Derek Hough!

To say I love me some Derek Hough would be an understatement. Yesterday, he and dance partner actress Shannon Elizabeth, were eliminated from the Dancing With The Stars competition.
Derek Hough, (pronounced, huff) dancer/choreographer and a former World Latin Dance champion is so talented I can hardly stand to watch him. This guy vibrates with energy and excitment. His technique is flawless and his personality shines through every single movement.

Derek's talented younger sister Julianne is also a professional on the show and won the dance championship with speed skater Apollo Anton Ohno in the 2006 season.

Derek and Shannon dance the Samba.


Last Season Derek Danced with Jennie Garth. Check out this sexy Cha-Cha.


Marlee Matlin has long been a favorite of mine. I love her spunk and she is always so naughty. Always. It was amazing how beautifully she danced in spite of being profoundly deaf. That girl's got the music in her!
Marlee was eliminated last week. I'll miss Derek and Marlee on the show.

Marlee and Fabian Sanchez dance the quickstep.

Hillary Hangs On

Senator Hillary Clinton won PA by 10% so far. It's not enough to make a difference in the mathematical possibility of her getting the nom, but it's a win. So the Democratic race continues in earnest. The "silly season" will crank up to high gear now, I suppose.
After that despicable waste of time called a debate last week, I was totally disgusted and disappointed in Hillary, ABC News, and in Charlie Gibson and George Stephanopoulis, two journalist I liked and trusted.
Hillary Clinton showed me she has no clue about taking the high road or elevating the conversation and couldn't catch a hint if it was gift wrapped and handed to her, which it was. And believe me Hillary, John McCain will not afford you any such courtesy. (The super delegates noticed all this seeing as how she lost 6 the next morning.) It was a week ago so I won't rehash the Rev. Wright, Weatherman, flag pin, bittergate, sniper fire, silliness. Nor will I blog on about the many stupid " will you promise" questions aimed at getting sound bites for the future. 52 minutes of pure foolishness. If they have another debate, maybe they can get Jerry Springer to moderate. Nuff said.

Bush or Clinton III?

Alec Baldwin's column over at the Huff Post expressed my feelings almost to a point. It is crystal clear that neither McCain or Clinton will change Washington or even want to.

Bush Three Is Wrong -- Is Clinton Three Any Better?
Alec Baldwin
Posted April 21, 2008 09:23 PM (EST)

I had once considered John McCain an ultimately acceptable choice for president.

I thought that, compared to the other Republicans in the field earlier, McCain was a man who had lived a serious life. He had faced serious problems and offered respected solutions to issues such as campaign finance reform. McCain was a war hero, a US Senator and maverick in a party that often didn't know what to make of people like John McCain.

But mavericks don't make it to the highest echelons of the GOP. That is how we got stuck with this Bush. In order to ascend to the highest ranks of the Republican Party, you have got to realize that the current size and scope of the budget of the federal government is the greatest opportunity for the personal enrichment of the upper class in this country since the turn of the previous century or the period around World War II. As much as any industry that brings its products to market, selling your goods and services to the US government, and particularly the military, is a chance to make staggering and heretofore unseen profits. The current budget of the US Defense Department is the most shameful misappropriation of American tax dollars in our nation's history.

There are cycles in American history wherein the richest and most powerful people who actually own and run this country make there greatest effort to elect a true corporatocracy candidate. They literally steal the election, if need be. They install their witless, pliant factotums and they start skimming. They order even more expensive things we don't need. They relax regulations to the point where there are essentially no regulations at all. They might even start a war, if the can get away with it. If questionable people happen to be in the country taking flying lessons without learning how to land and you don't bother to investigate them, you increase the chances you may get away with it.

There are periods in American history when the haves just knock the have-nots to the ground and say,"Enough." They push the government into greater debt. They sign unconscionable mortgages for future generations. They lie and tell the American people that to get out of the convoluted military quagmire would only threaten us more. Threaten our children. Their future.

When their friends run into trouble, they bail them out. No, I mean we bail them out. They decide. We simply do the paying. Bill Clinton killed welfare as we knew it. Maybe its time had come. I was hoping that both Clintons would have condemned the Bear Stearns deal in the harshest terms. No such luck.

John McCain has changed. He drank the Kool-Aid, the one they served as baby formula in the Bush home all those years ago. McCain will be Bush Three. I was wrong about him. He has velcroed his lips to the ass of the elephant and he's gonna keep kissing until a second term would end.

But, if Bush Three is wrong, terrifyingly wrong, then is Clinton Three any better? Who do you think really has the guts to stand against the most potent special interests who truly care more about the dollar than the flag? We don't have a draft in this country in order keep politics out of military policy. For too many Americans, the truth is that, "My child isn't over there. That's all I care about." The fact that there has not been one great, national day of protest against this war will surely come back to haunt us all.

Who will end this war?

Obama will end this war.

I encourage the Democrats of the state of Pennsylvania to cast their vote tomorrow for Barack Obama.

I sweated this a lot. I admire both Bill and Hillary. But the shame and disgrace of how we have treated our own fighting men, not to mention many innocent people in Iraq, weighs more heavily on me now.

This country is in deep trouble. We not only need something effective, we need something new. I believe Obama will bring that more that Mrs. Clinton.

Olympics, Torched?

I do not agree with messing with the Olympic torch runners to protest China's effed up human rights practices! My feeling is, the torch and the Olympics do not represent only China. Olympics, is a super-duper diplomatic opportunity for people of the world (including those of us at home) to come together and get to know each other.
Cliche? Yes, so.
But, I also feel the Olympics and activities around the Olympics can be an appropriate time to bring world attention to issues of injustice. We do have the right certainly, to carry signs and march and chant and blog. Heads of State can resolve to speak on it, stay home from ceremonies or use the opportunity to meet with foreign leaders about it. Athletes should have the right to wear armbands, hats backwards, black gloves or whatever symbols of solidarity, to opening ceremonies.

But, I do not believe we should stop or tackle torch runners, disrupt ceremonies with violence, be disrespectful to fellow athletes or moon the host nation.
The Olympic commitee knew China's human rights history when they chose Beijing.

So now some say the U.S. should boycott like we did in 1980. I can't help but know that the friendships and bonds formed and the understanding of different cultures gained by participating, far out weigh any symbolic gesture of a boycott.
We didn't boycott the 1936 Berlin Olympics where Jesse Owens and other black athletes disproved Hitler's idiotic super race supremacy theory and won the respect of many German athletes and citizens.

The 1980 U.S. boycott of the Moscow Olympics was a part of a diplomatic package of warnings after Russia invaded Afghanistan. 62 nations joined in the total boycott while some boycotted the opening ceremony parade and others marched under the Olympic banner. The boycott was a grand gesture with little diplomatic result. The competition went on, and the athletes were in my opinion, the ones harmed.

In 1984, the Soviet Union block nations boycotted the Los Angeles Games. The world is run by such grown ups, isn't it? You don't come to mine, I won't come to yours.

