Good News Tuesday

Head over to Tradition of Excellence and learn about:

• Sistas Organizining to Survive
• Derrick Anderson, MD
• Khadijah Williams
• Strong women leaders
• Black Men United
  

If There Was Any Doubt That The Dunbar Village Victims Are Lucky To Be Alive

Turns out on top of having knowledge of the Dunbar Village travesty, Tommy Lee Poindexter, who in December 2008 agreed to tell all he knew in return for a 20-year sentence, had knowledge of at least THREE murders.

According to Haughwout's motion, Poindexter agreed to a plea deal on Dec. 8 and three days later gave a complete statement about his involvement in the Dunbar case and about three local homicides. There were also discussions about a fourth homicide and Poindexter possibly receiving immunity before providing that information, according to the motion. The state agreed to more time to discuss immunity with then State Attorney Barry Krischer, according to Haughwout.

Apparently the deal is off the table. Now the public defender has filed a motion requesting the judge compel the State to live up to its end of the plea deal.

The mother and her son are alive because the attackers could not find a lighter with which to set them on fire after dousing them with household chemicals. No doubt they are lucky to be alive because Tommy Lee is like the Grim Reaper. Death just follows him.

Seems like just yesterday his mommy was whining that he was at home with her (must have been family night of charades and popcorn) and that he had nothing to do with "that stuff."

In March a plea deal for Jakaris Taylor was pulled off the table due to his refusal to answer questions posed by the other defendants' attorneys. The State is already fighting motions to sever the cases.

State Fights Separate Dunbar Rape Trials

Four suspects are set to stand trial for the brutal Dunbar Village gang rape. It will have been two years ago on Thursday (June 18) that they entered into a public housing apartment and rape a mother and her son. The two victims plan to testify in the trial set for Aug. 18 and Assistant State Attorney Aleathea McRoberts will fight the motions to sever the cases.

"This is a woman and son who suffered an egregious, heinous event," said Ms. McRoberts, "and we're trying to avoid having to make them go through it more than once."

Sharing the Knowledge #15: Critical Language Scholarships

Does this interest you or someone you know? Use the little envelope at the bottom of this post and pass this great opportunity along like you pass along those urban legends!

View previous Sharing the Knowledge posts.

2010 Critical Language Scholarships -https://clscholarship.org/programs.php

Sponsored by the United States Department of State, Bureau of Educational and Cultural Affairs and administered by the Council of American Overseas Research Centers(CAORC), the Critical Language Scholarship (CLS) Program will offer intensive summer language institutes overseas in eleven critical need foreign languages for summer 2010.

The CLS Program was launched in 2006 to offer intensive overseas study in the critical need foreign languages of Arabic, Bangla/Bengali, Hindi, Punjabi, Turkish and Urdu. In 2007, Chinese, Korean, Persian, and Russian institutes were added along with increased student capacity in the inaugural language institutes. In 2009, Azerbaijani will be offered at the intermediate and advanced levels.

The CLS Program provides fully-funded seven to ten week group-based intensive language instruction and extensive cultural enrichment experiences held overseas at the beginning, intermediate and advanced levels (beginning not offered for Azerbaijani, Chinese, Persian or Russian) for U.S. citizen undergraduate, Master’s and Ph.D. students.

The CLS Program is part of the National Security Language Initiative (NSLI), a U.S. government interagency effort to expand dramatically the number of Americans studying and mastering critical need foreign languages. Students of diverse disciplines and majors are encouraged to apply. Former CLS participants have applied with various academic backgrounds including business, engineering, law, science, medicine, social sciences and humanities. The CLS Program does not have any government service requirement upon completion, however, it is expected that participants will continue to continue their language study beyond the scholarship period and later apply their critical language skills in their future academic and professional careers.

Eligibility:

• All applicants must be U.S. citizens.
• Applicants must be currently enrolled in a U.S. degree-granting program at the undergraduate or graduate level.

Current undergraduate students must have completed at least one year of general college course-work by program start date (one year is defined as two semesters or three quarters). Please see program details for more information on language pre-requisites for individual institutes. Students in all disciplines including business, engineering, science, the social sciences and humanities are encouraged to apply. The U.S. Department of State and CAORC welcome all eligible applications and do not discriminate on the basis of race, color, national origin, gender, age, or handicap condition. Grant benefits: All program costs are covered for participants. This includes travel between the student's US home city and program location, pre-departure orientation costs, applicable visa fees, room, board, group-based intensive language instruction, program-sponsored travel within country, and all entrance fees for program activities. Note: U.S. passport fees will not be paid by the scholarship. Selected applicants must have a U.S. passport valid through 2011. Please plan in advance to avoid visa delays.

https://clscholarship.org/programs.php

Deadline: The deadline for submitting your on-line application should be on or about Friday, November 13, 2009. Your letters of reference and transcript(s) need to be postmarked by Friday, November 13, 2009.

Note: Expert readers and panelists are asked to review applicants on his or her level of commitment and intent to continue language study after the CLS Program, in addition to previous academic coursework and language study. Applicants are also encouraged to clearly articulate how the study of a critical language is linked to future academic or professional goals. Reviewers seek a diverse group of participants from across the United States, and from a wide variety of academic institutions. Finally, the CLS Program is an intensive language program held in an overseas environment. Selection will also be based on the applicant’s ability to demonstrate maturity and readiness for a challenging academic and international experience.

Damon Weaver Receives Award

Elementary school journalist Damon Weaver received attention when he landed interviews with then Vice presidential candidate Joe Biden, Oprah Winfrey, Samuel L. Jackson, Dwyane Wade, and Gen. Colin Powell in his quest to interview then Presidential candidate Barack Obama. Since the election season Damon has been interviewed by Larry King, received a full scholarship to Albany State University and earlier this month received an award at the eighth annual Shortie Awards: Film & News Festival held in suburban Washington.

Keep up the good work Damon.

Stories Like This Don't Make Me Want To Head To Church

Honestly, some of the most ignorant, intolerant, hateful people I've ever seen are Christians. Now I don't mean to condemn Christianity, I just don't buy that someone is good simply because they go to church.

And you will never, never, ever get me to believe Church goers are more moral than I, the sleep on Sunday sinner ...not when churches cover for sexual offenders in their pulpit like Jacksonville pastor Darrell Gilyard.

Gilyard received three years in prison, followed by three years of sex-offender probation, and he must register as a sex offender. He fondled a teenage girl whose parents brought her to him for counseling and he sent sexually explicit text messages to another girl.

And this happened because good Church people in other churches in Texas and Florida turned their heads and paid people off.

Sexual allegations dogged Gilyard's ministry almost from the start.

The Palatka native rose quickly to prominence after seminary. While still in his 20s, he led one of the nation's fastest-growing congregations, Victory Baptist Church in Texas.

He was mentored by the Rev. Jerry Vines, then pastor of Jacksonville's First Baptist Church, and Southwestern Baptist Theological Seminary President Paige Patterson. Both are former Southern Baptist Convention presidents.

But Gilyard left Victory amid accusations of sexual impropriety.

He came to Shiloh in 1993, and court records indicate the Beaver Street church quietly settled a sexual-misconduct claim against him three years later.

