Memphis Voters

Dear Reader:

I'm asking for your support of Mayor Willie. W. Herenton as he seeks re-election on October 4th. I am of the opinion that Mayor Herenton is the best candidate for Mayor. He has a tremendous record, and our City has made unprecedented growth and progress under his leadership.

The Mayor has been an advocate for giving young college graduates an opportunity to excel in the professional arena by actively recruiting them to City Government. Under his leadership, City Hall is more than ever both culturally and gender diverse. It was also Mayor Herenton that implemented the Summer Youth Program which gives thousands of teens jobs during the summer. (I was actually one of the teens hired back in 1992.) Finally, the Mayor in 1996, created the Minority and Woman Business Enterprise Program to bring small minority and women owned business to the table of City Contracts. Since its inception, over ONE-HUNDRED AND FORTY-EIGHT MILLION DOLLARS has been dispersed to such businesses. These accomplishments were unheard of prior to the Mayor taking office.

My friends, these successes and others are in jeopardy of being brought to a halt if certain individuals have their way. There is a movement in this City that wants to halt the progress made in certain segments of our community and return City Governance back to the ways of old. EXCLUSION. Some have said that the Mayor has been in office too long. But if you look to the history of this City, there was no black Mayor from 1827 to 1992. They want to get rid of him after only sixteen years of steady progress, I think not.

I am not asserting that this Mayor has been perfect, by no means. However, I'd urge you to not get CAUGHT UP IN THE HYPE of voting for another candidate based on the Mayor's perceived personality. I'd ask you to look to his record, and to look at how far this City has come, and then cast your vote for Mayor Herenton. Lets continue to move forward, not take steps backwards. Your Friend, Spike Zee

Contenda

Flipping through the stations after a very long day, I land on ESPN, just as the boxing show Contender is beginning, coincidentally just like I did last week. I'm a mid-level boxing fan (can be quite brutal) nonetheless I figured I check it out, especially since I kind of watched the last season. Anyway I found that I while watching the show, I really wasn't the show. For those who have never watched the show, the fighters are paired off into two teams and one member for each time square off, the winner remaining to fight another, the loser going home.

I found myself unable to watch the final fight. I kind of cringed each time it appeared one fighter was getting the upper hand on the other. Watching, I realized I wasn't pulling for either fighter. Every professional bout I have ever watched, I have always pulled for one. Here however, I couldn't pick one.

With professional fights, both the winner and the loser takes a check home. Regardless. Here, the loser not only takes his bumps and bruises in the ring, but he also loses on his big chance to fulfill his ambitions as a boxer. He loses, he loses it all. That chance for the big fight, for that big payday. The show focuses on the fighters backgrounds before the end of the show fight, shedding light on why they are fighting, who they are fighting for etc. A lot of those cats come from tough beginnings or have put in a lot of work just to make it to where they are in the fight game.

So, how do you choose who to root for when you realize that the loser, in fact, is the loser? There will be no second chance for the loser. This is that man's big chance. This is his moment. He either delivers or he goes back home, with nothing but what ifs. No check to heal the bruises or pain. If anything, he goes home with more pain than when he began the show. Given that reality, how can one root for or against either man? Darn reality shows.

Figured out who or what Blackwater is yet?

Lauryn Hill, though she has been acting a mighty strange of late is still a talented artist. Hence..... Yo, it was raining hard and I had the lights off.

Written Bites

Someone was speaking the other day discussing the rise of colored folk. The point was made that since my generation did not go through the struggles of the generation our parents or grandparents endured, there is a disconnect between the us and the struggle. Most of us young folk who have tasted a little success individually have no time to speak out for others or engage the system when there is injustice. It was said that some of us don't even recognize the game when it's being played which explains why black folk stay divided. There is some truth to that. But I last weeks march in Jena probably surprised a few.

So folk are upset because Columbia invited Iranian President Ahmadinejad. Folk all pissed off and protesting. Iran is one of those axis of evil countries. Some say they are responsible for the death of American soldiers in Iraq. Some say they are about to get their nuke on soon so we have to hit em up. I dunno with what soldiers. Anyway, I don't understand the big deal. Whatever happened to free speech? Why not talk to our "so called enemy"? I see it as some attempting to control the message and messenger. I also see it as more fear mongering by the powers that be. Well let's listen to the boogieman, see what he is talking about. Some call him a monster, I'm not taking up for dude, but last I checked Iran hadn't invaded another country and brought bloodshed and death to many innocent people, so who is really the monster? If interested in hearing the speech, go to www.cpan.org

Do you know who or what Blackwater is? Well....do you?

How George Bush Became Saddam Hussein, http://www.macleans.ca/article.jsp?content=20070920_100442_7900&source=srch&page=1

Darn you San Diego Chargers....ugghhh

Chatter

I am one brotha that loves him some cheesecake. Got into a debate about who has the best cheesecake. The Cheesecake Factory or the local Cheesecake Corner off of Main St., in Downtown Memphis. (Free Plug) Of course I wanna support black businesses, but on this one, I've gotta go with the Cheesecake Factory. I don't think you can even compare his product to theirs. But I will admit, I utilize Cheesecake Corner to fulfill my Cheesecake needs till I am able to get to Nashville, Birmingham or Atl. I can't figure out how Nashville can get a Cheesecake Factory and Memphis doesn't. Even the Mayor Herenton has attempted to lure them to town, with no success. With Issac Hayes, no longer in the Peabody Place, there is a ton of space for a Cheesecake Factory. Anyway...

Speaking of Peabody Place, are there any businesses in that joint???

Speaking of Peabody Place, I noticed in Atlanta the City Council there is considering a pants ordinance that sets a fine for those who walk around with their pants sagging. Besides the fact that it tramples upon ones right to express themselves freely, I think it's a great idea. Don't you just hate it?

