THINGS according to me

LINCOLN, JFK, LBJ, and OBAMA. Heroes?

2011-07-04T09:23:00.006-05:00

Fourth of July 2011. Can you believe we've gone from quills to twitter in less than 300 years? A long way in a short time, huh.
Because of all the gay civil rights action and discussions happening recently, I thought this was a good day to take an honest look back at those U.S. presidents who we celebrate as civil rights heroes.

First of course, the founding fathers. I would think that Black Americans would agree that the brilliant framers of our nation, many of whom became president, need not apply for this particular honor.
Kennedy, Lincoln, Johnson, were they great men of justice for all?
LBJ would not have even been considered for president or vice prez today. He would never have passed today's vetting with his atrocious civil rights record. And, did Kennedy voluntarily tackle the civil rights problem?
Lincoln freed the slaves and made great civil rights speeches of inspiration and importance. The debate has always been whether Lincoln freed the slaves because it was the only way to save the Union, not because it was a horrid inhumane institution.
Do motivation and intentions diminish hero status?

Kennedy didn't want to intercede on behalf of the jailed Martin Luther King and was provoked into interceding into the Jame Meredith and Bull Connor high profile cases.
Lyndon B. Johnson, after the JFK assassination, took the opportunity to force through sweeping new laws that changed this country forever. In the South, democrats became republicans and republicans became democrats. Concessions were made to get the bills through so most of the laws did not fully protect those they covered. The South became more sinister and the North became more stealth in it’s racism.

Don't get me wrong, Lincoln, Kennedy, and Johnson were all good caring men but none acted on that goodness alone. They acted on political expediency and only when it was imperative or opportunistic to do so. All gave famous speeches of civil rights and equal rights, all suspect in their behind the scenes opportunity for greatness and motivation for their actions. All considered great human rights leaders. They are indeed.

Barack Obama is being criticized for his lack of proclamations regarding gay marriage. Although he has done more for the GLBT community than all other presidents combined, he is being accused of waiting until his second term to speak out. I think he is doing just that. Some say this a failing on his part? We know he is capable of inspirational speeches and is known for his patience in wanting a law passed that will endure. Is the president a coward or a hero for holding his tongue now to not jeopardize progress in his second term?

So, how do you measure these men as civil rights heroes? Is it for their public proclamations of civil rights for all. Is motivation important, doing the right thing because they truly feel it is the right thing? Or, should they be considered great based on their enduring legacy of policy?
I think Barack Obama will measure up and deliver it all.

SIGNED Sealed Delivered, New York, New York!

2011-06-25T00:08:00.013-05:00

Congrats to New York State for passing the Gay Marriage Bill and becoming the sixth and largest state to do so. Big hat tip to Governor Andrew Cuomo who wasted no time SIGNING the Bill and to the senators (including some republicans) who came on board for equal rights. There are amendments to the bill to insure that no religious organization can be forced to perform a marriage ceremony that goes against their beliefs. Well of course, as it should be.

Soft spoken, GOP conservative, Senator Roy McDonald, got huge support and became an Internet hero when he decided he just couldn't hold the party line against giving equal rights to New Yorkers who have been denied forever.

"You get to the point where you evolve in your life where everything isn't black and white, good and bad, and you try to do the right thing."

"You might not like that. You might be very cynical about that. Well, fuck it, I don't care what you think. I'm trying to do the right thing."

"I'm tired of Republican-Democrat politics. They can take the job and shove it. I come from a blue-collar background. I'm trying to do the right thing, and that's where I'm going with this."

Senator McDonald a grandfather, followed his heart, changed his vote to yes, helped make history and set an example of courage.
It's been a long journey from historic Stonewall to this Pride weekend celebrations with civil unions in Chicago and Marriage in New York State. Federally recognized rights are now at least on the horizon.

Happy Father's Day!

2011-06-19T06:19:00.002-05:00

To all the dads, granddads, great-grands, pops, papas, uncles, nephews, brothers, sons, cousins, and friends who are fathers and father figures, we honor and salute you! You are vitally important in the lives of children and society. Have a great day!

Flash Mobs Attack

2011-06-09T04:44:00.001-05:00

This really makes me mad! Flash Mobs are creative and fun experiences for the participants and the surprised onlookers. Now a bunch of thugs in Chicago and other cities are using twitter and text technology to flash meet to rob a store or beat up and rob individuals.

10-15 or even 20 thugs beating up one person? This is most distubing because the purpose of these attacks on one or two people is lost on me. They get one cell phone or two ipods, maybe a wallet. What good is that for 15 people? Many attacks are just malicious, throwing people in the water at the beach, knocking them off their bikes or just kicking and beating them and then running away.

I realize these are hard financial times. I know there are a lot of unemployed, under-educated, disenfranchised, angry young men in our society. But, whether they are expressing their collective anger or angst or whatever by attacking people en masse, or just thugs who like to hurt people, I put them in the same category as those who drive by shoot or prey on the young and the elderly. They are cowards.

These young men were attacked by Flash Thugs in Chicago on Tuesday.

Donald Knows....what?

2011-04-20T05:33:00.006-05:00

Donald Trump is a great disappointment and more. I actually thought he was a smart, fair, and honorable (as honorable as possible in his financial wizard world) funny, creative type guy. I don't know that I admired him but I thought he was kind of cool. His Apprentice shows are full of personality bumping fun, and strategically intriguing challenges. Celebrity Apprentice is one of the very few reality shows I could stand.

But, Mr. Trump has shown himself to be a stupid arrogant racist who would sell his country for some ratings. He is supposedly considering a run for president. He is starting off his pre-campaign by whipping the birther thing into a frenzy. Yes, he is appealing to the folks who just cannot believe Barack Obama is an American because he is too smart and he got voted into the White House by a damn landslide. There are Americans who have belief systems that just can't accept that. I mean, there are Americans who can entirely accept a brilliant black man without any prejudice as long as he comes from somewhere else and has an accent. There has to be something wrong or different about Barack Obama. He can't be just a black guy from Chicago. Trump does not feel this way, he's just using the people who do. Yep, using and feeding them while on his campaign to plant doubt, feed distrust, discredit and devalue this president, by insistantly hinting, gently accusing him of purposely perpetrating this fraud on the United States government and all of it's people.

Now, Mr. Trump declares he has some information about the president's birth but he is not gonna tell us yet. "Just wait and see what happens." Maybe until the finale of Celeb Apprentice? Hmmmm Does he have proof that will end this birther stuff cold? But first, we must watch to see if Star beats LaToya.

Trump wants to be president and this is how he demonstrates his political savvy? Does he not realize the president is constantly making decisions that effect our lives, our nation, and the world? He may have info that would show this man to be a poser and he sits on it? Goes on TV and brags about it, teases about it. Does he think this is some kind of reality show game?

Elizabeth Taylor - A Profound Loss

2011-03-27T15:57:00.002-05:00

When the regular TV programming was interrupted with the news bulletin that Elizabeth Taylor had died, I was weirdly overcome with sadness and to tears. I didn't know her of course, yet I grew up with her in my life. She was a sparkling star and remained so. My sister called and said "it doesn't seem right that Elizabeth Taylor is not in the world." She is right. I felt a profound sense of loss.
Blog and Facebook posts went up with pictures and clips, messages of thanks and gratitude for her charitable work and for her courage and caring filled the social networking media. There seemed to be a collective feeling of profound loss.

Like her friend Michael Jackson, I suspect Elizabeth Taylor will have a whole new generation of fans who will now become aware of her legendary importance, talent and movies. I got email from a young friend who marveled after watching some movie clips from Cat on a Hot Tin Roof and Who's Afraid of Virginia Woolf, "I knew about her because of Michael and about the perfume and that she had those unusual eyes but, I didn't know she could act..was that good. I'm gonna check out her movies." That's funny and wonderful too. I told him he had a treat in store and gave him some titles.

Elizabeth was a Hollywood legend, and has been called the most beautiful woman in the world. But she was not just a glamorous movie star who always got her man, and married him, she was so much more. She was not afraid to reach out to a friend in need. Her caring and support for friends like troubled actor Montgomery Clift is well known. She was said to have a great sense of humor. For me that says a lot about a person. She had an incredible laugh.

In the mid 1980's, an AIDS diagnosis was nearly always fatal and yet public figures including the president, did not want to be associated with even the word AIDS. Elizabeth Taylor said:

"I kept seeing all these news reports on this new disease and kept asking myself why no one was doing anything. And then I realized that I was just like them. I wasn't doing anything to help."

So, Elizabeth fearlessly stepped forward. And when I say fearlessly, I mean in yo face fearless. She debunked the fears of being close to people with AIDS by doing just that. Elizabeth knew she was high profile and she used it to fill the vacuum with attention for her immediate concern, ensuring the dignity and care of people living with and dying with AIDS. Elizabeth Taylor then took it to the public, the arts and fashion industries, the medical community, and lawmakers. In 1984 she organized and hosted the first AIDS fundraiser to benefit AIDS Project Los Angeles. She could care less about the religious community uproar, the controversy and personal risks or the silence of others. In 1985, with a small group of physicians, she founded the American Foundation for AIDS Research (amfAR).

In 1991
the Elizabeth Taylor HIV/AIDS Foundation (ETAF) was created with a focus on direct services for people living with AIDS. ETAF provides funding to AIDS service organizations throughout the world to assist those living with HIV and AIDS. Liz became a worldwide activist visiting hospitals and raising funds the world over.

In the aftermath of Hurricane Katrina, through her foundation, Taylor commissioned a $500,000 37-foot "Care Van" equipped with examination tables and other medical equipment and dispatched it to New Orleans to care for HIV/AIDS patients of the city. She also donated $40,000 to the New Orleans Aids Task Force.

Through the years, Elizabeth organized, hosted, or appeared at countless fundraisers for HIV/AIDS charities in spite of facing numerous health issues including chronic back pain.
With unbelievable commitment and generosity Elizabeth also personally underwrote all expenses for fundraising and administering her foundation funds.

In 1997 Elizabeth had surgery to remove a brain tumor. She allowed herself to be photographed bald (front and back) to support women who had such surgeries or had lost their hair due to illness. The most beautiful woman in the world did not let vanity stop her from being a champion. Or maybe it was vanity. I'm not mad at her. Her beauty was deep. Perhaps it was her understanding of beauty, her lack of shame that drove her empathy for others in a world where shame is so often used as a weapon. Elizabeth was not only an actor and activist, she was a teacher.

Now, a few Elizabeth Taylor movies. She was not just good to look at, she was an artist.

First film in 1943 with MGM was Lassie Come Home with her lifelong friend Roddy McDowall and Donald Crisp. Absolutely worth watching. Get those hankies ready.

National Velvet in 1944 with Mickey Rooney. Story of young Velvet and her passion for horses and racing. A triumphant underdog story that will warm your heart.
This is the film that made Elizabeth Taylor a star.

Life with Father 1947 a teen (15) Elizabeth in a warm and very funny family flick with William Powell as the tyrannical father, Irene Dunne and Zasu Pitts. I Love this one too.

Elephant Walk,1954 One of my favorites growing up. Beautiful color and beautiful Elizabeth faces rampaging elephants.

Giant 1956 with James Dean and Rock Hudson,and Sal Mineo. Epic film about Texas cattle rancher.

Raintree County 1957 with Montgomery Clift. Liz got her first Oscar nomination but lost to Joanne Woodward for Three Faces of Eve.

Cat on a Hot Tin Roof, 1958. IMHO One of the best movies ever made. Burl Ives, Paul Newman, Jack Carson and Elizabeth as Maggie the Cat, are SUPERB in the Tennessee Williams masterpiece. Gotta love Liz in her hatred for those no neck monsters. Second Oscar nomination but lost to Susan Hayward for I Want to Live.

Big Daddy and Maggie.

Brick and Maggie the Cat.

Suddenly, Last Summer, 1959. Katherine Hepburn and Montgomery Clift in the strange disturbing Tennessee Williams story where Elizabeth's character Catherine, witnesses a death so horrid she goes insane. Third Oscar nom but this time lost to Simone Signoret for Room at the Top.

In 1960 Butterfield 8 with Laurence Harvey, Eddie Fisher and Dina Merrill finally got Liz, who plays a call girl, the Academy Award for Best Actress.

1963 Cleopatra, with Richard Burton. Elizabeth was the first actress to earn $1,000,000 for a film. More drama going on off screen than on with this epic picture. Liz and Dick sizzle on and off screen.
The media, already crazed after the Elizabeth/Debbie Reynolds/Eddie Fisher spectacle, practically went insane over Taylor/Burton. This is said to be the beginning of the crazy stalking paparazzi.

1966, Elizabeth, Richard Burton, Sandy Dennis and George Segal in Edward Albee's masterpiece, Who's Afraid of Virgina Woolf. Excellent ensemble cast. College professor George and wife Martha (Liz and Dick) invite a new young prof and his wife over for drinks after a college function and it turns into a night of verbal war games fueled by alcohol and the need to hurt each other and a strange dependence. The young couple are not exempt as they are probed and prodded and emotionally laid bare. Bawdy, loud, sexual, passionate, and beautiful Martha, and George who pokes at everyones wounds with a pointy stick and then rips off scabs for fun are two of the greatest character ever written. Sandy Dennis is remarkable as the daft vulnerable young wife of her handsome trapped hubby. Fasten your seat belt. I give it Five strong Stars *****

Taming of the Shrew, 1967. I love Burton and Taylor in this Shakespeare romp with emphasis on romp. Burton is master of the Bard of course and Elizabeth has you howling with her bawdy braying strong performance. Talking about food fight. OMG!

Elizabeth was also famous for owning some of the world's most magnificent jewelry, including the the 33-carat "Krupp Diamond", the Duchess of Windsor diamond brooch, the Grand Duchess of Russia emeralds, the "LaPeregrina Pearl" (which was a Valentine present from her from Richard Burton), and the famous pear-shaped 69-carat "Burton-Cartier Diamond" Burton gave her in 1969 (subsequently renamed the "Burton-Taylor Diamond."
Liz wearing the 500 year old LaPeregrina.

When Elizabeth presented her perfumes to the public it was no surprise that they are mostly named for precious gems. The first in 1987 and was fittingly named Passion, followed by White Diamonds (1991), Diamonds and Rubies, Diamonds and Emeralds, Diamonds and Sapphires and Black Pearls (1995).

Elizabeth Taylor, the most beautiful woman in the world, was laid to rest at Forest Lawn near her friend Michael, and Clark Gable, Carol Lombard and other Hollywood legends. By her directions she arrived 15 minutes late, for her own funeral. She
had left instruction to have the last laugh.
Her legacy will live on in film and the media will talk of her marriages and her diamonds and her violet eyes, and her two Academy Awards. That is her legacy. But, she stepped out front and center with no Oscar in sight and her only reward was winning the dignity and care for people sick and voiceless. Before the red ribbons she was there and after the ribbons she was still there pushing and charming and winning for those she helped to give a voice and helped to live. I have profound gratitude to Elizabeth Taylor for damn near singlehandely prodding a nation away from ignorance and fear and jump starting a movement for life.

Rock and Elizabeth R.I.P.

Sweet Day

2011-02-15T07:16:00.005-06:00

Happy National Gumdrop Day!
Gumdrops are such a colorful bright sweet treat and decoration. Drops are not my favorite candy with it's sugary outside and gummy jelled inside. Just a bit too much sugar for me. But I do like the orange ones best.

Gumdrop Art

A Great Man

2011-01-15T05:22:00.002-06:00

"We are all tied together in a single garment of destiny...I can never be what I ought to be until you are allowed to be what you ought to be."

"I've always felt that homophobic attitudes and policies were unjust and unworthy of a free society and must be opposed by all Americans who believe in democracy."

"Injustice anywhere is a threat to justice everywhere."

"I have worked too long and hard against segregated public accommodations to end up segregating my moral concern. Justice is indivisible."

Dr. Martin Luther King

2010 Roll Call

2010-12-31T20:25:00.001-06:00

Last year it took two posts to remember those we lost in 2009. Again our roll call is long. No annual list of newsworthy deaths is truly complete. As you look through these photos of special folks we collectively knew, you're sure to think of others we lost this year. I invite you to post a comment below about who else should be remembered and why.

Agathe von Trapp, center, arrives with her sister, Maria, and brother, Johannes, right, at the Martin Beck Theatre to see the reopening of the Broadway musical 'The Sound of Music' Thursday, March 12, 1998, in New York. Agathe von Trapp died Tuesday, Dec. 29, 2010, at a hospice in Towson. She was 97

Teena Marie 54 December 26,2010 Soul singer all day long.

Blake Edwards 88 December 16,2010. Producer - Pink Panther, Days of Wine and Roses, Victor\Victoria. Married to Julie Andrews.

Elizabeth Edwards 61 December 7, 2010

Leslie Nielson 84 November 28, 2010. Don't call him Shirley!

Jill Clayburgh 66 November 5,2010 Star of 'Dirty Sexy Money.'

James MacArthur 72 October 28,2010 Danny on Hawaii Five-0 "Book 'em Danno."

John Forsythe 92 April 2, 2010 Actor, Voice of Charlie on 'Charlies Angels'. Pictured here with co-star Joan Collins from 'Dynasty'.

Tom Bosley 83 October 19, 2010. Howard Cunningham,'Happy Days.'

Barbara Billingsley 94 October 16, 2010 June Cleaver, Beaver's mom.

Solomon Burke 70 October 10, 2010 King of Rock and Soul.

Stephen J. Cannell 66
Producer\writer- Rockford Files, Baretta, A-Team, 21 Jump Street, Commish

Greg Giraldo 44 September 29,2010 Comedian

Tony Curtis 85 September 29, 2010 Actor and father of Jamie Lee

Arthur Penn 88 September 28, 2010 Director of classics like Bonnie and Clyde.

Gloria Stuart 100 years old. Actress who killed me by dropping that gem into the ocean in the movie Titanic.

Eddie Fisher 85 September 22,2010 Singer. Father of Joely and Carrie. Famous husband of Debbie Reynolds, Connie Stevens, and Liz Taylor.

Patrica Neal 84 August 8,2010 Best Actress Oscar winner 'Hud' 1964

Dixie Carter 70 April 10, 2010 Stage/TV actress. Julia Sugarbaker, my hero on 'Designing Women.'

George Steinbrenner 80 July 13,2010 Colorful New York Yankees owner.

Rue McClanahan 76 June 3, 2010 Actress on many sitcoms including saucy southern belle Blanche Devereaux on 'Golden Girls."

Dennis Hopper 74 May 29, 2010 Actor\director. 'Easy Rider'

Gary Coleman 42 May 28, 2010 Actor know for TV show 'Different Strokes.'

