Thinkoholic

Obama State of the Union

2012-01-24T18:22:00.001-08:00

"The auto industry is back," says Obama. Is that so?

Fear & Suffering:

2012-01-18T18:29:00.000-08:00

If you fear that you will suffer, you already suffer what you fear.

Into the Cosmos

2011-12-30T20:39:00.000-08:00

Today I made peace with fall. Cold fingers, chilly air, numb skin, warm chest under a feather stuffed vest, standing in the wake of a fruitful garden. The explosion of color and nutrients is over though. I remember a day back in August when rain came down and steamed into the hot soil and I was standing in it plucking bind-weeds and dandelions from the earth reeling in a feeling of ultimate freedom. The rain on my back and melting into my hair reached my scalp warm and dripped down my neck, warmer. It straightened my posture and the succulent green all about me looked delicious and comforting all at once and I decided that if I could not consume this rich living beauty of the garden then it must consume me.

It stated with my feet. I took off my shoes and felt the warm grit of wet soil scratch and caress my toes and then, my knees gave way to it's pull and I found myself on all fours, crawling into the cool space between the roots of a mammoth sunflower and a patch of tall cosmos in full bloom.

Then, when my limbs no linger carried me, I slipped into the earth on my belly. It was cool against the warm of my skin. The kind of cool that is mercy on a hot day. The kind of cool that floods the insides of watermelons and ahhhhhh.... there. the green from the leaves was like light, glowing. A new sky. The earth around my body and soul, a new me. Through my skin I drank the raindrops. The raindrops were slowing now, the sunlight a celestial delight in the distant space cracked a clouds and warm. Green, and then a glimpse of pink. And I, a celestial sphere in my own orbit. bowing in the breeze, shaking off the rain. Leaves, I see your underside! I am in the soil and you are looking at the sun. Bring the sun to me! You did. The sun powers my thoughts, my movement. I am spinning with the universe now. On m stomach, now on my back, I want to be swallowed!

The white feathery roots of the cosmos tickle my arms. I am no larger than a caterpillar and the stalks of these flowers are pillars of my world. Green pillar feeding on the sun and they are alive! Breathing air into my lungs they feed my oxygen! Breathing out I see a whimsical leaf flutter under my nostrils. Let me feed you this:

I have nothing but my breath to give. But the spirit does but mean the breath. How long can I here in this green haven of a summer shower? I want to grow roots and sprout up: change my skin from brown to green and my toes turn white and fine like tender roots. A green pillar eating rain and soil and sunshine. I don't need a formula for respiration to know how to breathe! If I bury myself like a seed, will I sprout? what will my cotyledon look like? Thin and feathery or fat and stout? These questions, this desire to be consume by the garden is boiling up, fierce. I ball up and shift back and forth, deeper into the puddle created by an impromptu monsoon.

Then, I saw them. The cosmos in their element. The stars of creation that I will only bear witness to.

Then, there is no ME. No me, not anymore. Just a vast consciousness. A vastness so great and full of wondrous and terrible things all at once! The eyes, the ears ... all of the senses of the living creatures that is this vast consciousness experiencing itself. Physical living things manifest the creation itself! Because of this consumption it is so. But without the "Me" how does this vast operation acknowledge it's own work? Calm and still, tightly bound slowly expanding, then, pop! I am suspended again. I have a purpose. I am opened and alive. breathing but not with my lungs. Eating but not with my mouth. White roots where my toes once were...

And then I feel again. The cool, the warm, the urgency of a short life. Bloom! Every fiber of my sprouting being wants to blossom and create seeds and do it all over again so my type survives. How warm, how delicious. Consume yourself and find out if you're good to eat. Or bad? Or edible at all?

I have leaves now. My cotyledons shed. A pink bud at my tip is about to pop open and expose a pollen-coated yellow center.

Up, up I ascend when rain straightens my posture, I reach and soar into the cosmos.

The Storm

2011-11-06T16:55:00.000-08:00

Last night I dreamt of a deadly storm: a storm that would end my life and the lives of my parents. At first there was a small rain shower and it blew over. But then there were murmurs of a great storm roaring our way over vast, distant plains and gaining power. The murmurs grew and spilled out and became great worries and the worries turned to terror: this storm was undoubtedly going to be the end of our lives. There was nothing we could do.

A horse-drawn hearse rolled up for my father. He was still alive but very sick and surely would not survive the storm.

We didn’t even board up the windows of our house because it was futile: this was the storm to end all storms.

We sat down in unusual places about the shack—on jutting rocks and firewood stumps—and our stomachs grew tight and sour with worry. We wondered what death was going to feel like and how, exactly, each of us would die.

We decided that my father would die first. Probably as soon as the first winds hit. We commented on how well crafted his coffin was and how he would have loved the little horse that drew the hearse carriage. He was alive, but we spoke about him as if he were dead. We all would be soon, anyway. The frilly grey hearse-pulling pony fluffed at our compliments. I quietly wondered if she knew she was going to die in the storm.

As the day drew onward, we became more certain of our enclosing doom. The deep, primal fear of death was crippling. All we could do was sit facing the grayest horizon intensely watching for signs of the approaching storm. We didn’t eat, but we drank lots of water and felt the weight of eternal sadness. We talked about the things we never did but had always wanted to do and talked about how silly all of our philosophies were because, after all, no one really knew what would happen after the storm came. After we died. Who knew?

Then we fell silent and I tried with all of my might not to think about how it would happen to me. Would it be the beam supporting the gutter? Would it be that heavy stone bookend on the shelf or maybe a tree branch outside or the board on the swing rope? Maybe it would be one of the thin, sharp sheets of zinc that made up the roof? Would it be my head that was smashed first? Would I feel pain? If so, how much and for how long?

Suddenly there was a loud, piercing clap of thunder and we all shivered from our cores and looked again at the sky for signs of the storm. Clouds were moving in fast. At first they were just puffy gray rainclouds sprinting across the sky.
But I was the first to see it. The real beginning of the end. The clouds the color of coal that no one had ever seen before. The first ones were moving so fast they looked like foreboding inky tumbleweeds. I cried out when I saw them and we all huddled together in dread and awe. So this was the end of days. The storm about which no one would ever live to tell.

The black clouds kept flying in, some round; some thin and wispy like celestial spiders warning of the nearness of doom.
Then the rain began to fall. It rained very hard and all of us were so worried that we were getting sicker and weaker and we sat and watched the rain as we suffered our fear of death. The suffering grew to a point where we agreed that the faster the storm came, the better.

Still, the frightening ink clouds kept coming, some bigger than others. The feeling I got from the sight of these clouds pricked at my skin. It dried up my mouth no matter how much water I drank and it shook every single joint in my body. Just looking at the sky and seeing the cloud-spiders jabbed at my bladder and slackened my sphincters so that I was terrorized, a horrifying type of pain beforehand unknown to me.

My head felt light and hollow. Thoughts started to echo. Death was breathing down my neck and would enter my body at any moment. Soon our house would be splintered into toothpicks. Our bodies, shredded organic waste melted into a floodplain.
I could endure the pain, I told myself. I had not choice, really. None of us did. None of us wanted to suffer, but it was too late. I secretly hoped it would be the beam supporting the gutter: one crack and it all would be over. How could I welcome the very thing we all dread the most? Death, the very event we reject with an instinctual fierceness coded into our sinew of being? This fierce will to live once radiated from an ancient place between our ears: survival at all costs. Survive and procreate so that the race will survive. That was the survivor’s creed.

But this storm. This storm to end all storms. It was different than a catastrophic hurricane. Rumor of its ultimate destruction came from the inside out and not the other way around. The storm itself was communicating with our bones. It walk waking some primeval senses stored away for long ages of creation; a primal code lodged in our existence long before we flopped out of the ocean we knew about this storm.

The black clouds started rolling out faster, a grim light blurred the lines of night and day. It washed over everything with a thick, sickening gloss. But the hearse looked peaceful. I sat on a rock on the floor of the kitchen. I could no longer stand. It had been so long since we first heard of the storm: One day running the expanse of my entire life and pinching me from all I held dear in it.
It got to the point where my spine could barely support my body. More clouds. This was the end. None of us has any doubts. We stopped talking. We didn’t even say goodbye. We just knew it was time.

The sadness I felt was too profound to express, it ripped at my guts and my throat and far beyond my physical body it endured into my soul, into the far reaches of my psyche, it stuck like tar into unidentified places and planes of existence. We could not even moan, or shout in agony because by now we were completely paralyzed in fear. Even the hearse-drawing pony drooped her head and fell to her forelegs and all of a sudden, a great wind whipped the jungle.

Outside, branches thrashed violently. Birds cried and rain rang and the sounds swirled together and comforting, and comforting, almost like a blanket, that which I had feared was draped over me. So I relaxed and let go and found relief even in the pain because it would end: just an infinitesimal flash like the rest of my life.

I lay, a heap on the kitchen floor, soaking in the energy of the storm and welcoming everything it brought.
Then after some time, I noticed that the wind was dying down. Now, just the sound of the rain pittter-patter on the zinc lulled me to a calmer place. The black clouds were not getting any bigger; in fact most of the sky was gray again. Twitching and delirious, I turned my head slightly to the side, feeling my cheek grind into the sandy earthen floor.

Suddenly, I remembered something. It was such a vivid recollection that I started at its appearance in my head. I could almost hear my father’s voice as he told me, detail by detail, how he had once survived a vicious storm as a child. How could I have forgotten this story! I remembered now!

“I was a child,” he had said as I sat on his knee listening, “So I didn’t notice anything unusual except the rain. There was so much rain! It rained for days and weeks. It never stopped once. That is the worst part about these storms: The never-ending rain. We had to cook eggs on a metal plate held with a dishcloth over the candle. But it was not so bad. It was so long ago that I cannot remember each detail, but I remember that it was not so bad.”

Immediately, I regained strength to raise to my feet and walked over and looked outside and the black clouds and the terror had vanished. I looked at the rain and it was steadily falling. But the wind was not much harder than a seasonal storm. It was then that it occurred to me to look around and I realized I was not alone. We all were still there. We got off of the floor and looked outside and felt a bit ashamed. We felt tricked and informed all at once.

It was a wonderfully frightening moment of shock, and, while I cringe at this confession, disappointment. So there was no storm to end all storms? Who was the joke on? Us? All the pain was in my head? The worst thing would be the rain? And we were so embarrassed.

The first thing I had to do was change out of my soiled clothes. I had so much to do! I had wasted so long being an invalid to feelings about a storm that would never come!? And now it was me who had to gather firewood in the rain even though we knew it was never going to burn and we’d be splashing endless kerosene into a smoky fire into the deep recesses of the evening. My father would complain of hunger and we all were so hungry and our clothing reeked and I shouted at the sky in a heated blast of anger. I hotly hoped the black clouds would reappear, big ones this time. I wanted the storm my primitive coding had promised.

Then, after wrestling with firewood and as the rain kept pouring forth the hours, I went to see if my father was awake. I wanted to tell him that I remembered. I remembered everything he told me, about the rain and the not-so-bad.

But when I looked for him he was gone and so were the enchanting pony and the beautiful, well-crafted coffin. I asked where he went and found out he had gone away on a long journey. They had left just at the beginning of the rainstorm. When we were too struck with horror, the pony galloped away.

But I had found something I had lost somewhere along my evolutionary path; a grand key to existence.
For the first time in a very long time, I smiled. I smiled and I meant it. The kind of smile only true sadness can pull out. The smile after the storm. The reason.

~MF

Bitches Be Crazy, Study Finds

2011-10-10T09:52:00.000-07:00

Bitches Be Crazy, Study Finds

WASHINGTON—

Bitches—despite having fat asses and seemingly cool tendencies—be crazy, a Brookings Institute report confirmed Monday. "The words 'down ass chick' evoke this arcane image of a beautiful woman who ain’t trippin’ over bullshit. But think about it, how many of those have you really met? Yes, many women are capable of creating the mirage of a chick thousands of times cooler and more chill than your average hoe, but there's no way you’re going to find that shorty who’s down for whateva," the report read in part, adding that one has to admit that even with all the liberating advancements for women over the years, the fact that men are still being roped into getting married in churches and banquet halls all around the world is "pretty goddamn amazing."

"Brothas still get tricked into thinking they got the one chick that’s cool, but when they wife ‘em up, shit gets flipped,” said Randall Jenkins, Ph.D, leading gender researcher at Oxford University and top proprietor of this revealing study. “The data indicates that men rely on hoes for booty calls and sandwich making. Then hit the club without them every Friday night. The statistics of this study provide concrete evidence that bitches is down until you put a ring in it,” Jenkins added.

The extensive, ground breaking research found that bitches have a fascinatingly large capacity for bullshit until a certain tipping point, where things get serious in their relationship. Once that happens, “it’s a wrap” the study reads.

"Bitches tend to think they can change men," says Vera Bossman, Ph.D, chair of the of women's association and leading female researcher at Mt. Holyoke University. "They set their eyes on a man and go along with his bullshit until he gets hooked and then they start operation build-a-man, much like the bear building phenomena at the mall," Bossman said. Bossman also noted that it's not just in relationships that bitches be crazy. "Women will go to alarmingly great lengths to get what they want, calculating for months in advance at times."

One prominent example comes from page 1227 of the report, which outlines a real-life case of a man and women who decided to move in together. 'Can I borrow your car?' the man asks, and he’s expecting her to say yes because she has let him use her car every day for the past year with no problems. Woman responds, “Nigga, what?! Get ya own car!!!! Triflin ass muthafucka …" She then proceeds to tell him every little thing she hates about his lazy ass, using minute details from something that pissed her off six months ago. I mean, some little shit that apparently her score-keeping ass seems to remember the hell out of but that he forgot about as soon as it happened, the report states.

The report concluded that the mere fact that alcohol, sports bars, and man caves are so popular should be evidence enough of how crazy bitches still be.

-MF

Music, Universal

2011-06-19T14:43:00.000-07:00

"Don't wake me 'til I land where they barely understand what I speak but they nod to my beats ... they clap, they applaud. They love me, my God."

~Lupe the Fiasco

Love, Eternal

2011-06-07T16:07:00.001-07:00

Anything that comes and goes, rises and sets ... that is not love.

A little thing called con-fi-dence

2011-05-17T21:14:00.000-07:00

"How do you know that you can't ride a rainbow in the sky?"
~Andy Kaufman

Sometimes...

2011-05-16T16:44:00.001-07:00

... I feel like my senses are not enough. I hold at bay a sudden urge to climb into a flower and absorb this. What a wonderful world we live in!

Going green

2011-05-09T19:35:00.001-07:00

"Pacquiao, Pacquiao! Philippines, Philippines!"

2011-05-07T21:06:00.000-07:00

So many wonderful things about this fight. Namely the fact that Mosley actually claims he will have Pacquiao KO'd in the 1st round (how embarrassing). Also that fact that Pacquiao has plans to sing at a concert post fight (seriously). He's really gonna be up for that after (possibly) 12 rounds? Is this guy human?

For more on this...

Black Republican Recruit

2011-05-01T07:29:00.001-07:00

This is a throwback but always funny. Esp. now that Roy Roberts heads DPS takeover

Suspended

2011-05-01T06:32:00.001-07:00

Sleep becomes Misfortune.

Now I lay here smiling about imagined future events. Long awaited happy days. I mean real, dream-fulfilling situations.

"This is exactly where I am supposed to be," I wake up thinking aloud in this bursting spring orchard. It's better than fireworks. Beauty that massages the scum of winter out of my brain.

Wind, sprinting over the quivering grass, pick up a petal then pick me up along with these infinitesimal specks!

Spring, precisely flowering in mysterious spirals, I want you!