Hypocracy rules as usual.
I fully understand the seriousness of the issues in Tibet. I want to protest China's horrid treatment of their own people who lost their homes to make way for new Olympic structures. Poor people, who were neither relocated or compensated for their property and are now homeless.
China wants to show through hosting the Olympics, that it's ready to join the world community. We absolutely do need to let China know that while they prepare to showcase their country, the global mainstream they want to be a part of, knows about, does not approve of, and will not accept the inhumane behavior perpertrated by their government.
But why tackle the torch runners when every damn thing in the U.S.A. is made in China. We aren't tackling Walmart greeters or Saks store clerks. We aren't marching on corporations that outsource jobs to China etc. And we aren't having "Made in China" bonfires. So why focus the protest on the Olympic torch runners? Running the torch is a rare honor for many folks across the nation and the world. Having held an actual torch myself, it's quite a once in a lifetime thrill.

I don't mean in any way to say that the Tibetan issue or Afghanistan invasion are not issues that warrent strong protest and action. and I even admit to being conflicted about boycotting. I just believe that the Olympics should be as politics free as possible. Naive? No. I just feel the good of having the Oympics outweighs the bad of not participating. The athletes have worked hard and will hopefully spread good will. And we can still find a way to get the message home.

Bette Davis was no Sissy

Yesterday was the 100th birthday anniversary of star, Bette Davis who said;

"Getting old is not for sissies."

and,

"If you want a thing well done, get a couple of old broads to do it."

You got that right sister!

We watched All About Eve and Jezebel, two of my favorite movies.

I can't tell you how many hours my family and I and now Monica and I have settled down to a good Bette Davis movie. It's not only enjoyment of the the great lady in great pictures, but good memories surrounding the watching of her films. Watching a Bette Davis movie when I was home sick from school was better than chicken soup. My mother could always be convinced to let me stay up to watch the Late Show movie if it was Bette Davis. I remember Monica and I hunkering down in our first tiny apartment on a cold winter day, baking cookies and watching Bette Davis.
We have both been run ragged for the last couple weeks, so we're gonna crash today and watch a couple Bette Davis flicks. I love that lady!

Bette Davis became the first woman to secure 10 nominations for the Best Actress Oscar, and in the intervening years, only Katharine Hepburn and Meryl Streep have surpassed this figure.

Some of my favorites:
So Big...1932, Private Lives of Elizabeth and Essex...1935, Jezebel...1938, Dark Victory...1939, The Great Lie...1941, Now Voyager...1942, Watch on the Rhine...1943, Mr. Skeffington...1944, The Corn is Green...1945, A Stolen Life...1946, All About Eve...1950, The Virgin Queen...1955, A Pocketful of Miracles...1961, Whatever Happened to Baby Jayne?...1962, Hush...Hush Sweet Charlotte...1964, The Nanny...1965.

Some pics and facts from some of my favorite Davis films.

Jezebel


The Private Lives of Elizabeth and Essex


Dark Victory


Now Voyager



Watch on the Rhine


All About EVE





''My first feeling, of compassion for this misunderstood talented woman, (Margo) was quickly replaced by a robust attraction, an uncontrollable lust. I walked around with a hard on for three days''-Davis's husband, Garry Merrill.-

Marlene Dietrich, Susan Hayward, Claudette Colbert and Gertrude Lawrence were all asked to play the part before Bette Davis.


The Virgin Queen




Whatever Happened to Baby Jayne?




Hush...Hush Sweet Charlotte


Bette Davis

Dr. King-The Radical

Forty years ago today Dr. King died in Memphis after being shot on a motel balcony. Twice a year, on his birthday celebration and on the anniversary of his death we pause to look at this man and his accomplishments and do the obligatory connecting of the dots from his era to the present. We sing "We Shall Overcome" and talk about how brave he was and marvel at his oratory skills. A great American.

But we don't celebrate his full legacy. The last years, a gift of perhaps his most profound perceptions for America's future, have been ignored and forgotten both in our celebrations and in the minds of Americans.

But, the Martin Luther King I remember in his last few years was more than a civil rights activist, dreamer and preacher. He was a dissenter, a revolutionary, a rebel.
Dr. King decided he must “move beyond the prophesying of a smooth patriotism to the high grounds of a firm dissent.”

In about 1965, he began an analysis of American institutions that threatened to upset the status quo. Dr. King began to call for “a radical revolution of values” in the United States. This is the Dr. King never mentioned in our January and April remembrances. We only celebrate the sanitized image, the champion of racial harmony.

Julian Bond said on a King Day celebration:

"Today we do not honour the critic of capitalism, or the pacifist who declared all wars evil, or the man of God who argued that a nation that chose guns over butter would starve its people and kill itself. We do not honour the man who linked apartheid in South Africa and Alabama; we honour an antiseptic hero. We have stripped his life of controversy, and celebrate the conventional instead."

We forget that when he began to speak out against the war and criticize U.S. government policies, he was vilified, wiretapped and discredited by the same people who had praised and honored him.

"I criticize America because I love her. I want her to stand as a moral example to the world."-MLK

On April 4, 1967, Rev. Martin Luther King Jr. gave the same warning about America as Rev. Wright gave in 2003. Dr. King said:

"Don't let anybody make you think God chose America as his divine messianic force to be a sort of policeman of the whole world. God has a way of standing before the nations with justice and it seems I can hear God saying to America "you are too arrogant, and if you don't change your ways, I will rise up and break the backbone of your power, and I will place it in the hands of a nation that doesn't even know my name. Be still and know that I'm God."

The same Dr. King that is claimed as one of the greatest Americans, is the same man who warned the American government and U.S. big business about "capitalists of the West investing huge sums of money in Asia, Africa and South America, only to take the profits out with no concern for the social betterment of the countries."

The greatest nation on Earth, becoming the greatest two-faced looter and scavenger on Earth. We shake hands and give arms to known scoundrels and dictators when it suits our purpose, only to turn on them, denounce them and wage war when it does not.

The same Nobel Peace Prize winner that America proudly holds dear, condemned American aggression, criticizing in 1967;
"The greatest purveyor of violence in the world today - my own government."

Time Magazine called it "demagogic slander that sounded like a script for Radio Hanoi."
The Washington Post wrote that "King has diminished his usefulness to his cause, his country, his people."
He was called a left wing crackpot, an invitation to the White House was rescinded and he fell off the most admired list. He had come full circle. The jeers that turned to cheers were back to jeers again.

Now it's cheers again for Dr. King. But is cheers without the whole story.
Would it disturb the pristine King celebrations too much to recall and examine his messages of human rights outside the realm of black civil rights? Of course it would.
After reading his writings from those years, I think If America had listened to Dr. King's perspectives and solutions, we could have avoided some of the domestic and world problems we now face.

So, just as I know you can't judge someones life by a few video clips, I hope we can begin to appreciate and celebrate the fullness of Dr. King's message and life. Considering the ongoing racial problems, another war, the struggling economy, and our scary global situation, it's Dr. King the dissenter, the rebel who is not afraid of telling hard truths, that is more relevant today, not the saintly dreamer on a mountaintop.
He was in my opinion a true patriot, especially at the end.