Art Linkletter 97 May 26, 2010 Variety show host in the 1950's and
60's. 'Art Linkletter's Houseparty' People Are Funny'

Lena Horne 92 May 9, 2010 Trail blazing actress and singer.

Robert Culp 79 March 24, 2010. Movie and TV actor.

A pro tennis player, Culp and his trainer, Bill Cosby, used their world travels to hide their other job as secret agents in the ground breaking series 'I Spy.'

Roll Call 2010 part II

2010-12-31T20:23:00.001-06:00

The Redgrave family of well known actors have had a very sad couple of years losing Corin, Lynn, and last year's tragic loss of Vanessa's daughter, actress Natasha Richardson.

Corin Redgrave 70 April 6, 2010 the British actor is pictured here with his sister Vanessa Redgrave.

Lynn Redgrave 67 May 2, 2010 British stage and screen actress. 'Georgie Girl' and 'Gods and Monsters' are among her best film work.

Dorothy Height 98 April 20, 2010 Beloved civil rights leader.

Margaret Burroughs 93 Artist, historian, teacher.

Fess Parker 85 March 18, 2010 Most famous for portrayal of 'Daniel Boone.'

Peter Graves March 14, 2010 TV actor. Handed out the assignments on 'Mission Impossible.' Brother of James Arness of 'Gunsmoke'

Corey Haim 38 March 10, 2010 'Lucas' and 'Lost Boys' actor.

Zelda Rubinstein 76 january 27, 2010 Actress, 'Poltergiest II' The Other Side.'

James Mitchell 89 January 22,2010 Dancer, screen and TV actor. 'The Turning Point'. And, he played Palmer Cortland on 'All My Children' for nearly 30 years.

Jimmy Dean 81 June 13, 2010 Country music legend, hit song, 'Big Bad John'. hosted the Jimmy Dean variety show and is founder of Jimmy Dean sausage products.

Mitch Miller 99 July 31,2010 Bandleader, host of 'Sing along with Mitch'

Edwin Newman 91 August 13,2010 Longtime TV newsman.

Kevin McCarthy 96 September 11,2010 TV/movie actor. 'Invasion of the Body Snatchers'

Johnny Sheffield 79 October 15,2010 Played 'Boy' in the 'Tarzan' movies.

Ron Santo 70 December 2,2010 Chicago Cubs player and broadcaster. Also, championed finding a cure for diabetes.

Don Meredith 72 December 5,2010 Dallas Cowboy football player turned broadcaster on 'Monday Night Football'

Steve Landesberg 65 December 20,2010 Actor who played brainy Detective Dietrich on TV series 'Barney Miller.

Helen Wagner 86 May 1, 2010 Nancy Hughes on 'As the World Turns' since 1956.

Merlin Olson 69 March 11, 2010 Football player turned actor. 'Little House on the Prairie.'

Pernell Roberts 81 June 24, 2010 Played oldest son Adam on 'Bonaza' and the 'Mash' character 'Trapper John M.D.' as an older doctor on his own show.

Kathryn Grayson 89 february 17,2010 MGM musical star.

Jean Simmons 80, June 22,2010 British film actress.

Harold Gould 86 September 11,2010 Actor, played Rhoda's dad.

Cherine Alexander October 2010 Miss Continental 1984, Baton Show Lounge performer extroidinaire.

Teddy Pendergrass 59 January 14,2010 R&B singer

J.D. Salinger 91 January 27, 2010 Author of 'Catcher in the Rye.'

Eric Segal 72 January 17, 2010 Author of 'Love Story.'

He Ping Ping 21 March 13,2010 Worlds smallest man at 2 ft 5 inches.

Christmas Time is Here!

2010-12-24T22:16:00.003-06:00

The children's song truly captures the feeling of the season.

Now, Linus reminds us of the true meaning of Christmas.
So simply said by a child.

Merry Christmas and Happy Holidays Everyone!

Old Time Gospel Christmas! Welll!

2010-12-14T08:28:00.001-06:00

Join Mariah in clapping and tapping to this joyous gospel carol!

Wonderful Christmas Time!

2010-12-09T05:07:00.002-06:00

From John and Yoko to Paul and Linda- here is the beautiful song from Wings! So Christmasy and bright. Enjoy!

John Lennon and Sammy Davis Jr.

2010-12-08T12:32:00.004-06:00

Today is the date that Sammy Davis Jr. was born and today is the 30th anniversary of John Lennon's death. Two phenomenal events in entertainment history.

From John for Christmas here is his wonderful song that also marked the end of the Viet Nam War. I love this one.

From Sammy and the wonderful Carmen MacRae, a great duet I dedicate to my Chicago homies. Baby It's Cold outside!

Hard Rock, Coco and Joe

2010-12-07T09:18:00.002-06:00

How about some of our favorite and maybe forgotten Christmas carols to sing-a-long with and jog the memory. This one will be new for some of yall for sure.
This 1950's WGN-TV Chicago cartoon classic is a good place to start.

Ricky called 'em out in Illinois!

2010-12-02T02:42:00.005-06:00

The Illinois House and Senate passed the long fought for bill for civil unions. Governor Quinn a supporter, has promised to sign the landmark bill santioning same-sex couples. On July 1, 2011 the great state of Illinois will join the growing number of states advancing human rights and the cause of justice for LGBT peoples and families.

Hypocrites in the room beware, he's talking to you.
Can't we just see Rev./Senator Meeks squirm and cover his ears. lalalala I can't hear ya Ricky.

Next, full marriage rights. In Illinois.
Next, federal spousal recognition for gay and lesbian couples.
Next, Free and Equal at Last!

It Is Not Over!

2010-12-01T04:22:00.005-06:00

World AIDS Day 2010
Every December 1st we focus on issues surrounding HIV/AIDS. We emphasize keeping educated, being safe, getting tested, being compassionate, being supportive and ending HIV/AIDS.
It's a good time to reach out to those you love who live with HIV/AIDS. For me there are many. I love you all.
It's a good time to remember all those who have died. For me there are so, so many who left here with a little piece of my heart. I can never forget you. (Lee, I'm wearing your shirt today guy.)
It's a good day to realize that AIDS is not a one day a year deal. People are struggling to afford the AIDS medications they need right here in the good ole USA. People are still dying of HIV/AIDS in 2010, right here in America. In Africa and other places in the world HIV/AIDS is simply devastating the population.
So, today again it's important to recommit, research, reach out, represent, recognize and remember that-
It is not cured. It is not over.

Rev. James Meeks for Mayor

2010-11-23T15:23:00.000-06:00

For the first time in decades, Chicago will soon have a new mayor. Mayor Richard J. Daley is passing on the keys to city hall and the contest for the keys is getting heated up.
Former Obama Chief of Staff, Rahm Emmauel came home from Washington D.C. because he wants the keys. Congressman Danny Davis, who I worked with back in the day, wants it. Miguel del Valle is the Hispanic hopeful, Former senator and ambassador Carol Mosely Braun returned to the political scene and is going for it. And lastly, Rev./State Senator James Meeks really wants to be mayor of Chicago.

I have listened closely to all of them on various radio/TV interviews. All speaking on what they have to offer a big city like Chitown. The overriding theme I heard was bringing us all together. Serving all the people of this multicutural city was the prevailing theme. They all seem sincere, except for one, the Rev. James Meeks. Oh, he makes the same claim as the others. He even has had t-shirts printed with a mayoral campaign slogan, "People first." But, the good Rev. does not consider everyone "people."
Rev. Meeks is totally, completely and unabashedly anti-gay. This man who seeks to be mayor of a city with a huge GLBT population is a raging homophobic. RAGING!

As Chicago's second ever Black mayor, a homophobe like James Meeks
would be a far cry from Harold Washington, who was responsible for Chicago's Human Rights Ordinance. Rep. Greg Harris told FOX Chicago, "He (Meeks)opposes even the most basic forms of equality and civil rights, we would be very alarmed if he were to become mayor."
Senator Meeks actively campaigned to defeat SB3186, an Illinois LGBT non-discrimination bill, while serving in the Illinois state legislature. He was the only African American in the Illinois Senate and House to vote against the bill.

Rev. Meeks, mega-church pastor of Salem Baptist Church in Chicago, calls homosexuality "an evil sickness" and was named one of the "leading black religious voices in the anti-gay movement" by the civil rights law firm, Southern Poverty Law Center (SPLC). Meeks has consistently worked with anti-gay conservative groups including the Americans for Truth, a Naperville, IL organization which the SPLC labeled as a hate group.

FOX Chicago TV asked mayoral candidate Meeks if his anti-gay views would impact any decisions he would make if elected mayor. His unbelievable answer is the following:

"Now, if I were sitting around bored with nothing to do, that stuff might come up," Meeks told FOX Chicago. "But I expect to be so busy with schools, crime and budget problems during my first term that I wouldn't have any time."

It's one thing to be against gay marriage or to be not accepting of the so-called gay "lifestyle" but it's another to actively aggressively try to hurt people, stand in opposition to the protection of citizens and to dismiss some people as unimportant. Perhaps Rev. Meeks is unaware that the LGBT community is effected by and often differently effected by school, crime, housing, and economic issues. Perhaps he doesn't think he needs the votes from the community he dismisses. Perhaps he is unaware that his hate filled antiquated views will lose him support from more citizens than just the gay folk.

Happy Anniversary, Alex!

2010-11-23T04:54:00.005-06:00

Wishing a Happy Blogaversary to my friend Alexandra Billings for writing her funny, heartfelt, and socially relevant blog,
Stillettos and Sneakers.
Seven years and counting of making us laugh and learn.
Thanks, Alex!

Dr. Margaret Burroughs

2010-11-22T00:00:00.009-06:00

The 93-year-old founder of America's foremost museum of African American history has died in her Chicago home, surrounded by her family.

Margaret Burroughs, an artist, art historian, teacher (she taught art at Dusable high for 20 years) and longtime Chicago Park District commissioner, co-founded with her husband, the late Charles Burroughs, the nationally recognized DuSable Museum of African American History in the living room of their South Side home almost 50 years ago. She served as the museum's executive director for a decade, until it was relocated to Washington Park.

Today, the museum is an internationally recognized resource for African American art and stands as both the oldest and largest collection of African American cultural artifacts in the country housing a permanent collection of more than fity thousand artifacts, artworks and books. DuSable Museum also hosts various educational programs and is one of the only independent institutions of its kind in the country.

Mrs. Burroughs helped shape some of Chicago's most lasting institutions including the South Side Community Art Center started by twenty-two year old Burroughs and several artists and art supporters. This community organization served as a gallery and workshop studio for artists and students. Burroughs continued to serve on the board of the Center, which remains active more than sixty years after its formation.

In addition to her work with the museum, Burroughs wrote children's books, poetry, and created sculpture and paintings. She was most well-known as a printmaker who created linoleum block images that featured images relevant to the African-American culture and experience.

Mrs. Burroughs legacy reaches across the spectrum, and is a distinctive contribution to black culture.

“Every individual wants to leave a legacy; to be remembered for something positive they have done for their community,” Mrs. Burroughs once told Ebony magazine. “Long after I’m dead and gone, the DuSable Museum will still be here.”

Thank you Dr. Burroughs for creating, cherishing and preserving our art and history.

Message from the President

2010-10-23T06:50:00.002-05:00

And, from the U.S. Secretary of State Hillary Clinton

Very Important Information

2010-10-20T09:09:00.006-05:00

Chris, over at Chris' Rants and Raves has posted an article that put into words the attitude in America that may IMO doom us to never becoming the nation we should be. It's sad but true. Reading the words may help us who are disturbed by the last two years, at least see it all clearly. Woosh away the smoke and try as the the president seems to be able to do, remain optomistic.

A True Champion

2010-10-12T16:47:00.007-05:00

Secretariat, a champion like no other. He was not only a beautiful red chestnut stallion with his distinctive white star and blaze and three white boots, but he was the greatest ever born. The new movie about this wonderful and amazing athlete brought back the love that America had for the young colt who won the Triple Crown in 1973. That's three long distance races in five weeks. It's a feat almost impossible for any horse.
Secretariat not only won all three races but set records still not touched by any other horse.

His owner Mrs. Penny Tweedy said her colt's eyes were so expressive she knew he understood her words and that he was a big ham who loved racing, posing for pictures, and cheers from the crowd. In most of his races Secretariat kept everyone on edge by hanging back in last place then he'd fly past the other contenders. But, he could also position himself as a front runner and not run out of steam, as in the race below. He just left them all in the dust. Literally in the dust.
This is the last leg of his Triple Crown Championship, the Belmont Stakes. Watch it all, he is unbelivable.

The new movie that tells the story of Secretariat and the woman who owned him, is a triumph in sport and spirit. I loved it.

Living Proof

2010-10-05T07:03:00.001-05:00

There is nothing like living proof. My friend Alexandra Billings is proof to all gay and Transgender kids that death is not the answer. Alex writes of her teenage inner torture and turmoil experienced when you know you are different, coupled with her teenage world screaming and demonstrating that that difference means you are not worthy to be treated like other humans. Alex has been through it all and she has survived it all. It is all worth it. Hang in there. You'll find love and support. And, like Alex, you'll have many many friends thanking the Lord that you didn't die.
I love you Alex.

?Questions for Church Goers??

2010-10-01T05:53:00.012-05:00

There have been several teen suicides in the news lately. These deaths are high profile news because of the particularly hateful and public circumstances. But these suicides happen everyday. The suicide rate among gay, lesbian, bi, and Transgendered (GLBT) teens is alarmingly high. We all need to work not only to stop the bullying, attacking, and humiliating, but to give our kids a place to turn other than death.

There is now a renewed call to action to let these kids know they are loved and supported regardless of those who taunt them and make them feel flawed and worthless. But, the taunting and making these kids feel unworthy of life is not limited to their classmates. Our society has to take responsibility for the hatred, ignorance and lack of support that leads these kids to such despair that they consider death as their only way out.
What part do you think the church plays in this tragic issue?

20 questions to church goers
(Please feel free to answer in email, on my blog or facebook, some or all, individually or all together or just for yourself. But, PLEASE consider these questions.

1. Could your church be an environment that could contribute to the suicide of a GLBT teen? (This question is revisited after you have answered the others.)

2. What message to these children comes from your church's pulpit, and congregation?

3. Young people are already struggling with growing up issues, how sensitive or insensitive is your church to gay and Transgender teens?

4. What kind of support does your church offer them.

5. Does it only condemn?

6. Does it tell them they are not loved by God?

7. Does your church tell them they displease God because of the way they are?

8. Does your church insist or infer that there is something wrong with them?

9. Does your church tell these children they must change to please God or that God made them and loves them the way they are?

10. Even if your church believes children "choose" to be gay or Transgender, how sensitive to the child's feelings is your church?

11. Does your church tell these children that their feelings are false? Sinful? Wicked?

12. Are GLBT people embarrassed and humiliated and condemned in sermons at your church?

13. Does your church support these children when it is obvious they will not change?

14. Does your church have people that can talk to them without judgement?

15. Does your church allow or encourage counseling that would help the child accept him/herself the way they are?

16. When parents turn away from these kids, does your church offer support to the young people?

17. Does your church standby supportive parents of GLBT children?

18. Have you ever given thought to your church's effect on GLBT children and teens?

19. Whenever an attacked, humiliated, embarrassed, internally tortured gay teen commits suicide, we cry out that it would have gotten better, they could have talked to someone! Does your church present God as a safe haven or another source of condemnation for that child?

20. Now that you have answered these questions, could your church be an environment that could contribute to the suicide of a GLBT teen?

To Teens from Dave Navarro

2010-09-30T04:27:00.001-05:00

Alexandra Billings posted this open letter to teens from Dave Navarro on her blog. She is living proof of Navarro's vital words.
Dave Navarro is not only my guitar hero anymore.

"Ok everybody, here is the deal. I cannot imagine what it’s like growing up in a close minded environment and being gay, bi or tans-gender. I don’t think any of us who aren’t can possibly imagine. The strength and character it must take to stay true to yourself in such an unforgiving microcosm are qualities that a major portion of the world lacks… Sad, but true. It’s just how it is at the moment. However, it’s that very strength and character that gives the world hope for a new way of thinking and acceptance in the future and when one of our children gives in and gives up, it is not only a tragedy but a victory for those who fear diversity. DO NOT LET THEM WIN! I know how overwhelming the feelings can get and how small the reality can feel, but the bottom line is that this is but a drop in the bucket in terms of the magnitude of life. You can get through this. High school is full of plenty of bullies and fear based hate, as is the world. With any group of people comes a percentage of people who just don’t get it and probably will never get it. That’s OK. We all deal with this to an extent. The truth is that in High School, you are kind of stuck in the group you are a part of until graduation, but trust me… You can pick and choose who you associate with and there are plenty of like-minded people in the world that are understanding, accepting and loving. Sometimes, we just have to stick it out to meet them. The hard cold reality is that once you have chosen suicide, that’s it. No going back. Sure, there is a public outcry and MAYBE the bullies feel remorse for a while, but it all dies down, life goes on, the bullies let the memory fade and get on with their lives. They learn to laugh, love, reach their goals and in many cases go on to have a full and productive life. Who loses? You do! Your family! Your friends! Other teens who need support in this area! Oh yeah… We all Lose! Now the world has one less mind that is open and different and unique and sensitive. Instead, we inherit the bullies, the fear, the set back… Our world has one less soul to help it evolve with a new level of clarity. Personally, I have seen a lot of darkness and tragedy that has felt insurmountable. The murder of my mother, my battle with drug addiction, the loss of friends and family. Utter depression and despair. Of course the thought of suicide has crossed my mind a time or two. Let me share this. THANK GOD I never took that action. The friends I have made, the experiences I have had, the laughter I have shared would have all been missed. In hindsight, some of my darkest moments now seem so small and insignificant that I am amazed I gave them so much power at the time. I am even able to laugh about it now. When I think back to the times I have considered ending it all I end up saying to myself, “What was I thinking?” To those of you contemplating such a course, please do us a favor. Seek counseling first. Find a network of people who have gone through what you are going through. Help others in even more turmoil than you. I am certain that you can find peace. As you know, our society and political climate is SO divided right now. We need your voice. The world at large needs your sheer existence in order to come to terms with itself and where we are going as a planet and species."

De Rossi, Degeneres, Delightful

2010-09-24T14:25:00.005-05:00

Portia de Rossi has officially taken wife Ellen DeGeneres' last name. A Los Angeles Superior Court commissioner granted De Rossi's request to take the last name of her partner during a closed hearing Thursday. The television star will now legally be known as Portia Lee James DeGeneres.

The couple was married in August 2008 during the five-month window in which gay marriage was legal in California. The 37-year-old Australian-born actress asked for the name change last month. Delovely!

DADT?