$1,000 on the bridge card. Yes. I can the buy grapefruits and lemons I hope to grow one day.

It feels so good to emerge, momentarily if at all, from learning's smokey stew.

Lasers

2011-04-29T19:58:00.000-07:00

Home girl not tryna be a ho even tho she on the pole. Can she get a second chance? _____NOOOOOO!!!______

....Be a jerk to them jerks, yeah, that'll make'em hurt!

Huh?

Money and Art

2011-04-26T13:04:00.000-07:00

Let's face it: even Edgar Allen was Po'. Andy Warhol was rich though, y'all. I suggest you sell out if you tryna get that cash.

WRITERS, READ THIS

Misfortune is wearing pajamas

2011-04-19T19:56:00.000-07:00

Misfortune is wearing pajamas
a two-piece set, flannel.

Remedy this long grind

So tired.

Misfortune is shuffling around in slippers
fuzzy, indulgent.

Dim lights. Teeth-brushing lull; removing slime of laborious events, residue of the grease-for-lunch routine.

Sick feeling. Penetrating exhaustion.

But what a feat has been accomplished! Rest is required.

Long, satisfied sigh. Bed.

But before sinking in, one more effort: click off the last light.

Disable the alarm.

Sleep on, Dreamless.

This is the stuff comedies are made of. Christ 2.0

2011-04-19T07:25:00.000-07:00

So much for the Rastafarian prophecy, right? Hear me out.

Long story short, this Jamaican dude, Marcus Garvey, says "Okay all black people need to go back to Africa, you're free now, this isn't home, go back home where you can be free for real."

Then Garvey dude says "look to the East for Christ 2.0." Then this Selassie dude comes to power in the East, Ethiopia that is, and Garvey's followers (and Garvey at first) pluck him up as the second coming. A cult is developed.

Seven years later as WWII creeps up, Garvey dude thinks he's made a mistake and writes the scathing essay posted below. But toooo late!!! The cult has also blossomed out in popularity.

Meanwhile, Garvey's hard fought "Back to Africa movement" is growing. (Google it to find out more)

Damn near thirty years after that, Bob Marley gets on the Rasta bandwagon and next thing you know the cult keeps on a'growin' and to Garvey's horror, his whole life of hard work to create a great black exodus back to Africa is smashed to pieces (in a sense) as this new "God" visits Jamaica to a bunch of bowing people and Selassie aka Ras Tafarai says, "Yo, don't listen to that Garvey guy. Don't go back to Africa, it's no piece of cake there. Find your freedom here in the west first."

Meanwhile Selassie, who claims he's a direct descendant of King Solomon, does not confirm or deny that he is the Lord Jesus kind of Kings 2.0. He does give Rasta cult "Dignitaries a gold medal (see video from earlier post)

Then Garvey moves to England amid controversy (Not Africa BTW), Selassie's the only one who really goes "Back to Africa."

Now, years later, a bunch of long haired confused people roam the earth deeming themselves "Rastafarian."

I swear I did not make this up. Real talk.

Oh the irony. Life is ridiculous. Gotta laugh sometimes.

Editorial by Marcus Garvey in the Black Man - London, March/April 1937

THE FAILURE OF HAILE SELASSIE AS EMPEROR

When the facts of history are written Haile Selassie of Abyssinia will go down as a great coward who ran away from his country to save his skin and left the millions of his countrymen to struggle through a terrible war that he brought upon them because of his political ignorance and his racial disloyalty.

It is a pity that a man of the limited intellectual calibre and weak political character like Haile Selassie became Emperor of Abyssinia at so crucial a time in the political history of the world.....

...Every Negro who is proud of his race must be ashamed of the way in which Haile Selassie surrendered himself to the white wolves of Europe. These statements may be considered very severe, and in fact, they are. We could have been otherwise apologetic and sympathetic, but that would have been only if we were dealing with a Coptic Priest or a Religious Monk and not a[n] Emperor who held and presided over the political trust of twelve million people of his own country, and the political destiny of the entire Negro race.

Damn son!!!! Get 'im!!!! The essay goes on and on but you get the point. Oh this kiills me!! My side is hurting. LOL

Student's occupy Deroit school for sit in

2011-04-15T15:58:00.001-07:00

Student protest Detroit public school closing: CLICK HERE

Haile Selassie visits Jamaica 1966

2011-04-04T07:48:00.000-07:00

I'll refrain from spewing my opinion and just let you watch this interesting video on Haile Selassie's visit to Jamaica in 1966.

Now or never?

2011-03-30T20:07:00.000-07:00

"Grasp your chance with resolute trust.
Take occasion by the hair
For, once involved in the affair,
You carry on because you must."

Self absorbed with my own self. Damn shame.

2011-03-19T18:12:00.000-07:00

I feel ____ because I am ______. I want you to ______ so that I can ____ and then I will_____ . That's why I am _____. They ______ _______ to me and I __________________ because ______ _______. I I didn't _______ then maybe I'd _______.

I, I, I, I, I, I, I, I, I, ME, ME, MEMEMEMEMEMEEMEME Me me meme

Dream Girls -- True Hollywood Story

2011-02-20T17:24:00.000-08:00

Few people realize that the DREAMGIRLS movie many know and love today is NOT the first time the hit Broadway play was adapted for the silver screen.

In 1994, a smaller, and ultimately ill-fated version was produced by actor/director Mario Van Peebles. This is the story of that movie...and why you've never seen it.

Detroit Police Chief Godbee is level-headed, versatile

2011-01-20T21:06:00.001-08:00

I honestly didn't think I'd say this, but Detroit's newest police chief Ralph Godbee isn't the empty suit/place holder I thought he would be. In fact, from my brief experience with him at a town hall style meeting, he's quite the opposite.

At a downtown business community event Thursday evening put on by the Detroit Economic Growth Corporation (DEGC) and the Downtown Development Authority (DDA) Godbee showed genuine concern. The event was a meet and greet with the chief of police held in response to a growing concern among business owners and residents operating and living on Broadway Street in Downtown Detroit.

The key concerns among loft residents and business owners in the Broadway Business District were break ins and gunshots fired after clubs let out at 2:00 am. Business owners and new residents coming to the city have been discouraged by late night gunfire and robberies.

"The good news is the economy in downtown Detroit is growing. The bad news is the economy in downtown Detroit is growing," Godbee told business owners and residents at the meeting, held in an industrial themed loft on Broadway owned by developer Mike Mercier.

Godbee was realistic, yet hopeful. "There are not enough police officers to make the city of Detroit safe," he said. "The real goal is to look at systemic issues. We're very good at what we do, but we don't know it all."

He suggested piloting a new crime-stopping technology starting downtown that can triagulate a gunshot's location in ten seconds within two square miles of an incident.

While Godbee was reluctant to say that downtown communities received more police attention than the often more violent neighborhoods, he was frank about downtown's importance to the economic health of Detroit. "You gotta be careful how you say this. We could have five shootings on the east side ... but one (shooting) downtown and it would wipe us off the map." He added, "the downtown area is the safest place in the city."

In a mixed crowd of white and black business owners, the issue of race and culture was a tense undercurrent. Clubs letting out proceeded by gunfire is happening primarily at clubs where the clientele is predominantly young black people and the few who bring a gun ruin it for the rest.

The chief of police was instated to the post last summer after a controversial firing of former police chief Warren Evans.

In person, Godbee seemed relatable, making a special effort to stay true to himself while retaining professional composure.

"I like Lil' Wayne. I do. I like Weezy. I just don't like the decibels my daughter plays him at," he said with a smile, also noting that the key to solving this problem is to be proactive, not reactionary. "We can't wait 'til the next WJLB Wax Tax n' Dre party to figure this out."

Among attendees was nightclub owner and former Detroit city council candidate Jai-Lee Dearing whose clientele briefly became a hot point in the conversation on late night gunplay. Godbee held played it cool, staying neutral and welcomed more community meetings on the topic.

"This is the first of many," he said.

Good quote:

2010-12-16T20:23:00.001-08:00

Self-respect cannot be hunted. It cannot be purchased. It is never for sale. It cannot be fabricated out of public relations. It comes to us when we are alone, in quiet moments, in quiet places, when we suddenly realize that, knowing the good, we have done it; knowing the beautiful, we have served it; knowing the truth, we have spoken it.

Showing Love

2010-10-18T16:50:00.000-07:00

Before I write all these words down
There are two things that I must claim:
First, through all the joy and pain
I follow love that knows no bounds.

Second, I have reclusive moods
Where I seek solace in my world:
The placid portrait of a girl
Engulfed in passing solitude.

Among the many things I wish
Is one thing I have yet to learn
Though all my love, respect you've earned
I fail to show beyond a smile

Through little jolts and ins and outs
I do admit my silence shows:
The tension on the phone line grows
Collecting clouds and dust of doubt.

Yet that will never signify
That I lost sight of what is dear
In fact, I hold you all too near
But lack the voice to show this by.

If only I could shout and sing
To all those which our love is one:
“You are the sunshine in my sun
And nights, in fact, eternal shades,
That block me from these blinding days,
Until this strange, long, race is run!”

And all the space that spans between
The point of sun and point of shade
A complex gradient is made:
Where vision hears what sound has seen.

I know now that my heart beats clear
To those whose love I know so well
Sometimes I doubt if words could tell;
And if not words then, somehow, tears.

And that is why I wrote this poem:
To write the words I do not speak
And while I know my love you keep
Just know you make my earth a home.

So, these thoughts passed from mind to pen,
And pen to paper, sheet by sheet
The mind and the conjunctions meet
Then rupture pods of thought within.

I feel I could go on and on,
A long, prolific thinking spree
This pen ignites a flame in me
Enforcing these existent bonds.

For now, it seems it's time for bed
The lights out on the street are dimmed
Even all the lights within
Are sleepy, like the light they shed.

And me, I am not one to speak
The lights are vibrant next to I,
With fuzzy hair and hollow eyes
Writing these words my pen-tip seeks
And sealing them onto the page
Not an angry rant, or rage
But something rather powerful
I use words, tiny power-tools
To craft the feelings of a fool
And fool the feelings I engage.

On Red Bull:

2010-09-02T21:40:00.000-07:00

Shit's a helluva drug.

It's official. Freman Hendrix has resigned.

2010-08-18T18:59:00.001-07:00

It's official. Freman Hendrix has resigned from his post as Detroit City Charter Revision Commission Chair, a position he was elected to in November 2009.

During he tenure as a Charter Revision Commissioner he oversaw public meetings and managed the commission's logistics and inner workings. It wasn't without some squabbles and controversy at meetings between him and other commissioners, but ... hey, that's healthy, no?

Besides, anyone can get a lil testy if they have to suffer through 3-4 hour meetings bored to tears and not get paid for it?

Hendrix got a better job on the board of Greektown Casino which conveniently was a conflict of interest to his position on the commission. Now the commission will decide the consequences of losing a member: Who will be the 9th member? Who will take the empty seat?

Janice Mitchell Ford, former vice chair, will be bumped up to chair to replace Hendrix. But the new member will not have been elected. Some commissioners considered selecting the 10th runner up in the election but ultimately that idea was voted down.

Now any registered Detroit voter can apply to be a commissioner, just need a resume, three references "bam!" I'm sure it's waaaaay more political than that though now that it's left up to the board's discretion.

But hey ... I know I don't wanna be forced to endure 3 hour boring a$$ lectures out of the kindness of my heart. I hope that doesn't make me a bad egg.

Now we know Hendrix's priorities. They're a lot like ours: get money first.

Hendrix’s letter of resignation indicates:

“I strongly believe that the work being done by the Commission is critical to the future of the city of Detroit. However, the Michigan Gaming Control Board has deemed my status as an elected official to be a conflict of interest with my appointment to the Greektown Casino Board of Directors.”

In other words, he's like, "It's been swell, y'all, but ... yyyyyeahhh ... I'm gonna gave to go ahead and sort of leeeeave. This boring ass sh*t ain't worth it!. [Conflict of interest, you know.]"

City of Detroit, Charter Revision Commission (2009)
32nd Floor, Cadillac Tower Building
Detroit, Michigan 48226

If you have any questions in connection with this public announcement, please contact Mr. Gregory Hicks at 313.628.2516.

-end-

Here's a great site to bust through writers' block

2010-07-11T18:33:00.000-07:00

This is a great place to play with if you're looking for a creative writing drill! Click here!

City contract grows legs and sneaks out of City Hall!!

2010-07-04T19:42:00.000-07:00

A demolition company owner linked to former Detroit Mayor Kwame Kilpatrick's circle of friends is undergoing a federal corruption investigation. Bobby Ferguson hasn't been charged with anything yet, but the fact that he's under investigation enough to cancel all contracts with companies connected to him? Excel is a company Ferguson is apparently heavily involved in.

Councilman Kwame Kenyatta said the Xcel contract snuck by him and he plans to move to reconsider the vote this week so he can vote no.

Kenyatta suggested the city improve office lighting in order to ensure that no more major contracts sneak by in the future.

"Because of all we have gone through -- the investigation of City Hall -- we at least need to walk forward under a better light," Kenyatta said.

Detroit Art, not Detroit Incinerator! rally USSF

2010-06-25T21:55:00.000-07:00

On Saturday, June 26, at 9:00 a.m. protest the world's largest trash incineraotr EVER! Yeah, EVER! And YOU can protest it! Click HERE to learn a smidgen more.

Protest at the main Detroit Public Library on Woodward across from the DIA. Be there or come back next year for our perennial Detroit Trash incinerator protest!

This is the GOOD kinda propaganda, y'all. How does apathy feel? Is it soft?

Yes, Virginia Woolfe, "Banksy" is a woman.

2010-06-19T21:15:00.000-07:00

Earlier this week, I believe TheOnion.com published a piece that unearthed an allusive face.

The face of "89-year-old Rose Biggin, a grandmother from the Camden Town neighborhood of North London" was outed as being a famous, some may even venture to say "brainwashing", graffitti artist.

I beg to differ.

"Banksy" is, in fact, Oneita Jackson, known Detroit blogger and vandalism-person. Commonly believed to be a Brittish male with a very deep, perhaps camouflaged "for-my-documentary" voice, my sources have confirmed that she's a woman.

Shocking, I know, that I would so boldly disagree with a scource as reliable as The Onion?!

Well, she said it.

The following is her written public apology to the Detroit Free Press (and the world):

"Imagine you’re Banksey, I mean, Oneita Big Mouth and you get caught on tape doing something you shouldn’t have been doing, something you’re always checking other people for: making the City of Detroit look bad.

That’s what happened Wednesday after the grand opening ceremony of the Bagley Pedestrian Bridge. I wrote my name on a brand new bench on the bridge.

A reporter for another publication gave me a call to tell me he was writing about vandalism and that he had me on tape, he said, vandalizing the bridge.

Oh, my.

I admitted it was me.

The image of me pulling out a green Pilot fine-point pen, writing on the bench, then cursing the fact that I had done it came back vividly. I had written my name then realized the camera was there.

I was troubled by it all day, but never exercised my inner big mouth about it and that’s the problem, said my editor, Stephen Henderson. I was only trying to fess up after I was caught.

He was right.

Was I ashamed? Yes. Did I think it would go away? Yes. I hoped it would and I wouldn’t have to deal with it.

But I have to deal with it now; I wouldn’t be writing about it right now if that reporter hadn’t called me, seeking comment.

I make a living running my big mouth telling people how they should behave. I cannot be Oneita Big Silent now. I have to answer to Detroit -- and to my son.

Vandalism is the willful and malicious destruction of property. What I did was willful. I was excited when I saw the bench and that people had written on it and wanted to add my tag to it. That’s what we did in New York City when I was young: We put our tags on the park benches. I also wrote my name in wet concrete when I was in D.C.