This is brilliant.
Beyond Vietnam: A Time to Break Silence
By Rev. Martin Luther King
4 April 1967

"America, the richest and most powerful nation in the world, can well lead the way in this revolution of values. There is nothing, except a tragic death wish, to prevent us from reordering our priorities, so that the pursuit of peace will take precedence over the pursuit of war. There is nothing to keep us from molding a recalcitrant status quo with bruised hands until we have fashioned it into a brotherhood." - MLK

Rice and Buchanan on Race

Monica Roberts posted these words from Condoleezza Rice' March 28 Washington Times interview. She was asked about the Rev. Wright hoopla and Sen. Obama's speech on race. Well, these comments from Condi surprised some of her conservative buddies.

Secretary Rice said:

"I think it was important that he (Obama) gave it for a whole host of reasons,"

The United States still has trouble dealing with race because of a national "birth defect" that denied black Americans the opportunities given to whites at the country's very founding.

Black Americans were a founding population. Africans and Europeans came here and founded this country together — Europeans by choice and Africans in chains. That's not a very pretty reality of our founding.

As a result, descendants of slaves did not get much of a head start, and I think you continue to see some of the effects of that.

That particular birth defect makes it hard for us to confront it, hard for us to talk about it, and hard for us to realize that it has continuing relevance for who we are today.

America doesn't have an easy time dealing with race, and added that her own father, grandmother and great-grandmother had endured terrible humiliations growing up in the segregated south and yet they still loved America.

What I would like understood as a black American is that black Americans loved and had faith in this country even when this country didn't love and have faith in them —and that's our legacy."

Now, FOX News pundit Pat Buchanan.
Mr. Buchanan opens his dialogue on race with a long response entitled,
A Brief for Whitey posted on his site 3/21/08.

First on Rev Wright:

"How would he justify not walking out as Wright spewed his venom about "the U.S. of K.K.K. America," and howled, "God damn America!"
My hunch was right. Barack would turn the tables.

Yes, Barack agreed, Wright's statements were "controversial," and "divisive," and "racially charged," reflecting a "distorted view of America."

But we must understand the man in full and the black experience out of which the Rev. Wright came: 350 years of slavery and segregation."

Pat obviously didn't listen to Wright's speeches or know his bible.
"God damn America for treating our citizens as less than human. God damn America for as long as she acts like she is God and she is supreme." (the second sentence in Rev. Wright's sermon is a direct paraphrase from the Old Testament when God warned the Israelites to not be so haughty as to think they were as powerful as God.)

Pat continues, leaving out Obama's acknowledgement of white resentments and black responsibilities.

"Barack then listed black grievances and informed us what white America must do to close the racial divide and heal the country.

The "white community," said Barack, must start "acknowledging that what ails the African-American community does not just exist in the minds of black people; that the legacy of discrimination -- and current incidents of discrimination, while less overt than in the past -- are real and must be addressed. Not just with words, but with deeds ... ."

And what deeds must we perform to heal ourselves and our country?

The "white community" must invest more money in black schools and communities, enforce civil rights laws, ensure fairness in the criminal justice system and provide this generation of blacks with "ladders of opportunity" that were "unavailable" to Barack's and the Rev. Wright's generations.

What is wrong with Barack's prognosis and Barack's cure?

Only this. It is the same old con, the same old shakedown that black hustlers have been running since the Kerner Commission blamed the riots in Harlem, Watts, Newark, Detroit and a hundred other cities on, as Nixon put it, "everybody but the rioters themselves."

Was "white racism" really responsible for those black men looting auto dealerships and liquor stories, and burning down their own communities, as Otto Kerner said -- that liberal icon until the feds put him away for bribery.

Barack says we need to have a conversation about race in America.

Fair enough. But this time, it has to be a two-way conversation. White America needs to be heard from, not just lectured to.

This time, the Silent Majority needs to have its convictions, grievances and demands heard. And among them are these:

First, America has been the best country on earth for black folks. It was here that 600,000 black people, brought from Africa in slave ships, grew into a community of 40 million, were introduced to Christian salvation, and reached the greatest levels of freedom and prosperity blacks have ever known.

Wright ought to go down on his knees and thank God he is an American.

Second, no people anywhere has done more to lift up blacks than white Americans. Untold trillions have been spent since the '60s on welfare, food stamps, rent supplements, Section 8 housing, Pell grants, student loans, legal services, Medicaid, Earned Income Tax Credits and poverty programs designed to bring the African-American community into the mainstream.

Governments, businesses and colleges have engaged in discrimination against white folks - with affirmative action, contract set-asides and quotas -- to advance black applicants over white applicants.

Churches, foundations, civic groups, schools and individuals all over America have donated time and money to support soup kitchens, adult education, day care, retirement and nursing homes for blacks.

We hear the grievances. Where is the gratitude?

Barack talks about new “ladders of opportunity” for blacks.

Let him go to Altoona and Johnstown, and ask the white kids in Catholic schools how many were visited lately by Ivy League recruiters handing out scholarships for “deserving” white kids.

Is white America really responsible for the fact that the crime and incarceration rates for African-Americans are seven times those of white America? Is it really white America’s fault that illegitimacy in the African-American community has hit 70 percent and the black dropout rate from high schools in some cities has reached 50 percent?

Is that the fault of white America or, first and foremost, a failure of the black community itself?

As for racism, its ugliest manifestation is in interracial crime, and especially interracial crimes of violence. Is Barack Obama aware that while white criminals choose black victims 3 percent of the time, black criminals choose white victims 45 percent of the time?

Is Barack aware that black-on-white rapes are 100 times more common than the reverse, that black-on-white robberies were 139 times as common in the first three years of this decade as the reverse?

We have all heard ad nauseam from the Rev. Al about Tawana Brawley, the Duke rape case and Jena. And all turned out to be hoaxes. But about the epidemic of black assaults on whites that are real, we hear nothing.

Sorry, Barack, some of us have heard it all before, about 40 years and 40 trillion tax dollars ago.

Well now, how 'bout that. I could tell him where his gratitude is but I won't because I am a proponent for this dialogue on race in our country. I do appreciate his honesty.
His long response is proof positive why America needs to have this out.
Buchanan takes Obama's speech as a lecture to whites rather than a challenge to Americans that will benefit all of us.
So, he concludes that Barack Obama's speech is just another black hustle. Black Americans are a bunch of immoral beings that have only thanked white Americans for all their generousity and kindness by swindling, looting, raping, robbing, and stealing opportunities and jobs from them. He uses the invitation to dialogue to fall back on old stereotypes, feed fear, and advance his political ideology. The sad thing is that Pat Buchanan actually believes his distorted truths. He also seems to think he is speaking for the white race.