But Shiloh kept him on, and this year he and the church settled another lawsuit filed by a woman who said he raped and impregnated her during a 2004 counseling session. Terms were confidential, and no criminal charges were filed. A paternity test, which Gilyard disputes, is pending. [Florida Times-Union]

So basically these churches and their elders pimped out young girls and women. I think I'll spend my Sundays watching NFL pre-game shows.

Don't Be Fooled, Some People Are Paying For A Country Club Not A College

Reed College did not accept more than 100 needy students based not on their grades, accomplishments, or backgrounds but solely on the fact that they couldn't afford to pay the full $50,000 a year tab and they were substituted with students who could.

Whatever contributions they could make in the classroom were disregarded for whatever contributions their parents couldn't make to the school's bank account.

My problem isn't that Reed College isn't giving poor kids a free ride to college. My concern is whether or not they made other cuts that could have enabled them to continue educating the best, brightest and driven no matter their parent's financial situation.

Perhaps it would be a good thing, he said, if the recession could refocus college administrators on the quality of higher education, rather than on investments in climbing walls (Reed does not have one) and other “country club” aspects of college life that have fueled an academic arms race reliant on tuition increases and fund-raising.

“The catering to consumer tastes — I keep trying to say, we are in the education business,” Mr. Diver said, describing the pressure to keep up with wealthier colleges and expressing a frustration rarely voiced publicly by college presidents. “The whole principle behind higher education is, we know something that you don’t. Therefore, we shouldn’t cater to them.”

But no college president wants to be first to make major changes in the college experience; Reed, for example, is not abandoning plans for a new performing arts center. “If we’re going to change our ways, we’re really going to need to be pushed,” Mr. Diver said, referring to colleges generally. “It’s not going to well up from within.”

Mr. Diver's words sound great but he knows this "arms race" is nothing new and it won't change as long as there are just enough rich folks willing to pay for their kids' luxury living more than their education.

My alma mater isn't exactly cheap, its in the Reed College range, and it has been known to serve sushi, lobster and Mahi Mahi for lunch. But when my expected family contribution was $0 thats exactly how much I paid all four years combined - $0. Their financial aid program and scholarships were a blessing and I hope they will see fit to drop luxury living and perks that materialistic kids now expect and demand before they turn away motivated and talented students.

So basically those who want to improve their lot in life are priced out of the "American dream" because they can't afford to pay for the needless perks that colleges give in order to lure the spoiled children of the rich?

57.5% of Florida students completed high school on time

Don't be fooled by the fact that four Palm Beach County high schools ranked among the top 100 in NEWSWEEK's America's Top Public High School list. Florida's public schools are still a mess with the state ranking among the worst in the nation when it comes to high school graduation rates.

Perry Becomes Second Black Justice on Current Florida Supreme Court

Justice James E.C. Perry took his seat on the Florida Supreme Court Friday. He is the fourth African-American ever to sit on the Florida supreme court and will serve along Chief Justice Peggy Quince, the first African-American woman to hold the position of Chief Justice for the state's Supreme Court.

Perry is Gov. Crist's fourth appointee on the seven-member court.

Go here to read Justice Perry's biography.

Florida Wouldn't Be So Broke If It Didn't Have To Pay For State Workers' Screwups, Lies And Negligence

Gov. Crist signed a bill that authorized a couple $9.5 million after social workers deceived them about the three boys they adopted.

The boys -- now ages 17, 16 and 14 -- had been raped, caged and starved in foster care before Debbie and Jorge adopted them in 1998.The couple were unaware of the maltreatment the boys had suffered, and had told DCF officials they did not want to adopt children who had been sexually abused.Not only did the department keep Debbie and Jorge in the dark, it even instructed a treatment center not to release records to the parents.Meanwhile, the boys ran afoul of the law, set fires, were expelled from schools, attempted suicide and tried to poison Debbie.

Remember I blogged that Crist also authorized the payment of $5 million to the parents of Martin Lee Anderson, $1.2 million to Pierreisna Archille because DCF ignored constant complaints the retarded then-15 year old was being repeatedly raped (and impregnated) by her foster father, and $18.2 million to the adoptive family of Marissa Amora’s adoptive family for the role negligent DCF investigators played in her child-abuse case.

As usual we love to pay after the fact instead of preventing such tragedies.

5 Favorite Cosby Show Episodes

Of course there are a few more but I have to stick with five so I won't even cheat and mention the others.

1. When Vanessa went to Baltimore to have BIG FUN with The Wretched.
2. When Rudy wanted to wear the summer dress to the party in the winter.
3. When Cliff made his secret BBQ sauce and all the couples fought.
4. When the grandparents had their anniversary and the family sang Ray Charles.
5. When Denise made Theo the designer Gordon Gartrelle knock off.

In the age of doom and gloom, read some good news about Black Americans at Tradition of Excellence.

Florida DCF Continues To Evaluate Itself AFTER A Child Dies

I love all this self-evaluation DCF is doing. Unfortunately it always comes after a child is dead. Seven-year old Gabriel Myers committed suicide by hanging himself in the bathroom of his foster parent's home in April of this year.

2000 pages of documents released by DCF paints a sad picture of a victimized little boy who obviously wasn't getting the right help. There was several incidents regarding sexual abuse (I linked it, read it for yourself) and threats to kill himself and others.

Tell me his words to a therapist don't break your heart.

"My mom taught me how to lie. She always lied to the police, to everybody," he told a therapist after throwing scissors in school. "I lied when I was 1 year old, I lied when I was 2 years old. I was born a liar and I will always be lying," he said in another therapy session. "[The] devil makes me lie and do all those bad things. He is bad and he makes you do bad things," the boy told the therapist. (CBS 2)

What he received was prescribed medications that have been linked to a heightened risk of suicidal behavior in children. And according to a review, many children who given mind-altering drugs without the legal authorioty. In fact, three times as many kids in foster care end up on drugs than in the general population. And please don't tell me its because they are in foster care and have more problems. Many problems don't require medication.

Gabriel Myers, who apparently hung himself, was on a mix of the psychotropic
medicines, but none of the drugs showed up in the agency's computer database.
And his file did not include a consent form for the medication from a parent or judge as required by state law.

And one of the drugs that was given to Gabriel (Symbyax), has not been approved for children, although the practice that employs Gabriel Myers' psychiatrist is currently recruiting kids for a clinical trial of the drug for bipolar depression. So basically, he was probably a guinea pig.

Take a look at some of the more frightening finds regarding children under DCF's care and mind-altering drugs.

Again, children are not high on Florida's priority list. And spare the hell out of me about the parents because I am one so I know what a parent should be doing. Like I said before, when the state inserts itself into a family its saying they can do better and know what is best. They need to behave that way.

Corrine Brown Contemplates Senate Run

Most people think Rep. Kendrick Meek will be the Democratic nominee in the 2010 election for Sen. Mel Martinez's seat. However, Rep. Corrine Brown is thinking about running as well. Most people who know of Rep. Brown probably know her from this memorable moment as she congratulated the University of Florida football team. But she'll also have to deal with other word associations such as: sandbags, secret Wisconsin bank account, and Lexus.

Black Women Pain: Mostly Self-Inflicted?

