BIGGAFF'S VERSION OF THE TRUTH

LOGICAL ANSWERS TO SIMPLE QUESTIONS

2011-09-03T10:55:00.002-04:00

1. Johnny's mother had three children. The first child was named April.
The second child was named May. What was the third child's name?

2. There is a clerk at the butcher shop, he is five feet ten inches tall and he wears
size 13 sneakers. What does he weigh?

3. Before Mt. Everest was discovered, what was the highest mountain in the world?

4. How much dirt is there in a hole that measures two feet by three feet by four feet?

5. What word in the English Language is always spelled incorrectly?

6. Billy was born on December 28th, yet his birthday is always in the summer.
How is this possible?

7. In California, you cannot take a picture of a man with a wooden leg.
Why not?

8. What was the President's Name in 1975?

9. If you were running a race, and you passed the person in 2nd place,
what place would you be in now?

10. Which is correct to say: "The yolk of the egg are white" or "The yolk of the egg is white?"

11. If a farmer has 5 haystacks in one field and 4 haystacks in the other field,
how many haystacks would he have if he combined them all in another field?

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Here are the Answers

1. Johnny's mother had three children. The first child was named April.
The second child was named May. What was the third child's name?
Answer: Johnny, of course.

2. There is a clerk at the butcher shop, he is five feet ten inches tall, and he wears size 13 sneakers. What does he weigh?
Answer: Meat.

3. Before Mt. Everest was discovered, what was the highest mountain in the world?
Answer: Mt. Everest; it just wasn't discovered yet. 4. How much dirt is there in a hole that measures two feet by three feet by four feet?
Answer: There is no dirt in a hole.

5. What word in the English Language is always spelled incorrectly?
Answer: Incorrectly

6. Billy was born on December 28th, yet her birthday is always in the summer. How is this possible?
Answer: Billy lives in the Southern Hemisphere

7. In California, you cannot take a picture of a man with a wooden leg. Why not?
Answer: You can't take pictures with a wooden leg. You need a camera to take pictures.

8. What was the President's Name in 1975?
Answer: Same as is it now - Barack Obama.
9. If you were running a race, and you passed the person in 2nd place, what place would you be in now?
Answer: You would be in 2nd. Well, you passed the person in second place, not first.

10. Which is correct to say, "The yolk of the egg are white" or "The yolk of the egg is white?"
Answer: Neither, the yolk of the egg is yellow.

11. If a farmer has 5 haystacks in one field and 4 haystacks in the other field, how many haystacks would he have if he combined them all in another field?

Answer: One. If he combines all of his haystacks, they all become one big stack

SYLVIA BURGESS - THE REIGNING QUEEN OF BROOKLYN

2011-08-12T23:38:00.002-04:00

****** SYLVIA BURGESS ******

##############################

A WONDERFUL WOMAN IN BROOKLYN WHO KNOWS HOW TO

ENJOY LIFE AND BRING JOY TO OTHERS WHILE DOING SO.

SHARE A FEW MINUTES WITH HER AND HER FAMILY.

SHE IS A QUEEN -- LIVING IN THE COUNTY OF KINGS.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_sjFQIxyt_Q

THE GREAT JOSEPHINE HOOVER

2011-06-12T08:42:00.001-04:00

JUDGE HOOVER / MAYA HOOVER ---

PERHAPS YOU CAN EXPLAIN WHAT HAPPENED LAST WEEK AT THE CHARLOTTE MUSEUM.

I STOOD BEFORE A BODY OF VERY WELL REGARDED CITIZENS OF MECKLENBURG COUNTY AND

GOOD PEOPLE FROM FAR BEYOND THE CONFINES OF THE STATE OF NORTH CAROLINA;

I ADMITTED TO THESE DECENT FOLKS THAT I WAS GUILTY OF:

MISFEASANCE

MALFEASANCE

NONFEASANCE

IN THE PERFORMANCE OF MY DUTIES, WHILE EMPLOYED BY THE PEOPLE OF

NORTH CAROLINA AS AN EDUCATOR AT CARMEL MIDDLE SCHOOL.

GUILT OVER MY CREATING AN UNJUST BURDEN FOR AN INNOCENT COLLEAGUE

DROVE ME TO CONFESS MY NEGLIGENCE AND I FULLY EXPECTED TO FACE, AT THE

VERY LEAST, A LOSS OF PENSION, IF NOT CRIMINAL CHARGES.

TO MY AMAZEMENT, THE AUDIENCE FOUND HUMOR IN THE LURID DETAILS OF MY CRIMINALITY:

** WHERE IS SOCIETY HEADED

** HAS THE MORAL COMPASS BECOME STUCK IN THE WRONG DIRECTION,

I EXPECTED TO CONFESS AND MAKE A HASTY DASH FOR THE PARKING LOT AND

BEAT THE PURSUING MOB TO MY CAR AND THE SAFETY OF SHAMROCK ROAD'S EXPRESS LANE.

INSTEAD, I WAS GREETED WITH LAUGHTER AND GENERAL APPROVAL OF MY

WAYWARD ACTIONS.

I HAVE TO BELIEVE THAT FOLKS JUST ASSUMED THAT MY FAULTS AND MISSTEPS

WERE OF NO CONSEQUENCE WHEN THEY COLLIDED WITH THE DYNAMIC

FORCE THAT IS EMBODIED IN THE TERM HOOVERIZATION.

MY ACTIONS COULD NO MORE DAMAGE THE HOOVER JUGGERNAUT

( Juggernaut is a term used to describe a literal or metaphorical force regarded as
UNSTOPPABLE.)

IN ITS PURSUIT OF ACADEMIC EXCELLENCE, THAN A SLINGSHOT COULD STOP A TANK.
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CONGRATULATIONS TO A GREAT LADY ON A FABULOUS CAREER.

TAKE CARE - GAFF

WASHINGTON AND DuBOIS:TWO DIFFERENT APPROACHES TO SUCCESS

2010-10-08T20:56:00.015-04:00

B.T. WASHINGTON ******************************************* W.E.B. DuBOIS

In his 1900 autobiography, Up From Slavery, Booker T. Washington wrote:
“I had no schooling whatever while I was a slave, though I remember on several occasions I went as far as the schoolhouse door with one of my young mistresses to carry her books. The picture of several dozen boys and girls in a schoolroom engaged in study made a deep impression on me, and I had the feeling that to get into a schoolhouse and study in this way would be about the same as getting into paradise.”
The vision of that schoolroom and the idea that learning was “paradise” would provide lifelong inspiration for Washington. He is, perhaps, best remembered as the head of the world famous Tuskegee Normal and Industrial Institute, founded in 1881, and known today as Tuskegee University.
His driving personality led a group of businessmen to ask if he would take the lead in creating the school. The Tuskegee Institute was the embodiment of Washington's over-arching belief that African Americans should eschew political agitation for civil rights in favor of industrial education and agricultural expertise.
Washington believed that once it was apparent to whites that blacks would “contribute to the market place of the world,” and be content with living “by the production of our hands,” the barriers of racial inequality and social injustice would begin to erode. Those words were spoken on September 18, 1895 at the Cotton States and International Exposition held in Atlanta, Georgia, known as the Atlanta Exposition. Washington’s speech stressed accommodation rather than resistance to the segregated system under which African Americans lived. He renounced agitation and protest tactics, and urged blacks to subordinate demands for political and equal rights, and concentrate instead on improving job skills and usefulness through manual labor. “Cast down your buckets where you are,” he exhorted his fellow African Americans in the speech.
Throughout his adult life, Washington played a dominant role in the African American community and worked tirelessly to improve the lives of blacks, many of whom were born in slavery. He gained access to presidents, top national leaders in politics, philanthropy and education. President William McKinley visited the Tuskegee Institute and lauded Washington, promoting him as a black leader who would not be perceived as too “radical” to whites. In 1901, President Theodore Roosevelt invited Washington to the White House. A picture was published of the occasion, which angered many whites who were offended by the idea of a Black American being entertained in the White House. Washington was never invited to the White House again, although Roosevelt continued to consult with him on racial issues.
Washington also associated with some of the richest and most powerful businessmen of the era. His contacts included such diverse and well-known industrialists as Andrew Carnegie, John D. Rockefeller, and Julius Rosenwald, enlisting their support to help raise funds to establish and operate thousands of small community schools and institutions of higher education for the betterment of African Americans throughout the South.
However, by the early 1900s, other African Americans, such as W.E.B. Du Bois and newspaper editor William Monroe Trotter, were becoming national figures and speaking out about the lack of progress African Americans were making in American society. Du Bois, initially an ally of Washington’s, was particularly vocal about what he believed was Washington’s acceptance of black’s unchanging situation and began to refer to Washington's Atlanta speech as the “Atlanta Compromise” — a label that remains to this day.
The criticism by Du Bois and others diminished Washington's stature for some in the black community. They denounced his surrender of civil rights and his stressing of training in crafts, some obsolete, to the neglect of a liberal arts education. Washington’s public position of accommodation to segregation came in conflict with increasing calls from African Americans and liberal whites for more aggressive actions to end discrimination. Opposition centered in the Niagara Movement, founded in 1905, and the National Association for the Advancement of Colored People, an interracial organization established in 1909.
Yet there was another side to Washington. Although outwardly conciliatory, he secretly financed and encouraged lawsuits to block attempts to disfranchise and segregate African Americans. Since his death in 1915, historians have discovered voluminous private correspondence that shows that Washington's apparent conservatism was only part of his strategy for uplifting his race.
Even in death, as in life, Washington continues to engender great debates as to his true legacy. He was a founder of Tuskegee Institute, building it into one of the premiere universities for African Americans at a time when few alternatives were available, and he raised considerable funds for hundreds of other schools in the South for blacks. Yet, his ‘Atlanta Compromise’ speech stressed the need for blacks to accept the status quo and focus on manual labor as a way to economic development. In contrast, Du Bois believed that the “object of all true education is not to make men carpenters; it is to make carpenters men.”
Washington’s position that “the agitation of questions of social equality is the extremist folly,” stands in stark contradiction to his covert support of legal challenges to discrimination. It is difficult to calculate the negative impact that flowed from Washington’s unwillingness to speak out publically against lynching and other acts of violence against blacks at the time — even with his extraordinary access to presidents and other prominent whites in the nation.
These two giants — Washington and Du Bois — underscore the fact that there was not a single linear path to achieving racial equality in the nation. The struggle required African Americans to both battle and accommodate the realities of segregation and discrimination to help future generations more fully realize the promise of America.

^^^^^^^ PERSONAL COMMENTS FROM ALMETA COLVIN CANTLO ^^^^^^^^^^^^^
Tuskegee is the number one college I applied to after high school. Miles College was on my list, but Tuskegee was at the top of that short list.
It was my dream school at the time ...considered elite in some circles. Even though I earned
a scholarship for tuition, my parents could not afford the room & board and I didn't have a job. Tuskegee was ideally located, approx sixty miles east of Montgomery, Alabama in an all black small country town, surrounded by acres of rich farm land that Dr. George Washington Carver used as his lab to teach farmers about crop rotation for a more lucrative harvest.
One of my brothers, my brother -in-law and a slew of cousins were fortunate enough to graduate from Tuskegee.
I Couldn't sell it to my son to attend ...too far from the city.
I spent time there in summer camp...two weeks each summer if my grades warranted it. At the time I did not realize the importance of

*the historic grounds I was walking on...

*magnificent buildings constructed by the children of once enslaved people,

*the Tuskegee Airmen, whose barracks we slept in,

*internationally known Carver/lab museum,

*the infamous Syphilis Experiment

*and of the power of Dr. Booker T. Washington.

I saw these things, but didn't really appreciate any of it until much later.
I was there to be on my own, find myself academically and meet some guys and girls from other schools - to widen my world.

I still love the school and visit the campus as often as I can when we drive to Alabama from New York.

GREEN BOOK ITEMS -

2010-08-26T14:19:00.018-04:00

A PAGE FROM THE GREEN BOOK >>>>

( click on photo to enlarge )

A STORY BASED ON THE GREEN BOOK
( my assumption )

Calvin Alexander Ramsey at the Auburn Avenue Research Library in Atlanta.
He is the author of a play and book about how black travelers found food and lodging before the Civil Rights Act.

GREEN BOOK - COMMENTS - read GREEN BOOK first

2010-08-25T20:23:00.007-04:00

I WAS SO OVERWHELMED WITH THE GREEN BOOK NOTES, THAT I FORGOT A LESSON
MY UNCLE JAMES O. DAVIS AND MY COUSIN BILL GILES, TAUGHT ME ON MOTOR TRIPS SOUTH, "BACK IN THE DAY."
THERE WAS NO INTERSTATE SUPER HIGHWAY LIKE I-95 OR I-85 - U.S. 1 WAS THE MAIN ROAD AND IT PASSED THROUGH LOCAL COMMUNITIES. SO, THE LOGOS / SIGNS
AND THE NAMES OF RESTAURANTS AND MOTELS TOLD THE TRAVELERS ALL THEY
NEEDED TO KNOW. THESE NAME WERE DESIGNED TO AVOID CONFRONTATIONS AND
TO ALERT DRIVERS OF ALL RACES AS TO THE WELCOME THEY WOULD RECEIVE AT
ANY STOPS ALONG THE WAY.
THESE NAMES NEED NO FURTHER EXPLANATION:
THE WHITE ANGEL MOTEL
THE BLACKJACK LODGE
THE BLONDE MERMAID DINER
THE BLACK KETTLE CAFE
I FIND THIS TO BE THE BIGGEST MISCONCEPTION OF THOSE WHO NEVER VENTURED
SOUTH -- YOUR MONEY WAS GREEN AND WELCOMED EVERY WHERE. THE LEVEL OF SERVICE WAS THE ISSUE. GETTING A CUP OF COFFEE AND SANDWICH TO GO IS NOT THE SAME AS SITTING AT A TABLE AND RELAXING OVER A MEAL. YOU GOT THE COFFEE AND SANDWICH, BUT NOT THE AMBIANCE IF THE NAME OR LOGO WAS NOT GEARED TO YOUR COMPLEXION.
** GAFF
^^^^^
Our history continues to teach me about the trials and tribulations that African Americans had to endure. Although, we may have a great imagination, in addition to the genuine, remarkable talent towards creativity, we are never fully able to imagine what our ancestors actually endured, just to enjoy a car ride. Reading about "The Green Book-Freedom Of The Road" will leave an indelible mark. Furthermore, this article expresses, "the mother of invention," when it was, so very much needed. "The Green Book..." has more than likely been responsible for saving the lives of many African Americans.Thanks
** ED GRANT
^^^^^^^^^
The Green Book was news to me but its existence and need was obvious--very interesting!
** JIM McCLUNE - LOS ANGELES
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I guess I am among the great unwashed and uninformed. I had never heard of the Green Book in this context. S&H Green stamps came to mind. But do I ever understand the significance of the Green Book and the circumstances that engendered it. Reminds me of the bus trips I took with my mother on the train from Durham to Blackstock, S.C. her native hometown, and to Baltimore. Fried chicken in a shoebox kept us close to the bus and in our seats.
Some friends and I are planning a visit to the International Civil Rights Museum in Greensboro. I will check to see if the Green book is on display there.
^^ LEONARD KING - RALEIGH
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THANKS GEORGE, LOVE THIS STUFF! Abundant Blessings.
Carolyn B. - Georgia
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Chief, very interesting. Living in "somewhat" integrated N.Y., I had no idea of the necessity of such a guide, very enlightening for me!
ROSE - MYRTLE BEACH, S.C. VIA BROOKLYN

THE GREEN BOOK - FREEDOM OF THE ROAD

2010-08-24T09:58:00.006-04:00

My memory of taking this type of road trip with family members behind the wheel is "too real."
Many thanks to DOLORES VANISON for alerting me to the article - it bought tears to my eyes - I recall these road trips south to attend family funerals.
Check out the article - ALPHA - OMEGA DANCE COMPANY- in the table of contents on this page.
CHIEF
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NYTimes -- August 22, 2010

The Open Road Wasn’t Quite Open to All

By CELIA McGEE

For almost three decades beginning in 1936, many African-American travelers relied on a booklet to help them decide where they could comfortably eat, sleep, buy gas, find a tailor or beauty parlor, shop on a honeymoon to Niagara Falls, or go out at night. In 1949, when the guide was 80 pages, there were five recommended hotels in Atlanta. In Cheyenne, Wyo., the Barbeque Inn was the place to stay.
A Harlem postal employee and civic leader named Victor H. Green conceived the guide in response to one too many accounts of humiliation or violence where discrimination continued to hold strong. These were facts of life not only in the Jim Crow South, but in all parts of the country, where black travelers never knew where they would be welcome. Over time its full title — “The Negro Motorist Green Book: An International Travel Guide” — became abbreviated, simply, as the “Green Book.” Those who needed to know about it knew about it. To much of the rest of America it was invisible, and by 1964, when the last edition was published, it slipped through the cracks into history.
Until he met a friend’s elderly father-in-law at a funeral a few years ago, the Atlanta writer Calvin Alexander Ramsey had never heard of the guide. But he knew firsthand the reason it existed. During his family trips between Roxboro, N.C., and Baltimore, “we packed a big lunch so my parents didn’t have to worry about having to stop somewhere that might not serve us,” recalled Mr. Ramsey, who is now 60.
He is among the writers, artists, academics and curators returning a spotlight to the guide and its author, emblematic as it was of a period when black Americans — especially professionals, salesmen, entertainers and athletes — were increasingly on the move for work, play and family visits.
In addition to hotels, the guide often pointed them to “tourist homes,” privates residences made available by their African-American owners. Mr. Ramsey has written a play, “The Green Book,” about just such a home, in Jefferson City, Mo., where a black military officer and his wife and a Jewish Holocaust survivor all spend the night just before W. E. B. DuBois is scheduled to deliver a speech in town. The play will inaugurate a staged-reading series on Sept. 15 at the restored Lincoln Theater in Washington, itself once a fixture of that city’s “black Broadway” on U Street.
Julian Bond, the civil rights leader who is now a faculty member at American University, will take on a cameo role. Mr. Bond recalled that his parents — his father, a college professor, became the first black president of Lincoln University, in southern Pennsylvania — used the book. “It was a guidebook that told you not where the best places were to eat,” he said, “but where there was any place.”
In November, Carolrhoda Books will release Mr. Ramsey’s “Ruth and the Green Book,” a children’s book with illustrations by the award-winning artist Floyd Cooper. It tells the story of a girl from Chicago in the 1950s and what she learns as she and her parents, driving their brand-new car to visit her grandmother in rural Alabama, finally luck into a copy of Victor Green’s guide. “Most kids today hear about the Underground Railroad, but this other thing has gone unnoticed,” said Mr. Ramsey. “It just fell on me, really, to tell the story.”
Historians of travel have recognized that the great American road trip — seen as an ultimate sign of freedom — was not that free for many Americans, including those who had to worry about “sunset laws” in towns where black visitors had to be out by day’s end.
For a large swath of the nation’s history “the American democratic idea of getting out on the open road, finding yourself, heading for distant horizons was only a privilege for white people,” said Cotton Seiler, the author of “Republic of Drivers: A Cultural History of Automobility in America,” who devoted a chapter of his book to the experience of black travelers.
William Daryl Williams, the director of the School of Architecture and Interior Design at the University of Cincinnati, in 2007 organized a traveling exhibition he called “The Dresser Trunk Project,” in which he and 11 other architects and artists used the “Green Book” to inform works that incorporated locations and artifacts from the history of black travel during segregation. Mr. Williams’s own piece, “Whitelaw Hotel,” referred to a well-known accommodation for African-Americans in Washington and included several pages from the “Green Book.”
Lonnie Bunch, director of the Smithsonian’s National Museum of African American History and Culture, a co-sponsor of “The Green Book” play reading, said the presence of the guide into the 1960s pointed out that at the same time people were countering segregation with sit-ins, the need to cope with everyday life remained.
He added: “The ‘Green Book’ tried to provide a tool to deal with those situations. It also allowed families to protect their children, to help them ward off those horrible points at which they might be thrown out or not permitted to sit somewhere. It was both a defensive and a proactive mechanism.”
Although Victor Green’s initial edition only encompassed metropolitan New York, the “Green Book” soon expanded to Bermuda (white dinner jackets were recommended for gentlemen), Mexico and Canada. The 15,000 copies Green eventually printed each year were sold as a marketing tool not just to black-owned businesses but to the white marketplace, implying that it made good economic sense to take advantage of the growing affluence and mobility of African Americans. Esso stations, unusual in franchising to African Americans, were a popular place to pick one up.
Mr. Bunch said he believes African American families are likely still have old copies sitting in attics and basements: “As segregation ended, people put such things away. They felt they didn’t need them anymore. It brought a sense of psychological liberation.”
Theater J in Washington, which specializes in Jewish-theme plays, is a co-producer of “The Green Book” reading. The “inconveniences” (as Green genteelly put it) of travel that African-Americans encountered were shared, albeit to a lesser extent and for a briefer period, by American Jews. In Mr. Ramsey’s play the Holocaust survivor comes to the tourist home after he’s appalled by a “No Negroes Allowed” sign posted in the lobby of the local hotel where he had planned to stay.
“The Jewish press has long published information about places that are restricted,” Green wrote in his book’s introduction, adding, “There will be a day sometime in the near future when this guide will not have to be published. That is when we as a race will have equal opportunities and privileges in the United States.”
The Civil Rights Act was passed in 1964, and Mr. Green ceased publication.

QUOTES

2010-08-09T21:18:00.004-04:00

IN DEALING WITH ROMANCE AND LOVE -- BOB MARLEY MADE THIS OBSERVATION:

"Truth is, everybody is going to hurt you;
you just gotta find the ones worth suffering for."
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This is the true joy in life: being used for a purpose recognized by yourself as a mighty one; being a force of nature instead of a feverish, selfish little clod of ailments and grievances, complaining that the world will not devote itself to making you happy.
-George Bernard Shaw

"Many times a day I realize how much my own outer and inner life is built upon the labors of my fellow men, both living and dead, and how earnestly I must exert myself in order to give in return as much as I have received."
- Albert Einstein

“When the only tool you have is a hammer, all problems begin to resemble nails."
- Abraham Maslow

CHIEF'S SURGERY - NOVEMBER 23,2009

2009-11-27T15:37:00.010-05:00

Greenville, South Carolina doctors use state-of-the-art
surgery to restore normal heartbeats.

COUSIN, ROOSEVELT GILLIAM III IS RECOGNIZED AS A MAJOR

AUTHORITY IN THE FIELD OF ELECTROPHYSIOLOGY. "THIRD," WHILE NOT DIRECTLY INVOLVED, HELPED CLARIFY THE CONCEPT BEHIND THE PROCEDURE AND MADE IT EASIER FOR MYSELF AND VALERIE TO EMBRACE THE OPERATION WITHOUT ANXIETY.
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THIS ARTICLE WAS IN THE GREENVILLE NEWSPAPER THE DAY AFTER I HAD THE SAME BASIC SURGERY AT A NEIGHBORING HOSPITAL.
These days, Dee Bauknight feels like she’s been subject to a miracle.
After suffering with an erratic heartbeat – technically, atrial fibrillation – for 25 years, Bauknight was afraid of the rigors of daily living. But on Oct. 22, she had a cutting-edge surgery called cardiac ablation that brought her back to normal.
“I have had a miracle,” Bauknight said. “I am raking leaves, and before I would have been afraid to do that. I can drive. I can do anything.”
While little known, about 5 million Americans have atrial fibrillation or AFib, and 300,000 cases are diagnosed each year, according to a study published in the Journal of the American Medical Association.
Here in South Carolina, we are one of the national leaders in strokes, so having another weapon in the arsenal to fight the problem is welcome.
According to Dr. Craig McCotter, director of the Atrial Fibrillation & Arrhythmia Center, Cardiac Electrophysiology, Upstate Cardiology in Greenville, the center is one of only a handful in the United States. McCotter started his team in Columbia – the first in South Carolina – and operated there for three years before everyone moved to Bon Secours St. Francis Hospital.
“There is a huge need for this,” McCotter said about the cardiology niche, “but few people go into electrophysiology because it has the longest residency. It takes eight years of training after medical school.”
But that extra experience pays off. McCotter and his five-man team mix science and art in dealing with human hearts.
“You have to feel your way through the heart,” McCotter said, explaining the procedure where a catheter is inserted into the groin area and snaked up and into the heart. “There is no text book case, because each patient is so different.”
What McCotter and his team treat is atrial fibrillation, a condition in which the upper chambers of the heart beat irregularly or too fast. AFib occurs when the heart’s two small upper chambers quiver instead of beating.
Symptoms include a racing or irregular heartbeat, an overall feeling of weakness or lethargy, and dizziness, sweating or chest pain. AFib can worsen when patients drink alcohol, smoke, are obese, have sleep apnea, hypertension, congestive heart failure and more.
While the racing heart is scary in itself, when blood isn’t completely pumped from the heart chambers, it can pool and clot and eventually cause a stroke. In fact, about 15 percent of strokes occur in people with AFib.
Bauknight’s experience with AFib began about 25 years ago when she was running through an airport.
“I thought, ‘My heart is beating in a really strange way,’” Bauknight recalled. “And then it kept occurring.”
In 2001, she had a stroke. She also began passing out or blacking out. She was put on “a lot of drugs,” she said, but that was of little help. All day long, her heart beat erratically, stopped, and then restarted.
Bauknight lived in fear, but as she began to learn more about her condition, she discovered Dr. McCotter’s work.
The AFib Center now attracts patients from around the world, McCotter said. And he hasn’t encountered complications in more than 1,000 procedures.
Which isn’t to say that the procedure is for everyone, he said. He has to evaluate every patient to ensure each one is a good candidate for the procedure.
“If they’re not,” he said, “we do have every option available including pacemakers and medication.”
In the “delicate and dangerous” procedure, McCotter and his team use sophisticated 3-D scans, cardiac echo and cell mapping to find cells in the left, upper chamber of the heart that cause the erratic heartbeat. McCotter then uses ablation – in effect, he burns them with radio waves to destroy the individual cells – to help the heart return to normal.
“The biggest problem is getting complete ablations, but not to destroy so many cells as to cause complications,” he said. “If you don’t ablate enough cells, they can regrow.”
An average procedure takes about three hours, and patients are usually discharged the next day, and able to return to work in three days, McCotter said.
^^^^^
By Mike Foley • Staff writer • November 24, 2009