Tech Support

(Dustin posted this. It's so funny)
Subject: INSTALLING A HUSBAND

Dear Tech Support,
Last year I upgraded from Boyfriend 5.0 to Husband 1.0 and noticed a distinct slow down in overall system performance -- particularly in the flower and jewelry applications, which operated flawlessly under Boyfriend 5.0.In addition, Husband 1.0 uninstalled many other valuable programs, such as Romance 9.5 and Personal Attention 6.5 and then installed undesirable programs such as MLB 2.5, NFL 5.0, NBA 3.0, NCAA Football and Basketball 4.0, Fly Fishing 6.5, and Golf Clubs 7.1(and possibly NASCAR 400.0 or 500.0 and Texas Hold 'em2007). Conversation 8.0 no longer runs, and Housecleaning 2.6 simply crashes the system. I've tried running Nagging 5.3 to fix these problems, but to no avail.
What can I do?
Signed, Desperate

Dear Desperate:
First keep in mind, Boyfriend 5.0 is an Entertainment Package, while Husband 1.0 is an Operating System. Please enter the command: 'I Thought You Loved Me.exe'and try to download Tears 6.2 and don't forget to install the Guilt 3.0 update. If that application works as designed, Husband 1.0 should then automatically run the applications Jewelry 2.0 and Flowers 3.5.
As a final backup program, you might try Bun-In-The-Oven (BITO) as a long term solution. Keeping mind that BITO can come in versions 1.0, 2.0, 3.0,etc. and requires you to sign a 9 month installation agreement followed by a 18 year maintenance contract. You should make sure your Husband 1.0 operating system is compatible with the BITO version before you install this program. But remember, overuse of the above applications can cause Husband 1.0 to default to Grumpy Silence 2.5, or even crash, leaving you with no operating system.
Whatever you do, DO NOT install Mother-in-law 1.0 (it runs a virus in the background that will eventually seize control of all your system resources).
Also, do not attempt to reinstall the Boyfriend 5.0 program. These are unsupported applications and will crash Husband 1.0.
In summary, Husband 1.0 is a great program, but it does have limited memory and cannot learn new applications quickly. You might consider buying additional software to improve memory and performance. We recommend Food 3.0 and Hot Lingerie 7.7.
Good Luck

Hooked on Hillary?

Over at the Huffington Post, Nora Ephron's post hit home a little. Not very long ago both Monica and I were totally torn between Obama and Clinton. It was a good thing, actually. When we bought new calendars for 2008, we ended up buying two. One featuring Barack and one with Hillary. They are both very picturesque with all the important dates and events of the election season. Although we both have decided on Obama as first choice, I still do feel somewhat like Ephron does about Hillary.
My mother had said "Hillary is older, maybe it's her time this time, and then Barack." Waiting four or probably eight years does make a difference and I'm sure Hillary is feeling that.
A woman, the President of the United States of America, gives me goose bumps to think of it. All things considered now, it doesn't look like it will happen this time, and I admit that makes me kinda sad. She's worked hard, and believes in herself and her vision, so I understand why she doesn't want to bow out. I can see why Hillary supporters, especially women and particularly mid aged and older women will feel a loss if her campaign ends. I know I will.

Hooked on Hillary
By Nora Ephron
Posted March, 30, 2008
I would like to put myself among the growing chorus of people demanding that Hillary Clinton withdraw from the election. I don't really think it's fair to ask her to withdraw, and I certainly don't believe she's going to; she'll hang in there till the last dog dies, or till she runs out of money, whichever comes first. I'm not asking her to withdraw because I prefer Obama, and I don't think she should withdraw "for the sake of party unity," or whatever current bromide is being flung at her to get her to pull out. I think she should withdraw because I'm losing my mind.

Don't get me wrong, this primary election has been swell. Like Michelle Obama, I feel proud of my country for the first time in a long time. I loved Dennis Kucinich, and I had a big sneaker for Chris Dodd. But now that we're down to two contenders, it's turned into an unending last episode of Survivor. They're eating rats and they're frying bugs, and they're frying rats and they're eating bugs; no one is ever going to get off the island and I can't take it any more.

I am particularly sensitive to this because I'm a woman of a certain age, and this means that part of the pie that passes for my brain contains a large slice called Hillary. I've been thinking about her in a fairly pathological way ever since 1992 and dreaming about her as well. She is me, and then again she's not. I used to love her and I no longer do, but unlike what usually happens when love dies, I still think about her far too much. When she tells a big lie, like her recent Bosnia episode, I can lose hours trying to figure out why. I mean, why? Was it one of those things that she'd said so often that she'd come to believe it? Was it a story that had worked in the past so she thought she'd gotten away with it? Did she honestly think that no one would rat her out? Does she not understand that if you're famous, there's almost nothing you do that someone doesn't have a picture of? I have no idea what the answer is to any of this because I'm not a liar and she is. (By the way, I don't think she was always a liar, the way some kids are born liars and never get over it. I think she was once a truthful person and her lying skills were forged in the early years of her marriage, forged in the crucible of Bill's infidelities and in her role as point person in dealing with them. This is what happens when you marry a narcissist: he spills the milk, you clean it up and your love grows. And then you end up a liar, just like him.)

But the point is that it doesn't matter why Hillary lied; what matters is that I'm hooked on Hillary and on the Rorschach process that defines my relationship with her: she does something, I spend far too much time thinking about it, I superimpose my life and my choices onto hers, I decide how I feel about what she's done, I bore friends witless with my theories, and then, instead of moving on, I'm confronted with yet another episode of her behavior and am forced to devote more hours to developing new theories about her behavior. I don't have time for this.

I understand that asking Hillary to withdraw from the race has more to do with me than it does with her, but that's my point.

Hillary's Church Defends Dr. Wright

Foundry United Methodist Church was cited on numerous occasions as a steady presence during the Clinton's time in the White House. And in January 2001, Bill Clinton gave a farewell speech to the congregation, thanking the church for its work in the city as well as for its "courage" to welcome gay and lesbian Christians.

The pastor of Foundry, Rev. Dean J. Snyder, appeared on MSNBC and defended Wright. Snyder said that while he may not agree with everything Wright has said, he believes that "the church in America is stronger today because of [Wright's] leadership."

The Reverend Jeremiah Wright is an outstanding church leader whom I have heard speak a number of times. He has served for decades as a profound voice for justice and inclusion in our society. He has been a vocal critic of the racism, sexism and homophobia which still tarnish the American dream.
To evaluate his dynamic ministry on the basis of two or three sound bites does a grave injustice to Dr. Wright, the members of his congregation, and the African American church which has been the spiritual refuge of a people that has suffered from discrimination, disadvantage, and violence. Dr. Wright, a member of an integrated denomination, has been an agent of racial reconciliation while proclaiming perceptions and truths uncomfortable for some white people to hear.
Those of us who are white Americans would do well to listen carefully to Dr. Wright rather than to use a few of his quotes to polarize. This is a critical time in America's history as we seek to repent of our racism. No matter which candidates prevail, let us use this time to listen again to one another and not to distort one another's truth.

Dean J. Snyder, Senior Minister
Foundry United Methodist Church

Some of the finest people I know are Trinity Church members. I've been concerned about them. Their church has been called a cult, a den of hate-mongers and worse. Nothing is farther from the truth. Reporters have camped outside and invade that church with little respect for the people or the work that goes on there.
On Easter Sunday, we were glad to see one of the Trinity ministorial students who had interned at our church. Although this trial has to be a strain, she was upbeat and anything but discouraged. She thanked University Church for our support, and assured us they are OK.

When are we going to stop this silliness? Is it that hard to look at the truth about race in this country? Is America that scared of beginning to dialogue? White candidate, Black candidate, Dem or GOP, they should all want that if they love this country. Hillary Clinton and John McCain should have found it more important to join Obama in challenging America instead of using Wright to feed American fears.