2010-09-24T05:29:00.005-05:00

Can you spot the gay soldier?

(Thanks AnneMarie Kneebone)

New Yorkers are Remarkable People

2010-09-11T06:14:00.013-05:00

As usual about that time in the morning, I was talking to my mother on the phone when we both stopped in disbelief at what was happening on TV. At first we all thought it a terrible air accident. When the second plane seemingly tried to fly between the two towers and crashed into the second tower, we screamed "why would a pilot try to do that!" Still in our safe American cocoon, it never occurred to us that it could possibly be deliberate. Then the Pentagon and Pittsburgh and reports of hijacked planes made it clear that our safe little world was under attack.
I'll never ever forget my mom's voice when the first tower fell. "Oh Jackie..Oh Jackie."
Monica called me from work, which is very rare because she can't usually call from the classroom. She said she was taking the streets home instead of the Ike expressway because the sight and closeness to the Sears Tower scared her now. I couldn't wait for her to get home safe where I could see her.

My 26 year old nephew, Nolen, called me in tears. He was 26 and I had never heard him cry as an adult. He wanted to do something. He said he had to do something. He got busy and we designed a tee shirt and he put up a website with all profits going to the Red Cross. 911 Rescue Team U.S.A. was on the shirt. Buying and wearing the shirt makes us all a part of the rescue team. It was sanctioned by the Red Cross and given an official charitable number for the contributions. Nolen's effort was noted in an article in a Chicago newspaper. I still wear mine on the anniversary every year. It still helps to feel and know that I was part of the rescue team. I thank Nolen for helping so many people, do something. It helped. He is a remarkable man.

New Yorkers are remarkable people. We all felt vulnerable, scared and every other emotion possible during that tragic time. But New Yorkers took that hit in their hearts and their guts and in their everyday. They had to smell and taste and feel and live the grit that was September 11, 2001.
All I can say is, New Yorkers are remarkable people. I love you New York City.

Go Ahead, Burn That Holy Book!

2010-09-09T10:32:00.001-05:00

This weekend on the anniversary of the September 11 tragedy, Rev. Terry Jones, pastor of the Dove World Outreach Center, an evangelical church in Gainesville, Fla., said that he and his 30 member congregation will build a bonfire and burn the holy book of the Muslim faith.
Muslims believe the Qur’an revealed to Muhammad through the angel Gabriel, to be the verbal book of divine guidance and direction for mankind. That is what Muslims believe.
But the passinate Rev. Jones knows that he must disrespect and destroy that horrid, evil book that is the bases of the religion that drove those Muslim men to fly planes into our buildings.

"It's something that we feel we need to do," Jones said. "It's a message that we feel we need to send."

Rev. Jones is determined. But, based on his criteria Jones needs to add the bible to that fire and throw in a few copies of the Torah too. Murdering nutjobs are an equal religious background employer. From your everyday garden variety serial killer to well planned air attacks, to socially upheld astrocities like slavery, Rev. Jones should be saying that all the holy books need to be smoked.

Based on the Jones point of view there certainly shouldn't be any African American Christians. Christians were slave hunters, traders, owners, and passages from the Bible were used to justify it. America's Christian society upheld slavery and Jim Crow laws. The KKK was a populated by Christians and used Christian symbols. American Indians should join us Black folk for a daily Bible burning, don't ya think Rev. Jones?

Rev. Jones admits he's never read the Qur'an. (There should be a law: read before burning.) So, he obviously does not know that the Qur'an has many common elements with the Bible and the Jewish Torah because they all are determined to come from the same divine source. He does not know that Muslims recognize the old testament prophets and the Gospel as divinely revealed. So burn away Rev. Jones. You will be burning stories of Adam, Noah, Abraham, Isaac, David, Job, Jonah, Moses, John the Baptist, Jesus and many more from Christian and Jewish sacred books.

Rev. Jones is a lot of things. The Rev. Jones is a pastor in the Christian faith. He is an extremist. And, he is a user. He's using 9-11, fear of Muslims, Christians, the Bible and the Qur'an, for his own self aggrandizing, showboating, hypocritical agenda.

Prop 8 Overturned!! Human Rights Victory!

2010-08-05T04:34:00.009-05:00

Federal Judge Vaughn Walker handed down a thorough and carefully detailed ruling yesterday that determined that denial of civil rights under Prop 8 is unconstitutional. Actually, the human and civil rights afforded every American citizen under the U. S. Constituion should never be subject to a popular vote. This ruling is worth taking the time to read. It carefully addreses every argument put forth by the pro ban defence and explains why they are irrational and erroneous.

Excerpts from the landmark decision.
"Proposition 8 places the force of law behind stigmas against gays and lesbians."

"The sexual orientation of an individual does not determine whether that individual can be a good parent."

"The exclusion (of same-sex couples from marriage) exists as an artifact of a time when the genders were seen as having different roles in society and in marriage. That time has passed."

"Domestic partnerships exist solely to differentiate same-sex unions from marriage."

"Proposition 8 harms the state's interest in equality."

"The evidence at trial regarding the campaign to pass Proposition 8 uncloaks the most likely explanation for its passage: a desire to advance the belief that opposite-sex couples are morally superior to same-sex couples."

"Moral disapproval alone is an improper basis on which to deny rights to gay men and lesbians."

-- To read the judge's full decision on Prop. 8, go here.

For couples like me and Monica who have been together 31 years or our friends Alexandra and Chrisanne who have shared 35 years or for our pals Eugene and Gordon who are celebrating 37 years of sharing life together in spite of all obstacles, this ruling has no effect on our love and commitment. It does certainly effect our legal rights as American citizens and publicly validates our God given rights as human beings.

Happy July 4th!!

2010-07-04T06:10:00.014-05:00

There is nothing like stepping outside and getting a whiff of barbeque scented air garnished with a hint of gunpowder. Ummmmmm Ummmmmm that's America!!

As always the Hyde Park July Fourth Parade here in Chicago will step off about 11am with bikes and trikes and horses and just folks waving and having fun with neighbors. Get tired of standing and watching, just step off the curb and get in the parade.
Here's some pictures from the parade a couple years ago. Check out my nephews in their USA mobile.

Horses on 53rd Street on the Fourth!

Me and Moni and NJ are ready.

Getting the stroller ready to march in USA colors.

All red white and blued up, time to roll out!

Tris just wanted to know, are we there yet?

Burge, Guilty At Last.

2010-06-29T05:23:00.003-05:00

Lt. Jon Burge, a decorated former Chicago police lieutenant accused of suffocating, shocking and beating confessions out of scores of suspects was convicted Monday of federal perjury and obstruction of justice charges for lying about the torture.
He will remain free on bond until his Nov. 5 sentencing, when he faces up to 45 years in prison.

For decades, dozens of suspects - almost all of them black men - claimed Burge and his officers tortured them into confessing to crimes ranging from armed robbery to murder.

Burge was charged with lying about the alleged torture in a lawsuit filed by former death row inmate Madison Hobley, who was sentenced to death for a 1987 fire that killed seven people, including his wife and son, and pardoned by Ryan.

Hobley claimed detectives put a plastic typewriter cover over his head to make it impossible for him to breathe. Burge denied knowing anything about the "bagging," or taking part in it. The indictment against Burge never said Hobley was tortured, but that Burge lied with respect to participating in or knowing of any torture under his watch.

Burge testified in his own defense at the four-week trial, denying he ever physically abused suspects or witnessed any other officers doing so. Prosecutors presented testimony from five men who said Burge and officers under his command held plastic bags over their heads, shocked them with electric current and put loaded guns in their mouths during the 1970s and 1980s to elicit confessions.

The testimony of those men echoed what others have long said: Black men suspected of crimes didn't leave interrogation rooms at Chicago's Area 2 police station until they told detectives what they wanted to hear.

U.S. Attorney Patrick Fitzgerald said it was sad that it took until 2010 for it to be proven in a courtroom that torture once occurred in Chicago police stations. More than 100 victims have said the torture started in the 1970s and persisted until the 1990s at police stations on the city's South and West sides.

Former Illinois Gov. George Ryan released four condemned men from death row in 2003 after Ryan said Burge had extracted confessions from them using torture. The four later reached a $20 million settlement with the city.

Burge was fired from the police department in 1993 over the alleged mistreatment of a suspect, but he never was criminally charged in that case or any other, leading to widespread outrage in Chicago's black neighborhoods. The community anger intensified when Burge moved to Florida on his police pension and his alleged victims remained in prison. It wasn't immediately clear how Monday's verdict would affect the pension.

Burge never deserved a pension. He should have been in jail decades ago. It was common knowledge that Burge was a abusive, torturer. So, he got to enjoy most of his life free but hopefully he will spend the rest in prison where he sent so many innocent men.

Happy Juneteenth!

2010-06-19T05:15:00.010-05:00

Our children and all Americans need to understand that the ancestors of Americans of African descent were not free but slaves during the nation's first Independence Day celebration, on July 4, 1776, the "4th of July". It wasn't until 89 years later, during the nation's first Juneteenth Independence Day Celebration, on June 19, 1865, the "19th of June", in Galveston, TX, that the last group of slaves in America learned of their freedom over two and a half years following the enforcement of the Emancipation Proclamation by President Abraham Lincoln.

Here is the July 5th 1852 speech by Frederick Douglas.
This speech "What to the American Slave is your 4th of July? is read at many officially observed Juneteenth celebrations in 36 states.

As we all know the speeches that commemorate the July 4th holiday, we should all take in these words as well. To most they may words of times long gone. But to me, I still see effects of this time every single day.

Fellow citizens, pardon me, allow me to ask, why am I called upon to speak here today? What have I, or those I represent, to do with your national independence? Are the great principles of political freedom and of natural justice, embodied in that Declaration of Independence, extended to us? And am I, therefore, called upon to bring our humble offering to the national altar, and to confess the benefits and express devout gratitude for the blessings resulting from your independence to us?

Would to God, both for your sakes and ours, that an affirmative answer could be truthfully returned to these questions! Then would my task be light, and my burden easy and delightful. For who is there so cold that a nation's sympathy could not warm him? Who so obdurate and dead to the claims of gratitude that would not thankfully acknowledge such priceless benefits? Who so stolid and selfish that would not give his voice to swell the hallelujahs of a nation's jubilee, when the chains of servitude had been torn from his limbs? I am not that man. In a case like that the dumb might eloquently speak and the "lame man leap as an hart."

But such is not the state of the case. I say it with a sad sense of the disparity between us. Am not included within the pale of this glorious anniversary! Your high independence only reveals the immeasurable distance between us. The blessings in which you, this day, rejoice are not enjoyed in common. The rich inheritance of justice, liberty, prosperity, and independence bequeathed by your fathers is shared by you, not by me. The sunlight that brought light and healing to you has brought stripes and death to me.

This Fourth of July is yours, not mine. You may rejoice, I must mourn. To drag a man in fetters into the grand illuminated temple of liberty, and call upon him to join you in joyous anthems, were inhuman mockery and sacrilegious irony. Do you mean, citizens, to mock me by asking me to speak today? If so, there is a parallel to your conduct. And let me warn that it is dangerous to copy the example of nation whose crimes, towering up to heaven, were thrown down by the breath of the Almighty, burying that nation in irrevocable ruin! I can today take up the plaintive lament of a peeled and woe-smitten people.

"By the rivers of Babylon, there we sat down. Yea! We wept when we remembered Zion. We hanged our harps upon the willows in the midst thereof. For there, they that carried us away captive, required of us a song; and they who wasted us required of us mirth, saying, Sing us one of the songs of Zion.

How can we sing the Lord's song in a strange land? If I forget thee, O Jerusalem, let my right hand forget her cunning. If do not remember thee, let my tongue cleave to the roof of my mouth."

Fellow citizens, above your national, tumultuous joy, I hear the mournful wail of millions! Whose chains, heavy and grievous yesterday, are, today, rendered more intolerable by the jubilee shouts that reach them. If I do forget, if I do not faithfully remember those bleeding children of sorry this day, "may my right hand cleave to the roof of my mouth!" To forget them, to pass lightly over their wrongs, and to chime in with the popular theme would be treason most scandalous and shocking, and would make me a reproach before God and the world.

My subject, then, fellow citizens, is American slavery. I shall see this day and its popular characteristics from the slave's point of view. Standing there identified with the American bondsman, making his wrongs mine. I do not hesitate to declare with all my soul that the character and conduct of this nation never looked blacker to me than on this Fourth of July! Whether we turn to the declarations of the past or to the professions of the present, the conduct of the nation seems equally hideous and revolting. America is false to the past, false to the present, and solemnly binds herself to be false to the future.

Standing with God and the crushed and bleeding slave on this occasion, I will, in the name of humanity which is outraged, in the name of liberty which is fettered, in the name of the Constitution and the Bible which are disregarded and trampled upon, dare to call in question and to denounce, with all the emphasis I can command, everything that serves to perpetuate slavery-the great sin and shame of America! "I will not equivocate, I will not excuse"; I will use the severest language I can command; and yet not one word shall escape me that any man, whose judgment is not blinded by prejudice, shall not confess to be right and just....

For the present, it is enough to affirm the equal manhood of the Negro race. Is it not as astonishing that, while we are plowing, planting, and reaping, using all kinds of mechanical tools, erecting houses, constructing bridges, building ships, working in metals of brass, iron, copper, and secretaries, having among us lawyers doctors, ministers, poets, authors, editors, orators, and teachers; and that, while we are engaged in all manner of enterprises common to other men, digging gold in California, capturing the whale in the Pacific, feeding sheep and cattle on the hillside, living, moving, acting, thinking, planning, living in families as husbands, wives, and children, and above all, confessing and worshiping the Christian's God, and looking hopefully for life and immortality beyond the grave, we are called upon to prove that we are men!...

What, am I to argue that it is wrong to make men brutes, to rob them of their liberty, to work them without wages, to keep them ignorant of their relations to their fellow men, to beat them with sticks, to flay their flesh with the lash, to load their limbs with irons, to hunt them with dogs, to sell them at auction, to sunder their families, to knock out their teeth, to burn their flesh, to starve them into obedience and submission to their masters? Must I argue that a system thus marked with blood, and stained with pollution, is wrong? No! I will not. I have better employment for my time and strength than such arguments would imply....

What, to the American slave, is your Fourth of July? I answer: a day that reveals to him, more than all other days in the year, the gross injustice and cruelty to which he is the constant victim. To him, your celebration is a sham; your boasted liberty, an unholy license; your national greatness, swelling vanity; your sounds of rejoicing are empty and heartless; your denunciation of tyrants, brass-fronted impudence; your shouts of liberty and equality, hollow mockery; your prayers and hymns, your sermons and thanksgiving, with all your religious parade and solemnity, are, to Him, mere bombast, fraud, deception, impiety, and hypocrisy-a thin veil to cover up crimes which would disgrace a nation of savages. There is not a nation of savages. There is not a nation on the earth guilty of practices more shocking and bloody than are the people of the United States at this very hour.

Go where you may, search where you will, roam through all the monarchies and despotisms of the Old World, travel through South America, search out every abuse, and when you have found the last, lay your facts by the side of the everyday practices of this nation, and you will say with me that, for revolting barbarity and shameless hypocrisy, America reigns without a rival.

Doink-Doink

2010-05-25T07:39:00.001-05:00

We all know that sound. The deadbolt notes played before the opening Law and Order vignette where they discover the body. We hear it between acts.
Doink-Doink.

The last Law and Order aired last night to little fanfare other than a final doink- doink.

Last night's episode ended the series and its 20th season. ‘Law & Order’ is tied with ‘Gunsmoke‘ as the longest-running TV drama. Over 400 episodes, that means you could watch a L&O ep everyday for a year with no repeats. I was surprised NBC cancelled L&O giving up the chance to break the tie with Gunsmoke. Creator/producer Dick Wolf is reportedly interested in going to TNT for the tie breaking season. The spinoff series, Law and Order: Criminal Intent, has already left NBC to produce new eps at TNT. Law and Order: Special Victims Unit is still going strong on NBC.

S. Epatha Merkerson is an actor's actor. She is one of the greats. Talk about making an impression, S. Epatha Merkerson did a dramatic gut wrenching guest starring role on L&O's first season. In season 3, she appeared as a different character, Lt. Anita Van Buren, and the rest is...you know. And it really is because Merkerson's Lt. Van Buren is the longest running black female character in TV history. We've seen her strong leadership, her soft side, her private life with husband and sons and private battles like with breast cancer this season. We've seen her put on the NYPD blue jacket and go on raids and hit perps upside their heads. But she does her best work, like all the L&O detectives and attorneys, in the interrogation room.

The L&O interrogation room is where the actors really got to exercise their acting muscles. This small room with only a table and chairs and a two way mirror is where we watch the innocent grieve and beg, the guilty maneuver and lie, soul searching, family secrets told, the strong fall apart and the weak conjure up some backbone. The detectives often do their thing and leave to watch through the mirror as the perps or witnesses squirm, pace and react.

I remember the detectives all taking a turn questioning a belligerent, hard core teen thug ranting about how he wasn't gonna tell nothing. He wanted to talk to "the man." Lt. Van Buren, after grabbing him up and giving him his options to no avail, gets quiet and simply tells him that "in this house, I am the man." Without any more words, she conveys through her demeanor, authority, strength and just enough compassion to jog him in the direction of trusting her. You could see him physically change. His eyes, body posture and even his relationship to the table and chair and to the Lt. actually change. L&O is good for these scenes. This police drama was not all about car chases and shoot outs. It was about human misbehavior and how the legal system deals with it. It's about characters, both the criminals and the law and the order teams.

L&O has a Alfred Hitchockian nature. When everything points to an obvious suspect, it's almost never him or her. Plot twists and shocking and surprise endings are always in the L&O mix and it may just circle back to the original suspect. Happy endings are not promised and the good guys don't always win. You never know until you see -Created by Dick Wolf- fade in on the black screen. Doink-Doink

First season- Law Chris Noth and George Dzundza. Order Micheal Moriarty and Richard Brooks.

Broadway song and dance man, Jerry Orbach as wise-cracking Detective Lennie Brisco.

Order: Jill Hennessy as Claire Kincaid and Sam Waterson as Jack McCoy.

Steven Hill as DA Adam Schiff came to the show in season 9 joining Angie Harmon who came on as DA Abbie Carmichael in S8. Season 3 added S. Epatha Merkerson as Lt. Van Buren, S5 added Benjamin Bratt as Det. Rey Curtis. In the center is Jerry Orbach (Det. Lenny Brisco) and Sam Waterston (DA Jack McCoy)

Rent star, Jesse L. Martin joined Jerry Orbach in solving crimes in season 9. Two song and dance guys now representing the Law.
S. Epatha Merkerson said she loved singing Broadway tunes with Jerry and Jesse.

