Paul Shirley has probably become public enemy No. 1 in Haiti and elsewhere.
Paul Shirley played in the Euroleague in 2008. JEAN FRANCOIS MONIER/AFP
The former NBA player posted a long column online in response to the earthquake disaster in Haiti in which he criticized Haitian citizens and said he won't donate to relief efforts.
"I haven’t donated to the Haitian relief effort for the same reason that I don't give money to homeless men on the street," he wrote. "Based on past experiences, I don't think the guy with the sign that reads 'Need You're Help' is going to do anything constructive with the dollar I might give him. If I use history as my guide, I don't think the people of Haiti will do much with my money either."
And he didn't stop there, even writing a letter to the people of Haiti.
Dear Haitians," he wrote, "First of all, kudos on developing the poorest country in the Western Hemisphere. Your commitment to human rights, infrastructure, and birth control should be applauded.
"As we prepare to assist you in this difficult time, a polite request: If it’s possible, could you not re-build your island home in the image of its predecessor? Could you not resort to the creation of flimsy shanty- and shack-towns? And could some of you maybe use a condom once in a while?"
He also asked what's being done to prevent this tragedy from happening again, using New Orleans after Hurricane Katrina as an example.
"We did the same after Hurricane Katrina," he said. "We were quick to vilify humans who were too slow to respond to the needs of victims, forgetting that the victims had built and maintained a major city below sea level in a known target zone for hurricanes. Our response: Make the same mistake again. Rebuild a doomed city, putting aside logic as we did."
Shirley has been dropped as a freelance writer for ESPN for his comments on Haiti.
“In Christ’s family there can be no division into Jew and non-Jew, slave and free, male and female.Among us you are all equal.That is, we are all in a common relationship with Jesus Christ.Also, since you are Christ’s family, then you are Abraham’s famous ‘descendant,’ heirs according to the covenant promises.” – Galatians 3:28-29 (The Message)
Nearly 47 years ago on August 28, 1963, Dr. Martin Luther King spoke the following historic words from the steps of the Lincoln Memorial: “I have a dream my four little children will one day live in a nation where they will not be judged by the color of their skin but by the content of their character.I have a dream today!”Dr. King finished that landmark speech with a climax resounding with both challenge and hope even today: “And when we allow freedom to ring, when we let it ring from every village and hamlet, from every state and city, we will be able to speed up that day when all of God’s children – black men and white men, Jews and Gentiles, Protestants and Catholics – will be able to join hands and to sing in the words of the old Negro spiritual, ‘Free at last, free at last; thank God Almighty, we are free at last’.”
Earlier this month I had the distinct honor and privilege to be part of the worship leadership team at a conference of American Baptist Churches (ABC) pastors, ministers and seminarians.In every service, worship music consisted of compositions from multiple cultures, sung in English, Spanish, Portuguese and Swahili.Each night as I looked out at the distinguished attendees in the audience, I saw White, Black, Hispanic and Asian Christians of all ages singing, swaying, clapping or lifting their hands and praising God together in joyous, exultant voices – on one accord, united in the Holy Spirit.I thank God – along with ABC and conference organizer, Brad Berglund - for affording me such an unforgettable opportunity.Without question, it was one of the most diverse, inspiring and enriching spiritual experiences of my life – absolutely awesome and ineffably beautiful.
As I beheld that rainbow of the faithful, I had an epiphany … surely this must be what worship will be like in heaven.Indeed, I thought (more than once), Dr. King must be looking down and smiling.His dream had come true!
Yet, the stark reality is, the overwhelming majority of conference participants (myself included) returned to churches which are largely a single culture with a one-cultural worship style. Why?Why is Sunday morning at 11:00am still the most segregated hour in America?Why aren’t we free at last?Does the bell of freedom no longer ring?Is the dream deferred?
A culturally homogenous church was an issue even in the apostle Paul’s day.He writes our text to admonish believers in Galatia – an ancient country located in parts of modern-day Turkey and Syria – to resist the false doctrine of Judaizers.The Judaizers were a band of divisive Christians of Jewish descent, who stirred up disunity among the followers of Jesus.They insisted that certain practices and rituals outlined by Hebrew law – circumcision among others - be observed by Gentile converts.The entire letter to the Galatians in general, and our text specifically is Saint Paul’s rebuke of the Judaizers.It is also his exhortation to build the Galatian church on the Godly principles of equality, diversity, inclusion and Christian love for all.
Regrettably, the church’s task remains much the same today as it was in the first century and in 1963.Today’s church must amend its ways to include all our brothers and sisters of all races, all colors, all ages, all genders and all abilities from all nations; joining them together in praise and worship to the Creator of all humankind.And our worship style must be transformed, reinvented and reconstructed, so that it mirrors the diversity of that soon-to-be rainbow assembly.
Let me be perfectly clear.There is absolutely nothing wrong with any church reflecting its cultural or ethnic heritage.Nor is there any misdeed in proudly infusing said heritage into its worship structure.Without a doubt, every church must make choices that serve the best interests of its members.Nevertheless, it behooves every Christian church to take steps to ensure those interests embrace diversity and multi-culturalism.The words of Christ are abundantly clear on this: “I am the good shepherd; I know my own and my own know me, as the Father knows me and I know the Father; and I lay down my life for the sheep.And I have other sheep, that are not of this fold; I must bring them also, and they will heed my voice.So there shallbe one flock, one shepherd.” – John 10: 14-16 (RSV)
Doubtless, Jesus’ charge to continue his work – loving and caring for one flock - is not easy.Neither will it happen overnight.But we all must do our part – individually and collectively – to make it so.It requires commitment and work from each and every believer to move us from status quo to ecstatic equality.We must strive (as ABC has) to bring all God’s earthbound sheep together as one, to praise and worship the One loving Shepherd of all.What will YOU do to enable the dream?
Larry W. King is a graduate of the University of Cincinnati College-Conservatory of Music (Magna cum Laude) and heads the Denver-based music group, Kingdom Kru.He’s a founding Board member of Faith Community Baptist Church - Rev. Douglas and Rev. Katherine Farley, co-pastors - and is active in Prison Ministry.
Judge not, that ye be not judged. For with what judgment ye judge, ye shall be judged: and with what measure ye mete, it shall be measured to you again. And why beholdest thou the mote that is in thy brother’s eye, but considerest not the beam that is in thine own eye?
Matthew 7:1-3
Pat Robertson: Haiti 'Cursed' By 'Pact To The Devil'
Huffington Post | Danny Shea First Posted: 01-13-10 02:45 PM | Updated: 01-14-10 01:11 AM
Televangelist Pat Robertson said Wednesday that earthquake-ravaged Haiti has been "cursed" by a "pact to the devil."
"Something happened a long time ago in Haiti, and people might not want to talk about it," he said on Christian Broadcasting Network's "The 700 Club." "They were under the heel of the French. You know, Napoleon III, or whatever. And they got together and swore a pact to the devil. They said, we will serve you if you'll get us free from the French. True story. And so, the devil said, okay it's a deal."
Robertson said that "ever since, they have been cursed by one thing after the other" and he contrasted Haiti with its neighbor, the Dominican Republic.
"That island of Hispaniola is one island. It is cut down the middle; on the one side is Haiti on the other is the Dominican Republic," he said. "Dominican Republic is prosperous, healthy, full of resorts, etc. Haiti is in desperate poverty. Same island. They need to have and we need to pray for them a great turning to god and out of this tragedy I'm optimistic something good may come. But right now we are helping the suffering people and the suffering is unimaginable."
Never letting one to get useless facts in the way of good rhetoric, Robertson’s statements conveniently ignore the fact that, like that 80 percent of Haitians identify themselves as Roman Catholics, with Protestants representing a distant second place with 16 percent. But, you know, voodoo is spooky, and even if one person practicing it means that the whole country has gotta go. God had some Old Testament wrathin’ to do, apparently.
Later that evening, Raymond Joseph, Haitian Ambassador to the U.S., began his appearance on MSNBC's Rachel Maddow Show by shaming Robertson and pointing out that Haiti's freedom led to freedom across Latin America. And they weren't they only beneficiaries from those historic events. "The U.S. was able to gain the Louisianna Territory for $15 million," Joseph added. "That's three cents an acre. That's 13 states west of the Mississippi that the Haitian slaves' revolt in Haiti provided America."
Haitian descendants are supposed to pay for the alleged "sins" of their ancestors - but the descendant's of slave owing families are completely innocent...
With all due respect, materialism is the "Devil". The soul identifying itself with matter becomes the earthbound ego, singly in need of acquiring things to give it purpose.
Give everything you covet away, free yourself to follow Me, said Jesus. Walk away from your family, your friends and follow Me he said.
The Devil is in possession of men like you, for you have placed judgment ahead of mercy, and offer up damnation rather then Love.
Comment from The Huffington Post
Back in 1994, during the infamous Rwandan genocide, Robertson used his 700 Club's daily cable operation to appeal to the American public for donations to fly humanitarian supplies into Zaire to save the Rwandan refugees. The planes purchased by Operation Blessing did a lot more than ferry relief supplies.
An investigation conducted by the Virginia attorney general's office concluded in 1999 that the planes were mostly used to transport mining equipment for a diamond operation run by a for-profit company called African Development Corp. And who do you think was the principal executive and sole shareholder of the mining company? You guessed it, Pat Robertson himself.
Robertson had landed the mining concession from his longtime friend Mobutu Sese Seko, then the dictator of Zaire. Investigators concluded that Operation Blessing "willfully induced contributions from the public through the use of misleading statements ..."
After the investigation began, Robertson placated state regulators by personally reimbursing his own charity $400,000 and by agreeing to tighten its bookkeeping methods. Separating Operation Blessing from Robertson's many politically oriented endeavors is not that easy, however. The biggest single U.S. recipient of the charity's largess, according to its latest financial report, was Robertson's Christian Broadcasting Network. It received $885,000 in the fiscal year ended March 2004. Robertson uses that Christian network for some markedly unchristian purposes. A few years back, he repeatedly defended Charles Taylor, the former brutal dictator of Liberia who is under indictment by a UN tribunal for war crimes. As with Mobutu in the Congo, Robertson had a personal stake in the matter: He had millions invested in a Liberian gold mine, thanks to Taylor, according to press reports.
Robertson recently ignited a media firestorm when he called for the assassination of Venezuelan president Hugo Chávez during a broadcast of The 700 Club. He has also blamed the 9/11 attacks on America's tolerance of abortion and homosexuality and declared the Supreme Court a greater threat to the United States than Al Qaeda. Robertson assiduously cultivates his celebrity with remarks like these, casting himself as a divisive bigot to his foes and a righteous prophet to his allies in Christian right circles. But there is much more to Robertson than the headline-grabbing hothead he plays on TV.
Far from the media's gaze, Robertson has used the tax-exempt, nonprofit Operation Blessing as a front for his shadowy financial schemes, while exerting his influence within the GOP to cover his tracks. In 1994 he made an emotional plea on The 700 Club for cash donations to Operation Blessing to support airlifts of refugees from the Rwandan civil war to Zaire (now Congo). Reporter Bill Sizemore of The Virginian Pilot later discovered that Operation Blessing's planes were transporting diamond-mining equipment for the African Development Corporation, a Robertson-owned venture initiated with the cooperation of Zaire's then-dictator Mobutu Sese Seko.
After a lengthy investigation, Virginia's Office of Consumer Affairs determined that Robertson "willfully induced contributions from the public through the use of misleading statements and other implications." Yet when the office called for legal action against Robertson in 1999, Virginia Attorney General Mark Earley, a Republican, intervened with his own report, agreeing that Robertson had made deceptive appeals but overruling the recommendation for his prosecution. Two years earlier, while Virginia's investigation was gathering steam, Robertson donated $35,000 to Earley's campaign--Earley's largest contribution. With Earley's report came a sense of vindication. "From the very beginning," Robertson claimed, "we were trying to provide help and assistance to those who were facing disease and death in the war-torn, chaotic nation of Zaire."
Absolved of his sins, Robertson dug his heels back in African soil. In 1999 he signed an $8 million agreement with Liberian tyrant Charles Taylor that guaranteed Robertson's Freedom Gold Ltd.--an offshore company registered to the same address as his Christian Broadcasting Network--mining rights in Liberia, and gave Taylor a 10 percent stake in the company. When the United States intervened in Liberia in 2003, forcing Taylor and the Al Qaeda operatives he was harboring to flee, Robertson accused President Bush of "undermining a Christian, Baptist president to bring in Muslim rebels to take over the country."
Robertson's scheming hasn't abated one bit. He is accused of violating his ministry's tax-exempt, nonprofit status by using it to market a diet shake he licensed this August to the health chain General Nutrition Corp. (Robertson continues to advertise the shake on his personal website.) He has withstood criticism from fellow evangelicals for investing $520,000 in a racehorse named Mr. Pat, violating biblical admonitions against gambling. He was even accused of "Jim Crow-style racial discrimination" by black employees who successfully sued his Christian Coalition in 2001 for forcing them enter its offices through a back door and eat in a segregated area (Robertson has since resigned).
Jean Jacques Dessalines, leader of the Haitian Revolution and the first ruler of an independent Haiti.