Hillary and Bill Clinton should be ashamed. Both are bible readers, church goers and students of history. They have both been to plenty of black churches and know that far more than biblical verses come from those pulpits. They know the civil rights movement was born amid venting and preaching about social ills and inspirational sermons about self determination. They know full well that being pro black is not being anti white. Yes, they both know about Rev. Wright and Trinity. They know his work and what he stands for. They know full well that the Rev. DR. Jeremiah Wright is not a racist, anymore than Bill needs a hymnal in a black church on Sunday mornings. He knows all the words.

Obama, Wright, and Race in America

I have a friend, a white friend, who told me once that I should be ANGRY! I was a bit surprised by that as we talked about white male entitlement in this country. I am a black, female, gay, flag waving patriot who appreciates America's unique history and loves its promise. A promise that was not meant for me. Of course, she is right, there is anger. But, I thought, here is someone who sees beyond her own white nose. I thought, here is a friend with whom I could express that anger and she would not think I'm a racist. Priceless in America?

There are a lot of angry and pent up racial feelings in Americans.
Blacks in America are as a necessity of survival, tuned into white public and private thinking. Whites are usually oblivious to common black perspectives. Never paid any attention. Never had to. I think, many white Americans are shocked and amazed to learn that there is still so much anger and hurt expressed among ourselves. I mean, we've dealt with the basic rights. So now we all can get along. We just say the right things in public and the real things in private. When it comes to honesty about race, we Americans are experts at bandaging over wounds, plugging our ears, and avoiding the 3000 lb elephant in the room.

So, Sen. Barack Obama made a speech about race that ripped off the bandaids and exposed the wounds. He suggested that we actually listen to each other and begin the hard work of healing. No lovey dovey, kum ba yah approach will do this. It'll take gut wrenching personal honesty for all of us. It'll take allowing and understanding each other's anger and hurt feelings and legitimate grievances and disagreements. This guy has the audacity to think that we are up to this. Ha! After some of the responses to that speech, I'm hopeful but I got to say I'm not putting my money there. Bring in a fresh supply of bandanges.

Rev. Wright
Rev. Wright is a product of his times and experience as a black man in America. There are open wounds. He was in the Marines at a time when black soldiers were not honored as white soldiers were. (I've heard my step-father's stories.) Wright knows the Tuskegee Syphilis Study. This was a trauma that black men still commonly speak of today. So, he believes AIDS was manufactured to kill black people. I find this AIDS theory totally ludicrous just as Obama does. But, blacks particularly of Wrights era, don't find it or the crack cocaine genocide theory to be far fetched at all.

Wright thinks the USA brought 9-11 on it's self. I agree that our actions or non-actions in the world may have contributed to the attitude that fostered the hate filled lunacy that brought on that dreadful event. But I certainly don't think my country deserved or directly brought this horror on anymore than Barack does.

Rev. Wright is accused of racism. They had to sift through hundreds of hours of tape to find those angry emotional snippets. Monica and I have seen and heard dozens of his sermons and never saw any hint of racism. Far from it. We saw no sign of a crack pot or nut case or hate-monger either. His messages are full of hope and self determination and lots of humor. Wright is blatently honest and in your face and emotional and in the tradition of the Black church excitable. And there are those rare reckless statements. Absolutely.
Sometimes you vent with your family. Trinity Church is Wright's family.
While I understand where Rev. Wright gets these particular attitudes, I don't agree with them, anymore than Barack does.
Understanding is not agreeing.
I am not a Rev. Wright apologist nor will I cite his accomplishments in the areas of health, education, economics, youth or HIV/AIDS and GLBT issues in his community. I just hope people judge this man by his deeds, not by politically motivated snippets.
My litmus test is always GLBT issues.

Hillary Clinton's Methodist Church Influence
The practice of homosexuality is incompatible with Christian teaching. Therefore self-avowed practicing homosexuals are not to be certified as candidates, ordained as ministers, or appointed to serve in The United Methodist Church. The General Council on Finance and Administration of The United Methodist Church shall be responsible for ensuring that no board, agency, committee, commission, or council shall give United Methodist funds to any gay caucus or group, or otherwise use such funds to promote the acceptance of homosexuality. The council shall have the right to stop such expenditures. "
--From the Book of Discipline of the Methodist Church.

Wow! I'm sure she heard plenty of anti-gay sermons in an atmosphere that encourages staying in the closet. It's a homophobic atmosphere where GLBT folk are deemed unfit to fully serve and ministers are not allowed to conduct same sex unions.

Hillary says about her church:

"I have always had a deep personal faith that was rooted in the Methodist church in large measure because I was christened into it, I grew up in it. But, it also very much reflected how I thought about faith as I matured. You know, if you look at the Methodist book of discipline it talks about the four contributing streams of faith -- scripture, tradition, experience and reason. I always resonated to the fact that it was both revelatory and scripture-based but that you were invited to use your power of reason to think through your faith and to work through what it meant to you and how you would live it in your daily life."
--Hillary Clinton

So she learned and grew from her church's teachings without becoming a homophobe.
Hillary doesn't leave her brain at home when she goes to church anymore than Barack does.
The same United Methodist Church stance on homosexuality was reaffirmed just last week. But there is no call for her to renounce her church because of it's homophobia. Why not?

United Church of Christ (Trinity)
In 1973, The United Church Coalition for Gay, Lesbian, Bisexual and Transgender Concerns was formed. Since then GLBT folk have participated in all aspects of church service.
In 1985, the UCC General Synod formally urged their local churches to welcome gay and lesbian members, offering an "Open and Affirming" program and advocate in their behalf against discrimination and persecution.
A resolution to endorse same-sex marriage was overwhelmingly approved by General Synod 25. (2005) The resolution calls on its congregations to consider wedding policies "that do not discriminate on couples based on gender." They also ask its congregations to support changes in state marriage legislation to give equal rights to same-sex couples. An alternative resolution which would have defined marriage as being between one man and one woman was rejected.

I have personally heard many Jeremiah Wright sermons on this subject and he is very up front about how he feels about GLBT people in the world and in the church.

In a sermon Monica and I heard, he said "Some of these ministers try to shrink God down to the size of a tiny little shrimp and put him in a tiny little box and it stinks to high heaven. HPGB is all they want to do. That's High Praising and Gay Bashing."

Also from Rev. Wright

“I refuse to limit my God, to lock God into my cultural understandings because culture is fickle,” Wright said. “And culture is often wrong. Culture was wrong about slavery. Culture was wrong about women. Culture was wrong about Africans and Indians, and culture was wrong about Christ,” he said. “I have been the pariah among many of my clergy colleagues who somehow see me as defective or not quite saved because I won’t join them in their homophobic gay bashing and misquoting of scripture.” (Rev. Jeremiah Wright)

He does not sound like a nut case, hate monger to me.
If Obama loses, he loses. But it would be a travesty if it was based on this trumped up issue.

Rev. Wright sermons
YouTube or
Trinity United Church website

Here is an interview with Rev. Wright.

Here is the UCC response to the hoopla.