I, in my Black woman hating ways, have said numerous things about Black women:

1. While I commend the limitations we put on Black male excuses, we, as Black women, allow ourselves a generous amount.
2. The only Black women to receive mass criticism are any associated with BET and Karrine Steffans. Trifling friends, cousins and sisters...not so much.
3. Activist Black women must be careful not to victimize the Black women they are fighting for.

Its all about perception. So while I appreciate Jacksonville playwright JanaMorea Bradley's comments about why she wrote her play, Blak.Woman.Dynamik, others may not. Its amazing the things you read and learn when you read your local newspapers and media outlets. I want to see this but I don't see that its coming to South Florida, or even Central Florida over the summer (which is where I'll be).

The black woman, to me, has faced an extreme amount of negativity, most of
it self-induced, some of it not. But we have bought into a lot of the stereotypes that have been created, and that needs to end quick. Fast. Now. I hate it.

Speaking, writing and delivering the truth often leads others to criticize you for promoting it or even believing it. If you say Black women need to stop dropping it like its hot in music videos then you're defending the rappers. If you say Black women need to be responsible for who they procreate with then you're defending the actions of the dead-beat sperm donor.

For example a woman asked me why a certain guy was doing her wrong. My reply, "you let him." Suddenly, I was his defender and I approved of his treatment of her. No, I gave you the truth. He's an asshole. Thats not your fault. But it is your fault that he's doing it to you. I'm not going to justify your stupidity for you.

Anywho , here is the thing, just because I agree with her statement regarding Black women needing to stand up for themselves and stop the self-inflicted wounds, doesn't mean I am going to agree with everything she says and does.

And too often, unsuccessful and marginal activists limit themselves with a President Bush "with us or against us" mentality. And if I can't have a slightly different or additional thought than yours well hell, I'd rather not be with you.

When my aunt was receiving subpar care in the hospital my mother let the staff have it. And then she went into my aunt's room and told her how she needed to get her act together. That's real.

And when you don't help the victim change they go from being someone else's victim to your victim. Because now they are your little pet project and you get to feel good about helping them.

Yesterday I saw that CNN will air its Black in America 2 on July 22. I can't wait. Not to see the special but to read all the criticism of how its not an accurate portrayal of Black people. Appropriate and nothing wrong with it but it reminded me of Bradlety's play. She had a message, she wanted to share it and she made it happen. And when that meant funding it on her on to get it off the ground that is what she did. And she never wrote a screenplay in her life.

She didn't spend all her time bitching about what other folks weren't doing. Thats goes for Nona C. Jones with SistersSpace and Audrey Bell-Kearney with Black Diamond TV.

Does Anyone Know the Name of the Murdered Army Soldier In Arkansas?

No one hesitated to talk, report, blog and lament the murder of a doctor who performs abortions. Why? Because it gives folks a chance to rip on the pro-life (mostly conservative Republicans). But in comparison, there was hardly a whisper about the murder of a young soldier in a recruiting station in Arkansas.

FOX News feels there should be an equal outpouring of rage over radical Islam.

Yes, both Scott Roeder and Abdulhakim Mujahid Muhammad acted independently in their crimes this week. But while Scott Roeder’s ideology was just the fruit of his own psychological imbalance, Abdulhakim’s ideology is shared by dozens of well organized groups and thousands of men and women who have done harm to our country in the past and have sworn to wreak greater havoc on our homeland and military in the future. Proof of this important distinction between the nature of these two tragic events has been the unanimous condemnation of Scott Roeder’s crime by every major pro-life group in our nation. That’s on the one hand. On the other hand, we get nothing but silence from the leaders of the particular strain of Islam that Abdulhakim Mujahid Muhammad studied in Yemen. (FOX News)

To be sure, Father Morris is full of it. He's simply talking to his own who will dismiss the flaws in his argument. You can argue the pro-life extremists are to prolifers what radical Islamists are to Islam. The nuts that kill abortion providers aren't just lone-acting crazy dudes. Conservatives always try to limit their nutjobs as acting alone but people outside of their groups are always indicative of an entire demographic when they do something.

For me, the real issue is that, just like the right, the left only uses the death of a soldier when it serves their purpose. Private William Long received little to no attention from the left and the media because he didn't die a "senseless" death in Iraq or Afghanistan. And had he died in one of those countries, FOX News would hardly utter a word.

Botched Elections and Teacher Sex Scandals...Thats What Florida Does

*The title of the post is a play off one of my favorite scenes in one of my favorite movies.

Florida is known for a few things. There was a time of innocence when Florida was synonomous with oranges, Mickey Mouse and spring break. Not too bad. I could think of worst. Like the 2000 election and the Florida epidemic, as TIME calls it.

I live in Florida, therefore the TIME article "Florida Epidemic: Why Are So Many Florida Teachers Sleeping with Students?" seems just right to me. I've called it an epidemic myself while everyone outside the state only think Debra LaFave. So much that we need to have legislation to protect kids from teaching sexual predators. I'll have to marinate on this Student Protection Act of 2009. I haven't read it yet but I'm already shying away from something that requires one to report another even if there is just a suspicion or face discipline.

Of course men still target female students like Heath Miller, a married middle school band teacher in Palm Beach County, who was having sex with students, three-ways with teachers and accused of raping a both a teacher and a student.

When we hear about Heath Miller we are shocked, appalled and ready to take action. When a female teacher abuses a teenage boy its a fantasy, pretty cool and definitely not destructive. That is, until he has no respect for women and sex then abuses women because of his dysfunctional mindset. And of course at that stage we don't want to hear about his abuse because its nothing more than an excuse. Does anyone think these boys are going to grow up and have a strong, healthy relationship with women?

We are all connected. The abuse that is directed at boys will come back to harm the women of their future.

Of This I'm Sure

I'm positive a liberal Black man or Black woman without tenure and little experience in academia would be appointed the dean of a law school like conservative and U.S. Attorney Alex Acosta without a single objection from Rush, Newt and Glen.

Screaming And Crying Inside: Blacks And Mental Health

I was driving to school one morning when I heard about a school shooting at Dillard High School in Ft. Lauderdale in November. 15-year-old Teah Wimberly shot and killed Amanda Collette and now she's charged with 2nd-degree murder.

Wimberly plans an insanity defense and her attorney says she suffers from depression, suicidal thoughts and she cuts herself.

Wimberly also obsessively writes short stories and poems expressing suicidal thoughts, the motion read.

In the 24 hours before the killing, Wimberly sent text messages to at least three friends, saying: "Tomorrow I will shoot myself in the heart," according to a search warrant.

Court documents show that the day before the shooting, Wimberly sliced her arms with a razor blade 96 times, sent text messages to Collette alternating between expressions of love and hatred, and warned other students she was going to shoot someone and kill herself.

Did anyone know about her problems before she killed someone's child? It made me, once again, think about mental health and African Americans. May is Mental Health Awareness and hardly anyone has said a word about it. The stigma associated with mental illness and therapy overall in society is sad and its even worse in the Black community. Many Black people think its all hogwash, while others probably have a distrust because of the history of Blacks and institutionalization, and even more think its some silly White people stuff.