But I’m not just another girl on the avenue. I’m a Detroiter, a blogger-columnist-newspaper chick and, as Free Press Editor Paul Anger pointed out, a role model. I interact with people on the O Street blog and talk to students and people in the community. I speak my truth and I seek the truth.

And now I hope to be a better role model for the truth.

I returned to the pedestrian bridge Friday to look for my name on the bench and was surprised to see that it was gone. [I thought, "Those muthafuckas stolen my art and sold that shit on the black market!] So were other names. I went to the welcome center and told the women there what I had done. They asked what kind of pen I had used and told me Wednesday’s rain probably washed it away.

It might have washed my name away, but it cannot wash away how stupid I feel.

I apologize."

~Banksy

Before anyone apologizes any further, let's remind ourselves that the concept of vandalism is not as simplistic as one may initially think. A recent event took a certain spoke of the art community on a jostling discussion of a similar topic. Can "vandalism" become valuable art, meaning , major museum, big $ status, even pervade the law--if it's crafted by the correct hand?" YES. There are tons of places vandalism can take you, kids, and The Detroit Free Press! Be creative! I once penned an image of my tupperware on a dumpster. OoOooooo wee!!!

Note from the editor: In the true "Onion" spirit, this is all in good fun.

Good morning Afternoon!

2010-06-14T12:08:00.000-07:00

So I woke up at 4:30 a.m. to write a story after a fitful night of sleep. At 8:30a.m. I went back to sleep and woke up at 1:30 p.m.! What a waste of a good day! I'll be playing catchup on my to-do list. I want to start another Detroit Verbatim series on this blog and I also want to start something Time magazine lagged on: The pop culture chart that ranked pop news from shocking to Predictable to shockingly predictable.

Enough brainstorming. The bottom line is that i just need to do it. For my own sake. Because seriously, who reads this anyway? If you are reading this you probably stumbled onto here looking for something completely different. Sorry to take up your time. Happy web surfing!

Mindless

2010-06-10T13:54:00.001-07:00

Roving nonstop between Gmail, Yahoo mail and facebook.

It's been too long...

2010-06-10T12:15:00.000-07:00

To rev up my motivation/productivity I really should write on here more. I have been diligently writing in my personal journal but that hardly counts in terms be being seen by the world (however virtual).

Part of me has been bit by the lazy bug. The urge to lounge away by late spring days in the warm sun and soft breeze, reading a book or biking to Belle Isle to run and even swim if the weather and current permits.

No doubt I love Detroit, but staying financially buoyant in these economic waters is a constant hustle. That's what many are coming to find and there's a whole lot of shady business going down. The dilemma is whether to join 'em or slowly sink into poverty.

What could I do to get attention? A friend of mine has a hobby--he started taking pics of local Detroiters on the street and people, editors, are starting to notice his work just from online. It's one of those things one would have to be willing to invest time in, enjoy, and eventually create a portfolio or resume that speak for itself. These days one has to be creative in assuring gainful employment whether that's through contract work of a regular 9-5 or, let's face it, the black market.

There are so many things I want to accomplish before I get too old! While the term old is relative (30 is the new 20?) and I am still indisputably young by any modern measure, I feel like I'm behind on so many accomplishments. Every time I "set" my mind on something, another thing comes up, like going outside, talking to neighbors, spending time with Tim, etc. so I don't do all I could do. I could report of so many things in Detroit just from this blog and generate my own readership, my own news service. Why don't I? It is the summer warmth lazing my bones? The Winder cold? There's always something. So Why Don't I pack my open ended days with my own agenda? Website creation, blog, book, video, photos... Really tho.

There are so many avenues I wish I had the means to support myself while I excel at a hobby. But since I don't, why don't I make that happen? If I can't find the answer to these questions soon then something is wrong with me.

I used to be so up on city politics and now whenever I check in with city business it seems so cyclical, the same annual hotbutton issues, the same unresolved problems, empty promises, unimaginative leadership. One gets bored. I'd rather stick my nose in a National Geographic and let the words and images within cary me to a far away land where Detroit is not even on the map.

I always thought myself to be a decent writer. I have so much improvement to do but I can't let that stop me. Practice is improvmeent, however slow and I have no doubt in my mind that I could write as well if not better than Kiran Desai or Tea Obreht.

But I slack and a daydream and I relax my way into oblivion. At this rate, when I die, I will have nothing to leave behind. But why should I think like that? So to spur my thirst for the writers pen/keyboard I might take up a community college creative writing class and work that out. Or a writers retreat somewhere that forces my competitive spirit to flame up and the words to fall from mind to hand to paper in just the right order to prove my brilliance.

If you start dancing and moving for your own dream creation ensues. Wake up. That's the message that comes to all of us eventaully.

Mary Waters apologizes to Sam Riddle on Facebook Calls him Best Friend

2010-05-05T20:42:00.001-07:00

DETROIT-- Former State Rep. Mary Waters, who was swirled into a corruption scandal with her relationship to consultant Sam Riddle and involved in a domestic dispute with him, claims the powers that b, namely Kym Worthy, Wayne County Prosecutor, want Riddle in jail.

Here's what she had to say on Facebook:

"The police officer lied in his report. He testified to things I never said. He tried to get me to choose the wrong gun, and then said I should file charges against Sam. Once I do, he would like to have Sam's nice guns. I did ask the prosecutor to investigate those reports and her own staff. It never happened. She was too focused on getting Sam put in prison.

Mildred Gaddis was at the scene the night of the incident. When she first walked in, her first words were "Girl Kym said you better file charges". This was before I gave the police a report. Sam never stood a chance because Kym's mind was already made up.

Kym Worthy spoke to me like yesterday's trash when I met with her the day Sam was released from jail. Sam has his faults, but is the best friend one could ask for. Thanks Sam for taking care of me during my cancer and other illinesses, for helping with my sick mother and for reading to and teaching my nephew. Sam would never hurt me physically. I am sorry my friend because I know why you were in so much pain."

Sunny with a chance of privatization

2010-04-13T12:43:00.000-07:00

Today Detroit Mayor Dave Bing gave his budget proposal to City Council. Apparently he plans to cut another 300 city jobs, combine departments, and trim the deficit by $101 million.

According to Mlive.com, this budget anticipates union concessions. Good luck with that Mr. Bing! We'll see what the council does with this budget. They have until June to finalize the dealio.

In other news, it's sunny outside!

A peculiar feeling

2010-03-18T09:26:00.000-07:00

The future of Detroit. Four words. So much uncertainty. SO much. Not even the pundits of pundits with the most esteemed reputations for predicting and analyzing economic and political outcomes can conceptualize the future of this city.

Yet, across the nation there is an uncanny curiosity about Detroit. It's sometimes comparable to the rubbernecking seen on the highway after an accident mangles a car or a body or two. But there's an undercurrent that also separates it from rounchy vuerism: In cities all over the country people feel tied to Detroit' fate. The industrial pillar has fallen, now a city crusted over in rust and vines. We all know this by now. And yet the nations eye gleans Detroit, wary, nervously and frequently. Are other U.S. cities sealed into Detroit's fate? After all, it's the epicenter of this economic earthquake, they felt it first and felt it the hardest.

Here's what often gets overlooked now that internationally, economic foundations are shaking: What's happening NOW has been a LONG time coming. A storm in the gulf that turned to a hurricane and has been headed this way for the past 50 years. It's hitting everywhere now. But Detroit got the brunt of it. But the question remains: during, and in the aftermath, how will each citizen respond? How should they respond and to whom goes the power?

Detroit's already lost a big chunk of it's population and a healthy serving of hope along with it leaving only apathetic citizens, glued to a daily grind with gray, foggy eyes and thick skin and little to no imagination. No optimism or trust either, especially of elected officials. Only about a quarter of residents actually vote, the rest, the ones who feel as if they no longer hold stock in the city, on other words no longer have a slice in the pie of Detroit, don't vote and yet those are the ones whose voices need to be heard. Defeatism at its best. Lost. Gave up. Zoned out and stumbling along basking in the mindless glory of routine. This is how they can be herded like cattle, miseducated and taken advantage of. It's an age old story. This urban blight that's now getting so much attention didn't happen overnight or even over decade. It happened over a series of decades more than a half century to be sure.

so here I sit: looking out of the window of my little house in the the hood on the East side of the city. It's so quiet because there's no one around. It's on of those houses in an area where no one lived, all burnt out exoskeletons of houses and debris. A wasteland by definiion. Except for one thing: A farm. Yes, I know, I'm sick of hearing about urban farming and how it could "save Detroit" or be the "future of post industrial junkyard" yeah yeah yeah. For some reason I don't think so. Pundits acn guess and many are pointing out the 3,000 some urban farms that have spouted up from people turning back to the land and cultivating some of the large swaths of city-turned-prairie. I get a little sad when I hear that. Why? Because here's a great IDEA that will not be executed in a way that will benefit the people or the city in the long run. It will turn into a get rich quick scheme by deep pocketed investors and they will swarm in like flies and eat way at the carcass of the city leaving the white bones on top of the soil and onto the next. What I'm trying to articulate throught my rage, is this: that the urban farm push from the city will come and it will be industrial and not from the roots and ideas of the founders of these urban farms but from people with dollar signs in their eyes. And Detroit, buckled down to its knees has will have a fight left in it but there are so many fights to be fought this battle will get lost and the weakened city will get cheated, bound and left helpless as it was before, a puppet democracy run by the state.

Bing Backing down or "sticking to his guns?"

2009-11-06T08:01:00.000-08:00

DETROIT—It’s Friday, the last day of the work week for many and if Dave Bing is “sticking to his guns” like the Detroit Free Press reported yesterday, then it will be the last day of work for 3,500 city union employees.
But union leaders aren’t giving in under pressure and Bing, who promised the layoff would come today, has not made any moves or announcements. Mlive’s Jonathan Oosting has deduced, based on media reports, that Bing “Won’t be tearing up those union contracts after all”
Bing set the deadline last month to push negotiations with city unions, namely AFSCME, to agree to 26 furlough days or the equivalent of a 10 percent pay cut as well as cuts to benefits, bonuses and health care.
The move is something top AFCSME negotiator Cathy Phillips calls a “bully tactic” to get unions to fold in negotiations.
But so far there are no immediate plans for layoffs, according to Bing’s Press Secretary Ed Cardenas in an interview with the Detroit News.

Detroit election night parties

2009-11-03T11:07:00.000-08:00

It's election day in Detroit and that means tonight the city will be speckled with campaign parties as the election returns come in. What to know where your favorite candidate is partying? Here's a list of some of them. If you know of any more let me know!

Saunteel Jenkins:
Opus One 565 Larned Detroit, MI

TOM BARROW: 1915 W. Fort Street Cork industrial?

Jai-Lee Dearing/Rose Mary Robinson:
It's located at 2727 Russell 8:30 p "Bar-B-Q!"

James Tate
Doubletree Hotel terrace ballroom 9:00p

Kwame Kenyatta
“They say” restaurant 267 Jos Campau @ Franklin. 8:30

Andre Spivey: Hotel St. Regis @ Grand Blvd and Woodward. 9: 00p

Brenda Jones: The St. Regis Hotel in Main ballroom. 9:30 -10 pm

Shelly I. Foy:
Firewater grill 6521 John R St. 6 p.m. –midnight. She'll be there by 9.

Charles Pugh: Seldom Blues 8 p. He'll get there at 9 "Seldom blues play here"

David Cross: Kappa Alpha Psi House @ 269 Erskine St, Detroit, MI 48201 between John R and Brush “It’s gonna be a City of Detroit Party"

Raphael B. Johnson: Floods 10:p.m. 733 St Antoine St Detroit "Dress to impress"

DAVE BING: 8:00 p.m. Doubletree Guest Suites Fort Shelby/Downtown  525 W. Lafayette  Detroit, MI 48226

Gary Brown: Bookies Bar @ 2208 Cass at 8:00p.m.

More of the SAME hair advice:

2009-10-30T10:55:00.000-07:00

To all my ladies with seriously curly hair!

Shampoos:
#1. Kerastase "Oleo Curl Bain" in orange bottle $35 at salons OR $23 at www.beautybythecase.com

#2. CHI "INRFA SHAMPOO" Grey bottle w. red cap. " Moisture Therapy Shampoo"(I found it for $13 at CVS) It works almost as good as Kerastase!

#3. Marc Anthony "Strictly Curls" shampoo $7 at any place that sells shampoo it's REALLY good the first week or some then it drops off. I'd suggest alternating it w. CHI or Kerastase twice a month or so. It'sa good backup.

#4. Pantene "ICE SHINE" Shampoo. $5 at most places. Again, like Marc Anthony only good if used once in a while or it dries out your hair. NEVER use Pantene "Hydrating Curl" it is a lie! They should call it Pantene "Crispy Frizz"

SO I think that's a good start on the shampoo. Let's talk conditioner!

#1. Kerastase "Oleo Curl" conidtioner. Again, orange bottle about $25/bottle. I couldn't find it on beauty by the case website but it's at most salons. I don't sweat it too much tho bc there are cheaper ones that work.

#2. (Actually for the price this should be #1. ) PANTENE PRO V RESTORATIVES "FRIZZ CONTROL"conditioner. $6.50 at most places where Pantene is sold. It has a purple band around it and it comes in a tube shaped bottle like a large tube of toothpaste. AWESOME stuff! Never gets old! I suggest using it immediately after shampooing AND on days when you don't wash your hair. Put a good dollop of the stuff though hair and leave it in for about 5 mins while you shower before rinsing it all out.

#3. So I don't usually do the leave-in thing with conditioners but if you do, find a good black beauty supply shop and look for "Africa's Best" products. OMG they never let you down. This is a rule.

So IF in NYC you CAN find "Africans Best" there is a deep conditioning treatment they have for $3 and it gets you a tub of this stuff that even Kerastase can't touch. It's called "ORGANICS SHEA BUTTER PLUS" by "AFRICA'S BEST". It comes in a tub with a green top and a purple and green label.

If you can find that one let me know. This e-mail is getting long and I have a process I like to use with it.

There are lots of good conditioners out there. Don't use any with "Petrolatum" in the ingredients.

#4. Any of the Pantene PRO-V Restorative conditioners seem to do a good job.

OK. Now here's a step I skip unless I'm stepping OUT!!! IT's styling products.

This is quick bc. I only use three. And none of these are much better than the other

a. Redken "Ringlet 07" formula. $12 at most salons and dept. stores. Run that through combed, towel dried hair and watch the magic as it dries!

b. Garnier Fructis "Curl Scrunch" gel. $8 at pharmacy. Same application. Redken might be a tiiiny bit better but this one's cheaper!

c. This one works WITH Curls AND when/if you ever want to straighten our hair. It's called "OLEO RELAX" leave-in serum by Kerastase. $25/bottle @ salons AND beautybythecase.com. Smooth a very small dab it over hair after you apply the curl gel or if it's straight hair smooth down frizzes with it or use it to aid you flat iron.

OK that's all for now! Let me know how it goes!

I AM curious, what products do you use now?

Bing V. Barrow

2009-10-28T18:25:00.000-07:00

Bing or Barrow? Here's an outline of who's who and such.

On unions:

Using phrases like “Barrow is our only hope”, calling Mayor Dave Bing “a liar” and wearing a Tom Barrow pin on her chest, one could easily mistake Cathy Philips, the Chief negotiator of Michigan AFSCME Council 25, for the Barrow’s campaign manager.

The reason: Phillips is not happy with Bing’s proposed cuts to the union city worker’s pay and benefits and it’s one week before the municipal election. It’s not necessarily Barrows running platform that is the draw: Barrow has said he would make the same cuts if he got into office and saw that that there were no other options. But still, they’re going to take the chance that he’ll be easier on unions than Bing, who Barrow is calling “The republican mayor”.