Denise Clapsaddle(Huffington post)
Obama channels Jefferson

Not This Time, America

I am indebted to Barack Obama for his candidacy and Reverend Jeremiah Wright for his comments that brought about possibly, hopefully, at long last, putting the race thing on the table. Presidential candidates have never ever realistically addressed America's most prevalent problem. Yes, they have addressed rights and entitlements, and water fountains and voting, jobs and quotas, but never the real deep-seated effects of racism on whites and blacks and what it does to our nation. Never about what it takes to actually begin healing the wounds inflicted by duplicitous slave owning and condoning founding fathers. I am a big fan of the writings and genius of the founding fathers. But, their hypocritical legacy on race has crept into every pore of America.
Our challenge is to take our fingers out of our ears and face the truth. That's the first step and the hardest. It means looking at our own attitudes and seeing someones else's. A challenge that any candidate could have put to us, but none ever did.
This challenge is a big part of Obama's vision for America. He has faith in Americans enough to lay it out there.

Do we want to be better or keep up the sham of an equal society, the status quo?
So yes, we can ignore it and stay in our corners or step up and say "not this time."



When Americans speak of freedom, it should be respected and real.

2007 State Stats

Most Dangerous States
The two most populace states in the U.S., California and New York, don't have the best crime rates, but they are not among the top most dangerous states. See which states do have the highest crime rates. I find the rape states interestingly out of sinc in some states. They are either higher or lower than the other factors. For example Maryland is number 2 in murder but 46 in rape. (CQ Press annual crime rankings)
No 1: Nevada
For the fifth consecutive year, Nevada tops the rankings as the nation's Most Dangerous State. On a positive note, however, its property crime rate showed improvement.

Rankings in Crime (out of 50)

Assault: 8
Burglary: 6
Murder: 3
Motor Vehicle Theft: 1
Rape: 8
Robbery: 1

No. 2: Louisiana
Things have gotten worse in Louisiana. The state climbs to the No. 2 spot, all the way from the No. 10 spot it held last year. It has the highest murder rate of any state

Assault: 4
Burglary: 4
Murder: 1
Motor Vehicle Theft: 19
Rape: 15
Robbery: 19

No. 3: New Mexico
New Mexico's coiffed tourist image of open desert spaces, Earth-conscious living and colorful hot-air balloons belie a serious crime problem in this border state.

Assault: 6
Burglary: 3
Murder: 10 (tie)
Motor Vehicle Theft: 8
Rape: 2
Robbery: 24

No. 4: South Carolina
Whatever happened to Southern hospitality? Sunny South Carolina is charged with the highest assault problem in the Most Dangerous States list

Assault: 1
Burglary: 7
Murder: 4 (tie)
Motor Vehicle Theft: 15
Rape: 12
Robbery: 18

No. 5: Arizona
Another border state tops the list of Most Dangerous States; there's more to fear here than black widow spiders and scorpions.

Assault: 16
Burglary: 12
Murder: 7
Motor Vehicle Theft: 2
Rape: 25
Robbery: 16

No. 6: Tennessee
Tennessee residents might sing about love for country and neighbor, but lag behind in showing it. The state earns the No. 2 slot for most assaults.

Assault: 2
Burglary: 5
Murder: 10 (tie)
Motor Vehicle Theft: 17
Rape: 19
Robbery: 7

No. 7: Maryland
Hugging the nation's high-crime capital, struggling to revitalize Baltimore and growing its gambling industry, Maryland has the second-highest murder and robbery rate.

Assault: 10
Burglary: 25
Murder: 2
Motor Vehicle Theft: 7
Rape: 46
Robbery: 2

No. 8: Alaska
Alaska is plagued with having the highest number of rape cases. There could be a correlation with alcohol abuse, also known to plague the state.

Assault: 3
Burglary: 29
Murder: 22
Motor Vehicle Theft: 16
Rape: 1
Robbery: 31

No. 9: Florida
It has been commented on a city-data.com forum that Florida crime is not concentrated in one area, but rather spread across the state.

Assault: 5
Burglary: 10
Murder: 15
Motor Vehicle Theft: 12
Rape: 17
Robbery: 5

No. 10: Michigan
Michigan is home to two of the three most dangerous cities in America, according to the latest CM Press city rankings. Detroit ranks first and Flint ranks third.

Assault: 13
Burglary: 18
Murder: 9
Motor Vehicle Theft: 7
Rape: 3
Robbery: 17

No. 11: Arkansas
The home to former President Bill Clinton rises in the rankings for the 5th year in a row. After hovering in the middle of the pack in 2004, Arkansas now ranks in the top 10 of four of the six crime categories.

Assault: 9
Burglary: 2
Murder: 8
Motor Vehicle Theft: 34
Rape: 5
Robbery: 30

No. 12: Delaware
The First State has taken a sharp rise up the list over the past two years as it moved from 24th in 2006, to 18th in 2007 to 12th this year thanks to high rankings for assault, rape & robbery.

Assault: 7
Burglary: 20
Murder: 24
Motor Vehicle Theft: 23
Rape: 4
Robbery: 3

No. 13: California
Even though California makes the top 15 list for Most Dangerous States, the Center on Juvenile and Criminal Justice states that crime rates in California have fallen over the last two decades.
Assault: 18
Burglary: 24
Murder: 10 (tie)
Motor Vehicle Theft: 4
Rape: 41
Robbery: 4





No. 14: Texas
The home of President George Bush ranked in the top 10 Most Dangerous States as recently as 2004 but has steadily improved since.

Assault: 15
Burglary: 13
Murder: 18
Motor Vehicle Theft: 13
Rape: 18
Robbery: 12

No. 15: Alabama
Seems in Alabama, they get serious fast. While only ranking 25th for assault, they tie South Carolina at No. 4 for murder.

Assault: 25
Burglary: 8
Murder: 4 (tie)
Motor Vehicle Theft: 26
Rape: 16
Robbery: 13


15 SAFEST STATES in U.S.

Now that you've seen which states are the most dangerous in America, find out which are the safest states to live in.
No 1: New Hampshire
New Hampshire is ranked No. 1 for the first time thanks to impressively low crime across the board. It boasts the nation's lowest murder rate and second-lowest aggravated assault and burglary rates.
Assault: 49
Burglary: 49
Murder: 50
Motor Vehicle Theft: 47
Rape: 39
Robbery: 43

No. 2: Maine
The Pine Tree state has been ranked in the top three each of the past 15 years. It has the lowest assault rate in the U.S.

Assault: 50
Burglary: 38
Murder: 45
Motor Vehicle Theft: 48
Rape: 40
Robbery: 44

No. 3: North Dakota
After dominating the Safest State list for the past decade, the Peach Garden state suffers its lowest ranking since 1996. Its rape rate is mainly to blame.

Assault: 48
Burglary: 46
Murder: 48
Motor Vehicle Theft: 45
Rape: 28
Robbery: 50

No. 4: Vermont
It's nice to know there are some places left in the world where folks don't have to live under lock and key. Vermont was the safest state in 2003 along with 1994 & 1996.

Assault: 47
Burglary: 36
Murder: 41
Motor Vehicle Theft: 49
Rape: 42
Robbery: 46

No. 5: South Dakota
As one of the safest states to live in, South Dakota suffers from a shockingly high incidence of rape, but ranks in the top 5 in all other categories.

Assault: 46
Burglary: 48
Murder: 49
Motor Vehicle Theft: 50
Rape: 9
Robbery: 48

No. 6: Wyoming
Wyoming is a great example of a state with low income and low economic growth that does not fall prey to major crime.