In the Black community, dealing with emotional health isn't something people talk about. People encourage African-Americans to learn more about diabetes, high blood pressure, stroke and the like, but not often do they speak of mental health. The nucleus for many in the Black community is the church - if you've got God, you don't need therapy. Pray and God will help you through your difficulties. And for so long, many of us (myself included) felt seeking therapy was something for White people.

Depression? Most of us had never heard of it. You were just seen as moody or maybe lazy. Many with a mental illness may have been seen as just a little weird or eccentric. On the outside, a person with a mental illness can appear "normal" so how could anything be wrong? [Florida Courier]

Too many don't understand mental health issues thinking everything is extreme such as schizophrenia or bipolar. Sometimes, talking and learning coping techniques is enough. Personally, I can't think of anyone who is above communicating without fear of judgment.
And to be honest, even our closest and dearest friends are unsuitable and incapable of being a sounding board. They are too close, too judgmental, are part of the problem or are more concerned with giving their two cents than actually listening.

The lack of treatment for these mental health issues and even phobias, lead to crime and even self-destructive acts like poor sexual choices and poor life decisions such as not living up to one's potential, complacency and feelings of worthlessness and hopelessness.

Trust me, there have been a few times in my life where I was close to losing things that meant so much to me, things I had worked hard for simply because I "didn't care anymore." And no matter how much I tried to care I just couldn't. I was willing to lose it all because I couldn't motivate myself to do the simplest, pain-free tasks.

Everyone is all about "do better." But just thinking people are going to wake up and do it without any skills to change their mental mindset is simply pissing in the wind. You can't do right, when your mind is all wrong.

And these trying economic times are going to add nothing but stress.

Florida's Black Crime-Fighting Couple

Val Demings made history when she became the first African-American and first woman to hold the position of Orlando Police Chief. In November, her husband, Jerry Demings, was elected the Orange County Sheriff. See their television interview after his election back in November.

Florida: We Dropped The Ball Regarding Emanuel Murray Jr.

Guess who is criticizing the State of Florida for its role in the care of Jasmine Bedwell and her murdered 3-months old son? The State of Florida.

I've noticed with the steroids problem in baseball some people are incapable of acknowledging all facets of an issue at the same time. They sink their teeth into one element and hold tight to that like a dog with a bone. And to bring criticism to anything or anyone else means you're an apologist.

So while valid blame and criticism is placed on 17- year old Jasmine Bedwell and her demented ex-boyfriend Richard McTear Jr. for the murder of her 3-months old son Emanuel Murray Jr., the State of Florida should be criticized.

Afterall, his previous criminal charges were for burglary and kidnapping.

My belief has always been that the State should not be in the child-rearing business. However, when it inserts itself into someone's family it is saying, "I am better suited to do this than you." So when it takes on that responsibility and tragedy occurs eyes should be focused on it.

Foster care caseworkers were so focused on helping 17-year-old Jasmine Bedwell succeed, they overlooked her romance with an abusive man and underestimated the danger he posed to her infant son.

Early on, they even encouraged her boyfriend, a violent criminal with a history of domestic violence, to help care for her baby.

"The focus of the safety interventions appeared to be primarily focused on Ms. Bedwell's situation, lacking a distinct and separate perspective for the welfare of her child," officials wrote in a state report released Wednesday.

Workers neglected to run a background check on Richard McTear Jr., 21, of Tampa, when he got involved with Bedwell, who was living on her own but being supervised by the state.

Of course even if the State had told her to stay away from him that probably wouldn't have stopped Jasmine from dating him. But that doesn't change the fact that the State was wrong for not checking the background of a man they knew nothing about even though he was living with a teen they were in charge of and her infant child.

The State even acknowledges they shouldn't have enrolled her in the Independent Living Program "which allows responsible teenagers in foster care to live independently before they turn 18."

Hindsight is 20/20 as they say.

The State of Florida didn't kill Emanuel Murray Jr. But they made some mistakes that even they can admit even if others can't. All you have to do is look at some of the comments after the story. Its full of people who can't acknowledge that though the ultimate responsibility lies with the mother and her ex-boyfriend, it is possible for the State to have made mistakes that they must be accountable for.

Criticizing the State does nothing for Emanuel, but it may save the next child in this situation.

Crist Vetoes Pay Cuts For State Workers

For the most part, Gov. Crist left Florida's $66.5 billion budget intact. However, he did take the advice of Chief Justice Peggy Quince and Senate Democratic Leader Al Lawson and veto the 2% pay cut on state workers making more than $45,000 a year.

The question remains whether anyone will be willing to challenge the veto. Article III, Section 8 of the Florida Constitution states: "The governor...may not veto any qualification or restriction without also vetoing the appropriation to which it relates."

The 2% pay cut is not attached to any particular appropriation. It seems it language tacked on to the budget in general.

During these times what politician is going to stick his neck out and demand a pay cut to overworked state employees who have not received pay raises for three years?

Florida's Plan to Deregulate Development

Haven't we had enough deregulation?

In a state that is in constant construction, Gov. Crist is seriously contemplating signing State Bill 360, Florida's so-called 'Growth Bill.'

The bill allows developers in Florida's urban counties to add more residential development without expanding roads. Instead, developers will pay a ''mobility fee'' -- yet to be determined -- to finance public transit and road improvements. And exempts large development projects from review by regional planning boards.
*

Florida is notorious for horrible planning. It is the epitome of urban sprawl. And on top of that transportation in Florida is horrendous. Public transportation is a joke and the expansion of roads is always about ten years behind. I mean, why would you want to build when you're dealing with this housing predicament?*

More than 300,000 residential units sit empty across Florida, 64,588 properties were in foreclosure last month, second only to Nevada, and real estate prices are still plummeting. (New York Times)

Those who support the bill say it will help spur projects that can help the economy and it contains incentives to make it less expensive to build in urban areas -- channeling growth into more dense areas instead of pushing more growth to the suburbs and encouraging sprawl. And there won't be a surge of development.

*
That's what all people who believe in less regulation say. They want us to believe they will be responsible all on their own, that they won't take advantage of the loopholes and lack of rules that causes them to see dollar signs in their eyes. They want us to trust them.

Rep. Dorothy Hukill claims, “We are dependent on tourism and construction whether we like it or not.”

*

Because leadership hasn't been competent enough to bring in additional industries. Its a vicious cycle with this state. Education is a joke therefore major industries know they won't have the necessary educated workforce and those who are educated with the highest ambitions leave because there is a limited number of great career opportunities.

Mom Agrees To Her 15 Year Old's Sexual Relationship With 32-Year Old Teacher

A 32-year old teacher at a religious school in Hialeah, FL was arrested for having a sexual relationship with a 15-year old 8th grader. In the state of Florida the age of consent is 18 unless both parties are under 24 and then its 16.

The boy's mother, who acknowledged to both police and Department of Children & Families investigators that she approved of the relationship, is under investigation by both agencies for permitting the teen to have a months-long affair with the teacher, and for consenting to the theme park trip.

Does it matter that his mother agreed with the relationship? The worst part for me was that the teacher has two young children that attend the school.