CRISIS OF ABUSE IN THE CHURCH

2009-11-27T12:33:00.004-05:00

-- Roman Catholic Church leaders in Dublin spent decades sheltering child-abusing priests from the law and most fellow clerics turned a blind eye, an investigation ordered by Ireland's government concluded Thursday. Dublin Archbishop Diarmuid Martin, who handed over more than 60,000 previously secret church files to the three-year investigation, said he felt deep shame and sorrow for how previous archbishops presided over endemic child abuse -- yet claimed afterward not to understand the gravity of their sins.
Martin said his four predecessors in Ireland's capital, including retired Cardinal Desmond Connell, must have understood that priests' molestation and rape of boys and girls ''was a crime in both civil and canon law. For some reason or another they felt they could deal with all this in little worlds of their own.
''They were wrong, and children were left to suffer.''
There was a similarly shocking investigation into decades of unchecked child abuse in Irish schools, workhouses and orphanages run nationwide by 19 Catholic orders of nuns, priests and brothers.
That report in May sought to document the scale of abuse as well as the reasons why church and state authorities didn't stop it, whereas Thursday's 720-page report focused on why church leaders in the Dublin Archdiocese -- home to a quarter of Ireland's 4 million Catholics -- did not tell police about a single abuse complaint against a priest until 1995.
By then, the investigators found, successive archbishops and their senior deputies -- among them qualified lawyers -- already had compiled confidential files on more than 100 parish priests who had sexually abused children since 1940. Those files had remained locked in the Dublin archbishop's private vault.
The investigators also dug up a paper trail documenting the church's long-secret insurance policy, taken out in 1987, to cover potential lawsuits and compensation demands. Dublin church leaders publicly denied the existence of the problem for a decade afterward -- but since the mid-1990s have paid out more than euro10 million ($15 million) in settlements and legal bills.
The report cited documents showing how church officials learned about some cases only when devoutly Catholic police received complaints from children or their parents -- but handed responsibility back to church leaders to sort out the problems themselves.
Thursday's report detailed ''sample'' cases of 46 priests who faced 320 documented complaints, although the investigators said they were confident that the priests had abused many more children than that. They cited testimony from one priest who admitted abusing more than 100 children, and another priest who said he abused a child approximately every two weeks for 25 years.
Just 11 of the 46 ultimately were convicted of abusing children -- typically decades after church leaders learned of their crimes -- while two others are scheduled to face Dublin criminal court actions within months. Fourteen are dead and most of the rest have been defrocked or barred from parish duties. Just six are still active priests.
Three Dublin archbishops -- John Charles McQuaid (1940-72), Dermot Ryan (1972-84) and Kevin McNamara (1985-87) -- did not tell police about clerical abuse cases, instead opting to avoid public scandals by shuttling offenders from parish to parish and even overseas to U.S. churches, the commission found.
It was not until 1995 that then-Archbishop Connell allowed police to see church files on 17 clerical abuse cases. At that time, Connell actually held records of complaints against at least 29 priests, the report found. Connell later pursued a lawsuit against the investigators in an abandoned bid to keep them from seeing more than 5,500 files documenting the church's knowledge of abusive priests.
The report said all four archbishops sought ''the maintenance of secrecy, the avoidance of scandal, the protection of the reputation of the church, and the preservation of its assets. All other considerations, including the welfare of children and justice for victims, were subordinated to these priorities.''
The investigators lauded a handful of priests and mostly low-ranking police who pursued complaints and prosecutions, almost always unsuccessfully, from the 1960s to the 1980s.
Senior police officers ''clearly regarded priests as being outside their remit'' and handed ''complaints to the archdiocese instead of investigating them,'' the report said.
''A few (priests) were courageous and brought complaints to the attention of their superiors. The vast majority simply chose to turn a blind eye,'' it said.
Ireland's police commander, Commissioner Fachtna Murphy, said he was ''deeply sorry'' to read that his force failed to provide victims of abusive priests ''the level of response or protection which any citizen in trouble is entitled to expect.''
The government also apologized for the state's failure to pursue Dublin priests accused of child abuse until recent years.
Justice Minister Dermot Ahern, who received the Dublin Archdiocese report in July but delayed its publication for legal vetting, vowed that the state would never again treat the Catholic Church with deference.
''A priest's collar will protect no criminal,'' he said.
But pressure groups representing more than 15,000 documented victims of abuse by Irish Catholic officials said the government was not doing enough to end the danger of Catholic child abuse -- in part because the law still stops short of requiring bishops to report abuse complaints to police.
Maeve Lewis, executive director of an Irish abuse counseling service called One in Four, noted that not a single person in Ireland has been convicted for ''recklessly endangering'' children, a crime created in 2006 legislation.
Lewis said the archbishops, bishops, monsignors, police and government health officials who suppressed abuse complaints for decades had never faced criminal investigations ''even though they are every bit as guilty as the priests who committed the abuse.''
And she forecast that, because abused children often do not seek justice until they reach adulthood, children today were still being abused by priests. ''It's very likely in 10 or 15 years' time that the children who are being abused today will bring forward allegations,'' she said.
''As Irish people we like to think we live in a civilized society,'' she said, ''but we need to hang our heads in shame.''
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COMMENTS --- R K IN BROOKLYN

I would think that this has gone on in almost every country & crosses all Christian denomination lines. Only recently has info been leaking out about rampant sex abuse in the Jewish orthodox community. THEY, like the initial Catholic response is to deny, deny & circle the wagons. Sad times & special place in hell for these "religious guardians", right next to Chaney, Rumsfeld, Wolfowitz & Rove. (Bush gets a mercy pass for being an idiot)
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RPB IN FLORIDA

Priests are human beings, and, as such are capable of any of the sins that all people are capable of. They are also capable of manifesting all the psychological disorders that we all are capable of manifesting. Moreover, as regards the area of sexual development, if the Church continues to draw "recruits" only from those who choose not to marry, the Church will continue to recruit, disproportionately, people with atypical or arrested sexual development. This is distinctly NOT to say that all people who do not marry are sexually disoriented, nor is it to say that married people are incapable of abusive actions inside or outside their marriages, but simply that when you limit the pool from which you recruit, you skew the population you draw.
Obviously, if any insitution were to set 6 feet as a minimum height requirement, it would not find its population following the roughly 50% male, 50% female representation of the general population. In exactly the same way, if you set personal renunciation of the married state which is the societal norm, you're going to draw a skewed population.
This does not excuse the abuse of children. It merely says that some priests might steal, others might lust after their secretaries, others might be overly fond of intoxicants, and others might be tempted to abuse children. You don't assign the person tempted to steal to oversee the disbursal of diocesan funds; you don't move the guy chasing his secretary's skirt to chaplain at a college for women; you don't assign the substance abuser as coordinator of outreach to the homeless; you don't move a priest who abused children in one parish setting to another parish setting. It's that clear in my head.
It's not about "dropping dime." I have known people breaking various laws. It's not my job to identify them to the government. I don't get crazy that bishops did not call district attorneys, so long as they acted to protect children from future assault. Minimally, a priest suspected of a proclivity to child abuse might be assigned AWAY FROM children: as librarian in the diocesan library, chaplain at a home for retired nuns, secretary to the bishop, or to some administrative function or ministry to a geriatric population, or just booted out of the priesthood.
In too many cases, bishops mimicked the wall-of-silence behavior generally attributed to cops: they put their loyalty to the insititution and their fraternity above other, more significant, loyalties. "We're going to transfer you and don't do it again" would not work for an alcoholic priest; no rational, responsible person can believe it would work for a pedophile priest.
Too many of our bishops failed us big time by shielding the Church from bad press and failing to shield our children. Perhaps it is not my place to judge, but their moral lapse troubles me even more than the actions of the abusing priests. To be driven by a pathological urge for sexual contact with children and to submit to that pathological urge is more than bad enough. To be empowered to end it, and instead facilitate it by moving people around is exponentially worse.
I've known many good priests. I know good priests who go out to dinner in "civilian attire," because they are ashamed by the public association with news stories. The leadership not only failed the kids. They also failed these good priests.
And that's my two cents.
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R. P. IN TORONTO
Bottom line; the Catholic church has always been one sick puppy... how about the practice of castrating young boys so their voices would stay high for the choir? How sick was that? They only stopped doing that in the early 1900's. The church would go to the boy's parents and tell them what an honor it would be for their family for their son to be mutilated for their listening pleasure as girls weren't allowed to sing in church back then... me thinks all these boys were attractive as well... SICKOS!!!!!!!! When you deny the instinct to procreate, perversion is sure to follow. Celibacy was only instituted in the church to retain control over the priest's money so it wouldn't have to be shared with their families... it had and has nothing to do with god... since it surely must be god's will to have children.

SELF GLORIFICATION

2009-09-16T10:05:00.005-04:00

High-Five Nation
By DAVID BROOKS IN THE NEW YORK TIMES - SEPTEMBER 2009
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On V-J Day, Frank Sinatra appeared, along with Marlene Dietrich, Jimmy Durante, Dinah Shore, Bette Davis, Lionel Barrymore, Cary Grant and many others. But the most striking feature of the show was its tone of self-effacement and humility. The allies had, on that very day, completed one of the noblest military victories in the history of humanity. And yet there was no chest-beating. Nobody was erecting triumphal arches.
“All anybody can do is thank God it’s over,” Bing Crosby, the show’s host, said. “Today our deep down feeling is one of humility,” he added.
Burgess Meredith came out to read a passage from Ernie Pyle, the famous war correspondent. Pyle had been killed just a few months before, but he had written an article anticipating what a victory would mean:
“We won this war because our men are brave and because of many things — because of Russia, England and China and the passage of time and the gift of nature’s material. We did not win it because destiny created us better than all other peoples. I hope that in victory we are more grateful than we are proud.”
This subdued sentiment seems to have been widespread during that season of triumph. On the day the Nazi regime fell, Hal Boyle of The Associated Press reported from the front lines, “The victory over Germany finds the average American soldier curiously unexcited. There is little exuberance, little enthusiasm and almost none of the whoop-it-up spirit with which hundreds of thousands of men looked forward to this event a year ago.”
The Dallas Morning News editorialized, “President Truman calls upon us to treat the event as a solemn occasion. Its momentousness and its gravity are past human comprehension.”
When you glimpse back on those days you see a people — even the rich and famous celebrities — who were overawed by the scope of the events around them. The war produced such monumental effects, and such rivers of blood, that the individual ego seemed petty in comparison. The problems of one or two little people, as the movie line had it, didn’t amount to a hill of beans.
You also hear a cultural reaction. As The Times of London pointed out on the day of victory, fascism had stood for grandiosity, pomposity, boasting and zeal. The allied propaganda mills had also produced their fair share of polemical excess. By 1945, everybody was sick of that. There was a mass hunger for a public style that was understated, self-abnegating, modest and spare. Bing Crosby expressed it perfectly on “Command Performance,” as Gregory Peck, Dwight Eisenhower and George Marshall would come to express it in public life.
And there was something else. When you look from today back to 1945, you are looking into a different cultural epoch, across a sort of narcissism line. Humility, the sense that nobody is that different from anybody else, was a large part of the culture then.
But that humility came under attack in the ensuing decades. Self-effacement became identified with conformity and self-repression. A different ethos came to the fore, which the sociologists call “expressive individualism.” Instead of being humble before God and history, moral salvation could be found through intimate contact with oneself and by exposing the beauty, the power and the divinity within.
Everything that starts out as a cultural revolution ends up as capitalist routine. Before long, self-exposure and self-love became ways to win shares in the competition for attention. Muhammad Ali would tell all cameras that he was the greatest of all time. Norman Mailer wrote a book called “Advertisements for Myself.”
Today, immodesty is as ubiquitous as advertising, and for the same reasons. To scoop up just a few examples of self-indulgent expression from the past few days, there is Joe Wilson using the House floor as his own private “Crossfire”; there is Kanye West grabbing the microphone from Taylor Swift at the MTV Video Music Awards to give us his opinion that the wrong person won; there is Michael Jordan’s egomaniacal and self-indulgent Hall of Fame speech. Baseball and football games are now so routinely interrupted by self-celebration, you don’t even notice it anymore.
This isn’t the death of civilization. It’s just the culture in which we live. And from this vantage point, a display of mass modesty, like the kind represented on the V-J Day “Command Performance,” comes as something of a refreshing shock, a glimpse into another world. It’s funny how the nation’s mood was at its most humble when its actual achievements were at their most extraordinary.
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I HAVE TO WONDER HOW ANYONE COULD WRITE A BETTER COLUMN – THE CLARITY OF THOUGHT HERE IS THRILLING TO BEHOLD.
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ON THE TOPIC -- THIS MOVEMENT OF SELF PROMOTION AND CELEBRATION OF SELF IS NOT THE END OF THE WORLD – I SEE IT AS A PRODUCT OF THE TELEVISION / VIDEO AGE. EVERYONE CAN BE FAMOUS – FACEBOOK CAN MAKE YOU A CELEBRITY, WHILE YOU LIVE IN YOUR PARENT’S ATTIC, BASEMENT OR GARAGE.
IN AN ERA OF CONNIE HAWKINS, ROGER BROWN, OSCAR ROBERTSON, JERRY WEST, RUSSELL AND CHAMBERLAIN, IT IS DIFFICULT TO FIND ANY FILM FOOTAGE OF THESE BASKETBALL PLAYERS IN THEIR HIGH SCHOOL DAYS.
MY GRANDSON, FRANKIE, HAS A VIDEO CHRONICLE OF HIS EXPLOITS WITH HIS FIFTH GRADE C.Y.O BASKETBALL TEAM. FRANKIE IS A MODEST PERSON, BUT HE LIVES IN AN AGE WHERE EVERYTHING IS RECORDED AND MANY FOLKS MISTAKE BEING RECORDED AS MEANING THEY ARE WORTHY OF BEING RECORDED.
I HAVE MET FOLKS WHO FEEL THEIR JOBS SHOULD CLOSE DOWN
FOR THEIR BIRTHDAY – FOLKS MY AGE ( OLD ) – AND THEY ARE ONE STEP ABOVE PART TIME EMPLOYEES AT THEIR WORK PLACES.
THIS ERA OF SELF PROMOTION, SELF-GLORIFICATION, WILL PAST – AND THEN RETURN – THE WORLD TRULY GOES IN A CIRCLE – BUT WHILE WE ARE IN THIS ERA OF “ME” – IT DOES SERVE TO PROVE THE BARD WAS RIGHT ---
“SOUND AND FURY SIGNIFYING NOTHING.”

THE FAMOUS COKE CAN WARNING LIVES ON

2009-08-28T19:11:00.004-04:00

This is Serious! This incident happened recently in North Texas .
A woman went boating one Sunday taking with her some cans of coke which she put into the refrigerator of the boat.
On Monday she was taken to the hospital and placed in the Intensive Care Unit. She died on Wednesday. The autopsy concluded she died of Leptospirosis. This was traced to the can of coke she drank from, not using a glass.
Tests showed that the can was infected by dried rat urine and hence the disease Leptospirosis. Rat urine contains toxic and deathly substances. It is highly recommended to thoroughly wash the upper part of all soda cans before drinking out of them. The cans are typically stocked in warehouses and transported straight to the shops without being cleaned. A study at NYCU showed that the tops of all soda cans are more contaminated than public toilets - Full of germs and bacteria. So wash them with water before putting them to the mouth to avoid any kind of fatal accident.
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THIS IS REALLY A GREAT WARNING AND I HAVE TO SALUTE THE COLLEGE KIDS WHO DREAM THIS STUFF UP AND FORWARD IT BETWEEN CLASSES.
THIS ONE IS ABOUT 15 YEARS OLD – BUT UPDATED WITH THE NEW CAN PHOTO.
I WILL RUSH OUT INTO THE STREETS AND WARN AS MANY PEOPLE AS I CAN ABOUT THIS DANGER – OF COURSE, THOUSANDS OF TEACHERS HAVE EXPLAINED THIS CONCEPT TO KIDS IN NURSERY SCHOOL AND KINDERGARTEN, BUT HEY, YOU NEVER KNOW WHO WAS ABSENT ON THOSE DAYS.
IF I CAN UNDERSTAND THIS SCIENTIFIC THEORY CORRECTLY –
WHEN SOMETHING IS DIRTY, YOU SHOULD CLEAN IT.
WOW - THIS IS AMAZING.
BETWEEN POISON COKE COLA CANS,
EXPLODING CELL PHONES
AND
SERIAL KILLERS WHO HIDE IN THE BACK SEAT WHILE YOU ARE PUMPING GAS --- I HAVE LOST AT LEAST TEN TO TWELVE CLOSE FRIENDS THIS YEAR AND THIS IS ONLY AUGUST.
A DOCTOR TOLD ME THAT IF I TELL TEN PEOPLE THESE VERY INTELLIGENT IDEAS AND THEY TELL TEN PEOPLE – THEN HE FIGURED, WITHOUT USING
PAPER OR PENCIL, THAT 20 PEOPLE WOULD KNOW THESE WARNINGS.
I SHOULD GET OFF LINE NOW, BECAUSE FOUR MORE WARNINGS JUST CAME IN:
^^ DO NOT DRIVE A CAR WITH YOUR EYES CLOSED
^^DON’T OPEN THE DOOR ON A JET PLANE THAT IS IN FLIGHT
^^WHEN LEAVING A TALL BUILDING, AVOID USING AN OPEN WINDOW,
TAKE THE STAIRS OR ELEVATOR TO THE GROUND LEVEL
^^ DON’T POINT A LOADED GUN AT A CHILD WHO IS DRINKING AN UNCLEAN
CAN OF COKE AND PULL THE TRIGGER, THAT COULD CAUSE AN INJURY.
I CAN’T UNDERSTAND WHY THE N.Y. TIMES / CNN / MSNBC / THE POLICE / FBI / CIA / POISON CONTROL AGENCY / B.E.T. NEWS
DID NOT BROADCAST THIS MESSAGE BEFORE YOUR FRIEND SENT HIS URGENT
E-MAIL TO SAVE US.
I WISH THAT FRIEND HAD WARNED US ABOUT THE COLLAPSE OF THE SUB-PRIME MORTGAGE MARKET – THAT WOULD HAVE BEEN A LITTLE MORE CURRENT THAN THIS 1994 COKE CAN EXPOSE AND MAYBE DONE A LOT MORE GOOD.
ONE QUESTION -- IS IT ONLY COKE CANS OR DO THE RATS URINATE ON OTHER CANS TOO?

RANDY JAMES - HISTORY MATTERS

2009-05-25T04:05:00.009-04:00

Friends:

The thousands of Applebees across the country have the same policy concerning their decor. When they first open a restaurant, they select a few local college and/or high school and place about a dozen photos of the school's athletic teams and/or clubs on the restaurant's walls.

The Applebees located in Fresh Meadows was no different. Back around 1993, when they opened, they put about 20 pictures of Lewis' teams up in the restaurant's waiting area.

Over the last 15 or so years, I had gotten used to friends and/or strangers coming up to me
in the neighborhood telling me that they saw me with either the baseball team picture of the basketball team picture on their last trip to Applebees.

Back around 2002, I even suggested to the manager of the restaurant that he update the pictures with current ones, but he said it was the policy to leave the pictures up that were appropriate when the restaurant first opened.

THEN, last week, Juliet (my teenager) informed me that the restaurant had updated the pictures, and now had photos of the current teams, thus removing me from posterity.

And while it should be a small item when you look at the big picture of life; for some reason, I feel wounded to the core.

RANDY JAMES

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R. J. –

I FEEL THAT ARTHUR MILLER'S LINE FROM, "DEATH OF A SALESMAN," APPLIES TO YOUR COMMENTS --- "attention must be paid." YOUR STORY IS NOT ABOUT PERSONAL EGO, IT IS FAR GREATER THAN THAT.

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WHEN I GOT MY FIRST TEACHING POSITION IN BROOKLYN, AT JUNIOR HIGH SCHOOL #35 A.K.A. STEPHEN DECATUR - THE PRINCIPAL WAS TRYING TO SAVE MONEY AND MAYBE THE TIME NEEDED FOR MINOR RENOVATION - ANYWAY, THE PLAN WAS TO TAKE THE OLD ATHLETIC HALL FAME NAME PLATES FROM THE LARGE AND VERY HANDSOME WOODEN PLACARD AT AND ABOVE THE MAIN AUDITORIUM STAGE, PAINT OVER THEM WITH THE NAMES OF THE CURRENT AND FUTURE CROP OF STAR ATHLETES PRODUCED BY THIS GREAT INSTITUTION’S NURTURING SPIRIT.

I CAME TO THE SCHOOL IN JANUARY OF 1968 AND THIS PLAN MUST HAVE BEEN DISCUSSED AND DECIDED UPON BEFORE I
CROSSED THE DOOR – THE ACTION WAS IN MOTION WHEN I LEARNED ABOUT IT – SELFISHLY I RESCUED MY OWN NAME FROM THE PILE OF MY CLASSMATES / HEROES THAT HAD BEEN VIRTUALLY GIVEN THE DEATH PENALTY.
IRONICALLY, I SALVAGED THE ONE NAME THAT I THOUGHT WAS THE LEAST DESERVING OF ALL THOSE ON THE BOARD.

HAD I BEEN A VETERAN STAFF MEMBER, WITH A GREATER VOICE, I MIGHT HAVE HELPED FIND A WAY TO PRESERVE THAT
WONDERFUL TRIBUTE TO FINE ATHLETES, ONE OR MORE, WHOM HAD REPRESENTED THE UNITED STATES IN THE OLYMPIC GAMES.

I ALSO KNEW THAT WONDERFUL FOLKS ON THE STAFF – BOTH FACULTY AND ADMINISTRATORS, WERE STRONG ADVOCATES FOR THE SCHOOL AND IF THIS WAS HAPPENING, MAYBE IT WAS NOT SO SIMPLE TO UNDO.

ANYWAY, THERE IS A NATURAL PAIN THAT COMES WITH SEEING HISTORY DISAPPEAR BEFORE YOUR EYES, SEEING THE LIBRARY
OF HUMAN ACHIEVEMENTS BURN DOWN – OF HAVING SOMEONE DECIDE THAT THE OLD GRAVESTONES SHOULD BE REMOVED FOR NEW ONES – THAT THE OLD NOVELS, LIKE ”NATIVE SON,” SHOULD MAKE WAY FOR NEWER WORKS - THAT TALES OF MY
DAD AND HIS DAD, SHOULD BE SILENCED SO WE CAN DISCUSS MY GRAND-KIDS.

RANDY, THERE IS SOMETHING FUNDAMENTALLY AND INTRINSICALLY WRONG WITH SAYING THAT JACKIE ROBINSON OR PAUL ROBESON ARE TOO OLD SCHOOL TO BE RELEVANT IN THE WORLD OF 2009-- IF THEY ARE NOT RELEVANT, WHAT CONTEXT IS THERE TO EVALUATE THE CURRENT CROP OF CANDIDATES WHO FOLLOW IN THEIR FOOTSTEPS.

WHEN YOU MENTION THE ORIGINAL TRIBUTES TO FRANCIS LEWIS HISTORY BEING REMOVED, FOR THE SIN OF BEING TOO
HISTORICAL, I UNDERSTAND WHERE YOU ARE COMING FROM – THERE IS A TWILIGHT ZONE QUALITY TO THE PREMISE OF HISTORY BEING TOO OLD TO RETAIN.

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COACH JAMES, I WOULD GIVE YOU ONE PIECE OF ADVICE – IN FUTURE WRITINGS, DON’T START YOUR MESSAGES WITH THE WORD “FRIENDS,” -- NOT VERY MANY PEOPLE ARE GOING TO OPENLY APPLY THAT TITLE TO THEMSELVES – I SAW THE WORD “FRIENDS,” AND THOUGHT, THIS MESSAGE FROM RANDY IS NOT INTENDED FOR ME OR ANY DECENT PERSON.

RANDY MUST BE SPEAKING TO HIS ASSOCIATES WHO ARE INCARCERATED, AWAITING INCARCERATION OR APPEALING THEIR FELONY CONVICTIONS BEFORE THE FIFTH CIRCUIT COURT OF APPEALS FOR THE EASTERN DISTRICT.

AT MY EARLIEST CONVENIENCE

2009-05-22T07:30:00.003-04:00

THERE SEEMS TO BE A FAILURE AMONG QUITE A FEW PEOPLE TO REALIZE THE DIFFERENCE IN THESE TWO SITUATIONS WHEN LEAVING A MESSAGE ON THEIR PHONE ANSWERING MACHINE:

1. TELLING A CALLER / CLIENT -- "PLEASE GET BACK TO ME AT YOUR
EARLIEST CONVENIENCE "

IS COMPLETELY DIFFERENT IN BOTH MEANING AND LEVEL OF RESPECT
FROM THE WORDS BELOW -

2. "SORRY I MISSED YOUR CALL, I WILL GET BACK TO YOU AT MY
EARLIEST CONVENIENCE."

THIS IS ONE OF THOSE THINGS, LIKE DOUBLE NEGATIVES, THAT IF A PERSON
FAILS TO UNDERSTAND THE LESS THAN SUBTLE DIFFERENCE, IF IS NOT
EASY TO SCHOOL THEM -
THEY JUST DON'T GET IT OR ELSE THEY DON'T MIND "STICKING IT" TO THEIR CALLER / CLIENT.

IT IS GOOD FORM TO LET THE CALLER KNOW YOU WANT THEM TO TRY AGAIN TO REACH YOU.

IT IS NOT TOO GRACIOUS TO INFORM THE CALLER THAT, YOU WILL RETURN THEIR CALL WHEN YOU ARE GOOD AND READY, MAYBE AFTER A MEAL, A SHOWER AND VIEWING THE LATEST EPISODE OF "LAW AND ORDER."

ADDING "EARLIEST" DOES NOT, AS THEY SEEM TO THINK, CORRECT THE TONE OF THE MESSAGE - WHICH IS, "WHEN I AM GOOD AND READY."

HENNING FAMILY WISDOM & CELEBRITY QUOTES

2009-02-01T00:22:00.005-05:00

* We get too soon old and too late smart. ---
*MISTER HENNING, SENIOR
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**The older we get, the more liberated we feel, because at some point we say to ourselves, I am now xx years of age. What the hell is anyone going to do to me.
**Indulging regret and going through the wouldas, couldas and shouldas is pointless.
**God has a crazy sense of humor. By the time we figure so many things out to our own satisfaction, our bodies are too worn down to do anything about it.
**Enjoy the trip, particularly in the last quarter of the journey. The sunsets reflect many great days that have established that man in the mirror.
** PAUL HENNING - SFC '67
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CELEBRITY QUOTES
* Sometimes, when I look at my children, I say to myself ~~"Lillian, you should have remained a virgin." -- Lillian Carter ( mother of Jimmy Carter )
* I had a rose named after me and I was very flattered. But I was not pleased to read the description in the catalog: "No good in a bed, but fine against a wall." -- Eleanor Roosevelt
* Last week, I stated this woman was the ugliest woman I had ever seen. I have since been visited by her sister, and now wish to withdraw that statement. -- Mark Twain
* The secret of a good sermon is to have a good beginning and a good ending; and to have the two as close together as possible. -- George Burns
* Santa Claus has the right idea. Visit people only once a year. -- Victor Borge
* Be careful about reading health books. You may die of a misprint. -- Mark Twain
* By all means, marry. If you get a good wife, you'll become happy; if you get a bad one, you'll become a philosopher. -- Socrates
* I was married by a judge. I should have asked for a jury. -- Groucho Marx
* My wife has a slight impediment in her speech. Every now and then she stops to breathe. -- Jimmy Durante
* I have never hated a man enough to give his diamonds back. -- Zsa Zsa Gabor
* Only Irish coffee provides in a single glass all four essential food groups: alcohol, caffeine, sugar and fat. -- Alex Levine
* My luck is so bad that if I bought a cemetery, people would stop dying. --
Rodney Dangerfield
* Money can't buy you happiness .. but it does bring you a more pleasant form of misery. --
Spike Milligan
* I am opposed to millionaires... but it would be dangerous to offer me the position. --
Mark Twain
* Until I was thirteen, I thought my name was SHUT UP. -- Joe Namath
* I don't feel old. I don't feel anything until noon. Then it's time for my nap. -- Bob Hope
* I never drink water because of the disgusting things that fish do in it. -- W.C. Fields
* We could certainly slow the aging process down if it had to work its way through Congress. -- Will Rogers
*Don't worry about avoiding temptation. as you grow older, it will avoid you. --
Winston Churchill
* Maybe it's true that life begins at fifty ... but everything else starts to wear out, fall out, or spread out. -- Phyllis Diller
* By the time a man is wise enough to watch his step, he's too old to go anywhere. --
Billy Crystal
* The cardiologist's diet: If it tastes good, spit it out.
????????