Assault: 30
Burglary: 43
Murder: 46
Motor Vehicle Theft: 46
Rape: 36
Robbery: 49

No. 7: Montana
Some credit Montana's low crime rate to the high level of gun ownership. Since most criminals are looking for easy targets, this may keep some in line. The Treasure State has lowest burglary rate in the country.

Assault: 28
Burglary: 50
Murder: 42 (tie)
Motor Vehicle Theft: 41
Rape: 31
Robbery: 47

No. 8: Iowa
The Hawkeye State pulls in the No. 8 ranking for the fourth year in a row thanks to above average scores in all six crime categories.

Assault: 26
Burglary: 30
Murder: 42 (tie)
Motor Vehicle Theft: 42
Rape: 33
Robbery: 42

No. 9: Idaho
Idaho is a regular on most of the best places to live lists published from various media venues, thanks to its much touted city, Boise. But they need to work on that rape statistic.

Assault: 31
Burglary: 37
Murder: 38
Motor Vehicle Theft: 44
Rape: 13
Robbery: 35

No. 10: Wisconsin
Wisconsin consistently ranks well below the national crime average.

Assault: 38
Burglary: 40
Murder: 33
Motor Vehicle Theft: 36
Rape: 47
Robbery: 28

No. 11: Connecticut
Connecticut is the state where many New Yorkers relocate when it's time to raise a family and give in to the hour-plus commute to the Big Apple. A plus: low levels of assault, burglary and rape.

Assault: 44
Burglary: 44
Murder: 32
Motor Vehicle Theft: 28
Rape: 48
Robbery: 22

No. 12: Rhode Island
The Ocean State improves four spots this year to score the second best gain after Washington state thanks to strong rankings in all categories except auto theft.

Assault: 45
Burglary: 39
Murder: 37
Motor Vehicle Theft: 22
Rape: 38
Robbery: 37

No. 13: Utah
Home to one of the safest cities in America, Orem, the Beehive State maintains its No. 13 ranking that it also held last year.

Assault: 42
Burglary: 33
Murder: 42 (tie)
Motor Vehicle Theft: 25
Rape: 21
Robbery: 40

No. 14: West Virginia
West Virginia is seeing an influx of commuters from the Washington D.C. metro region (including Northern Virginia and parts of Maryland) for its low crime rate and more affordable land and housing.

Assault: 27
Burglary: 28
Murder: 29
Motor Vehicle Theft: 39
Rape: 45
Robbery: 41

No. 15: Virginia
The Old Dominion State improves one position for the third year in a row and holds its best ranking since 2001. It has low crime in all categories except burglaries where it has the fifth worst rate in the nation.

Assault: 39
Burglary: 5
Murder: 23
Motor Vehicle Theft: 40
Rape: 43
Robbery: 27

15 MOST DANGEROUS CITIES

No. 1:
Detroit, Mich.

Rankings in Crime (out of 50)
Assault: 2
Murder: 2
Rape: 49
Motor Vehicle Theft: 2
Robbery: 5
Burglary: 17
Again rape stands out. Is it under reported? Interesting.

2. St. Louis, Mo.

3. Flint, Mich
No 1 in rape and assault

4.Oakland, Calif.
# 1 in car theft.

5. Camden, N.J.
# 1 in robbery

6.Birmingham, Ala.
7. North Charleston, S.C.
8.Memphis, Tenn.
9. Richmond, Ca
10.Cleveland, Ohio
# 2 in robbery and #5 in rape.

11. Orlando, Fla.
12. Baltimore, Md.
13. Little Rock, Ark.
14.Compton, Calif.
15.Youngstown, Ohio

OK, the 25 SAFEST CITES.

No. 1:
Mission Viejo, Calif.
Mission Viejo reports no murders for 2006, boasts the nation's lowest rape rate, and has the third-lowest aggravated assault, violent crime, and property crime rates among cities with populations of 75,000 or more.

No. 2: Clarkstown N.Y.
No. 3: Brick Township, N.J.
No. 4: Amherst, N.Y.
No. 5: Sugar Land, Texas
No. 6: Colonie, N.Y.
No. 7: Thousand Oaks, Calif.
No. 8: Newton, Mass.
No. 9: Toms River Twnshp, N.J.
No. 10: Lake Forest, Calif.
No. 11: Irvine, Calif.
No. 12: Orem, Utah
No. 13: Round Rock, Te
No. 14: Cary, N.C.
No. 15: Greece, N.Y.
No. 16: Chino Hills, Calif
No. 17: Coral Springs, Fla.
No. 18: Troy, Mich.
No. 19: Farmington Hills, Mich
No. 20: Centennial, Colo.
No. 21: Glendale, Calif.
No. 22: Broken Arrow, Okla.
No. 23: Parma, Ohio
No. 24: Sterling Heights, Mich.
No. 25: Simi Valley, Calif.


HEALTHIEST STATES

Twenty-one factors from infant mortality to obesity to cancer rates are compiled for the list. See which dozen states rank as the healthiest and which one state ranks as the least healthy. (Morgan Quitno Press in its 15th annual list.)

No. 1 -- Vermont
The Green Mountain state wins the crown as the healthiest state in America for the sixth time in seven years.
It ranked very well in most of the 21 factors including low teenage birth rate, strong health coverage and the lowest AIDS rate of all 50 states.

No. 2 -- Minnesota
#1 in the categories of largest percentage of population who exercise and are covered by health insurance.
No. 3 -- Massachuetts
No. 4 -- Maine
No. 5 -- New Hampshire
No. 6 -- Nebraska
High child immunization rate, access to primary care, and high number of hospital beds available helped put Nebraska high on the list.
No. 7 -- Iowa
The Beehive State was the healthiest state back in 1993 and has consistently remained in the top 10.
No. 8 -- Utah
Ranked No.1 in six of the 21 categories. These include the lowest infant mortality rate, lowest rate of new cancer cases and fewest smokers and binge drinkers.
No. 9 -- Hawaii
No. 10 -- Kansas
No. 11 -- Rhode Island
No. 12 -- North Dakota
No. 50 -- Louisana
If the Bayou state didn't have enough challenges after Katrina it now holds the distinction as being the most unhealthy state in America.
It replaces Mississippi which held the title last year. Louisiana ranked in the bottom 10 of over half the 21 categories measured.

Were you surprised by some of these stats? Again, what's up with the strange rape stats. The otherwise crime ridden Maryland has low rape stats and the very safe South Dakota has high rape stats, and Alaska also with high rape stats?

Keith Spells It Out

My mom turned me on to MSNBC's Keith Olbermman. She called him her "boyfriend". "Turn my boyfriend on, NOW!" "Can you get me a printout of Keith's comments last night?"
Well needless to say with all this political hoopla going on, my family and I and all her friends miss JoJo very much. It is torture not being able to call her especially about primaries and the Florida/Michigan debacle, about Hillary and Barack and McCain and Bill and Rev. Wright and Geraldine Ferraro.

Well mom, boyfriend spells out for Sen. Ferraro what she pretends not to understand.



Democrats, we are shooting ourselves in the foot and will lose the race. Right, mom?