Diane Weist as DA Nora Lewin joined the show in 2000 and Fred Thompson, (prior to his real life presidential bid) helped with the Order in 2002.

The court room where the district attorneys worked in the second half of the show.

In 2004 native New Yorker, Jerry Orbach died. Law&Order was never the same without Lennie Brisco. NYC policemen loved Jerry Orbach and the lights on Broadway were dimmed in his honor.

Actor Dennis Farina came on to partner with Jesse L. Martin (Det. Ed Green)

Season 19 and 20 brought in Jeremy Sisto as Det. Cyrus Lupo and Anthony Anderson as Det. Kevin Bernard.

S. Epatha Merkerson had decided this was to be her last season even before the show was cancelled. Lt. Van Buren, fought cancer and finacial struggles due to medical bills in this last season. How will she go out? Will the fade to Dick Wolf leave us forever in a cliffhanger? Will there be a Law and Order movie? Doink-Doink!

Missing the series most will be New York City actors. There were plenty of famous guest stars on this show but for the NYC actor, they had to get their L&O creds. Appearing on L&O was considered a rite of passage for actors in New York City.

We won't get to miss it too much as the reruns are on practically 24/7 and now there are 20 years worth. So, the familiar Mike Post guitar riffs and the doink-doink will never be far away.

Celebrating 20 years brought together old and new cast members.

Lena Horne

2010-05-10T09:32:00.001-05:00

Back in the day, whenever a Black person appeared on TV, black folks called each other to make sure nobody missed it.
"Black folks on TV!"
This was especially true whenever Lena Horne was on perhaps a show like Ed Sullivan or Dean Martin, the phone wires burned up!
"You got Lena on!"

Lena Horne, the beautiful actress/jazz singer who broke color barriers in Hollywood and fought for civil rights during a seven-decade career that took her from being a $25 a week dancer at the Cotton Club in Harlem to Hollywood and the Broadway stage, has died. She was 92.

Horne became one of the highest-paid black entertainers in America by 1943. She was one of the last survivors of the era of popular music that produced Duke Ellington, Billie Holiday, Ella Fitzgerald and Sarah Vaughan.

Lena Mary Calhoun Horne was born on June 30, 1917, into a professional middle-class family in Brooklyn, New York. Her paternal grandmother, Cora, was a community leader and a feminist, and she had her 14-month-old granddaughter Lena appear on the cover of the National Association for the Advancement of Colored People’s October 1919 “Branch Bulletin.” At age 16 Lena Horne got a job dancing at the Cotton Club.

In 1941, Horne signed a seven-year movie contract with MGM that made her the only black woman with a long-term studio deal. She appeared in a dozen films over the next decade, mostly in singing roles that could be excised when the films were shown in white theaters in the U.S. South.

“They didn’t make me into a maid, but they didn’t make me anything else, either,” she later wrote. “I became a butterfly pinned to a column, singing away in Movieland.”

To MGM, Lena Horne was a double edged sword of racial difficulty. She had Caucasian enough looks to be accepted by white audiences but too dark-skinned to be considered for a starring role in segregated America. OK, but, she was nonetheless seen as too light and beautiful to play a maid.
The ridiculousness of racism was never made clearer than this stupid "dilemma." Nevertheless, she was a trailblazer.

“She opened so many doors as the first beautiful black woman in movies,” actress Leslie Uggams told Jet magazine in 2007. “Black women were only allowed to play maids in the movies, and all of a sudden, the black community had this goddess.”

She had major roles in all black productions “Cabin in the Sky” and “Stormy Weather” in 1943. In other films such as “Panama Hattie” (1942) and “Swing Fever” (1943) she was used primarily in musical numbers.

Horne acted on her convictions about racial equality. During a World War II show for U.S. troops in Kansas, she walked off the stage because German prisoners of war were seated in front of black soldiers.

Because of her friendship with Paul Robeson, the black actor and activist, she was blacklisted from film, television, radio and recording in 1950. The blacklist did not effect cabaret. She prospered as a nightclub entertainer, appearing with Count Basie, Tony Bennett and Harry Belafonte and by 1956 returned to the movies as the blacklist was lifted.

In 1957, Lena Horne appeared at New York’s Waldorf-Astoria hotel and starred in the Broadway musical “Jamaica” in 1957 to 1959.

During the 1960s, Horne appeared at rallies for civil rights throughout the South. In 1963, she marched on Washington with Martin Luther King.

“Whatever petitions I’ve signed or benefits I’ve played I’ve not done because I had any broad or deep political program I was pushing,” Horne wrote in her autobiography. “I had just learned from my father and from my grandmother not to take any nonsense from anybody."

In 1971 and 1972, she suffered the deaths of her husband, her father and her son, Teddy, in a period of 12 months and briefly retreated from public life.

“She was finally devastated,” Horne’s daughter, Gail Lumet Buckley, wrote in a book on her family. “She retired to Santa Barbara, California, to plant cacti.”

After emerging from that crisis, she began to enjoy performing more.

“It took 1960s politics and 1970s personal grief for her to have the courage to present herself to an audience,” Buckley wrote.

She played Glenda the Good Witch in “The Wiz” (1978), directed by Sidney Lumet, Gail Buckley’s former husband. Her “Lena: The Lady and Her Music” played to sold-out crowds on Broadway for 333 performances in 1981 and 1982 and won a special Tony Award and two Grammys. Newsweek said of her performance: “Lena Horne is a revelation -- of astonishing power and complexity.”

Horne continued to record through the 1990s, releasing her last studio recording, “Soul,” in 1999. Her last major public appearance was in 1999 at an all-star salute, “Lena: The Legacy,” at Avery Fisher Hall in New York’s Lincoln Center.

Beautiful, sexy, sultry, sassy and outspoken, Lena Horne. Thank you and R.I.P.

Dixie Carter

2010-04-11T08:09:00.016-05:00

Actress Dixie Carter has died at age 70. Dixie was best known for her role as Julia Sugarbaker on a show that had one of the best ensemble casts in TV sitcom history, Designing Women. Dixie Carter played the outspoken Julia to the max with great Southern charm and moxie. She was beautiful, sassy, intellectual, chic, brave, cultured and fearless.

Here are a few gems of Julia Sugarbaker's wit and wisdom.
Dixie Carter was a great actress and Julia Sugarbaker will forever speak to that.

Julia has dinner plans with Jimmy Carter and Charlene ruined it. They didn't call Julia "the Terminator" for nothing.

In the same episode after the jury Julia is on is sequestered thanks to Charlene, Julia lays down her law to the jury.

Julia defendes her sister. The Night the Lights Went Out in Georgia!

Designing Women took on many social issues. Julia lets a customer know how she feels about her bigotry towards a young man with AIDS.

Designing Women cast, Delta Burke, Annie Potts, Dixie Carter, Jean Smart and Meshack Taylor.

Dixie Carter and her husband actor Hal Holbrook

Easter 2010

2010-04-04T06:13:00.015-05:00

Easter has so many images, like fancy hats, rabbits and chicks and chocolate bunnies and peeps and colored eggs and lillies. And, springtime images with budding trees and returning birds are all Easter images too. All bright and colorful signs of renewal and HOPE.

I like the Easter message of renewal of nature and of the spirit. So, I don't like to think of Easter images being in competition with each other although it's hard when Easter baskets are loaded with GI Joes and soccer balls to remember the real reason for the season.

The greatest image of darkness to light, despair to hope comes from the most gruesome death to the most brilliant resurrection. No competition.

He is not here; He has risen, just as he said.
Matthew 28:6

Hillary's Victory too!

2010-03-23T12:39:00.004-05:00

I've always said that we will have health care reform or Hillary is gonna hurt somebody! Remember how she put together and presented a universal health care plan during her husband's first term? I have always appreciated that effort. The bill the president signed into law today was certainly not the sweeping changes she or Obama wanted. But, it is a good beginning and a road to it. So thanks to Hillary Clinton and Ted Kennedy for making the health of U.S. citizens a priority issue.

Hillary Clinton in the White House Situation Room after the historic vote Sunday night.

Oscar Crashing Ceilings in 2010

2010-03-08T08:54:00.016-06:00

Congrats to history makers at the 2010 Academy Awards.
Geoffrey Fletcher won for Best Adapted Screenplay for Precious. This is the first Academy Award to go to an African American for writing.
Isn't that ridiculous? Fletcher was understandably totally shocked.
Geoffrey, why are all those Fed EX and UPS trucks backing up in your driveway? Could they be delivering plays and books for you to adapt to the screen? Hmmm. Uh Huh! Congrats!

Kathryn Bigelow won Best Director for "The Hurt Locker" She is the first female to take a directing Oscar home. Fellow director Barbra Streisand was beaming when she handed the statue to Bigelow and I could feel the smiles from pioneers like Ida Lupino and Lee Grant and all the current and upcoming female directors who can now crash through the huge hole action director Bigelow blew up for them.

Keep that celluloid ceiling cracking!
Congrats to Mo'Nique, Best Actress in a Supporting Role (Precious) 2010. Very classy Mo' wearing a royal blue dress and flower in her hair in tribute to Hattie McDaniel, Best Actress in a Supporting Role 1940 (Gone With the Wind).

Opening Ceremony Hallelujah

2010-02-15T12:56:00.007-06:00

2010 Winter Olympics Opening Ceremony highlight was the hauntingly beautiful Hallelujah sung by k.d.lang. This song has been covered by a lot of singers but never so passionately as on this winter night in Vancouver B.C. The spectators holding candle like flashlights added to the mood but even if you've heard k.d. do this song before, you ain't heard it like this. The Olympics won't give up the video of the song, but here's a gorgeous version with k.d.

The lyrics are astoundingly beautiful and meaningful to me. Everyone seems to interpret something different, there are the obvious biblical references, and the verses vary. In short though, to me they mean no matter who you are are how big you think you are, life is not always going to be easy and love is not promised to be smooth sailing or everlasting. But, life is to be cherished and love is worth all.

"And every breath we drew was Hallelujah."

Gay Rights? What Would Dr. King Do?

2010-01-15T07:59:00.001-06:00

On the 80th anniversary celebration of his birth, how do you think the Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King jr. would address gay rights. Would he have addressed it? He was of course a fighter for freedom and justice. He was also a Southern Christian minister, three variables that often close the justice door (and more often heavens door) when it comes to GLBT rights and especially marriage equality. How would MLK stand on this?
Well, I believe Dr. King would stand with me and my GLBT community to get all of our rights, including the rights of marriage. I believe this because he was a man who was not bound to a stereotypical southern bible belt attitude. I believe it because his work and words as a Christian and as a pastor indicated that he understood that Christ would not regard any people as less than. That we are all threads in the human tapestry.

Dr. King was also a civil rights leader who did not hesitate to stand up for justice no matter how unpopular the issue. So, yes I believe Dr. King would be a drum major for gay rights because, Coretta Scott King, the person who knew him best and was the most congruous with his beliefs was a strong supporter of gay rights and gay marriage.

In 1998, just a few days before the 30th anniversary of her husband's assassination, speaking before nearly 600 people at the Chicago Palmer House Hilton Hotel, Coretta Scott King called on the civil rights community to join in the struggle against homophobia and anti-gay bias.
She noted the obvious similarities:

"Homophobia is like racism and anti-Semitism and other forms of bigotry in that it seeks to dehumanize a large group of people, to deny their humanity, their dignity and personhood."

She also noted that her husband believed that all struggles for equal rights were bound together and that it was necessary to fight against bigotry in all forms, not merely the form that affected you personally:

"We are all tied together in a single garment of destiny...I can never be what I ought to be until you are allowed to be what you ought to be," she said, quoting her husband. "I've always felt that homophobic attitudes and policies were unjust and unworthy of a free society and must be opposed by all Americans who believe in democracy."

And she pointed out that many gays and lesbians had fought for black civil rights, demanding that blacks return the favor:

"Gays and lesbians stood up for civil rights in Montgomery, Selma, in Albany, Ga. and St. Augustine, Fla., and many other campaigns of the Civil Rights Movement," she said. "Many of these courageous men and women were fighting for my freedom at a time when they could find few voices for their own, and I salute their contributions."

But perhaps her most eloquent statement on the subject came in 1994, again invoking the words of her late husband in support of equal rights for all:

"For too long, our nation has tolerated the insidious form of discrimination against this group of Americans, who have worked as hard as any other group, paid their taxes like everyone else, and yet have been denied equal protection under the law...I believe that freedom and justice cannot be parceled out in pieces to suit political convenience. My husband, Martin Luther King, Jr. said, "Injustice anywhere is a threat to justice everywhere." On another occasion he said, "I have worked too long and hard against segregated public accommodations to end up segregating my moral concern. Justice is indivisible. Like Martin, I don't believe you can stand for freedom for one group of people and deny it to others."

"I appeal to everyone who believes in Martin Luther King Jr.'s dream to make room at the table of brother, and sisterhood, for lesbian and gay people." -(Reuters, March 31, 1998).

Did you know that Dr. King's longtime colleague and the organizer of the 1963 March on Washington, Bayard Rustin, was an openly gay man?

I agree with Mrs. King that her husband would stand with her for equal rights for GLBT people. Her oldest daughter the late Yolanda King was also a supporter and believer that her father would be too. In contrast, the youngest King daughter, Rev. Bernice King, who was five years old when her father was killed, is outspoken in opposition to gay rights and marriage. She does not feel her father would support this issue.

"I know deep down in my sanctified soul that he did not take a bullet for same-sex unions."

Yolanda King and Rev. Bernice King

So, here on the 80th anniversary of his birth, what do you think? Do you agree with Coretta King or Rev. Bernice King about where MLK would stand on GLBT rights and same-sex marriage?

Blago knows Blackness

2010-01-11T08:34:00.003-06:00

"I'm blacker than Barack Obama. I shined shoes. I grew up in a five-room apartment. My father had a little laundromat in a black community not far from where we lived," Blagojevich said. "I saw it all growing up."

Oh, I see. Former Governor Blago knows that to be Black you got to shine shoes, grow up near Blacks and of course be poor and witness struggle. Five-room apartment? He is one of us for sure.

What a mixed up jerk this guy is. Does he think Elvis was Black too? Yes, Elvis, his hero who grew up around Blacks, was poorer than dirt and absorbed Black music.
I think Mr. Blago's feelings about the president, (yes Blago, the president) is not his Black ethnic identity but his own white priviledge jealousy.
The color here is green, children.

Happy Birthday Elvis!

2010-01-08T07:11:00.005-06:00

Can you imagine this guy at 75? My favorite Elvis performance was his 1968 Comeback show. He rocked and danced and sang and played around with the audience.

I love this song where Elvis is at his spiritual passionate best. I loved it when he was not performing, but just sitting at a piano singing gospel. If you find some of these impromptu moments on video, you can tell he loved it too.

In Memoriam 2009 (Part 1)

2009-12-31T18:24:00.001-06:00

The loss list is sadly very long this year. And, this list may not be at all complete.

Brittany Murphy- b. 1977, was an American actress and singer. She starred in films such as Clueless, Girl, Interrupted, 8 Mile, Uptown Girls, Sin City, Happy Feet, and Riding in Cars with Boys. She also voiced Luanne Platter on the animated TV series King of the Hill.

Steve McNair- b. 1973. Was the Quarterback that led the Tennessee Titans to a superbowl championship in 2000.

Natasha Richardson- b. 1963, was a gifted English stage and screen actress. She helped raise millions of dollars for AIDS research and awareness. Natasha was married to actor Liam Neeson and was the daughter of actress Vanessa Redgrave. She died as a result of a skiing accident.

Farrah Fawcet- b. 1947. Actress who starred in Charlie’s Angels and commercials in the 1970’s and 1980’s. Also she appeared in Playboy in 1995, making it the top-selling issue in the 90’s along with her record sells breaking pin-up poster and popular hair style. She became a cultural icon. Despite that status, Farrah shared much of her brave last health battle with the public.
Farrah was also a fine dramatic actor.

Ed McMahon- b. 1923. TV personality and Johnny Carson’s announcer and sidekick on The Tonight Show from 1962-1992. Ed never came to my door with the big Publisher's Clearing House check. sigh.

Billy Mays TV Pitchman for OxiClean and other products. His distinctive beard and loud sales pitches made him a recognized television presence. His voice was always so annoying to me and yet I for some reason miss it?

Fred Travelena- b. 1942, was an American entertainer, specializing in comedy and impersonations. In 2005 he received a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame.

David Carradine- b. 1936. Best known for his work in the 1970s television series Kung Fu and more recently in the Kill Bill films. He appeared in more than 100 feature films.

Koko Taylor born 1936 was the "Queen of the Blues." No Doubt.

Waymon Tisdale- b. 1964. Professional basketball player with the Indiana Pacers, Sacramento Kings and Phoenix Suns and a smooth jazz bass guitarist.

Dom DeLuise- b. 1933 was an American actor, comedian, film director, television producer, chef, and author. Very funny guy especially in Mel Brooks comedies and with Burt Reynolds.

Bea Arthur- b. 1922. Actress, comedian and singer whose career spanned seven
decades. Arthur achieved fame on the 1970’s sitcom Maude, and as Dorothy Zbornak on the 1980’s sitcom The Golden Girls.

Jack Kemp- b. 1935, was an American politician and professional football player. In the 1996 election, he was Republican presidential nominee Bob Dole’s running mate for Vice President.

Marilyn Chambers- b. 1952. An American pornographic actress, exotic dancer, model, actress and vice-presidential candidate. She was best known for her 1972 hardcore film debut Behind the Green Door.

Karl Malden- b. 1912. In a career that spanned more than seven decades, he featured in classic Marlon Brando films such as A Streetcar Named Desire, On the Waterfront and One-Eyed Jacks. He guest stared in many TV dramas and co-starred with Michael Douglas on The Streets of San Francisco.

Oscar Mayer- b. 1914. Grandson of the original Oscar Mayer who founded the meat company bearing his name.

Robert McNamara- b. 1916, was an American business executive and the eighth Secretary of Defense. McNamara served as Defense Secretary for Presidents John F. Kennedy and Lyndon B. Johnson from 1961 to 1968.

"Gidget"- b. 1994. The famous Taco Bell mascot from the commercials with his (her) famous tagline “Yo quiero taco bell” was used in a number of TV and movie spots including a commercial for Trivial Pursuit and the movie Legally Blonde 2.

Socks the official pet cat of the Clinton’s during their administration in the white house. Was often photographed in parts of the white house and lived 20 years.

John Hughes- b. 1950. An American film director, producer and writer. He scripted some of the most successful films of the 1980s and 1990s, including National Lampoon’s Vacation; Ferris Bueller’s Day Off; The Breakfast Club; Sixteen Candles; Pretty in Pink; Planes, Trains and Automobiles; Home Alone and its sequel.