FIVE LIFE LESSONS - always worthy of another look

2008-11-24T13:40:00.005-05:00

THANKS TO ARNOLD HOOK FOR THIS VERSION OF THE TALES.

First Lesson -
During my second month of college, our professor gave us a pop quiz. I was a conscientious student and had breezed through the questions until I read the last one: 'What is the first name of the woman who cleans the school?' Surely this was some kind of joke. I had seen the cleaning woman several times. She was tall, dark-haired and in her 50s, but how would I know her name? I handed in my paper, leaving the last question blank. Just before class ended, one student asked if the last question would count toward our quiz grade. 'Absolutely,' said the professor. 'In your careers, you will meet many people. All are significant. They deserve your attention and care, even if all you do is smile and say 'hello.' I've never forgotten that lesson. I also learned her name was Dorothy.
Second Lesson -
One night, at 11:3 0 p.m., an older African American woman was standing on the side of an Alabama highway trying to endure a lashing rainstorm. Her car had broken down and she desperately needed a ride. Soaking wet, she decided to flag down the next car. A young white man stopped to help her, generally unheard of in those conflict-filled 60s.. The man took her to safety, helped her get assistance and put her into a taxicab. She seemed to be in a big hurry, but wrote down his address and thanked him. Seven days went by and a knock came on the man's door. To his surprise, a giant console color TV was delivered to his home. A special note was attached.. It read: 'Thank you so much for assisting me on the highway the other night. The rain drenched not only my clothes, but also my spirits. Then you came along. Because of you, I was able to make it to my dying husband's bedside just before he passed away... God bless you for helping me and unselfishly serving others.' Sincerely, Mrs. Nat King Cole.
Third Lesson -
In the days when an ice cream sundae cost much less, a 10-year-old boy entered a hotel coffee shop and sat at a table. A waitress put a glass of water in front of him. 'How much is an ice cream sundae?' he asked. 'Fifty cents,' replied the waitress. The little boy pulled is hand out of his pocket and studied the coins in it. 'Well, how much is a plain dish of ice cream?' he inquired. By now more people were waiting for a table and the waitress was growing impatient. 'Thirty-five cents,' she brusquely replied. The little boy again counted his coins. 'I'll have the plain ice cream,' he said. The waitress brought the ice cream, put the bill on the table and walked away. The boy finished the ice cream, paid the cashier and left. When the waitress came back, she began to cry as she wiped down the table. There, placed neatly beside the empty dish, were two nickels and five pennies..
You see, he couldn't have the sundae, because he wanted to have enough money left to leave her a generous tip.
Fourth Lesson -
In ancient times, a King had a boulder placed on a roadway. Then he hid himself and watched to see if anyone would remove the huge rock. Some of the king's wealthiest merchants and courtiers came by and simply walked around it. Many loudly blamed the King for not keeping the roads clear, but none did anything about getting the stone out of the way. Then a peasant came along carrying a load of vegetables. Upon approaching the boulder, the peasant laid down his burden and tried to move the stone to the side of the road. After much pushing and straining, he finally succeeded. After the peasant picked up his load of vegetables, he noticed a purse lying in the road where the boulder had been. The purse contained many gold coins and a note from the King indicating that the gold was for the person who removed the boulder from the roadway. The peasant learned what many of us never understand! Every obstacle presents an opportunity to improve our condition.
Fifth Lesson -
Many years ago, when I worked as a volunteer at a hospital, I got to know a little girl named Liz who was suffering from a rare & serious disease. Her only chance of recovery appeared to be a blood transfusion from her 5-year old brother, who had miraculously survived the same disease and had developed the antibodies needed to combat the illness.. The doctor explained the situation to her little brother, and asked the little boy if he would be willing to give his blood to his sister. I saw him hesitate for only a moment before taking a deep breath and saying, 'Yes I'll do it if it will save her.' As the transfusion progressed, he lay in bed next to his sister and smiled, as we all did, seeing the color returning to her cheek. Then his face grew pale and his smile faded. He looked up at the doctor and asked with a trembling voice, 'Will I start to die right away'. Being young, the little boy had misunderstood the doctor; he thought he was going to have to give his sister all of his blood in order to save her.

OLD SOLDIERS NEVER DIE, THEY JUST FADE AWAY

2008-11-20T08:36:00.006-05:00

I HAVE TO FEEL SORRY FOR THOSE WHO DON'T SEE THIS STORY.

I THANK DR. K.W. WELLS FOR SENDING IT TO ME.

CLICK ON LINK BELOW ->

http://video.google.com/videoplay?docid=-2487638612433437293#

MIRIAM MAKEBA - A PIECE OF GROUND

2008-11-10T20:49:00.010-05:00

LYRICS
^^^^^^^^^^^^^
When the white man first came here from over the seas
he looked and he said this is God's own country
he was mighty well pleased with this land that he'd found
and he said I will make here my own piece of ground

Now many's the battle he still had to fight
many's the family that died in the night
for many were the black men that lived all around
and all of them wanting their own piece of ground.

Then one fine day in 1883
gold was discovered in good quantity
the country was rich, much richer than planned
and each digger wanted his own piece of land.

Now the White diggers were few and the gold was so deep
that the black man was called 'cause his labor was cheap
with drill and with shovel he toiled underground
For six pennies a day to tender the ground.

Now this land is so rich and it seems strange to me
that the black man whose labour has helped it to be
cannot enjoy the fruits that abound
is uprooted and kicked from his own piece of ground

Some people say now don't you worry
we've kept you a nice piece of reserve territory
but how can a life for so many be found
on a miserable thirty per cent of the ground?

Yet, some people say now don't you worry
you can always find jobs in the white man's city
but don't stay too long and don't stay too deep
or you're bound to disturb the white man in his sleep.

White man don't sleep long and don't sleep too deep
or your life and your possessions, how long will you keep?

For I've heard a rumour that's running around
that the Black Man's Demanding His Own Piece Of Ground.

HIS OWN PIECE OF GROUND.
^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^

Play the song -->>>>>

http://www.wat.tv/video/miriam-makeba-a-piece-of-ground-21zut_21zuv_.html

A READER, DAN, POINTED OUT --

You should also give credit to Jeremy Taylor who wrote the song and was also banned in South Africa and later exiled.

He is still writing wonderful songs. Here is his web site:

http://www.jeremytaylor.info

BLACK MAN AT THE WHITE HOUSE - EUGENE ALLEN

2008-11-10T17:03:00.006-05:00

For more than three decades, Eugene Allen worked in the White House, a black man unknown to the headlines. During some of those years, harsh segregation laws lay upon the land.He trekked home every night to his wife, Helene, who kept him out of her kitchen.

At the White House, he worked closer to the dirty dishes than to the Oval Office. Helene didn't care; she just beamed with pride.
President Truman called him Gene.
President Ford liked to talk golf with him. He saw eight presidential administrations come and go, often working six days a week."I never missed a day of work," Allen said.He was there while racial history was made: Brown vs. Board of Education, the Little Rock school crisis, the 1963 March on Washington, the cities burning, the civil rights bills, the assassinations.
When he started at the White House in 1952, he couldn't even use the public restrooms when he ventured back to his native Virginia. "We had never had anything," Allen, 89, recalled of black America at the time. "I was always hoping things would get better."In its long history, the White House -- note the name -- has had a complex and vexing relationship with black Americans."The history is not so uneven at the lower level, in the kitchen," said Ted Sorensen, who served as counselor to President Kennedy. "In the kitchen, the folks have always been black. Even the folks at the door -- black."Before Gene Allen landed his White House job, he worked as a waiter at a resort in Hot Springs, Va., and then at a country club in Washington.He and wife Helene, 86, were sitting in the living room of their Washington home. Her voice was musical, in a Lena Horne kind of way. She called him "Honey." They met at a birthday party in 1942. He was too shy to ask for her number, so she tracked his down. They married a year later.
In 1952, a lady told him of a job opening in the White House. "I wasn't even looking for a job," he said. "I was happy where I was working, but she told me to go on over there and meet with a guy by the name of Alonzo Fields."Fields was a maitre d', and he immediately liked Allen. Allen was offered a job as a "pantry man." He washed dishes, stocked cabinets and shined silverware. He started at $2,400 a year.There was, in time, a promotion to butler. "Shook the hand of all the presidents I ever worked for," he said."I was there, honey," Helene said. "In the back maybe. But I shook their hands too." She was referring to White House holiday parties, Easter egg hunts.They have one son, Charles, who works as an investigator with the State Department."President Ford's birthday and my birthday were on the same day," he said. "He'd have a birthday party at the White House. Everybody would be there. And Mrs. Ford would say, 'It's Gene's birthday too!' "And so they'd sing a little ditty to the butler. And the butler, who wore a tuxedo to work every day, would blush."Jack Kennedy was very nice," he went on. "And so was Mrs. Kennedy."He was in the White House kitchen the day Kennedy was slain. He got an invitation to the funeral. But he volunteered for other duty: "Somebody had to be at the White House to serve everyone after they came from the funeral."The whole family of President Carter made Helene chuckle: "They were country. And I'm talking Lillian and Rosalynn both." It came out as the highest compliment.First Lady Nancy Reagan came looking for him in the kitchen one day. She wanted to remind him about the upcoming state dinner for German Chancellor Helmut Kohl. She told him he would not be working that night."She said, 'You and Helene are coming to the state dinner as guests of President Reagan and myself.' I'm telling you! I believe I'm the only butler to get invited to a state dinner."Husbands and wives don't sit together at these events, and Helene was nervous about trying to make small talk with world leaders. "And my son said, 'Momma, just talk about your high school. They won't know the difference.'"The senators were all talking about the colleges and universities that they went to," she said. "I was doing as much talking as they were."Had champagne that night," she said, looking over at her husband.He just grinned: He was the man who stacked the champagne at the White House.Colin L. Powell would become the highest ranking black of any White House to that point when he was named Reagan's national security advisor in 1987. Condoleezza Rice would have that position under President George W. Bush.Gene Allen was promoted to maitre d' in 1980. He left the White House in 1986, after 34 years. President Reagan wrote him a sweet note. Nancy Reagan hugged him tight.Interviewed at their home last week, Gene and Helene speculated about what it would mean if a black man were elected president."Just imagine," she said."It'd be really something," he said."We're pretty much past the going-out stage," she said. "But you never know. If he gets in there, it'd sure be nice to go over there again."They talked about praying to help Barack Obama get to the White House. They'd go vote together. She'd lean on her cane with one hand, and him with the other, while walking down to the precinct. And she'd get supper going afterward. They went over their election day plans more than once."Imagine," she said."That's right," he said.On Monday, Helene had a doctor's appointment. Gene woke and nudged her once, then again. He shuffled around to her side of the bed. He nudged Helene again.He was all alone."I woke up and my wife didn't," he said later.Some friends and family members rushed over. He wanted to make coffee. They had to shoo the butler out of the kitchen.
The lady he married 65 years ago will be buried today.The butler cast his vote for Obama on Tuesday. He so missed telling his Helene about the black man bound for the Oval Office.

DONNA M. GORDON DOZIER

2008-06-01T09:18:00.007-04:00

DONNA MICHELE DOZIER GORDON
^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^

YOUR MOTHER CALLED HERE YESTERDAY, BRAGGING ABOUT SOME AWARD YOU GOT FROM SOME ORGANIZATION – SO WHAT ?

BOBBY AND WHITNEY USED TO GET AWARDS TOO – BIG DEAL !

I COULD GET AN AWARD MYSELF, BUT I CHOSE NOT TO DO ANYTHING AND THAT MAKES IT A LOT MORE DIFFICULT TO WIN A PRIZE OR RECOGNITION.

ANYONE COULD ACTUALLY DO SOMETHING AND GET RECOGNITION – BUT RATHER THAN TAKE THE EASY WAY – I AND MANY OTHERS, HAVE ELECTED TO DO NOTHING AND HELP NO ONE -- I HAVE SET A HIGHER GOAL FOR MYSELF AND THUS, IT IS TAKING ME A LOT LONGER TO GAIN THE PUBLIC ATTENTION AND APPROVAL, THAT YOU GOT IN A RATHER BRIEF PERIOD OF TIME.

OF COURSE, THOSE WHO ACTUALLY DO SOMETHING, WILL WIN THE FAVOR OF THE CROWD, THE MOB, THE RABEL – WHILE THOSE OF US WHO DO NOTHING,
FAIL TO TOIL IN THE LIMELIGHT – WE JUST ANONYMOUSLY, GO ABOUT DOING NOTHING, ASSISTING NO ONE AND CONTRIBUTING GREATLY TO THE GENERAL DECLINE OF SOCIETY AND OUR WAY OF LIFE.

WE DO SO, QUIETLY AND MODESTLY; WANTING OUR DAY IN THE SUN, BUT ACCEPTING THE REALITY THAT FOLKS WHO ACTUALLY VOLUNTEER THEIR TIME AND EFFORT, WILL USUALLY GARNER ALL THE GLORY. LIFE IS NOT FAIR AND IT SEEMS, IT IS ALSO CRUEL TO THOSE WHO CONTRIBUTE NOTHING TO THE GENERAL WELFARE.

I HOPE YOU DON’T THINK I AND OTHERS LIKE MYSELF ARE UNCARING OR INDIFFERENT TO THE ILLS OF SOCIETY – THAT IS SIMPLY NOT THE CASE. WE JUST
BELIEVE THAT SOCIETY HAS THE INSTITUTIONS IN PLACE TO GUIDE THOSE WHO NEED GUIDANCE – OUR POSITION IS TO STEP BACK AND ALLOW THOSE INSTITUTIONS TO DO THEIR JOBS.
I ECHOL THE WORDS OF THE GREAT EBENEZER SCROOGE –
"ARE THERE NO PRISONS, ARE THERE NO WORKHOUSES?"

YET, I WILL LOWER MY STANDARDS AND CONGRATULATE YOU FOR TAKING THE EASY WAY OUT AND MAKING YOURSELF USEFUL
TO SOCIETY. I DO THIS AS I REMAIN HOPEFUL THAT YOU WILL SEE THE ERROR OF YOUR WAYS IN THE NEAR FUTURE AND CURTAIL THIS
MAD DESIRE TO BE HELPFUL TO OTHERS.

TAKE CARE - UNCLE CHIEF

YOU SAVED MY LIFE

2008-04-02T21:26:00.003-04:00

CONTRIBUTED BY DR.K.W.W. -- NORTH CAROLINA
*********************************************

I just want to thank all of you for your educational emails over the past year.

Thanks to you, I no longer open a public bathroom door without using a paper towel.

I can't sit down on the hotel bedspread because I can only imagine what has happened on it since it was last washed.

I have trouble shaking hands with someone who has been driving because the number one pass-time while driving alone is picking your nose. (Although cell phone usage may be taking the number one spot)

Eating a Little Debbie sends me on a guilt trip because I can only imagine how many gallons of trans fats I have consumed over the years.I can't touch any woman's purse for fear she has placed it on the floor of a public bathroom. Yuck!

I must send my special thanks to whoever sent me the one about poop in the glue on envelopes because I now have to use a wet sponge with every envelope that needs sealing.

Also, now I have to scrub the top of every can I open for the same reason.

I no longer have any savings because I gave it to a sick girl (Penny Brown) who is about to die in the hospital for the 1,387,258th time.

I no longer have any money at all, but that will change once I receive the $15,000 that Bill Gates/Microsoft and AOL are sending me for participating in their special e-mail program.

I no longer worry about my soul because I have 363,214 angels looking out for me, and St. Theresa's novena has granted my every wish.

I no longer eat KFC because their chickens are actually horrible mutant freaks with no eyes or feathers.

I no longer use cancer-causing deodorants even though I smell like a water buffalo on a hot day.

Thanks to you, I have learned that my prayers only get answered if I forward an email to seven of my friends and make a wish within five minutes.

Because of your concern I no longer drink Coca Cola because it can remove toilet stains.

I no longer can buy gasoline without taking someone along to watch the car so a serial killer won't crawl in my back seat when I'm pumping gas.

I no longer drink Pepsi or Dr. Pepper since the people who make these products are atheists who refuse to put 'Under God' on their cans.

I no longer use Saran wrap in the microwave because it causes cancer.

And thanks for letting me know I can't boil a cup of water in the microwave anymore because it will blow up in my face...disfiguring me for life.

I no longer check the coin return on pay phones because I could be pricked with a needle infected with AIDS.

I no longer go to shopping malls because someone will drug me with a perfume sample and rob me.

I no longer receive packages from UPS or FedEx since they are actually Al Qaeda in disguise.

I no longer shop at Target since they are French and don't support our American troops or the Salvation Army.

I no longer answer the phone because someone will ask me to dial a number for which I will get a phone bill with calls to Jamaica , Singapore and Uzbekistan ..

I no longer buy expensive cookies from Neiman Marcus since I now have their recipe.

Thanks to you, I can't use anyone's toilet but mine because a big brown African spider is lurking under the seat to cause me instant death when it bites my butt.

And thanks to your great advice, I can't ever pick up $5.00 dropped in the parking lot because it probably was placed there by a sex molester waiting underneath my car to grab my leg.

I can no longer drive my car because I can't buy gas from certain gas companies!

If you don't send this e-mail to at least 144,000 people in the next 70 minutes, a large dove with diarrhea will land on your head at 5:00 PM this afternoon and the fleas from 12 camels will infest your back, causing you to grow a hairy hump. I know this will occur because it actually happened to a friend of my next door neighbor's ex-mother-in-law's second husband's cousin's beautician...

Have a wonderful day....

Oh, by the way.....

A German scientist from Argentina , after a lengthy study, has discovered
that people with insufficient brain activity read their e-mail with their hand on the mouse.

Don't bother taking it off now, it's too late !

ALERTS - TELL EVERYONE THE NEWS

2008-03-30T02:01:00.001-04:00

********************************
WE ALL KNOW THE GREAT E-MAIL WARNINGS
AND ALERTS:

* CELL PHONES WILL BLOW UP AND KILL YOU
* CAR-JACKERS WILL USE A PIECE OF PAPER TO BLOCK
YOUR VIEW THRU THE REAR WINDOW TO STEAL
YOUR CAR & MAYBE KILL YOU
* DRINKING COLD FLUID WITH A MEAL WILL KILL YOU
* THE MICROWAVE WILL KILL YOU
* H.I.V. NEEDLES IN THE HANDLE OF A GAS STATION
PUMP WILL KILL YOU

THERE IS NO SHORTAGE OF THINGS THAT WILL KILL YOU AND WARNINGS TO
SAVE YOUR LIFE.
NOW THIS IS WHAT I WANT TO KNOW ---> I HAVE LIVED MORE THAN A
HALF CENTURY AND IN ALL THAT TIME AND HAVING BEEN BORN AND RAISED IN THE FOURTH
LARGEST CITY IN AMERICA, BROOKLYN AND BROOKLYN IS A SECTION OF THE LARGEST
CITY IN AMERICA --- NEW YORK, I HAVE MET AND
SPOKEN WITH A TREMENDOUS AMOUNT OF PEOPLE.

HAVING MOVED ON TO LIVE IN BOTH NORTH AND SOUTH CAROLINA, I HAVE
ENCOUNTERED MORE PEOPLE.

HAVING VISITED MORE THAN HALF OF THE 50 STATES AND THE DISTRICT OF
COLUMBIA, PUERTO RICO AND THE VIRGIN ISLANDS - MY LIST HAS INCREASED.

HAVING TRAVELED TO SOUTH AMERICA -
CENTRAL AMERICA - EUROPE - THE CARIBBEAN AND
NORTH AFRICA -- MY LIST OF CONTACTS HAS GROWN
ONCE AGAIN.

IN ALL THOSE JOURNEYS AND IN MEETING THIS MASSIVE AMOUNT OF HUMAN
BEINGS -- NO ONE HAS EVER GIVEN ME ANY INFORMATION THAT THEY THOUGHT I SHOULD
PASS ON TO EVERYONE I KNOW.

WHY IS IT THAT ONLY ON LINE WILL PEOPLE FEEL THAT THEIR
INFORMATION IS WORTHY OF BEING FORWARDED TO EVERYONE YOU EVER KNEW OR WILL COME
TO KNOW?

NO ONE IN "REAL LIFE," WILL TRY TO CONVINCE
YOU THAT YOU SHOULD TELL EVERYONE:

YOU NEED SURGERY
YOU ARE BEHIND IN THE RENT
YOUR GIRLFRIEND IS WITH CHILD
YOU NEED A CAR
YOU NEED A NEW CAR
THE BOSS IS FIRING YOU THIS FRIDAY
YOUR HUSBAND IS CHEATING ON YOU

WHY DOES INFORMATION GAIN IMPORTANCE IF IT IS TRANSMITTED ON LINE.

SOMEONE NEEDS TO DO A STUDY
ON THIS PHENOMENA, WRITE A REPORT AND THEN

T... E....... THEIR FINDINGS.

MORE QUOTES TO REMEMBER

2008-03-25T01:04:00.006-04:00

THE FATHER ASKED HIS SON IF HE WAS LOOKING FOR A GIRL TO MARRY, NOW THAT HE WAS IN
HIS EARLY 30s.

THE SON SAID HE WANTED TO GET MARRIED AND WAS LOOKING FOR A GIRL THAT HE
COULD LIVE WITH.

THE FATHER SHOOK HIS HEAD AND TOLD THE BOY, HE WAS MAKING A MISTAKE.

THE FATHER SAID, "SON, LOOK FOR A GIRL YOU CAN'T LIVE WITHOUT."

THE LEADER OF A PRISON GANG WAS THREATENING A PRISONER WHO WOULD NOT
OBEY HIS ORDERS.
A FRIEND OF THE HEROIC PRISONER, INTERCEDED AND TOLD THE BULLY, HE AND HIS
GUYS WOULD DEFEND THEIR FRIEND AGAINST ANY ATTACK.
THE BULLY SAID, "I HAVE 50 MEN WHO WILL KILL FOR ME."
THE LEADER OF THE SMALLER GROUP SAID, "YOU HAVE 50 WHO WILL KILL FOR YOU, BUT DO YOU HAVE ONE WHO WILL DIE FOR YOU, IF NOT STEP BACK."
THE BULLY LOOKED AT ALL HIS MEN AS THEY TURNED AWAY FROM HIS GLANCE AND HE STEPPED BACK.
^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^
MY BROTHER, WILLIAM, WHILE A TEENAGER, BACK BEFORE THE INVENTION OF THE WHEEL, MADE THE OBSERVATION THAT SOME THINGS ARE SO BASIC AND TRUE THAT WE CAN’T EVEN BEGIN TO DISPUTE THEM –THEY ARE REAL.

OTHER THINGS ARE “TOO REAL” – THE TRUTH, THE REALITY, THE REALIZATION OF A CONDITION, CIRCUMSTANCE OR SITUATION IS SO CRYSTAL CLEAR AND POWERFUL, THAT WE ARE NOT PREPARED TO HANDLE WHAT WE SEE / BECOME AWARE OF, BUT WE IN NO WAY CAN DENY THE TRUTH OF THE MATTER – THE TRUTH IS OVERWHELMING.

WHILE READING A SPORTS BLOG, A GUY MADE THIS OBSERVATION ABOUT A WIFE WHO IS PLANNING TO DIVORCE HER SEMI-RETIRED SPORTS CELEBRITY HUSBAND
---- SHE IS A BONA FIDE HOE.
bona fide -- authentic; true, genuine
THIS STATEMENT WAS TOO REAL – IT JUMPED OFF THE PAGE – THE GUY HAD TO RESORT TO LATIN TO CAPTURE HIS IDEA ABOUT THE ESSENCE OF THIS WOMAN.
I HAVE NO INTEREST IN THE FEUDING COUPLE, I JUST THINK THE GUY WROTE A
CLASSIC SENTENCE.
THE WIFE WAS CHRIS EVERT -THE HUSBAND, GREG NORMAN .

AN OLD BAD IDEA IS STILL A BAD IDEA

2008-03-15T18:01:00.005-04:00

TRY TO AVOID JOINING THE BUFFALO AS THEY BLINDLY RUN OFF THE CLIFFS AND DROP TO THEIR DESTRUCTION.

PLEASE APPLY THE CHRIS ROCK RULE AND SAVE YOURSELF FROM BEING AN IDIOT.
WHEN YOU HEAR A SILLY IDEA - REFRAIN FROM JOINING IN ON THE STUPIDITY,
INSTEAD, FOLLOW THE GUIDELINES OF MISTER ROCK AND SAVE YOUR INTELLECTUAL INTEGRITY.

THE CHRIS ROCK RULE --

1. WHOA - SOMETHING IS WRONG

2. SLOW DOWN - LET ME SEE WHERE THE PROBLEM IS

3. BACK UP - LET ME GO IN A DIFFERENT DIRECTION, SINCE THIS
ORIGINAL IDEA IS OBVIOUSLY SILLY

***********
IF YOU NEED SOMETHING AND I HAVE THAT SOMETHING - I AM IN CONTROL -
THERE IS NO WAY AROUND THAT FACT - BUT, IF YOU WISH TO BE SILLY, YOU ARE FREE TO DO SO - IF YOU THINK THE "PLAN" BELOW MAKES ANY SENSE, ALL I CAN SAY IS --

I AM GLAD YOU:
DON'T HAVE A SCALPEL IN YOUR HAND WHEN I AM ON THE TABLE.

ARE NOT IN THE PILOT'S SEAT WHEN I BOARD THE PLANE.

ARE NOT HANDLING MY 401K

DIDN'T TUNE UP MY CAR BEFORE MY TRIP ACROSS THE DESERT
******************************
TWO QUOTES BEFORE YOU READ THE PLAN --->>

1. "ANY FOOL CAN MAKE A RULE AND EVERY FOOL WILL MIND IT."

2. "BEFORE I DO SOMETHING, I ASK MYSELF, WOULD AN IDIOT DO THIS ?
IF THE ANSWER IS YES, I DON'T DO IT."
*****************************************************
SOMEHOW, I HAVE FAILED IN THE LINES ABOVE TO EXPLAIN CLEARLY THAT THE IDEAS DIRECTLY
BELOW ARE IDIOTIC - SO, I WILL MENTION THAT ONE LAST TIME -- THESE IDEAS ARE NOT
BRIGHT -- I HOPE YOU WILL KEEP THAT IN MIND, AS YOU READ THE MESSAGE BELOW.
********************

THIS IS NOT THE 'DON'T BUY' GAS FOR ONE DAY, BUT IT WILL SHOW YOU HOW WE CAN GET GAS BACK DOWN TO $1.30 PER GALLON.

