (third shout out). I wondered when was the last time he looked in the mirror.

But it did make me wonder what it would have been like if I grew up in a predominately white neighborhood, or if my father wasn’t around. Would I be on the other side of the fence or would I still think the same? Would I be ashamed of the black side or would I embrace it?

Time has gone by and I no longer wish for more melanin. I’m quite comfortable with my heritage and myself. I’ve changed to where when people ask me what I am now I no longer get defensive. Fresh prick that I am, I usually say “American, why do you ask?”

It’s hard to tell a story in under so many words, so I don’t know if I was able to get across to you what it was like for me. There are many other stories and examples I could tell to re-enforce what my opinion is, but it would take too long. I’m sure there are stories from other “mulattos” which are quite different than mine. I hope I didn’t come off as some expert on how people should think or should act, because I’m not (weak attempt at humility).

So, should we have a separate box for multi-racial? I’m not sure. Part of me thinks so but there’s also the side that says don’t forget the one drop rule. For far too long we were told we were black, no matter how little black blood we had or the lack of black features. Now were being told we’re not black, we’re multi-cultural or something like that and we should want our own definition!

Is it divide and conquer at its finest?

I’ll leave you with a quote. I’m not sure where I heard it or read it but it resonates with me and for me shows what America thinks.

“A white women can have a black baby, but a black women cannot have a white baby”

Are you on Facebook?

Social Media

In the last few years the use of social media mediums has increased at an incredible rate. Facebook (over 300 million users), MySpace (250 million) Twitter (18 million), LinkedIn (43 million), are just a few.

When I first heard of these mediums I couldn’t grasp the hysteria behind them. Like many “pre” middle-aged adults I thought the various forms of Social Media were for the younger generation and not geared to mine. Whenever I heard someone mention these sites, my thoughts bounced around from amusement to abject ignorance. Why would a grown adult want to have a page?

Fast-forward a few years. A friend asked me was I on Facebook? I emphatically answered no. He went on about meeting up with old friends and family members that he hadn’t been in contact with for many years. I blew him off with the standard “too mature routine”.

Later on that night, while surfing the net, I came upon the Facebook logo and thought what the h-e-double hockey sticks, so I clicked on. Followed the directions and BAM! , I’m now officially with a Facebook page.

Pretty soon I was grasped with FB fever. Uploading pictures, contacting people, and spending many hours logged in. I enjoyed catching up with people and all the nostalgia that comes with it.

From FB, I was soon blogging on Blogger and WordPress (3 in total), tweeting on Twitter (2 accounts) and bookmarking on Delicious. I love it. I joined many others, some of which I can’t remember the name or the password that I used to sign up. No matter. There are more out there to join. Blip.fm, Twone, Hub Pages. Social Media was becoming my drug of choice and I couldn’t get enough. I sometimes think I’ve still haven’t come down from the high. I’m floating amongst the clouds of social networking.

Now I’ll admit it’s a little narcissistic. It’s too easy to get caught up with how many “friends” you have, how many followers, was your tweet re-tweeted, or how many RSS subscribers does your blog have. Numbers over substance, it’s the American way.

We now have “experts/snobs” who will gladly guide you to the promise land of more followers, more re-tweets, bookmarks, comments etc. Social Media people who use their infinite wisdom to teach the rest of us how to survive in a digital world. 5 ways to do something, 6 things not to do, 7 tips to follow… Well, you get the point.

My favorite is the “how to make money” blogger. This individual is quite successful in what they do. Their sites are full of advice on how to make the Benjamin’s. Informative, somewhat creative, and always friendly they will guide you on how to make it. To me, they are nothing more than savvy sales people who pitch “get rich with my advice”, advice. The fact they all seem to omit is that they make their money off of your basic dream/greed of striking it rich. Snake-oil salesmen of the digital world. No better than the people you see in those infomercials on late night T.V.

Now I don’t want to give you the impression that making money is a bad thing. Not at all. I’m an American dam it and I sho’ do love the dead presidents. Just give me some substance other than a sales pitch. Even if it’s your opinion on something going on in the world.

The bloggers and Tweeters I do follow are the ones who open up and be themselves. Whether it’s simply a blog on their life experiences, aspiring writers practicing their trade, political opinions (guilty pleasure) or the myriad of topics covered only by peoples imagination. If it’s interesting I want to listen to you.

So my advice to you is simple. Be yourself and share your thoughts. Don’t worry about the amount of followers you have or who re-tweeted your Tweets. Numbers are just that, numbers. Remember stats never lie, but liars use stats.

The ability to have a voice is something we should all take advantage of.

So blog away, Tweet, Ping, Blip or whatever it is you do. Leave your mark on the world.

Got to go now. Need to update my status.

Tea-Baggers

What can you say ? This is Glen Becks “army”.

Please save us…..Emily Post

I was pumped up and ready to do serious channel surfing this weekend. Serena Williams versus Kim Clijsters in the U.S. Open women’s semi-final and MTVs VMA Awards. I love Ladies tennis, plus live performances from various artists, what could be better?

First up, I was disappointed in the way Serena was playing. Clisjster, who recently returned to the game after getting married and having a baby, was handling Serena all over the court. Serena looked tired and off her game. Seeing such a lackluster performance from her was not what I expected.