But Bing’s actions have made it clear that he is not concerned about losing to his opponent, the third time mayoral candidate who challenged Coleman Young twice in the 80s. Not only has Bing refused to debate Barrow but he is not walking softly around re-negotiating union contracts. Specifically AFSME contracts, the biggest public labor in the city. It’s true, Barrow is a tan underdog who has some history of legal trouble in the past, and that Bing got about nearly 80 percent of the vote in the August primary. It’s also true that Barrow still thinks he has a chance. And if he does have a foot in the door, his only hope right now is in unions votes because he's not exactly financially level with the Bing campaign nor does he have a household name.

On Regionalism:

One of the major dividing lines in Detroit politics comes with how to handle regionalism at a time when the city is out of cash. On one side, some feel that the region—meaning leadership in the tri-county (Macomb, Oakland, Wayne) area—is taking advantage of the city while it is in a vulnerable financial state by buying out assets. The creation of regional authorities is a scorching issue in Detroit with one camp saying "Take back out city" and the other saying "we need to cooperate and save, take whatever you want1".

Two prime examples that have gathered around this regional issue are the Cobo Hall deal and the Macomb County Water interceptor.And a fierce battle that is looming on the region v. Detroit horizon is the issue of regional transit. DDOT (Detroit Department of Transportation) has a bus service and the suburban bus service SMART. Now it seems that SMART has more funding than DDOT. Just months ago SMART got 50 new buses while Detroit is cutting bus service. So it looks like DDOT would have to give up some power if the transit is lumped into regional authority. I can hear radio personality Mildred Gaddis throwing a fit about it already: "The hijacking of DDOT".

Here are some quotes from Barrow's hour long MiVote interview with Stephen Henderson of the Freep and Nolan Finley of the Detroit News.

BARROW: "Mr. Bing is clearly carrying the water of those who would privatize and regionalize take away diminish and dismantle the city of Detroit. There’s no doubt about it. He’s running plays that are being called form the sidelines."

NOLAN FINLEY: "What interest would those folks you’re talking about stand to have Detroit dismanlted and dismembered?

BARROW: "They stand to benefit financially: You privatize power and light, DTE gets a big book of business. If you privatizative tax collections some private corporation gets a big book of business. When you start taking away middle class jobs under the guise of “we’re gonna make things run more efficiently “ The very ones who are advocating it are the ones who stand to benefit. It’s disturbing to me and disturbing is a big word."

Nolan Finley: How does Tom Barrow pay for ... [City services]?

BARROW: I read financial statements. I understand them. That’s my background, that’s my training. Our records are screwed up. We’re managing it backwards. We’re managing it on projected cash flow up and down. One moment they tell us we had to cut the busses. Then they say 'we found $400,000.' they say we're gonna run out of Cash by Oct. 1 if we don't make these draconian cuts. When the unions bucked they say “we have til March. When you see that waning and waning, when you see that inconsistency, wall street loses confidence. I would have a forensic investigation into payroll, parking, pension, real estate transactions. Hundreds of positions aren’t budgeted for."

BARROW: The Mayor is way over his head. The plays are being called by Beckham and White. Why don’t you produce to me the interim financial statement? Show it to the public so we can talk to facts empirically. Stakeholders want to see something. They don’t trust this republican mayor. They have not being showing the unions. They never get back. We’re sitting here reacting to some numbers that none of us have ever seen. Why wouldn’t we have it on the website? Why wouldn’t we have it on TV? I want to put it online! Then, when I say I wanna cut this, I wanna cut that. They’ll say 'I see why'. The very first day in office ... We’re gonna get rid of this federal monitor. I’m a different guy. I’m in charge. Mr. Bing is not accountable he only wants one term. How are we gonna finance the deficit? There’s something else going on that they’re not showing us.

NOLAN: "What is different about Tom Barrow Plan than Mayor Bing?"
I’m gonna hire 300 new police officers. It’s not just labor.

Stephenson: "Police Chief: Warren Evans Is that your guy?"

BARROW: “Not at all. I don’t want political people. The only politician [in my cabinet is going to be me.”

BARROW on Bing: "He’s an outsider carrying the water of others> meaning L. Brooks Patterson… didn’t have to say a thing Bing did the work for him. I’m for regionalism, regional transit. Let’s just make sure that we have a fair way. I want fairness for Detroiters. That’s what we haven’t had.

SHOULD MAYOR TAKE CONTROL OF SCHOOLS?

BARROW: I don’t believe in the state saying ;Mayor, here, you take the schools.' If the people vote for me to lead then yes. I don’t like disenfranchising the board. The elected officials are accountable.

BARROW ON BING: "Here’s a man who’s never lived in his Detroit his entire life. He can’t relate to what we deal with everyday. I’ve lived in Detroit my entire life. I’ve never left and come back. There’s no such thing as a virtual Detroiter. He’s not one of us."

Detroit Mayoral challenger Barrow: "Bing is a republican"

2009-10-26T12:09:00.000-07:00

Watch the hour long interview with challenging mayoral candidate Tom Barrow. He blasts Bing in the interview calling him a puppet who is making decision based on plays called "from the sidelines."

CHECK IT OUT:

Beautiful, I just want you to know...

2009-10-20T06:55:00.000-07:00

It’s a fall day in Detroit. Standing at the corner of an empty lot on the city’s east side one can see a streak of iridescent color flitting between the browning knee-high stalks of wild grass— a pheasant, made uneasy by approaching footsteps, dodges into a nearby shrub and disappears. In the distance the Detroit skyline peeks over the horizon marked by the unmistakable Renaissance Center.

There is a certain quiet, a stillness that blankets the city’s east side communities. The rhythmic creak of crickets, sparatic bird calls and the occasional car with a loud muffler and bass system are the only sounds that can be heard at the moment. To the left is a patch of collard greens, overripe tomatoes and a few zucchini squash that have gone to seed. To the right there is a stack of hay, waiting to be moved to the pigpen for the winter.

This is one little portion Detroit, and it’s a beautiful place to be.

Detroit Nov. 2009 Ballot Proposals

2009-10-15T05:36:00.000-07:00

Proposal O: Operating Millage Renewal
To renew the millage authorized in 2000, shall Wayne County be authorized to continue to levy this millage at the estimated 2008 rollback rate of 0.9529 (about 95 cents per $1,000 of taxable valuation) for ten more years (2010 through 2019), and proceeds used to continue existing County services, including programs for arrest, detention and prosecution of criminals, juvenile court and related services, public health, recreation, County parks, job training, senior citizen services, and programs for meeting medical needs of the poor, the disabled, and the aged? This renewal is projected to generate $43,495,573 in 2010.

Yes ___

No ___

PROPOSAL D: Council By Distrcts
Shall the Detroit City Charter be amended to provide for a total of nine members of City Council with one (1) council member, with district residency, elected from each of seven (7) districts and two (2) members
elected at large?

Yes ___

No ___

PROPOSAL S: Detroit Public School District Bond Proposal
Shall the School District of the City of Detroit, County of Wayne, Michigan, borrow the principal sum of not to exceed Five Hundred Million Five Hundred Forty Thousand Dollars ($500,540,000) and issue its unlimited tax general obligation bonds for the purpose of defraying the cost of:

Constructing new replacement buildings and/or additions to existing buildings;

Remodeling existing buildings, including energy conservation, safety and security improvements;

Acquiring, improving and developing sites, including playgrounds, playfields and outdoor athletic facilities in the School District;

Furnishing, refurnishing, equipping and reequipping School District buildings; and

Acquiring and installing instructional technology equipment in and connecting School District buildings?

The estimated millage to be levied in 2010 to service this issue of bonds is 3.82 mills ($3.82 per $1,000 of taxable value) and the estimated simple average annual millage rate required to retire the bonds of this issue is 2.56 mills ($2.56 per $1,000 of taxable value). The debt millage levy required to retire all bonds of the School District currently outstanding and proposed by this ballot proposal is currently estimated to remain at or below 13.0 mills. The bonds may be issued in multiple series, payable in the case of each series in not to exceed thirty (30) years from the date of issue of each series. If the School District borrows from the State to pay debt service on the bonds of this issue, the School District may be required to continue to levy mills beyond the term of the bonds to repay the State.

(Under State law, bond proceeds may not be used to pay teacher or administrator salaries, routine maintenance or repair costs or other School District operating expenses.)

Yes ___

No ___

For more information about the Detroit November ballot visit www.Publius.org

Serena Williams posing nude for ESPN

2009-10-13T06:12:00.000-07:00

Serena is getting a lot of BS for posing nude. But what's the big deal? She looks good. If she's comfortable with it, why not?

Dave Bing

2009-10-12T21:29:00.000-07:00

A savior of Detroit? I'd say its too early to tell. You decide.

Turkey Burger Recipe

2009-10-07T19:58:00.000-07:00

Great recipe for TURKEY BURGERS CLICK HERE

Apple spice bread recipe

2009-10-05T15:57:00.001-07:00

http://www.cdkitchen.com/recipes/reviews/6993/Apple-Bread-II

On the ground in Detroit

2009-09-28T14:14:00.000-07:00

Today the newest issue of Time magazine with Detroit on the cover was sold out in all the area Borders books and Barns and Noble stores. Apparently it's a good report, I'm not sure though. I want to read it and critically review its content. I really would like to see what they, ["they" meaning skilled, experienced, educated and assumedly intelligent journalists] put together on this city. But all in all is Detroit really as bad as it would seem to the outside eye? Once one adjusts to life in the 'hood things can be quite relaxing, and a sense of contentment and simple enjoyment sets in. The Sunday afternoon barbeque, the smell of smoke, the music from the neighbor's radio, the bump of the cars bass, the call of the pheasant, bees buzzing in the trees. I mean, this is my east-side reality were things are a bit more country. But Detroit's Deroit. Sometimes I find it liberating where people are just ... in the moment whatever that moment is. Whether you're serving at the spot or struggling to pay for classes at Wayne state or both, it's a unique experience and everyone's perception of the same reality shifts by person. Let's all share our perspectives. I do want to read the time report before I make any assumptions.

But because with all these reports coming in from national media; from stranger reporters who have descended upon this "industrial wasteland" it's starting to become a caricature of itself. Meaning the formula for this kinds of thing can be nailed and celebrated with a simple drinking game.

I'm not sure what's going on. I've only lived in the city proper for two years. I definitely think that the city may look different to a foreign eye. And I think that vantage point needs to be developed. But seriously, I feel that the mainstream information flow, for the most part, is so conventionally wacked. Here we have the majority of reports and analysis of the political and socio-economic situations coming from people who have not been assimilated into the unique culture of Detroit. A lot of these problems are based in a cultural, racial, class based subtext. They're problems that are not new but are magnified by economic recessions. But the magnification turns it into a spectacle, a grand exhibit. Then there's the added consideration that white people inherently have an incredible need conquer. If they talk about the old train station and urban farming and urban blight and such then it's ... pretty predictable.

Hair advice:

2009-09-25T08:39:00.000-07:00

I've always worn my hair natural. As a mixed person (black and white and other) my hair doesn't respond well to all "black" hair products nor does it respond well to "white" hair products. For years I struggled with hair products from shampoos to conditioners and serums. They either oiled the hell out of my hair so it was just lumpy and heavy or dried it out until it was crispy and frizzy.

So, all my ladies (and gents) with seriously curly hair, here are some products that work. Remember, never get stuck using one product. It's crucial to rotate shampoos regularly...but make sure you keep some good ones in rotation. Here are some products that work for me:

Shampoos:
#1. Kerastase "Oleo Curl Bain" in orange bottle $35 at salons OR $23 at www.beautybythecase.com

#2. CHI "INRFA SHAMPOO" Grey bottle w. red cap. " Moisture Therapy Shampoo"(I found it for $13 at CVS) It works almost as good as Kerastase!

#3. Marc Anthony "Strictly Curls" shampoo $7 at any place that sells shampoo it's REALLY good the first week or some then it drops off. I'd suggest alternating it w. CHI or Kerastase twice a month or so. It'sa good backup.

#4. Pantene "ICE SHINE" Shampoo. $5 at most places. Again, like Marc Anthony only good if used once in a while or it dries out your hair. NEVER use Pantene "Hydrating Curl" it is a lie! They should call it Pantene "Crispy Frizz"

SO I think that's a good start on the shampoo. Let's talk conditioner!

#1. Kerastase "Oleo Curl" conidtioner. Again, orange bottle about $25/bottle. I couldn't find it on beauty by the case website but it's at most salons. I don't sweat it too much tho bc there are cheaper ones that work.

#2. (Actually for the price this should be #1. ) PANTENE PRO V RESTORATIVES "FRIZZ CONTROL"conditioner. $6.50 at most places where Pantene is sold. It has a purple band around it and it comes in a tube shaped bottle like a large tube of toothpaste. AWESOME stuff! Never gets old! I suggest using it immediately after shampooing AND on days when you don't wash your hair. Put a good dollop of the stuff though hair and leave it in for about 5 mins while you shower before rinsing it all out.

#3. So I don't usually do the leave-in thing with conditioners but if you do, find a good black beauty supply shop and look for "Africa's Best" products. OMG they never let you down. This is a rule.

"Africans Best" has a deep conditioning treatment they have for $3 and it gets you a tub of this stuff. It's called "ORGANICS SHEA BUTTER PLUS" by "AFRICA'S BEST". It comes in a tub with a green top and a purple and green label.

There are lots of good conditioners out there. Don't use any with "Petrolatum" in the ingredients.

#4. Any of the Pantene PRO-V Restorative conditioners seem to do a good job.

#5 BioInfusion "Moisturizing" conditioners ($7, Walgreens, CVS, Rite Aid)

OK. Now here's a step I skip unless I'm stepping OUT!!! IT's styling products.

And none of these are much better than the other

a. Redken "Ringlet 07" formula. $12 at most salons and dept. stores. Run that through combed, towel dried hair and watch the magic as it dries!

b. Garnier Fructis "Curl Scrunch" gel. $8 at pharmacy. Same application. Redken might be a tiiiny bit better but this one's cheaper!

c. This one works WITH Curls AND when/if you ever want to straighten our hair. It's called "OLEO RELAX" leave-in serum by Kerastase. $25/bottle @ salons AND beautybythecase.com. Smooth a very small dab it over hair after you apply the curl gel or if it's straight hair smooth down frizzes with it or use it to aid you flat iron.

d. Some sort of strong hold hair spray for days I slick my hair back and don't want fly-aways. I use a toothbrush comb in fly-aways with hair gel and then spray it in place.

OK that's all for now! Let me know how it goes!

I AM curious, what products do YOU use?

TIP: If you've been using the same shampoo for months, try switching it up, even if it's a good shampoo. You can always come back to it. It's good to rotate between shampoos that you know work, something to do with the change in chemicals? I have no idea. But trust me, it works.

So if I've been using the Chi's ultra moisturizing shampoo for about a month now and I might switch to
Aveeno or Pantene "moisturizing" shampoos every couple months. If I could afford to I'd use Kerastase "Curl Bain" more often, tho. It's not as crucial to switch conditioners if you get a good one, either.

On Commitment

2009-09-24T17:50:00.000-07:00

“ ‘DO YOU KNOW why I am so glad,’ she said, ‘so glad to look at you? — why I like you so much today?’
‘Well?’ I asked, and my heart began throbbing.
‘I like you because you have not fallen in love with me.’ ” ~Fyodor Dostoyevsky

Political Detroit

2009-09-17T09:48:00.001-07:00

chili recipe

2009-08-26T19:41:00.001-07:00

http://greenlitebites.com/2009/01/14/easy-slow-cooker-vegetarian-chili/

Packard Plant: let it burn?