This was sent by a retired Coca Cola executive. It came from one of his engineer buddies who retired from Halliburton. If you are tired of the gas prices going up AND they will continue to rise this summer, take time to read this please.

Phillip Hollsworth offered this good idea.
This makes MUCH MORE SENSE than the "don't buy gas on a certain day" campaign that was going around last April or May!
It's worth your consideration. Join the resistance!!!!

I hear we are going to hit close to $ 4.00 a gallon by next summer and it might go higher!! Want gasoline prices to come down?

We need to take some intelligent, united action. The oil companies just laughed at that because they knew we wouldn't continue to "hurt" ourselves by refusing to buy gas.

It was more of an inconvenience to us than it was a problem for them.
BUT, whoever thought of this idea, has come up with a plan that can Really work. Please read on and join with us!

By now you're probably thinking gasoline priced at about $2.00 is super cheap. Me too! It is currently $2.98 for regular unleaded in my town.

Now that the oil companies and the OPEC nations have conditioned us to think that the cost of a gallon of gas is CHEAP at $1.50 - $1.75, we need to take aggressive action to teach them that BUYERS control the marketplace...not sellers.

With the price of gasoline going up more each day, we consumers need to take action.

The only way we are going to see the price of gas come down is if we hit someone in the pocketbook by not purchasing their gas! And, we can do that WITHOUT hurting ourselves.

How? Since we all rely on our cars, we can't just stop buying gas.

But we CAN have an impact on gas prices if we all act together to force a price war.

Here's the idea: For the rest of this year, DON'T purchase ANY gasoline from the two biggest companies (which now are one), EXXON and MOBIL.

If they are not selling any gas, they will be inclined to reduce their prices. If they reduce their prices, the other companies will have to follow suit.

But to have an impact, we need to reach literally millions of Exxon and Mobil gas buyers. It's really simple to do! Now, don't wimp out on me at this point...keep reading and I'll explain how simple it is to reach millions of people!!

I am sending this note to 30 people. If each of us send it to at least ten more (30 x 10 = 300) .. and those 300 send it to at least ten more (300 x 10 = 3,000)...and so on, by the time the message reaches the sixth group of people, we will have reached over THREE MILLION consumers.
If those three million get excited and pass this on to ten friends each, then 30 million people will have been contacted!

If it goes one level further, you guessed it..... THREE HUNDRED MILLION PEOPLE!!!

Again, all you have to do is send this to 10 people. That's all!

(If you don't understand how we can reach 300 million and all you have to do is send this to 10 people.... Well, let's face it, you just aren't a mathematician. But I am . so trust me on this one.

How long would all that take? If each of us sends this e-mail out to ten more people within one day of receipt, all 300 MILLION people could conceivably be contacted within the next 8 days!!!

I'll bet you didn't think you and I had that much potential, did you!
Acting together we can make a difference.

If this makes sense to you, please pass this message on. I suggest that we not buy from EXXON/MOBIL UNTIL THEY LOWER THEIR PRICES TO THE $2.00 RANGE AND KEEP THEM DOWN. THIS CAN REALLY WORK.
********************
LET ME MENTION ANOTHER DUMB IDEA --

THERE ARE AMERICAN AND FOREIGN GASOLINE COMPANIES --

HEY, THERE ARE ONLY GASOLINE COMPANIES, THEY ARE UNITED IN THE IDEA OF
MAKING MONEY - THEY HAVE NO NATIONALITY AND IT IS CHILDISH TO THINK OF THEM IN TERMS OF AMERICAN AND FOREIGN.

UNDERSTANDING MEN AND WOMEN IN CONVERSATION

2008-02-17T18:27:00.001-05:00

DICTIONARY FOR DECODING WOMEN'S PERSONAL ADS:
* 40-ish ..................................49.
* Adventurous.........................Slept with everyone.
* Athletic................................No breasts.
* Average looking....................Moooo.
* Beautiful..............................Pathological liar.
* Emotionally Secure...............On medication.
* Feminist...............................Fat.
* Free Spirit.............................Junkie.
* Friendship first.......................Former Slut.
* New-Age...............................Body hair in the wrong places.
* Old-fashioned.................. ......No B.J.'s
* Open-minded.........................Desperate.
* Outgoing...............................Loud and embarrassing.
* Professional...........................Bitch.
* Voluptuous...........................Very fat.
* Large frame...........................Hugely fat.
* Wants soul mate.....................Stalker.

DICTIONARY FOR DECODING WOMEN'S ENGLISH:
* Yes......................................No
* No........................................Yes
* Maybe...................................No
* We need................................I want
* I am sorry..............................You'll be sorry
* We need to talk......................You're in trouble
* Sure, go ahead.......................You better not
* Do what you want...................You will pay for this later
* I am not upset........................Of course, I am upset, you moron!

* You're attentive tonight............Is sex all you ever think about?

DICTIONARY FOR DECODING MEN'S ENGLISH:
* I am hungry...........................I am hungry
* I am sleepy............................I am sleepy
* I am tired..............................I am tired
* Nice dress..............................Nice cleavage!
* I love you..............................Let's have sex now
* I am bored.............................Do you want to have sex?
* May I have this dance?................I'd like to have sex with you.
* Can I call you sometime?..............I'd like to have sex with you.
* Do you want to go to a movie?......I'd like to have sex with you.
* Can I take you out to dinner? ........I'd like to have sex with you.
* I don't think those shoes go with that outfit..............I'm gay

A BIG NUMBER

2008-02-15T10:25:00.003-05:00

A billion is a difficult number to comprehend,
but one advertising agency did a good job of
putting that figure into some perspective in
one of its releases.

A. A billion seconds ago it was 1974.
B. A billion minutes ago Jesus was alive.
C. A billion hours ago our ancestors were
living in the Stone Age.
D. A billion days ago no-one walked on the earth on two feet.

WATCH THIS VIDEO - IT HELPS MAKE A BILLION A REAL NUMBER --

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=um0guhNGPPM

FLOYD PATTERSON -THE CHAMP

2008-02-09T07:12:00.000-05:00

My Dad was a Big fan of Floyd Patterson, he also knew him personally and apparently admired him. Sad to hear of his untimely death, perhaps he's shadow boxing with my Dad!
SOUTHERN ROSE
*******************
Even though Ali was my all-time favorite, I have great respect for Floyd. He was a true gentleman, never an unkind word about anyone.
May God Bless him.
Della
************************************
GROWING UP ON THROOP AVENUE IN BROOKLYN AND KNOWING THAT THE WORLD'S HEAVYWEIGHT CHAMPION GREW UP JUST A FEW BLOCKS NORTH OF MY HOUSE, WAS QUITE IMPRESSIVE.
I NEVER WANTED TO BE A BOXER, UNLESS THEY CHANGED THE RULES SO THAT I ONLY HAD TO FIGHT: WOMEN -- SMALL, TINY, LITTLE, REALLY SKINNY
FEMALES OR BLIND MEN OF ANY SIZE OR UNARMED PEOPLE, WHILE I WAS ALLOWED A BILLY CLUB & SHIELD
SINCE THESE RULES WERE NOT LIKELY TO BE INSTITUTED BY THE POWERS THAT BE - BOXING, LIKE HARD WORK OR A CONCERN FOR OTHERS, WAS NOT IN MY FUTURE - BUT I FELT A GENUINE PRIDE IN HAVING THE CHAMP COME FROM THE NEIGHBOR.
WHEN FLOYD LOSS THAT NIGHTMARE, SEVEN KNOCKDOWN FIGHT TO INGO -- I WENT TO THE APOLLO THEATRE ON FULTON STREET AND SAT THRU THREE SHOWINGS OF SEPARATE TABLES, AN ENGLISH DRAWING ROOM MELODRAMA, SO THAT I COULD SEE THE NEWSREEL COVERAGE OF THE FIGHT OVER AND OVER.
SITTING THRU THAT PICTURE THREE TIMES, AS A TEENAGER, I FELT I TOOK A BEATING EQUAL TO THE ONE FLOYD ENDURED. I WANTED TO SEE HOW A MAN COULD BE KNOCKED DOWN SEVEN TIMES AND FIND THE STRENGTH OR DISREGARD FOR HIS OWN WELL BEING, TO RETURN TO THE FRAY OVER AND OVER AND OVER AND OVER. WAS IT COURAGE OR STUPIDITY.
FLOYD WAS NOT STUPID.
I RETURNED TO THE THEATRE A YEAR LATER, THEN SHOWING A PICTURE I DON'T RECALL, TO SEE FLOYD THROW THE LEGENDARY LEAPING PUNCH THAT DESTROYED INGO. A PUNCH THAT ALLOWED FLOYD TO BE THE FIRST HEAVYWEIGHT TO REGAIN THE TITLE.
FLOYD WAS NEVER A REAL, FULL SIZED, HEAVYWEIGHT AND THAT IS A TRIBUTE TO HIM - HE WAS ALWAYS OUT-GUNNED BY BIGGER MEN AND YET, HE MOST OFTEN CAME OUT ON TOP.
HE WAS SINCERE, HONEST, MODEST AND INTROSPECTIVE IN A WORLD THAT DOES NOT ALWAYS VALUE THESE QUALITIES IN AN ATHLETE.
NO GLAMOUR - NO SCANDAL - NO DRUGS -- JUST A WARRIOR, GOING ABOUT THE BUSINESS OF MINI-WAR, IN A SQUARED CIRCLE.
AFTER REGAINING THE TITLE, FLOYD TOURED SEVERAL PUBLIC SCHOOLS IN BROOKLYN AND DECATUR JUNIOR HIGH SCHOOL # 35 WAS ONE OF THEM -- I FELT PROUD THAT THIS GREAT MAN CAME TO SEE US, DAYS AFTER MAKING HISTORY -- WE HAD A SPECIAL ASSEMBLY AND HE ONLY SAID HELLO AND ASKED US TO DO OUR BEST IN SCHOOL, IT LASTED ALL OF 15 OR 20 SECONDS - BUT AS FAR AS I WAS CONCERNED, IT TOOK SPEAKERS LIKE JFK - MLK - MALCOLM X TO EQUAL THAT BRIEF SPEECH.
THE FACT THAT THE CHAMP CAME TO SEE US WAS VERY POWERFUL.
I WILL HONOR AND SAY A PRAYER FOR FLOYD PATTERSON, A MAN WHO
WAS WORTHY OF ALL THE WORDS WRITTEN HEREIN AND BELOW - AND NOT FOR HIS BOXING SKILLS, BUT FOR HIS BEING - HIS HUMANITY.
GOD BLESS HIM - CHIEF
*******************
Floyd went to JHS 35 (Stephen Decatur) as a teen.
He lived on Chauncey Street between Reid Ave. and Patchen Ave. at the time.
My older sister and he were Classmates.
I not sure but I think I still have her yearbook or class photo somewhere.
Al ("T.Fats")
***********************************
Floyd Patterson came once to Harlem Valley HOSPITAL to visit on the units with our patients, it was a great treat for all of us. A real gentleman.
TEXAS LADY
************************************************************
Class act with a great heart!
R.K.
************************
Floyd Patterson was definitely unappreciated. As humble and as fine a person as you will ever meet, he was a Champ forever both inside and outside the squared circle long after his fight career was over.
The last time I saw him he was managing a kid on a Golden Gloves card being held ay my parish in Brooklyn, Saint Thomas Aquinas. Before the match, he was walking on Flatbush Avenue looking for a local Drug Store to buy some extra tape for the kids' hands.
The Champ took time out to personally greet all who noticed him on his way to the Drug Store. When I saw him , I told him that my Uncle Joe , then 90 , lived just around the corner and that he had been a life time fight fan having seen Dempsey, Louis et al. fight.
I then asked The Champ if it was too much trouble for him to go around the corner and say a brief hello to my Uncle. The next thing I know he was sitting at the dinner table with my Uncle where they swapped stories for almost a half-hour. When Floyd Patterson left, my Uncle told Floyd Patterson that he could not have been more grateful for The Champ's time.
Patterson responded by telling this great old man and fight fan that the pleasure was all his. A class act, may this true Champ rest in peace.
John D. -- SFC - 67
************************
When I taught school in East New York, I had his daughter as a student aide in a summer school program, and met him once. He was a gentleman.
PH -SFC -67
***********************
I was a big Floyd Patterson fan. As far as I know, he was a class act. A tough guy but always a sportsman.
Jim McClune
*****************
NEW PALTZ, N.Y. (AP) - Floyd Patterson, who avenged an embarrassing loss to Ingemar Johansson by beating him a year later to become the first boxer to regain the heavyweight title, died Thursday. He was 71.
Patterson died at his home in New Paltz, N.Y. He had Alzheimer's disease for about eight years and prostate cancer, nephew Sherman Patterson said.
Patterson's career was marked by historic highs and humiliating lows.
He emerged from a troubled childhood in Brooklyn to win the Olympic middleweight championship in 1952.
In 1956, the undersized heavyweight became at age 21 the youngest man to win the title with a fifth-round knockout of Archie Moore.
But three years later, Patterson was knocked down seven times in the third round in losing the title to Johansson at the Polo Grounds in New York City.
Patterson returned with a vengeance at the same site in 1960, knocking out Johansson with a tremendous left hook to retake the title.
"They said I was the fighter who got knocked down the most, but I also got up the most," Patterson said later.
Despite his accomplishment, he was so humiliated when he lost the title on a first-round knockout to Sonny Liston in 1962 that he left Comiskey Park in Chicago wearing dark glasses and a fake beard. Patterson again was knocked out in the first round by Liston in 1963.
Patterson got two more shots at winning the title a third time. Battered and taunted for most of the fight by Muhammad Ali, Patterson was stopped in the 12th round in 1965. He lost a disputed 15-round decision to WBA champion Jimmy Ellis in 1968.
Overall, Patterson finished 55-8-1 with 40 knockouts. He was knocked out five times and knocked down a total of at least 15 times. He was inducted into the International Boxing Hall of Fame in 1991.
After retiring in 1972, Patterson remained close to the sport. He served twice as chairman of the New York State Athletic Commission.
His second term began when he was picked in 1995 by Gov. George Pataki to help rebuild boxing in New York.
On April 1, 1998, Patterson resigned the post after a published report that a three-hour videotape of a deposition he gave in a lawsuit revealed he couldn't recall important events in his boxing career.
Patterson said he was very tired during the deposition and, "It's hard for me to think when I'm tired."
Patterson, one of 11 children, was in enough trouble as a youngster to be sent to the Wiltwyck School for Boys. After being released, he took up boxing, won a New York Golden Gloves championship and then the Olympic gold medal in the 165-pound class at Helsinki, Finland.
"If it wasn't for boxing, I would probably be behind bars or dead," he said in a 1998 interview.
He turned pro in 1952 under the management of Cus D'Amato, who in the 1980s would develop another heavyweight champion, Mike Tyson. Patterson fought as a light heavyweight until becoming a heavyweight in 1956.
After regaining the title, Patterson was the verge of losing it again when he was knocked down twice by Johansson in the first round in 1961. But Patterson knocked down Johansson before the round was over, then won on sixth-round knockout.
He made a successful defense, then lost the title to Liston in a fight a lot of people didn't want him to take. In fact, taking the match caused a split between Patterson and D'Amato.
Patterson said in 1997 that another person who didn't want him to fight Liston was President Kennedy.
"I'm sorry, Mr. President," Patterson said he told Kennedy. "The title is not worth anything if the best fighters can't have a shot at it. And Liston deserves a shot."
Patterson retired after been stopped by Ali in the seventh round of a non-title match in 1972 at Madison Square Garden.
Patterson lived on a farm near New Paltz, N.Y. After leaving the athletic commission, Patterson counseled troubled children for the New York State Office of Children and Family Services.
He also adopted Tracy Harris two years after the 11-year-old boy began hanging around the gym at Patterson's home. In 1992, Tracy Harris Patterson, with his father's help, won the WBC super bantamweight championship.

THE GOLDEN THIRTEEN - BLACK NAVAL OFFICERS

2008-02-08T19:11:00.000-05:00

TOP ROW: John Walter Reagan, Jesse Walter Arbor, Dalton Louis Baugh, Frank Ellis Sublett
MIDDLE ROW: Graham Edward Martin, Charles Byrd Lear, Phillip George Barnes, Reginald E. Goodwin
BOTTOM ROW: James Edward Hair, Samuel Edward Barnes, George Clinton Cooper, William Sylvester White, Dennis Denmark Nelson
^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^
In January 1944, the naval officer corps was all white. There were some one hundred thousand African American enlisted men in the Navy, however, none were officers.
In response to growing pressure from American civil rights organizations, the leaders of the Navy reluctantly set about commissioning a few as officers.
Sixteen black enlisted men were summoned to Camp Robert Smalls, Great Lakes Training Station in Illinois. All had demonstrated top-notch leadership abilities as enlisted men. Seizing the moment, these young men worked as a team to complete their studies and, thereby, charted the course of equal opportunity in the Navy for all succeeding years. During their officer candidate training, they compiled a class average of 3.89, a record that has yet to be broken. Although all passed the course, in March 1944, thirteen of the group made history when they became the U.S. Navy's first African-American officers on active duty. Twelve were commissioned as ensigns; the thirteenth was made a warrant officer, and later proudly styled themselves "The Golden Thirteen."
They were often denied the privileges and respect routinely accorded white naval officers and were given menial assignments.
In World War II, they served with distinction on board Navy ships and shore stations until the end of the war.
Each surviving member can claim exceptional success in his chosen civilian profession, whether as an educator, businessman, lawyer, judge, or political leader. The Golden Thirteen continued to provide strong support for the Navy's recruitment and equal opportunity efforts throughout the intervening years. Only one of the Golden Thirteen made a career of the Navy, and he opened still more doors to black officers. The other members of the group made their marks in civilian life after World War II.
Today, the Navy salutes the thirteen black officers who were the cutting edge of equal opportunity progress. Their abilities, performance, courage, and tenacity made a difference and constitute worthy examples for all those who pass through the Recruit Processing Facility, named in their honor, to become sailors in the United States Navy.
^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^
You must be the change you wish to see in the world....Mahatma Gandhi.

WORD LOVERS

2008-01-28T09:58:00.001-05:00

WORD LOVERS:
I wondered why the baseball was getting bigger. Then it hit me.
Police were called to a day care where a 3-yr-old was resisting a rest.
Did you hear about the guy whose whole left side was cut off? He's all right now.
The roundest knight at King Arthur's round table was Sir Cumference.
The butcher backed up into the meat grinder & got a little behind inhis work.
To write with a broken pencil is pointless.
When fish are in schools, they sometimes take debate.
The short fortune teller who escaped from prison was a small medium at large.
A thief who stole a calendar got 12 months.
A thief fell & broke his leg in wet cement. He became a hardened criminal.
When the smog lifts in Los Angeles, U.C.L.A.
The dead batteries were given out free of charge.
A dentist & a manicurist fought tooth and nail.
A bicycle can't stand alone; it is two tired.
A will is a dead giveaway.
Time flies like an arrow; fruit flies like a banana.
A backward poet writes inverse.
In a democracy it's your vote that counts; in feudalism, it's your Count that votes.
A chicken crossing the road: poultry in motion.
If you don't pay your exorcist you can get repossessed.
Show me a piano falling down a mine shaft & I'll show you A-flat miner.
The guy who fell onto an upholstery machine was fully recovered.
A grenade fell onto a kitchen floor in France, resulted in Linoleum Blownapart.
You are stuck with your debt if you can't budge it.
A calendar's days are numbered.
A lot of money is tainted: 'Taint yours, and 'taint mine.
A boiled egg is hard to beat.
He had a photographic memory which was never developed.
Those who get too big for their britches will be exposed in the end.
When you've seen one shopping center, you've seen a mall.
When she saw her first strands of gray hair, she thought she'd dye.
Bakers trade bread recipes on a knead to know basis.
Santa's helpers are subordinate clauses.
Acupuncture: a jab well done.

BUSH JOKE FILE - ON GOING ADDITIONS

2008-01-23T13:39:00.000-05:00

His closest advisers came to visit Dubya at the White House one evening and found him slamming down beers and whooping it up.
They were astonished since he had given up drinking years ago. When asked why he was off the wagon, Dubya replied that he was celebrating finishing a jigsaw puzzle.
They smiled and told him that wasn’t much of an accomplishment.
"Ah, but you’re wrong. I did it in record time."
When asked what that record was, he replied that he had finished it after only 6 months.
Again, they told him that wasn’t that great.
"Oh yeah?" said the commander in chief, "Well the box says 3 to 5 YEARS!"

THE PHILOSOPHY OF AMBIGUITY

2008-01-21T22:49:00.000-05:00

WHEN YOU THINK YOU HAVE IT ALL FIGURED OUT - THINK AGAIN.
1. Atheism is a non-prophet organization.
2. If man evolved from monkeys and apes, why do we still have monkeys and apes?
3. I went to a bookstore and asked the saleswoman, 'where's the self-help section?' She said if she told me, it would defeat the whole purpose.
4. What if there were no hypothetical questions?
5. If a deaf person swears, does his mother wash his hands with soap?
6. If someone with multiple personalities threatens to kill himself, is it considered a hostage situation?
7. Is there another word for 'synonym'?
8. What do you do when you see an endangered animal eating an endangered plant?
9. If a parsley farmer is sued, can they garnishee his wages?
10. Would a fly without wings be called a 'walk'?
11. Why do they lock gas station bathrooms? Are they afraid someone will clean them?
12. If a turtle doesn't have a shell, is he homeless or naked?
13. Can vegetarians eat animal crackers?
14. If the police arrest a mime, do they tell him he has the right to remain silent?
15. Why do they put braille on the drive-through bank machines?
16. How do they get deer to cross the road only at those yellow road signs?
17. What was the best thing before sliced bread?
18. One nice thing about egotists: they don't talk about other people.
19. How is it possible to have a civil war?
20. If one synchronized swimmer drowns, do the rest drown too?
21. If you try to fail, and succeed, which have you done?
22. Why is it called 'tourist season' if we can't shoot at them?
23. Why is there an expiration date on sour cream?
24. Can an atheist get insurance against acts of god?

TEACHERS AND COPS -ON THE RECORD

2008-01-17T18:27:00.001-05:00

TEACHERS --
1. Since my last report, your child has reached rock bottom and has started to dig. 2. I would not allow this student to breed.
3. Your child has delusions of adequacy.
4. Your son is depriving a village somewhere of an idiot.
5. Your son sets low personal standards and then consistently fails to achieve them.
6. The student has a 'full six-pack' but lacks the plastic thing to hold it all together .
7. This child has been working with glue too much.
8. When your daughter's IQ reaches 50, she should sell.
9. The gates are down, the lights are flashing, but the train isn't coming.
10. If this student were any more stupid, he'd have to be watered twice a week.
11. It's impossible to believe the sperm that created this child beat out 1,000,000 others.
12. The wheel is turning but the hamster is definitely dead.

^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^
Cops
These 16 Police Comments were taken off actual police car videos around the country.
16. 'You know, stop lights don't come any redder than the one you just went through.'
15. 'Relax, the handcuffs are tight because they're new. They'll stretch after you wear them a while.'
14. 'If you take your hands off the car, I'll make your birth certificate a worthless document.'
13. 'If you run, you'll only go to jail tired.'
12. 'Can you run faster than 1200 feet per second? Because that's the speed of the bullet that'll be chasing you.'
11. 'You don't know how fast you were going? I guess that means I can write anything I want to on the ticket, huh?'
10. 'Yes, sir, you can talk to the shift supervisor, but I don't think it will help. Oh, did I mention that I'm the shift supervisor?'
9. 'Warning! You want a warning? O.K, I'm warning you not to do that again or I'll give you another ticket.'
8. 'The answer to this last question will determine whether you are drunk or not.. Was Mickey Mouse a cat or a dog?'
7. 'Fair? You want me to be fair? Listen, fair is a place where you go to ride on rides, eat cotton candy and corn dogs ."
6. 'Yeah, we have a quota. Two more tickets and my wife gets a toaster oven.'
5. 'In God we trust, all others we run through NCIC.'
4. 'How big were those 'two beers' you say you had?'
3. 'No sir, we don't have quotas anymore. We used to, but now we're allowed to write as many tickets as we can.'
2. 'I'm glad to hear that the Chief of Police is a personal friend of yours. So you know someone who can post your bail..'
1. 'You didn't think we give pretty women tickets? You're right, we don't. Sign here.'

STROKE - HEALTH INFORMATION

2008-01-16T16:24:00.001-05:00

STROKE: Remember The 1st Three Letters.... S.T.R.

STROKE IDENTIFICATION: The opinion of mostNeurologists is that if they can get to a stroke victim within 3 hours they can totally reverse the effects of a stroke... totally . The trick was getting a stroke recognized, diagnosed, and then getting the patient medically cared for within 3 hours, which is tough.

RECOGNIZING A STROKE: Thank God for the sense to remember the "3" steps, STR . Read and Learn! Sometimes symptoms of a stroke are difficult to identify. Unfortunately, the lack of awareness spells disaster. The stroke victim may suffer severe brain damage when people nearby fail to recognize the symptoms of a stroke .

Now doctors say a bystander can recognize a stroke by asking three simple questions:

S * Ask the individual to SMILE.

T * Ask the person to TALK and SPEAK A SIMPLE SENTENCE (Coherently)(i.e. It is sunny out today)

R * Ask him or her to RAISE BOTH ARMS. If he or she has trouble with ANY ONE of these tasks, call 999/911 immediatelyand describe the symptoms to the dispatcher.

Another 'sign' of a stroke is this: Ask the person to 'stick' out their tongue.

If the tongue is 'crooked', if it goes to one side or the other , that is also an indication of a stroke.