The French Revolution contributed to social upheavals in Saint-Domingue and the French and West Indies. Most important was the revolution of the slaves in Saint-Domingue, starting on the northern plains in 1791. In 1792 the French government sent three commissioners with troops to try to reestablish control. They began to build an alliance with gens de couleur, who were looking for their rights. In 1793, France and Great Britain went to war, and British troops invaded Saint-Domingue. The execution of Louis XVI heightened tensions in the colony. To build an alliance with the gens de couleur and slaves, the French commissioners Sonthonax and Polverel abolished slavery in the colony. Six months later, the National Convention led by the Jacobins endorsed abolition and extended it to all of the French colonies.[11]
Toussaint L'Ouverture, a former slave and leader in the slave revolt who rose in importance as a military commander because of his many skills, achieved peace in Saint-Domingue after years of war against both external invaders and internal dissension. He had established a disciplined, flexible army and drove out both the Spaniards and the British invaders who threatened the colony. He restored stability and prosperity by daring measures, including inviting the return of planters and insisting that freed men work on plantations to renew revenues for the island. He also renewed trading ties with Great Britain and the United States. The United States played a duplicitous role, supplying both the French and the rebels.[12]
Independence
The French government changed and the legislature began to rethink its decisions on slavery in the colonies. After Toussaint L'ouverture created a separatist constitution, Napoleon Bonaparte sent an expedition of 20,000 men under the command of his brother-in-law, General Charles Leclerc, to retake the island. Leclerc's mission was to oust L'ouverture and restore slavery. The French achieved some victories, but within a few months, yellow fever had killed most of the French soldiers.[13] Leclerc invited Toussaint L'ouverture to a parley, kidnapped him and sent him to France, where he was imprisoned at Fort de Joux. He died there in 1803 of exposure and tuberculosis[10] or malnutrition and pneumonia. In its attempt to retake the colony, France had lost more than 50,000 soldiers, including 18 generals.[14]
3. Sometimes ironic expressing profound thoughts or feelings soulful music
Happy Holidays everyone! I'm hoping to see you all Dec. 26th for two shows of
Vocal Jazz, Funk, and R&B at Jazzmatazz Lounge, Denver's newest and hottest
venue for your Jazz, R&B, and Neo Soul appetite.
Page Fraley and the Soulfonix invite you to eat drink and be merry while enjoying the sounds from some of the best musicians in the area.
Jazzmatazz is a very laid back cocktail bar uptown on 17th Ave. It's style is casual, with good food provided by Limon next door, and good music featuring some of Denver's finest jazz musicians.
There is no better place to sit back and enjoy the music on a chilly December evening.
“When someone has been given much, much will be required in return; and when someone has been entrusted with much, even more will be required.” – Luke 12:48b (New Living Translation)
Jesus had been speaking to both the relentless horde which had gathered around Him and to the disciples in a series of parables.The twelfth chapter of Luke is replete with timeless insight from our Lord.I urge you to digest it wholly and receive the full benefit of its valuable instruction, to which you are entitled.Countless commentaries, bible studies, hymns and song lyrics (“His Eye Is On The Sparrow” and “Seek Ye First The Kingdom of God” to name two) have come from this chapter – further testament to its priceless content.
However, because Jesus instructs on multiple levels, the passage of scripture surrounding our text is sometimes misunderstood.First, one can readily get confused about exactly to whom Christ is speaking – the disciples, the crowd or (indirectly) the Pharisees?Second, why does Jesus issue such stern warnings to everyone present?And exactly what is the real meaning behind all the parables?Biblical scholars and theologians have written volumes on this chapter alone.So the Clarion is simply not a fit forum for extensive exploration.Nevertheless, cherished reader, I do wish to focus upon a scant few verses of this rich chapter for your edification.
Just prior to the passage cited, Jesus relates the following parable: “… A faithful, sensible servant is one to whom the master can give the responsibility of managing his other household servants and feeding them.If the master returns and finds that the servant has done a good job, there will be a reward.I tell you the truth, the master will put that servant in charge of all he owns.But what if the servant thinks ‘my master won’t be back for a while’, and he begins beating the other servants, partying and getting drunk?The master will return unannounced and unexpected, and he will cut the servant in pieces and banish him with the unfaithful.And a servant who knows what the master wants, but isn’t prepared and doesn’t carry out those instructions, will be severely punished.But someone who does not know, and then does something wrong, will be punished only lightly.” – Luke 12:42-48a (NLT).At this point, our Lord utters the enduring words of our text.
I have three (3) brief points.They are these:
1)All believers are given gifts or abilities by the Holy Spirit.The apostle Paul writes to the Greek church at Corinth, “And there are distinctive varieties of service and ministration, but it is the same Lord [Who is served].And there are distinctive varieties of operation [of working to accomplish things], but it is the same God Who inspires and energizes them all in all.But to each one is given the manifestation of the [Holy] Spirit [the evidence, the spiritual illumination of the Spirit] for good and profit” – I Corinthians 4:5-7 (AMP).In short, God – through the catalyst of the Holy Spirit – fuels every believer with unique creativity, personality traits and (physical, mental or Spiritual) skills, to get His business done.
2)Our gifts are intended to encourage, uplift and help others.Again, Saint Paul writes to the young church at Rome, “We then that are strong ought to bear the infirmities of the weak, and not to please ourselves” – Romans 15:1 (KJV).No matter how much ego gratification we may get from them, our gifts are not for us!They’re for the benefit of anyone on the receiving end of our various ministries.If the gift is singing or playing music, the blessing goes to the hearer; if preaching, the congregation is blessed; if feeding or clothing the hungry and destitute, the starving and homeless are blessed; and so on with every gift of the Spirit.Devotional writer Bob Gass asserts, “The Holy Spirit wants to produce fruit in you so that others can feed off you and be nourished.”Don’t get it twisted.Spiritual gifting is not about me … and it’s not about YOU, either.
3)Every gift carries with it responsibility AND accountability.On the wall of my basement studio I have a framed poster of Stevie Wonder – one of my musical heroes, along with King David the Psalmist, Stravinsky, Miles Davis (for whom my son, Myles is named) and Fred Hammond - and the caption reads “We all have ability.The difference is how we use it.“It’s an inspiring quote for me, and it echoes the meaning of the words of Christ in today’s text.
Regarding the servant who knew his Master’s will, yet was intentionally slothful, Christ was crystal clear.That servant would be severely punished.And he contrasted him with the servant who was merely ignorant, receiving a mild chastisement.Yet even he would still be punished!Our Lord’s salient point was about accountability.And His message to 21st-century Christians is this: We all have ability.That is God’s gift. Assuredly, we shall be held accountable for whether or not we use our ability, and for how we use it.Because the reason for said ability is to serve others and to accomplish God’s divine will on earth.Hear well Jesus’ own words: “Verily I say unto you, Inasmuch as ye have done it [fed the poor, clothed the naked and visited the sick or imprisoned … in short, served by using your gifts] unto one of the least of these my brethren, ye have done it unto me!” – Matthew 25:40 (KJV) [my editorialization].
We find the word ability within accountability.Are you accountable for the ability found within you?
Larry W. King is a graduate of the University of Cincinnati College-Conservatory of Music (Magna cum Laude) and heads the Denver-based music group, Kingdom Kru.He serves as Minister of Music at Faith Community Baptist Church under the leadership of co-pastors Rev. Douglas and Katherine Farley.
“To those who listen to my teaching, more understanding will be given, and they will have an abundance of knowledge.But for those who are not listening, even what little understanding they have will be taken away from them.” – Matthew 13:12 (New Living Translation)
Today’s text is an excerpt from Jesus’ reply to the disciples who’d asked Him why He’d spoken to the masses in parables.Our Lord’s response was an elaboration upon what He’d told the multitudes in the historic sermon on the mount: “Don’t waste what is holy on people who are unholy.Don’t throw your pearls to pigs!They will trample the pearls, then turn and attack you” – Matthew 7:6 (NLT).
In other words, not everybody can accept the Holy Scripture.Moreover, there are those who don’t want to hear it, and even those who will attack YOU for attempting to give it to them.In short, anyone who follows the way of the cross must always exercise sound judgment.We must employ the gift of discernment and teach only those who are genuinely willing and ready for Spiritual enlightenment or revelation.Those who hunger for the Word will not only hear but understand, and your efforts will bear much fruit.
Wisdom, the proper and judicious application of knowledge, is one of the believer’s greatest assets.Webster’s New World Dictionary publishes the principal definition of wisdom as “the quality of being wise; power of judging rightly and following the soundest course of action, based on knowledge, experience, understanding, etc.; good judgment; sagacity.”
My dear late mother, Mrs. Imogene King, often advised me, “ … son, submit EVERYTHING you say to three questions: Is it true?Is it necessary? Is it kind?”
As I’ve grown older, I’ve come to recognize just how much wisdom she enveloped in that brief but sage advice.My experience is, it’s easy to say, but extremely hard to do.Most of us can get past the first question.Certainly, if you’re lying, then you’re already on shaky moral ground – not good.But many of us fail the second test.Because, if what you’re about to say is true but unnecessary, then watch out - it just might be gossip, that insidious assassin of reputations and friendships!And the third question is the toughest.If it’s true and necessary but unkind, then we Christians must mentally rethink and find a more loving way of expressing that requisite truth.Surely not easy for yours truly, as I am a graduate student in the “ready, FIRE, aim” school of verbal marksmanship!;>)To underscore the point, in James’ epistle we find these cogent words, “… if any one makes no mistakes in what he says, he is a perfect man …” – James 3:2b (RSV).
Perhaps Solomon expressed it best: “Wisdom is the principal thing; therefore get wisdom: and with all thy getting get understanding” – Proverbs 4:7 (KJV).Wisdom, of course, first depends upon the intentional pursuit and acquisition of knowledge.But it’s more than pure intelligence or scholarship.It requires reasoning.Wisdom refracts the white light of knowledge through the transforming prism of experience, to yield brilliant multi-hued prudence.As such, it is surpassed only by selfless love and humble integrity in the hierarchy of Christian virtues.Doubtless, it is a critical component of righteous character.
As the ultimate source of Spiritual knowledge, the Bible is an unfathomably depthless ocean, an unparalleled treasure trove, an unsurpassed mother lode of priceless, pure, pragmatic platinum.Therefore, for believers Bible study is essential.It’s not optional, elective or preferable.It’s mandatory.Bible study supplies the knowledge upon which wisdom is built.Wisdom combined with character produces vision.Hear the shining insight of Solomon: “Where there is no vision [no redemptive revelation of God], the people perish …” – Proverbs 29:18a (AMP).
Without vision – God’s redeeming revelation, given to us directly through His Word and Sacraments – we perish.For lack of knowledge, wisdom and vision, originating only in diligent study of the Bible, we DIE – first Spiritually, then physically.Conversely, the life-sustaining blood of every believer’s Spiritual walk is our understanding of the Scripture.The Psalmist boldly sings: “Thy word have I hid in mine heart, that I might not sin against thee.Blessed art thou, O LORD: teach me thy statutes” – Psalm 119:11-12 (KJV).
In sum, abundant life depends upon abundant knowledge.May both be yours now, henceforth and forever!
Larry W. King is a graduate of the University of Cincinnati College-Conservatory of Music (Magna cum Laude) and heads the Denver-based music group, Kingdom Kru.He serves as Minister of Music at Faith Community Baptist Church under the leadership of co-pastors Rev. Douglas and Katherine Farley.
A few weeks ago after attending a Denver Broncos pre-season game I roasted Kyle Orton here on the blog. Because on that day he looked like a PAL league player that got thrown into the pro ball mix. Well today, October 12th 2009 I am ordering my crow well done with some greens and red beans and rice on the side.
Now I still stand by my comments on Orton not being able to connect on the long bomb, but Josh McDaniels has the team playing in such a way that Orton doesn't have to make that play, and can't possibly go wrong unless he just goes out there and gives up.
His offensive line gives him time to throw the ball. Correll Buckhalter and Knowshon Moreno give him a running game that must be paid attention to, and of course the defense that really gets it on. But more importantly his receivers are holding on to the ball and making good runs after the catch.
Down 7 points with 9 minutes left in the fourth quarter Orton led his team on a 98 yard scoring drive that tied the game. After the start of overtime with the Broncos getting the toss, they never gave New England a chance to get the ball. With a field goal by Matt Prater the Broncos moved their record to 5 and 0 for the season.
Being a lifetime Broncos fan I have to admit I liked what I saw yesterday. But I'm not going to jump off the end of the world proclaiming these guys as the best yet.
A lucky play to beat the Bengals. Two practice games with Cleveland, and Oakland. A win over Tony Romo that after seeing them play KC yesterday shows me that the Cowboys have a few problems. And finally against the Pats that for some reason can't seem to find a way to beat the Broncos. I believe Tom Brady has only beaten Denver once in his career.
For all the success Patriots coach Bill Belichick and quarterback Tom Brady have had since 2001, the Broncos have their number. The Broncos are the only team that owns a winning record over the Patriots since 2001 (6-2, including the playoffs) and they’re also the only team Brady has a losing record against; yesterday’s loss dropped No. 12 to 1-6 against Denver......Boston.com
But seeing that we meet the Chargers next week, this game will be the telling point for me. The Chargers have beaten us up pretty bad in the last few years. They could be 0 and 10 but they always seem to turn it way up when they meet the Broncos. This should be a great game.
But last and certainly not least is Josh McDaniels. Mike Shanahan who? It was great to see coach just as happy and emotional as his players. This kid after all does seem to be the real thing. And maybe thats the reason his players are getting his game plan. A kid out there playing with other kids. What a concept.
“The earnest prayer of a righteous person has great power and produces wonderful results.” – James 5:16 (New Living Translation)
The general epistle of James is among my favorite books in the New Testament. James’ writing style is direct and economical.Yet he never minces words.Indeed, in five short chapters, he consistently drops anvils on the collective heads of the faithful when it comes to proper Christian behavior and conduct.His book covers faith, good works, controlling one’s speech (i.e. “the tongue”), and temptation’s origin in our sinful nature - which causes most of us to struggle from time-to-time.Finally, he closes his letter with a powerful discussion of prayer.