Eunice Kennedy Shriver- b. 1921, JFK 's sister and founder of the Special Olympics in 1962.

Walter Cronkite- b. 1916. American broadcast journalist, best known as anchorman for the CBS Evening News for 19 years (1962–81). During the heyday of CBS News in the 1960s and 1970s, he was often cited as “the most trusted man in America”.

Les Paul- b. 1915. He was an American innovator, inventor, musician and songwriter. He was a pioneer in the development of the solid-body electric guitar which “made the sound of rock and roll possible”.

Naomi Sims- b. 1948, is widely credited as being the first African American supermodel.

Alaina Reed, played Olivia on Sesame Street and Rose on sitcom 227. Alaina was 63.

Jennifer Jones, glamorous actress and Academy Award winner was 90 years old.

Sadly we must go on to Part two....

In Memoriam 2009 (Part 2)

2009-12-31T18:23:00.002-06:00

2009 was a difficult year. Rock guitarists and rock guitarists mothers, munchkins, politicians, movie stars and more. These people are the public history that we all share. When they pass away our loss is great even if we haven't thought of them for a while or are just learning about them. They are our united memories.

Arnold Stang a character actor whose bespectacled, owlish face and nasal urban twang gave him a singular and recognizable persona, whether on radio or television, in the movies or in advertisements, or even in cartoons. He was 91.

Stang was the voice of Top Cat. The coolest cartoon cat ever.

James Gurley- b. 1939. Virtuoso guitarist with famed San Francisco area rock band, Big Brother and the Holding Company. Tell Janis we miss her.

Gale Storm- b. 1922 ,was an American actress and singer, who starred in two popular television programs of the 1950s, My Little Margie and The Gale Storm Show. Gale was 87.

Henry Gibson, a veteran character actor who came to fame in the late 1960s as the flower-holding poet on TV's landmark satirical comedy show Rowan and Martin's Laugh-In. More recently, Gibson played a recurring role as cantankerous Judge Clark Brown on Boston Legal. He was 73. I loved his goofy poems "by Henry Gibson".

Gene Barry who portrayed debonair lawmen on television like Bat Masterson, and Burkes Law but whose career of more than 60 years ranged from song and dance on Broadway to science fiction. He was 90.

James Whitmore- b. 1921 - Leading American character actor James Whitmore specialized in giving tour de force solo performances on stage, screen, and television, notably with his Oscar-nominated solo turn as President Truman in Give 'Em Hell Harry!

Mary Travers, whose ringing, earnest vocals with the folk trio Peter, Paul and Mary made songs like “Blowin’ in the Wind,” “If I Had a Hammer” and “Where Have All the Flowers Gone?” enduring anthems of the 1960s protest movement. She was 72.

Altovise Davis was the widow of Rat Pack singer and dancer Sammy Davis Jr. She was trained as an actor and dancer and met the legendary showman in the mid-1960s, when they were both appearing in Broadway musicals, he in the lead of Golden Boy and she in the chorus line of High Spirits.

Ricardo Montalban, the suave leading man who was one of the first Mexican-born actors to make it big in Hollywood and who was best known for his role as Mr. Roarke on TV's Fantasy Island. In the 1970s and '80s, Montalban was also familiar to TV viewers as a commercial spokesman for Chrysler. He was later widely spoofed for his silky allusion to the “soft Corinthian leather” of the Chrysler Cordoba, although no such leather existed. He was 88.

Ola Hudson
Her name and face might not be instantly recognizable to many, but she was a popular costume designer who clothed John Lennon, Ringo Starr, Diana Ross, and David Bowie. Ola had two sons — Saul and Albion Hudson. Albion’s nickname is Ash, and Saul is Slash the rock guitarist.
Ola is the subject of this stunning 1970 print ad for Dewar's White Label. She was 62

Pat Hingle, you gotta know this guy's face. The veteran actor with more than half a century of impressive work in theater, film and television who was perhaps best known to a generation of movie fans as Commissioner James Gordon in the first four Batman films. He was 84.

Soupy Sales- b. 1926, was a comedian, actor, radio-TV personality and host, and jazz aficionado. He was best known for his local and network children's television show, Lunch with Soupy Sales; a series of comedy sketches frequently ending with Sales receiving a pie in the face, which became his trademark.

Al Martino the singer whose music career spanned 50 years and produced hits like "Volare" and Spanish Eyes" and played Johnny Fontane in The Godfather.

Connie Hines best known for playing Wilbur Post's wife Carol on Mr. Ed. She was 79.

Brenda Joyce 92, played Tarzan's Jane with both Johnny Weismuller and Lex Barker.

Frank Aletter, is a familiar face to anyone who watched the tube in the 1960s and 1970s -- he starred in several situation comedies and made stops on Kojak, MASH, All in the Family, among others. He was 83.

Mickey Carroll 89, and Clarence Swensen 91, two of the last remaining munchkins from The Wizard of Oz.

Mickey Carroll

Clarence Swensen

Clint Ritchie, soap veteran, who played ranch owner Clint Buchanan for 20 years on One Life to Live. He was 70.

Jon Hager- b. 1941, of The Hager Twins made millions laugh on hit syndicated TV show Hee-Haw for nearly two decades. Jon Hager was said to have been ill and depressed since his identical twin, Jim, died May 2008.

Cheryl Holdridge, The 'Mickey Mouse Club' Mouseketeer, (seen in picture below in 1956 and again in 2001), went on to appear as Wally's girlfriend Julie Foster in Leave It to Beaver and had roles on Bewitched and The Dick Van Dyke Show. She was 64.

Cheryl as Wally's girl Julie Foster on Leave It To Beaver.

Steven Gilborn, played Ellen DeGeneres's dad on the hit sitcom, Ellen. His other TV credits are much too long to list, but include stints on The Practice, L.A. Law, ER and Wonder Years. He was 72.

Ron Silver- b. 1946, was a Tony Award winning actor, producer, director and political activist.

Ted Kennedy- b. 1932, was a United States Senator from Massachusetts and a member of the Democratic Party. First elected in November 1962, he was elected nine times and served for 46 years in the U.S. Senate. Ted Kenndey left a lasting legacy to his family and his country. The "Lion" of the senate is surely missed especially for his negotiation skills.

Patrick Swayze- b. 1952, actor, dancer and singer-songwriter. He was best-known for his roles as romantic leading men in the films Dirty Dancing and Ghost and was named by People magazine as its “Sexiest Man Alive” in 1991. Patrick's last show The Beast was filmed right here in Chicago and he worked it for as long as he could.

Paul Newman, American actor, film director, entrepreneur, humanitarian, and auto racing enthusiast, and husband of Oscar winner Joanne Woodward. Paul is a great loss to the arts and to humanity.

Michael Jackson- The King of Pop died just as he was preparing for a comeback world tour. Michael was 50 years old and the father of three.

Merry and a Happy Wishes

2009-12-24T17:30:00.004-06:00

Monica and I wish everyone a safe and Merry Christmas and Holiday Weekend!!!!

Alaina Reed and James Gurley R.I.P.

2009-12-23T02:25:00.014-06:00

Two more people that I really admired have passed away this December.
Alaina Reed from Sesame Street and 227 passed away this week. Alaina played Olivia, Gordon's sister and pro photogragher who came to live on the most diverse street on TV. She also is remembered for Rose Callaway, a neighbor and buddy of Marla Gibbs at the 227 address.

I am also very saddened to hear of the loss of James Gurley. Big Brother and the Holding Company was the band Gurley, Peter Albin, Sam Andrew and Dave Getz were rocking in San Francisco back in the magical, tragical, classical rock 1960's. Janis Joplin joined the band and the rest is history but Big Brother and the sound of Gurley's bluesy/psychedelic guitar soared in a time of Eric Clapton, Jimmy Page, Jeff Beck and even Jimmy Hendrix. Cheap Thrills is still one of my all time favorite albums.

Big Brother and the Holding Company

James Gurley (center)

James Gurley learned guitar by listening to old blues greats like Lightnin' Hopkins.

Blues/Rock at it's very best
.

Jennifer Jones

2009-12-20T16:27:00.005-06:00

Academy Award winner Jennifer Jones died Dec. 17 of naural causes.
Jennifer Jones received critical acclaim and won her Oscar for her portrayal of the young girl who saw a vision in the 1944 film "The Song of Bernadette."

She was a talented actress and beautiful person. I still have the lovely red velvet Christmas card she sent me many years ago. You made it to 90 years old, girl. Rest in peace Jennifer.

Prayers for Maggie Daley

2009-12-04T06:07:00.001-06:00

Chicago's First Lady is battling another assault of cancer. A few years ago, she had a tumor removed from her breast but the cancer had unfortunately spread. It was targeted and continuingly fought successfully. Now Maggie Daley has a lesion on her lower right leg and must again undergo radiation and drug therapy.

The doctors want Mrs. Daley to take the pressure off her leg by using a wheel chair during treatment. Maggie Daley always keeps a extrememly busy schedule and this latest setback is not expected to slow her down a heck of a lot. She is particularly active in procuring afterschool projects for Chicago children.

Please join me in sending out prayers and best wishes for Maggie Daley who has always been a beautiful asset for her husband and the city of Chicago. She has one of those smiles that comes from within and lights up a room. Her doctors are optimistic and so am I. We need that beautiful smile in Chitown.
I found some great pics of Maggie over the years.

Maggie and da mayor

World AIDS Day 2009

2009-12-01T05:03:00.001-06:00

A banner for World Aids Day 2009 to keep us aware that AIDS is not an issue of the past. AIDS has NOT been cured. AIDS is still an epidemic. People still die because they have AIDS. No one is exempt from contracting HIV/AIDS regardless of age, gender, marital status, race, religion, or economic status. The banners for this day are to remind us that we need to keep vigilant the need for research funding and assistance for keeping meds available and affordable. Also, that getting tested is important.
Today, we also remember all those who have died of AIDS.
To all my guys, I wave the World AIDS Day 2009 banner. I remember you with love. Libations!

I know that greatly due to the wonderful leadership of President Ronald Reagan during the start of the AIDS crisis, we are a decade behind in research.
Yet today, I take special time to be grateful for the advances in HIV/AIDS testing, treatment and medicine.

The quilt panel below is in remembrance of my friend Keith Barrow.
Libations Keith, we can still hear your songs.

The panel Monica and I made for our friend Lee Aldrich, will never let us forget. Libations Lee, with yo crazy talented self. We miss you.

Viking Prince?

2009-11-30T06:34:00.001-06:00

Well, the Chicago Bears officially suck this season. It's particularly crappy to see my hometown team usually known for big defense, have none. They lost 36-10 to Bret Farve and the MN Vikings. But even creepier than the bears crappy, is Minnesota native Prince at his hometown team's football game looking like he was at a funeral. You'd never know his team was winning. Fox News showed Prince several times throughout the game and he never even seemed to have moved or smiled. It was creepy and sad. Who goes to a football game and sits in a skybox to look like that. He looked so lonely. It was said that Prince was invited by fellow musician "One in a Million You" Larry Graham. No sign of Graham or anyone else talking to or high fiving with the Purple One during the game. I don't know who looked more distressed, Bears coach Lovie Smith or Prince.

"The artist currently known as Prince is still here. And he hasn't changed his expression since we last showed him."

Hey, I even started to cheer for the Vikings by the end of that slaughter. Prince looked just weird and alone. Well, in his defense, he does need both hips replaced so maybe he couldn't jump up to celebrate a Bears fumble. Maybe he was in pain so he couldn't even work up a smile when the Bears let the Vikings walk into the end zone for another TD. Maybe all his friends pooped out and didn't show up. Maybe he hasn't got any friends. That's all the "D" I can muster up for Prince which is more than the Bears have had all year.

Happy ThanksGiving!!

2009-11-26T05:23:00.002-06:00

“Thanksgiving comes to us out of the prehistoric dimness, universal to all ages and all faiths. At whatever straws we must grasp, there is always a time for gratitude and new beginnings.”
J. Robert Moskin

International Transgender Day of Remembrance

2009-11-19T23:35:00.005-06:00

November 20, 2009 is the 11th annual Day of Remembrance.

From the TDoR web site:
The Transgender Day of Remembrance serves several purposes. It raises public awareness of hate crimes against transgender people, an action that current media doesn't perform. Day of Remembrance publicly mourns and honors the lives of our brothers and sisters who might otherwise be forgotten. Through the vigil, we express love and respect for our people in the face of national indifference and hatred. Day of Remembrance reminds non-transgender people that we are their sons, daughters, parents, friends and lovers. Day of Remembrance gives our allies a chance to step forward with us and stand in vigil, memorializing those of us who've died by anti-transgender violence.

Every year I get angry that there is need for such a commemoration. Every year I am compelled to make a point of honoring this day. I'm not compelled simply because I am a member of the GLBT community or just because there are many Transgender people I like and admire and there are Transgender people that I love, but also because they all lost their lives because of hate.
Please go here to honor these people and take a moment to mourn.
You can go here to find a vigil or event near you.
For the the 11th year the TDoR is hoping to increase compassion and awareness and decrease indifference and ignorance, and to shorten that list.

40 Years on Sesame Street

2009-11-17T05:06:00.028-06:00

On Nov. 10, 1969, Sesame Street premiered on public television, changing children's television forever.
I guess we all have fond memories of Sesame Street.

Sesame Street came along just in time for my nephew Nolen to learn "which one of these things belong together", his ABC's, and all the other life lessons taught on the most famous and colorful neighborhood in the world.
Nolen is 36 now and Sesame Street is 40. Both hard to believe. OMG!

I admit it. I along with my mom watched Sesame Street before Nolen was born. We loved the Count and Roosevelt Franklin and even the mean Oscar the Grouch.

Nolen had a terrific crush on Susan, one of the non-muppet Sesame Street residents. Marshall Field's here in Chicago, had a Sesame Street show in the downtown loop store, featuring Susan. My sister and I took 3 year old Nolen. More than 100 kids sat on the floor in front of the stage with the parents seated in the back edges of the kids circle. At one point while Susan sang Nolen stood up and began making his way to the stage. OMG! Out of more than 100 kids, why us? We waved and motioned for him to sit down but he simply waved back and continued on to the stage. My sister whispered to me "go get him", I said "no way, you go get him!" Susan waved us back and went to meet him and held his hand on stage for the rest of the song. Nolen's eyes were so sweet and big to see Susan in person and he seemed oblivious to being on stage. He got a big kiss from Susan.

Who are your favorites or your kids favorites? Maria, Mr. Hooper, Bob, Cookie Monster, Gordon, Elmo, Luis, Ernie or Bert? Personally, my favorites are the childlike know-it-all Elmo and the wannabe super-hero Grover. Shut up.

First Lady Michelle Obama teaches Sesame Street Muppets how to plant vegetables for the first episode of the show's 40th-anniversary season, which aired November 10, 2009.

Sesame Street's 40th season aims to educate children about the wonders of the
natural world and teach them about concepts such as habitats, hibernation, and migration.
Here are some other favorites.
Remember Susan's hubby Gordon (Roscoe Orman) who also played a pimp on All My Children? His sister Olivia played by Alaina Reed also portrayed Rose Halloway on 227.

Through Mr. Hooper, kids learned about Jewish traditions and customs. When actor Will Lee died, it was decided to allow the beloved Sesame Street store owner to pass away too. It was a first for TV in teaching children about death and grieving.

Kermit was the star of Sesame Street and the Muppets.

Oscar tried to exemplify the hard NYC attitude. He succeeded and then some.

Sunny day
Sweepin' the clouds away
On my way to where the air is sweet
Can you tell me how to get,
How to get to Sesame Street....

Idol This

2009-10-29T05:54:00.004-05:00

American Idol runner-up Adam Lambert has released his official album cover for his first CD For Your Entertainment. What do ya think? Glam-glam-glamorous. Or too much?

I vote for Glam. Well, it's Adam, and I can't wait to hear it.

Maine-stream America

2009-10-22T03:45:00.006-05:00

This 86 year old man testified at a Maine hearing on marriage equality. He gives his true American creditials as well as his all American family man creds. Phillip, an 86 years old veteran, widower and father of four sons is amazing. He is America. He is trying to teach Americans what America is suppose to be about.

Yes, he is a lifetime Republican. No, you don't have to be a backward thinking, name calling obstructionist to be a Republican. You can be like Phillip and be a human being with respect for other human beings. Phillip gives no hedges on his humanity. You know the, I respect all people but....

(Hat tip to Eric)

Sporting Bodies Beautiful

2009-10-11T15:06:00.001-05:00

October 9th, ESPN the Magazine premiered something new they call The Body Issue. This is to be an annual issue that will showcase the physical attributes of athletes from all sports. ESPN says it will all be very artfully and tastefully done. Well, from what I've seen of it so far, they have some talented photographers that have achieved that goal.

There will be six covers out for this issue featuring three female and three male athletes; Serena Williams (tennis), amputee triathlete Sarah Reinertsen, Gina Carano (Mixed Martial Arts), Adrian Peterson (NFL), Dwight Howard (NBA), and NASCAR’s Carl Edwards.

In the section "Bodies We Want" top athletes either pose in the buff (with private parts strategically covered) or with minimal clothing. The section is "essentially ESPN's version of the best bodies in sports."

In another section called "Exposure," groups of athletes from the LPGA, the U.S. Women's Softball Team, the NHL's Edmonton Oilers, Major League Soccer's D.C. United and even a group of poker players pose.
Poker is a sport? Getouttahere.

Gorgeous, talented Serena Williams. Here is her mag cover.

Olympic hurdler Lolo Jones decided she would be in The Body Issue if she could take a tasteful picture that would send young girls the message they don’t have to be skinny or starve themselves. The 5 foot 9 inch Jones says she weighs 160 pounds. She knows that number surprises people, but muscle weighs more than fat, and Lolo has a lot of muscle, and next to no fat.

There’s something to be said for a naturally athletic figure untainted by bad nutritional habits. A Buck sixty that works.

Adrian Peterson of the MN Vikings. Wow! How would you like those guns coming at you?

Just beautiful.

Nascar's Carl Anderson has the six pack needed to cross that finish line. Damn.

Australian professional surfer Claire Bevilacqua

Orlando Magic star center, 6'11" 265lbs Dwight Howard does indeed look like his nickname, Superman.

Gina Carano is the biggest female mixed martial art star.

Triathlon and Amazing Race athlete Sarah Reinertsen

Sarah was the first female leg amputee to complete the Ironman Triathlon World Championship in Kona, Hawaii. How 'bout that!

Natasha Kai of the U.S. Soccer team believes in body art on her artfully athletic body.