********

A MESSAGE FROM Margaret Masarik -TEXAS VIA NEW YORK

LADY GOLFER JOKE -- FROM CORAM KAY

2008-01-15T17:53:00.000-05:00

Four lawyers in a law firm lived and died for their Saturday morning round of golf. It was their favorite moment of the week. Then one of the lawyers was transferred to an office in another city. It wasn't quite the same without him.
A new woman lawyer joined their law firm. One day she overheard the remaining three talking about their golf round at the coffee table. Curious, she spoke up, "You know, I used to play on my golf team in college and I was pretty good. Would you mind if I joined you next week?"
The three lawyers looked at each other.They were hesitant. Not one of them wanted to say 'yes', but she had them on the spot. Finally one man said it would be okay, but they would be starting pretty early at 6:30 am. He figured the early Tee-Time would discourage her immediately.
The woman said this might be a problem and asked if she could possibly be up to 15 minutes late. They rolled their eyes but said this would be okay. She smiled and said, "Good, then I'll be there either at 6:30 or 6:45."
She showed up right at 6:30 and wound up beating all three of them with an eye-opening 2-under par round. She was a fun and pleasant person the entire round. The guys were impressed! Back in the clubhouse they congratulated her and happily invited her back the next week! She smiled and said "Sure, I'll be here at 6:30 or 6:45"
The next week she again showed up at 6:30 Saturday morning. Only this time, she played left-handed. The three lawyers were incredulous as she still managed to beat them with an even par round despite playing with her off-hand.
By now the guys were totally amazed, but wondered if she was just trying to make them look bad by beating them left-handed. They couldn't figure her out. She was again very pleasant and didn't seem to be showing them up, but each man began to harbor a burning desire to beat her! In the third week they all had their game faces on. But this week she was 15 minutes late! This had the guys irritable because each was determined to play the best round of golf of his life to beat her.
As they waited for her, they figured her late arrival was some petty gamesmanship on her part. Finally she showed up. This week the lady lawyer played right-handed which was a good thing since she narrowly beat all three of them. However she was so gracious and so complimentary of their strong play, it was hard to keep a grudge against her.
This woman was a riddle no one could figure out! Back in the clubhouse she had all three guys shaking their heads at her ability. They had a couple beers after their round which helped the conversation loosens up. Finally one of the men could contain his curiosity no longer. He asked her point blank, "How do you decide if you're going to golf right-handed or left-handed?"
The lady blushed and grinned. She said, "That's easy. When my dad taught me to play golf, I learned I was ambidextrous. I have always had fun switching back and forth. Then when I met my husband in college and got married, I discovered he always sleeps in the nude.
From then on I developed a silly habit. Right before I left in the morning for golf practice, I would pull the covers off him. If his you-know-what was pointing to the right, I golfed right-handed; if it was pointed to the left, I golfed left-handed. All the girls on the team thought this was hysterical "
Astonished at this bizarre information, one of the guys shot back, "But what if it's pointed straight up in the air?"
She said, "Then I'm fifteen minutes late."

ILLOGICAL THOUGHTS

2008-01-10T07:12:00.000-05:00

APRIL 2005
MONDAY IS AN AWFUL WAY TO SPEND 1/7 OF YOUR WEEK.
2. A CLEAR CONSCIENCE IS USUALLY THE SIGN OF A BAD MEMORY.
3. IF YOU THINK NOBODY CARES, TRY MISSING A COUPLE OF PAYMENTS.
4. IF EVERYTHING SEEMS TO BE GOING WELL, YOU HAVE OBVIOUSLY OVERLOOKED SOMETHING.
5. WHEN EVERYTHING IS COMING YOUR WAY, YOU'RE IN THE WRONG LANE.
6. WHAT HAPPENS IF YOU GET SCARED HALF TO DEATH TWICE?
7. I COULDN'T REPAIR YOUR BRAKES, SO I MADE YOUR HORN LOUDER.
8. LIGHT TRAVELS FASTER THAN SOUND. THAT IS WHY SOME PEOPLE APPEAR BRIGHT UNTIL YOU HEAR THEM SPEAK.
9. THE ONE WHO LAUGHS LAST, DIDN'T GET THE JOKE.
10. TIME DOES NOT PASS, WE PASS.
***********************************************
HAVE YOU EVER ASKED WHY?
*If people evolved from apes, why are there still apes around?
*Why is it that no matter what color bubble bath you use the bubbles are always white?
*Is there ever a day that mattresses are not on sale?
*Why do people constantly return to the refrigerator with hopes that something new to eat will have materialized?
*Why do people keep running over a string a dozen times with their vacuum cleaner, then reach down, pick it up, examine it, then put it down to give the vacuum one more chance?
*Why is it that no plastic bag will open from the end you first try?
*How do those dead bugs get into those enclosed light fixtures?
*Why is it that whenever you attempt to catch something that's falling off the table you always manage to knock something else over?
*In winter why do we try to keep the house as warm as it was in summer when we complained about the heat?
*How come you never hear father-in-law jokes?
*If at first you don't succeed, shouldn't you try doing it like your wife told you to do it? *Obviously< if at first you don't succeed, then don't take up sky diving!
*The statistics on sanity are that one out of every four persons is suffering from some sort of mental illness. So, think of your three best friends, if they're okay, then it's you.

THE COOPER WEDDING

2008-01-08T10:02:00.000-05:00

MARRIED

Mr. Arthur R. Cooper and Mrs. Sylvia Burgess
Friday, January 4, 2008
Brooklyn, New York
xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx

**At long last, love has united this loving senior couple in holy matrimony.
**At 89 and 80 years old respectively, they are very active and
an inspiration to all.
** Arthur collects classic cars and Sylvia is a musician.
** We extend our best wishes for continued good health and
happiness.

G.D.G. - WAITING FOR THE D.N.A. RESULTS

2008-01-07T23:57:00.000-05:00

MAY 25, 2004
THE BIG NEWS IS THAT I GOT MY SON ( PENDING DNA TEST RESULTS ), G.D.G., TO DO ALL THE RESEARCH AND WORK TO SET UP THIS WEBSITE.
SO, MAYBE I HAVE A VERY CONCERNED AND CONSIDERATE SON.
ON THE OTHER HAND, COULD THIS CHUMP, WHO DID ALL THIS WORK FOR NO PROFIT AND NO MATERIAL GAIN, POSSIBILY BE MY OFF-SPRING -- I WOULD THINK NOT.
NOW, DO I CONFRONT HIM WITH THE FACTS OF LIFE AND TELL HIM OF THE CONTROVERSY SURROUNDING HIS ORIGIN. THAT MIGHT BE THE RIGHT THING TO DO - THE ETHICAL THING TO DO - THE MORAL THING TO DO.
THEN, THERE IS THE MORE PRACTICAL SIDE TO THE ISSUE - IF I TELL HIM WE ARE NOT EVEN REMOTELY RELATED -- WILL I STILL BE ABLE TO GET THIS LEVEL OF PRO BONO SERVICE FROM HIM?
AS MY SOCIOLOGY PROFESSOR USE TO SAY WHEN FACED WITH A DILEMMA -- "WHAT TO DO, WHAT TO DO?"
I THINK I WILL DRAW UPON ONE OF MY EARLIEST INSIGHTS AND GO WITH THE SAGE ADVICE THAT --- "WHAT YOU DON'T KNOW, WON'T HURT YOU."
I MIGHT TELL HIM NEXT YEAR -- IMAGINE HOW DISAPPOINTED HE WILL BE THAT I AM NOT HIS DAD ------>>>>
I WON'T MENTION IT UNLESS AFTER APRIL 15th ------>>> I AM AS SENTIMENTAL AS THE NEXT GUY, BUT BUSINESS IS BUSINESS AND A DEDUCTION IS A DEDUCTION.

NOT A BIG FAN OF THE PRESIDENT

2008-01-07T22:50:00.000-05:00

JUNE 2004
FORMER PRESIDENT RONALD WILSON REAGAN DIED AND HE IS BEING HONORED FOR HIS SERVICE TO THE NATION.
I HAVE NO PROBLEM WITH THIS.
I HAD PROBLEMS WITH HIS POLICIES, BUT HE WAS THE PRESIDENT AND I RESPECT THE OFFICE, REGARDLESS OF HOW HAPPY I AM WITH THE OFFICE- HOLDER.
I HAVE HEARD PEOPLE EXPRESS A HATRED FOR THE PRESIDENT, NOT JUST REAGAN, NOT JUST BUSH, BUT A GENERAL HATRED FOR WHOEVER IS IN THE WHITE HOUSE.
I DON'T UNDERSTAND IT -- I DISAGREE WITH ALL THE PRESIDENTS ON CERTAIN ISSUES - THAT SEEMS ONLY NATURAL AND THAT MAKES SENSE TO ME.
I DON'T 'GET' THIS GENERAL, ALL PURPOSE HATRED THAT I OFTEN HEAR TOWARD THE PRESIDENT AND I MEAN ALL OF THEM, SINCE THE DAYS OF TRUMAN. THERE IS SOMETHING UNHEALTHY AND COUNTERPRODUCTIVE IN CHANNELING SUCH HOSTILITY TOWARD A PERSON, EVEN THE TOP MAN -- THE EMOTION IS MISGUIDED AND DOES NOT SPEAK WELL FOR THE ONES WITH ALL THIS VENOM IN THEIR SYSTEM.
THEY HATE THE DEAD PRESIDENTS AND THE LIVING PRESIDENTS -- SOMETHING IS WRONG WITH THIS PICTURE.
THE CURRENT PRESIDENT IS MAKING IT VERY DIFFICULT FOR ME TO MAINTAIN THIS POSITION -- BUT I AM TRYING, AS STRESSFUL AS THAT MAY BE AND HOW MUCH LONGER I CAN HOLD OUT IS DOUBTFUL. I AM STARTING TO SEE
HOW THIS HATEFUL MINDSET CAME ABOUT AS THE GROSS ERRORS, BOTH FOREIGN AND DOMESTIC MOUNT UP.

SERENA - CAN SHE COOK?

2008-01-05T14:44:00.000-05:00

AUGUST 2004 SERENA - DOES SHE HAVE CULINARY SKILLS?*************************************************************************************OK. I was at a meeting and missed her match. I understand she didn't disappoint with fashion. Tell me about it. YOUR perspective, please.
XX
*******************
XX-THREE TIMES LAST NIGHT, -- I COULD HEAR THE ESPN ANNOUNCER TALK ABOUT HER LEATHER AND BLUE JEANS LOOK -- I NEVER GOT UP TO SEE HER OUTFIT. WHEN SERENA IS PLAYING, I KNOW THEY WILL SHOW HER FOR THE NEXT THREE DAYS - SO I WILL CATCH HER WHENEVER I TURN ON THE TV.
WHO THE HELL CARES ABOUT TENNIS --- NO MAN IS WATCHING THE TENNIS,THEY ARE WATCHING ANNA ( PAST TENSE ) AND SERENA FOR THEIR SEX APPEAL AND AS I TOLD YOU LONG AGO -- SERENA LOOKS LIKE SHE WOULD JUST RUIN A MAN AND LEAVE HIM A LUMP OF MINDLESS COAL -- WANDERING THE STREETS, TALKING TO HIMSELF AND BECOMING A BURDEN ON SOCIETY.
MUCH LIKE THE SOLDIER IN APOCALYPSE NOW, WHO WROTE HOME TO HIS WIFE AND SAID SOMETHING LIKE -- SELL THE HOUSE AND THE CAR AND KEEP THE KIDS, I AM NOT COMING BACK - VIETNAM JUST BLEW HIS MIND.
***************************
ESPN HAS NEVER MENTIONED WHAT PETE SAMPAS WAS WEARING AT A TENNIS MATCH.
AS THEY SAID ABOUT KRAMER ON SEINFELD - SERENA HAS THE KAVORKA / SEXUAL POWER - SHE COULD BE AN ICE CUBE IN THE FINAL ANALYSIS, BUT WHO WILL EVER KNOW ? - SHE IS A MALE FANTASY AND NO MAN COULD CARE LESS HOW SHE PLAYS TENNIS -- HER PLAYING IS A SIDELIGHT.
IF SHE WAS KNITTING A SWEATER, ESPN WOULD RUN A FEATURE ON IT.
IF SHE WAS AN ELEVATOR OPERATOR ( REMEMBER THEM ? ) AT THE EMPIRE STATE BUILDING, GUYS ON THE SECOND FLOOR WOULD BE WAITING TEN MINUTES FOR HER CAR TO STOP.
AS I ALWAYS SAY -- IF ANGELA BASSETT OR GABRIELLE UNION, INVITES YOU TO DINNER - YOU DON'T ASK IF THEY CAN COOK
*******************
DIGRESSION ABOUT SEX APPEAL ----> GDG WAS TRYING OUT FOR A ROLE -- HE SAID THAT HE FELT THE PRODUCERS, AFTER SEEMING VERY HAPPY WITH HIS READING AND THEIR INTERVIEW -- CONTRIVED A SITUATION WHICH HAD THE FEMALE LEAD ACTRESS WALK ACROSS THE STAGE IN FRONT OF HIM, TO SEE HIS REACTION; TO SEE IF HE WAS INTERESTED AND TO GAGE HER SEX APPEAL -- AFTER THEY SAW HIS EYES TRAIL HER TO THE WINGS, THEY REACHED OUT AND SHOOK HIS HAND -- IF HE IS INTERESTED, HE WON'T HAVE TO "ACT" DURING THE ROMANTIC SCENES - THUS HIS JOB IS EASIER AND SO IS HER JOB.
.******************************
MARTINA IS A FANTASY TOO - THE IDEA THAT YOU COULD BE THE MAN WHO TURNS HER AROUND - THIS IS REALLY A FANTASY AMONG FANTASIES.
*************************
DON'T BLAME THE MESSENGER, IF YOU DON'T LIKE THE MESSAGE - I AM JUST A MESSENGER.
*******************************************************************
FINALLY, PUTTING ALL THIS FANTASY TALK TO REST - HERE IS A QUOTE FROM THE FINE FRENCH ACTRESS, ANOUK AIMEE, OF THE CLASSIC ROMANCE -- A MAN & A WOMAN - 1966 - EVERYONE SHOULD RENT THIS FILM, BUT NOTHING EXPLODES, WELL, THERE IS ONE EXPLOSION IN THE STORY.
ANYWAY, HER QUOTE --
"YOU CAN ONLY PERCEIVE REAL BEAUTY IN A PERSON
AS THEY GET OLDER."

SCHOLASTIC FOOTBALL

2008-01-04T19:28:00.000-05:00

No Child Left Behind - Football Version
1. All teams must make the state playoffs and all MUST win the championship.
If a team does not win the championship, they will be on probation until they are the champions, and coaches will be held accountable.
If after two years they have not won the championship their footballs and equipment will be taken away UNTIL they do win the championship.
2. All kids will be expected to have the same football skills at the same time, even if they do not have the same conditions or opportunities to practice on their own. NO exceptions will be made for lack of interest in football, a desire to perform athletically, or genetic abilities or disabilities of themselves or their parents. ALL KIDS WILL PLAY FOOTBALL AT A PROFICIENT LEVEL!
3. Talented players will be asked to workout on their own, without instruction. This is because the coaches will be using all their instructional time with the athletes who aren't interested in football, have limited athletic ability or whose parents don't like football.
4. Games will be played year round, but statistics will only be kept in the 5th, 8th, and 11th game. This will create a New Age of Sports where every school is expected to have the same level of talent and all teams will reach the same minimum goals. If no child gets ahead, then no child gets left behind.
5. If parents do not like this new law, they are encouraged to vote for vouchers and support private schools that can screen out the non-athletes and prevent their children from having to go to school with bad football players.

THE WEDDING ANNIVERSARY REVELATION

2007-12-19T08:49:00.000-05:00

A married couple in their early 60s was celebrating their 35th wedding anniversary in a quiet, romantic little restaurant.
Suddenly, a tiny, yet beautiful fairy appeared on their table saying, "For being such an exemplary married couple and for being loving to each other for all this time, I will grant you each a wish."
"Oh, I want to travel around the world with my darling husband," said the wife. The fairy waved her magic wand and -- poof! Two tickets for the Queen Mary II appeared in her hands.

The husband thought for a moment, and then said, "Well, this is all very romantic, but an opportunity like this will never come again. I'm sorry my love, but my wish is to have a wife 30 years younger than me."
The wife and the fairy were deeply disappointed, but a wish is a wish.
So the fairy waved her magic wand and -- poof!
The husband became 92 years old.

The moral of this story: Men who are selfish, ungrateful bastards should remember that fairies are female.
********************************************************
AS A WORLD FAMOUS CRITIC WITH THE GREENVILLE NEWS, IN SOUTH CAROLINA, I HAVE TO STEP FORWARD AND REFUTE THE MISINFORMATION IN THIS NARRATIVE.

WHILE THE HUSBAND WAS OUT WORKING TO SUPPORT HIS GOLD-DIGGING Heifer OF A WIFE, SO SHE COULD GET OUT OF THE COTTON FIELDS AND HAVE A HOME THAT WAS NOT ON WHEELS; SHE WAS BUSY SPREADING RUMORS AND LIES ABOUT HIM TO ALL HER OTHER GOLD-DIGGNG FEMALE FRIENDS.

SHE ACCUSED HIM OF BEING A POOR LOVER. A CHARGE THAT MIGHT HAVE BEEN THE RESULT OF HIS WORKING 18 HOURS A DAY TO PAY FOR THE DIAMONDS AND FURS, SHE WORE TO THE BLACK TIE EVENTS, HE PAID FOR HER TO ATTEND SO AS TO IMPRESS HER IGNORANT PALS IN THE MARRIED BEYOND THEIR STATION IN LIFE CLUB.
SO, WHEN THIS MISTREATED MAN GOT THE OPPORTUNITY TO SEEK ONE MOMENT OF PEACE AND AFFECTION WITH THAT RAREST OF ALL CREATURES -- A DECENT, KIND, LOVING, GENEROUS WOMAN, HE TOOK THE BAIT AND WAS ONCE AGAIN, BETRAYED AND ABUSED BY A FEMALE -THIS TIME A FAIRY.

THE TRUE MORAL OF THIS STORY:
WOMEN, YOU CAN'T LIVE IN PEACE WITH THEM, CAN'T GET A PIECE FROM THEM AND STILL THE LAW WON'T ALLOW YOU TO SHOOT THEM IN FRONT OF WITNESSES. THE TRUTH MUST BE SPOKEN, NO MATTER HOW MUCH THESE EVIL WOMEN WANT TO HIDE IT.

IF ANYTHING VIOLENT SHOULD HAPPEN TO ME OR I AM MISSING -- THERE ARE 3 BILLION SUSPECTS -- ALERT THE POLICE.

FRANK MICKENS - "BLACK AUERBACH"

2007-12-11T23:26:00.003-05:00

SEPTEMBER 2004
BLACK AUERBACH - THE CHANCELLOR OF FULTON STREET
MOVES ON TO NEW ADVENTURES
****************************************************************
FROM RICHIE KOSIK ---
Frank Mickens -A Living Legend in NYC education IS RETIRING AFTER 36 YEARS ON THE FRONTLINES!

FRANK --->>>>
**Ran the tightest ship in the modern day Board of Education H. S. annals.
**Was an accomplished H. S. hoops coach, before becoming Principal at Boy's & Girls-winning the N.Y. City Championship in early 70's.
**I Will never forget first time I met him at hoops clinic-he was giving a talk to assembled h.s. & youth coaches when at end of clinic someone asked him.---->>>>>"Coach Mickens- given the reputation of Boy's H.S / Bed/Stuy. for being the home of so many great players-what criteria do you use to pick a team?"
Coach Mickens didn't hesitate for a second & ROARED out his answer-that still echoes off the walls of the gym:
"Noooooooo Bumssssss - NOOO BUMMMSS!"
** He went on to tell the startled but impressed audience that he would never accept any knuckleheads with attitudes on his team.
If you ever saw his teams play & how they conducted themselves-you knew he was a man of his word.
Frank will be missed, but never forgotten- a great coach, a great educational leader & simply a GREAT man.
*****************************************************************************
R.K. -
FRANK IS A FINE MAN AND A GREAT COACH, BUT HE ONCE TOOK A "BUM"ON HIS TEAM.
WHILE SERVING AS HIS JUNIOR VARSITY COACH, I THOUGHT HE ONCE WENT TOO FAR WITH A KID WHO HAD DRUG PROBLEMS -- BUT I WAS ONLY THERE AFTER SCHOOL HOURS AND THERE IS ALWAYS A THIN LINE ABOUT HOW FAR YOU SHOULD GO TO HELP A KID, BEFORE YOU ARE BEING PLAYED FOR A CHUMP OR WASTING YOUR TIME.
FRANK WAS TRYING TO PROP THIS KID UP AND THE KID SEEMED, TO ME, TO SLIP BACKWARD FAR TOO OFTEN -- BUT FRANK IS A BULLDOG AND HE WAS TRYING TO SAVE A SOUL AND HOW CAN YOU KNOCK HIM FOR THAT - AND HE KNEW PERSONAL AND FAMILY DETAILS I HAD NO KNOWLEDGE OF AT ALL - FRANK SAW SOMETHING IN THE KID, I MISSED.
HE WAS LOOKING BEYOND BASKETBALL. THAT IS PART OF THE GREATNESS OF SPORTS - I WOULD HAVE WRITTEN THIS KID OFF FROM DAY ONE AND FRANK DID ALL HE COULD TO WORK WITH THE YOUNG MAN -- I WONDER HOW THE KID TURNED OUT - I KNOW HE HAS TO BE BETTER OFF FROM ASSOCIATING WITH FRANK, WE ALL ARE.
FRANK WAS TRUE TO HIS WORD - EVERY KID WAS RESPECTFUL AND A GENTLEMEN ON HIS TEAMS - HE KNEW ABOUT CLASS & CHARACTER AND RECOGNIZED, APPRECIATED, ENCOURAGED AND NURTURED CHARACTER IN HIS PLAYERS AT BOYS HIGH.
IN THE MOVIE, THE CAINE MUTINY, A SAILOR IS ON TRIAL FOR THE CAPITAL CHARGE OF MUTINY IN TIME OF WAR. THE DEFENSE LAWYER HAS BEEN CROSS EXAMINING THE CAPTAIN IN A VERY HARSH TONE AND RAISING QUESTIONS ABOUT HIS ACTIONS IN TIMES OF DIRECT COMBAT WITH THE ENEMY.
THE COURT MARTIAL JUDGE WARNS THE LAWYER THAT THERE IS NO GREATER CHARGE TO BRING AGAINST A NAVAL CAPTAIN, THAN COWARDICE UNDER FIRE. THE LAWYER, STOPPED EVERYTHING AND TOLD THE JUDGE AND TRIAL BOARD, ALL OF THEM, NAVAL CAPTAINS THEMSELVES, THAT HE NEVER MEANT TO IMPLY THE CAPTAIN WAS A COWARD AND FURTHERMORE, HE DID NOT THINK IT WAS POSSIBLE FOR ANYONE WHO WAS A COWARD TO ACHIEVE THE RANK OF CAPTAIN IN THE UNITED STATES NAVY.
THE LAWYER WENT ON TO WIN THE CASE.
MY POINT IS -- NO KID IS A BUM OR COULD BE A BUM, IF HE OR SHE IS UNDER THE MENTORSHIP / COACHING OF FRANK MICKENS - FRANK HAS SET A STANDARD THAT WON'T BE EQUALLED AND CANNOT BE SURPASSED, IN THE AREA OF GIVING KIDS A SHOT AT A BETTER LIFE THAN THEY COULD HAVE EXPERIENCED WITHOUT HIS PARTICIPATION IN AND DEVOTION TO, THEIR EDUCATION AND WELL-BEING.

I SEE ALL THE ACCOLADES GIVEN FRANK, AS BEING SHARED WITH HIS DAD, WHO SPOKE VOLUMES, WITHOUT EVER SAYING A WORD -- I WORKED WITH PHIL FORD, SENIOR AND BOTH THESE DAD'S OF OUTSTANDING SONS , HAD SIMILAR PERSONAS - A QUIET STRENGTH OF CHARACTER. OF COURSE, FRANK DID NOT INHERIT THE QUIET ELEMENT.

FANNIE LOU HAMER - SHE HUMBLES US ALL

2007-12-11T15:15:00.000-05:00

"I'm sick and tired of being sick and tired."
Born October 6, 1917, in Montgomery County, Mississippi, Fannie Lou Hamer was the granddaughter of a slave and the youngest of 20 children. Her parents were sharecroppers. Sharecropping, or "halfing," as it is sometimes called, is a system of farming whereby workers are allowed to live on a plantation in return for working the land. When the crop is harvested, they split the profits in half with the plantation owner. Sometimes the owner pays for the seed and fertilizer, but usually the sharecropper pays those expenses out of his half. It's a hard way way to make a living and sharecroppers generally are born poor, live poor, and die poor.
At age six, Fannie Lou began helping her parents in the cotton fields. By the time she was twelve, she was forced to drop out of school and work full time to help support her family. Once grown, she married another sharecropper named Perry "Pap" Hamer.
On August 31, 1962, Mrs. Hamer decided she had had enough of sharecropping. Leaving her house in Ruleville, MS she and 17 others took a bus to the courthouse in Indianola, the county seat, to register to vote. On their return home, police stopped their bus. They were told that their bus was the wrong color. Fannie Lou and the others were arrested and jailed.
After being released from jail, the plantation owner paid the Hamers a visit and told Fannie Lou that if she insisted on voting, she would have to get off his land - even though she had been there for eighteen years. She left the plantation that same day.
Ten days later, night riders fired 16 bullets into the home of the family with whom she had gone to stay.
Mrs. Hamer began working on welfare and voter registration programs for the Southern Christian Leadership Conference (SCLC) and the Student Nonviolent Coordinating Committee (SNCC).
On June 3, 1963, Fannie Lou Hamer and other civil rights workers arrived in Winona, MS by bus. They were ordered off the bus and taken to Montgomery County Jail. The story continues "...Then three white men came into my room. One was a state highway policeman (he had the marking on his sleeve)... They said they were going to make me wish I was dead. They made me lay down on my face and they ordered two Negro prisoners to beat me with a blackjack. That was unbearable. The first prisoner beat me until he was exhausted, then the second Negro began to beat me. I had polio when I was about six years old. I was limp. I was holding my hands behind me to protect my weak side. I began to work my feet. My dress pulled up and I tried to smooth it down. One of the policemen walked over and raised my dress as high as he could. They beat me until my body was hard, 'til I couldn't bend my fingers or get up when they told me to. That's how I got this blood clot in my eye - the sight's nearly gone now. My kidney was injured from the blows they gave me on the back."
Mrs Hamer was left in the cell, bleeding and battered, listening to the screams of Ann Powder, a fellow civil rights worker, who was also undergoing a severe beating in another cell. She overheard white policemen talking about throwing their bodies into the Big Black River where they would never be found.

I was in jail when Medgar Evers was murdered.

In 1964, presidential elections were being held. In an effort to focus greater national attention on voting discrimination, civil rights groups created the Mississippi Freedom Democratic Party (MFDP). This new party sent a delegation, which included Fannie Lou Hamer, to Atlantic City, where the Democratic Party was holding its presidential convention. Its purpose was to challenge the all-white Mississippi delegation on the grounds that it didn't fairly represent all the people of Mississippi, since most black people hadn't been allowed to vote.
Fannie Lou Hamer spoke to the Credentials Committee of the convention about the injustices that allowed an all-white delegation to be seated from the state of Mississippi. Although her live testimony was pre-empted by a presidential press conference, the national networks aired her testimony, in its entirety, later in the evening. Now all of America heard of the struggle in Mississippi's delta.
A compromise was reached that gave voting and speaking rights to two delegates from the MFDP and seated the others as honored guests. The Democrats agreed that in the future no delegation would be seated from a state where anyone was illegally denied the vote. A year later, President Lyndon Baines Johnson signed the Voting Rights Act.
Prior to her death in 1977, Fannie Lou Hamer was inducted into Delta Sigma Theta Sorority, as an honorary member.

******************************

AN ASIDE TO THIS TOPIC -->>

I MIGHT HAVE BEEN ABSENT THE DAYS THEY TAUGHT LOGIC, POLITICAL SCIENCE AND PSYCHOLOGY IN COLLEGE - BUT THIS NEWS ITEM STRUCK ME AS RELATED TO ALL THREE SUBJECTS.

WHEN NEW ORLEANS FLOODED, THERE WAS THE FAMOUS PHOTO OF FOLKS WADING THRU THE WAIST DEEP WATER CARRYING PLASTIC BAGS.