The context surrounding today’s text, deals specifically with healing prayer given by the elders of the church, confessing our sins to fellow believers and with Christians praying for one another.I will dedicate a future Clarion to that most fertile passage of scripture.In the meantime, however, here are some general thoughts on prayer for your consideration:
1)At its very essence, prayer is a private, candid conversation between you and God.Jesus told the disciples, “but when you pray, go into your room, close the door and pray to your Father, who is unseen.Then your Father, who sees what is done in secret, will reward you … for your Father knows what you need before you ask him” – Matthew 6:6,8b (NIV).Most earthly fathers have a pretty good idea of their childrens’ needs.How much more so does our heavenly Father?It’s surely not about letting God know what you need.He already knows.Certainly, too many of us are guilty of talking to God only during serious personal troubles or crises.Yet more than anything else, our Lord simply wants to hear from us, anytime.So, talk to Him – early and often – and listen for the candid reply.When it comes to our prayers, God is open like 7-11… 24/7!
2)Believers must pray constantly.The apostle Paul admonishes the church at Thessalonica: “Be happy [in your faith] and rejoice and be glad-hearted continually (always); Be unceasing in prayer [praying perseveringly]; Thank [God] in everything [no matter what the circumstances may be, be thankful and give thanks], for this is the will of God for you [who are] in Christ Jesus [the Revealer and Mediator of that will]” – I Thessalonians 5:16-18 (AMP).Does Paul mean constantly stay on your knees with eyes closed and head bowed?Absolutely not!That would make one’s drive to work quite perilous, indeed.But what he does mean is, in the back of your mind (your subconscious), you can be steadfastly meditating on the Lord.Your mental iPod can be repeating, “Thank You, Jesus”, “Lord, You are so good to me”, “I am enveloped by Your everlasting peace”, “Father, protect me from all harm”, etc.That kind of mental focus and concentration on the Supreme will make a remarkable difference in your attitude and your behavior.
3)The Holy Spirit prays for us when we don’t know how.God loves us so much that He lives inside every believer.The Holy Spirit – the comforter, counselor and conscience - is our lifeline to the Creator.As such, even when we don’t know how to pray or what to pray for, His Spirit comes to our rescue.Paul makes this clear in his letter to the 1st-century church at Rome: “in the same way, the Spirit helps us in our weakness.We do not know what we ought to pray for, but the Spirit himself intercedes for us with groans that words cannot express … because the Spirit intercedes for the saints in accordance with God’s will” – Romans 8:26, 27b (NIV).So, everyone who confesses Jesus Christ as Lord and savior has a built-in prayer partner – the Holy Ghost, who knows God’s perfect will.What an unfathomable assurance.When we truly pray in the Spirit, the adversary doesn’t have a “ghost” of a chance!
4)Prayer is the catalyst which energizes our spiritual armor.In the book of Ephesians, Paul instructs us to “put on the full armor of God, so that when the day of evil comes, you may be able to stand your ground …” – Ephesians 6:13 (NIV).He goes on to outline our entire spiritual arsenal from head to toe – the helmet of salvation, the breastplate of righteousness, the belt of truth, the footwear of the gospel of peace, the shield of faith and the sword of the Spirit, which is the Word of God.However, note well Paul’s final word on the matter: “and pray in the Spirit on all occasions with all kinds of prayers and requests.With this in mind, be alert and always keep on praying for all the saints” – Ephesians 6:18 (NIV).Prayer is the awesome force which gives courage and vitality to the armor-clad Spiritual warrior.As someone once said, “it’s not the size of the dog in the fight, but the size of the fight in the dog.”
The final words in James’ epistle are these: “my dear brothers and sisters, if someone among you wanders away from the truth and is brought back, you can be sure that whoever brings the sinner back will save that person from death and bring about the forgiveness of many sins” – James 5:19-20 (NLT).
Dear reader, know beyond any shadow of doubt that nobody is reconciled to the God, forgiven of sin, saved from death – or any other wonderful result - except by … the power of prayer!
Larry W. King is a graduate of the University of Cincinnati College-Conservatory of Music (Magna cum Laude) and heads the Denver-based music group, Kingdom Kru.He serves as Minister of Music at Faith Community Baptist Church under the leadership of co-pastors Rev. Douglas and Katherine Farley.
Who is Wiley Drake? A former vice-president of the Southern Baptist Convention and the pastor of a church in Buena Vista, California. Following the murder of Dr. Tiller this alleged “Christian” had this spew out of his mouth:
"I am glad George Tiller is dead," Wiley Drake said on his Crusade Radio program June 1. Drake, called Tiller "a brutal, murdering monster" and said he is "grateful to God" that the physician is no longer around.
"There may be a lot who would say, 'Oh that is mean. You shouldn't be that way,'" Drake said. "Well, no, it's an answer to prayer."
The type of prayer Drake is referring to is what he calls “imprecatory” defined as praying for evil or misfortune to come to someone, in other words, a curse.
Asked if there are others for whom Drake is praying "imprecatory prayer," Drake hesitated before answering that there are several. "The usurper that is in the White House is one, B. Hussein Obama," he said.
Later in the interview, Colmes returned to Drake's answer to make sure he heard him right.
"Are you praying for his death?" Colmes asked.
"Yes," Drake replied.
"So you're praying for the death of the president of the United States?"
"Yes."
"You would like for the president of the United States to die?" Colmes asked once more.
"If he does not turn to God and does not turn his life around, I am asking God to enforce imprecatory prayers that are throughout the Scripture that would cause him death, that's correct."
I’ll make you a wager. I’ll bet you won’t hear Hannity and Limbaugh play this in an endless loop like they did the statements of Reverend Wright. Any takers?
“All Scripture is God-breathed and is useful for teaching, rebuking, correcting and training in righteousness, so that the man of God may be thoroughly equipped for every good work.” – II Timothy 3:16-17 (NIV)
Timothy was a protégé of the Apostle Paul and his hand-picked favorite to carry on his foundational ministry – establishing and building up the early Christian church throughout Europe and Asia Minor.Timothy was trained and ordained by Paul and served as the Bishop of Ephesus for some 15 years.In his letters to Timothy, Paul addresses him as “my own son in the faith” and “my dearly beloved son”.Like every good father, Paul gives Timothy wise counsel and sage advice for the difficult road ahead.And the road was difficult indeed. History records that Timothy was stoned to death by an angry mob, as he attempted to block a parade of pagan idols through the streets of Ephesus.Timothy’s martyrdom underscores the extent to which he was ‘sold out’ to the Lord.“Greater love hath no man than this, that a man lay down his life for his friends” – John 15:13 (KJV).Are we equally committed?
The epistles to Timothy are primers on exemplary Christian conduct and a Spiritually-enlightened lifestyle.Foreseeing Timothy’s future as a church leader, Paul gives explicit details on the proper behavior for bishops, priests, deacons and laity.Both letters are relatively short – just six and four chapters, respectively – so I encourage you, dear reader, to take the time to absorb them in their entirety.I guarantee you’ll NOT be disappointed.As he writes to Timothy, Paul hits us 21st-century believers “right between the eyes” with his unique brand of priceless, yet practical prose.Here are three of Paul’s noteworthy points for your consideration:
1)Regardless of age, live in constant integrity.Paul writes, “Don’t let anyone think less of you because you are young.Be an example to all believers in what you say, in the way you live, in your love, your faith and your purity.Stay true to what is right for the sake of your own salvation and the salvation of those who hear you” – I Timothy 4:12, 16b (NLT).The 1st-century Christians of Ephesus were watching young Timothy, and your family, friends and colleagues are watching YOU.As the old adage goes, ‘actions speak louder than words’.What are YOUR actions saying about you?
2)Work diligently to be knowledgeable regarding God’s Word.Hear well the wise Apostle’s exhortation to Timothy: “Study and be eager and do your utmost to present yourself to God approved (tested by trial), a workman who has no cause to be ashamed, correctly analyzing and accurately dividing [rightly handling and skillfully teaching] the Word of Truth” – II Timothy 2:15 (AMP).Diligence (i.e. DAILY determination) is certainly a key factor here.We must be constantly hungry for the Word!Have you have taken a “less-than-eager” approach to truly studying the Bible?Who in your circle may depend on your proper understanding and explanation of scripture?Whose blessing or illumination just might be blocked, simply because of your sloth?As we honestly evaluate and examine ourselves, are we not found – at least occasionally – lacking?Need I say more?
3)Preach His Word powerfully – at all times.Paul minces no words with Timothy.“Herald and preach the Word!Keep your sense of urgency [stand by, be at hand and ready], whether the opportunity seems to be favorable or unfavorable.[Whether it is convenient or inconvenient, whether it is welcome or unwelcome, you as preacher of the Word are to show people in what way their lives are wrong.]And convince them, rebuking and correcting, warning and urging and encouraging them, being unflagging and inexhaustible in patience and teaching” – II Timothy 4:2 (AMP).
OK.I hear you saying, Larry, most of us are NOT called to preach.Neither are we church-founding Apostles, like Paul, nor martyred Bishops, like Timothy.Cherished reader, I understand that and I couldn’t agree more.I am no more a Saint Paul or Timothy than the man in the moon!However, as followers of The Way, our LIVES – that is, our conversation, our actions and even our thoughts – ARE our sermon.Know beyond all doubt that – once you have decided to walk in the pathway blazed by our Lord, Jesus Christ – folks are watching.They’re watching, and listening, and taking notes … on everything you do.
Thus, the only way we have any hope of living a life which preaches to others is to be FILLED UP with the Holy Spirit and the Word of God.Like Paul’s words from our text, my prayer for you is that - when it comes to studying and understanding the Bible – you get fully equipped!
Larry W. King is a graduate of the University of Cincinnati College-Conservatory of Music (Magna cum Laude) and heads the Denver-based music group, Kingdom Kru.He serves as Minister of Music at Faith Community Baptist Church under the leadership of co-pastors Rev. Douglas and Katherine Farley.
It's a new rant this morning ya'll. The truth on the discrimination of women is hitting the fan at full force. I think in the past what we've felt is the worst action towards women is that they don't get paid the same wages for the same job as men. But after reading a bit more on the subject, I've found that presently, insurance companies, and health providers have been treating our women like South Carolina slaves. I couldn't believe some of the health problems that could be deemed uninsurable by their health insurance companies. Already knowing that insurance companies would not take a pregnant woman since she would have a preexisting condition, I found the problem even more disturbing after reading it was the same for Acne and Asthma. I decided to check out more information on the subject, and what I found was something that made me go ."HUM"!
I took a few days off to get away from the computer. But I have been paying attention to the healthcare battle with an eagle eye. The latest episode of this drama to catch my attention is the number of women I see in these protest media clips. Obviously they don't know about this information either. Which is a damned shame. If the insurance companies are discriminating against you, why the hell are you out there on street corners proclaiming that Obama wants to take your freedom by trying to reform health care? What the hell has a poster depicting Barack Obama as Hitler have to do with the the fact that presently insurance companies are stealing from you. And will drop you when you really get sick.
This tells me what I'm sure we've all found out these last few months, that Repthuglican men don't give a damn about their women either. This takes the top position over the whore mongering C Street guys, and the governor finding his true love in Argentina. That these men would treat their spouses the same way they would treat a Black man or a Mexican is deep! Deep I tell you. But at the same time they're keeping quality care from all women. It's even worse for Black, and Hispanic women Hell, from my woman, and that rates an ass whuppin!!
I believe now is the time for all of us (MEN) to stand up for our women and proclaim that we are not going to take this shit anymore. It's time for our voice to hit the airwaves. We should be marching on Washington, and holding our posters for the media to see demanding affordable health care for everyone.
Our women do twice the work but get half the prize? That ain't right. Seeing that most married women have to work and take care of the kids and household they should get a free ride like all federal employees, not to mention single parent families. And the same for men who are considered House Husbands. And those husbands and wives that hit the workforce every morning should have a healthcare system in their favor. Affordable,and complete.
When will the media pay attention to he needs of Americans, not just the complaints? It's time to throw political correctness out the window, and get down to business. The MSM want to stay on the race card when they should be on the discrimination card. We should stay out of everyone else's business on humanity issues and get our own house
in order.
You all have a great and blessed day. PEACE!
Daddy.
I've included below the web address for each excerpt.
This next info is from the National Women's Law
Center
Why Women Need Health Reform
Today, millions of women in the United States depend on a health care system that is failing them. They face unfair insurance industry practices, have trouble affording necessary care, or struggle to find insurance that covers the benefits they need. Considering women’s experiences with our health system, it is no wonder that in a Spring 2009 poll, more than 76% of women said they thought our current health care system should be reformed or radically changed; only 19% want to keep the status quo. Women’s well-being—and that of their families—depends on health reform that meets their needs.
Women Face Unfair and Discriminatory Insurance Industry Practices
Insurers in most states are allowed to consider gender when setting premium rates in both the individual and group markets. As a result of “gender rating,” women, and businesses with predominantly female workforces, are often charged more than men for the exact same coverage. In eight states and D.C., it is still legal for insurers to reject a woman’s health insurance application if she is a victim of domestic violence. Insurers may exclude coverage for certain “pre-existing” conditions; if a woman has previously had a Cesarean section, for instance, insurers may refuse to pay for future C-sections or reject her application altogether.
Women Have More Trouble Affording Necessary Health Care
Women are generally poorer than men, earning just 78 cents for every dollar men earn. Women also use the health care system more, in part due to their reproductive health needs. Because they are poorer and use more care, women spend a greater share of their income on their health needs. Regardless of whether they have insurance, women are more likely than men to report cost-related problems with accessing health care, and to struggle with medical bills or debt.