Florida Has Its Own Court Battle

There is a vacancy in Florida's 5th District Court of Appeals. Per the Florida Constitution, a judicial nominating commission reviews applications for vacant judgeships and forwards three to six names to the governor. Then the governor has 60 days to appoint a judge from that list.

Sounds simple but this is Florida.

Crist took exception to the list the commission sent him in November, asking for another list that included at least one racial minority. The commission considered that request, but stuck to its list of six, saying they were the most qualified applicants. Since then, the process has been stalemated -- and work at the appellate court, which serves a 13-county area that includes Volusia and Flagler counties, has been piling up. In an effort to break the stalemate, Senior Judge Robert J. Pleus, whose retirement created the vacancy, asked the Supreme Court to order the governor to fulfill his constitutional duty. (Daytona News Journal)

Unfortunate. But then again, the governor is the one who appointed these people to the commission. A commission that had two Black people on it before he entered office. So maybe he should have started the love of all things diverse with his commission appointments.

There may be no racial minorities but two of the six nominees are women for a vacancy of a District Court of Appeals with 11 seats- nine white men and one white woman. So start off your diversity by appointing another woman and then change the law.

Speaking of court appointments. We already know the right is going to act a fool. Thats a given. I just hope I don't see the ignorance that was on display when some people learned Justice Souter was retiring.

Anyone who has read this blog knows I believe in Black people leveraging their vote and playing the political game. However, President Obama's pick of Judge Sotomayor is not some direct slap in the face to Black people or Black women, nor does this particular decision mean he takes Black people for granted.

The argument that it should have been Chief Justice Leah Ward Sears (or a Black woman period) because President Obama wouldn't be president without Black women is untenable. A lot of demographics could say that. Hell, White people in Iowa might have the best of that argument because Black people weren't giving President Obama the time of day until they thought White people would vote for him. Why don't Black people consider that a sad commentary on the part of the 'Black community'?

So, its okay for Black folks to look at the political landscape but not President Obama. Spare me.

Felicidades Señora Sotomayor!

Good News Tuesday

• What Fortune 500 company will have the first Black woman CEO?
• Who is the Black man tapped to be the head of NASA?
• Marissa Mims becomes the first African-American ever elected to what school board?
• What Olympic gold medalist swimmer he continues to promote water safety for Black children?
• James A Young becomes the first Black mayor of what Southern town with a civil rights connection?
• What position does Dr. Raynard Kington hold?
• Which three Black female comics will host their own shows?
• What NFL star will host a breast cancer awareness event?
• Why are Black romance novels in the news?
• How many African American Admirals are in the Navy besides Michelle Howard?
  

Learn this information and more over at Tradition of Excellence.

Disney Gives Back To The Community

Since 1972 Disney has given money to the Central Florida community with its Helping Kids Shine grants. This year it gave $700,000 to 34 local nonprofit charities. They include:

Coalition for the Homeless of Central Florida's child development program ($60,000), Big Brothers Big Sisters of Central Florida ($50,000), Bridges of Light Foundation ($48,000), the Boys & Girls Clubs of Central Florida ($40,000), Harbor House of Central Florida ($39,000), the Hope CommUnity Center in Apopka ($35,000), the Foster Grandparent Program of Central Florida ($30,000), New Hope for Kids ($25,700), the Apopka Family Learning Center ($25,000) and the Florida Citrus Sports Foundation ($25,000).

Its a great gesture, particularly during these economic times. You have to figure charities are definitely in need. But I wonder how the 1,400 people Disney let go feel about it.

Florida Community Colleges Will Have To Turn Students Away

During hard economic times people tend to obtain the status of student one way or another. They either head off to graduate school, go to a trade/technical school, or community college. Community colleges have long been a stepping stone to a better life for millions of people.
*
But because of the shrinking budgets, Florida community colleges may have to turn students away because they don't have the money to hire the additional instructors they need for the drastic increase in student enrollment.

Statewide next fall, more than 26,000 additional students could be vying for seats in community-college classrooms, officials say — a number similar to last fall's enrollment increase.

Despite support from President Obama and Dr. Jill Biden, a long time community college professor, community colleges must depend on the majority of their financial support from tuition, fees, and state funds.

Turning away those who wish to improve their lot in life, those who are dedicated to working hard is not the direction we need to travel.

Miami-Dade County Commissioners Slush Fund

There is a reason no sitting county commissioner has been unseated in an election in the last 15 years. Because each commissioner is allocated $727,500 to do with what they want.

*

Last year, through the discretionary fund program, the commissioners gave money to more than 800 non-profits and over 660 small businesses. And while that seems commendable you cannot trust politicians to give this money ethically.
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This is money for advertising and re-election campaigning...at the taxpayer's expense. You think a community minority, like I am in my neighborhood, will get money? I'm the only Black person in a damn 15-mile radius. Trust me when I say, for commissioner, my vote does not count.
*

Particularly in this economy, you think an incumbent giving away almost a quarter of a million dollars to his constituents is going to lose?

Goodbye Watchdog

I wasn't surprised about anything I read in American Journalism Review's article ("Statehouse Exodus") regarding the decrease in reporters covering state government.

But the extensive and worthwhile read uses numbers to put the sad state of newspapers and state capitol coverage in context. Major newspapers in states like California and Florida, two states that need as much capitol watchdog activity as possible, are combining their state capitol bureaus or getting rid of them all together.

[T]he Miami Herald and the St. Petersburg Times combined their bureaus. Five
reporters now cover state government year-round for both papers, plus each adds
another reporter when the Legislature is in session. That's a net loss in reporting firepower since AJR's last survey, but a gain in numbers for each paper.

Citizens will be hurt by the disappearance of newspapers because local issues won't be covered; and its something local TV doesn't do well at all.

"State governments have more power and more money than ever before. Their tentacles reach into every household and business," wrote Charles Layton and Mary Walton in AJR's July/August 1998 issue. "Everyone — political parties, academics, trade organizations, labor unions, corporations — has discovered this. Everyone, that is, except the press. With some notable exceptions, newspapers are risking their credibility by failing to provide news that readers have demonstrated time and again they care about."

I'll tell you who else hasn't discovered this - the people. Everyone is focused on big and mistakenly think its better. People still think its the Department of Education that will improve their kid's school. Everyone is focused on national politics and no one pays attention to the officials who have the most direct effect on their lives - the local ones.

As people criticize state governors who are unsure of whether or not they want to accept the stimulus money, I'm not sure most people really thought about what happens when those states receive billions of dollars. How will it be covered? Who will keep these officials in check? (Florida has a Web site that allows you to track the spending but that still isn't enough).

Some of the most corrupt politicians are at the state and local level. Why? Because no one is watching. People say you should question a person who wants to be president. Well, you should interrogate a person who wants to be a local official.

You think CNN, MSNBC or even FOX is going to be in your state capitol questioning what your state politicians are doing with their piece of the pie?

Small "entrepreneurial journalists" are stepping up to fill the void. Connecticut (ctnewsjunkie.com), Texas (TexasWatchdog), Wisconsin (WisPolitics) and Louisiana (BayouBuzz), all have such sites that cover state politics. Other states include: Colorado, Iowa, Michigan, Minnesota, New Jersey and New Mexico.