After losing the first set 6-4, Serena smashed her racket on the ground.

Anger Management #1

I’ve seen others do it but I didn’t expect it from her. A sign of things to come? She was clearly upset and angry at how this match was turning out.

Late in the second set, after being called for a foot fault, which gave Clisjter Match Point, Serena went on an expletive laced rant on the Lineswomen who called the fault. The lineswomen immediately notified the (head Judge), who after consulting with other officials assessed a penalty foul on Serena. What?

Match over. Clisjters advances.

Anger Management #2

Serena was fined $10,000 for “unsportsmanlike conduct” and $500 for the racket smashing. Further penalties might be forthcoming after the tour reviews the evidence.

On Sunday I was trying to catch the performances at the VMAs. I’ve always liked live performances, even when the music isn’t exactly my type. Pink and Beyonce were some of the scheduled acts so I flipped the channels back and forth trying to catch their acts.

Taylor Swift of American Idol fame won an award for Best Female Video. O.K. Whatever. When she went up to the stage to receive the “Moon man”, Kanye West walked on stage, took the mic from Taylor and voiced his displeasure with the choice. What was he thinking? The crowd booed and continued to boo any time his name was mentioned.

Anger Management #3

Later on in the program, after Beyonce won for Best Video of the Year, she called Taylor back out on stage and allowed her to give her acceptance then.

Much respect to Beyonce.

Serena and her sister Venus are my favorite tennis players and I admit I follow both of them on Twitter. Having said that, there’s no excuse for her outburst. She was losing badly and lost her composure. Plain and simple. I’m sure Serena will learn and grow from this experience.

She issued a statement on Monday-

“Last night everyone could truly see the passion I have for my job. Now that I have had time to gain my composure, I can see that while I don’t agree with the unfair line call, in the heat of battle I let my passion and emotion get the better of me and as a result handled the situation poorly. I would like to thank my fans and supporters for understanding that I am human and I look forward to continuing the journey, both professionally and personally, with you all as I move forward and grow from this experience.”

Serena Williams

Kanye, on the other hand, has once again displayed his lack of class and his juvenile reaction to things that do not go his way. The list grows longer. He should remember the voting for these awards is subjective at best. So why get upset? Keep it to his self and move on. Better still, if he can’t handle his liquor, don’t drink. (Kanye can be seen arriving on the red carpet before the show carrying a half empty Hennessy bottle) Intimidating a 19-year-old girl like a schoolyard bully is both vile and contemptible.

I have a Type A personality so I know I’m no angel when it comes to anger management. I like to think that as I age I’m getting better at controlling it. But I’ll tell you this; I never go off on people who have no recourse. Yelling at someone who can’t stand up to you is being a punk. Nothing more.

Political Thoughts

Old Glory

This past week was an interesting week in the world of politics. On Tuesday the President addressed the nations kids on the importance of self-responsibility and setting education goals. On Wednesday he addressed the House of Representatives on the proposed Health Care bill, which in its self is a contentious battle to say the least.

Tuesday saw the President address the kids of Wakefield High School in Arlington Va. President Obama has spoke on the importance of education many times and has made it a priority of his administration.

“. None of it will matter unless all of you fulfill your responsibilities. Unless you show up to those schools; pay attention to those teachers; listen to your parents, grandparents and other adults; and put in the hard work it takes to succeed.”

“And that’s what I want to focus on today: the responsibility each of you has for your education. I want to start with the responsibility you have to yourself.”

“I’m calling on each of you to set your own goals for your education – and to do everything you can to meet them”

These are just a few excerpts from the speech, I suggest you read it or better yet, watch it with your children. It’s a motivating and inspiring speech on education. Makes me want to go back to school.

Now I don’t know about you but I certainly did not hear any ”Socialist” propaganda and if the right thinks self-responsibility and erudition is socialism, well where do I sign up?

Wednesday saw the President at the House of Representatives, where he talked about the proposed Health Care plan his administration is trying to enact. As usual, the right cannot contain their anger and against all decorum South Carolina Representative Joe Wilson screamed out “You Lie” while pointing to the President. The Sergeant-at-Arms should of tossed him out of the chamber right there .The rights continued insistence that illegal immigrants will receive benefits, which mind you is nowhere in the bill, is nothing more than a play on the citizens whose xenophobia directs their politics.

Douchebag

Wilson is a member of the Sons of  Confederate Veterans, who promote secession and claim slavery was benign?  He also was one of those who attacked Essie Mae Washington-Williams, Strom Thurmond’s biracial love child he kept secret his whole life. First Wilson attacked her credibility and when Thurmond’s family acknowledged the truth he said that she still should have kept quiet and not harm his legacy. We can’t have an avowed racists reputation ruined by his love for the darker berry.

The President accepted Wilson’s half-hearted apology, which is my problem with Obama. He far too often tries to appease everyone. I wish he would go on the offensive more often. Repudiate their drivel and ram it back down their throats. But I’ll save that rant for another day.

The rights proclivity to attack and besmirch everything the President is trying to do is getting old real fast. Their constant attempts to paint him in a bad light, from questioning his birthplace to using their code words is exhausting. The attempts to label him with “dirty tags”, which are designed to infuriate the public against him, give me a headache. As they like to tell people to leave if they don’t like it, I challenge them to do the same.