2009-06-28T22:04:00.001-07:00

Detroit's Packard Industrial Park's 3.5 million square feet is an eerie landmark in the city. Once a symbol of economic prosperity, today the sprawling, decayed frame covers 35 acres with shattered glass, dripping rust, and heaps of municipal waste such as shoes, dolls and boats. In the spring and summer parts become enshrouded in leafy overgrowth.

In many ways, The Packard factory is a symbol of The Motor City's decline from a prosperous manufacturing capital to a city in crisis.

A fire blazed through the top floors of the structure Sunday night June 28th at 7:30 p.m. Firefighters faught the blaze from the outside for hours. The fire is suspected to be arson.

Bing's campaign statement on trash incinerator

2009-06-17T07:44:00.000-07:00

When running for Mayor Dave Bing has this to say about recycling and about his position on Detroit's method of municipal waste disposal:

Q: Do you think Detroit should continue to send garbage to its waste-to-energy incinerator?

A: In fiscal year 2007-2008, Detroit residents paid $172/ton for trash disposal – about 5 to 7 times as much as nearby suburbs, and about 14 times what private haulers paid to have their trash burned at the incinerator ($172/ton versus $12/ton).

In 2008, the city council voted to end sending our trash to its waste to energy incinerator. I support this action. Detroit can sell materials that are currently going into the incinerator on the global market. The city can not sell what now it burns. That is more money that could be earmarked for our deficit. I have been informed that of the nation's 30 largest cities, Detroit is the only major city without some type of curbside recycling program. While confronting our mounting deficit, I can not promise a city wide curbside recycling program, I would support working with the private and non-profit sectors on pilot programs.

Common goals

2009-06-08T09:41:00.000-07:00

"I am the employer of Al Sharpton.
I am the paycheck for Jesse Jackson.

Sittin' here smokin' weed,
sellin' drugs,
countin' money with a bucket of chicken and a ...

... , listinin' to Gucci Mane.

Matrin Luther King Jr. is rolling in his grave sayin' 'This Nigga!'

(Don't quote me on that. The NAACP will throw a temper tantrum.)

I have that nightmare of bad credit.

I have that dream of a big house.

Can't stop now,

I am Barack Obama's 'yes we can.'"

DPS security hiring

2009-06-03T10:25:00.000-07:00

Want to work as a Detroit Public Schools police officer? They make more than $17 an hour with full health benefits. Check out requirements here: CLICK HERE

Diane Bukowski sentenced

2009-06-01T09:10:00.000-07:00

Diane Bukowski, a reporter for the African-American owned Michigan Citizen newspaper, was sentenced to one year of probation, 200 hours of community service and more than $4,200 in fines this morning after being convicted of two felony counts of police obstruction last month.

Bukowski was arrested at the scene of a fatal high-speed police chase crash in northeast Detroit last November. Her conviction has been seen as a political attack from the Wayne County prosecutor Kym Worthy’s office for her long history of covering police brutality incidents in Detroit and her criticism of the Wayne County prosecutor for not responding to these incidents.

Early in the sentencing hearing Circuit court judge Michael Hathaway said he would not give Bukowski jail time.

After imposing the sentence he said was pleased. “I’m very comfortable with the result of this case and with the sentence that I am about to impose,” Hathaway said.

The Fly

2009-05-29T20:24:00.000-07:00

The helpings were huge; greasy
The woman ate every bite

There was a surly waitress who ignored

The Fly

that circled throughout the meal

Ten Reasons why the North American International Auto Show WON'T move to Novi

2009-05-29T18:12:00.000-07:00

JUST FOR FUN:

So there's been some talk recently -- well more than talk, there's a threat rolled into a recently passed senate bill that will put the same Cobo transfer deal that the Detroit City Council rejected in February in front of the council again to vote on. But this time the state is holding a water gun spray painted black to their heads and they think the council won't know the difference. L. Brooks is a white male version of a hustlaaa, of a hustlaa, of a-of a hustlaa. He's saying "This is a stick up, stick up, gimme that hall or that Auto show!" It's called the "if you don't we'll move the auto show to Novi," caveat.

This nothing more than an obnoxious bluff. Why would the biggest auto show on the continent move from the major U.S. city that is in history for being the birthplace of the automobile to some deadly dull midwestern city like Novi Michigan?

The Detroit City Council should not sweat about the Auto Show moving to the Rock Financial Showplace in Novi. There are bigger fish to fry. Like Michigan losing the show altogether. The state and the city should be in talks not bickering with each other and giving CPR to dead legislation. These are tough times for Micihgan and leaders should act accordingly. The Cobo center does need to be repaired. No doubt. But if the state can give $9 million to the rock financial showplace for expansions it can give Detroit to fix some loading docks and repair some concrete.

But anyway here's ten obvious reasons why the auto show won't go to Novi:

10. WTF is there to do Novi other than 12 oaks mall and some skeezy nightclubs?

9. Since when is Novi a major U.S. City?

8. There are no casinos in Novi.

7. There is no international riverfront in Novi

6. A travel events page lists "Things to do in Novi: (1)" Seriously, there's only one thing listed to do. See for yourself: CLICK HERE

5. International Auto enthusiasts don't usually consider cow tipping a thrilling pastime

4. The Rock financial Showplace will need more that $288 mil to turn it into a Cobo Hall.

3. Why does the region wants Cobo for themselves so badly if they can have the beautiful Rock financial showplace in Novi? L. Brooks just wants what he can't have and Monica Conyers playing hard to get ... ok just kidding.

2. The Auto show is shrinking like a wool sweater in a dryer. Last year they didn't even use all the space in Cobo due to tough economic times. Is there some boom we don't know about that's gonna take place between now and January? Seriously what's the rush for this $288 million expansion? They do need the docks fixed and some repairs. But that's what we have the Downtown Development Authority (DDA) for, no? Nothing a little teamwork can't fix.

1. THE NORTH AMERICAN INTERNATIONAL AUTO SHOW WILL MOVE TO CHICAGO OR L.A. BEFORE THEY MOVE TO NOVI. NOVI IS NOT EXACTLY AN INTERNATIONAL TRAVEL ATTRACTION. WHO ARE WE KIDDING HERE? AT LEAST DETROIT HAS OPERA, GAMBLING, THE PEOPLE MOVER, UNIQUE DINING OPTIONS, ETC. NAIAS ORGANIZERS AREN'T THE ONES THREATENING TO LEAVE DETROIT! IT'S THESE REPUBLICAN STATE LEGISLATORS THAT WANT THE CONVENTION CENTER AND IT'S ALL A POLITICAL SHOWDOWN BETWEEN URBAN/SUBUNRBAN BLACK/WHITE, REPUBLICAN/DEMOCRAT.

Detroit, It's a DAMN SHAME.

That's the word,

MMF

John Conyers snubs Granholm

2009-05-16T14:50:00.000-07:00

"Now I am not endorsing my good friend Jennifer Granholm. Tell her that next time you see her."
Rep. John Conyers, Jr. withdrawing his endorsement of MI Governor Jennifer Granholm after she wrote a letter in support of Terrance Berg, current U.S. attorney for the Eastern District of Michigan. "What was she thinking?," Conyers asked.

MI Indigent defense Subcommittee

2009-04-30T06:16:00.000-07:00

Chair of MIchigan's indigent defense subcommittee Bob Constan speaks about ideas the committee is reviewing for new legislation on indigent defense:

Bob Constan, State Rep 16th house dist Chair of Indigent Defense subcommittee
What’s happened is because money seems to be tighter and tighter money for indigent criminal defense is the first area to get cut. We have a system now that varies from county to county. Funding [public defense] programs at the state level instead of a county level so we have same system throughout the state is maybe something we have to look at doing.
What works or doesn’t work in Wayne County may or may not work elsewhere. I’m an attorney. I’ve been in private practice for 21 years and a lot of the courts are moving to the lowest bidder contracts where one person comes in and handles all the cases that day. There’s no continuity representation. None the fees have been updated in years and years and years. We’re [Michigan is] very low on the totem pole. When they do the budget that’s one area that doesn’t get any cost of living adjustments.
Looking at how we can get more bang for the buck – one of the things we’re gonna need is some increased funding. Well we’re going to look at adding something to the bail bonds business – looking at some revenue sources there – the different fees or costs that are assessed –whatever revenue streams we can latch onto. [Changes in the current public defense policy] have to be done. They’re just changes that have to be made we’re not meeting our constitutional obligations – the ACLU has filed a lawsuit as they’ve done in other states – we just have to update and improve our criminal indigent defense. We have to make sure we get every dollar we can. Our state public defenders office handles 1/4 of criminal appeals – they’re doing a very good job. They have attorneys that specialize and that’s all they do. They’re very good at what they do. All they do is criminal appeals so they become specialized. You have to look at efficiencies like that. That could work statewide. The end result will be some legislation that will improve our criminal defense system. It will be introduced in the next six months.

Conyers to Endorse Cockrel for mayor

2009-04-24T16:49:00.000-07:00

Detroit, Michigan- Detroit Congressman John Conyers, Jr. will announce his endorsement of Detroit Mayor Kenneth Cockrel Jr. for the May 5 Mayoral Special Election.

Congressman Conyers will announce his endorsement at the 14th Congressional District Democratic Party Organization’s town hall meeting on Sunday, April 26, 2009 from 5-7pm at the Detroit Teamsters Complex located at 2741 Trumbull.

This town hall meeting will allow attendees to ask Mayor Cockrel abo ut his vision for the city of Detroit. Moreover, this event will also feature a discussion on whether Detroiters should approve the creation of a commission to revise the City charter.

Who won final Detroit mayor debate?

2009-04-24T07:16:00.000-07:00

Thursday night the third and final Detroit mayor debate of the special election was aired live on Detoit's
Channel 7 (WXYZ). The debate was predictable and did not produce one clear winner though Bing did stutter at bit and Cockrel got a lot of heat for the failed Cobo deal. Neither candidates showed a lot of passion and stuck to the old familiar speak points: Police mini stations, The failed cobo deal, The budget, past scandals ... yawn. Heard it all before in the first two debates! Bing offered as few specifics as possible and cockrel spent a lot of time defending his place as Bing attacked with often ridiculous charges saying Cockrel made the budget go up from 150 mil to 300 mil in a month. If I HAD to say there was a winner I'd say Cockrel only because he's had experience as mayor and knows a bit more specifics of what's going on than Bing. But neither one of them's stellar.

At one point in the debate Cockrel was talking about scrubbing toilets for a day in Cobo Hall? Really? And apparently he saved the city 400 million on some bonds controversy? Huh?

And Bing said his "relationship in Lansing is very good". With Who? That's sooo vague but that's how Bing debates.

New anchor Steven Clark asked the first question:

“Gentlemen, first of all we’re here tonight because of failed leadership. Specifically leadership run amuck by the Kilpatrick administration. So far as interim Mayor Mr. Cockrel your biggest leadership test has been the Cobo deal and by all accounts you failed at that one. You and the council ended up in court over that, the deal didn’t get done, it fell through, you haven’t been able to get all the parties back to the table. Mr. Bing your political leadership is untried and untested. This question is for both of you. Mr. Bing if you’re given the opportunity and Mr. Cockrel if you’re given another chance, what kind of leader will you be? What will you do to unify the council reengage the region? In short Mr. Bing what kind of leader will you be?

Bing: My relationship with the council members is very very good. I believe that the Cobo deal is a deal that has to happen.I thought it was a good deal when it was announced. I have great relationships with the Wayne county executive and the Oakland county executive and I don’t know the macomb executive as well... My relationship in Lansing is very good.

I do understand why president of city council was opposed to deal. She wanted to make sure that Detroiters were involved in the deal You have to get Detroiters involved in the deal. This was not the case. That seemed to put the deal to the shelf. I would not have brought that deal to the table without knowing if I had enough votes. And that’s the mistake of faild leadership.

Cockrel: We engaged council very early in the process. It’s important to know that the same deal that the council ultimatly voted on is the same deal presented to the council last summer. Yes, the membership of the authority did change but that was a result of some late night menuvering in the senate.

In reality it wasn’t ‘til 11th hour that certain council members started to raise issues. The people have spoken. I’ve already spoken with presisent Conyers about this. What I plan to do moving forward -- we plan to re-engage everybody and come up with an alternative plan that works and a plan which represents the interesets and concerns of everyone and which seek to address concerns of everybody.

It’s all about where do we go from here? What I had first and foremost with this deal, people like Sheila Horton is a janitor who works for ABM at Cobo hall and I had the opportunity to work with her for one day doing her task at cobo hall. Cleaning toilets scrubbing bathrooms and wiping off table tops. I wanted to protect her job and the jobs of other people working at Cobo Hall and the jobs of those working in hotel rooms who desperately need concevion business and an auto show to keep going

MORE:

Bing: Budget: "First thing that I would do is go back and look at when my opponent first went into office we had at that time a 155 million deficit. Now I’m hearing that the deficit has grown to 280 mill maybe 300 million? He got there by inaction. Had my opponent made the decision to do the cuts that were necessary early on I don’t think that was as a city would be losing a million dollars a day and building that deficit up even more. I’m wondering where were are you going to get the $ from to buy these employees out. [Cockrel said he'd buyout city workers who've been around more than 30 years]. Sometime in the month of May that [Detroit] may run out of cash --- I don’t want to put fear in any body. Nothing worse than a payless payday...

My opponent is talking about a 10 percent pay cut across board. Look at each dept on dept by dept basis not necessarily Cut them. Look where your valuable employees are …

Cockel's Response: I became mayor on September 19 – we divulged to the public a month later the 280 million deficit. There’s not way I spent that much money in less the month –let be realistic about that. The reason why the amount went up is I revealed those numbers to public. The true numbers were never revealed. I also saved the city 400 mill by eliminating a controversial problem with a bond swap. I also indicated that I would take a 20 percent cut to own salary.

Cockrel volunteers protest at Bing HQ?

2009-04-20T07:44:00.000-07:00

The event organizer Derrick Sanders said Cockrel's team of supporters marching in front of the Bing headquarters in the rain were donating their time. The volunteers had planned to spend their Sunday afternoon canvassing for Cockrel but changed gears when Bing did not release the names of people he appointed to his crisis management team.

Two of the volunteers had a slightly different story. They both said that they (and others there) were getting paid to be there. They said they were slated to go door to door to canvass for Cockrel but were sent to the protest instead, though they were on the clock to canvass. "We're getting paid, believe that," said one volunteer.

The Cockrel campaign responded saying they did not pay anyone to show up and that the event was not related to the Cockrel campaign but put on by organized labor and community groups. They called the allegations of paid protestors "misleading".

Photos:

Detroit verbatim: the week in quotes

2009-03-15T19:04:00.000-07:00

Above:A view from Detroit's Cobo Convention Center (that is in the process of being "hijacked" for $20 million}.

Dear blogger,

It's been another awesomely ridiculous week. Detroit Mayoral candidate Bing not only forgot he didn't have a Master of Business Administration (MBA) but that it took him 29 years to get a bachelor's degree;Former Mayor Kwame Kilpatrick's partner in crime, Christine Beatty, got sick on jail food -- a lot; Radio personality Mildred Gaddis was still spewing hot fire at the "Hijacking of Cobo Hall", and Governor Jennifer Granholm gave the city of Detroit up for "adoption" to --- waaaiit for iiiiit --- MSNBC's "Morning Joe" Scarborough!? Hold on ... I'm having a premonition ... something about the "City of Detroit hijacking" ...

You CAN'T make this stuff up but you CAN slice it into fabulous one-liners and post them onto your blog!

