Poverty Rate Rises........for real?

As if we did not know this already. It's the fourth consecutive year it has increased. Say it aint so? You already know Blacks had the lowest median income, while those hard working Asians had the highest median. Take a look at the article in today's Washington Post. http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2005/08/30/AR2005083000613.html?sub=AR

My prayers go out to the families who have been affected by Hurricane Katrina. The hurricane did extensive damage in several states and the impact is sure to be felt for several years. I can not fathom a home being swallowed up by flood water. It looks like there will be very many lives lost, considering rescue efforts are not quite fully operational. There is really no telling who is missing at this time. This is turning into a very huge national disaster. Why the news showing niccas looting already? I know there are some white folk out there looting. Ok, I am gonna be real, I can understand looting for water, soda, Snickers, peanut butter, diapers, formula, canned goods shit like that. Looting for items like this, I say loot on. I can't back my peeps out there running round with slacks, fresh white t's, dvd's and plasma screen tvs'. But peeps will be peeps regardless of how crucial the situation is. Hell, I might even jack a boat shop for a couple of rafts since aint gonna be any driving goin on any time soon. I guess my point is, situations like this are supposed to bring out the best in ALL OF us. Then is looks like the situation in the Superdome is deteriorating, four shootings outside the dome, and one suicide inside. Toilets are jacked inside and aint no air. We talking bout 10,000 of us inside that place? Little bad azz kids running round too. The people inside can't go anywhere, and because the roof is leaking, they have got to find somewhere for those people to go. Once again, I can't even imagine. Latino dude? Better be food in the bag.

I survived my first week back......kinda.

Why did I think class began at 1:30 on Friday. So I get to the classroom, at exactly 1:27, open the door, out of the view of the professor who is deep in his lecture, see my boy, smirking, and likely muttering "late azz". I see a few chicks in class, smiling and shaking their heads. So, in a mater of three seconds I summarize my options and the ramifications of my decision. I can casually walk on in, and grab my seat, and likely the professor will, stop his lecture, direct a few words of disdain for my interruption, or he could stop his lecture, direct a few words of disdain and promptly tell me to get the hell on, you are late and therefore absent. Its wayyyy to early in the semester to be getting embarrassed in class, so I decided to hold on to my kool points and bounced.

I was sitting down minding my own business waiting for class to start on Thursday, when these two older white military vets decided to get loud in front of me while discussing the War in Iraq. That is a no no. Dude said something ridiculous while discussing war protestors. So I asked him are protestors not allowed to question how it is the nation was led to war. So he tells me we went to war because of the 3000 or so killed on 9/11. So while keeping a very mellow tone, I sarcastically ask, so uh..how many Iraqis were amongst the hijackers? Then he goes on to say well Colin Powell (he tried to pull the race card on me) told the U.N., Saddam was harboring Al Qaida and Zarqawi. Since he had the audacity to throw Powell at me, I unleashed a couple of jabs, I said Colin has already commented on the fact that he basically regrets the presentation he made on that day to the U.N and that the region that the alleged Al Qaida members were present, Saddam had no control over as that area was in the no fly zones we were patrolling. Any way dude was full of shit as he went on about WMD's, so I shut him down with the President's own boy David Kay has clearly acknowledged that there are/were no WMD'S in Iraq. Dude flipped the script and asked me if I have served my country in the military or in war. I was like hell naw, thank god.... So he was like well I have been in seven conflicts, naming them off. My response was I honor your service, but our boys and girls over there in Iraq should have never been sent there on some bullshit. End of conversation.

So I close out this blog honoring a few young people who have had their young lives taken in Iraq. Ramona Valdez, died at the age of 20 on July 9th in a car bomb explosion in Iraq. Adrian Butler, age 28, died on July 27th, when a bomb blew up by his vehicle. Leslie Jackson, age 18, died when a makeshift bomb exploded near her vehicle.

Now, the counter to my argument is that these people knew that when they enlisted there would be a possibility that they would be called on to serve their country in battle. I accept that argument. My point is those soldiers should be able to rely upon their country and their President that they would not be sent to war on hunches, lies, personal vendettas, or straight up bullshit. Those who have lost their lives in Iraq were fathers, mothers, brothers and sisters,.....loved ones. They should still be here living their lives if our system of government worked the way it should. That's all I am going to say on that. Excuse any typos.....

Random thoughts before I study

Back in class, damn where did the summer go?........damn............. Professional Responsibility might be a biatchhh........damn....... Late night study sessions guided by the likes of Jill Scott, Leela James (the sista's got a strong voice), and Anthony Hamilton (his new joint is funky). Gas prices high enough to make a brotha cuss...........as Florida on Good Times would say, Damn, DAmn, DAMN!!! See my previous post, I need a Hot moped. Let's see, maybe I can save going from Premium Unleaded to the one in the middle.......... I did hear you get better fuel efficiency when you drive at about 55 mph. Oh well, what else can I do, that aint it........ How much more can Harold Ford Jr., do to further sell out his base? What hasn't he already done to see it out? I could cook a little more, instead of doing a variety of turkey sandwiches for lunch and dinner.....cajun turkey, cracked pepper turkey, smoked turkey...... I guess I could splurge and have two hot dogs for dinner....... Who smokes more weed, white intellectuals or brotha's in the hood...........hmm......I dunno......that might be a close one......flip a coin....... Will I ever get married????? Uh, change subjects dude.............. Hell will I find time to have a few shorties??? Damn man, change subjects....... Who looks better, Gabrielle Union, Nia Long, or Sanaa Lathan, I dunno, that's a tough one.........

Times up, gotta get to reading......