U.S. Olympic Softball team members; Natasha Watley, Cat Osterman, Jessica Mendoza and Lauren Lapper.

Jessica Mendoza posed while eight months pregnant. "I try to get young girls to see themselves as beautiful and to not feel insecure about their bodies," she said. "The more we can get more realistic bodies in front of them, the better."
“I am excited about this issue because it is unique and shows the beauty of the athlete’s most powerful tool: their body. Rather than having the stereotypical bodies that we are used to seeing through the media every day, the bodies in this issue vary from super buff, to lean, to stocky … all exemplifying beauty in their own way. I was proud to be in this issue at a unique time of my life. I felt that by showing athletes in every shape and form, including those of us who have children and continue to play, ESPN the Magazine is trying to break those stereotypes. I hope those who see this issue see it as a refreshing and celebratory view of the athletic body in all its beauty and forms, influencing women and girls in a positive way to appreciate their own unique, athletic bodies.”

Healthy, strong and successful men and women. What can be more beautiful. What do you think?

Jazzy Chicagoans, Listen Up!

2009-09-25T06:06:00.013-05:00

The 3rd Hyde Park Jazz Festival will be held on Saturday, September 26, 2009.
Over 100 musicians including jazz headliners Garaj Mahal, Ari Brown, Von Freeman, Jon Faddis, Richie Cole, Willie Pickens, Dee Alexander, Maggie Brown, and Orbert Davis will be performing along with local emerging artists for 15 hours of FREE, non-stop jazz.
Yes, I said FREE!

Venues and Schedule
The Hyde Park Jazz Festival utilizes 13 creative and unexpected, indoor and outdoor venues in Hyde Park.
The Festival begins in two places at 11:00am -The DuSable Museum with The Awakening and the James W. Wagner Stage on the Midway with the U-High Band. The Festival closes Sunday, September 28, 2009 at the International House with a Slam Jam that begins at midnight and ends at 2AM.
All venues are identified on the Jazz Festival Venue Map.

Tickets
I told yall, all performances are FREE and open to the public. Please note because some venues have a limited seating capacity, seating will be available on a first come first served basis. At the Midway Plaisance there will be seating but, you can certainly bring your lawn chairs.

Dining
Hyde park has anything you could possibly want to chow down on. From a variety of ethnic fare to great burgers and pizza to fine dining to Micky D's. So grab something to bring to the Midway or dine in style before or after a performance.

For special needs access, transportation and all info on the fest go here.

Hyde Park Jazz History
This area in Chicago had at one time been known as the home of the great Chicago jazz scene.
In 1995, James W. Wagner formed the Committee to Restore Jazz to Hyde Park with the goal of returning Hyde Park to its glory days as a mecca for jazz musicians and fans. The committee enlisted the support of the past two presidents of the University of Chicago, Hugo Sonnenschein and Don Michael Randel, which resulted in the relocation of the Checkerboard Lounge to Harper Court in Hyde Park.

The Committee to Restore Jazz to Hyde Park reconstituted itself as the Hyde Park Jazz Society in 2006 and resulted in successfully sponsoring CheckerJAZZ, a Sunday night jazz series at the "New Checkerboard Lounge for Blues and Jazz," and supporting performance by high school jazz musicians with a Sunday afternoon school series. The Sunday night jazz series is now being held at Room 43 on 43rd Street.
Sadly, we lost Jim Wagner this year. But his great smile and love for jazz will be felt all over Hyde Park on Saturday. The James W. Wagner Stage on the Midway will host the James Wagner All-Star Band and every note will celebrate his spirit and dedication to jazz. I am proud to have known Jim.

So, come on out with you jazzy selfs and celebrate the first weekend of autumn by enjoying a diverse list of artists known in Chicago and around the world as the best in traditional and progressive jazz.

Archie's Choice

2009-09-21T07:10:00.021-05:00

Hey Boomers, remember Archie? Did you know that Archie Andrews got Married. My friend Monica Roberts the TransGriot is a true griot who never lets anything historical pass by us, reports that Archie finally popped the question and did the deed. Perhaps Beyonce's hit Single Ladies put the right pressure on him. (I'm sure guys will be ECSTATIC when that song fades down the chart.)

Since 1941, Archie comic books have been telling the adventures of teenage angst at Riverdale High. It was sort of the Saved by the Bell of it's time.
Archie is the cute, nice, freckle faced, redhaired teen caught in a love triangle that lasted 69 years. Damn!

The rivalry for Archie's affection was famously between Veronica (Ronnie)Lodge the rich, spoiled, manipulative, raven haired beauty, and Betty Cooper, the beautiful, down to earth, girl-next-door.

Which one did he finally choose?

VERONICA!

Reggie comforts Betty. The rich and devious Reggie liked Ronnie too.

So, Archie grew up and married Ronnie.

Betty was in the wedding. How 'bout that. Did he pick the right girl?

Celebrate BB King

2009-09-16T09:20:00.014-05:00

Today is BB King's 84th birthday. The man is still touring, singing the blues and playing his Gibson guitar as only he can. Every year Monica and I look forward to going to Merriville Indiana on Easter weekend to see BB. I probably don't have to tell you he is a dynamic performer or that his melodic shimmering guitar solos with his signature vibrato and wavering pinky finger changed and influenced every blues and jazz guitarist since the 1950's. He took blues in a decidedly different direction than his contemporaries like Muddy Waters. Waters went from acoustic to electric but BB went farther by creating a style of soloing that was more melodic and took blues to a new audience. BB created his own chords and melody riffs that are unmistakably his own. His influence reached not only blues and jazz but rock. Rockers such as George Harrison, Eric Clapton, Jimi Hendrix, Stevie Ray Vaughn and Jeff Beck right down to players today like Tracy chapman and John Mayer, all influenced by BB. I doubt if there are many guitarists of any genre he hasn't played or recorded with. He owns several Blues clubs and his BB King Museum in Jackson, Mississippi is said to be always packed.
If you've never seen this legend in action yet, I guarantee you'll love his show. Not only is he a great musician, he is a very funny story teller.
Happy Birthday to the King of the Blues!

BB sits for much of his concerts now but it takes nothing away from how he still puts his hands on his hips and gets saucy. I love how his fingers seem to be a performance of their own and he plays every note with his body and facial expression.

A younger BB jams on one of my favorites "Sweet Sixteen". What a story!
This is sweet, just BB and Lucille.

Chicago in Sync

2009-09-13T09:19:00.004-05:00

If you didn't see Oprah's outdoor block party celebrating her 24th season with the Black Eyed Peas, Jennifer Hudson, (Sweet Baby) James Taylor, Chris Angel and Rascal Flats you missed a history making event. The largest flash mob in the world was performed by 20,000 Chicagoans. Yeah, 20,000 peeps dancing in sync to the Pea's "I Gotta Feeling".

It's amazing and yeah I agree, only in Chitown.

Remembering and Honoring

2009-09-11T09:43:00.004-05:00

As we begin our day today, let us not forget the sacrifices made by the men and women who were killed or injured on September 11, 2001.

America is strong, America is safe only when we are able to engage one another with honesty and respect.

We will be honest and respectful with one another only after we practice honest evaluation of our own actions, and respectful acceptance of the effects our actions have on others.

Chocolate Math

2009-09-11T02:22:00.018-05:00

Monica got this from a friend.

YOUR AGE BY CHOCOLATE MATH
This is pretty neat.

Don't tell me your age; you'd probably lie anyway-but the Hershey Man will know!

DON'T CHEAT BY SCROLLING DOWN FIRST!
It takes less than a minute .
Work this out as you read ..
Be sure you don't read the bottom until you've worked it out!
This is not one of those waste of time things, it's fun.

1. First of all, pick the number of times a week that you would like to have chocolate (more than once but less than 10)

2. Multiply this number by 2 (just to be bold)

3. Add 5

4. Multiply it by 50 -- I'll wait while you get the calculator

5. If you have already had your birthday this year add 1759 ...
If you haven't, add 1758..

6... Now subtract the four digit year that you were born.

You should have a three digit number

The first digit of this was your original number
(i.e., how many times you want to have chocolate each week).

The next two numbers are

YOUR AGE! (Oh YES, it is!!!!!)

THIS IS THE ONLY YEAR (2009) IT WILL EVER WORK, SO SPREAD IT AROUND WHILE IT LASTS.

Chocolate Calculator.

President Obama to American Kids K-12

2009-09-07T16:28:00.004-05:00

Prepared Remarks of President Barack Obama
Back to School Event
Arlington, Virginia
September 8, 2009

The President: Hello everyone – how’s everybody doing today? I’m here with students at Wakefield High School in Arlington, Virginia. And we’ve got students tuning in from all across America, kindergarten through twelfth grade. I’m glad you all could join us today.
I know that for many of you, today is the first day of school. And for those of you in kindergarten, or starting middle or high school, it’s your first day in a new school, so it’s understandable if you’re a little nervous. I imagine there are some seniors out there who are feeling pretty good right now, with just one more year to go. And no matter what grade you’re in, some of you are probably wishing it were still summer, and you could’ve stayed in bed just a little longer this morning.
I know that feeling. When I was young, my family lived in Indonesia for a few years, and my mother didn’t have the money to send me where all the American kids went to school. So she decided to teach me extra lessons herself, Monday through Friday – at 4:30 in the morning.
Now I wasn’t too happy about getting up that early. A lot of times, I’d fall asleep right there at the kitchen table. But whenever I’d complain, my mother would just give me one of those looks and say, "This is no picnic for me either, buster."
So I know some of you are still adjusting to being back at school. But I’m here today because I have something important to discuss with you. I’m here because I want to talk with you about your education and what’s expected of all of you in this new school year.
Now I’ve given a lot of speeches about education. And I’ve talked a lot about responsibility.
I’ve talked about your teachers’ responsibility for inspiring you, and pushing you to learn.
I’ve talked about your parents’ responsibility for making sure you stay on track, and get your homework done, and don’t spend every waking hour in front of the TV or with that Xbox.
I’ve talked a lot about your government’s responsibility for setting high standards, supporting teachers and principals, and turning around schools that aren’t working where students aren’t getting the opportunities they deserve.
But at the end of the day, we can have the most dedicated teachers, the most supportive parents, and the best schools in the world – and none of it will matter unless all of you fulfill your responsibilities. Unless you show up to those schools; pay attention to those teachers; listen to your parents, grandparents and other adults; and put in the hard work it takes to succeed.
And that’s what I want to focus on today: the responsibility each of you has for your education. I want to start with the responsibility you have to yourself.
Every single one of you has something you’re good at. Every single one of you has something to offer. And you have a responsibility to yourself to discover what that is. That’s the opportunity an education can provide.
Maybe you could be a good writer – maybe even good enough to write a book or articles in a newspaper – but you might not know it until you write a paper for your English class. Maybe you could be an innovator or an inventor – maybe even good enough to come up with the next iPhone or a new medicine or vaccine – but you might not know it until you do a project for your science class. Maybe you could be a mayor or a Senator or a Supreme Court Justice, but you might not know that until you join student government or the debate team.
And no matter what you want to do with your life – I guarantee that you’ll need an education to do it. You want to be a doctor, or a teacher, or a police officer? You want to be a nurse or an architect, a lawyer or a member of our military? You’re going to need a good education for every single one of those careers. You can’t drop out of school and just drop into a good job. You’ve got to work for it and train for it and learn for it.
And this isn’t just important for your own life and your own future. What you make of your education will decide nothing less than the future of this country. What you’re learning in school today will determine whether we as a nation can meet our greatest challenges in the future.
You’ll need the knowledge and problem-solving skills you learn in science and math to cure diseases like cancer and AIDS, and to develop new energy technologies and protect our environment. You’ll need the insights and critical thinking skills you gain in history and social studies to fight poverty and homelessness, crime and discrimination, and make our nation more fair and more free. You’ll need the creativity and ingenuity you develop in all your classes to build new companies that will create new jobs and boost our economy.
We need every single one of you to develop your talents, skills and intellect so you can help solve our most difficult problems. If you don’t do that – if you quit on school – you’re not just quitting on yourself, you’re quitting on your country.
Now I know it’s not always easy to do well in school. I know a lot of you have challenges in your lives right now that can make it hard to focus on your schoolwork.
I get it. I know what that’s like. My father left my family when I was two years old, and I was raised by a single mother who struggled at times to pay the bills and wasn’t always able to give us things the other kids had. There were times when I missed having a father in my life. There were times when I was lonely and felt like I didn’t fit in.
So I wasn’t always as focused as I should have been. I did some things I’m not proud of, and got in more trouble than I should have. And my life could have easily taken a turn for the worse.
But I was fortunate. I got a lot of second chances and had the opportunity to go to college, and law school, and follow my dreams. My wife, our First Lady Michelle Obama, has a similar story. Neither of her parents had gone to college, and they didn’t have much. But they worked hard, and she worked hard, so that she could go to the best schools in this country.
Some of you might not have those advantages. Maybe you don’t have adults in your life who give you the support that you need. Maybe someone in your family has lost their job, and there’s not enough money to go around. Maybe you live in a neighborhood where you don’t feel safe, or have friends who are pressuring you to do things you know aren’t right.
But at the end of the day, the circumstances of your life – what you look like, where you come from, how much money you have, what you’ve got going on at home – that’s no excuse for neglecting your homework or having a bad attitude. That’s no excuse for talking back to your teacher, or cutting class, or dropping out of school. That’s no excuse for not trying.
Where you are right now doesn’t have to determine where you’ll end up. No one’s written your destiny for you. Here in America, you write your own destiny. You make your own future.
That’s what young people like you are doing every day, all across America.
Young people like Jazmin Perez, from Roma, Texas. Jazmin didn’t speak English when she first started school. Hardly anyone in her hometown went to college, and neither of her parents had gone either. But she worked hard, earned good grades, got a scholarship to Brown University, and is now in graduate school, studying public health, on her way to being Dr. Jazmin Perez.
I’m thinking about Andoni Schultz, from Los Altos, California, who’s fought brain cancer since he was three. He’s endured all sorts of treatments and surgeries, one of which affected his memory, so it took him much longer – hundreds of extra hours – to do his schoolwork. But he never fell behind, and he’s headed to college this fall.
And then there’s Shantell Steve, from my hometown of Chicago, Illinois. Even when bouncing from foster home to foster home in the toughest neighborhoods, she managed to get a job at a local health center; start a program to keep young people out of gangs; and she’s on track to graduate high school with honors and go on to college.
Jazmin, Andoni and Shantell aren’t any different from any of you. They faced challenges in their lives just like you do. But they refused to give up. They chose to take responsibility for their education and set goals for themselves. And I expect all of you to do the same.
That’s why today, I’m calling on each of you to set your own goals for your education – and to do everything you can to meet them. Your goal can be something as simple as doing all your homework, paying attention in class, or spending time each day reading a book. Maybe you’ll decide to get involved in an extracurricular activity, or volunteer in your community. Maybe you’ll decide to stand up for kids who are being teased or bullied because of who they are or how they look, because you believe, like I do, that all kids deserve a safe environment to study and learn. Maybe you’ll decide to take better care of yourself so you can be more ready to learn. And along those lines, I hope you’ll all wash your hands a lot, and stay home from school when you don’t feel well, so we can keep people from getting the flu this fall and winter.
Whatever you resolve to do, I want you to commit to it. I want you to really work at it.
I know that sometimes, you get the sense from TV that you can be rich and successful without any hard work -- that your ticket to success is through rapping or basketball or being a reality TV star, when chances are, you’re not going to be any of those things.
But the truth is, being successful is hard. You won’t love every subject you study. You won’t click with every teacher. Not every homework assignment will seem completely relevant to your life right this minute. And you won’t necessarily succeed at everything the first time you try.
That’s OK. Some of the most successful people in the world are the ones who’ve had the most failures. JK Rowling’s first Harry Potter book was rejected twelve times before it was finally published. Michael Jordan was cut from his high school basketball team, and he lost hundreds of games and missed thousands of shots during his career. But he once said, "I have failed over and over and over again in my life. And that is why I succeed."
These people succeeded because they understand that you can’t let your failures define you – you have to let them teach you. You have to let them show you what to do differently next time. If you get in trouble, that doesn’t mean you’re a troublemaker, it means you need to try harder to behave. If you get a bad grade, that doesn’t mean you’re stupid, it just means you need to spend more time studying.
No one’s born being good at things, you become good at things through hard work. You’re not a varsity athlete the first time you play a new sport. You don’t hit every note the first time you sing a song. You’ve got to practice. It’s the same with your schoolwork. You might have to do a math problem a few times before you get it right, or read something a few times before you understand it, or do a few drafts of a paper before it’s good enough to hand in.
Don’t be afraid to ask questions. Don’t be afraid to ask for help when you need it. I do that every day. Asking for help isn’t a sign of weakness, it’s a sign of strength. It shows you have the courage to admit when you don’t know something, and to learn something new. So find an adult you trust – a parent, grandparent or teacher; a coach or counselor – and ask them to help you stay on track to meet your goals.
And even when you’re struggling, even when you’re discouraged, and you feel like other people have given up on you – don’t ever give up on yourself. Because when you give up on yourself, you give up on your country.
The story of America isn’t about people who quit when things got tough. It’s about people who kept going, who tried harder, who loved their country too much to do anything less than their best.
It’s the story of students who sat where you sit 250 years ago, and went on to wage a revolution and found this nation. Students who sat where you sit 75 years ago who overcame a Depression and won a world war; who fought for civil rights and put a man on the moon. Students who sat where you sit 20 years ago who founded Google, Twitter and Facebook and changed the way we communicate with each other.
So today, I want to ask you, what’s your contribution going to be? What problems are you going to solve? What discoveries will you make? What will a president who comes here in twenty or fifty or one hundred years say about what all of you did for this country?
Your families, your teachers, and I are doing everything we can to make sure you have the education you need to answer these questions. I’m working hard to fix up your classrooms and get you the books, equipment and computers you need to learn. But you’ve got to do your part too. So I expect you to get serious this year. I expect you to put your best effort into everything you do. I expect great things from each of you. So don’t let us down – don’t let your family or your country or yourself down. Make us all proud. I know you can do it.

Thank you, God bless you, and God bless America.

Ted Kennedy

2009-08-30T08:25:00.005-05:00

Last night at Arlington National Cemetery, Ted Kennedy's grandchildren, nieces and nephews surrounded his casket, kneeling, laying on it and weeping. They seemed to be holding onto him as hard as they could, not wanting to say a final goodbye. Such a private moment. That family has shared so much grief with the public. While family members and friends visited the graves of JFK and RFK after Ted's graveside service, the kids stayed with him holding on as long as they could to their grandpa or uncle Teddy.