"She spent a lot of time throwing up."
Christine Beatty's lawyer Mayer Morganroth said regarding Beatty's reaction to jail food. Apparently Coney Island hot dogs are much easier fare for the stomach.

"We are going to adopt Detroit,”
Joe Scarborough of MSNBC's "Morning Joe" told Michigan Governor Jennifer Granholm referring to a plan to air "Morning Joe" in the city out of ... pity?

"I think you're trying to dig into something that isn't a story."
Detroit Mayoral Candidate David Bing angrily told Free Press reporter Bill McGraw when he asked for college transcripts. Weeks before he blasted interim Mayor Cockrel for not releasing his personal finances. Oops. Maybe Bing's right when he says he ISN'T a politician.

"There is not a category of money for large public buildings or anything like that."
Michigan Governor Jennifer Granholm said about using stimulus funds for expand Cobo Hall instead of transferring it to a regional authority.

"Some folks think we're stupid and don't read."
Detroit City Council President Pro Tem JoAnn Watson about people who are pushing the Cobo Deal. And if by "folks" she means interitm Mayor Cockrel, Wayne County Ececutive Robert Ficano, Oakland County Executive L. Brooks Patterson, Governor Jennifer Granholm, and Detroit Free Press Columnist Nolan Finley then ...

"You can google economic stimulus plans and convention centers. You're going to get more than 50 cities -- including Lansing."
Detroit City Council President Pro Tem JoAnn Watson.

"If you want to help us, just give us the money."
Detorit City Councilwman Monica Conyers said at a rally against the Cobo Hall expansion that would turn the city owned convention center over to a five person regional authority. She added, "A diva is a female version of a hustlaaa!"

“I got an MBA from the General Motors Institute after I got into business, quite frankly."
Detroit Mayoral candidate David Bing on an NBA website video interview.

“I don’t have an MBA from General Motors Institute.”
Detroit Mayoral Candidate David Bing on the Paul W. Smith show on NPR. Which one is it, Dave?

"I have pictures with my cap and gown [from 1966]"
Detroit Mayoral candidate David Bing told the Detroit News' Leonard N. Fleming. However, a story in the Free Press said: Bing's campaign spokesperson Cliff Russell "acknowledged Bing did not attend graduation ceremonies or receive a diploma." Get your game tight, Bing!

"I don't think I can get any more name recognition than I already have."
Detroit City councilman Kwame Kenyata on announcing his run for mayor in August. Apparently he can't possibly get any more well known. Is it because his name is Kwame K.? I kiiid, I kiiiiid!

"I don't see how somebody can forget that they never actually got a diploma."
Detroit Interim Mayor Kenneth Cockrel said of Bing's college education gaffe. Same way somebody can forget that they owe the city clerk $42,000, Ken. Saaaame way.

"We don't give up tapes without subpoenas."
Mildred Gaddis said to people calling into "Inside Detroit" asking fora copy of her program with John Conyers. Congressman Conyers said jokingly that she sounded like Carl Rove.

"I'm having a problem with elected officials with the audacity to ... tell Mildred 'I voted for it'. 'I hope it [passes].' I"m [going to] hire an attorney to make sure that it passes. Why? Because I'm smarter than you!"
Radio producer David Stephen at Cobo transfer protest. He added,"How dare Senator Hansen Clarke, Wayne County Executive Robert Ficano and Oakland County Executive L. Brooks Patterson get the NERVE to tell MILDRED their position in the Hijacking of Cobo Hall?

All in good fun,

MMF

Detroit COBO deal protest

2009-03-15T15:38:00.001-07:00

Here's some protest pics! Enjoy!

Detroit the new Africa?

2009-03-12T14:27:00.000-07:00

Remember when Africa was the place to "adopt" from and hold free concerts for? Now, at risk of sounding politically incorrect, we need look no further than our own city.

Over the past couple weeks two popular talk show hosts have tried to rescue Detroit. One is the Tonight Show's Jay Leno, who held free concert for Detroit (although it took place in Auburn Hills, a well-to-do suburb about 40 minutes away from Detroit).

The other is Joe Scarborough, host of MSNBC's "Morning Joe". Scarborough says he wants to air Morning Joe from Detroit "all the time" and adopt the city. "I want to adopt the City of Detroit." He told Michigan governor Jennifer Granholm.

"I'm glad you haven't forgot about adopting us," Granhold said.

As a Detroiter I'm not sure if I should be happy to have a famous talk show host for a Dad or mad at Jennifer Granholm for shuffling me off so fast.

Either way, I have this weird feeling that the city of Detroit is thought of as this helpless orphan. What's Next is U2 gonna come and do a concert for hunger?

Is the UN gonna send helicopters full of rice sacks and drop it over the neighborhoods?

Are national Geographic photographers gonna come in and take photos of babies in poverty?

Ok I'm half kidding. But seriously, Detroit, we need to take care of our shit before Elton John and Michael Jackson sing a charity duet for the kids. (Juust kidding!)

OK I'll stop. But am i the only one who feels kinda like they're living in a third world situation?

Here's the clip:

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Michigan Messenger on Countdown

2009-03-12T07:27:00.000-07:00

Eartha Melzer's coverage of a dioxin contaminated river that flooded and contaminated the soil in Saginaw Township, Mich., makes MSNBC's Countdown with Keith Olbermann:

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The Cobo Deal. Period.

2009-03-09T09:17:00.001-07:00

Here's a link to the actual Cobo deal so we can put rumors to rest. I'll be going through and reading it but for now here's a link to the actual document.

CLICK HERE to read!

Verbatim: Detroit Style

2009-03-06T15:02:00.000-08:00

I am a subscriber to Time magazine and every week I break into the new issue and head straight for the briefing section to read the "Verbatim" page which is top ridiculous one-liners of the week in news quotes (which I find hilarious). So I decided to create my own pathetic little mock "verbatim" page on my blog weekly. You're probably thinking, "how original." I'm probably thinking, "I know."

Only difference is I'll try to keep it concentrated in Michigan (specifically Detroit) politics since I eat sleep and breath them these days. I can only hope state and city politics aren't carcinogenic, but at times I wonder. This week I have a lot of quotes about the Cobo deal because it was a hot topic in the city.

But I digress. Let's get down to bizzniss:

VERBATIM March 6 2009

"He never called me."
Detroit City Council President Monica Conyers said of Detroit Mayor Kenneth Cockrel on the Mildred Gaddis show. Background: Ever since she called him "Shrek" they've had a rocky relationship. Maybe he's just not that into her

"It was a tragic circus, a festival of ignorance that confirmed the No. 1 obstacle to Detroit's progress is the bargain basement leaders that city voters elect."
Detroit Free Press Columnist Nolan Finley wrote in an editorial in which he dogged the entire Detroit city council for the way they're handling the Cobo hall transfer. Many where quick to call him a racist. Hey, at least the guy's honest.

"He's pimping his father's legacy."
Detroit political consultant Sam Riddle said of interim Mayor Kenneth Cockrel's push to finalize the Cobo regional transfer deal.

"Kiss the employer based insurance goodbye."
Health care specialist on NPR talking about the economy and health care. This one pretty much speaks for itself.

"It's like a sub teacher coming in and giving a final grade."
Caller on "Inside Detroit" said about interim Mayor Cockrel's push for the Cobo deal in his short tenure since he took over for former mayor Kwame Kilparick.

"Cobo Hall Hijacking."
A segment on Mildred Gaddis' show that turned the Cobo drama into a little mock daytime drama plot. Er ... she's not biased or anything.

"I hope it all goes forward smoothly."
State Senator Hansen Clarke on Cobo Deal. He added, "I hope pigs can fly."

"Don't let Obama fool you, now. I'll never feel safe driving through Livonia."
Black Detroit City truck driver said referring to a predominantly white suburb of Detroit.

"Nolan has a tendency to be offensive when talking about Detroit."
Radio talk host Mildred Gaddis said of Detroit Free Press columnist Nolan Finley, who called the city council crazy, cheap and stupid in a recent commentary.

"Barbara Rose Collin's craziness gets in the way of the real issue."
Mildred Gaddis referring to the Detroit city council woman who is known to wear gaudy dresses and tiaras to council meetings and who sang "Onward Christian Soldiers" at a recent city council session.

"I opened my newspaper and every article except maybe one calls us crazy, stupid, monkeys in a zoo."
City Council Woman Barbara Rose-Collins told Detroit residents during a special session intended to override the Mayor's veto. She was referring, most likely, to Nolan Finley's controversial piece "Elect a crazy council; get crazy results." And, oh yeah, OC ececutive L. Brook Patterson is racist because he made fun of her precious tiara.

"Going after Barbara-Rose Collins' tiara. ... and I want the fist. That's all I want."
Oakland County executive L. Brooks Patterson's response to Collin's charge that he was trying to steal Cobo from the city.

Take the Shuttle from Detroit to Ikea!

2009-03-06T06:17:00.000-08:00

Looks like in order to bring in customers, Ikea will have a shuttle out to their store from Detroit. Read all about it HERE

Other than gay, what is Lil' Wayne?

2009-03-05T14:39:00.001-08:00

He's also ubiquitous. How many songs was he featured on over the past year? I stopped counting after 10. It's like he's in every recording studio at once jumping on any song he can. Whether his computerized croak is spliced into the Keri Hilson's hot track or he's howling at the moon with Kanye, he knows what's up: Get it while he's still hot. Before we're all like Lil' who? And we get someone else who's acting "Brand New". I'm not mad at him. But LOL.

That's the word.

MMF

Wayne County Foreclosure sales resume, but limited

2009-03-02T15:36:00.001-08:00

Wayne County Sheriff Warren Evans resumes foreclosure sales but on a limited basis
Foreclosure sales in Wayne County will resume but on a much more “limited basis”, according to John Roach, spokesperson for Wayne County Sheriff Warren Evans.
But all homes up for foreclosure sales will not go though. “Only in the cases where single family homes or for residential the lender has to provide us with an affidavit that says either that there were no TARP (Troubled Asset Relief Program) monies involved in that mortgage, or, if there were TARP monies involved, that the homeowner have been availed a process to modify their mortgage,” Roach told Michigan Messenger. He added that all commercial and industrial foreclosure sales will go forward as usual.
However, as of Monday afternoon there were only about 20 properties that met the criteria for a foreclosure sale this week. “It’s Very small number that are going to sale at this point,” Roach said. He said 20 foreclsure sales ina week in Wayne county was a “far cry” from the 300-400 that come up for Sheriff sales each week in Wayne county.

Cockrel, Bing win Detroit primary

2009-02-25T07:05:00.000-08:00

Election night parties went on late Tuesday night after Detroit's special election primary for mayor of Detroit. Here's some pics from election night!

CITY OF DETROIT TAX PROPOSALS ON THE BALLOT TODAY!

2009-02-24T10:57:00.000-08:00

PROPOSAL C:
CITY OF DETROIT MUSEUMS, LIBRARIES AND RECREATION ANDOTHER CULTERAL FACILITIES BONDING PROPOSAL
Do you favor the authorization and issuance of General Obligation Unlimited Tax Bonds, payable from taxes the City is allowed to levy in addition to state statutory and City Charter limits, in an amount necessary to pay the principal and interest thereon in the principal sum of an amount not to exceed Ninety-seven Million Dollars ($97,000,000) over three years for the purpose of paying the cost of acquisition, construction, renovation, or rehabilitation of City of Detroit Museums, Detroit Public Library Facilities, Recreation, and other Cultural facilities? The estimated millage that will be levied per $1,000 of the taxable value of property located in the City to pay for the proposed bonds will be $.5855 in the first year, which will raise in the first year an estimated amount of Twenty-Three Million Dollars ($23,000,000) and the estimated simple average annual millage rate over the life of the bonds, which will not exceed 30 years from the date of issuance, is 0.3466 mills ($0.3466 per $1,000 of taxable value). If approved, this would be a renewal of a previously authorized millage. Do you favor the authorization and issuance of General Obligation Unlimited Tax Bonds, payable from taxes the City is allowed to levy in addition to state statutory and City Charter limits, in an amount necessary to pay the principal and interest thereon in the principal sum of an amount not to exceed Ninety-seven Million Dollars ($97,000,000) over three years for the purpose of paying the cost of acquisition, construction, renovation, or rehabilitation of City of Detroit Museums, Detroit Public Library Facilities, Recreation, and other Cultural facilities? The estimated millage that will be levied per $1,000 of the taxable value of property located in the City to pay for the proposed bonds will be $.5855 in the first year, which will raise in the first year an estimated amount of Twenty-Three Million Dollars ($23,000,000) and the estimated simple average annual millage rate over the life of the bonds, which will not exceed 30 years from the date of issuance, is 0.3466 mills ($0.3466 per $1,000 of taxable value). If approved, this would be a renewal of a previously authorized millage.

PROPOSAL L:
CITY OF DETROIT PUBLIC LIGHTING PROPOSAL
Do you favor the authorization and issuance of General Obligation Unlimited Tax Bonds, payable from taxes the City is allowed to levy in addition to state statutory and City Charter limits, in an amount necessary to pay the principal and interest thereon in the principal sum of an amount not to exceed Twenty-Two Million Dollars ($22,000,000) over three years for the purpose of paying the cost of improving street and alley lighting emergency communications, service extensions, and improvements required to supply light and power? The estimated millage that will be levied per $1,000 of the taxable value of property located in the City to pay for the proposed bonds will be $0.1328 in the first year, which will raise in the first year an estimated amount of Seven Million Dollars ($7,000,000) and the estimated simple average annual millage rate over the life of the bonds, which will not exceed 30 years from the date of issuance, is .0786 mills ($0.0786 per $1,000 of taxable value). If approved, this would be a renewal of a previously authorized millage.

PROPOSAL M:
CITY OF DETROIT MUNICAPAL FACILITIES BONDING PROPOSAL
Do you favor the authorization and issuance of General Obligation Unlimited Tax Bonds, payable from taxes the City is allowed to levy in addition to state statutory and City Charter limits, in an amount necessary to pay the principal and interest thereon in the principal sum of an amount not to exceed Thirty-Five Million Dollars ($35,000,000) over three years for the purpose of paying the cost of acquisition, construction, renovation, or rehabilitation of Detroit municipal facilities? The estimated millage that will be levied per $1,000 of the taxable value of property located in the City to pay for the proposed bonds will be $.2113 in the first year, which will raise in the first year an estimated amount of Five Million Dollars ($5,000,000) and the estimated simple average annual millage rate over the life of the bonds, which will not exceed 30 years from the date of issuance, is 0.1251 mills ($0.1251 per $1,000 of taxable value). If approved, this would be a renewal of a previously authorized millage.

PROPOSAL N:
CITY OF DETROIT NEIGHTBORHOOD REDEVELOPEMENT AND ECONOMIC DEVELOPOEMENT PROGRAMS BONDING PROPOSAL
Do you favor the authorization and issuance of General Obligation Unlimited Tax Bonds, payable from taxes the City is allowed to levy in addition to state statutory and City Charter limits, in an amount necessary to pay the principal and interest thereon in the principal sum of an amount not to exceed Twenty-Five Million Dollars ($25,000,000) over three years for the purpose of paying the cost of improvements to various neighborhood redevelopment and housing rehabilitation projects, and for economic development projects? The estimated millage that will be levied per $1,000 of the taxable value of property located in the City to pay for the proposed bonds will be $0.1509 in the first year, which will raise in the first year an estimated amount of Three Million Dollars ($3,000,000), and the estimated simple average annual millage rate over the life of the bonds, which will not exceed 30 year from the date of issuance, is .0893 mills ($.0893 per $1,000 of taxable value). If approved, this would be a renewal of a previously authorized millage.
PROPOSAL S:
CITY OF DETROIT PUBLIC SAFETY IMPROVEMENTS BONDING PROPOSAL
Do you favor the authorization and issuance of General Obligation Unlimited Tax Bonds, payable from taxes the City is allowed to levy in addition to state statutory and City Charter limits, in an amount necessary to pay the principal and interest thereon in the principal sum of an amount not to exceed Seventy-Two Million Dollars ($72,000,000) over three years for the purpose of paying the cost of acquisition, construction, renovation, or rehabilitation of public safety projects relating to, Police, Fire, Emergency Medical Services (EMS), Health facilities and other municipal facilities public safety improvements? The estimated millage that will be levied per $1,000 of the taxable value of property located in the City to pay for the proposed bonds will be $0.4346 in the first year, which will raise in the first year an estimated amount of Nine Million Dollars ($9,000,000) and the estimated simple average annual millage rate over the life of the bonds, which will not exceed 30 years from the date of issuance, is .2573 mills ($0.2573 per $1,000 of taxable value). If approved, this would be a renewal of a previously authorized millage.