SOME OF THE FOLKS WERE LABELED SURVIVORS AND OTHERS WERE CALLED LOOTERS - YET, THEY WERE FAR FROM ANY STORES AND IN THE SAME BASIC PHOTO .

SO, SOMEONE AT A NEWS STATION, DECIDED WHO TO CALL WORTHY /SURVIVORS AND UNWORTHY / LOOTERS.

I WAS LOOKING AT THE PAPER TODAY AND SAW THAT THE ANNIVERSARY OF THE INTEGRATION OF LITTLE ROCK HIGH SCHOOL JUST RECENTLY PASSED.

THE ARTICLE MENTIONED THE 101st AIRBORNE WAS ORDERED TO ESCORT THE BLACK STUDENTS TO SCHOOL BECAUSE, THE CROWD OUTSIDE THE SCHOOL WAS"UNRULY."

NOW, IF THE PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA, HAS TO SEND FEDERAL TROOPS INTO A STATE TO ESTABLISH MARSHAL LAW AND IF THOSE FEDERAL TROOPS BELONG TO A CRACK, TOP OF THE LINE, TAKE NO PRISONERS, DIVISION OF THE WORLD'S MOST POWERFUL ARMY AND THEY APPROACH THE CROWD WITH BAYONETS AFFIXED TO THEIR RIFLES --- IS IT POSSIBLE THAT THE FOLKS OUTSIDE THE SCHOOL WERE JUST SLIGHTLY, A LITTLE, TINY BIT, MORE THAN "UNRULY."

OFF THE JOB

2007-12-09T11:45:00.000-05:00

** CLICK ON ARTICLE TO ENLARGE PRINT

HAROLYN BLACKWELL - A DYNAMIC VOICE

2007-12-08T23:58:00.005-05:00

HAROLYN BLACKWELL - HEAVEN'S VOICE ON EARTH

WHILE WATCHING TELEVISION, I SAW MARVIN HAMLISCH PLAYING WITH THE NATIONAL SYMPHONY AT KENNEDY CENTER IN WASHINGTON, D.C. - THE GUEST SINGER WAS MY COUSIN, HAROLYN BLACKWELL.
HAROLYN GOT A STANDING OVATION AT THIS 2003 CHRISTMAS CELEBRATION, DEDICATED TO THE UNITED STATES MILITARY PERSONNEL SERVING AROUND THE WORLD.
************************************
IN CASE YOU ARE INCLINED TO ASK, NO ONE MENTIONED THE HOURS OF PRACTICE AND MUSIC LESSONS I DEVOTED TO MAKING HAROLYN INTO THE BRILLIANT VOCAL STYLIST SHE IS TODAY.
IT IS ONLY NATURAL THAT AFTER SINGING WITH PAVOROTTI AND ON THE BROADWAY STAGE AND AT CONCERT HALLS AROUND THE WORLD, SHE MAY HAVE FORGOTTEN THOSE WHO HELPED HER REACH THESE HIGH PLACES.
BUT THAT IS THE ROLE I PLAY, TO ALWAYS BE IN THE BACKGROUND, NEVER DRAWING ATTENTION TO MYSELF, AS I SHARE MY EXPERTISE IN ALL THINGS, WITH MY FRIENDS AND FAMILY -- A THANKLESS JOB, BUT I DO IT AND TAKE PRIDE IN SEEING THOSE WHO ARE LESS TALENTED THAN MYSELF, GO ON TO FAME AND FORTUNE, WHILE I REMAIN HERE IN SIMPSONVILLE, A POOR, HUMBLE SERVANT TO MY "PEOPLES" - AS I RUN ONE STEP AHEAD OF THE COUNTY MOBILE HOME TAX COLLECTOR.
OF COURSE, THIS IS ALL ABOUT HAROLYN, AND NOT ABOUT ME AND MY STRUGGLE TO SURVIVE ON THE CRUEL AND HOSTILE STREETS OF SIMPSONVILLE, SOUTH CAROLINA; A PLACE FULL OF JEALOUS PEOPLE, WHO ARE OUT TO GET ME AND WHO HATE ME JUST BECAUSE I AM BETTER THAN THEY ARE IN EVERYWAY.
PEOPLE WHO SEEK TO LABEL ME PARANOID, NARCISSISTIC AND DELUSIONAL - OBVIOUSLY, THESE ARE BASELESS ALLEGATIONS, UNWORTHY OF COMMENT.
BUT, I DIGRESS ----- CONGRATULATIONS TO HAROLYN ON HER ARTISTRY AND MAYBE NEXT TIME, SHE WILL REMEMBER TO MENTION MY CONTRIBUTION TO HER SUCCESS, NOT THAT I REALLY CARE OR WOULD EVER MAKE AN ISSUE OF IT.

ALL JOKING ASIDE ------ MUCH LOVE TO A WONDERFUL SINGER AND A BEAUTIFUL PERSON.
******************
Hailed by audiences and critics alike as a “model of agility, spunk, charm, and silvery tone,” Harolyn Blackwell is a familiar performer at the Metropolitan Opera, San Francisco Opera, Lyric Opera of Chicago, Seattle Opera, Glyndebourne, and Aix-en-Provence. Also an accomplished singer of the concert repertoire and recitalist, she has performed with the Pittsburgh, Cincinnati, and Dallas Symphonies, and the New York Philharmonic

^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^

SINGING SUMMERTIME FROM PORGIE AND BESS --

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yRS86kRtWRo

HAROLYN AT CARNEGIE HALL -

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yRS86kRtWRo

SINGING FOR THE POPE --

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XouUI1VuHH0&feature=related

SINGING WITH PAVAROTTI --

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nfBRjh0gQM0

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Mh6N7cPiILE&feature=related

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ai9vL1r2TNU&feature=related

MORE THAN I AM WORTH ---?

2007-12-08T21:31:00.000-05:00

NOVEMBER 7, 2004

I JUST GOT A LOOK AT THE BILL FOR MY ANGIOPLASTY HOSPITAL STAY -- $35,088.00 - NOT COUNTING THE SURGEON'S FEE.
OVER 30 YEARS AGO, MY UNCLE, BILL GAFFNEY, WAS DRIVING A CAB IN LOWER MANHATTAN, WHEN HE HAD CHEST PAINS. HE IMMEDIATELY DROVE TO ST. VINCENT'S HOSPITAL.
MY DAD HAD DIED OF A HEART ATTACK A FEW YEARS EARLIER AND BILL WAS NOT TAKING ANY CHANCES. UNCLE BILL DROVE UP ON THE SIDEWALK AT THE EMERGENCY ENTRANCE AND PASSED OUT.
WHEN MY MOTHER AND I WENT TO SEE HIM, BILL TOLD US THE I.C.U. WAS COSTING $260 A DAY - I TOLD HIM THAT, AT THAT PRICE, I WOULD HAVE JUST PULLED TO THE CURB AND PREPARED MYSELF TO DEPART THIS EARTHLY SPHERE.
UNCLE BILL SAID, ONCE THAT PAIN STARTS IN YOUR ARM, THERE IS NO PRICE YOU WOULD NOT PAY TO STOP IT. THE SINCERITY OF HIS TONE MADE IT CLEAR THAT THIS VERY POWERFUL MAN WAS TOTALLY SERIOUS AND THE PAIN MUST HAVE BEEN TREMENDOUS, IF THIS ARMY VETERAN SPOKE OF IT WITH SUCH RESPECT.
NOW, I AM OLDER THAN MY UNCLE WAS AT THE TIME OF THAT INCIDENT -- I DID NOT HAVE ANY PAIN - I DO NOT HAVE A HEART PROBLEM -- MY ISSUE IS THIS, WHILE I WOULD PAY A LOT MORE TO PRESERVE THE LIFE OF OTHERS -- I STILL HAVE A PROBLEM TRYING TO SEE MY OWN LIFE AS WORTH $80,000- THE TOTAL OF THIS STAY, PLUS MY APRIL BLOOD CLOT STAY.
I DON'T SAY THIS TO MOTIVATE MESSAGES BOTH PRO AND CON ABOUT MY LIFE VERSUS THE EXPENSE. THIS IS NOT A POPULARITY POLL.
I MEAN THAT, MY SEEING THAT BILL, MUST BE SOMETHING LIKE A CRIMINAL SEEING A WANTED POSTER AT THE POST OFFICE -- A VALUE HAS BEEN PUT ON YOUR LIFE AND IN A WAY THAT YOU COULD NEVER THINK OF YOURSELF.
I THINK OF MY LIFE AS WASTED COMPARED TO THE ACHIEVEMENTS OF MANY OF THE FOLKS I KNOW, BOTH PERSONALLY AND THRU REPUTATION. PEOPLE MAY THINK GOOD THOUGHTS ABOUT YOU, BUT IS THAT ENOUGH?
WHILE I SUSPECT MANY PEOPLE WOULD THINK MY LIFE IS WORTH THE EXPENSE, MYQUESTION IS NOT EXTERNAL -- I ASSUME FOLKS MIGHT SAY YES, BECAUSE I WOULD SAY YES ABOUT THEM ( THAT DOESN'T MEAN I WOULD GIVE YOU $80,000 OR EVEN $80 - BUT I WOULD THINK YOU ARE WORTH THAT AND MORE ). WOULD I HAND THE HOSPITAL $80,000 IN TRADE FOR MY LIFE - YES, IT WOULD BE SILLY NOT TO SAVE THE ONLY LIFE I HAVE - AND I HAVE HAD A GREAT LIFE - BUT OTHERS HAVE BEEN THE SOURCE OF THE GREATNESS, NOT MYSELF, NOT MY CONTRIBUTION.
IF MY LIFE WERE ON SALE IN A SHOWROOM, WOULD I PAY $80,000 FOR ME -- NOT FOR THE PEOPLE I HAVE MET - NOT FOR THE MUSIC - NOT FOR THE GOOD TIMES - NOT FOR THE SIGHTS AND SOUNDS -- BUT $80,000 FOR MYSELF -- I WOULD HAVE TO THINK ABOUT THAT AND GET BACK TO THEM LATER.
*******************************************************************
THE NERVOUS TAXI DRIVER
A passenger in a taxi leaned over to ask the driver a question and tappedhim on the shoulder.The driver screamed, lost control of the cab, nearly hit a bus, drove up over the curb, and stopped just inches from a large plate glass window.
For a few moments everything was silent in the cab. Then the still shaking driver said, "I'm sorry, but you scared the daylights out of me."
The frightened passenger apologized to the driver and said he didn't realize a mere tap on the shoulder could frighten him so much.
The driver replied, "No, no, I'm sorry, it's all my fault.
Today is my first day driving a cab..... for the last 25 years
XXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXX

I'VE BEEN DRIVING A HEARSE."

STANDING AT THE WORLD TRADE CENTER

2007-12-06T16:07:00.000-05:00

JULY 22, 2004

Last Saturday morning, I visited ground zero for the first time. The magnitude of the space and the restoration effort is overwhelming. The solemnity and the reverence displayed by the hundreds of bystanders is sobering.
Regardless of what the future may bring to the space, like Hiroshima, it will forever remain a memorial to the victims.
BILL D. - CHARLOTTE,N.C.
***********************************
I FOUND AN INTERESTING THING WAS TO SEE, HOW CLOSE YOU GET BEFORE YOU BECOME OVERWHELMED WITH EMOTION --
THERE IS NOISE AND HUSTLE AND BUSTLE ( WHAT IS BUSTLE ? ) ALL AROUND YOU IN LOWER MANHATTAN - BUT AT SOME POINT, AT A CERTAIN PROXIMITY, IT HITS YOU -
THE HIROSHIMA LIKE QUALITY AND THE FRAGILITY OF LIFE -- IT TRIGGERS MORE INTROSPECTION THEN MOST OF US WANT TO EXPERIENCE IN CHURCH, MUCH LESS , ON A PUBLIC SIDEWALK -- BUT THE IMPACT IS UNDENIABLE.
I HAVE TO ASSUME THOSE NEW YORKERS WHO MUST BE IN THE AREA ON A REGULAR BASIS, MAKE SOME SORT OF ADJUSTMENT -- THEY COULD NOT FUNCTION, IF THEY FELT AS DEEPLY EACH TIME THEY NEAR THE SITE, AS THOSE OF US WHO ONLY SEE IT ONCE OR TWICE - THEY DON'T FORGET, BUT THEY WOULD HAVE TO TONE IT DOWN OR THEY COULDN'T HANDLE IT.
THE TERRORIST PICKED THE WRONG CITY, IF THEIR GOAL WAS TO SCARE PEOPLE - NEW YORKERS CAN BE KILLED, BUT THEY WON'T DIE OF FRIGHT - NEW YORK FOLKS ARE HARDCORE AND LOVE A GOOD FIGHT -
HELL, THEY STRIKE FEAR IN TERRORISTS.
BIGGAFF
*************************
Indeed they did pick the wrong city and the wrong people. I experienced very much the same thing as you described. There is constant movement; people, cars and buses. Only once did I hear a person being loud and laughing, and it was briefly done.
As I walked towards the fence, I too became quiet. I felt that I alone was standing and looking across the space.
It was for a few moments like I was the only person in New York City.
BILL D.

THREE GOOD MEN GONE TO HEAVEN

2007-12-04T23:50:00.000-05:00

JULY 1, 2004
I HAVE USED THIS THEME ON MORE THAN ONE OCCASION - BECAUSE I WAS BLESSED TO KNOW OF MORE THAN ONE PERSON WHO FIT THIS PROFILE. *********************
I am so sad. Our dear, gentle Governor of Indiana, did not survive the massive stroke he suffered earlier this week. He was such a kind person. The type of person who always gave you a smile and remembered your name. Focused on the conversation he was having with you and was just a plain, good person.
A.H. IN CARMEL CIRCLE
*********************
A.H. -
DEATH KNOCKS AT THE POOR MAN'S DOOR AND THE PALACES OF KINGS
************************************************************************
ALL THE THINGS YOU SAID, WERE BASICALLY THE THINGS I WOULD HAVE SAID ABOUT RON JOHNSON, WHEN HE PASSED AWAY IN ORLANDO, FLORIDA OR TED TAYLOR, WHO PASSED AWAY IN PHILADELPHIA, PENNSYLVANIA.
SO, I CAN SEE THE DIFFICULTY YOU ARE HAVING IN ACCEPTING THE LOST, BUT THE LOST IS REAL AND THE ISSUE OF YOUR ACCEPTANCE, YOUR HANDLING IT, YOUR ADJUSTING TO IT -- IS OF NO REAL IMPORTANCE / SIGNIFICANCE IN THE BIG PICTURE - YOUR ACCEPTANCE IS A FAIT ACCOMPLI. YOU WILL HANDLE THIS -- YOU HAVE NO OPTION --YOU CAN'T CHANGE IT AND YOU CAN'T DROP EVERYTHING TO GRIEVE -- THE SALVATION FOR THOSE OF US WHO GRIEVE ARE THOSE OF US WHO DON'T GRIEVE -- THE GAS COMPANY - THE ELECTRIC BILL -THE NEED TO REPLACE THE CAR BATTERY THIS WEEK -BABYSITTING THE GRANDKIDS -- THE GIRL SCOUTS RINGING THE DOORBELL WITH THEIR COOKIES -THAT APPOINTMENT WITH THE DENTIST, YOU CAN'T MISS. NOTHING STOPS AND WE CAN'T STOP AND THAT IS A GOOD THING - GRANDPA AND GRANDMA DIED, MOM AND DAD WILL OR HAVE DIED -THE GOVERNOR DIES -- WE KEEP MOVING ON --
THAT IS A GOOD THING - THE VERY PACE OF LIFE THAT SEEMS TO BE STOPPING US FROM GRIEVING AND PAYING FULL AND UNDIVIDED RESPECT TO THE DECEASED, ACTUALLY MAKES US FOCUS MORE CLEARLY THAT LITTLE TIME WE CAN DEVOTE TO THEM, IN A MORE POSITIVE MANNER -- WE CAN'T LINGER IN SELF PITY AND MORBID SORROW -- WE HAVE TO DO WHAT YOU DID AND MAY HAVE DONE WITHOUT REALIZING IT -- YOU PAID A TREMENDOUS TRIBUTE TO GOV. FRANK O'BANNON, WHOM I KNEW NOTHING OF, BECAUSE YOU CUT TO THE CHASE AND TOLD ME ALL I NEEDED TO EVER KNOW ABOUT HIM ---> "He ... was just a plain, good person."

WILEY COLLEGE DEBATE TEAM

2007-11-27T06:35:00.001-05:00

Melvin B. Tolson (center) led the Wiley College debate team to a U.S. championship in 1935 with a win over Harvard University. The story is depicted in the movie "The Great Debaters," scheduled for release Dec. 25. UMNS photos courtesy of Wiley College.
A UMNS ReportBy Linda Green*Oct. 19, 2007
It is not every day that Denzel Washington and Oprah Winfrey do a movie together about a historically black college with fewer than 1,000 students.
But that’s what happened when the pair learned about a David and Goliath matchup in which Wiley College's 1935 debate team won a national championship against Harvard University and also beat other perennial oratorical powerhouses.
United Methodist-related Wiley College is a historically black school in Texas.
In 2004, the United Methodist-related college in Marshall, Texas, began to receive inquiries from Hollywood about Melvin B. Tolson, leader of Wiley's first debate team.
"We started getting calls and researching ourselves for them," said Veronica Clark, Wiley's director of public relations.
The Wiley staff learned that over a 15-year period, Tolson’s teams lost only one of 75 debates. The Wiley Forensic Society competed against historically black colleges, but earned national attention with its debates against the University of Southern California and Harvard University. The winning team was composed of four men (including Tolson) and one woman.
"After we did our research, it was submitted to Mr. Washington and the production company, and from there a script was developed," said Clark.
The Great Debaters
Scheduled for release Dec. 25, "The Great Debaters" is being produced by Winfrey's Harpo Productions. Washington is both director and star. Filming began in early 2006 and wrapped over the summer. Most of the scenes were filmed in Louisiana with brief scenes on the Wiley campus and at Harvard University in Cambridge, Mass.
"This is exciting. It just doesn’t get any better than this. Not to mention that a great story is being told …"–Veronica Clark, Wiley College
"Everyone is extremely excited," Clark said. "It is not everyday that Denzel Washington and Oprah Winfrey want to do a movie about a college, especially one about a college our size." The liberal arts college has 926 students enrolled.
"As soon as we learned of the movie at Wiley, the alumni have just been bombarding the college with telephone calls," Clark said. "This is exciting. It just doesn’t get any better than this. Not to mention that a great story is being told about newbies coming onto the debate scene and doing so well."
The Marshall community also was excited about Washington’s arrival. "He came to campus in sweatpants and a baseball cap," said Clark. "He was here to work (and) he was very approachable."
Since racial diversity was needed in the film, students and community members came out in droves. Other actors in the film include Forest Whitaker, Columbus Short, Jermaine Williams, J.D. Evermore, John Heard, Kimberly Elise, Nate Parker, Justice Leak, Jurnee Smollett and Denzel Whitaker.
The story of Melvin Tolson
Tolson was born in 1898 in Moberly, Mo., to a Methodist Episcopal pastor and his wife. His father served churches in Missouri and Iowa.
A graduate of historically black Lincoln (Pa.) University, Tolson was hired by Wiley College in 1924 to teach English and speech. He also coached junior varsity football, directed the theater club and organized the Wiley Forensic Society.
A monument to Tolson and his achievement stands on the campus.
Tolson was a mentor and teacher to civil rights activist James Farmer Jr. and Herman Sweat, an African American who was refused admission into the University of Texas Law School. Action by the law school resulted in a Supreme Court decision that challenged the "separate but equal" doctrine of racial segregation, a policy established by the 1896 case of Plessey vs. Ferguson.
He left Wiley in 1947 to teach at historically black Langston (Okla.) University. That same year, Liberia declared him its poet laureate. Beginning in 1952, he served two terms as mayor of all-black Langston. He died in 1966.
Resurrecting a legacy
The movie has instilled a sense of pride in the students and the Marshall community. The debate team, defunct after Tolson left the school in 1947, was resurrected in the last academic year and won a debate against Morehouse University. Clark called the win "icing on the cake."
In an interview with the Marshall (Texas) News Messenger, Washington said he thought the Wiley debaters "would be just a really wonderful story to tell. It's about the spoken word –– something you don't see much in film –– and about education and about debating."
Washington said this part of the story of blacks in America needs to be told –– that there is a huge gap between the end of the Civil War and the climax of the civil rights struggle in 1964. He called the movie a "David and Goliath" story.
He also said the spoken word is an important part of current hip-hop culture, and the debating film shows the roots of that tradition. "Our oral history is rich and deep, and debating is a big part of it, a part I didn't know about. It's something I want to share on the film with others," he told the newspaper.
Wiley College is the first historically black college west of the Mississippi River. It was founded in 1873 by Bishop Issac Wiley of the Methodist Episcopal Church and the Freedman's Aid Society to prepare the newly emancipated people for the future. The college is one of 11 historically black United Methodist-related institutions of higher education and is financially supported by the denomination's Black College Fund.

IN THE HOSPITAL - 2004

2007-11-26T20:53:00.000-05:00

I STARTED THIS WEBSITE WHILE IN THE HOSPITAL IN GREENVILLE, SOUTH CAROLINA, USING A PRIMITIVE LAPTON, BORROWED FROM VLGT AND DFT.
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YOUNG PEOPLE WILL TELL YOU THAT SETTING UP A WEBSITE IS EASY - I NOW FEEL QUALIFIED TO BECOME A ROCKET SURGEON OR A BRAIN SCIENTIST, THOSE OCCUPATIONS COULD NOT REQUIRE MORE RESEARCH THAN GETTING THIS SINGLE PAGE ON LINE.
LIKE AL PACINO SAID IN HIS RECENT SPY FILM - THE RECRUIT ---"NOTHING IS AS IT SEEMS."
THE INSTRUCTIONS ARE FINE IF YOU HAVE AN ADVANCED DEGREE IN COMPUTER SCIENCE WITH TEN YEARS OF ACTUAL FIELD EXPERIENCE WORKING FOR MICROSOFT OR I.B.M. -- I HAD TO CHEAT TO PASS MY LAST BLOOD PRESSURE TEST AND THAT WAS AFTER STUDYING ALL NIGHT - I WAS ILL PREPARED FOR GETTING THIS WEBSITE STUFF TOGETHER, BUT GDG WAS A BIG HELP. ************************************************
I HAVE BEEN EXPERIENCING CHEST PAINS TODAY AND I FEAR MY DOCTOR WOULD HOSPITALIZE ME, SO I JUST STAYED HOME AND WATCHED TELEVISION ( COME TO THINK OF IT, THAT IS WHAT I DO WHEN I FEEL FINE ), BUT VLGT, DFT, FRANKIE, ANGELA AND DLB HAVE CONSPIRED TO CONVINCE ME TO GO TO THE DOCTOR'S OFFICE AND SEE WHAT THE PROBLEM IS.
POSSIBLE CAUSES OF CHEST PAINS ARE:
LETTERS FROM THE IRS
TOO MUCH SEX
TOO LITTLE SEX
NO DAMN SEX AT ALL
SEX WITH SEVERAL PEOPLE IN THE ROOM
SEX WITHOUT ANOTHER PERSON IN THE ROOM
AND THE MINOR MISCELLANEOUS REASONS FOUND IN RARE INSTANCES --
LACK OF EXERCISE -
DRINKING RUT GUT WHISKEY BY THE JELLY JAR FULL -
LACK OF SLEEP -
TOO MUCH SLEEP -
LOW BLOOD PRESSURE -
HIGH BLOOD PRESSURE -
AND THE REALLY SERIOUS ONE,
NO BLOOD PRESSURE -
EATING TOO MUCH -
EATING TOO LITTLE ( NOT AN ISSUE ) -
FAILURE TO TAKE MEDICATIONS PRESCRIBED BY MY DOCTOR.
WHO IS NOT LICENSED BY THE STATE OF SOUTH CAROLINA, BUT WHO HAS ADJUSTED HIS FEES DOWNWARD TO TAKE THIS TECHNICALITY INTO ACCOUNT. -
I HAVE RULED OUT THOSE SYMPTOMS THAT HAVE NOTHING TO DO WITH TAXES OR SEX - YET, THEY ARE THE ONLY ONES COVERED BY MY HEALTH INSURANCE.
I DON'T THINK THERE IS A SERIOUS PROBLEM -- I HAVE ALWAYS PLACED GREAT FAITH IN THE IDEA THAT THE GOOD DIE YOUNG -- I FEEL SAFE AND SECURE FOR AT LEAST ANOTHER 45 YEARS - WHICH WOULD TAKE ME TO AGE 90. ************************************************************************************************APRIL THE DOCTOR IS PUTTING ME IN THE HOSPITAL AND AFTER TESTING THEY PLAN TO DO THE STANDARD ATERY CATHORIZATION ON THURSDAY. I SHOULD BE RELEASED ON FRIDAY.
I WANTED TO MAKE SURE ALL GOES WELL, SO I DIDN'T PAY UPFRONT - I FIGURED THAT WOULD BE A LITTLE EXTRA INCENTIVE / MOTIVATION FOR THEM TO DO THEIR BEST.
THEY LET ME COME HOME TO PACK A BAG -- I AM HAVING TROUBLE LOCATING THIS CLEAN UNDERWEAR VLGT WANTS ME TO TAKE WITH ME -- BUT I WILL KEEP LOOKING.
RIGHT NOW, I AM FIXING A LITTLE LUNCH - THE STEAK IS ALMOST FINISHED FRYING, THE CHIPS ARE DONE, I FOUND A SLICE OF PIZZA TO WRAP THE STEAK IN AND THERE IS STILL SOME ICE CREAM AND CHOCOLATE COVERED CHEESECAKE LEFT-OVERS TO GO WITH MY DIET SODA.
ONE OF THE REASONS I HAVE REMAINED WELL THIS LONG, IS MY CONCERN FOR EATING RIGHT - LIKE THE LETTUCE AND TOMATO IN A BIG MAC - VEGETABLES ARE IMPORTANT!