These sites and others attempt to keep citizens aware of what is happening in their state, what is most important to their daily lives. When you're in Florida and schools are shutting down what is happening in Colorado is of little concern. When there is an injustice in Texas there are about 25 million people living there; handle your business. I have enough tragedy, scandal and issues in Florida to deal with.

Links:
TIME: The 10 Major Newspapers That Will Either Fold or Go Digital

5 Relics From Childhood That Make Me Smile

I've begun to share #1 with my son. And #5 reminds me of my deceased grandparents. I would watch it with them. They loved Jack Tripper.

1. Encyclopedia Brown
2. Sweet Valley High
3. JEM
4. G.I. Joe
5. Three's Company
   
   

In the age of doom and gloom, read some good news about Black Americans at Tradition of Excellence.

Keep your kids out of my professional sports

So the Manny Ramirez 50-day suspension once again brought out the nutjob sports purists who were saddened, angered and even better...outraged at his alleged use of performance enhancing drugs.

I was talking to a sports agent last month who represents NFL players. He stated, "If the NFL starts testing for HGH about 70% of the league is fucked."

Sports leagues are flawed. What do you expect? They are run by human beings. The MLB have performance enhancing drugs, NFL has jacked up contracts (and PEDs), and the NBA has dumbass wanna-be thugs, a crooked ref and a reputation for being fixed.

None of the fakeass purists bother me too much but it seems to really bother them that I don't feel the way they do. What really makes me scream my head off is when they inject the kids into the argument. God, Jesus, Mohammed, SOMEBODY please save these kids already. I am sick of hearing about them. These kids don't give a damn about steroids until they listen to adults.

Kids take their cue from the adults around them. If they grow up around liberals, chances are they will be one. If they grow up around racists, chaces are they will be one. If you act like the end of the world has arrived because of PEDs in sports then so will they. All you have to do is give your kid an age-appropriate explanation and move the hell on. My kid isn't distraught over steroids AT ALL and he wants to BE a baseball player.

Get a grip.

America Is Sleeping Better At Night Catching These Homegrown Terrorists

Four New York men, James Cromitie, David Williams, Onta Williams and Laguerre Payen, are arrested for an alleged plot to bomb a New York synagogue and Jewish community center.

The charges are based on information from an FBI informant, with whom the
men met as they plotted to carry out their attacks, authorities said.

"While the weapons provided to the defendants by the cooperating witness were fake, the defendants thought they were absolutely real," acting U.S. Attorney Lev L. Dassin said in a statement.

If that sounds familiar its because you may be thinking of the heavily criticized and at times down right laughable Liberty Six trial down here in Miami. The men were charged with four counts of conspiring to provide material support to a foreign terrorist organization; provide material support to terrorists; destroy buildings with explosives; and levy war against the U.S. government in a seditious act.

After two mistrials, the US government successfully convicted five of the six men suspected of being terrorists. The men say they were just trying to get money and only agreed to take an terrorist oath after they negotiated a $50,000

The defendants, who lived in a poor neighborhood and some of whom were struggling fiscally, had no means to blow up the Sears Tower: no explosives, no guns, not even a video camera to take surveillance. In fact, the plot to blow up
the Tower, plus vans for travel and a camera to survey the area, came from a FBI
informant who had been arrested for domestic assault. The main pieces of evidence from the prosecution seemed to be an oath to Osama bin Laden some of
the defendants made, and a list of desired materials (which did not include explosives) they gave to the informant. [Mother Jones]

According to jury notes one booted juror for the third Liberty City Six trial said she wanted to ''see this trial to the end'' but could not withstand the pressure she was facing to change her stance -- presumably ``not guilty.'' The juror shenanigans will certainly be brought during the appeal process.

Serioulsy, no one feels safer after the conviction of 5 from the Liberty City Six. You've hardly heard anything about this case I'm sure. Nothing more than reading it across a news scroll or a cursory one sentence read on the news. And when you read or heard the news I'm sure no one told you six others were found not guilty.

Don't you feel safe?

'When you want to kill something you ought to tax it'

Yes, thats what President Reagan said and thats what Gov. Crist is doing with cigarettes, he will allow a $1-a-pack tax to become law, but Florida is taxing the people as well. And trust me, if you need some of these services, Florida will be killing you too.

Here are some of the tax hikes:

• Filing a civil lawsuit will increase from $295 to $395.
• Foreclosure fees paid by banks and other mortgage lenders would rise by about $145 million — boosting the cost from the current $295 to as much as $1,900, based on the price of the home.
• Fees paid by landlords to evict a tenant will go down, from $265 to $180.
• Registering a vehicle for the first time will be $225, up from $100.
• Renewing your license goes up from $20 to $48.
• Reinstating a drivers license goes up $12.50, to $60.
• The cost of getting a copy of a crash report will rise from $2 to $10.
• The fee for obtaining a new certificate of title goes from $24 to $70; getting a duplicate rises from $3 to $49.

At the same time, lawmakers are imposing a 2 percent pay cut on thousands of state employees who earn more than $45,000.

The spending plan for the fiscal year that starts July 1.

Good News Tuesday

Read about:

• The first African-American to be honored with a Navy destroyer named after him.
• The honors for African-American civil war heroes.
• The Award-winning director who took Harlem to Cannes.
• The 3 African-American journalists honored by Ford
• The Black female rabbi to take the pulpit.

and much, much more at Tradition Of Excellence on Wordpress.

If I Want This Then I Can't Give Up

Recently I made to joke to a couple of my classmates that next semester I will have to get all my reading done before night falls because I just may be homeless, living under some bridge in Miami. Being a single mother attending law school full time is definitely one of the hardest things I have ever had to do. To say times are hard is a major understatement. I even thought about not returning because the stress and struggle seem to great.

But when I read about Duane Harris, who was recently inducted into Phi Theta Kappa honor society at Keiser University in Fort Lauderdale, I tell myself I can't give up this easy.

By day, Harris has notched perfect attendance and a 4.0 grade point average in computer programming. By night, he sleeps in his 1995 Ford Thunderbird."It's like a La-Z-Boy," Harris said, showing how the driver's seat reclines. His inspiration stares him in the face every morning. Taped to his steering wheel is a photo of his two daughters, Jada, 4, and Ashley, 3. They live in Boca Raton with their mother. The picture comes in handy, especially with cops who give him grief for sleeping in parking lots. "They usually soften up after seeing that," Harris said.

Admitting that I struggle, that times are hard and I need help are not things that come natural to me. I'm the sort that keeps it all inside out of pride and the fear of bothering people with my problems. Of course, the common sense in me knows I'm wrong for doing this but that doesn't make it any easier to say, "I need help."

So as people continue to applaud me and tell me they don't know how I do it, inside I'm screaming, "I'm not doing it. I'm barely making it." But thats something that is never voiced, the tears are never shown. I'll make it. What choice do I have? Failure is not an option.

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I'll be back tomorrow with some more information on Duane Harris.

Kottkamp continues to be scrutinized

Already under an ethics cloud, Lt. Gov. Jeff Kottkamp had a state trooper drive him and his family to suburban Atlanta for a surprise birthday party for a Tallahassee lobbyist.