PROPOSAL T:
CITY OF DETROIT TRANSPORTATION FACILITIES BONDING PROPOSAL
Do you favor the authorization and issuance of General Obligation Unlimited Tax Bonds, payable from taxes the City is allowed to levy in addition to state statutory and City Charter limits, in an amount necessary to pay the principal and interest thereon in the principal sum of an amount not to exceed Twelve Million Dollars ($12,000,000) over three years for the purpose of paying the cost of acquisition, construction, renovation, or rehabilitation of Detroit transportation facilities? The estimated millage that will be levied per $1,000 of the taxable value of property located in the City to pay for the proposed bonds will be .0724 in the first year, which will raise in the first year an estimated amount of Three Million Dollars ($3,000,000) and the estimated simple average annual millage rate over the life of the bonds, which will not exceed 30 years from the date of issuance, is .0429 mills ($.0429 per $1,000 of taxable value). If approved, this would be a renewal of a previously authorized millage.

Michgan Democratic Convention

2009-02-23T13:24:00.001-08:00

Cobo Hall in Detroit was full of democrats on Saturday for the Michigan's Democratic convention. Here's some of photos from the event:

Detroit The Beautiful

2009-02-17T11:39:00.000-08:00

Even the Queen of England is Online these days!

2009-02-13T14:47:00.000-08:00

The Queen of England has a hi-res website with youtube videos and virtual tours of the palace. Plus Princes Diana's first pubic speech when she was 12.

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Check it out by clicking HERE.

GOP Governors disagree with their own party on stimulus

2009-01-31T17:33:00.000-08:00

Vermont's GOP Governor Jim Douglas is one of many GOP governors who are pushing for Obama's stimulus package.

According to a story on MSNBC.com, GOP governors would love some stimulus money to help their state's economically strained budgets.

Read the whole story HERE.

VIDEO: A More Open White House

2009-01-31T16:18:00.000-08:00

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Steele is RNC Chair, it's time to consider becoming a black Republican!

2009-01-30T19:54:00.000-08:00

Black Republican Recruit: [JUST FOR FUN]

"Maybe it’s time you considered being black Republican. As a black Republican, not only will you be accepted, you will quickly rise to the top as your party will need you to be an important face for the Republicans, even if you’re dangerously unqualified. The Republican Party is the party of Lincoln and freeing the slaves is a position we’ve chosen to stand by."

Thanks to The Message Show for this:

value="http://www.youtube.com/v/flFjEL9I9t8&color1=0xb1b1b1&color2=0xcfcfcf&feature=player_embedded&fs=1">

Steele [ing] Obama's Style

2009-01-30T19:33:00.000-08:00

Jockin' Obama, Jockin', Jockin' Obama like they do Jay-Z!!!!!

In order to gain back some of the minority vote the RNC elected Michael Steele as the first African American to chair their party's national committee.

In his acceptance speech to RNC chair Friday evening, Michael Steele sounded a lot like President Obama. But since Obama already coined some things like the word 'change,' he had to play with words.

"It's time for something completely different and we're gonna bring it to them," Steele told RNC leaders in his acceptance speech. "We're going to bring this party to every corner every board room every neighborhood every community and we're going to say to friend and foe alike 'we want you to be a part of us. We want you to work with us' and for those of you who wish to obstruct, get ready to get knocked over."

In addition to that, Steele ironically employed DNC chairman Howard Dean's 50-state strategy (which Obama later adopted) calling on uniting people from all over the U.S. map.

"To my friends in Northeast, get ready baby it's time to turn it on and work to do what we always do well and that is win. We're going to win again in the Northeast, were going to continue to win in the South. When we get to the West we're gonna lock it down and win there, too. We're going to win with a new storm in the Midwest.

Again, he emulated Obama when he called for a group effort and said he was listening to the people. "I cannot do this by myself," he said, echoing Obama almost verbatim. "This is about empowering you. We stand proud as the conservative party of the United States, the party of Lincoln. We will cede no ground on matters of principle on matters that matter to people of this country."

On the Corner

2009-01-29T08:49:00.000-08:00

In the 'hood on the corner there are kids on the block running work to dope to the fiends with dark hollow eyes. They know "crack kills" but not literally. The fiends keep coming back with their last and only dollar asking for a rock. Crack heads from the 1980's and 1990's are still roaming the streets physically alive and breathing, but resembling zombies in their dirty, torn, oversized coats and threadbare pants stumbling around, skin and bones constantly pursuing their next hit. Because of them there will always be a demand. Because of them there will always be a supply.

The kids on the corner know how to cook crack and sell it, but they won't touch the stuff. It's a job.

Sometimes outsiders wonder why these kids aren't in school. Do they know that just by hustling fiends on the block one could make enough money to buy clothes and food and candy still go to the movies on opening night?

There's a kid in his drab middle school uniform walking down the street with dreams of nice cars but so far the school has given him tattered books. The dope boy rides by in a jag and the kid turns his head, eyes follow the shiny car down to the end of the block at he abandoned house.

The kid walks down Jefferson wondering if the Warren boys are going to beat on him today. He gets homeand calls his friend on the block. "Let's get money."

He's not going to school tomorrow.

VEGGIE PORN: PETA would rather hurt women than animals

2009-01-27T22:46:00.000-08:00

Apparently NBC banned a PETA (People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals) ad that was supposed to run in Sunday's Super-bowl because it featured young women clad in nothing but panties and bras powerless to sexuality of ... Veggies? Yes. They are using the traditional woman" woman-as-sex-object" tactics to make those football-fiend, red meat loving, misogynistic men can associate porn with vegetarianism? What?

I shouldn't be surprised now. I guess this isn't the only "veggie love" PETA has made. Read more about it HERE.

Check it out:

Did Nas diss Obama?

2009-01-27T21:56:00.000-08:00

JUST FOR FUN:

Nas says on Young Jeezy's song "My president is Black":

"Mr. Black President, yo Obama for real
They gotta put your face on the five-thousand dollar bill"

As soon as I heard that I couldn't help but think: if the 5,000 dollar bill comes into existence under Obama's presidency, then I'd forecast tough times ahead. Think about the inflation that would have to occur before we see the need for a printed $5,000 bill? The value of the dollar would have to seriously plummet. Ouch. I hope neither Obama's face nor anyone else's will ever appear on a 5,000 dollar bill. I hope the need for such a bill will never reach the point of printing one.

If Nas is right, here's an economic tip: buy gold & jewels

Sorry, Nas, but I beg to differ on this one.

Truth or Dare Stories

2009-01-25T20:33:00.000-08:00

Game Rules:

When my brother and I were kids we used to play a storytelling game. The game involved a series of imagined stories acted out by real characters. In fact, the characters were ourselves.

Taking turns, each of us would create a scenario and place the other in that scenario.

For example:
I'd make up a scenario where my brother was walking down the street with a basket full of eggs and make him trip and fall in the story, breaking all the eggs break all over himself in front of a girl he had a crush on. In my story, she turns and starts laughing at him.
What does he do next?

At any point the person who is telling the story (in this case it would be my turn) can say, 'truth or dare, stories' and (in this case) my brother would either have to tell the truth about how he'd get out of that situation, or take a story dare which means the I would dare him to do something crazy in the story, making the situation worse and more awkward and embarrassing, (such as run down the street smearing the raw eggs on the girl he thinks is cute , etc. ). Usually it something really embarrassing that will be part of the story-line/plot from then on (that means at any point in the story it can be referenced). But the dare can be something funny, nice ... anything. It just gives you a power-play on where to take the plot. Everything that happens in the story except a dare is negotiable with the storyteller.

The more players, the more interesting the stories get. Your combined imaginations will take you on a strange adventure. You're only limited by your imagination.

Have fun with it! As Oscar Wilde put it, "consistancy is the last refuge of the unimaginative."

Obama's "New Deal" is a big deal

2009-01-24T10:56:00.000-08:00

Obama has big plans. He's calling for a mass recovery of United States infrastructure.

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You'll never win "the war on drugs" because ...

2009-01-24T10:06:00.000-08:00

Shhh. It's no secret:

Dope boys ride nice cars.

"What happened?"

"Move, nigga, they shootin'!!"

No running water, I'd put my ass in the bag and take a shit.

Dope boys ride nice cars.

We move when they're shooting

Keep coming out of that house and going back in.

What corporate culture am I missing?

smirking in satisfaction

at my

transformation into a "hood rat"

so

What's the story here?

Detroit Mayoral Race Tibit:

2009-01-24T08:12:00.000-08:00

A close and credible source has confirmed that mayoral candidate David Bing just moved to Detroit last Wednesday. He moved into a new Riverfront condominium, a luxury complex on the Detroit River.

Little house in the 'Hood

2009-01-21T17:55:00.000-08:00

It's a grey winter evening, dark before 5:00 p.m. the unplowed street are hard to drive on without getting stuck. But I'm not complaining. I see the woman n the street ahead of my snow-choking car trudging through the snow and wind, her coat with the fur around the hood can't hide her face from this zub-zero wind. It's so hot in my car I take my hat off and bake in my coat. I start to wonder why I was so finicky about the streets being plowed.

Living a modest lifestyle, Life in Detroit isn't so bad. All things considered -- the deficit, the public school system, the blight issues, the unemployment rate and the abysmal football team it might seen like the works place to live. But Detroit offers some merits unique to major us cities.

To someone who lived their life in the Metro Detroit suburbs, the city of Detroit (except for downtown and small areas of concentrated wealth) is like a different country. My suburban friends who visit me experience culture shock. When they arrive on my doorstep they're jumpy, scared of their own shadow. The funny thing is, my city friends who visited me in the suburbs have the similar reactions: uneasy, self conscious and defensive.

I'm not one to talk. It was this time last year that I, too, came to my new doorstep with a sense of unease, half expecting to find the inside of my house ransacked, or, worse yet, an uninvited person still inside. I'd look over my shoulder to make sure there was no one behind me, waiting for my to unlock the door.

I still look over my shoulder and keep a light on in the front hallway but it's not out of fear. In fact, over the year I have never had any problems and neither have my neighbors. But now caution is just part of my routine like shoveling snow or raking leaves. Living in Detroit taught me that being aware of my surroundings doesn't mean paranoid or afraid. Wherever you are in the world, it's always important to pay attention to detail.

Over the past few decades Detroit's national reputation has been marred, perhaps since the 1967 riots and the decline of the auto industry. But the past year was an exceptionally rocky road one for the motor city: the mayor's in jail, the Detroit Three auto companies groveled in front of Congress for federal "bailout" loans, the unemployment rate skyrocketed to 30 percent, the city's unstable government put city bonds in "junk" status, the public schools face a $400 million deficit without a superintendent (they fired her), The Detroit Lions made history as the worst football team EVER ... the list goes on and on.

On a more personal level, I met Detroit Public School (DPS) teachers about not having basics like toilet paper, heat or lights in classrooms. My car gets stuck in the often because the city doesn't plow most streets, the bus system is abysmal, the one I tried to get on this summer caught on fire. In the span of a year, I've had four friends get robbed, get their house or car broken into (my car was broken into), an acquaintance was shot dead, In the summer the weeds grow taller than me in my neighborhood, I drive by block after block of abandoned houses everyday. I'm not shocked or nauseated anymore when I spot bloated bodies of pit bulls rotting on the side of the streets in the fall ... That list goes on, too.

That said, I have only respect and admiration for the city. I'm still a newcomer to the city and I still feel that there is so much to learn. I plan on hanging

discovered the Detroit beauty supply, that I navigated my errands (poorly) around Detroit's East side and grew a tougher skin so that the deepely disturbing sights on the streets didn't ruin my day. It's the time of year that I get the annual winter blues and start having to remind myself why, of all places, I chose Michigan to spent my early 20s in. January is the coldest month and quite possibly the worst time to live in Michigan and it happens to be the month of my birthday, so I have to make the best of it.

Everyday I am reminded of Detroit's crippled state: The unplowed streets (I get stuck in the snow a lot), the untrimmed grass in the summer (It grows taller than me in some places) and I'm 24 today, one year closer to old age. I feel one year older, one year wider and immeasruable smarter. I love Detroit. Here's why.

There are some things money can't buy. The feeling o

Eastern MArket
Beauty Supply
Goat Milking, piggy wiglet, Jackson, the chickens,
Kids (PJ & the babies)
Bert's Market
Art
Kt & the artitis
Belle Isle
People (rhymes, uniqueness, funny)
Freedom
Machete/peach trees
Seldom Blues
U of M game
Rent
Neightbors/friends
Hood smarts
Playing in the rain
fall party
Mexicantown
Canada

Det. Mayoral Candidate Warren Evans: "Public Safety is the biggest problem."

2009-01-20T23:11:00.000-08:00

Detroit mayoral candidate and Wayne County Sheriff Warren Evans spoke to a group of 12 senior citizens at a retirement home on Detroit's East Side on Monday afternoon [MLK day].

He addressed issues such as blight, employment, and budget but his main focus was public safety and policing techniques.

Here's the transcript from Evan's half hour speech to the Detroit senior voters.

I’m a third generation Detroiter. In 1910 my grandfather came here. [Studied in Detroit from Elementary school through law school].

If you haven’t lived the life that people in the city live, then you don’t really know what the problem is really. [Detroit is] so bad now I don’t think many people realize how good it could be. Everybody talks bout “the good old days.” I know in my life I’m looking for the god days.” “Even when this city was a better city it wasn’t better for us as black people.”

Public safety is I think the biggest problem. People in the city have got to feel safer. People would like to have the wheels on their car or their car when they go somewhere. Not only are taxes high bit you can’t get the police to respond when you call them.

I’ve been involved in criminal justices for 30 years. I’m not running for police chief, I’m running for mayor, but one thing you can be sure of is that I understand the language a police chief talks. When I hire a police chief nobody can blow smoke past me because I understand the business.

It’s important to understand that that’s not all I can do. I do other things in the city. [Mentioned his career as a Lawyer, college professor.]

The people that have the money to get out of Detroit go. No city is going to get better like that.
Usually the commitment is to fix up a downtown and bring in a Quicken. But when you bring in a company with a tax abatement so they don’t have to pa tax because they’re bringing jobs in … but when you watch in the morning people get off the freeway from the suburbs and go to job and they go home at the end of the day they haven’t done any business in the city. We need to look very seriously. What are we doing for.

The future of the City is in building up the neighborhoods. Property value of homes is higher because there’s a neighborhood. We don’t have that value now. Everywhere in the country 60 or 70 percent of all job are new jobs created in this country are new jobs created in what are called small businesses. In those small businesses, some of them might have 500 people in it but small compared to a General Motors.