TOMMY KUROWSKI - BOYS HIGH & ST. FRANCIS GREAT

2007-11-26T01:37:00.000-05:00

I WAS SHOCKED AND SADDENED TO LEARN OF THE PASSING OF S.F.C. GRAD AND BASKETBALL PLAYER EXTRAORDINAIRE -- TOMMY KUROWSKI.
TOMMY WAS AN UNOFFICAL MENTOR TO ME IN COLLEGE -- IF YOU ASKED HIM, HE WOULD NOT KNOW THAT, BUT I WATCHED THE WAY HE CARRIED HIMSELF TO GUIDE MY ACTIONS - BUT HE SET THE BAR FAR TOO HIGH FOR ME TO EMULATE - HE WAS A CLASS ACT OF THE FIRST ORDER.
AS I HEARD A PERSON SAY -- AROUND HANGING THE AIRPORT DOES NOT MAKE YOU A PILOT, BEING AROUND TOMMY WAS NOT ENOUGH TO TRANSFER THOSE QUALITIES HE POSSESSED.
TOMMY WAS A MEMBER OF THE UNDEFEATED BOYS HIGH SCHOOL TEAM , COACHED BY THE LEGENDARY, MICKEY FISHER AND FEATURING THE EQUALLY LEGENDARY, CONNIE HAWKINS.
TO ALL THOSE WHO ATTENDED THE LEGENDARY GAME OF 1960, BETWEEN THE TWO UNDEFEATED POWERHOUSES, BOYS HIGH AND THE HOWARD ROSENSTEIN COACHED, WINGATE HIGH, FEATURING THE LEGENDARY, ROGER BROWN --->> AT THE LEGENDARY MADISON SQUARE GARDEN ON 50th STREET, TOMMY KUROWSKI WAS A PART OF THEIR LIFE AND YET, MANY WILL NOT BE ABLE TO RECALL HIS NAME. THAT GAME REMAINS IN THE PSYCHE OF ALL WHO SAW IT, EVEN AS THE INDIVIDUAL PLAYERS FADE FROM MEMORY.
TOMMY WAS THE STEADY, ROLE PLAYING, BEDROCK, PLAYER THAT GREAT TEAMS MUST HAVE -- THE GUY WHO IS ONLY CONCERNED WITH WINNING AND WILL SACRIFICE EGO AND BODY PARTS TO OBTAIN VICTORY FOR THE TEAM. A PLAYER LIKE TOMMY IS THE GLUE THAT HOLDS TOGETHER A CHAMPIONSHIP CALIBER TEAM OR KEEPS A LESS THAN TOP RATED TEAM FROM UNDERACHIEVING AND COLLAPSING.
A PLAYER LIKE THAT IS NOT GETTING THE HEADLINES. A PLAYER LIKE THAT IS NOT LEAVING THE ARENA FOLLOWED BY REPORTERS AND A PERSONAL ENTOURAGE.
THE SPOTLIGHT DID NOT SHINE ON TOMMY VERY OFTEN, BECAUSE TOMMY WAS REBOUNDING, PASSING AND FIGHTING FOR LOOSE BALLS, SO THAT OTHER TEAMMATES MIGHT BE IN THE SPOTLIGHT.
TOMMY'S WORKHORSE ROLE ON THE TEAM, WAS NOT DUE TO A LACK OF TALENT - IT WAS DUE TO HIS INSIGHT INTO WINNING - HE DID WHAT THE TEAM NEEDED DONE, BUT HE WAS A TURN THE LIGHTS OFF, GAME OVER, LETS ALL GO HOME SHOOTER, WHEN HE LET FLY THE BALL OR DROVE TO THE HOOP.
PLAYING AT SAINT FRANCIS COLLEGE, BROOKLYN, GAVE TOMMY A BETTER STAGE TO SHOW OFF HIS TOTAL GAME AND AGAIN, HE BLENDED IN, EVEN AS HE WAS OFTEN THE FEATURED PLAYER ON SOME TOP NOTCH TEAMS, INCLUDING A NATIONAL INVITATIONAL TOURNAMENT COMPETITOR IN 1963.
I AM NOT MENTIONING TOMMY'S LEAVING THIS MORTAL PLANE BECAUSE HE WAS AN OUTSTANDING ATHLETE -- WE DON'T LAMENT THE PASSING OF A PERSON BASED ON HOW WELL THEY COULD THROW A ROUND OBJECT THRU A METAL RING, TEN FEET OFF THE GROUND. THAT IS A POOR MEASURE OF A MEN'S WORTH.
I WRITE TO LAMENT THE PASSING A MAN WHO I WAS PROUD TO HAVE KNOWN, A GOOD MAN, WHO WAS ADMIRED AND RESPECTED BY THOSE WHO CAME IN CONTACT WITH HIM.
I USED THE WORD LEGENDARY SEVERAL TIMES, BECAUSE THERE WAS A LEGENDARY QUALITY TO TOMMY, NOT A SHOWY QUALITY, BUT A QUIET, YET HUMOROUS DIGNITY. TOMMY WAS A FUN PERSON.
I HAVE NOT SEEN THIS MAN IN CLOSE TO 30 YEARS, BUT I DON'T THINK A MAN OF HIS CHARACTER COULD EVER BE LESS THAN THE MAN I RECALL AND THAT MAN WAS ----------------------->>> LEGENDARY!
GOD BLESS HIM AND HIS FAMILY AND I HAVE NO DOUBT, HE WILL REST IN PEACE.
CHIEF

TONY JACKSON - A STRAIGHT SHOOTER

2007-11-25T12:46:00.000-05:00

Gaff,
I spoke with Harvey Jackson 2 days ago.
The family was hit hard, Tony was given 4 months to live 18 months ago. He fought hard for his life.
Harvey was my teammate, along with Alan Fisher at the Brownsville Boy's Club almost 45 years ago.
I playedagainst all the Jackson brothers at the BBC. Brooklyn lost a true legend of Basketball. Tony Jackson was the best pure shooter to ever light up the nets in N.Y.C.
Unfortunately he too was wrongfully linked to Jack Molinas, along with Roger and Hawk. After a great career at St. John's University, Tony played with the N.Y. Nets for a few years and that was it.
Another part of our youth and Brooklyn B-Ball has died.
Harvey saidhe hopes he can get the words out at the wake.
For the record, Roger broke Tony Jackson's PSAL scoring records, but, Roger did it in 4 years, Tony did it in 3.
JOEL BARBANELL - WINGATE HIGH
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Just received word that Tony Jackson passed last night. Not only one of the greatest players I have ever seen, but more importantly, a great human being and a dear friend.
Thanks for the info on the http://www.redmen.com/ site.
It was nice to see others have so many good things to say aboutTony. I can not begin to express the level of respect and love that I have for him.
He was a special person in so many ways. Peace and Love
James Mitchell - BOYS HIGH SCHOOL
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Tony Jackson was such an awesome presence, in his gentle and beautiful personage. He was a giant on the basketball court and as a genuine person, as well . I had the occassion to speak with Tony nearly a year ago, little did I know that would be the last time in this life that we would have the opportunity to speak to each other.
Tony made a difference in the lives of many. He certainly made a difference in my life by building life long cherished memories in basketball and with his fellow basketball players.
Billy Burwell - BOYS HIGH AND U. of ILLINOIS

*************************
Tony Jackson - A true master of the Game, and friend to all he came in contact with. I am blessed to have witness him play the game up-close. I will pass on this sad notice to others that saw the giant play.

ARNOLD A. HOOK - WINGATE HIGH

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I never met him, nor saw him play, however; from the stories that I did hear.......he must have been a class act on and off the court. His skills and personality touched many lives. I've heard many Tony Jackson stories from many folks. His legend will surely live on in the hearts and minds of this city and beyond.

RICHARD R. MITCHELL - WINGATE HIGH

***************************************

TONY JACKSON SET THE STANDARD FOR HIGH SCHOOL AND COLLEGE PLAYERS WHO CAME AFTER HIM -- HE WAS A LEGEND AND LEGENDS ARE IN SHORT SUPPLY - IT IS SAD TO LOSE ONE OF THE YOUNGEST AND GREATEST.

ONE TERM THAT COMES TO MY MIND IN THINKING ABOUT TONY JACKSON IS - SPORTSMAN, IN THE FULL SENSE OF THE CONCEPT - THE PURITY OF HIS APPROACH TO COMPETITION.
I ONCE SAW BOBBY ORR PLAY HOCKEY AND I KNEW AND STILL KNOW NOTHING ABOUT HOCKEY, BUT I RECOGNIZED ORR AS BEING GREAT JUST FROM A FEW MINUTES OF OBSERVATION -- IT WAS THE PURITY OF HIS ACTIONS AND REACTIONS --
TONY HAD THAT SAME QUALITY, A NATURALNESS TO EVERY ACTION AND REACTION - A FEELING THAT HE WAS IN CONTROL AT ALL TIMES - HE WAS ABOVE THE FRAY.
MY REGARDS TO HARVEY, HE TOO IS A CLASS ACT, BUT THAT IS NOT A RARE QUALITY AMONG THE JACKSONS.

GOD BLESS HIM / TAKE CARE - GAFF

WILLIE WILLIAMS - HE OF THE BIG HEART

2007-11-24T23:26:00.000-05:00

I WALKED IN THE DOOR AFTER DROPPING OFF THE GRANDKIDS FROM SCHOOL, TO HEAR THIS RECORDED PHONE MESSAGE FROM DONNIE BLACK IN BROOKLYN--->>> " BAD NEWS," WILLIE WILLIAMS, OF JHS 35 AND FRANKLIN K. LANE FAME, PASSED AWAY AND THE FUNERAL SERVICE IS SET FOR THURSDAY, FEBRUARY 12, 2004. WILLIE AND I PLAYED TOGETHER ON THE JHS 35 TEAM BEFORE HE JOINED GLENN AND GERRY DAVIS AT LANE - WILLIE'S SENIOR YEAR AT LANE WAS 1963. I FEEL LIKE I SHOULD SAY SOMETHING ABOUT MY FORMER TEAMMATE, BUT I CAN'T SAY ANYTHING GRAND - I LOST CONTACT WITH WILLIE AND OUR PATHS CROSSED VERY FEW TIMES AFTER HIGH SCHOOL.
WILLIE HAD A BIG HEART, SEALED IN A SMALL BODY, A LION'S HEART, THAT BECAME APPARENT WHILE HE WAS PLAYING HIS FAVORITE SPORT.
IN A WAY, IT IS FOOLISH TO LOOK AT A PERSON'S LIFE AND MAKE THE COMMENT THAT HE WAS A FINE BASKETBALL PLAYER --- THAT IS SUCH A SMALL THING IN THE BIG EQUATION OF LIFE.
EACH OF US PLAYS A MINIMUM OF 25 ROLES IN LIFE --- SON, BROTHER, COUSIN, HUSBAND, FATHER, GRANDFATHER, EMPLOYEE, EMPLOYER, FRIEND, COLLEAGUE,TEAMMATE, ETC.
TO FOCUS ON A LIFE OF ALMOST 60 YEARS AND SAY, HE WAS A SUCCESSFUL BASKETBALL PLAYER, AMID ALL THESE ROLES, IS, AT FIRST, KIND OF FOOLISH, STRANGE AND SAD; YET, IT MAKES PERFECT SENSE, IF YOU THINK ABOUT IT. I DON'T KNOW WHAT KIND OF HUSBAND, DAD OR EMPLOYEE WILLIE WAS -- I CAN'T SAFELY GO THERE -- I DON'T KNOW WHO WILLIE LOVED OR HATED, WHAT GOD, IF ANY, HE WORSHIPPED, WHAT ACTIONS HE REGRETTED, WHAT JOYS HE REVERED -- THESE ARE PRIVATE AND PERSONAL MATTERS.
ON THE BASKETBALL COURT, WILLIE WAS A PUBLIC FIGURE AND I KNOW ABOUT THIS PUBLIC ASPECT OF HIS LIFE -- SO, IN SAYING HE WAS AN EXCELLENT BASKETBALL PLAYER, I AM NOT REDUCING HIS LIFE TO HIS ABILITY TO PLAY A GAME; I AM SAYING THAT IN THE PUBLIC ARENA OF SPORTS, HE SHOWED THOSE QUALITIES AND CHARACTERISTICS OF COURAGE AND DETERMINATION AND LEADERSHIP, THAT I WOULD HOPE CARRIED OVER TO THE REST OF HIS LIFE.
THE FACT THAT HIS LIFE WAS NOT, ON THE SURFACE, ALWAYS PLEASANT ONE, DOES NOT MEAN THAT THOSE QUALITIES I SAW ON THE ATHLETIC FIELD, WERE NOT A TRUE REFLECTION OF WILLIE AS A TOTAL PERSON --- NONE OF US KNOWS AND FULLY APPRECIATES THE DEMONS CARRIED BY THE REST OF US. NOT KNOWING WILLIE'S DEMONS, I CAN'T SAY HOW WELL HE FACED HIS NIGHTMARES AND IT IS NOT MY PLACE TO JUDGE WILLIE -- AT DECATUR JUNIOR HIGH.SCHOOL, I WAS BOTH JEALOUS AND ADMIRING OF HIS TALENT AND HIS FIERCE HEART - THAT IS HOW I ALWAYS SEE WILLIE IN MY MIND, A LION READY TO BATTLE FOR SUPREMACY OF HIS DOMAIN.
WILLIE COULD BE BEATEN - THE PROBLEM FOR OPPONENTS WAS ACHIEVING THAT BEATING, KNOWING THAT WILLIE WAS NOT GOING TO SURRENDER, VICTORY WAS NOT GOING TO BE EASILY WON AGAINST WILLIE WILLIAMS.
I BELIEVE THAT THOSE QUALITIES WHICH MADE WILLIE SPECIAL AND ADMIRABLE, MAY HAVE, FOR A TIME, BEEN OVERWHELMED BY EVENTS IN HIS MIND AND LIFE, BUT MORE THAN LIKELY, HE PUT UP A BETTER FIGHT THAN I COULD HAVE, GIVEN THE SAME CIRCUMSTANCES / SITUATION.
I SPEND FAR TOO MUCH TIME WRITING ABOUT THE PASSING OF THOSE WHO RAN THE STREETS OF MY YOUTH -- AND YET, DEATH IS NATURE'S WAY AND WE HAVE TO MOVE ON -- NOT FORGETTING OUR PALS, BUT ACCEPTING THEIR GOING ON AHEAD OF US -- AND UNLESS SOMETHING VERY RARE HAPPENS ( AND THERE HAS BEEN ONLY ONE EXCEPTION IN THE LAST 2005 YEARS ), WE WILL CATCH UP WITH ALL OF THE DEARLY DEPARTED, DOWN THE ROAD.
I WILL ALWAYS SEE WILLIE AS A BIG MAN, IN A SMALL BODY -- I WILL PRAY THAT GOD BLESS HIM AND HIS BROTHER, RICHIE.

WALT DAVIS - BOYS HIGH SCHOOL GREAT

2007-11-24T23:16:00.000-05:00

I can still remember my JUNIOR HIGH SCHOOL 35 night center days when the old-timers used to scrimmage on our main court and we were RELEGATED to fans.
I recall one player, who was a guard and seemed to be the smoothest player on the court, had the best defense and he was very deadly with his jump shot, which he did not take as much as he should have.
As good as he was, he seemed to be putting out only half the effort, but he was surely the best player on the court in my eyes.
His lack of effort, I later realized, was actually a tribute to his efficiency - he did not waste energy or effort - his effort was in proportion to the task at hand..
When I asked who was that guard, no one my age seemed to know him, so I asked former BOYS HIGH AND VIRGINIA UNION LEGEND, RONNIE BRESSANT.
BRESS said, his name was Walt Davis.
Some great players would always be on the court at JHS 35 back in the day, but I can't remember anyone who impressed me more than Walt.
I was focused on he way he dribbled from midcourt to the baseline and how he was aware of his teammates' location at all times. He was the perfect example for kids to pattern their game after.
In my book, Walt Davis was without doubt, one of the best passers I have ever seen in my life.
A few months later, I was playing against Mister Davis, in a pickup game with some older, stronger player at JHS 35 night center - I was the token "young boy," filling out the squad ------>>>> That was the last time I saw Walt Davis alive.

TED HANSLEY

****************
TED -
I AGREE WITH YOU - WALT WAS ONE OF THE BEST PURE PLAYERS I EVER SAW AT ANY LEVEL - AND HE DID NOT SHOOT ENOUGH.
LIKE OSCAR ROBERTSON, WALT'S GAME WAS SCIENTIFIC - IT DID NOT DEPEND ON PHYSICAL TALENT AS MUCH AS ON DOING ---->>>> THE EXACT RIGHT THING AT THE EXACT RIGHT TIME.
HE WAS A COMPUTER AND HE DID NEVER EVER NEEDED TO LOOK AT THE BALL -- HE CONTROLLED THE BALL BETTER THAN ANYONE I EVER SAW OUTSIDE THE NBA, UNTIL I SAW CHARLEY DONOVAN HANDLE A BALL.
I HAVE TO BELIEVE THAT HIS RELATIVES, CHUCK AND WILLIE, HAD A GREAT INFLUENCE ON THE FACT THAT WALT HAD NO SELFISH EGO IN HIS GAME ------>> IT WAS NOT ABOUT HIM, IT WAS ABOUT WINNING.
I CAN'T BELIEVE MICKEY FISHER EVER COACHED ANYONE WHO COULD RUN A GAME PLAN AS WELL AS WALT - BUT THAT IS A STATEMENT I SHOULD CONFIRM WITH DR. HOWARD JONES, HE WOULD KNOW MORE THAN I ON THAT TOPIC.
I RECALL, ONE SUMMER AT THE RUCKER TOURNAMENT, IN A NYC VERSUS PHILLY HIGH SCHOOL SENIOR ALL STAR GAME -- A PHILLY FAN ASKED ME AT HALF TIME, WHO THE LEFT HANDED NYC GUARD WAS - I TOLD THE GUY I DIDN'T KNOW HIS NAME --- WHEN THE TEAMS CAME BACK OUT FOR THE SECOND HALF, THE PHILLY FAN POINTED TO THE PLAYER AND I SAID, THAT IS WALT DAVIS AND HE IS NOT LEFT HANDED --- WALT WAS AMBIDEXTROUS - THE MOST EVEN HANDED PLAYER I HAVE YET TO SEE AND I INCLUDE EVEN JORDAN AND OSCAR IN SAYING THAT.
WALT, FOR REASON I KNOW NOTHING OF, HAD DEMONS AND SHOULD BE INCLUDED IN OUR PRAYERS.
WE LIVED IN AN ERA OF GIANTS, WE HAVE BEEN BLESSED IN THAT REGARD.
IT OFTEN SEEMS LIKE, GOD TAKES THE GREAT ONES TOO SOON - WALT BEING A CASE IN POINT.

BILL DAVIS - MY TEACHER

2007-11-24T22:52:00.000-05:00

MARCH 2001
TODAY THERE WILL BE A GROUP OF FOLKS SINGING THE PRAISES OF COACH BILL DAVIS. I DON’T KNOW HOW MANY WILL MENTION BILL DAVIS THE TEACHER.
I RECENTLY RETIRED AFTER 34 YEARS OF TEACHING JUNIOR AND SENIOR HIGH SCHOOL. I OFTEN TRIED TO IMPRESS MY CLASSES BY TELLING THEM THAT I FIRST ENTERED PUBLIC SCHOOL # 44 IN BROOKLYN, NEW YORK IN 1950 AND I HAVE NEVER SPENT A YEAR OF MY LIFE OUTSIDE OF A CLASSROOM SINCE THEN.
MORE THAN HALF A CENTURY IN SCHOOL AND YET, THE SINGLE MOST IMPORTANT LESSON I EVER LEARNED, I WAS TAUGHT RIGHT HERE IN UNION, SOUTH CAROLINA, DURING SUMMER VACATION IN 1955.
BILL AND I WERE ON A MISSION FOR UNCLE LEE, WE WERE SUPPOSE TO STOP BY THE COURTHOUSE AND PICK UP SOME FORMS CONCERNING AUTOMOBILE REGISTRATION.
AFTER THE WALK OVER FROM DOUGLAS HEIGHTS IN THE JULY SUN, I WAS HOT AND THIRSTY.
MY MOTHER, CATHERINE HARRIET DAVIS, WAS BORN IN UNION AND MY FATHER, GEORGE WALLACE GAFFNEY, WAS BORN IN JONESVILLE.
I WAS BORN IN THE SAME AREA WHERE I FIRST ATTENDED SCHOOL. NOW, FOR THOSE OF A CERTAIN AGE, YOU CAN FORESEE THE NEXT PART OF MY TALE. AS BILL WALKED SLIGHTLY AHEAD OF ME IN THE COURTHOUSE, I SAW THE OASIS I WAS SEEKING; A COOL AND INVITING REFRIGERATED WATER FOUNTAIN. I STOPPED FOR A DRINK. AS I STEPPED ON THE FOOT PEDAL TO START THE CRYSTAL CLEAR LIQUID FLOWING, OUT OF THE CORNER OF MY EYE I CAUGHT SOMETHING LARGE AND FAST, HURLING TOWARD ME IN MIDAIR.
THE NEXT THING I KNEW, BILL AND I WERE ON THE FLOOR OF THE COURTHOUSE WITH FOLKS WALKING BY US AND GLANCING DOWN, BUT SAYING NOTHING TO US. I WAS SPEECHLESS AS TO WHY BILL HAD ACTED SO CRAZY IN SUCH A DIGNIFIED PLACE, BY MAKING AN INSANE, BUT TECHNICALLY PERFECT TACKLE.
BILL THEN SHOWED ME THE BLACK MARBLE, UNREFRIGERATED FOUNTAIN FROM WHICH TO OBTAIN MY RATHER WARM DRINK.
ON THE WAY BACK TO DOUGLAS HEIGHTS, BILL SHOWED ME THE STORES WE COULD GO INTO TO MAKE A PURCHASE. THE PLACES WE HAD TO GO TO THE TAKE OUT WINDOW TO DO BUSINESS. THE MOVIE THEATER WHERE WE HAD TO SIT UPSTAIRS ( WHICH WAS MY FIRST CHOICE, IF I WAS GIVEN A PREFERENCE ).
NONE OF THIS WAS TOLD WITH ANY PASSION, ANY DRAMA, IT WAS MERELY BILL TELLING ME THE RULES AND THE RULES WERE NOTHING NEW TO HIM.
THEY WERE A REVELATION TO ME – IT WAS LIKE A SCIENCE FICTION MOVIE WHERE YOU FIND OUT THERE ARE ALIENS LIVING AMONG THE TOWNSFOLK – AND THE WATER FOUNTAIN SCENE MEANT THAT BILL AND I WERE THE ALIENS - WE WERE THE ONES IN FAMILIAR, YET FOREIGN AND HOSTILE TERRITORY.
THAT WALK WAS AN EPIPHANY FOR ME, BUT JUST ANOTHER DAY FOR BILL.
BILL KNEW THE SITUATION AND I WAS JUST LEARNING - I RETURNED HOME TO BROOKLYN AND SOON REALIZED THAT WE HAD MOST OF THE RULES THERE THAT BILL HAD SHOWN ME HERE IN UNION.
THE DOLLAR SIGN WAS USED IN THE NORTH AS THE WHITES ONLY SIGN WAS USED IN THE SOUTH. A COSTLY DOLLAR SIGN COULD KEEP DARKER FOLKS OUT AS EFFECTIVELY AS A LESS SUBTLE POSTER.
WHILE BILL SEEMED RESIGNED TO THE GROUND RULES AS HE EDUCATED ME THAT DAY, I GREW SMART ENOUGH TO REALIZE, WITH PRIDE, THAT BILL WAS ONE OF THOSE WHO BENT, CHANGED AND BROKE THOSE RULES.
AGAIN, TO THOSE OF A CERTAIN AGE, IT MEANT SOMETHING WHEN:
BILL COACHED AGAINST A FURMAN OR A GEORGIA SOUTHERN
TEAM.
HIS TEAM PLAYED IN THE SAME STADIUM AS THE NEW YORK
FOOTBALL GIANTS.
BILL ACCEPTED THE HANDSHAKE OF AN ELON COLLEGE COACH
HIS TEAM JUST DEFEATED, ON ELON’S HOME FIELD

IT WAS VERY STRANGE, WHILE SITTING IN A DELUXE SUITE AT THE GEORGIA DOME WITH SONNY AND BETTY GILLIAM, AS BILL’S TENNESSEE STATE TEAM PLAYED AGAINST HIS BELOVED SOUTH CAROLINA STATE, WAS AN EMOTIONAL ROLLER COASTER - DO WE ROOT FOR BILL’S NEW TEAM OR BILL’S FORMER TEAM?
THE IDEA OF TURNING ON A TELEVISION AND HAVING BILL ANALYZE THE MOST RECENT GAME ON HIS OWN REGIONAL SHOW WAS UNTHINKABLE BACK IN 1955. IT WAS THE EQUIVALENT OF GOING FROM THE OUTHOUSE TO THE PENTHOUSE.
IT WAS A MILESTONE FOR BILL TO RECRUIT NON AFRICAN AMERICAN PLAYERS TO HISTORICALLY BLACK COLLEGES --- THAT CONCEPT WAS NOT REMOTELY A PART OF DR. KING’S DREAM IN 1963.
AS WAS SAID AT ANOTHER COUSIN’S FUNERAL ( DR. WILLIAM R. GILES OF NEW JERSEY ) – BILL DAVIS WAS ANGRY, BUT NOT BITTER.
BILL WAS A FORCE AND A VEHICLE FOR CHANGE AND AN UPLIFTING SPIRIT TO ALL THOSE AROUND HIM – DISCRIMINATION WAS MET WITH DETERMINATION BY COACH DAVIS.
MENTIONING BILL’S NAME GUARANTEED INSTANT RECOGNITION ACROSS THE CAROLINAS REGARDLESS OF WHETHER THE LISTENER WAS NATIVE AMERICAN, WHITE OR BLACK - BILL WAS KNOWN AND RESPECTED BY ALL.
I THINK BILL CAN REST EASY, BECAUSE HE HAS DONE THAT WHICH SO MANY ONLY PROMISE TO DO –> BILL HAS GIVEN BACK TO THE TOWN AND STATE OF HIS BIRTH, AS WELL AS TO GEORGIA, WHICH BORROWED HIM FOR A WHILE TO GIVE SERVICE AND BRING GLORY TO SAVANNAH STATE UNIVERSITY.
EVERYONE HERE IS BETTER FOR HAVING KNOWN BILL OR HAVING KNOWN OF HIM.
SO, I SAY BOTH THANK YOU AND GOOD BYE TO MY MENTOR, WHO PROVED THIS POINT >>>
THOSE WHO CAN, DO.
THOSE WHO CAN DO VERY WELL, TEACH.
BILL WAS A GREAT COACH AND A GREATER TEACHER. , GOD BLESS HIM! **************************************************************
I AM WRITING ON BEHALF OF ALL THOSE FAMILY MEMBERS AND FRIENDS WHO COULD NOT BE HERE IN UNION, TO CELEBREATE OUR FRIEND'S EARLY DEPARTURE FOR HOME. GOD SEEMS TO TAKE THE GREAT ONES SOONER THAN WE WOULD LIKE, BUT GOD IS SMART ENOUGH TO SELECT EARLY AND PICK THE CREAM OF THE CROP.