Unaffordable cost-sharing requirements, annual limits on covered services, or health plan limits on lifetime expenditures have a disproportionate impact on women. They are more likely than men to be underinsured, or to have coverage but still spend more than they can afford on health care.
Women Struggle to Find Coverage for the Benefits They Need
Women are more likely to use certain health care services—such as prescription drugs and mental health care—that many health plans limit or exclude altogether. Women need coverage for a full range of reproductive health services.
Compared to men, women visit health providers more often and use more preventive care. They are also more likely to suffer from a chronic condition requiring ongoing care, such as arthritis or asthma. They are particularly ill-served by “bare-bones” health plans without coverage for the benefits that are critical to maintaining women’s health. It is very difficult—and sometimes impossible—for women to find coverage for maternity care in the individual health insurance market.
To be sure, no group is doing well under our network of private insurers, which is more holes than net. But women fare particularly badly in terms of health, being more likely than men to leave a prescription unfilled; forgo seeing a needed specialist; and skip a medical test, treatment or follow-up. Financially, women are worse off, too, in large part because they earn less money. Despite the fact that they skimp on their care to cut costs, three in five women are still unable to pay their medical bills. All of which makes it surprising that men and women support health reform in almost equal numbers (38 versus 40 percent consider it a top priority, according to a recent Kaiser poll). Odder and ickier still is the sight of Sarah Palin, Betsy McCaughey and other women leading, or sometimes blindly following, the wacko town hall movement against reform.
Many of women's problems stem from the fact that to get anything close to decent private insurance, you usually need a full-time job, which women are less likely than men to have--52 percent versus 73 percent. (The flip side of this problem is that linking jobs to insurance leaves many women tethered to full-time jobs they'd rather not have, given their other responsibilities. In fact, 60 percent of full-time working mothers would prefer part-time work, according to a 2007 Pew poll. While some keep their full-time jobs for the income, many others stay because they have no other way to get health benefits.) Many women who work part-time or stay at home have become a sort of medical underclass, stuck without insurance, paying dearly for it out of their own pockets or, as was Jemilla Mulvihill's experience, begging desperately, and unsuccessfully, for the opportunity to pay dearly for it out-of-pocket.
Rising health care costs coupled with eroding health care benefits are having a substantial effect on Americans' ability to get needed health care, with women particularly affected. Women experience cost-related access problems and medical bill problems more often than men. In 2007, more than half (52%) of women reported problems accessing needed care because of cost and 45 percent of women accrued medical debt or reported problems with medical bills. Since women use more health care services than men, they are more exposed to the fragmentation and failings of the current health care system—underscoring the need for affordable and high-quality health insurance coverage that is available to all.
Citation
S. D. Rustgi, M. M. Doty, and S. R. Collins, Women at Risk: Why Many Women Are Forgoing Needed Health Care, The Commonwealth Fund, May 2009.
“… ‘My son, do not make light of the Lord’s discipline, and do not lose heart when he rebukes you, because the Lord disciplines those he loves, and he punishes everyone he accepts as a son’.Endure hardship as discipline; God is treating you as sons.For what son is not disciplined by his father?No discipline seems pleasant at the time, but painful.Later on, however, it produces a harvest of righteousness and peace for those who have been trained by it.” – Hebrews 12:5b-7, 11 (NIV)
When it comes to discipline or punishment, most of us have heard the old adage, “son (or daughter), this is gonna hurt me more than it does you”, haven’t we?I have to admit, I’d always felt that was pure drivel - until I becamea father!
My 19-year-old son, Myles (named after Miles Davis, one of my musical heroes), is very much like his old man – in looks, in demeanor, in love of music and drama, etc.He’s a terrific teen and has often made me a VERY proud Papa – especially with his piano and his dedicated service on the altar at church.However, like every child, on occasion he needed to be disciplined or punished.It was during those times that I came to recognize the golden truth of the aforementioned saying, which I’d skeptically doubted – disciplining your child DOES hurt the parent.Why?Because – at least in my case – it felt like I was whipping myself!
My dear mother often said, “experience is a cruel but very effective teacher”, a quip I shall NEVER forget!Assuredly, in many cases, Myles had done the very same thing – or had the same experience - which got ME in trouble and punished by MY father as a youngster.Of course, the irony was not lost on yours truly.I realized that what Myles had done was nothing worse than the very sins I had committed at his age (or younger!).Nevertheless, while that was true, discipline or punishment was no less justified and necessary.As a loving parent, I was righteously compelled to firmly administer - to his backside - the consequences of bad behavior.Like father like son …
Solomon, in his unsurpassed wisdom, speaks volumes on the parental responsibility for discipline with a single sentence as he exhorts, “train up a child in the way he should go: and when he is old, he will not depart from it” – Proverbs 22:6 (KJV).How much MORE true is this for our Heavenly Father?All humankind is His creation, and all believers are His cherished sons and daughters!Moreover, He LOVES us far beyond anything we can ask or even conceive.Yet, as the apostle Paul declares in our inspiring text, because He loves us He MUST discipline or punish us when we sin.
So, is there any question that God grieves over His children when we misbehave?Does He not shed paternal tears whenever His offspring mistreat, abuse or murder each other?Could we possibly doubt that it is His gracewhich grants us the free will to make the crazy bad choices we often do?Are we surprised by the frequently disastrous consequences of those choices?And is it not due to His endless, abundant mercy that (IF we allow Him) He uses those consequences to amend our ways and CHANGE our character?
Notwithstanding, discipline – which leads to behavior modification and builds integrity – NEVER feels good!It hurts.It’s painful.We scream.We cry bitter, salty tears.We RUN away.We yell at God, “why me, Lord, why ME?” in our agony.And we wonder if the pain will ever end.
But the best thing about our Father is He forever HEARS us.He hears every prayer.He knows what we’re going through. He cares, He listens, He acknowledges and He replies.If WE will just listen closely, we’ll hear His still, small voice whispering, “I know daughter.I KNOW, son.You messed up real bad. And I hate what you’re going through - but I still LOVE you and I ALWAYS will.You are my dear child, my creation and my beloved.You look just like your Daddy!I know it hurts terribly right now, but hang in there.I am with you.And my peace is yours for the asking.So ask, and take heart.Be strong, for there is surely MY … purpose in your pain!”
Larry W. King is a graduate of the University of Cincinnati College-Conservatory of Music (Magna cum Laude) and heads the Denver-based music group, Kingdom Kru.He serves as Minister of Music at Faith Community Baptist Church under the leadership of co-pastors Rev. Douglas and Katherine Farley.
Now let me get this straight. It was okay for Ronald Reagan to give a pep talk to our children, and it was okay for George W. Bush to give to give a pep talk to our children, but it is NOT okay for Barack Obama to give a pep talk to our children?
Can somebody other than those frozen with the fear of socialism, communism, or Nazi craziyism come up with an answer for me? Could it be "FEAR OF A BLACK MAN IN CHARGE"? Things that make you go hum!
We as a nation are losing our integrity, our optimistic outlook on life, our strength as a people, and our ability to think clearly in the face of ridiculously constructed bullshit from the right.
Ladies and gentlemen this is our president. The President of these United States of America! United. Now thats a laugh. Sure there are a lot of us on the same page, but again as I stated in my healthcare blog there are not enough of our voices being heard. How stupid can you be to create false statements to keep your child from listening to the leader of our country when his message is "stay in school, do better in school, prepare for more school, then prepare for greatness. Oh yeah I forgot. His message is really about becoming one of his followers. His message is about our children becoming the likes of Hitler's Youth Corps. His message is to hell with your mother and father! Listen to me and only me! Look into my eyes! I've got you in my power now, and will never let you go. Resistance is futile!!!!!!!!
Here we have a man whose future was determined by education. As long as he worked hard, stayed in school, and did his homework he was destined for greatness. Which is the same thing he had planned to say to our nations children. But no. We have people crying on the tele because Obama is trying to persuade our kids to become one in his cult..
Man, I remember way back when, when we Americans could have a debate on a range of subjects without lowering ourselves to name callers, and finger biters. (Of course I don't mean all of us). But I do mean most of us.
Hey. I hadn't planned on writing the blog today, but I'm getting to the point where I just want to go somewhere else. All of the fighting and bickering is bringing me down man. Every time I check the news, or turn on the pundits, there's another dumb ass individual stating that they want their country back. Crying that Barack Obama is turning us into a communist nation. Again I ask, where were all of these people while Bush, and Cheney were running this country into the ground???
Wait a minute. Let me calm down and catch my breath.
I was going to rant some more, but what's the use. We will always have ignorance, but we'll just have to overlook it as we've always done. Personally I'm going to hit the showers, get some ice for my cooler, fill it with water, beer, and sodas, head out to my wife's family reunion, and spend the day eating BBQ, massive selections of side dishes, salads, cobblers of all sorts, and talking with some folks who can't wait to hear what Mr. President has to say.
You all have a great and very blessed Labor Day 2009. PEACE!
Politico’s Nia-Malika Henderson: “School districts from Maryland to Texas are fielding angry complaints from parents opposed to President Barack Obama’s back-to-school address Tuesday – forcing districts to find ways to shield students from the speech as conservative opposition to Obama spills into the nation’s classrooms.”
The Fox Broadcasting Company will not air the Presidential Address to Congress on Wednesday, September 9 at 8:00 PM (ET). And Broadcasting & Cable reports that the network will instead broadcast the premiere of the new season of "So You Think You Can Dance" at 8 p.m. as well as the first new episode of "Glee" at 9 p.m.:
Many conservatives enraged over Obama school speech
By Alan Silverleib
CNN
(CNN) -- The White House found itself on the defensive Friday over what would ordinarily be considered the most uncontroversial of events: a back-to-school speech to the nation's children. Many conservative parents aren't buying it. They're convinced the president is going to use the opportunity to press a partisan political agenda on impressionable young minds.
"Thinking about my kids in school having to listen to that just really upsets me," suburban Colorado mother Shanneen Barron told CNN Denver affiliate KMGH. "I'm an American. They are Americans, and I don't feel that's OK. I feel very scared to be in this country with our leadership right now."
Florida GOP Chairman Jim Greer released a statement this week accusing Obama of using taxpayer money to "indoctrinate" children.
"As the father of four children, I am absolutely appalled that taxpayer dollars are being used to spread President Obama's socialist ideology," Greer said. "The idea that school children across our nation will be forced to watch the president justify his plans ... is not only infuriating, but goes against beliefs of the majority of Americans, while bypassing American parents through an invasive abuse of power."
Nonsense, the White House replied.
"The goal of the speech and the lesson plans is to challenge students to work hard, stay in school and dramatically reduce the dropout rate," an administration spokesman said. "This isn't a policy speech. It's a speech designed to encourage kids to stay in school." White House officials noted that Obama's speech, which will be available for anyone to view on the Web on Monday, is not unprecedented. President George H.W. Bush delivered a nationally televised speech to students from a Washington D.C., school in the fall of 1991, encouraging them to say no to drugs and work hard.
In November 1988, President Ronald Reagan delivered more politically charged remarks that were made available to students nationwide. Among other things, Reagan called taxes "such a penalty on people that there's no incentive for them to prosper ... because they have to give so much to the government."
Charles Saylors, president of the national Parent Teacher Association, said the uproar over Obama's speech is "sad."
"The president of the United States, regardless of political affiliation, should be able to have a presentation and have a pep talk, if you will, to America's students," he told CNN.
Why it's pathetic to shield our kids from Obama's education speech
Posted by: omekongo // Sep 4, 2009 // viewed 50,762 times // shared 191 times
Washington, District of Columbia
Post speaks to how pathetic it is for parents to shield their kids from the President's message. Just as he did not politicize Senator Kennedy's funeral, he will not politicize a speech on education. Just as with health care, we're showing our kids that if they disagree with someone, they can just not listen to them or just shout them down or bite off a finger. Post concludes by stating that if we want well-rounded children, we need to expose them to different people as opposed to telling them what to think. I grew up under 3 republican presidents and turned and my parents made me listen to all of them and discuss what was said. That's how I grew. They didn't shield me from Reagan or the Bushes.This isn't "Birth of a Nation", a 1920s movie where the white woman had to be saved from the black man. This is a speech about education in a nation where we have a 50% dropout rate and lag behind developing countries in math and science. The President owes his life to education. We need all the motivation we can get on keeping kids in school!
My letter to the president took a lot out of me yesterday. Not that it was so lengthy that I was tired after writing it. But rather soul shaking having to break on my man Obama. Kind of like when you have to spank your children. You know it's for the best, but it hurts you anyway.
But good friend, The Unk of Funk Reggie Carter put it best: " A closed mouth don't get fed"!
And there you have it!!
So today I'm just posting some interesting stories I read today. A lot of these usually don't make it to the headlines. For the life of me I don't know why. I've added some photos that may not have anything to do with the story, but some of them give us a great picture of what the country is turning into.
You all have a great and blessed day. PEACE!
Wheelchair-Bound Woman Shouted Down At New Jersey Health Care
Huffington Post | David Weiner First Posted: 09- 2-09 02:11 PM | U
pdated: 09- 2-09 04:19 PM
Congressman Frank Pallone (D-NJ), the man who recently "let it be known" that he'd step in should Gov. Corzine drop out of the New Jersey gubernatorial race, had his hands full at a town hall meeting in Red Bank last week.
More than 1,500 people showed up to talk health care, but things quickly turned ugly. Much like the unruly town hall meetings that have been going on across the country, the angry crowd held up bizarre and nonsensical posters of protest while hurling insults at Rep. Pallone, and each other.
A new low for these meetings may have been set when the crowd shouted down a wheelchair-bound woman with "two incurable auto-immune diseases" who had the gall to ask a question.