Puttin my Money Where My Mouth Is

My black folk in the country.............I just don't know what to say. This week, financial assistance was to be given to twenty-five people whose utilities had been cut off. So a thousand folk showed up for these twenty five slots. You know anytime you get over ten negroes together for a giveaway there will be some attitude, lack of organization and just a whole lot of mess. Folk showed up early to get in line, and then people started making their own lines. Anyway, I was too through when the local news interviewed a middle aged lady asking why she was there. This woman said, (with attitude) "my utilities got cut off, and SOMEBODY needs to pay for it.........."

I have been harping lately over the fact that young black should be encouraged to bypass enlisting into the military at this time because of the likelihood that they would be quickly shipped off to Iraq. In fact, while watching a program on C-SPAN, a military analyst indicated that a new recruit could have boots on the ground in Iraq four months after enlisting. Four months!

I had the opportunity to practice what I preach while at the airport over the weekend. At that time there were, five black males, one black female, one hispanic female and one white male, each with their Army of One t-shirt, saying goodbye to their loved ones preparing to leave for bootcamp. My read of them all, looking at the parents, even the white kid, were that they came from fairly low income households. Taking the totality of the situation into account, I found myself wanting to chat with them, just to see where their heads were at, but I could not find it in me to disturb the tearful moments between the families. What would I ask? Yo, why you joining, don't you know there is a endless war going on, are you crazy? So while deliberating, I decided to go get a smoothie. While in line, the mother of one of the kids gets in line behind me, wit two other small kids. So I pondered for a moment, marinated on what flavor smoothie I wanted, took a deep breathe, and then turned to the mother.

Me: Hi, how you doin? Mother: Hi, I'm ok. Me: I see your son is leaving, is it for bootcamp? Mother: Yeah, he is going to the Army. Me: Wow, ok............ (long pause) marinating on smoothie Me: Is he excited about it. Mother: A little bit, he wants to be a mechanic. Me: How you feeling about it? Mother: I don't know, sad that he is leaving. Me: I imagine you are. Did he consider anything else before deciding to join? Mother: No, not really, he did not have good grades.........and he did not really find a job that was paying anything, so he decided to go on and go. Me: I understand.........well I hope things for him work out for the best. God Bless you ma'am.

It took a whole lot in me not to go there. Hell it was too late, aint like I could grab the kids and take them with me. It seems like the main reason young folk are enlisting right now is the lack of opportunity, job training, financial resources. It's mainly a financial decision. The money the Army is throwing at these kids, is probably more money than their own parents have made in a year or two. What are they to do?

No More Par-layin

Damn, my vacation has come to an end. No more staying up to 2 a.m., no more sleeping till noon, no more home cooked meals, no more driving and not paying for gas, no more nada. Its back to the grind for me. Time surely passes by fast when you're having fun. Let's look back at the highlights of my trip.

Spent quality time with my sisters. I miss you guys already. I hate that I am not around to spend more time with you all. You three are so unique, with Lord knows quite complicated personalities. Naj, make things a lil more easier for yourself, do what you gotta do to keep folk off your tail, I promise things will be much more easier for you if you find that middle ground. Nur, finish your credits up so you can get your transfer on. Saffi, don't make me come back out here cause you trippin in the 12th., Do your work girl. Love ya'll

Kicked with my homies from back in the day. Its funny how all the kids who grew up behind us, got kids and we still doing whatever the heck we doing.

Six Flags with my peeps. Yo Mo, you need to be averaging 19 pts, 8 rebs, and 6 assists a game for State. Do your thing boy......can I be your agent?

Kickboxing class with Pops. You just gotta brown nose in class asking for ten more pushups or twenty more crunches. Those folk in class are gonna revolt on you if you keep it up, either that, or slip an ole fashion low blow while sparring. I gotta give you your props though, for 60, you got mad energy and desire. But, I can still hang with you. Oh yea, Lighten up at the shop, release your reigns and let Naj handle hers.

Moms, what can I say, always there for a brotha. Can't go there while blogging.

Lets see, I probably missed some stuff. I sho hate it's back to clerking and classes in a few

weeks. I got to get used to using my brain again, and fast.

Miss ya'll already................

Roller Coaster Fever

I made my annual voyage with my sisters to Six Flags in Los Angeles. It was a blast as we spent the entire day standing in line to ride some of the best rides around. I did get punked on one of the rides, Goliath. The ride has a two hundred and fifty five foot drop and then it suddenly makes one hell of a sharp turn. I was only scared because as I sat in the front of the ride, I kept sliding as the ride made its sharp turns. The ride was so fast that I had tears in my eyes at the end of the ride. I must say that I redeemed myself in the end because I got back in line to ride it a second time. I gotta mention another ride that made me and my sisters scream for our lives, and that was X. This ride takes you up a steep ramp upside down laying back, and then out of the blue flips you upside down and drops you straight down before abruptly sending you on a series of turns and flips upside down. Once again, I was on the front of the ride so I felt the full effects of the ride. The trip to Six Flags is one my sisters and I make every year. It was good just hanging with them having fun. I spend most of the year away from them so it is just kool spending the entire day with them screaming our heads off.

No Holds Bar

Bush can do what the funk he wants to do and there ain't noboby that can stop him. Latest example, John Bolton was installed as Ambassador to the U.N. as the Senate has concluded its term. Bolton is another anglo-saxon, neocon, angry at the world, old head who has made hostile statements about the U.N. The man is a straight jerk and should not be representing our country to the rest of the world.

If I were the Democrats, I'd let the Republicans win the next Presidential election. Bush has funked us for the last four years and we have three more years of decline. Why should the Democrats follow up and have to clean the mess up. Let all the idiots who voted for the fool in the first place get a extra helping of the shit he's dishing. That's just my take.