In a state-owned vehicle, Kottkamp and his wife joined lobbyist Steve Metz and family members at a Saturday night concert in Peachtree City, Ga., featuring soft-rock singer Kenny Loggins. Kottkamp said the taxpayer-funded drive was legitimate and noted the law requires the Florida Highway Patrol to provide
protection for him 24 hours a day, seven days a week. ''It doesn't matter if it's a public or private event. They're there to provide safety and security, whether it's the governor or for me,'' Kottkamp said. ``If I'm traveling, whether it's state business or not, if they're going to be providing meaningful security, it's going to be all the time.''

Seriously, if it weren't for the other issues regarding taxpayer money ("In two years, Floridians paid $700k for Lt. Gov. Jeff Kottkamp's travel and protection") this wouldn't be an issue. I didn't know it cost so much to have a Lieutenant Governor. Maybe we should get rid of the job. If its not important enough for him to be required to live in Tallahassee then maybe we don't need it.

No One Said, "Um, Thats Not A Good Idea."

I am not trying to make this blog Florida's dumbest people but sometimes thats just what it will be. On "Take Your Son and Daughter To Work Day" children were shocked with stun guns and "dangerously close to breathing" tear gas.

Children held hands so 50,000 volts could pass through their
fingers.

Now if they aren't smart and careful with their own kids what makes anyone think they are respectful and abide by the rules regarding the inmates?

Link:
Shocking Story Update: 43 Kids Stunned, 21 Prison Workers Disciplined

5 Movies Made Before I Was Born That I Love

I fell in love with old movies back when I realized thats what I was watching anyway (just with a different cast). I mean Meg Ryan's shop in "You've Got Mail" is the name of the original movie she and Tom Hanks remade.

1. The Shop Around The Corner (1940)
2. My Fair Lady (1964)
3. Breakfast at Tiffany's (1961)
4. 12 Angry Men (1957)
5. Imitation of Life (1959)
   

No Child Wraps Up Tomorrow

Tomorrow is the last performance of Nilaja Sun's No Child, at GableStage in the Biltmore Hotel (Coral Gables), which showcases the talented Lela Elam.

No Way Florida Tops The List For Best Place To Raise A Child

How can you expect the Florida Department of Children and Families to take care of kids when the spokesman is sent to prison for 24 years for taking nude pictures of nude teenage boys, including one that was under the care of DCF? Was he using his job as a way to find victims?

Or when a Head Start teacher is kicking preschoolers in the face and a co-worker knew about his violence towards the kids at the very school earlier in the year?

A 13 year old was raped by four of his flag football team mates at a Hillsborough County middle school after he had been bullied for an extended period of time. Bullying is not a rite of passage or part of growing up.

And maybe its because I live here but to me Florida is the Teacher Sex Scandal Capitol of the World and this married band teacher in South Florida leads me to believe we'll be retaining that title in '09. He's having threesomes with teachers and accused of having sex with the students.

Meek Gets Competition for Martinez Senate Seat

In my eyes, and the eyes of others, Kendrick Meek will be the Democratic candidate for the Senate seat Mel Martinez will vacate (in 2010) after one term. Will he have to face the current governor? Crist has thrown his hat in the ring. Crist is the first sitting governor to decline a re-election bid since Florida changed its constitution in 1968 to allow two terms.

For a governor with a 60%+ approval rating you would think he might have this thing locked up. Particularly since Crist has a little in the bank with Democrats and some Black voters. He has restored felons' voting rights, pushed into law the requirement of paper ballots, and pushed a bill for the parents of Martin Lee Anderson to receive $5 million after their son died in state custody at a bootcamp.

But you know how political parties are...suicidal at times. The Republicans aren't all that thrilled with a moderate-Republican, pro-stimulus plan, barely stumped for McCain Gov. Crist. He has to survive the Republican primary where they may elect an extreme conservative which might not play well in the general election. I told you suicidal. Former House Speaker Marco Rubio is expected to give Crist a run for the nomination.

Meanwhile when folks aren't trying to "out" the governor he's walking out on press conferences about the hurricane season because he's asked about his Senate run. Its always fun in Florida.

Meanwhile who wants to replace Crist as the cheif executive of the fourth-largest state in the country? There is Florida's Cheif Financial Officer Alex Sink, a Democrat, who made her bid official. Attorney General Bill McCollum and Agriculture Commissioner Charles Bronson, both Republicans, are expected to announce their bids.

Since I've Been Gone

I know I wasnt gone long but boy have things changed.

No longer a 1L

I finished up my first year of law school. The hardest part was doing the reading. After that it all comes to you. People ask if its hard. To me, the concepts are easy. The work it takes is hard. Right before finals my laptop said, "Good night and good luck." I had to ship that sucker to Kentuky via my local Best Buy. Thank goodness for a warranty. But my girls came through for me when it came to my International and Comparative Law class because I couldn't have done it without them.

Next year I will be the president of BLSA (Black Law Students Association) because you know me, I may not be superwoman but every now and then I just have to say yes. I have five classes because I'm a glutton for punishment like that. If things go the way I want them then I will drop one of them.

I'm natural

Now I've never been one to care what people did to their hair. When my hair was permed it was not because I hated myself or believed in the white standard of beauty. Trust me, anyone who knows me knows I think highly of myself when it comes to looks. I never met anything that casts a reflection I didn't love.

I first thought about it during Christmas time. After taking out my weave my new growth was pretty long. I wanted to keep it natural but I was heading into another semester of school, I hadn't done any research on caring for natural hair and my "knowledge" consisted of crazy myths. It just wasn't the time.

My second semester was pretty intense and stressful due to reasons outside the classroom. So whether I wanted to be or not, I became natural because all my hair fell out. Everyday I combed it a huge amount of hair ended up in the comb. This was not natural shedding. So, I didn't have the option of transitioning, LOL. It is itsy bitsy not long enough to run a comb through. And I'm happy with it. I love touching it.

The blog is going local

For a while I've wanted to focus on the politics and issues that usually matter the most to people's everyday lives - local. So I've finally shifted my blog. I know most people aren't from Florida but I am, therefore that is where I will focus my attention.

State and local politics have intrigued me for a long time. I will focus a lot less on everyone's favorite hobby - pretending to be a White House Chief of Staff and political savant - and more on that which directly effects me like the Lieutenant Governor running up a hefty travel tab and an allegedly useless bridge worth $128 million in stimulus money.

A little less Sarah Palin, Al Sharpton and Barack Obama and a lot more Charlie Crist, Jeff Kottcamp, Peggy Quince, Bill Nelson, Mel Martinez, Ileana Ros-Lehtinen, and Clarence Otis.

Of course I reserve the right to talk about sports, entertainment, military, good news from around the country, and blogging silliness. And no Mike, it will not be your one-stop source for "those fools in Florida" news!

Boat Carrying Haitian Immigrants Sinks Off Florida Coast

At least nine people are dead after a boat apparently carrying Haitian migrants sank off the Florida coast. 17 survived and the Coast Guard continues to search for more.

"The boat was obviously overloaded," Fitton said. "It's a tragedy that someone would be so callous with human life."