Healthcare reform advocate punched by opponent at Nelson event
A 65-year-old man rallying in favor of healthcare reform was knocked to the ground by a man who disagreed with the call for a government-run health plan outside of a Greater Miami Chamber of Commerce meeting headlined by Sen. Bill Nelson.
Luis Perrero of Coral Gables was standing among about 40 Democratic activists and union workers when a man in a Ford pick-up truck pulled up to the rally at Jungle Island
and began arguing with the crowd. Th
e man, who only gave his first name as Raul, said Perrero called him a Spanish curse
word. He punched Perrero in the face. Perrero fell to the ground and lay motionless for a few minutes.
GOPers Decrying "Socialized Medicine" Go To Govt. Hospital For Surgeries
Republicans in Congress have raised the specter of a bloated, "socialized," bureaucrat-run nightmare of a health care system as a means of undermining the White House's effort at a systematic overhaul. And yet, as Democratic sources are now pointing out, when medical crisis hit close to home, many of these same officials turned to a government-run hospital for their own intensive care and difficult surgeries.
Take, for instance, Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell (R-Ky.), who warned that "a government takeover of health care" would "take away the care that people already have [and] are perfectly satisfied with."
In its place, the senator said, would be "a system in which care and treatment will be either delayed or denied."
That was July 2009. In February 2003, McConnell actually went to one of those government-run institutions (where treatment is, apparently, "either delayed or denied") for a procedure of his own. The Kentucky Republican traveled to the National Naval Medical Center in Bethesda, Maryland, to have an elective coronary artery bypass surgery after it had been revealed that he had arterial blockages.
Tuesday night at Howard University, RNC chair Michael Steele did an impression of the Tin Man in the Wizard of Oz: he was absolutely heartless. Not everyday do we see the head of a major political party insult a 23 year old whose mother just died of cancer.
Duzak, a 23 year old Towson University grad, stood up, against the rules and out of turn.
"My mother died of cancer 6 months ago because she could only afford three of her six prescription chemotherapy medications," she projected. "There are 50 million people in this country who could end up like my mom, suffering or dying because they do not have adequate health care. Everyone in this room and everyone in this country should have access to good health care."
The room woke up and other than those glaring from the front, the applause was wall to wall. But it's Steele's response that makes this moment both newsworthy and a terrible comment on his character. After saying that he believed in a mature, honest discussion and not in shouting, Steele said, "People are coming to these town meetings and they're like [he then shakes]." He then looked and gestured right at Ms. Duzak and said, "It makes for great TV. You'll probably make it tonight, enjoy it." He then turned his back to her, as the crowd clapped.
GROVE — Right-thinking Americans can only hope the country will survive the next 16 months of the Obama administration until Republicans can regain control of Congress, U.S. Sen. Jim Inhofe said Wednesday.
“I never dreamed I would see an administration try to disavow all the things that have made this country different from all others,” Inhofe told more than 300 people at a town hall meeting in the Grove Community Center.
“I have never seen so many things happening at one time so disheartening to America.” Inhofe found a highly receptive audience. Many wore T-shirts of a local organization called Get America Back. Its Web site promises “a plan to eliminate the socialist government and return Americas (sic) freedoms.”
Wednesday’s audience was similar to those at town hall meetings throughout northeastern Oklahoma in recent weeks. Concerns centered on the administration and Democratic-controlled Congress.
Inhofe gave his constituents plenty to worry about.
“Every institution that has made this country the greatest nation in the world is under attack,” he said at the end of the 75-minute session.
During those 75 minutes, Inh
ofe said President Barack Obama is disarming the military, is destroying everything good about America and is determined to turn foreign terrorists loose on U.S. soil.
The good news, he said, is that he does not think the Democratic leadership can push through
health-care reform or the more controversial parts of its energy bill.
He also said he continues to be proven correct in his claim that global climate change is a hoax.
“More and more, with each month that goes by, more scientists agree with me,” he said. “We are winning.”
Fox News Shocked Van Jones Called Republicans "Assholes" -- In February
Oooh, boy! I know what Glenn Beck is going to be talking about on his Fox News Comedy Cavalcade today! The Hill reports that a video of White House green jobs adviser Van Jones is rocketing around the internet today, in which Jones, appearing at a lecture at the Berkeley Energy and Resources Collaborative, refers to Republicans -- and himself -- as "assholes."
The incident occurred last February, before Jones joined the administration and at a time when the battle to get the stimulus package passed was ongoing. A questioner asked Jones why it was that the Republicans were so successful at getting measures passed in the Senate without supermajorities, while the Democrats were hamstrung with 58 votes of their own. Jones short answer: "Well...they're assholes." The larger point being: sometimes it takes an asshole to get things done.
Glenn Beck spent last week smearing Van Jones with misinformation and outright lies. Here's setting the record straight.
After smearing White House special advisor Van Jones for days on his show, Glenn Beck said on August 27, 2009: "I want to point out the silence; no one has challenged these facts -- they just attack me personally."
And the truth is: Beck is fabricating his facts.
For instance: several times on his show, Beck has said or implied that Van went to prison for taking part in the Rodney King riots.
This is my letter to President Barack Obama.09/02/2009
Mr. President,
Up until Thanksgiving 2008 I guess you would have considered my family to be middle class. Everything except our mortgage paid for. My wife and I would take a nice trip every year. I have three grown children with the first and the last trying to stay in college. But after losing my job to the failing economy I don't know what category I'm in today. But the one thing that is crystal clear is that I have been married to my first love for 32 years. And for the past 18 years my first love has been dealing with Lupus.
When she first took her disability we were paying more than $700 per month for her prescription drugs. But thanks to a government controlled healthcare plan (Medicare) she now gets her prescriptions for less than $100. And I'm not even mentioning the 5 or 6 different doctors she has. You see, there are millions more folks out there just like my wife, but no one is listening to their needs. Everyone is caught up in the Tea Baggers, Birthers, and now people openly carrying loaded weapons to town hall meetings.
You see, this is just a short note to explain why I'm a bit confused about your promise of change. I, like a lot of folks I know are maybe not disappointed, but question your strength and your toughness these days.
I know you campaigned on bipartisanship, and transparency, but I believe the time has come for you to get Southside on these folks who call themselves REAL PATRIOTS.
The fight over your healthcare plan is getting out of hand, and it's time to stop the rope-a-dope now! If you're thinking these folks will tire while banging you against the ropes, I think you've mistaken this for a boxing match, and not the tag team wrestling that it truly is. While you're waiting for your opening, they keep tagging with everyone they have, and then some. They, are not playing by the rules.
I am sick of seeing these people all over the airwaves, the internet, and in print dogging you, and you not fighting back. They are hitting you so hard that no one is paying attention to the economy getting better. They tried to dog you on the Cash for Clunkers, but had to back off because GM was calling folks back to work, and opening plants that had been shut down. Very hard to argue that point. But they are keeping everyone's mind off the stock market, and more so away from a civil healthcare debate.
You have the right wingers blatantly lying about your reform bill, and we hear nothing from the left strong enough to make even the people who are on the fence listen to reason. If it's true that 78% of the population are with you on your health care plan and public option, why don't we see them? Why don't we hear them? Why is it that I don't see the people in need twice as hard as I see everyone against it? Where is our rallying cry? What is so hard about letting people know that insurance companies as they stand today already have been dealing us death panels. What is so hard about letting people know that everything the REAL PATRIOTS say against your healthcare plan, insurance companies have been doing for years. And why can't your people put your plan out there so the majority of people can read it, and understand it. 1500 pages seems a bit much. That in itself makes it seem that you have something to hide.
And then there are the folks calling themselves Democrats, but pulling you down at every turn. You have to expose these folks for what they are. Traitors to the Democratic cause. Because if you really think these people are going to give up the cash money they're bringing in behind insurance, and pharmaceutical companies, you are wrong.
Good Lord man do something! I didn't vote for you because you're a Black man. I voted for the change we so desperately need in this country. I voted for the strength and sincerity I heard in your voice in every speech.
This is not about Black, or White, Brown, Pink, or Purple. This problem concerns everyone.
I'm hoping you turn into the president we elected. The senator with the strong will to do right by all Americans. Not the wimp I'm checking out day after day.
With folks showing posters of you as Hitler, and those bringing guns to town hall meetings, they are saying the same thing to you as Whites told Black officers serving in WW2. You may have the rank, but you don't have the right! And we know this because? Because of the rhetoric about your death, or comments made about hunting you. These REAL PATRIOTS have no respect for you. They don't care what they say, and don't care that you know they're packing!
I could go on, but I think you get the idea where I'm coming from. If you stay on this same track they will be waiting with baited breath to send you packing in 2012.
But if you knock a few of these folks down to size, then you can declare "you ain't going nowhere without your luggage"!
First of all I have to thank Melody Prentice for the tickets to Sunday's Cutler Bowl at Mile high Stadium! Melody they were great seats and the Mrs., and I had a great time until,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,The Denver Broncos took the field.
I had brats, beer, a couple of shots of Tequila, and the opportunity to to scream, and stomp my feet with 76,000 other rabid Bronco fans! But alas, it did no good.
Okay, I was trying to hang in there and support my boys, but this shit is ridiculous.
Kyle Orton does not have what it takes to be a Denver Bronco. Sure he may be able to play with the PAL leagues 7-9 year olds, but I'm not so sure about the NFL.
Now I like to think of myself as a guy who knows football. But being completely honest here, I have to admit that my wife Val knows the stats., the players, the plays, the history, and anything else about football. A little known fact about my in-laws is that after taking a hand off in a Thomas Jefferson high school football game, My younger brother in-law Lloyd Day ran it all the way back for a touchdown. And all the while my mother in-law ran the field with him, and spiked her purse in the end zone after the touchdown. Whoo! Moms!!!!!! That said, I may be the the most blessed man in the world because my wife and mother in-law are avid football fans.
But back to the Broncos. They Suck!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
To my recollection Orton only threw one pass for more than 10 yards. And most of that effort was attributed to number 19, Eddie Royal. It was so bad that the Chicago defense never played more than 6 or 7 yards off the line of scrimmage. Therefore even the dink and dunk passes weren't going anywhere.
Okay, I'm not an expert on the game of football, but i've seen enough games to know that if you don't have a downfield threat with your quarterback, you don't win.
And ladies and gentlemen we don't have it!
We have a decent defense that if not left on the field for the whole game, may be able to pull off some good plays, and stop the opposing team. We have decent backs, receivers, and linebackers.
Orton may, and I say may be fine to bring in if your number one gets hurt, but by no means is this guy who we need to lead our team. What happened to the 80 yard pass on first down for the very first play of the game?
It's gone. That's what happened to it. We have no way to get our team to play like the Broncos of old. No how! No way!!
I suggest trading Brandon Marshal for Michael Vick. Hey now, Vick has served his time and paid his debt to society. He would bring excitement to Mile High. He would keep the fans in their seats past halftime. On the other hand, Brandon Marshall will probably end up being the guy he is today. A professional football player that beats up on every woman he has ever known, but still will never get the sentence of a Michael Vick for having dog fights!
I first met Thierry in 1968 at East High School. We didn't hang in the same circles, but if you went to East, you knew Prince T. I remember him being a sports guy back then. Brother had the biggest Fro in the entire school, and always impeccable white Chucks. He played basketball, and managed the varsity football team. I had lost track of brother until seven or eight years ago until hearing him on KKFN. I would make the occasional call to say hello, ask my question, and get the sports education I needed that day. He first would always ask how I was doing, if the music was still flowing, and hows the family. He would even give the occasional shout out as to where the band was gigging that weekend.
In these days of misinformation, mistrust in people, and a general feeling that folks just don't give a damn anymore, Thierry was a breath of fresh air,. An honest man with an honest opinion. And this was not a condition that he mellowed to after getting older. This was the man I remembered from the very first time I met him.
God bless you my brother.
Denver sportscaster Thierry Smith dies
By The Denver Post
POSTED: 08/26/2009 01:00:00 AM MDT
UPDATED: 08/26/2009 01:07:38 AM MDT
Longtime Denver-area radio broadcaster Thierry Smith died Monday night, his former employer, KKFN 104.3 FM "The Fan" said Tuesday.
Smith, who graduated from Denver East High School in 1971 and went on to a degree in communications from the University of Denver, was a fixture on sports radio talk shows since the 1980s.
He started as a cub reporter for the now-defunct KDKO, where he eventually hosted a midday "Sports Rap" show. He later moved to KYBG and to KKFN, where he worked both the AM and FM side of the dial.
Smith, who for years was the only African-American voice in the crowded Denver sports talk-show business, in 2000 was given the Lifetime Achievement Award from the Colorado Association of Black Journalists.
He also was closely involved in Colorado high school athletics and for several years was part of a Denver Post panel that awarded a weekly prep football coaching award.
Smith had multiple sclerosis, a disease that left him unable to walk.
"It's a very sad day for anyone who knew Thierry, and for Denver in general," KKFN program director Tim Spence told Westword on Tuesday. "Thierry was the consummate professional, the consummate journalist and one of the hardest-working guys I've ever known."
"And he did all of that while dealing with MS. He was a true warrior."
Well it turned out to be a great weekend. Yesterday I did Dueling Dinners with my Bro' in-law JD back in Maryland. Jim's nickname is OBJ. Old Black Jim the Cook.
We call him that because of his culinary expertise. The brother can burn. Scald sky high. Can put his foot in it. You know, cook his ass off!
JD is usually cooking something up every weekend. So I decided to duel and see if I could match his perennial favorite, BBQ Brisket.