The new generations of young Kennedy's that we got to see during this mournful time let me know that the Kennedy legacy is far from over. I was impressed with eleven year old Ted III with his round full face and long hair. And I'd never seen Rory Kennedy who was an infant when Robert was killed. For her, Ted Kennedy had to be more father than uncle. Caroline Kennedy spoke on how Ted didn't miss a graduation, or birthday or any important or not so important event in the lives of all his children which included his brothers' children and their children.

Caroline and others also spoke of how Teddy took them all (some of the teens went kicking and screaming) on family history excursions. Ted showed them where their grandparents lived, where the Irish first came ashore to Boston, where Joseph P. Kennedy's first job was. He had them look at American relics and historical documents and see Irish American cultural places of history and literature as well cultural sights from other ethnic and religious interests. He wanted them to make the connection. To know where they came from so they could understand how they fit in the present and in the world. And, how America fit in the world.
He taught them to understand that everyone has a journey and to respect the journeys of others. He taught them to make connections regardless of differences.
I see on the streets everyday, young people who are disconnected. They make no connections to the past or to each other in the present. No sense of loyalty to family, culture or country. No sense of obligation to those who struggled and survived. Isolated from the past, directionless for the future. Disconnected.

Ted Kennedy's time spent with these children making those connections is a great gift. He knew that making connections would build strength and character. He knew spending time with children would too. And not only his children but a young black girl who he taught to read and tutored for years, and a 9 year old black boy who he promised $1 for every A on his report card. Ted kept that promise through college.
Ted Kennedy who could have been bitter after giving up three brothers to America, could have spent all of his time sailing. He could have spent his career resting on the laurels of his brothers. But he didn't. He served Massachusetts and this country well. Particularly by teaching children that we are all connected.

Ted Kennedy

2009-08-26T05:33:00.005-05:00

Edward Moore Kennedy died last night at age 77. I am very sad about his passing. His sister Eunice died just two weeks ago. Another giant gone. Now only Jean Kennedy Smith remains of JFK's siblings. There will be much said now about the Kennedy legacy and about the "Lion" of the U.S. Senate. I will say more too, later.

But for now I will simply say that he was a champion in many ways and I appreciated him and America will miss him.

Johnny Carter, Oh What A Night!

2009-08-22T06:45:00.012-05:00

R&B singer John E. (Johnny) Carter, famous for his soulful voice and work with supergroups the Dells and the Flamingos, passed away in his hometown of Harvey, IL, Thursday evening after a long battle with lung cancer ending his lifelong career in the music industry. He's survived by his five daughters and several grandchildren.

Carter's death was announced by the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame, which twice inducted Carter for his work with the two groups and for hits like "Oh What a Night," the 1954Dells hit that featured Carter on falsetto lead.

Carter was also the last surviving member of the Flamingos, which he left in 1960 to form the Dells with four other friends from his high-school days at Thornton Township High in Harvey.

Remember how short cuts were back in the day?
Johnny Carter was also famous for the Dells blockbuster "Stay in My Corner," one of the first R&B tracks that lasted longer than six minutes.

Talkin' about bringing back good memories especially for you Boomers and for you music lovers, check this out. There's nothing like
the Mighty Mighty DELLS!

Remembering Woodstock 1969

2009-08-16T00:46:00.016-05:00

40 years ago America experienced Woodstock, the largest outdoor concert ever. Three days on a dairy farm. Outside in the heat and the mud and the rain with close to 500,000 strangers, lots of them high. Most of them with long hair, big afros, bell bottoms, head bands and love beads. What a time in America. Historic in it's scope and historic in what it meant to music. About 200,000 tickets were sold but more than double that number showed up. It was the time for peace and music, man.

I am not an outdoor roughing it type, never was. Missed Woodstock but love the idea of it. For me it would be about the music. All in three days there was: Creedence Clearwater Survival, Ritchie Havens, Melanie, Ravi Shankar, Alrlo Guthrie, Joan Baez, Canned heat, Greateful Dead, Sly and the Family Stone, Jefferson Airplane, The Who, Santana, Country Joe and the Fish, John Sebastian, Joe Cocker, Johnny Winter, Neil Young, Crosby and Stills and Nash, Paul Butterfield Blues Band.. (Take a breath yall.) Ten Years After, Sha-Na-Na, Blood Sweat and Tears, The Band, Janis Joplin, Jimi Hendrix and more. Unbelievable. All that in one weekend. Just recalling those musicians makes me happy.
Real music, real guitar heros. Right on! Right on!

A Special Place In Heaven

2009-08-11T07:45:00.019-05:00

Eunice Kennedy Shriver, the sister of President John F. Kennedy and a champion of the disabled who founded the Special Olympics, died this morning. She was 88.

Born on July 10, 1921, in Brookline, Massachusetts, Shriver was the fifth of nine children to Joseph P. and Rose Fitzgerald Kennedy. She emerged from the long shadow of siblings John F. Kennedy, Robert F. Kennedy and Sen. Edward M. Kennedy as the founder of the Special Olympics, which started as a summer day camp in her backyard in 1962.

Today, 3.1 million people with mental disabilities participate in 228 programs in 170nations, according to the Special Olympics.

I had every intention of paying a short tribute to this woman who has always been one of my sheroes. But, her life accomplishments are long and substantial.

Even before launching the Special Olympics in 1968, Shriver had established a reputation as an advocate for the disenfranchised and a trailblazer for the rights of the disabled through a variety of roles in the private and public sector.

She also persuaded the Kennedy family to go public with one of its most guarded secrets. In September 1962, Shriver wrote an article about her mentally disabled sister, Rosemary, which was published in The Saturday Evening Post. There is no doubt that this began to ease the stigma attached to mental disabilities.

After receiving a degree in sociology from Stanford University in Palo Alto, California, Shriver worked for the U.S. State Department in the Special War Problems Division from 1943 to 1945, helping former prisoners of war readjust to civilian life.

From 1947 to 1948, she worked for $1 at the Department of Justice as executive secretary for the National Conference on Prevention and Control of Juvenile Delinquency.

In the early 1950s, she was a social worker at a federal prison for women in West Virginia and in juvenile court in Chicago, Illinois.

She married Robert Sargent Shriver Jr., a World War II veteran who was building his career as a lawyer and lifelong public servant, in 1953. R. Sargent Shriver had roles in many top government initiatives of the 1960s, including Head Start and the Peace Corps. He also worked with his wife on the Special Olympics. He ran President Johnson's War on Poverty and was U.S. ambassador to France from 1968 to 1970. He was Democrat George McGovern's running mate in the 1972 presidential election.

The couple had five children, including California's first lady, Maria Shriver.

In 1957, Eunice Shriver became executive vice president of the Joseph P. Kennedy Jr. Foundation, which was established in 1946 to honor the family's eldest son -- who was killed in World War II -- to research the causes of disabilities and to improve the treatment of disabled people.

Her work with the foundation paved the way for a number of initiatives furthering the cause of disability advocacy. In 1962 she helped establish the National Institute of Child Health and Human Development, a government agency that conducts research on topics related to the health of children, adults and families that was named after Shriver in 2008.

Disturbed by the treatment of disabled people in institutions across the country in the 1950s and 1960s, Shriver began inviting disabled children to a summer day camp, called Camp Shriver, on her farm in Maryland. Her vision expanded over the years, and in July 1968 the first International Special Olympics Games were held in Chicago.

She also assisted in the establishment of a network of university-affiliated facilities and intellectual disabilities research centers at major medical schools across the United States, including centers for the study of medical ethics at Harvard and Georgetown universities in 1971.

In 1981, Shriver began the Community of Caring program to reduce disabilities among babies of teenagers. That led to the establishment of Community of Caring programs in 1,200 public and private schools from 1990 to 2006.

Along the way, Shriver earned worldwide accolades and awards, including the U.S. Presidential Medal of Freedom, the World Sports Humanitarian Hall of Fame's Founder's Award and nine honorary degrees.

In 1995, the U.S. Mint issued a commemorative coin with her portrait. The Mint says that made her the first living woman to be depicted on an American coin.

In 2009, a painting of Shriver with several Special Olympians was added to the permanent collection of the National Portrait Gallery.

Eunice Kenedy Shriver, a life well spent in service to others. Yet, she said of all her hard work, at an event honoring her in 2007:

"Most people believe I spent my whole life really interested in only one thing and that one thing is working to make the world a better place for people with intellectual disabilities.

"As important as it has been, it is not the whole story of my life. My life is about being lucky as a child to be raised by parents who loved me and made me believe in possibilities. It is also about being lucky to have had these extraordinary children. ... It is also about being especially lucky to have a wonderful husband."

Eunice Shriver goes on to say she was also lucky to have seen and suffered the sting of rejection as a woman. She spoke also of the great influence her sister Rosemary's mental retardation had on the Kennedy children especially on President Kennedy. It has been said that she should have easily been the first female U.S. President. Of course back in the day that was not possible. But this woman of great compassion, humor, courage, savvy and vision changed the world and made it better.
She was known to quote Luke 12:48 To whom much is given, much is expected.
She has a special place in heaven.

Rose Marie Kennedy (Rosemary) mental retardation and/or a lobotomy at age 23? She had a profound effect on Eunice, JFK and the other Kennedy children.

Now, is the Season of Concern

2009-08-09T01:49:00.009-05:00

Alexandra credits programs supported by organizations such as Season of Concern for helping her way back in the day when there wasn't a lot of help. Back when being HIV positive was a death sentence. Back when people (including their churches and families) were shunning, isolating, denying care and compassion to anyone suspected of being HIV positive.
Now hopefully most people have learned better. HIV/AIDS is not automatically a death sentence and there has been much progress for treatment. But, the pendulum has swung so far the other way that many now think it's no big deal to be HIV positive or to have AIDS. That it's curable or easily treatable and managed. There is no cure and "easy" is not in the HIV/AIDS equation. The virus is still here and it does not discriminate. It mutates and challenges the researchers and demands we remain vigilant and informed. The epidemic is still here too.
The epidemic is surging especially in the black community for many complex and simple reasons. Reasons stemming from lack of medical care to religious stigmas attached to AIDS. Yes, and the epidemic now includes Senior citizens, college students, young teens, and women in the rising number of new HIV/AIDS infected people.
In 1988 Chicago's theater community formed Season of Concern (SOC) to support programs that provide care to Chicago and Mid-Western community members experiencing the effects of catastrophic illness. SOC supported programs provide direct care such as personal finacial support, housing, meals, and medication and more.

SOC fundraising also supports programs such as HealthWorks Theater Chicago that educates children and teens with age appropriate productions and info. Sadly SOC is still needed now as it was in the 1980's. Season of Concern needs to remain strong and vital. Although Season Of Concern's focus is on AIDS and HIV-related illness, they are there for everyone facing illness, disease, or injury of any kind.

When you go to the theater and you see Season of Concern donation cans or the performers request donations, you'll know what's up. Please give.

Naomi Sims 1949 - 2009

2009-08-05T09:14:00.008-05:00

The first African American Super-Model died Saturday at age 61. Naomi Sims lost her battle with cancer but won many battles in her lifetime. She was a trailblazer, a beauty, and successful business woman. A nice tribute here posted by Monica Roberts.
R.I.P and thank you to a great American lady.

Beer Here!

2009-07-31T13:52:00.005-05:00

Well, by now I'm sure President Obama wishes he'd never mentioned beer. I mean, what a fuss. In trying to diffuse the big hubub after Harvard professor Henry Louis Gates Jr. was arrested for disorderly conduct after being suspected of breaking into his own home, Prez Obama thought a little one on one guy talk would help turn this incident around into something meaningful. Obama felt he should do this since his own comments made matters worse.

First people wanted to know why "beer". Well, they could have had tea. Oh please. Then folks got peeved that although all three guys wanted different beer, none were American made. Actually that's not entirely true. None of these particular breweries are American owned any more, but Bud Light (Obama's choice) is still made here.

Anyway, I think it's a good thing to discuss racial profiling especially with policeman. I'll bet you somebody's first born that both Prof Gates and Officer Crowely overreacted. Stubborn guys won't admit it.
This is an important discussion over that beer. Racial profiling goes on with such regularity that many black people assume it even when it may not be the case. When this happens to you in every area of life so much in stores, parking lots, gas stations, driving, etc., you either ignore it and deal or get pissed and yell. If you are coming home from a long plane trip from China and cannot wait to see the inside of your house, you might get mad and yell like Prof Gates did. (Not that it is an excuse.) Policemen should be sensitive to these assumptions and learn to diffuse that reaction not inflame it.

I know this is a sensitive and complex issue. But, we should join the president, Dr. Gates and Sgt. Crowley for some dialouge and self examinations.
So yeah, we all need to have a beer or tea or cherry coke and honestly think about our own assumptions.

Pearls, Diamonds and Lilies!

2009-07-26T06:11:00.016-05:00

Monica and I celebrate our 30th Anniversary today. It is hard to believe. We've been through it all, births, deaths, ups and downs, highs and lows you name it. We done it together.
We've learned from each other, changed each other and meshed together while retaining our own selves. And, we love each other even more, respect each other even more and most of all, still have great silly fun together.

To our friends and family who supported us and loved us, thank you. To our University Church family who encouraged, comforted, supported and validated us, thank you. You have all been our pearls, diamonds and lilies these 30 years. We truly love you all.

This Could Happen To You

2009-07-25T05:11:00.004-05:00

Park on a fire hydrant and you and your car could get busted? Well this Beemer owner did and the firemen got revenge. Sweet.

(hat tip Electronic Village)

Happily Ever After!

2009-07-24T07:50:00.002-05:00

This couple has so much joy in their hearts and fun in their attitude that they wanted to start off their wedding with an unexpected surprise. I love it.

Congrats!

Flawless Sox

2009-07-23T23:29:00.009-05:00

Perfection. A flawless game was pitched today by White Sox pitcher Mark Buehrle! It was only the 18th perfect game ever thrown in major league baseball history. That's how difficult it is to achieve. Imagine in nine innings, not one single solitary batter reached base. Not even a walk. That's one for the record books and history.We haven't seen that since 1922.

Moni and I always refer to anything we haven't seen or done in a long while as 1922. "We haven't been to an amusement park since 1922." Well the last time the Chicago White Sox had a no hitter was actually 1922. How 'bout that.

Of course Buehrle had the help of outstanding defense work by his teammates. Tampa Bay hitter Gabe Kapler hit what looked like a sure homer but Sox outfielder Dewayne Wise made a tremendous but scary catch to send Kapler back to the darn dugout and keep the perfection going.

Wise leaped over the fence to make the catch as he hit the wall. Then the ball came out of his glove for a moment as he started falling, but he grabbed it quickly with his bare hand before hitting the warning track, juggling the ball but holding it up to show he got it. Whew! Talk about drama!

The last out was a grounder to shortstop Alexei Ramirez to first baseman Josh Fields, who also hit a grand slam homer in the historic game. Both Ramirez and Fields admit to being very nervous with the pressure of the last out approaching. As soon as Fields touched first base for that last out, Buehrle was swamped by his teammates.

Buehrle received a congrats call from big Sox fan President Obama who happened to be home in Chicago for the day.

Sox won 5-0. Talk about a good day at the ballpark. Wow!

NAACP - 100 Year Anniversary

2009-07-17T08:07:00.006-05:00

At the 100th year celebration of the NAACP, the keynote speaker is an African American man. He is also the President of the United States. How significant is that. Just think of it. 100 years ago is not that long ago, yet think of where America has come. I don't need to spell it out. Less than a hundred years ago this same man, now the nation's 44th Commander in Chief, could have been jailed or killed for drinking from a water fountain or trying to go to school. His father would certainly have been strung up for loving his mother. The NAACP had no small part in Barack Obama standing there as president. There is no denying the organization's contribution in securing civil rights progress.

President Obama's speech spelled it out and took you back and went to church complete with amen corner. He talked of how the barriers then and challenges now are different but will take the same sacrifice and commitment to overcome.

Congratulations NAACP! Thank You very much.

Meghan McCain Power

2009-07-17T06:08:00.004-05:00

When Meghan McCain speaks her mind, she does not sound like a Republican. But she insists on being a Republican to broaden the party and attract young people by stepping away from old fogie exclusiveness and religious right narrow mindedness. She really believes that is possible.
Meghan believes being for issues like gay marriage do not have to be contrary to being in the GOP. She encourages other members of her party who already feel that way to have the courage to come out.

In a speech to the Log Cabin Republicans, she said that “old-school Republicans” were “scared shitless” of the future and retreating further and further into an ultraconservative crouch.

Although her father Sen. John McCain is anti-same sex marriage, she says he is not homophobic. She says she's had some great conversations with her dad and is "working on him".
(For the record, Meghan isn’t the only member of the McCain clan to support gay marriage. “My mom was always for gay marriage, but I think me being so vocal about it has made her want to be more vocal about it,” she says. “She texted me: ‘Gay marriage passed in Maine!!’ ”)

Meghan wants to show that not all Repubs are like former GOP pinup boy, Samuel Wurzelbacher, aka Joe the Plumber, who gave an interview to Christianity Today in which he complained about “queers” and declared, “I wouldn’t have them anywhere near my children.” To this Meghan answered “Joe the Plumber -- you can quote me -- is a dumbass. He should stick to plumbing.”

Meghan has taken on right wingers Karl Rove (yuck!), Ann Coulter (yuck! yuck!) and even Rush Limbaugh (triple yuck!) She says, “I'd be flattered to be considered the anti–Ann Coulter, the anti–Rush Limbaugh.”
I know that's right.

Miss McCain says “Homophobia is the last socially accepted prejudice,” and views the fight for gay equality as “my generation’s civil rights movement.”

“If two people fall in love, they should have the option to get married just like I can.”

Meghan became a Republican as a birthday present to her father and is determined to bring more open minded seats to the GOP table. She has certainly pulled up her chair. Meghan is 24 years old, and so far she has given the old school conservatives the flux. What if her party members start speaking their minds, pushing envelopes and coloring outside party lines? OMG!
Good Luck Meghan!

Thinking Back

2009-07-13T09:23:00.005-05:00

My mom's brother Nolen and his wife Julia and their kids Pat, Charlene (Bunny), Nolen Jr. (Baby Brother) and Grace (Toots) and my family were very close. My sister and I are seven years apart. So we were not really ever close peers growing up. Although we were close at home, I was mostly fretting about having to let her tag along with me anywhere. These cousins although they were older than me were the kids I grew up with and idolized and considered my older siblings who I wanted to tag along with anywhere.