Well they are smuggling humans for money. If they were Cubans they would have been courageous for risking their lives to achieve the American dream. And the survivors would be allowed to stay. But you're not from Cuba, you're from Haiti, the poorest nation in the Western Hemisphere where poverty and death are rising while the economic conditions are getting worst. So don't get too comfortable even if there are advocates fighting for Haitians to receive protected status.

Link:

At least 10 dead after apparent human-smuggling boat capsizes

Senate Confirms New FEMA Chief After Vitter Ends Grandstanding

Weeks before the start of hurricane season Craig Fugate has been confirmed as the new FEMA chief. Fugate received bipartisan support but his nomination was held up by Senator Vitter (R-LA).

Mr. Vitter complains that FEMA is not answering his questions about some high-risk flood areas that await rebuilding. FEMA should answer his questions.
(New York Times)

Because your answers are going to get answered while they are waiting for a leader. And once the new leader arrives and makes changes the answers may very well be different. All Vitter did was take time away from Fugate that could have been used to address problems and implement changes. A senator from hurricane plagued state that still hasn't recovered from Hurricane Katrina holds up the nomination for FEMA. Grandstanding at its worst.

I'M ON HIATUS...

I'll see you in a couple of weeks. The man above is a clue.

E for Excellence Award

I received the 'E for Excellence' Award from Wayne at Electronic Village. Thanks Wayne.

The rules state that after receiving the Excellent Blog Award, you must pass it on to 10 more excellent bloggers. Here are the ten bloggers that I am passing the award on to:

Tracey at Black Gives Back
Ed at Ed The Sports Fan
V Byers at Blogging Black Miami
Attorney Mom at Character Corner
Seattle Slim at Happy Nappy Head
Marv at Opinionated Black Woman
Mike at Happy Go Lucky Bachelor
Anxious Black Woman at Diary of an Anxious Black Woman
Liz at Los Angelista's Guide to the Pursuit of Happiness
The group over at PostBourgie

Good News Tuesday

Over the past few days people were thrilled over the news of Rear Admiral Michelle Howard commanding the ship (in fact the fleet) that saved kidnapped Capt. Richard Phillips. I had to laugh a little because it wasn't exactly new. I mentioned it on this blog TWO WEEKS ago and I blogged about her assignment as commander of Expeditionary Strike Group Two in FOUR MONTHS ago over at Tradition of Excellence.

Newsflash: The positive news about Black people is out there. I read it all the time. Black bloggers, as Dap said in School Daze, "WAKE UP!" Sorry Black folks, I just had to laugh. Now on to the good news for the week.

Audrey Bell-Kearney is the owner of Black Diamond TV (www.blackdiamondtv.com), which is a subsidy of Black Diamond Media Group. Black Diamond TV is a network of online TV shows hosted by Black women on a variety of topics including money, business, relationships and education, just to name a few. BDTV has a slate of eight shows that will be produced and streamed starting May 1, 2009.

Princeton University students Fiona Miller and Davion Chism were among 8 Princeton students who won the Spirit of Princeton award.

The $3.2 million bust of Sojourner Truth will make history as the first memorial bust of a black woman to be placed in the Capitol. The project was spearheaded by the National Congress of Black Women, Inc., and took nearly 10 years to complete.

Novella Langford, and her friend, Dr. Vera Geneva Campbell both served in the Women's Army Auxiliary Corps, later called the Women's Army Corps, at Fort Des Moines in the 1940s. Their memories were recently given to the Fort Des Moines Museum and Education Center on the south side of Des Moines by the Langford family. The gift became one of the most unusual personal collections received by the museum.

Crenshaw High School junior Sharron Pearson is the first student from the school to be accepted by Oxford Tradition.

Sharon McGhee, news director for WVON radio in Chicago, was inspired to bring stories from black women to the stage and does so with "The Pocketbook Monologues".

Helping business owners and aspiring entrepreneurs take their enterprises to new heights will be the focus of the Black Business Expo’s Tom Bradley Business Institute. The institute is part of BBX’s 20th Reunion, to be held May 1, 2 and 3 at the Los Angeles Convention Center.

Be Careful Who You Follow

"There was a strain, but the way I respond to strain in friendship is that I write about it then discuss it with the person. So I wrote a piece, “Lest We Forget: For My Sisters Who Are Brave.” Because I wanted to remind black women and Gloria …that we can’t just eagerly and blindly follow someone just because she’s female. You have to look at what she really stands for and who she really is."

-Alice Walker, who supported President Obama, on her rift with Hillary Clinton supporter Gloria Steinem.

Source: AJC

ANTM's Natalie Thinks Taking A Great Picture Doesn't Mean The Black Girl Should Win

Even in modeling, that finish line always gets pushed back. The modeling/ fashion industry never ceases to amaze me. When they aren't excluding Black women from the runways they are whining about the First Lady's designer choices. And even if a Black women can take a great picture it still doesn't make her a model. Seems recently booted America's Next Top Model Natalie Pack can't handle not being the preferred look of beauty.

Since Aminat's been in the bottom two for two straight weeks and hasn't gotten eliminated, suspicions from Natalie have arisen that Tyra's playing favorites. "Tyra definitely has a soft spot for Aminat and Teyona. I think she just loves [their] personalities. I feel like they're most relatable to Tyra, since Tyra was a black model struggling. I think she has a hidden emotional connection with the black girls, and I think that's where a lot of favoritism comes from. I'm not accusing her of it, but that's just my opinion," Natalie tells us. (E! Online]

Natalie thats exactly what you're accusing her of dear. And you're doing it in all your interviews.

Still, Natalie believes Teyona will be crowned Top Model this season. "I think Teyona will [win], but I hope Allison will. Teyona has the judges on her side; she has the ability to take a great picture. Though, when you see her in person, it's like, how do you even tell that she's a model? With Allison you know she's a model. She's beautiful, and she has something special. I really want Allison to win, but I think it's going to be Teyona."

Pfft, who needs a model that can take a great picture? So basically Teona is ugly and not befitting of being seen as a model and Allison is beautiful. I don't watch the show so of course I had to check these girls out and they are everything I thought they would be. I'll let you guess which is Allison and which is Teyona. And the names make no difference; it could be Allison and Lauren and you would still know.

Natalie was interviewed on BuddyTV where she was asked why the runner up's tend to do better than the winners.

You know why? It's because a lot of the time Tyra picks her favorite. A lot of the times, these girls have a contract for Cover Girl and they don't even fit the profile of a Cover Girl. You need to pick a girl who actually looks like a model and can work in the industry. Because if she doesn't and she's picking only solely on personality, that doesn't cut it in the industry. I know that Tyra claims that personality is the most of it, but it's really not. It's all business and it's all politics in modeling. And it's not all about personality, but the show makes it seem like it's so important, and it really isn't. [BuddyTV]

So Natalie, the fact that Teyona has the ability to take a great picture (your words) and Allison has something special means Teyona should win right? Of course not, with Allison its something special. That something special wouldn't happen to be her White skin would it?

5 Countries I Want To Visit

I've been to a foreign country here and there but these are on my list. Honestly, I have no excuse for not going to #3; it was a train ride away.

1. Japan
2. South Africa
3. Italy
4. Indonesia
5. Argentina
   

In the age of doom and gloom, read some good news about Black Americans at Tradition of Excellence.