I started out at 9:00AM by soaking my chips. I did hickory instead of mesquite this time. Don't know why. I think I just picked up the wrong bag. Anyway, got the chips soaked and started my fire. I learned to make a great BBQ sauce from my Dad years ago but I haven't done that in a long time. I usually end up using a bottled BBQ sauce and modify it to my liking. But this time I did "Shag Sauce". This is a sauce created by my father in-law JD Sr. I can't tell you what he or I use to modify our sauces, but I will say in my case green chiles, and jalapeños are involved. Enter the ribs at 9:45. These I smoked until 11:30. Then over the fire, seared for about 30 minutes then introduced to the pot. With my ribs done I did burgers, chicken wings, and Italian sausages for the kids, and did a nice NY Strip for Mommie, and choice tenderloin for myself.
So here ya go! Dueling Dinners from Denver Co.. Ribs, Burgers, Chicken Wings, Italian sausages, NY strip, Filet mignonalong with Potato Salad, Baked Beans, Collared Greens, Spinach Salad, A Day in The Life "Wes Montgomery", Grape Koolaid, and a taste of Tequila on the side.
Bon Appetite. PEACE!
Jim Day Dueling Dinners 08/23/09
I was calling to check on my sister Sunday morning because the previous day, she had experience a bad flare up of her arthritis. My brother in-law answered the phone and said Val was unavailable at the moment and we began to chat as we regularly do—we have a great relationship. In the course of our discussion the subject of Sunday dinner and the menu(s) came up. As it turned out, we were both grilling...in our community certainly amongst my generation, you take your skills at the grill seriously. It is part pride in your craft i.e., understanding technique which is passed down from generation to generation, controlling the fire, how to smoke with wood etc. and creating a slam’in bar-b-que sauce, which is another subject. Well it was on then—the Sunday dinner challenge. We agreed it was about the celebration of our families especially in these difficult times and the tradition of gathering at someone’s home for a good home cooked meal, usually following church. Our menu here on the east coast featured; Maryland farm fresh green beans we got from our local farmer’s market, hickory smoked beef brisket, grilled chicken, bratwurst and hotdogs, scalloped potatoes, cornbread, beautiful sweet tea and cupcakes for desert. I can’t say how good the meal was in Denver but our effort would be hard to beat—check out the photos.
JD
Well there you have it. Our first of many Dueling Dinners. It made for a great day to spend with family even if we are 2000 miles apart. All I know is after dinner it was time to unbuckle the belt, get a toothpick, and squeeze in a little snooze.
That would be called old Negro man's Disease!
But with all the sh*t talking back and forth, I think my sister in-law Michelle put it best.
Okay have you had enough yet? Enough with the lies, the smear, the whole disgusting way some of our elected politicians are dealing with the healthcare reform debate. I know there will always be opposition to certain ideas, but if your idea is so much better than my idea, why do you have to lie to get your point across. And to make matters worse, we the people seem to have accepted this as the status quo.
First there was "Obama was not born in the US. Then there was "Obama wants to kill your grandma, and your disabled children". Then there was "Obama is a Communist". Obama is a Nazi!
Now this morning the pundits on the internet are declaring that "Americans are losing faith in Obama". Bullshit!!!!
This guy has barely been in office for a little more than six months, and Americans are losing faith? What happened to all those same people, and why didn't they lose faith in George Bush? I mean this guy not only made it his first priority in office to give the rich folks a tax cut, but then went on to lie about the need to invade Iraq, and sent more than 4000 of your children to their deaths. Yes 4000 of YOUR children! And how about his idea to privatize Social Security, and invest that money in the stock market? Now there's something to lose faith in. George Bush and his cronies fixed the economy so that no one but the rich could succeed.
George Bush and his best bud Big Dick Cheney worked it so the majority of people in this country could do nothing but lose. And what gets me to this day, after eight years of nothing from our government, we still have those George Bush people out on the street corners declaring that anything Barack Obama suggests is somehow a communist ploy.
Now I'm not the smartest person in the world, but it seems to me when your government dismisses the will of the people for their own gain, that is communism. That is socialism. That's a Nazi.
Now granted Barack Obama may have a different way of going about his business, but I haven't heard any lies coming out of his mouth. Here's a guy who was left with an insurmountable situation, and it seems that at every turn there are folks waiting to cut him down. And it hasn't been proven otherwise that all the guy wants to do is make it right for millions of people to live a better life.
While the pundits, and the street corner preachers are proclaiming that giving money to the auto makers is socialist, I wonder what they're saying in those towns where GM is now calling folks back to work.
Where they're screaming that Obama's heath care reform is nothing more than a ploy to give the government free reign over our very souls, what is being said among the folks who have no way of taking care of health issues they've been dealing with for more than a year. The craziest thing may be the people so upset over a public health option while being on Medicare, or Medicaid. And the one question I haven't heard from these folks that are so upset is to ask these people in office how come Obama's idea is so bad for the country, but we haven't heard a peep out of the senators, and congressmen about how bad their health care insurance is. (Things that make you go Hum!).
There is so much misinformation out there these days it boggles the mind. And to hear these people on the news proclaiming they know what's going on because they use the internet, someone should hip them to FACTCHECK.ORG.
I listened tothe punditssay Obama doesn't need the Republicans to pass anything. Just go it alone. Well that's not how he campaigned for for president. He campaigned on leaving that type of bullshit alone, and coming together to get things done. Now we have folks in his own party working against him because they don't want to lose their lobbyist monies to his healthcare plan. We have people questioning his strength as a leader. When this whole mess got started no one in Washington agreed with the public option. Now that Obama backed off that just a little, it now has become the most important issue in passing this bill. WTF!
Come on people. We can't have it both ways. Either we will change the way government has been run or we leave it alone and continue down this road to ruin.
Obama didn't borrow trillions of dollars from other countries to pay our way. Obama didn't take from the poor to give to the rich. Although, my personal take on the war in Afghanistan is that it's a mistake. Get out of other folks business, and that would almost pay for health care on it's own.
Before I finish this rant I have to speak on the folks carrying guns to town hall meetings. Why? All you hear from those people is that it is their right to bear arms. Yeah I can agree with that. I have guns and I don't want anybody telling me that a can't keep them, but why do you have a gun at a town hall meeting? Are you planning on taking somebody out? And just who are you targeting? Obama? Me? So maybe Obama was right in saying these people cling to their guns.
The eight years under the Bush administration has turned this country into a sniveling pile of wimps. Fear, fear,fear,fear,FEAR! Everybody is afraid. All the way from raising their children to choosing our quality of life. When will we stand up and be men and women again? When will we take it upon ourselves to find out the facts? We have gotten so used to depending on others to tell us what they say is the truth that we live our daily lives believing lies.
I know there will be those of you that read this and think I've got it all wrong, but I feel that this screaming down your representatives when they're trying to explain or answer your question is stupid. If you don't give them the chance to speak how will you get their information? I feel that the posters of Barack Obama as Hitler is nothing more than to show your disappointment that a Black man is in charge of running this country. The swastikas painted on offices of politicians is abhorrent. The show of guns is an attempt to intimidate those who do not feel the same way they do. And I respect your opinion on these matters. But tell me where this does our country any good. Explain to me that this is the best avenue of approach.
I am not a rich man. To be perfectly honest I'm one of millions of people finding it harder and harder to get along each month. My situation warrants my faith in a public option. Without Medicare I would've lost my home, and gone bankrupt long ago. Why don't I see these people in my situation on the news, and on the internet. Why don't I see them standing with their signs and posters on street corners proclaiming the need for the public option? Where are you? Why won't you speak up?
Well summer is just about outta here and you only have 3 chances left to catch the hardest working show band in Denver. Jakarta will be at Northfield at Stapleton to close out their summer concert series tonight at 6PM.
Jakarta would like to thank all of you that came out and supported us this summer at the various outdoor concerts we've done around the city. It was a treat for the band since private events take up most of our schedule.
With the closing of The Supreme Court in downtown Denver we haven't had a chance to see our most loyal fans in a while. So we want you to know that we will be hanging out at Jazz@Jacks periodically throughout the coming months. Please check our MySpace page for the calendar and mark those dates!
So, it's going to be a great evening of music and fun. So get on your dancing shoes and get over to Northfield at Stapleton for a night of Snake Funk in the Dump baby.
Don't get took! Don't be hoodwinked! Don't be bamboozled! Don't be led astray!
“The sacrifice you desire is a broken spirit.You will not reject a broken and repentant heart, O God. My heart is fixed, O God, my heart is fixed: I will sing and give praise.” – Psalm 51:17 (New Living Translation); Psalm 57:7 (KJV)
As a singer and musician, I am quite fond of the entire book of Psalms, which is essentially a lyrics file authored by various ancient songwriters, including (among others) King David and Asaph, the chief musician.Asaph, Heman and Jeduthun were leaders of the special class of Levites (Jewish priests) specifically assigned to provide worship music and singing in the temple and elsewhere.The first half of our text comes from the 51st Psalm, often called “The Penitent’s Psalm”, which is my very favorite of all 150 Psalms.At some point, I’ll likely dedicate an entire Clarion to it, but in the meantime here’s a thumbnail sketch.
King David wrote the 51st Psalm after the Lord sent Nathan the prophet to confront David regarding his wanton lust for Bathsheba, his flagrant adultery with her and his subterfuge devolved into conspiracy to murder her husband, Uriah the Hittite – a foot soldier in the King’s warring army (see II Samuel, chapters 11 and 12).The 51st is a masterpiece of repentant prose from beginning to end, and many songs have been spawned from its rich text.Cherished reader, I urge you to read and ponder Psalm 51 in its entirety.I am convinced that a powerful blessing awaits you!Here are a few excerpts to whet your appetite (from the King James Version):
“Have mercy upon me, O God … according unto the multitude of thy tender mercies, blot out my transgressions” – v1.
“… I was shapen in iniquity; and in sin did my mother conceive me.Behold, thou desirest truth in the inward parts: and in the hidden part thou shalt make me to know wisdom” – v5-6.
“Create in me a clean heart, O God: and renew a right spirit within me.Cast me not away from thy presence: and take not thy holy spirit from me.Restore unto me the joy of thy salvation: and uphold me with thyfree spirit” – v10-12.
“O Lord, open thou my lips; and my mouth shall shew forth thy praise” – v15.
Is there any doubt that David was truly sorry for his sins?Can you see why God said “… I have found David the son of Jesse, a man after mine own heart, which shall fulfil all my will” (Acts 13:22b)?In part, it’s because once David truly faces the gravity (and consequences) of his sinful actions, he is heartbroken.David realizes that through his selfish behavior he’s failed God, ruined his family and imperiled his kingdom.He sincerely wants forgiveness and restoration. And that’s EXACTLY what God wants from us!
The 57th Psalm was actually written before the 51st.It comes from a time prior to David becoming monarch over Israel, when he was being pursued by King Saul.Early on, Saul had recognized that the Spirit of the Lord was upon David.Indeed, it was David - the young shepherd boy and skillful instrumentalist - who played the evil spirit out of King Saul with his lyre.The future king was first a musician, singer, songwriter and dancer.WAAAY KEWL!
But the slingshot-wielding giant killer had grown up to become a skillful, battle-tested warrior, of whom Jerusalem’s women sang, “Saul hath slain his thousands, and David his TEN thousands” – I Samuel 18:7b (KJV).Needless to say, King Saul was NOT a happy camper when it came to the adult David; the upstart soldier bidding to usurp his throne.Yet, even as David hides out in the lonely cave of Adullam, being hunted down by Saul’s minions, he writes: “my heart is fixed, O God, my heart is fixed. I will sing and give praise”.Say what?!?!?
God grant that, regardless of circumstances, each of US should be so determined in our faith; so unyielding in our zeal for the Lord; so steadfast in our daily walk with Him!Why aren’t WE – who live under the grace of the cross of Christ, and have the awesome power of the Holy Ghost within us – convicted like David?Shouldn’t WE too give our gracious and loving Lord joyous psalms of praise and worship at ALL times?Why aren’t OUR hearts equally broken and contrite before Him?
Was David so different from you and me?Dear reader, I submit to you that he was NOT.The same Spirit which rested mightily upon David, King of Israel, is also living and active in each of us.What an inspiring thought!We have the power to sing like David sang, to dance like David danced and to praise God just like David did.Every one of US can sing with David, “I will bless the Lord at all times.His praise shall continually be in my mouth” – Psalm 34:1.Hallelujah!God is GREAT!
So, my prayer for each of you is that as you live every day wholly consumed by the wondrous, life-changing power of the Holy Spirit, and that your hearts – like David’s - will be broken yet fixed!
Larry W. King is a graduate of the University of Cincinnati College-Conservatory of Music (Magna cum Laude) and heads the Denver-based music group, Kingdom Kru.He serves as Minister of Music at Faith Community Baptist Church under the leadership of co-pastors Rev. Douglas and Katherine Farley.
A doll depicting an African-American child wearing a hat that reads "lil' monkey" was pulled from Costco shelves following a customer complaint. The toy, called "Cuddle with Me", features several ethnicities (if plastic has an ethnicity) of dolls in cutesy outfits, packaged with plush monkeys. The Brass Key,the company that makes the Cuddle with Me dolls, also has a "Pretty Panda" version on the shelves, which has not been pulled. The Brass Key has issued a public apology to any they may have offended. (From Now Public)
Personally I think this sucks, but with most toys coming from other countries you never know what you're going to get. But the buyer for the store obviously didn't do their homework on this one. This should have never made it to the shelf. Now I won't call COSTCO racist, but somebody had to know what they were buying, and we would hope that whoever stocked the shelves would bring this to the attention of someone in charge. But they did take them out of the stores after receiving complaints.