Barack Spells It Out

I knew Hillary Clinton couldn't be counted out of this race. She is savvy and a fighter.
I hate that Rush Limbaugh is patting himself on the back for her success. Yucky Rush "endorsed" Hillary and encouraged conservatives to go in there and close their eyes and vote for Clinton. He wants Hillary to "bloody up Obama" because McCain will not do a good enough job of it. He wants Hillary to stay in as long as possible to do damage to Barack and the Democrats. Rush and the conservatives are deathly afraid of Barack Obama. They yearn for Hillary Clinton vs McCain. Failing that, they want her to help them hurt him.


Democrats must win in November. These two Democratic candidates may soon have to sit down with Howard Dean (DNC) and make a hard decision for the party, for America. Failing that, we may lose the Whitehouse.


Last night in San Antonio, Texas, Barack Obama spelled out the "change" he seeks. His vision for America is quite different from John McCain's or Hillary Clinton's. I am not opposed to Hillary, she can get things done and would be a good president. But she will not change America or challenge Americans.

CHANGE, According to me.
Democracy is supposed to be a challenge. It means turning off the ipods and reality shows and doing some thinking. It takes work and participation from us.

When Barack Obama speaks of change, he means in the way things are accomplished in Washington, end to gridlock, etc etc. This he speaks on all the time. But there are other changes he is acutely aware of. He finally spelled these out last night. These are the changes I want for my country. It's a change that most black Americans know and want simply by instinct and history; that young idealistic Americans crave for and understand; that many Americans hope to see in their country before they die; and the diversity and humanity that much of the world community hopes to see in America.
I want a president that is not an old white man or has an old white man's world view. A president who will take a different diplomatic approach and who knows the way to peace is more through aiding and feeding than bullying and bombing. A president that looks at the world differently, through the eyes of a black child born to a white mother in Hawaii, raised and schooled in Indonesia in a multi-cultural home. Who visited his father's little shack in a village in Kenya and read his letters. I cannot see that man turning blind eyes and deaf ears to hundreds of thousands of Rwandans being massacred, as the Clintons did. A total devaluation of black lives.

Dave Chappelle on Actors Studio told a joke that made me cry.

"Do you know why terrorist don't like to take black hostages? Hello White House, we have 5 black... hello.... hello."

Obama will finally bring value to Black life in this country. (Dare I say Katrina.) Value to black lives in the world. It's time.

It's time for a president who is honest about who we are no matter how scary.
It's time for a president willing to take the harder path to making us all better.
I want to finally begin bringing America to it's promise.
I don't believe he is or I am a deluded dreamer to want that.

Born to be wild?

Get your motor runnin'
Head out on the highway
Lookin' for adventure
And whatever comes our way...


If you live in La Paz, Bolivia it's wildly dangerous just to get home.
This is DEATH ROAD. As in you can get killed here highway.



Dustin posts about it here. Be sure to click on the pictures for a close up look at this thing.

Like a true nature's child
We were born, born to be wild
We can climb so high
I never wanna die

Born to be wild
Born to be wild

Would you do this? Not me, no way Jose. Dustin got me curious so I checked this road out a bit more. The narrow stone and boulder strewn road is not the only danger. It is three miles above sea level making breathing very difficult. There are rocks raining down from above; in the rainy season the drenched road turns into slime that can and have washed folks right over the edge; in the dry season it is so dusty it's like a blinding sandstorm;
cell phones do not work up there (there is no help service anyway); there are huge vertical cracks in this thing; if you look through the passenger side window you can see the river in the canyon below; no gaurdrails; and hairpin turns and dropoffs. As if that's not enough, many drivers move at breakneck speeds on this road flying past the many markers where others died.


The good news is, they are building a new road, a by-pass to replace the Death Road. The bad news is, they have been working on it for 20 years.

C'mon Hillary

This is beneath you, girlfriend.


There are no illusions. You have heard him say many times, "Yes we can" not yes I can. "It's going to take time, we have to do it together, it won't be easy, and I will make mistakes." Yes, he actually had the guts to say the "m" word".


And, this picture that reportedly came from your camp. Hope it didn't. Using fear tactics is so Bushesque.



Obama in his father's homeland, Kenya.

Fun with Dance History

Alex's Video Friday feature made me scream! When you see this guy, dancer is not what comes to mind. But he has mad skills, especially in the way he transitions from one song to the next. Love it!

Time Out for Fun

I remember seeing comedians impersonate political figures. It was fun. Remember Vaughn Meader (or course you don't) who did such an excellent JFK. Everyone did the Kennedys and Nixon and thanks only to Saturday Night Live, we saw the Reagan, Bush, Carter, Clinton eras spoofed too.
I miss variety shows where we could see timely comedy during an ongoing election season.
Well, I guess that's what Youtube is for.
If Hillary becomes president, Rosemary Watson will be the girl of the hour. Her Hillary spoofs are pretty funny and spot on impressions.
Here are a couple that I'm sure even Hillary would laugh at.




This is Hill but I'm sure they all do this.



I still miss variety shows.

Giraffe? What's a Giraffe?

I'm on an animal kick lately. Maybe it's this seemingly endless winter and I need a warm fun day at the zoo with the kids. I love going to the zoo and watching the amazement of city kids seeing a goat or lamb or lion up close. Lambs are not all soft and fluffy, they're kinda nappy and smelly. Lions don't really ROAR, it's more like the Wizard of OZ lion's, rufffff.
Ain't nothing like the real thing baby.

Anyway I ran across this info on endangered species. I hate the whole idea of an entire species going away forever. Sometimes it's a natural thing, but most times it's us. Yeah, us humans, the destroyers.

On Endangered List: The giraffe population is teetering on the brink of extinction. More than 1,000 animals are on the U.S.'s endangered species list. I can't imagine the world without this leggy, beautiful creature.



On Endangered List: The small pygmy hippo lives in a forested area in West Africa. Its numbers are estimated to be dangerously low, at less than 3,000.



On Endangered List: Global climate change and general warming patterns, which are melting the polar bears' habitat, may cause the creatures to disappear within 100 years. This is totally our fault!


On Endangered List: In just 12 years, common hippos have gone from secure to vulnerable. Illegal hunting for meat and tooth ivory has decimated their population. Greedy humans strike again!


Some Good News.

Off Endangered List: In 2005, federal officials took grizzly bears off the list after the animals' numbers grew in and around Yellowstone National Park. Endangered species are not allowed to be killed or trapped by ranchers and hunters, except in situations when a human life is at stake.



Off Endangered List: The federal government announced Thursday that gray wolves will no longer be protected under the Endangered Species Act after their numbers increased sharply in the Northern Rockies following a 13-year restoration effort.



An estimated 1,500 wolves now roam Idaho, Montana and Wyoming. That represents a dramatic turnaround for a predator that was largely exterminated in the U.S. outside of Alaska in the early 20th century.
Ranchers are not so happy about the restoration effort and they can't wait to get those wolves in their sites. They will be allowed to get busy shooting as soon as this fall.
However, an independent wolf biologist said he would be "shocked" if the animal again ends up on the endangered list.

"The last thing any of the states want is for wolves to be re-listed by the federal government," said Daniel Pletscher, director of the University of Montana's wildlife biology program. He added that tolerance of wolves has grown immensely since the species was nearly wiped out. Good for the wolf.