Ok,wanna see a hilarious movie? Yea, you do, we all need a little comedy in our lives. I recommend Idiocracy. It was a riot. Wait....did I say its was a riot? Damn...here is the clip though.

Speaking of comedy, how does O.J. even get a top news story when kids still dying in Iraq? It does seem kind of fishy though, dude got a tape recorder going during the whole thing. Yo, he was trying to reclaim some of his ish. And then that annoying Goldman family rolling up, trying to get the ish OJ was trying to get and his damn Rolex that he placed in the police custody. Damn they need to sit down somewhere. (Am I wrong?)

Jena Part II

The young man facing who was to be sentenced Thursday in Jena, LA, has had his case overturned by the state Third Circuit Court of Appeal. That court held that Mychal Bell should not have been tried as an adult on battery charges. That's good news for his family. So there will be no sentencing hearing on Thursday. That does not mean there will not be a march. So if you planned on going, don't let this little news keep you home. There are still five other young men facing time. For more on this ruling, here ya go....http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/20779755

Revolution

By now most of are hip to the case involving the young men in Jena. How their lives may ever be changed by a wack azz prosecutor named Reed Walters,(wanna call him...or write him...hint hint, J. Reed Walters P.O. Box 1940 Jena, LA 71342-1940 LaSalle Parish Office Phone: (318) 992-8282 Office Fax: (318) 992-4731) Anyway, many many people, both black and white plan to roll out to Jena, LA, to attend the sentencing hearing of Mychal Bell. He is facing 22 years in prison on some BS. The other youth involved are facing 100 years in prison. If you are in Memphis, and want to make the trip, here is some helpful info. Contact Kenya Bradshaw at 482-3518 or knicolebradshaw@gmail.com, organizer Harry Cash III at 604-1787 or harrytcash@yahoo.com, or Shauntay and Jay Prewitt at 592-5152 or justjourni9700@aol.com.

To view the rest of this film, get yo click on, http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GDufKvCUlSM, http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=d2h0pIpn4SA, http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KxNsIy5xpFA, http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KGSVnZyz77Q

What Chuck D say.......Shut Em Down....

So your president announced that the surge is working blah blah blah and how he plans on bringing 30,000 soldiers home. Of course he leaves out all of the factual stuff like, they were coming home anyway, cause they have been deployed there too long. Anyhoo, this ad should bring some light to the whole sham.

Some nut continues to e-mail me about how I am so unpatriotic when it comes to supporting the occupation. I keep asking his azz to enlist. Truly, this occupation won't end until we start a DRAFT. but here is another reason why I am disgusted about Iraq. At least 700,000 or more killed in that country...the devastation we created. This is by Bob Herbert of the NY Times, http://www.truthout.org/docs_2006/091507F.shtml

9/11

I'm just saying, the dude that supposed to have jacked us, is still chillin in the cut, while our soldiers are in Iraq getting killed while occupying. Kind of like you jacking me, and then I pick some random cat as pay pack. Go figure

Dr. Cornell West and Mos Def on Bill Maher discussing terrorism and religion and Jena 6. Must see T.V.

I must admit that I have failed to discuss Jena 6 on this platform, though many of us have been discussing it amongst ourselves, if you are not familiar with that situation, then click here, http://www.colorofchange.org/jena/message.html

Sneak-A-Peek

I was doing some reading and came across this, I mean what if it's accurate medical science? You know? So if you ever catch me you know unconsciously gazing in that area, not cause I being a perv, I'm just trying to avoid a stroke or heart attack.

On to other more serious matters, the Occupation, yes dammit the occupation. No, I am not going to rant, I am gonna let Mr. Olbermann fill in for me on this matter.

This is also a must see, pay attention to the Congressman's response to the statement. http://movies.crooksandliars.com/gingrey_questions_republican.wmv

Classic Weekend, means classic traffic and Beale Street stampedes. Fun, Fun, Fun, I do have to toss a stone at the City and Fred Jones for charging tailgaters $10.00's for each parking spot this year. Did they charge the tailgaters at the Ole Miss/Memphis game that much last week? No. That's jacked up.

Friday is my soul food day but I just don't get it. Why are negroes still eating shitlins. Why would you eat some ish that smell like ish before u have even eaten it. I damn near passed out when I opened the door to the establishment.

Smoocher?

I was doing some thinking while doing my afternoon commute..(thinking and driving...living dangerously aint I) I am not sure how I got on the subject, but isn't amazing how we live day to day trying to either, please, be accepted, or get some type of approval from someone. Whether it is deciding what to wear or what no to wear because of what may be said or your choice of conversation to engage in with someone, or engaging in certain actions (professional ones...although..)because it may earn you favor in the eyes of someone who can make things happen. (That was a long sentence...) Anyway, I'm probably guilty of one of those things. Ok, let's just take that probably out of it, I've done it. I'm actually tired of doing it too. Professionally does it ever end? Probably not until I am in a position to call all of my own shots professionally. I mean what actions do you do each day, that you do cause you want to do and are of no consequence to others? Well besides work out or something like that. Seriously...Anyway...

Where was I going...

I wanted to chat on that School in New York that will be teaching Arabic. Some lame azzes have the nerve to be protesting over the curriculum. They argue the school may be a potential training ground for radicals. I gotta WTF this twice WTF? I will quote a classmate who summed it up well..."They may as well say if one learns arabic, one will start blowing up stuff." Very well put WZ. Here is the article, http://www.philly.com/philly/wires/ap/news/nation_world/20070904_ap_quietstartfornycarabicschool.html

I wish I had all of the answers sometimes.

BAR sho is starting to linger in my thoughts...Ambien time...

Me

For those of you who be trying to figure out a brotha, maybe this will help. Doubt it though.