Pat was the quiet one. Good student, neat and soft spoken. Pat was the role model. Bunny was the wild one. She cut school like crazy, always in some kind of trouble and was the coolest teen on earth to me. There was nothing like Bunny coming by with the latest 45's and Chinese food. She was a party and she had the coolest friends. Baby Brother was actually the only boy among my first cousins other than Paul (Beebee) who lived in Alabama. Nolen Jr. was gorgeous and spoiled and we were all traumatized went he went off to Viet Nam and finally exhaled when he came home in one piece. He was my hero and I wore his dog tags to school and he took me to the Regal theater to see the Motown stars. Toots was kind of a combination between pat and Bunny with the edge toward Bunny. Although she was nearer to my age, I was closer to Bunny. Toots was not as outgoing and a bit harder to know.

Uncle Nolen could do anything. He could build a house from scratch. He could also charm the birds from the trees and would promise you the world and you would laugh and forgive him when he more than likely didn't deliver. Aunt Julia was one of the sweetest women ever. She had her hands full with her kids and always worked hard. She had to because Uncle Nolen's charm did not pay the bills. Aunt Julia was also funny. She had a way of turning her head that made you roar and we still mimic it to this day.

My uncle his wife and all of their children have passed away.

Toots the youngest, was the first to go. She drowned in Wolf Lake along with another guy during a midnight swim. She was about 17 years old.
Aunt Julia had a heart attack, recovered and then died in bed the day before she was to return to work.
Baby Brother came home from Viet Nam only to be shot to death in a Chicago alley.
Pat the quiet one, met the wrong guy and became a heroin addict and prostitute. After her brother died she got clean and came home. She died due to complications from some prescription meds she was on. I never knew exactly what happened.
Uncle Nolen was in Veterans Hospital for high blood pressure when he suddenly died on July 4, 1986.
Bunny the wild one, became the most stable and most dependable of all. Bunny and my cousin Lavern were my closest cousins growing up and after and hold the dearest memories. Bunny died of breast cancer in 1993.

It is weird how something like the Burr Oak cemetery tragedy can bring up so many bittersweet memories. I am grateful for those memories.
Toots, BabyBrother, Pat, and Aunt Julia are all buried in Burr Oak. We must wait and hope that their bodies have not been disturbed so that they and us can rest in peace.

Real Life Horror Tale at Burr Oak

2009-07-10T04:11:00.023-05:00

Ghoul- 1. evil being that robs graves and feeds on corpses. 2. a person who derives pleasure from loathsome acts or things.

No, I'm not about to review a new horror flick. There are real life ghouls living in the Chicago area. These monsters, depraved animals, ghouls, are disguised as people, living and walking among us and they prey on families like mine.

A group of cemetery workers have been arrested for digging up graves, reselling the plots and pocketing the money. Burr Oak Cemetery in Alsip, IL is Chicago's first African American cemetery. It was until the 1970's, one of the only cemeteries where black people could be buried in Chicagoland. Yes, racism follows you after death.
Burr Oak was once the only choice back when black folks couldn't get and couldn't afford insurance. Money was put together by family and friends for burials. Back when it took three hours to get to Burr Oak from Chicago because there were no main roads. I remember the long rides after a funeral to Burr Oaks and then came Lincoln Cemetery, the only other choice for burial for black folks.

Many historical black figures are buried there including young murder victim Emmitt Till, musicians like Dinah Washington and Willie Dixson and many Negro Leagues Baseball players.

The Ghouls

In late May, the owners of Burr Oak Cemetery, who are based in Arizona, contacted detectives in the Financial Crimes Unit of the Cook County Sheriff’s Police after discovering a large discrepancy in their books. Subsequent interviews with other cemetery employees revealed an elaborate scheme that involves the digging up of numerous graves, re-selling those plots and the identification of an unused area of the cemetery where remains have allegedly been dumped. Dumped.

The cemetery’s manager and three gravediggers participated in this scheme, although more people may be charged as the investigation progresses. Gravesites chosen were extremely old and appeared to not have regular visitors. They were then dug up and resold to unsuspecting customers. When preparing the site for a funeral, the gravediggers would dig up the plot, many times breaking the vault or casket. When this occurred, they would remove the remains and dump them in the back area of the cemetery. The funeral would take place, with the deceased being buried on top of what remained. The money paid would be split between the workers involved.

Sheriff Tom Dart said investigators, including dozens of FBI agents, would be at Burr Oak for months sorting through the discarded piles of bones. Not only were remains heaved into a "dump area" at the cemetery, bodies were allegedly double-buried in existing plots, Dart said.

"Literally, they were pounded [down]," he said. "They pounded the other [body] down and put someone on top."

It is now estimated that 200 to 300 bodies were dug up and dumped in the isolated, weedy area of the cemetery. Exposed bones, chunks of concrete and broken coffins litter the hilly, overgrown area about four blocks long, authorities said. There were bodies dumped in the weeds in plain sight. Sherriff Dart said "this was not done with care folks".

To add to this horror these monsters also destroyed all old records before reselling the plots. So, there was additional pain for people who don't remember exactly where their loved ones are buried in the huge cemetery.

They came in droves, generations of families pushing their relatives in wheelchairs, holding them and helping them walk, all while clutching faded obituaries, death certificates and other documents.

A few families brought worn-out family Bibles to Burr Oak so they would have lists of names and dates for their buried relatives.

They scanned tombstones, shouted out names and navigated the bumpy terrain. Some stood weeping in frustration. Others said prayers, held each other, cursed out loud and marched out with nothing. There were tombstones missing and many that had been bought in advance and not used yet. Missing.

Area funeral homes were inundated with calls from frantic families seeking burial records or assurance. A phone line the Cook County sheriff's office set up to take calls was overwhelmed. Alsip officials fielded hundreds of calls and dispatched police to handle traffic near the cemetery in unincorporated Cook County.

The cemetery is shabbily kept despite constant complaints. But, many people continued to bury their dead here because so many generations of their families are already here.

Like many families I quickly pulled out all the old obituaries I had saved through the years and tried to remember where each relative was buried. My sister did the same and there were many calls to cousins and friends. Many of my family back in the day were buried at Lincoln but my three first cousins that I grew up with and their mother and many other cousins are in Burr Oak. We are trying to find out if this horror effected them.
To think of something so disrespectful, so inhumane happening to a loved one is a feeling hard to explain. It's a feeling mixed with anger and emotion, of such betrayal and violation.

"This crime, it's a whole new dimension that shows us what lengths people will go to for financial gain," said State's Atty. Anita Alvarez.
These are not people, these are not humans.

A young woman whose mother died nine years ago says she visited her mother's grave everyday.
As she grew stronger, those trips to Burr Oak grew further apart. Before Thursday, it had been three years since she visited. So when she found her mother's headstone in a different section, leaning against a tree, she was outraged, hurt and disappointed.

"This is just horrific," she said, as she stood with her sister, niece and grandniece. "There is no peace out here. Not today. The dead can't even be safe. It's horrible."

Monica and I would pass Burr Oak going to the nearby Crestwood Mall and always liked the sign on their fence. "Slow Down, drive safely, we don't want you yet."
We noticed the sign was removed a few months ago.

"The idea of grave robbers, in my judgment there should be no bail. ... There should be a special place in hell," Rev. Jesse Jackson said.
Yes, but they need to find their hell right here and right now.

The Devil and Chase Bank?

2009-07-08T09:21:00.002-05:00

Remember the classic story The Devil and Daniel Webster? An unlucky New Hampshire farmer sells his soul for prosperity but doesn't want to pay up when the contract is due. The devil agrees to a trial and the farmer is defended by orator Daniel Webster. That's fiction.

This is real life. People in Latvia are offering their souls as collateral for loans. Reuters News reports that in the European Union nation of Latvia, unemployment is soaring and banks have sharply reduced their lending, meaning that small companies offering easy loans in small amounts have become more popular.
The Kontora loan company in Latvia made a special offer. The borrowers can sign a contract, with the words "Agreement" in bold letters at the top. The client agrees to the collateral, "that is, my immortal soul."

Viktor Mirosiichenko, 34 representing Kontora says it would not employ debt collectors to get its money back if people refused to repay, and promised no physical violence. Signatories only have to give their first name and do not show any documents.

"If they don't give it back, what can you do? They won't have a soul, that's all," he told Reuters in a basement office, with one desk, a computer and three chairs.

Wearing sunglasses, a black suit and a white shirt (fitting outfit for a soul man), he reaches into his pocket and lays out a sheaf of notes on the table to show that the business is serious and not a joke.

Mirosiichenko said his company was basically trusting people to repay the small amounts they borrowed, which has so far been up to 250 lats ($500) for between 1 and 90 days at a hefty interest rate.

He said about 200 people had taken out loans.

So it will be possible that some souless peeps may soon be walking around in Latvia. Does this mean they are zombies or that they can't dance? I hope they have some sharp Daniel Webster type attorneys in Latvia.

Can you imagine a bank like Chase making this offer? Can you imagine anyone taking it here?

Two Second Celebration!

2009-07-08T08:50:00.004-05:00

This happens only once every century so don't miss it.
At 12:34 and 56 seconds this afternoon, the date will officially be--
12:34:56 7-8-9

So let's sync our watches...one-two Yayyyyyyyyyyyy!!!!
That'll be it for another hundred years.

We Had Him

2009-07-08T07:25:00.003-05:00

Queen Latifah delivered Dr. Maya Angelou's tribute for Michael Jackson called "We Had Him":

Beloveds, now we know that we know nothing, now that our bright and shining star can slip away from our fingertips like a puff of summer wind.

Without notice, our dear love can escape our doting embrace. Sing our songs among the stars and walk our dances across the face of the moon.

In the instant that Michael is gone, we know nothing. No clocks can tell time. No oceans can rush our tides with the abrupt absence of our treasure.
Though we are many, each of us is achingly alone, piercingly alone.

Only when we confess our confusion can we remember that he was a gift to us and we did have him.

He came to us from the creator, trailing creativity in abundance.

Despite the anguish, his life was sheathed in mother love, family love, and survived and did more than that.

He thrived with passion and compassion, humor and style. We had him whether we know who he was or did not know, he was ours and we were his.

We had him, beautiful, delighting our eyes.

His hat, aslant over his brow, and took a pose on his toes for all of us.

And we laughed and stomped our feet for him.

We were enchanted with his passion because he held nothing. He gave us all he had been given.

Today in Tokyo, beneath the Eiffel Tower, in Ghana's Black Star Square.

In Johannesburg and Pittsburgh, in Birmingham, Alabama, and Birmingham, England

We are missing Michael.

But we do know we had him, and we are the world.

Memorial Fit for a King

2009-07-07T15:20:00.011-05:00

Michael Jackson's life was celebrated today not only as an entertainer but as man, with remembrances and tributes to his love and generousity. It was beautiful. The Jackson family held a private service at Forest Lawn Cemetary before going to the Staples Center for the public memorial. I was so afraid it would be a spectacle. It was anything but. When the lights went down and a sanctuary backdrop came up it set a somber but certainly not depressing mood. The presence of Michael's casket in the room brought it all home that this was real. The homegoing ceremony was just right. Celebritory with a touch of humor, reflective, touching, comforting and a little defiant.

Rev. Al Sharpton pointed out that when Michael crossed and crashed each barrier to become the worlds brightest star he opened the way for those who followed. I don't know if people realize how the mass appeal of Michael changed everything. MJ broke the magazine cover, MTV, and music charts color barriers with a tremendous impact that allowed other entertainers, models, athletes and even politicians to follow. The Michael Jackson phenomenon opened minds and hearts on a global scale.

From Mariah Carey and Trey Lorenz singing "I'll be There" and Jermaine's "Smile" to Michael's singers and dancers doing "We are the World" joined by his brothers, sisters and children to Marlon (who was my favorite J5)and Michael's daughter Paris who made the final teary remarks, the service celebrated and honored the man and the artist. It was all very beautiful.

Jermaine sings Michael's favorite song "Smile". All the brothers wore one glittered glove.

Final Stage For MJ

2009-07-05T17:36:00.009-05:00

Michael Jackson's funeral will be Tuesday at the Staples Center in Los Angeles. The magnitude of his celebrity does warrent, a public memorial service. But, I can't understand how his family could not have a private service also. How do you mourn and say goodbye to your son, brother, father in a basketball stadium full of strangers. I guess this shouldn't surprise anyone. This man has been on stage all his life. It's where he said he feels loved. I find that sad.
I'm sure it will be a celebration of Michael's life as a musician. But, what about his life as a human being. A troubled man who seemed to have problems with the basics of life, eating and sleeping and even looking in the mirror. Perhaps the Jackson's will say private goodbyes before the huge show on Tuesday. I hope so.

The Stonewall Rebellion/Pride Parades

2009-06-27T13:00:00.017-05:00

There was a time not that very long ago, when any gathering of gay, lesbian, transgender people were subject to police raids. The laws prohibited homosexuality in public which includes any meeting, social event, church service, or even having a drink at a bar. In fact serving alcohol to a GLT person was against the law in many places. So yes, a person could be arrested for having a beer and the establishment closed for serving that beer. This was not a rare thing it was the normal thing. In today's world such a law and attitude seems archaic and stupid and even laughable. But such laws were not only on the books but enforced often with brutality. GLT people had no legal recourse.

GLT people were certainly not welcome in regular restaurant/bar club type social places so they tried to open their own. GLT clubs and bars would open and end up closing down completely usually within a year because of the constant harassment, arrests, and raids by the police. Homophobia in America was sanctioned by law. The attitude that GLT people could be treated with disrespect and brutality became ingrained in Americans. No wonder this nation's closet was so dark and deep.

During the late 1960's several social uprisings were in force. People were marching, marching, marching and protesting. Blacks for civil rights, hippie's against the "establishment", anti-war demonstrations, the feminist movement, all fighting back against injustice. But not gay, lesbian and transgender Americans. It was the last "community" that all Americans, including those fighting for their own rights, could beat up on.

In New York, the Stonewall Inn, a Greenwich Village bar was one of the few places that allowed gays to congregate and even dance at the time. Although it was said to be owned by the mob and the police were paid off, it was habitually raided by New York City police. Until patrons began fighting back on June 28, 1969.

Usually undercover and uniformed police would enter the club, turn on the lights, shut off the music and even confiscate the liquor. The patrons were lined up and some arrested, some let go and sometimes the bar could resume business after the night's raid. But, on this night, as patrons were let go they did not scurry and flee as usual. They waited outside. Some patrons were bold enough to dance around in the face of the police. They were encouraged by the applause from the growing crowd. More police arrived and of course they weren't pleased and were surprised by the crowd. The patrons did not go quietly as usual. A scuffle broke out during the arrests.

That night the street erupted into violent protest as the crowd fought back. As word spread throughout the city about the demonstration, the customers of the Stonewall Inn were soon joined by other gay men and women who started throwing objects at the policemen, shouting "gay power".
Police reinforcements arrived and beat the crowd away, but the next night, the crowd returned, even larger than the night before, with numbers reaching over 1000. For hours, protesters rioted outside the Stonewall Inn until the police sent a riot-control squad to disperse the crowd. For days following, demonstrations of varying intensity took place throughout the city.
Out of this tumult was born a civil rights movement for LGBT -- lesbians, gays, bisexuals and transgender people.

The Stonewall riots inspired LGBT people throughout the country to organize in support of gay rights, and within two years after the riots, gay rights groups had been started in nearly every major city in the United States.

Gay icon Judy Garland died in London on 6-22-1969. Her body was brought to New York City for an elaborate funeral. That was on June 27th. Early in the morning on the next day, the Stonewall riots began and the gay rights movement was started. For many in the gay community, there is a direct link between the high emotions of Garland's death and the police shutting off her music and not allowing them to mourn someone important to them. Someone who respected them. With tensions already high between the gay community and police, perhaps it was the last straw.

On the 1st anniversary of the Stonewall Riots, the first gay pride parades in U.S. history took place in Los Angeles, Chicago, San Francisco, and near the Stonewall Inn in New York.

June 28, 2009 will mark the 40th Anniversary of the Stonewall Riots. Gay Pride Parades will take place in cities all over America. A different America to be sure. Honor will be again paid to the brave patrons of the Stonewall Inn who stood up and fought back. Some turned over police wagons, some formed a kick line and simply refused to run away. That's where it started, both brutal and Fabulous. I'll think of them tomorrow at Chicago's parade and be grateful I don't have to worry about raids or buying a beer. I'll just say thanks and enjoy the fabulous.

Grand Marshal of this year's Chicago Pride parade is my friend actor/singer, teacher and activist, Alexandra Billings. She is the first Transgender person to lead the Chicago Pride parade.
Alex is an excellent choice for this momentous 40th Anniversary of the Stonewall Rebellion. She has been a trail blazer both in her career and in her social activism. And she is truly fabulous!

Michael Jackson 1958-2009

2009-06-25T19:17:00.035-05:00

Michael Jackson is dead. That is a heart aching statement. He was only 50 years old.
For kids and young folks during the 1970's and 1980's, today is a sad day as we lose another pop icon that contributed to our memories.

Michael and my mom shared an August 29 birth date. He and Monica were the same age. Me, Monica, my nephew and my mom and my friend Susie endured seats on a muddy White Sox Park field to see the VICTORY Tour. I could never wear those mud soaked shoes again, but the magic of the special effects and astonishing showmanship of that performance was worth it. It was spectacular. I was lucky enough to have seen the Jackson 5 before at, I believe it was the Chicago Amphitheater. They were all teens then.

After Quincy Jones and MJ teamed-up in the most successful collaboration in music history, for the making of Off the Wall, Thriller, and Bad, there was no doubt that Michael was the biggest star on the planet.

My step-dad was the worlds biggest Michael fan. He read everything MJ and seemed to take a fatherly pride in his accomplishments. I know it disturbed him that Michael had issues with his father. He loved that Michael transcended and surpassed every record and every imaginable barrier.

The Motown 25th Anniversary Special was monumental for MJ and for music. I remember the day of that show, Rick a co-worker, saying Michael was overrated as an entertainer. He came in to work the next day and ate crow. A complete 360.
Michael had introduced the moonwalk during his "Billy Jean" performance which became the biggest hit and video on Thriller. Thriller was not only the largest selling album of all time but each song broke records as a single. Thriller changed everything. Black music was not even played on MTV, until Thriller. It opened all kinds of doors.

Michael was eccentric and isolated and obviously troubled. Yes, his looks and actions became downright weird. We have all known him practically all of his life. We have all watched him change. Now, we may or may not ever know for sure what caused him to alter his face or what caused his demons.
I cried when they put Michael Jackson in handcuffs. Not because he was guilty or innocent but because it hurt that for whatever reason, he had come to that moment.

My sister had Michael's posters on her wall

and years later her son had MJ posters on his wall.

Michael was one of the most important and influential musical figures of the 20th century.
People of all ages have some memories of Michael Jackson's music.

Rest In Peace, little brother. Maybe you can finally go out and play.