But what pisses me off are some of the comments on the story. So many people supposedly not seeing a problem with the doll. Now with all of the references to Barack Obama and monkeys since he ran for president, and references to Blacks and monkeys in history you'd have to be pretty vile or pretty stupid not to see the what's wrong with this picture. Yes this is the country we live in. There are always going to be a few making it bad for everybody else. Like the folks carrying guns to town hall meetings. Read on. PEACE!
I'd like to thank Becky Hudson for sending this to me!!
COLUMBIA, SC (WIS) - A state Republican activist has admitted to and apologized for calling a gorilla that escaped from the Riverbanks Zoo Friday an "ancestor" of First Lady Michelle Obama.
A screen capture of the comment, made on the Internet site Facebook, was obtained by FITSNews, the website of South Carolina politico Will Folks.
The image shows a post by an aide to state Attorney General Henry McMaster describing Friday morning's gorilla escape at Columbia's Riverbanks Zoo.
Longtime SCGOP activist and former state Senate candidate Rusty DePass responded with the
comment, "I'm sure it's just one of Michelle's ancestors - probably harmless."
DePass told WIS News 10 he was talking about First Lady Michelle Obama.
Originally Posted by Niggerologist
Of all the ridiculous things -- I guess since niggers realize they're a step lower on the evolutionary ladder, we need to shield them and their little niglets from anything that reminds them of that fact. Perhaps we just need to exterminate all the primates to make niggers happy and to reduce the unfair competition. Look at this stupid niglet with the monkey doll -- the monkey looks so cute and intelligent by comparison.
Costco in Florida is in trouble. They offered for sale a seemingly cute baby doll, colored like a nigger. It was packaged with its own stuffed monkey friend, and the doll has "lil monkey" embroidered on its hat. Parents are outraged. The company has apologized and taken the toy off the shelves.
I gotta give a shout out to my sister in-law Michelle Day. This past April she was in India with the Thelonious Monk Institute to commemorate the 50th anniversary of Dr. Martin Luther Kings visit to that country. Also this year along with hubby Jim Day and his company JD Associates she helped produce the celebration of the 39th anniversary of Earth Day on the National Mall in Washington, DC. This event themed "the Green Generation" was the start of a ramp up to the 40th anniversary celebration in 2010 in April.
Here's a little bit about this sister. PEACE!
Michelle M. Day, Vice President, Operations
Michelle Day has provided production and logistical services for leading political figures, corporations, nonprofit organizations, and the entertainment industry for more than a decade. Since 1997, she has directed a variety of events for the Thelonious Monk Institute of Jazz, including international jazz education tours sponsored by the U.S. Department of State, as well as the annual Thelonious Monk International Jazz Competition. From 1993 to 1995, Day served as Director of Advance for former U.S. Secretary of Commerce Ronald Brown, managing the logistics for a number of international trade missions, including visits to Egypt, Jordan, Qatar, Saudi Arabia, and the United Arab Emirates. Through this work, she became well versed in the composition of the Washington, DC embassy community, as well as the U.S. State Department desk and worldwide embassy system. Day has also been involved in producing high-profile events held on The National Mall, including The March to Conquer Cancer, Earth Day, the Million Mom March, and the March for Women's Lives. Through her work with Festival Productions and the Institute, Day has worked with celebrities including Herbie Hancock, Quincy Jones, Prince, Barbra Streisand, and Stevie Wonder.
Ravi Shankar surrounded by students that attended the joint Shankar School/Monk Institute of Jazz workshop
February, 2009
Institute Musicians Participate in U.S. State Department Mission to India Marking 50th Anniversary of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.'s Visit to India
The Thelonious Monk Institute of Jazz was pleased to partner with the U.S. Department of State for a February 2009 mission to India, marking the 50th anniversary of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. and Coretta Scott Kings' historic trip to India to study Mahatma Gandhi’s non-violence movement. The King's month-long journey proved to be a pivotal cornerstone of the Civil Rights movement because of lessons learned throughout the course of the trip and adopted upon Dr. King’s return to the United States.
This was the first diplomatic, educational, and cultural mission under the Obama Administration. Martin Luther King III, who represented the King family, was joined by the current class of students at the Thelonious Monk Institute of Jazz Performance and world-renowned musicians including Herbie Hancock, Dee Dee Bridgewater, George Duke, Chaka Khan, and other distinguished guests. Rep. John Lewis led a Congressional delegation that included former Congressman and United Nations Ambassador Andrew Young. Both Lewis and Young were close associates and lieutenants to Dr. King.
The Institute presented several exciting jazz education programs as part of the 10-day mission highlighting Dr. King’s message of justice, equality, and peace. In addition to presenting "Living the Dream" concerts for the people of New Delhi and Mumbai, the musicians conducted a master class at the Ravi Shankar Institute for Music and Performing Arts, with Ravi Shankar participating, and led several other education programs throughout India.
Numerous public programs involving
government officials, civic leaders, scholars, and youth underscored the enduring importance of the Gandhi and King legacies and the wisdom of the two visionaries. The group also retraced some of the important steps taken by Dr. and Mrs. King, traveling across India to principal sites associated with Mahatma Gandhi’s work.
Earth Day Celebration, National Mall, Washington, DC 2009
Read more on what the Thelonious Monk Institute is doing for young musicians around the world:
I know by now you've all seen the video clip of a Black woman being dragged from a town hall meeting on healthcare. And most likely you figured she was just another person there trying to disrupt Senator Claire McCaskill. But what they fail to tell you is that the woman had a rolled up poster of Rosa Parks. When approached by a reporter that wanted to see what she had, the woman unrolled the poster. Then a few seconds later a White man walks up from behind and rips the poster apart balling it up and throwing it on the floor. Security immediately grab the Black woman and drag her from the room. I did read the White man that tore up the poster was ESCORTED from the premises.
Healthcare? Bah! Humbug! You've seen the posters, and pictures of Obama in these crowds. We all know what this is about. You hear the rage in the crowd that they're losing their freedoms. That President Obama is Hitler, and his folks are Nazi's. Bullshit!!! And first finding a gun that someone had dropped at another town hall meeting, and then the smart-ass wearing his gun to the Obama town hall.
This is about a Black man being elected the President of these United States of America. And after seeing this video it seems we're not so united after all!
I'm sorry folks. I'm not trying to start anything here, but it's getting pretty obvious what this anger is all about. I may be a little crazy, but I'm not stupid.
I had to post this article after reading it this morning. And especially after reading that a town hall meeting in Tampa FL turned into a brawl. What the hell is wrong with these people? Fear. Scared of everything. Where's the backbone people? You'd think after being scared about Iraq you would have learned something. This is an article by Steven Pearlstein at the Huffington Post. He breaks this down so my puppy can understand it. Now maybe I've missed something along the way, but I haven't heard anything different than this coming from the presidents mouth.
I'm very passionate on this subject. After having needed help from the government for the past 15 years I'm sure IF we were faced with a government run healthcare system, it would work just fine. But I'll let Mr. Pearlstein tell the story. PEACE!
As a columnist who regularly dishes out sharp criticism, I try not to question the motives of people with whom I don't agree. Today, I'm going to step over that line.
The recent attacks by Republican leaders and their ideological fellow-travelers on the effort to reform the health-care system have been so misleading, so disingenuous, that they could only spring from a cynical effort to gain partisan political advantage. By poisoning the political well, they've given up any pretense of being the loyal opposition. They've become political terrorists, willing to say or do anything to prevent the country from reaching a consensus on one of its most serious domestic problems.
There are lots of valid criticisms that can be made against the health reform plans moving through Congress -- I've made a few myself. But there is no credible way to look at what has been proposed by the president or any congressional committee and conclude that these will result in a government takeover of the health-care system. That is a flat-out lie whose only purpose is to scare the public and stop political conversation.
Under any plan likely to emerge from Congress, the vast majority of Americans who are not old or poor will continue to buy health insurance from private companies, continue to get their health care from doctors in private practice and continue to be treated at privately owned hospitals.
The centerpiece of all the plans is a new health insurance exchange set up by the government where individuals, small businesses and eventually larger businesses will be able to purchase insurance from private insurers at lower rates than are now generally available under rules that require insurers to offer coverage to anyone regardless of health condition. Low-income workers buying insurance through the exchange -- along with their employers -- would be eligible for government subsidies. While the government will take a more active role in regulating the insurance market and increase its spending for health care, that hardly amounts to the kind of government-run system that critics conjure up when they trot out that oh-so-clever line about the Department of Motor Vehicles being in charge of your colonoscopy.
There is still a vigorous debate as to whether one of the insurance options offered through those exchanges would be a government-run insurance company of some sort. There are now less-than-even odds that such a public option will survive in the Senate, while even House leaders have agreed that the public plan won't be able to piggy-back on Medicare. So the probability that a public-run insurance plan is about to drive every private insurer out of business -- the Republican nightmare scenario -- is approximately zero.
By now, you've probably also heard that health reform will cost taxpayers at least a trillion dollars. Another lie.
First of all, that's not a trillion every year, as most people assume -- it's a trillion over 10 years, which is the silly way that people in Washington talk about federal budgets. On an annual basis, that translates to about $140 billion, when things are up and running.
Even that, however, grossly overstates the net cost to the government of providing universal coverage. Other parts of the reform plan would result in offsetting savings for Medicare: reductions in unnecessary subsidies to private insurers, in annual increases in payments rates for doctors and in payments to hospitals for providing free care to the uninsured. The net increase in government spending for health care would likely be about $100 billion a year, a one-time increase equal to less than 1 percent of a national income that grows at an average rate of 2.5 percent every year.
The Republican lies about the economics of health reform are also heavily laced with hypocrisy.
While holding themselves out as paragons of fiscal rectitude, Republicans grandstand against just about every idea to reduce the amount of health care people consume or the prices paid to health-care providers -- the only two ways I can think of to credibly bring health spending under control.
When Democrats, for example, propose to fund research to give doctors, patients and health plans better information on what works and what doesn't, Republicans sense a sinister plot to have the government decide what treatments you will get. By the same wacko-logic, a proposal that Medicare pay for counseling on end-of-life care is transformed into a secret plan for mass euthanasia of the elderly.
Government negotiation on drug prices? The end of medical innovation as we know it, according to the GOP's Dr. No. Reduce Medicare payments to overpriced specialists and inefficient hospitals? The first step on the slippery slope toward rationing.
Can there be anyone more two-faced than the Republican leaders who in one breath rail against the evils of government-run health care and in another propose a government-subsidized high-risk pool for people with chronic illness, government-subsidized community health centers for the uninsured, and opening up Medicare to people at age 55?
Health reform is a test of whether this country can function once again as a civil society -- whether we can trust ourselves to embrace the big, important changes that require everyone to give up something in order to make everyone better off. Republican leaders are eager to see us fail that test. We need to show them that no matter how many lies they tell or how many scare tactics they concoct, Americans will come together and get this done.
If health reform is to be anyone's Waterloo, let it be theirs.
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'Housewives' Daughter Found Guilty Of Pulling Out Another Housewife's Hair Extensions
WAYNE, N.J. — The daughter of a "Real Housewives of New Jersey" reality show star has been found guilty of simple assault for pulling another cast member's hair during a fight at a fashion show
Serena Williams Wins 2010 Australian Open
MELBOURNE, Australia — Serena Williams won her second straight Australian Open championship, ending Justine Henin's hopes of a Grand Slam title in her return from retirement with a 6-4, 3-6, 6-2 victory Saturday. Williams withstood a determined challenge from Henin before securing her fifth Australian Open title overall and 12th Grand Slam singles championship overall, tying Billie Jean King. King was at the stadium on Saturday night to take part in a pre-match ceremony to honor the 40-year anniversary of Margaret Court's four Grand Slam tournament wins in 1970. "Billie, we are tied," Williams said. "So I've reached my goal."
ManCrunch SuperBowl Ad REJECTED: Gay Dating Site Ad Denied By CBS
CBS has rejected an ad from gay dating site ManCrunch, telling the site that the ad "is not within the Network's Broadcast Standards for Super Bowl Sunday.", James Hibberd reports at The Live Feed CBS released the following statement: "After reviewing the ad - which is entirely commercial in nature - our Standards and Practices department decided not to accept this particular spot. As always, we are open to working with the client on alternative submissions."
Obama and House GOP Bring Question Time to US
The event was gripping. As word spread through Washington, people rushed to their televisions and became fixed on it. CBS News reporter Mark Knoller, a veteran White House correspondent, tweeted that this was a first. It marked a giant step forward in political and governmental transparency. (It was not certain that the House GOPers would allow cameras into the session until the morning.) The debate was serious and intense. It just so happened that Obama cleaned the clocks of the GOPers, referring to them repeatedly as "you guys," while they called him "Mr. President." ("Interesting session," Republican leader John Boehner tweeted afterward.) Consequently, Republicans may want to think twice before providing Obama another opportunity.
Selina Albright......First Choice Professional Services, LLC.
If you need help with making the most of your education, First Choice Professional Services LLC is the perfect resource for unlocking a student's full potential by giving them the one-on-one attention they deserve. By pinpointing the personal needs of every student, they are able to provide the most effective tutoring available.
Drive-by shooting leaves 2 dead, 1 injured
DENVER - Two people are dead and another is injured after an argument at a liquor store escalated into a shooting. The Denver Police Department has been investigating the shooting which happened at roughly 11 p.m. Monday. A spokesperson for the department says two men were fatally shot and a woman suffered non-life threatening injuries. According to the department's spokesperson, the two men were involved in a verbal fight with someone at a liquor store located at Bruce Randolph and York Street. A short time later, the men got into their car and drove eastbound on Martin Luther King Boulevard, stopping at a red light at Steele Street. "(A) silver or grey SUV vehicle came up on the side of them and started firing shots into their vehicle," Det. Sharon Avendano said. The two men in the front seats of the car were hit by bullets, as was a woman in the back seat. One of the men was pronounced dead at the scene. The other was taken to Denver Health Medical Center where he died. The woman was also taken to Denver Health to be treated for her injuries.