I’m hoping auto companies … rebound but they will never be what they once were. So we’ve got to have safe neighborhoods. If we have safe neighborhoods people will start those business. See everything in my mind goes back to public safety.
I’ve been a professor for 20 years but I can’t go in there and turn the schools around academically. After talking to hundreds of teachers and hundreds of students [I found that] kids are scared to go to DPS and teachers are scared to teach. I don’t care what you do to the curriculum, if the kids aren’t comfortable in class and teachers aren’t comfortable teaching so even the biggest problem f DPS is public safety.

The mayor can do that. That doesn’t mean take over the schools. The mayor’s job is to protect the citizens. It’s not a pipe dream.
The police need to start responding to complaints. Let me tell you a little secret about how that operates before I tell you what the solution is . You also read articles that say crime is down. None of us are probably rocket but are smart enough to know crime is not down, right. The reason they can say it’s down is that crimes are is counted by reports. If they never come out to take the report it never happened. But the crime did happen. The most basic answer is to use common sense.

Every shift in Every district of the City of Detroit when an off comes on duty he has a list of all the other rounds that the shift before him never got to . So he or she starts out the day going around to 20 other places trying to catch up. When you’re catching up you’re not policing. Why waste two police officers in a scout car to go catch up? Why not have one person call the home owner, talk to him and go and get a report when you can and let the police officer in the police car protect you? I mean that’s what you want them to do. It is basically that simple to get started. Which is something you can get started on the next day. And then you start bring another police officers.

Leadership. Start using reserves. There are a lot of reserves in this city who volunteer their time to help the police dept. I’ve got people in my reserves that fight Internet crime. They spend their time chasing child predators. That makes them feel good. They come back to work because they provide something of value because I ask them to do something of value. But they do not get used appropriately.

Everybody’s gonna tell you they gonna fight crime. The question is when have you done it before and how have you done it? And if you’re so good at it how come you didn’t you fix it when you were office before?
If you go back and you believe that as a Sherriff I’ve done a good job. Don’t accept that has he’s a good sheriff he can’t do anything else. You pay me to do another job I’ll do a good job at that. Teaching 20 years, practicing law I work hard at what I do. We’re broke we messed up.

There are a lot of people running – business people other people now I’m not knocking anybody but I’m the only elected CEO in this race. You vote for me to run an organization. I’m not out chasing crooks all day. I wish I was ‘cause it’s fun. But that’s not what I do all day. I manage a $150 million a year budget and 1,200 employees. That’s what I do. It’s a small city. There are lots of city’s around here that don’t have that big a budget It would certainly be a promotion to running the city of Detroit but it’s the same, it’s apples to apples. I’m not running a private company that doesn’t have labor unions or state legislators and all those other people you have to deal with every day. I deal with them in good times and bad times.
I brought in $30-35 million in grants from the federal Govt. in the past 4-5 years. That’s federal grants. That’s not your tax dollars. You gotta go find ways to get money and move forward to do some stuff.

The city has a significant amount of money … Detroit has some money called neighborhood stabilization fund. And part of that money can be used to demolish buildings. We don’t have enough money to demolish them all, but one of my biggest pet peeves is that they don’t even use good judgment deciding what to tear down in the first place. I mean when the money comes I’ve seen them cut a contract with a vendor and then let him decide what houses he’s going to tear down. I want to tear down houses next to people who live in the community who got a burnt house next door to them. Get some of the abandon house out of the way so the kids can get to school. Even if you can’t tear them all down, prioritize the ones that are in the best interest of your citizens.

Let me just leave you with this. I’m a workaholic. And I don’t get Amnesia. If you see me later and it’s something I didn’t live up to then see me about it. I want my granddaughters to still live here. I don’t want my granddaughters all over the globe because they don’t want to live in the City of Detroit.

Nolan Finley: "Close ears to ... dead Palestinian Children""

2009-01-08T09:01:00.000-08:00

Detroit News editorial page editor Nolan Finley writes in his blog, [CHECK IT OUT HERE]

"Israel appears to be readying for a massive ground invasion of the terrorist infested Gaza Strip. Israel's success depends on its ability to close its ears to the worldwide outcry over dead Palestinian children.

Because there will be dead children. Already, children and other civilians are dying under the week-long barrage of Israeli bombs.
But Hamas terrorists are also dying, and that's what matters."

Wait a minute here. What in the world is this?! It's NEVER OK for kids to get killed no matter what the circumstances are. There are ALWAYS diplomatic ways of handling things and while Hamas is a terrorist group, it seems like Israel has taken up the idea that it you can't beat 'em you have to join 'em. I say that meaning Israel is now officially no better than a terrorist organization for killing innocent children. Nolan, do you have any kids? Would you offer them in a bloody sacrifice them for peace in the middle east? You're cold.

How do you measure a year?

2009-01-05T10:34:00.000-08:00

I have no idea. Maybe in love.

Kanye's new album

2008-12-13T12:12:00.000-08:00

Ok. So people either love or hate Kanye's new album "808's and Heartbreak". It got a butchered and praised by various music critics. But a lot of people seem to like it because it's topping the U.S. charts.

Detroit news music critic Adam Graham writes:

“"No plush bear. No collegiate theme. No fun. "808s & Heartbreak" is a stark departure for rapper-producer Kanye West, who since emerging with his 2004 debut, " The College Dropout," has grown into the decade's most transfixing music star, hip-hop or otherwise.”

I'd ask Graham to take it for what it is. Seriously. There should be no debate here. This album is a train wreck of emotional baggage backed by electronic beats. The thing is called "808s and Heartbreak" and that's all it is.No one should be disappointed. The title says it all. You want to hear what 808 drums and heartbreak sound like together on a CD? Get the album. You don't? Don't get the album. It's as simple as that.

Are you EMO? Yeah, you'll like it. Are you mad at or hurt by your recent ex ? You'll love it. Are you sick and tired of T-pain like auto tones? Then you'll hate it.

That's the word.

~HAH.

REAL TALK

2008-12-12T06:40:00.001-08:00

“People across the nation are acting like the auto bailout will save the auto industry. If statistics are correct, they spend about $600 billion a year on parts alone. What was $14 billion going to do? Let's face it. It's over. It's been over. But change is hope. Let's start using our human brain that separates us from other animals and develop new technology.”

2008-12-03T08:11:00.000-08:00

Racial tension still prominent in post-election America

In the post election glow of voting in a black president, it’s a little easier to forget that racial tension is still prominent. Especially when you surround yourself with one race at a time. But when observing mixed groups of people, the tensions between races show. While more people are talking about race now, it’s still an awkward topic that is hard to address and makes many feel uncomfortable.

On the night after thanksgiving I was invited to Berkley Michigan, a predominantly white suburb of Detroit to visit a friend from high school. Over the past year I’ve spent so much time the city of Detroit, I almost forgot how it was to be on the other side of Eight Mile Road in the suburbs where people aren’t as aware of crime. Many don’t lock their cars and when stepping away from their seat at the bar they leave their belongings assuming no one else will steal them.

But perhaps a larger difference was the racial demographic. Except for three black people in the corner, everyone at the bar I was invited to was white. I noticed this instantly, because in Detroit it’s often the other way around. I also noticed a heavyset man playing pool in a black T-shirt with a confederate flag across his chest.

No one in my group said anything about it, though I thought it was very visible, so I brought it up. I asked my friends (who are all white) if that shirt bothered anyone. They were quick to call the man a racist who was “probably in the KKK” but quickly changed the topic.

I couldn’t let it end there. I approached one of the three black people in the bar. I asked a young man (who was playing pool at a table next to man with the flag on his chest) if the confederate symbol bothered him. He said it did, but that he didn’t want to get into a fight “around here”.

There was no reason to start a fight. After all, it was just a T-shirt and I hadn’t talked to the guy wearing it yet. So I decided to do just that. I approached the man in the flag with a smile and asked how he was doing. He stopped and stared looking surprised and rather speechless. I went on to compliment his shirt.

The surprised look on his face turned to fright and h stepped back two paces. “It’s not mine,” he said quickly as if I were threatening him. “My friend gave it to me. I’m not a rebel.”

I laughed and said I was just curious about it because I had a similar T-shirt, in fact, with an even bigger flag on it (because I do). The man looked like he wanted to run. His pool partner just stared on with a grimace but didn’t say anything.

“I didn’t buy it. It’s not mine,” the man in the flag continued.

His face was getting red. I’m not sure if it was out of embarrassment or frustration, so I decided to leave him alone. I shook his hand and wished him a good night.

Within five minutes he and his friend left the bar.

Later that evening one of the three black people in the bar, a girl about my age got on stage to do some karaoke. I overheard one of my white friends say to the other, “She’s so black” in a scornful tone. What exactly did he mean by that? That she had dark skin? My other friend responded, "She’s ghetto." I leaned in to ask what they meant by that but when they noticed I was listening in they changed the topic and avoided eye contact with me for a couple minutes as if ashamed.

What baffled me was that these were the people who minutes before were condemn the man wearing the flag for being a racist. Furthermore, these are people who voted for Barack Obama and agreed with his message of unity among races.

The tension and mocking goes both ways. When I went back to talk to the black people in the bar one of them asked in a critical tone if I always hung out with so many white people. I was beginning to see that that my attempts to ease the tension were not doing much.

Maybe I forgot the level of tension that's created when there’s a mixed group in a room. When I got back home to Detroit, I wondered: Was it always like this, or has living in Detroit made me more sensitive to racial issues? It could be that I, like many others, assumed that with Obama's presidency people must be over petty racial differences. Obviously not.

2008-11-14T09:58:00.001-08:00

Public v Private transit duke it out for favor in legislature

Currently there are two proposals for a light rail transit system on Woodward Ave. One proposal is sponsored by the city of Detroit, the other by private investors.

Right now, the two proposals are still being discussed by all parties including state and city officials as
well as business leaders, according to Dan Cherrin, spokesperson for interim Detroit Mayor Kenneth Cockrel Jr.

The public transit proposal includes the $371 million, 8-mile-long Light Rail Transit up Woodward Avenue that
was approved by SEMCOG (Southeast Michigan Council of Governments) in July. When the proposal
was first approved, DDOT estimated construction would begin in 2011 with a 2013 completion. Cherrin said he didn't know if these goals were reasonable or not. At the moment he said the main focus is to take the best parts of each of the private and public proposals and create one plan that will benefit the city most.

"Each proposal has merits each proposal has issues that need to be worked out," Cherrin said. "We’re working on constructing a solid regional transportation system."

The private line proposed is called the Woodward Transit Catalyst Project and calls for a $103 million light rail line that serves a 3.4-mile stretch in the downtown and Wayne State areas according to Crain’s Detroit Business. This is considerably shorter than the DDOT proposed line, but it is part of a larger plan to keep building the rail up to Eight Mile Road.

This proposal is backed by Detroit business billionaires such as Quickens Loans founder Dan Gilbert, Compuware CEO Peter Karmanos and Penske corperation CEO Rodger Penske according to Cherrin.

“Right now we are working to unify those two proposals … that will help us get federal funding,”
Cherrin, said. With the private and public proposals merging into one public one as part of DDOT, both federal and private funding will be an option. “[With] any plan you’ll see a combination of private and public funding,” Cherrin said. “All parties are in dicussions.”

PAlin Gets A PRANK (seriously)

2008-11-02T17:49:00.000-08:00

On a prank call, Sarah Palin thinks she's talking to the prime minister of France, Nicolas Sarkozy, but she is really talking to a comedian on a radio show in Montreal, Canada. HERE'S THE AUDIO thanks to Huffingtonpost.com. The part about this that I find funny is that she actually that the Prime Minister of France wants to talk to her about her fake porn with countless references to American pop culture. This is prickly.

Sarah Palin Gets "Handled" Why isn't she Livid?!

2008-10-25T20:41:00.000-07:00

When the news broke that Sen. John McCain chose Sarah Palin—the unknown governor of Alaska—to be his running mate the nation balked for a couple of reasons. First of all, the GOP is not exactly known for being a proponent of affirmative action, and that’s exactly what this pick was all about. Let’s face it: If McCain was not running against the likes of Barack Obama—a very popular progressive man of African descent— there would be no McCain/Palin ticket. Second of all, McCain himself is not very woman friendly in his thinking or his voting record. For instance he strongly opposed the bill that called for equal pay of women in the work force because it would lead to too many lawsuits.

Now here is Sarah Palin, plucked from the obscurity of the Alaskan political scene and swept into a presidential race that will take up page after page in history books for centuries to come. During the race she will be shredded in interviews with national media outlets because she is not prepared.

She will be being treated like a delicate flower by the McCain campaign. In fact she will have “handlers” as if she were an animal. She will be rigorously coached so she can give educated answers to questions aboutthe constitutional role of the Vice President andThe Bush Doctrine. A school girl getting told where to sit, what to say.

If you asked her, of course, she would say she felt like a victim of sexism. She’s right about that. But she won't list the reasons I just listed above because her handlers would not approve. She hasn't even shown any outrage at news stations casually reporting that there are now stripper contests for Palin look a likes in Las Vegas. There is absolutely a lack of respect for Palin because she is attractive. The Internet is flooded with doctored photos of Palin in Bikinis, ”mini skirts, sometimes naked in compromising position with McCain. If she was outraged, we wouldn't know. The GOP can't have this pretty Chrisitan, belle in a skirt and heels getting an opinion of her own or voicing her anger... or any emotion, really, except fear of terrorists.

Why aren’t more women outraged? Maybe it’s because this is a display of a very old and ongoing double standard. Consider this: Obama is an attractive guy. Why aren’t there doctored photos in him in his skivvies online? Where are the Obama stripper look-a-like contests? These are the degrading sexist marks that every woman, including Palin have to face. The question is, how does each woman handle it?

Palin knows she is a victim, though. In fact, that's part of her role in this race. To be a victim. McCain can now take the existence of sexism and work it in his favor. When people imply that she shouldn’t run for VP because she has to take care of her kids, the McCain camp and scream "Sexism!". When reports come out about Palins wardrobe nad how much her makup costs, they can screams "sexism!" And all rightfully so. But there's one little problem: You can't really make an airtight argument against sexism when you, yourself are sexist.

Perhaps the very worst part of all of this is that Sarah Palin is not a feminist. If she were, she would have a problem with being “handled” and she certainly would not allow McCain to speak for her. She would be livid at the way her looks seems to be a dominating facet of her character.

So Palin is right when she says she is a victim of sexism. But it’s a hard argument to make if you, yourself, don’t become the aggressor and continue playing victim. To become the powerful woman whose voice and opinions are fully respected you have to first stop being a puppet. She should know. Running for governor as a woman in a conservative state like Alaska is no walk in the park.

Hillary Clinton was a victim of sexism as well. But how did she handle it? As the Huffington Post'sBen Smith writes:

Hillary Clinton always walked a very careful line on portraying herself as a victim, attempting never to let that get in the way of her perceived strength as she built a commander-in-chief persona. The McCain campaign is dwelling on Palin's victimhood, a new chapter in the short history of women in presidential politics.

We have to face the facts: Palin is a puppet for the GOP. Palin is not in control in this campaign. Her voice is muffled by men (and women) all around her who are going to make sure she knows her place as a woman: In heels and a skirt being told what to do and when to do it. And when she does ANYTHING on her own without the approval of her “handlers” it’s to the shock and awe of media. I haven’t heard anything about Joe Biden “breaking away” from his handlers.

The fact is, while any other candidate has advisors, Palin has handler. Palin has become known for her looks and her years as a beauty queen. That’s not the role model women need. It’s not Palin’s fault that she's being treated this way.

What is her fault is that she's not standing up and taking on the challenges that every career woman must face: Male dominance and the objectification of women. Instead she has become a weakened victim who makes world news when she actually speaks for herself. Why aren’t more people, including Palin, outraged?