The "Censored Eleven" Problem Posted by Emru Townsend
For years (and years, and years) I've been reading the same tired arguments about racist cartoons, particularly those that use black stereotypes. In light of a recent re-emergence of the discussion, Thad Komorowski has nailed the other complaint that I've never fully given voice to: that many cartoon fans, in their desire to own these films, have bent over backwards to claim that these films are not racist. Because, let's face it, they most emphatically are. If a joke is being made with the understanding that something is funny because a character is black, then it's racist. It's a pretty simple equation. (And please spare me the "I have a black friend who loves these cartoons" argument; I think Coal Black and de Sebben Dwarfs is one of the funniest, snappiest, and most brilliant cartoons Bob Clampett ever directed, but denying that it's entirely built around racist imagery is like denying gravity.)
Why Obama Deserves the Nobel Peace Prize
In issuing the prize to Obama, the committee decided to take a chance and do something relevant: Hope for peace. Online, the GOP (along with such peace-loving groups as Hamas and the Taliban) issued a response that was as predictable as it was pathetic: Obama and the Nobel Prize Committee were both to be condemned.
Heavy infant in Grand Junction denied health insurance
GRAND JUNCTION — Alex Lange is a chubby, dimpled, healthy and happy 4-month-old. But in the cold, calculating numbered charts of insurance companies, he is fat. That's why he is being turned down for health insurance. And that's why he is a weighty symbol of a problem in the health care reform debate. Insurance companies can turn down people with pre-existing conditions who aren't covered in a group health care plan.
Wesley gets 'Sniped' By JAMES DORAN, KAJA WHITEHOUSE and RICHARD WILNER
Wesley Snipes can't seem to get anything right when it comes to his personal finances. The notorious star of the hit "Blade" trilogy found a new kind of fame last year when he was sentenced to three years in jail for trying to fraudulently obtain $11.4 million of tax refunds between 1999 and 2001. He was also nabbed for willfully failing to file tax returns.
Allee Willis’ Kitsch O’ The Day – An UNBELIEVABLE 21st Night Of September!
Yes, it was the opening line of my very first hit and it was the greatest way ever to celebrate the opening of The Allee Willis Museum Of Kitsch with bad karaoke versions of the song and have Verdine White and Larry Dunn, original members of Earth Wind & Fire who played on “September” and every other EWF classic, back up me and Luenell, the hysterical hooker from Borat, on a $39 1981 Casio MT-65 and a 1965 knock-off Apollo bass. We proceeded straight into “Boogie Wonderland” with hundreds of people in attendance at Ghettogloss singing along. It was that scrumptious combination of the very highest form of the art smashed together with the very lowest that made this aKitschionado’s heart spinnnnnnnn out of control!
A Snake, Afterall, is a Snake
Last month, Hyatt Hotels Corp. fired 98 housekeepers, many of them veteran employees who made $15-per-hour, and replaced them with $8-per-hour "temporary" workers provided by Hospitality Staffing Solutions, an outsourcing firm in Atlanta. While the details are murky, and Hospitality Staffing Solutions has refused to respond to this correspondent's repeated request for specifics, at least some of these new employees are reportedly "guest workers'' on H-2B visas. The guest workers were trained by the Hyatt veterans, who were told the new recruits were not replacements, but part-timers who would "fill in" for sick and vacationing permanent workers. According to union officials, after successfully training the new workers, the Hyatt veterans were told to clean out their lockers for "health purposes." They gamely did so. The next day they were told to hit the road.
She is taken. (The Field Negro)
" European media have played up photos showing Michelle Obama greeting many leaders at the G-20 summit in Pittsburgh summit last week with a kiss but stiffly holding out her arm for a handshake when it came time to greet Berlusconi. The photos show Berlusconi's gazing at Mrs. Obama's gown, instead of her face, and holding his arms out as if in delight at what he sees, while the U.S. President looks on, apparently not amused."
Obama Facebook Poll: "Should Obama Be Killed?" Pulled From Site, Secret Service Investigate
A poll was posted on Facebook asking users to vote "should Obama be killed?" The responses include: "yes," "maybe," "if he cuts my health care," and "no." ver 730 people had taken the poll, which was later removed from Facebook. The poll is now being probed by the Secret Service, reports the Associated Press. Read more about the investigation here. Included on the list of the top 100 most popular polls on Facebook was a poll responding to the "should Obama be killed" query, and which asked users to vote, "Should the creator of 'should Obama be killed' be arrested?"
The Beating of Derrion Albert Is Must-See TV
Forget the boob tube, look at YouTube. See how young people are entertaining themselves with their video cameras. Some of it is kids being kids. A lot of it is brutal, sick, and—dare I say—black. • By: Jozen Cummings | Posted: September 29, 2009 at 9:03 AM
'For Colored Girls' Who Don't Like Tyler Perry He's just not good enough for Ntozake Shange.
Getting his hot little hands on Ntozake Shange’s 1975 play For Colored Girls who Have Considered Suicide When the Rainbow is Enuf was coup of the year for Tyler Perry. Not only will he produce and direct the upcoming film version, the King of Coonery will also write the adaptation of what may be the most important work about black female identity ever. Ask any black woman, especially the artsy/moody/self-aware type, about For Colored Girls … and she will respond with a wistful look and fond memories. By: Thembi Ford | Posted: September 22, 2009 at 3:46 PM
Complexion for the Rejection: Philly Swim Club Fined for Racism • By The Buzz | Posted: 9/27/09
Sometimes, friends, maintaining "the complexion" of your pool can cost ya. Just ask the Valley Swim Club, who got tuned up recently for its pigment-averse swimming policies.
BYTES: SARAH PALIN, “A PAIL OF WATER FROM A SHALLOW WELL”
When news broke late yesterday that Sarah Palin had finished writing her memoir, “Going Rogue,” early, the blogosphere wasted no time. A sampling, from the hilarious to the horrifying, follows. We'll keep adding to this list as the quips keep coming.
Is Lou Dobbs, CNN's Resident Bigot, on His Way Out? By Don Hazen, AlterNet. Posted 9/29/09
The heat on CNN to dump right-wing nativist news host Lou Dobbs has reached a boiling point. Several grassroots and Internet campaigns urging CNN to drop Dobbs in response to his relentless hate-talk are gathering momentum and tens of thousands of signatures. Will Dobbs finally be stopped from using his on-air bully pulpit to bash immigrants and spread misleading and inaccurate information? One major anti-Dobbs campaign, Basta Dobbs.com, calls Dobbs the "most dangerous man for Latinos in America."
What's the Border Fence Good for? Subsidizing Mexican Scrap Metal Entrepreneurs
Last week, the Government Accountability Office released a depressing audit of the US-Mexico border fence we’ve been trying to put up for the past three years. The report caused about 8 hours of pretend outrage and was promptly forgotten. It found that we’d already shoveled $2.4 billion to half-seal 600 miles of the border since 2005 (we still have about 100 to 200 miles to go) and we would need to spend an additional $6.5 billion over the next 20 years just plugging up holes punched in the fencing. By Yasha Levine, eXiled Online. Posted September 28, 2009.
Burning Questions for the Authors of 'Marijuana Is Safer'
AlterNet: In Marijuana Is Safer, you compare and contrast the relative harms and legal status of marijuana and alcohol. So, in what ways is marijuana safer? Steve Fox: Marijuana is safer than alcohol in virtually every way that matters. First, marijuana is far less toxic. Alcohol, quite literally, is a poison. That is why excessive alcohol use often causes vomiting. The body is rejecting the poison. And, as most people know, consuming too much alcohol can result in an overdose death. Marijuana, on the other hand, is virtually non-toxic to healthy cells and major organs. In fact, the active components in marijuana – known as cannabinoids -- actually mimic chemicals naturally produced by the body (so-called endocannabinoids) that are necessary for the maintenance of proper health. Further, unlike alcohol, marijuana does not depress the central nervous system, making an overdose impossible, regardless of how much a person consumes. (There are no recorded marijuana overdose cases in history.) Beyond overdose deaths, the U.S. government estimates that consumption of alcohol is the primary cause of about 35,000 American deaths annually. And those are deaths attributed just to the adverse health impacts of alcohol ingestion on the body – not deaths from alcohol-induced accidents or incidents. The comparable government figure for marijuana deaths is zero. CLICK The pic for full article.
Why Is iTunes Selling White Supremacy?
iTunes has removed songs deemed homophobic, yet allows white supremacists to peddle their hate on their website. “Let’s see out the Fuhrer’s dream/To break the back of the eternal jew/Rid the world of the evil we’ve seen/Make it safe for me and you.” -- From “Under the Hammer” by Brutal Attack “When the battle is over and the victory is won/And the White man’s lands are owned by true white people/the traitors will all be gone.” -- From “White Warriors” by Skrewdriver If you thought such unabashedly bigoted music was available only from underground sources, you’d be wrong. With a few clicks at Apple’s iTunes website, Internet users can buy albums and songs from white supremacist groups such as Bully Boys, Final War, Stormtroop 16 and H8Machine.......Click the Flick for the whole story
Subject: 2 Chronicles 7:14
When we were in Texarkana last week, there were signs in people's yards that said, " America , prayer our only hope" with 2 Chron. 7:14 underneath. We certainly need God's help!
I have no idea who started this, but I certainly agree with this e-mail. I heard a preacher on TV tonight that said if we will pray for our nation that things will turn around
After a day of contemplation and soul searching, I have decided to reach out to my friends and relatives and ask you to do something that has been troubling me for a long time.
Our nation is/has been on the slippery slope for a long time. If you look around you will find corruption, greed, moral decay, and a steady move away from the things that made us great. The principles upon which this nation was founded are no longer our backbone. However, we can reverse this trend.
2 Chron. 7:14 In God's word he states,"If my people who are called by my name will humble themselves and pray and seek my face and turn from their wicked ways, then I will hear from heaven and will forgive their sin and heal their land."
I am convinced that we must pray for our nation and its leaders and ask for forgiveness. So I ask you to join me in this plea to our Lord.
Would you please send this to people in your address book (send it to all of them); ask them to pray EVERYDAY. (25 to the 5th power is 9,765,625 people.) IMAGINE if each person reaches TEN others...or all TWENTY FIVE!
If you do and they comply, we will lift up millions and millions of prayers a day to our Creator. He will hear us and in faith will answer.
Let me just add a quote from Ronald Reagan "If we ever forget that we are one nation under God, then we will be a nation gone under." I truly believe this is why the United States of America is in the shape we are in today. Most people have forgotten that we are one nation under God! Let us as Christians stand up and remind people of this ~ Have a blessed day! --"Live simply, love generously, care deeply, speak kindly, and leave the rest to God."
Rosalind J. Harris-Diaw.....Denver Urban Spectrum
Publisher Rosalind "Bee" Harris-Diaw is the owner, publisher and art director of the Urban Spectrum newspaper. Providing a voice for the community, the Urban Spectrum has been "spreading the news about people of color" for more than 16 years. The Urban Spectrum and the Urban Spectrum Youth Foundation has received honors in journalism from the Colorado Association of Black Journalist since 1991 including the Overall Excellence award.
They're Baaaaccckkk!!!
Let me tell you about Fatty James. When I had my podcast radio show on Blackflix.com Fatty James was one of the first cd's I wanted to feature on my show! I truly love all the songs. I have head a lot of musicians over the years, but nothing like what these two dynamic artist put together. The soud is rich and gives me such a lift. If you need inspiration and music to take you to that level, put on Fatty James. Good Luck with all your endeavors! The Voice of New Avenue. - Fatty James "Supernatural" available @ iTunes, Rhapsody, and Lala.
Fatty James - Allright - S. Wilburn, L. King
Available @ iTunes, & CD Baby
Noir Sistah Wilburn
Ja Mahn!
A Little Bit of EWF
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We've come a long way, baby!..... The Dred Scott Decision
This portrait of Dred Scott, painted by Louis Schultze, was commissioned by "a group of Negro citizens" and presented to the Missouri Historical Society in 1882.
MUSIC LEGENDS WE'VE LOST
Isaac Hayes 8/20/42 – 8/10/08.....The baldheaded, baritone soul crooner, who won Grammy awards and an Oscar for the theme from the 1971 action film "Shaft," was found unconscious at his home in Memphis, next to a still-running treadmill. He was taken to a hospital, where he was pronounced dead. He was perhaps better known to a younger audience as the voice of Chef from the hit cartoon show “South Park.” He was 65....Click photo for more
Get Your Hustle On!
There is a new dance, called the OBAMA HUSTLE. We need to learn it so we can celebrate when he claims victory as president. CLICK Da Flick.
Hello, Hello.
The name is Daddymix, but you can call me Daddy.
I’m starting this BlogSpot behind the overwhelming interest in the upcoming presidential elections. I’ve had the opportunity to share opinions on the state of Black America with some very interesting and insightful people. Hopefully we’ll be getting their opinions included on the site, and I welcome your opinion to the subject.
Quickly a short rundown on Daddy;
Name: Stephen Wilburn
Age: 54
Marital status: Married. (30 years).
Children: 3
Grandchildren: 2
Occupation: Musician, Songwriter.
City of Birth: Des Moines Iowa.
Now that you have a better idea of who I am, I hope I’ll be able to challenge your intellect.
I am by no means a scholar, or educator. I’m just a Mad Old Black Man who has an opinion on the state of Black America today, and a few other topics.
So please join in, and maybe with a little communication we regular Black folk just may be able to come up with some ideas on bringing more of everybody together as one.
Have a great and blessed day. PEACE!