JIMMY MILLER - WINGATE ' 60

2007-11-24T08:32:00.000-05:00

JIMMY MILLER -- A MAN TO BE RESPECTED AS IS ALL TOO OFTEN THE SITUATION -- I PASS ON WORD OF ANOTHER FALLEN CLASSMATE - JIMMY MILLER, WHO WAS A STAR GUARD ON THE ROGER BROWN ERA WINGATE BASKETBALL TEAMS OF THE LATE 1950s TO 1960.
I BELIEVE, DONNIE BLACK TOLD ME, JIMMY WAS LIVING IN THE CLINTON HILL SECTION OF BROOKLYN.
JIMMY WAS AT A MINI GATHERING OF FORMER WINGATE PLAYERS, AT CARMINE'S RESTAURANT IN UPPER MANHATTAN IN THE SUMMER OF 2003. HE WAS NOT IN THE BEST OF HEALTH AND AS THE MASSIVE ( JUST PLAIN GIGANTIC ) PLATTERS OF FOOD WERE BROUGHT TO THE TABLE, COACH ROSENSTEIN OFTEN REMINDED JIMMY, HE HAD TO AVOID CERTAIN ITEMS OR COACH WOULD ASK JIMMY , IF HE THOUGHT A DISH WAS WITHIN HIS DIET.
I DON'T KNOW WHAT MEDICAL CONDITION JIMMY WAS DEALING WITH, BUT HE WAS IN GOOD SPIRITS AND EVERYONE TREATED HIM AS THE STAR HE WAS.
TO THOSE WHO DON'T KNOW OF JIMMY MILLER -- I INVOKE THE JOHN DUNNE RULE -- "ANY MAN'S DEATH DIMINISHES ME" -- THIS WAS A GOOD MAN - WE ARE ALL LESSEN TO HAVE HIM DEPART THIS MORTAL PLANE SO SOON.
THE FACT THAT HE WAS AN OUTSTANDING ATHLETE, PALES BESIDE THE FACT THAT HE WAS A GOOD MAN.
******** JOEL BARBANELL'S COMMENTS ***********
Learning of Jimmy's death was very sad for me. I remember my first practice at Wingate. Jimmy took the ball from me 4 times. Coach just laughed and laughed.
I was 15 years old, Jimmy gave me a quick lesson on taking care of the "rock." Jimmy was "Clyde Frazier" way before there was a Clyde Frazier. He could steal hub caps off a moving car. When I met Jimmy at Carmines last year, I hugged him and told him I have one hand on my wallet.
It was so sad, Jimmy never ever missed a lay-up. But, the 2 breakaway lay-ups he blew at The Garden cost us THE GAME against the Connie Hawkins lead Boy's High team.
Jimmy never forgave himself.
Thirty years later Roger told me he spoke with Jimmy, and Jimmy never let it go. He carried a terrible burden all those years.
Another point of info. Jimmy was offered a full ride to UCLA. and rejected it. He couldn't entertain the thought of going to college 3,000 miles away from BROOKLYN.
To Jimmy, California was the other side of the world, this was 1960.
I'll miss another team-mate.
*****************************************************
COMMENTS FROM WINGATE ALL CITY PLAYER -
HASKELL GARRETT
The problems Jimmy had in that classic game at The Garden relate to three elements: Walt Davis of Boys High was known for catching up with players on fast breaks and knocking away the ball without fouling -- he did it to me more than once in the gym at P.S. 289 recreation center and that was something no one ever did to me, once I was ahead of them on an open lane to the basket.
The Garden had, as all who played there know, awful deadspots, which played havoc on your rythm and put thr dribbler at a disadvantage against a fast defender running free.
The third problem was those freaky glass backboards and the misreads due to those clear backboards were all contributing factors. Sometimes the dice don't roll your way and you have to live with the results.
Jimmy did not let us down, I just wish he understood how much a part of that great team he was and maybe then he could have just shrugged off those missed shots as "bad breaks" and realized that, no matter what, he was one of the best.
Good luck and God bless you Jimmy.
^^^^^^^^^COMMENTS FROM GAFF ^^^^^^^^^^^^^^
THE TWO BREAKAWAY MISSES STICK IN MY MIND- THEY WERE PAINFUL TO WATCH. IF A GUY WAS A SCREW-UP AND A JERK -- I MIGHT NEVER LET THOSE MISSES GO - BUT I RECALL SITTING UP HIGH IN THE GARDEN AND LIKE ABOUT 2 MILLION OTHER FOLKS, WHO CLAIM TO HAVE BEEN THERE THAT AFTERNOON, MY THOUGHTS WERE THAT THE GODS HAD CRUELLY CONSPIRED TO MAKE A SURE THING INTO A GEOGRAPHIC TRAGEDY ---->>>
IF YOU WENT TO SCHOOL ON MARCY AVENUE, IT WAS GOD'S HAND BLOCKING THE BALL AND IF YOU WENT TO SCHOOL ON KINGSTON AVENUE, IT WAS THE HAND OF THE DEVIL INTERFERRING IN THE AFFAIRS OF NATURAL LAW AND STEALING WINGATE'S MUCH DESERVED AND EARN FOUGHT VICTORY.
I SAW TWO WINGATE GAMES BEFORE THAT HISTORIC GARDEN EVENT - I OBSERVED THE EFFICIENT MANNER IN WHICH JIMMY PLAYED - BUSINESS LIKE - SERIOUS - FAST AS HELL.
I WAS A FAN AND NO ONE ON EARTH IS AS MEAN SPIRITED AND READY TO LASH OUT AS A DISAPPOINTED FAN --
TEAMMATES HAVE INSIGHTS - THEY SEE STRENGTH AND WEAKNESS IN THEIR FELLOW PLAYERS -- THEY FEEL COMPASSION AND LOYALTY, KNOWING THAT THEY COULD HAVE MISSED THAT SAME SHOT OR NOT JUMPED HIGH ENOUGH FOR THAT SAME LOST REBOUND -- -->>>
THE FAN IS FREE OF ANY OBJECTIVE THOUGHTS - THE FAN THINKS HE WOULD HAVE DONE IT ALL AND THE GUY WHO DIDN'T DO IT ALL WAS A BUM, UNWORTHY OF RESPECT. I FELT NO HARD FEELINGS TOWARD JIMMY -- HE MISSED THE WINNING BASKETS AND THAT IS A FACT -- BUT I COULDN'T ATTACH ANY ANIMOSITY TO HIM AS A PERSON - I COULDN'T SAY HE SHOWBOATED OR HE FOLDED -- HE DID IT ALL THE RIGHT WAY AND GOT ONLY THE WRONG RESULTS - ALMOST A MIRROR IMAGE OF ANOTHER WINGATE PLAYER, WHO COULDN'T DO ANYTHING WRONG IN THE SAME PLACE - TWO YEARS LATER, WHILE SCORING ELEVEN STRAIGHT POINTS, BEFORE TIME CLOSED THE DOOR ON THE 1962 SEASON AT MADISON SQUARE GARDEN.
WE USUALLY ENJOY THESE E-MAILS ABOUT THE GOOD OLD DAYS, BUT ONLY BECAUSE WE HAVE MOVED ON TO LIFE IN THE REAL WORLD -- BROOKLYN KIDS, PLAYING IN THE TRUE MADISON SQUARE GARDEN ON 50th STREET -- HAVING A SUBWAY TRAIN PICKING UP AN ENTIRE SCHOOL AND DEPOSITING THEM IN MIDTOWN MANHATTAN - WATCHING THE TWO BEST PLAYERS IN THE HISTORY OF NYC MEET IN A GAME OF UNDEFEATED TEAMS - STILL TALKING ABOUT A HIGH SCHOOL GAME ALMOST 50 YEARS LATER - THAT IS NOT THE REAL WORLD - THAT IS A FANTASY WHICH SPIELBERG COULD NOT BRING TO THE SCREEN UNLESS HE WAS FROM BROOKLYN.
HAVING THE BENCH GUYS FROM THAT TEAM, HASKELL, JOEL, SAM, FREDDY, CARRY THE FLAG AND TWO SEASON'S LATER, ACTUALLY COME CLOSER TO A CHAMPIONSHIP THAN THE ROGER BROWN LEAD TEAM, THAT WAS FANTASTIC.
WE CAN ENJOY LOOKING BACK BECAUSE WE HAVE HOMES, KIDS, JOBS, ACHIEVEMENTS THAT COUNT IN THE REAL WORLD -- VETERANS OF WAR - POLICEMEN - TEACHERS -BUSINESSMEN - JOURNALIST - DOCTORS - LAWYERS - SCIENTIST - SOCIAL WORKERS - CAB DRIVERS - COOKS - PLUMBERS.
OUR WORLD IS NOW LARGER THAN BROOKLYN -- BURLINGTON TO MIAMI TO LOS ANGELES / SAN FRANCISCO.WE HAVE SEEN GIANTS ASSASSINATED HERE IN AMERICA, BURIED FRIENDS AND RELATIVES, SEEN THE WORLD CHANGE AND LIVED THRU BLACKOUTS AND 9/11 --- WE HAVE A BETTER PERSPECTIVE THAN WE HAD WHEN KINGSTON AVENUE WAS THE CENTER OF OUR UNIVERSE AND RUNNING UP AND DOWN A WOODEN FLOOR WAS THE HIGHLIGHT OF OUR DAY.
SOME OF US FELT EVERYTHING WAS GREAT AT WINGATE - SOME OF US HAD COMPLAINTS AND SAW INJUSTICE IN OUR HIGH SCHOOL DAYS, BOTH IN SPORTS AND IN THE CLASSROOM -- OUR DREAMS WERE NOT ALWAYS FULLY REALIZED; BUT WIN OR LOSE - HAPPY OR SAD -- WHETHER WE GOT THE BREAKS OR NOT - WE HAVE ALL MOVED ON AND ARE DEALING WITH THE REAL WORLD, WHILE LOOKING BACK - USUALLY FONDLY, ON THE PAST.
I HOPE JIMMY LET THOSE 2 UNFORTUNATE ERRORS STAY WHERE THEY BELONG, BACK ON KINGSTON AVENUE IN THAT FANTASY WORLD OF OUR YOUTH - I HOPE HE FOUND THE PEACE THAT COMES WITH MOVING ON.
I TRUST THE AFFECTION HE EXPERIENCED AT CARMINE'S, TOLD HIM THAT THE PERSON IS MORE IMPORTANT THAN THE PLAYER. ONE MORE THING -- I DIDN'T PLAY WITH JIMMY AS A TEAMMATE - BUT HE COMMANDED RESPECT -- NOT IN A FORCEFUL WAY, BUT JUST SOMETHING ABOUT HIM MADE YOU KNOW HE WAS WORTHY OF RESPECT -- LAY UPS, MADE OR MISSED, COULDN'T CHANGE THAT.
HIS LIFE WAS OF GREATER VALUE THAN ANY GAME EVER PLAYED.

FRANK MICKENS - A LIFE LONG TEACHER

2007-11-24T00:16:00.001-05:00

SEPTEMBER 2004

I AM POSTING THESE ARTICLES ABOUT MISTER MICKENS AT HIS RETIREMENT - MANY OF THE PEOPLE WHO COME TO THIS SITE, DON'T LIVE IN BROOKLYN AND DON'T KNOW MISTER MICKENS -- TRUST ME, YOU HAVE MISSED A RARE GEM --THE HIGHEST TRIBUTE I CAN RELATE TO YOU ABOUT FRANK IS THIS - HE HAS ENEMIES AND HIS ENEMIES ADMIRE HIM.
*************************
NEW YORK POST EDITORIAL

When Frank Mickens took over back in 1984, Boys and Girls HS in Bedford-Stuyvesant was one of the most violent, worst-performing schools in New York City. Maybe even the country. But the new principal turned Boys and Girls around with a combination of strict discipline, intolerance for lazy teachers and sheer force of will.
The school is now safe and — academically — one of the best of the city's oft-troubled "zoned" high schools. Mickens' methods were unorthodox, but effective.
When he wanted to get more parents to show up for parent-teacher conferences, he sent them what looked like legal summonses in the mail. Some parents were offended, but more took it in stride — and showed up.
Mickens placed a special emphasis on order and safety. His school, unique among zoned high schools in the city's toughest areas, has no metal detectors. That's because Mickens, despite city regulations to the contrary, did everything he could to keep potentially violent kids out of his school in the first place. He even set up a "perimeter patrol," made up of about 18 school staffers, to make sure kids got to school safely in the morning and home safely at night.
Mickens understands that learning can't happen when students are plagued by constant concern for their safety. And he understands that it really matters who is teaching kids when they sit down to learn.
Every summer, Mickens would go down to the city's central hiring hall, combing lists for good teachers and rejecting teachers that the rule book said he had to accept. Ah, the rule book. It was not Frank Mickens' bible. Through sheer force of will — while protected by an astonishingly intricate web of informal political and community connections — Mickens managed to do the right thing by Boys and Girls, and the thousands of kids who passed through the building over the past two decades.
He was never a favorite at Board of Education headquarters, or among most other principals. His steady successes were a stinging reminder of their consistent failure.
Today, Frank Mickens retires. Whether his successor at Boys and Girls can perform to the standards Mickens established remains to be seen. But it's not likely.
Whether his demeanor, and methods, would be workable citywide is also debatable. Certainly a system made up of all mavericks would be problematic.
What New York City really needs is a school system where dedicated administrators can run their schools the way they see fit, without every day being a death struggle with the central bureaucracy and the teachers unions.
The city's charter schools have the potential to become such a system, parallel to the old system. And there are already a few extraordinary schools and extraordinary principals showing how it's done.
In the meantime, though, best of luck to Frank Mickens. His tenure has been an object lesson to New York — though it remains to be seen whether New York was paying attention.
******************************************************************************
RPB, A FORMER PRINCIPAL HIMSELF, SENT ME THIS ARTICLE AND I AM IN THE SCARY POSITION OF PRAISING THE N.Y. POST FOR GETTING IT RIGHT IN AN AREA OUTSIDE THEIR SPORTS SECTION.
MICKENS' BROKE THE RULES TO PROTECT HIS SCHOOL - THE SYSTEM COULD NOT RUN WITH EVERYONE IMITATING FRANK'S METHODS - BUT HIS GOAL WAS SO NOBLE, THAT THE COMMUNITY ALWAYS SAW HIS WILLINGNESS TO SACRIFICE HIS PERSONAL WELL BEING FOR THE WELFARE OF THEIR CHILDREN AND BACKED HIS OUTRAGEOUS POWER PLAYS AGAINST CENTRAL HEADQUARTERS AND AGAINST THE TEACHERS UNION - FRANK NEVER ABUSED THIS SUPPORT FOR PERSONAL GAIN AND THAT IS WHY I WROTE THAT EVEN HIS ENEMIES HAD TO ADMIRE HIS MOHAMMAD ALI LIKE DEDICATION TO HIS BELIEFS.
*************************************************
RANDY JAMES WITH SOME PERSONAL INSIGHT ON DOCTOR MICKENS -
CIRCA 1971 - 2004

I consider Frank Mickens to be one of the "ten best friends" I have ever had in my life.
Frank and I were colleagues on the Boys High faculty in the early 70's, he having arrived at the school a year and a half before I did.
He was a dean and a history teacher, under Dr. Wilson and I was in my first (of 33 years) as an English teacher.
It was the beginning of the Board's attempt to institute Afro-American Literature into the school curriculum and Frank taught the school's black history classes, while I taught the High's first Afro-American Literature class. Frank used to say that we should refer to ourselves as "Doctors," because there were only a few colleges at the time who could even assist us with our course of study.
We spent as much time researching as we did teaching. We used to car pool from Boys High 3 times a week to go to NYU to work on our Master's and the laughter we shared on those drives to the city has not been duplicated in my lifetime.
A few years later, he was coaching the Varsity Basketball team and I was coachingthe Street Academy team, and some unknown little snotty-nosed kid was running Frank's Junior Varsity - George. Gaffney ( SAINT FRANCIS COLLEGE GRAD ) - "what ever happened to that guy ?"
Few people realize that Frank was a great high school basketball player at Erasmus, in his hey day.
Anyway, After I got the Francis Lewis HIgh School coaching job (1981), Frank called me and we spent the next 9 summers doing both the NYC Big Apple Games ( Frank startedthe games with Ray Nash, ( SAINT FRANCIS COLLEGE GRAD ) long time BISHOP FORD H.S. COACH AND ATHLETIC DIRECTOR, before the city was involved in the project.
We also were in on the ground floor of the Empire State Games project.
Today, Frank is one of the handful of people who could call me up at 3 AM and say, I need you to be here in 15 minutes with a blank check - and I would not hesitate one second, before I got out of bed.
That's the way I thought about him in 1971, and it is the way I feel about him today.
He is MY FRIEND.
*******************************
Gaff,
Thank you so much for forwarding me the article on the great Frank Mickens. After reading the article I over-nighted a letter to Frank thanking him for his dedication to the development of young people.
I met Frank as a bright eyed young man during the summer of '76.
Sam Stern secured me a job at Dr. J's basketball camp in Connecticut.
With cigar in tow and a plethora of stories, he made an immediate impact on me the minute he spoke. Anyone who knows Frank will understand the attention he demands when he speaks. Following that year, Frank was a regular at NYIT.
Following my playing career he would come to NYIT to jog with Sam and Ron Ganulin, current head coach of St Francis College and former NYIT head coach.
Although I did not run, I would sit with Frank, pre-jog and post-jog, and listen to him speak about events: past, present, local, national, international; the world according to Frank Mickens.
During those periods with Frank I was able to obtain a realistic education regarding life. As a young Black man trying to make his way through the clouds of collegiate administration, he provided me with the strength to know that the only person to stop me from making it in this profession, would be me.
I have not seen Frank in a while, but I have quite a few folks who live in the Boy & Girls school district, who love Frank and keep me informed on his educational and community accomplishments.
I am proud that I had the opportunity to talk with and break bread with Frank Mickens.
He is a good man and a tremendous leader.

Clyde Doughty -- Athletic Director - New York Institute of Technology

RODNEY DANGERFIED - R.I.P.

2007-11-23T23:57:00.000-05:00

MARILYN AND I WENT TO RODNEY DANGEREFIELD'S COMEDY CLUB, OVER 25 YEARS AGO, TO SEE AND HEAR HIM PERFORM. HE JUST PLAIN AND SIMPLE, BLEW THE ROOF OFF THE PLACE.
THIS WAS HIS PLACE AND YOU KNEW HE DID ABOUT THREE OR MORE SHOWS A NIGHT AND YET, HE KEPT THE SHOW FRESH BY INTERACTING WITH THE AUDIENCE IN FRONT OF HIM. EACH SHOW HAD HIS PERSONAL STAMP ON IT.
HE USED MEMORY GAMES TO AMAZE THE CROWD - EARLY IN THE SHOW, RODNEY WOULD ASK PEOPLE AT RANDOM, PERSONAL QUESTIONS ABOUT THEIR HOME TOWN OR JOB OR LOVE LIFE AND IT WAS ALL VERY OFF THE CUFF AND SEEMINGLY MEANINGLESS BANTER TO RELAX THE GROUP - IT WAS MUCH MORE.
AT THE END OF THE SHOW, RODNEY WOULD PULL UP ALL THAT INFORMATION AND MATCH UP THE PEOPLE PSYCHOLOGICALLY, BY SAYING THINGS LIKE THE LADY ACCOUNTANT FROM PENSACOLA, NEEDS TO DATE THE HAT SALESMAN FROM SLIDDELL, LOUSIANNA OR THE ART TEACHER SHOULD PAINT THIS GUY'S HOUSE FOR HIM.
WRITING THIS IS NOT GOING TO CONVEY THE ELECTRICITY IN THE AIR WHEN YOU REALIZED HE WAS GETTING ALL THIS STUFF RIGHT AND HE WAS RUNNING THRU IT AT LIGHTENING SPEED AND HIS MATCH UPS WERE SO FUNNY AND ON TARGET AND CREATIVELY THOUGHTOUT - HE WAS A MASTER AT WORK.. HOW HE DID IT MIGHT HAVE BEEN RIGGED - IT DOES NOT MATTER - YOU LEFT THAT CLUB ( AND THE PRICES WERE REASONABLE FOR A MANHATTAN NIGHTCLUB), KNOWING THAT YOU HAD BEEN IN THE PRESENCE OF A COMIC GENIUS AND YOU COULD EASILY DROP THE WORD COMIC FROM THAT DESCRIPTION AND STILL BE ACCURATE. ONLY AN IDIOT DOES NOT RESPECT TALENT - BUT IT WOULD TAKE A TALENTED IDIOT TO NOT SEE THAT WE LOST A GIANT YESTERDAY -- AND THERE IS ALWAYS A SHORTAGE OF GIANTS.

WHEN YOU HAVE THE OPPORTUNITY, GO TO HIS WEBSITE AND PAY YOUR RESPECTS - WWW.RODNEY.COM

WILEY "BABY" BRIGGS -- A BROOKLYN LEGEND

2007-11-23T19:41:00.000-05:00

2007 -

WILEY "BABY" BRIGGS, OF THE LEGENDARY & UNDEFEATED NEW YORK CITY CHAMPIONSHIP BOYS HIGH SCHOOL BASKETBALL TEAM OF 1960, PASSED AWAY RECENTLY - I AM NOT SURE OF THE EXACT DATE .
WILEY PLAYED IN WHAT A GREAT MANY PEOPLE WOULD SAY WAS, THE GREATEST HIGH SCHOOL GAME OF ALL TIME - THE MARCH 1960, DUEL BETWEEN THE WINGATE GENERALS, LEAD BY ROGER BROWN AND THE KANGAROOS, LEAD BY CONNIE HAWKINS.
***************************
In 1960, I was a 15 year old sophomore. I was " Wiley Briggs" in practice for that historic game. Coach Rosenstein had me play in the corners on offense so our defense could adjust to Briggs shooting from the baseline. Roger would laugh every time I made a J from the corner.
We all know what happened next. We let up when Hawkins fouled out. Wiley Briggs won that game, not the Hawk.
God Bless him.
Joel Barbanell - Wingate '62
**********************************
I was at that game. I was a sophomore @ Wingate sitting with some of my Boys High & Wingate friends.
Probably the most emotional game for me, that I ever attended.
Remember the great rides on the "A" train
UDEY WEBSTER - WINGATE ' 62
****************************************
I AM ETERNALLY GRATEFUL TO COACH SAM GLICKSMAN, FOR TAKING SEVERAL OF HIS DECATUR J.H.S. # 35 PLAYERS TO THAT GAME WITH TICKETS PROVIDED BY COACH HOWARD ROSENSTEIN OF WINGATE HIGH -- I CAN'T IMAGINE NOT HAVING SEEN THAT DRAMATIC GAME AND THE GREAT PERFORMANCE OF MISTER BRIGGS IN THAT PRESSURE COOKER CONTEST.
IT WAS A MAGIC AND ELECTRIC EXPERIENCE -- IT WAS FITTINGLY PLAYED IN THE REAL MADISON SQUARE GARDEN -- WITH THE NEDICKS HOT DOG STAND ATTACHED TO THE BUILDING.
AS I UNDERSTAND IT, WILEY HAD BEEN HAVING HEALTH ISSUES FOR SEVERAL YEARS, INCLUDING A COMA. HE MADE A FINE RECOVERY AND WAS DOING WELL, LAST I HEARD.
I CAN ONLY SAY, GOD BLESS HIM, HE WILL BE REMEMBERED AND MISSED.
TAKE CARE - CHIEF
******************************
A NOTE FROM NEIL #5 FEUERSTEIN -- WINGATE '60
CHIEF,
How are you? Hope all is well.
Thank you for emailing the details of Wiley Briggs passing.
Although my entire experience with him was the game nearly 47 years ago, it was still a significant few hours in the history of our lives.
Especially since I, "The Defensive Specialist,” who , with help from Roger, did hold Billy Cuningham to 14 points, got a good old butt kicking from Mr. Briggs in the second half of The Game.
If I recall, painfully, he scored 25 points and was the major reason we did not run away in the last quarter, after Connie fouled out.
My memory wants to cry out that he was making shots from 60 feet out, but I am sure it was only half that distance.
In any event, I found myself compelled to pay my respects to his family and friends, and went to the wake yesterday afternoon.
I found his family to be very friendly and warm and got the feeling that he was a very well respected and cherished man.
His son and daughter were wonderful people and had smiles that lit up the room.
I met two brothers of Connie Hawkins, and had some brief, but very pleasant conversations with them and others. I was remembered as #5.
Thank you, again, for making me aware of his passing. I am still not quite sure why I went, but I am glad that I did.
All The Best, Neil
*********************************
NEIL a.k.a. # 5 -
I ADMIRE THE FACT THAT YOUR LIFE HAS NOT BEEN BUILT AROUND 32 MINUTES OF CLOCK TIME AT MADISON SQUARE GARDEN, WHEN ROBERT WAGNER WAS MAYOR AND EISENHOWER WAS PRESIDENT.
IF YOU DID NOT KNOW WHO YOU WERE AND WHAT WAS IMPORTANT IN LIFE, THAT GAME -- WHICH WAS THE GREATEST HIGH SCHOOL GAME EVER PLAYED AND I SAY THAT WITH UNDERSTATEMENT - COULD HAVE DOMINATED YOUR LIFE IN A VERY UNHEALTHY MANNER.
YOUR ATTITUDE, AS I SEE IT, HAS BEEN:
** IT WAS A GAME
** WE PLAYED IT
** IT WAS A MAGNIFICENT GAME
** IT IS OVER
** LET'S MOVE ON WITH OUR LIVES
THE WAY YOUR FAMILY CELEBRATED BOTH YOUR BIRTHDAY AND ANNIVERSARY IN JUNE, WHILE YOUR WINGATE HIGH SCHOOL FELLOWS ALSO WANTED YOUR PRESENCE AT THEIR TEAM GATHERING, IS A CLEAR INDICATION THAT YOUR APPROACH WAS A WISE ONE AND HAS HELPED GET YOU TO THE POINT THAT FOLKS WANT TO BE AROUND YOU -- EVEN WHEN YOU ARE NOT BEING ASKED FOR A LOAN OR USE OF YOUR CAR.
IT IS ONLY NATURAL THAT FOLKS WERE GLAD TO SEE YOU AT THE FUNERAL SERVICE - YOU ARE # 5 -- YOU ARE A LINK TO THEIR YOUTH AND TO THE GLORIOUS PAST OF THEIR DEPARTED KINSMAN.
IT SPEAKS WELL OF WILEY BRIGGS, THAT YOU FELT THE NEED TO PERSONALLY PAY YOUR RESPECTS AND IT SPEAKS WELL OF YOU, THAT YOU RECOGNIZED BOTH THE IMPORTANCE AND THE FRAILTY OF THOSE 32 CLOCK MINUTES YOU SHARED WITH A MAN WHOM YOU WOULD NOT RECOGNIZE, IF YOU BUMPED INTO EACH OTHER ON THE STREET.
WE ARE NOT MEASURING WILEY, MARTELL WYNN, ROGER, TOMMY KUROWSKI, CONNIE, JIMMY MILLER, WALT DAVIS, STEVE S, FREDDY JONES, SAM PENCEAL, # 5, ET.AL., BY THE SCORE OF THE GAME OR HOW WELL THEY PLAYED --
A MAN'S LIFE IS A REFLECTION OF MANY ELEMENTS --

BUT THE GAME TAKES ON ADDED MEANING,
BECAUSE IT WAS A PUBLIC DISPLAY THAT
ALLOWED / INVITED
18,600 PEOPLE TO WATCH AND CAST JUDGMENT ON
OTHERWISE PRIVATE PERSONS – FAIRLY OR UNFAIRLY
WE ARE WRONG TO MAKE TOO MUCH OF THOSE 32 CLOCK MINUTES, BUT SOMETIMES THAT IS THE ONLY INFORMATION WE HAVE AND WE RUN WITH IT - LEAVING OUT THE DETAILS OF WHAT KIND OF SON, HUSBAND, FATHER, CO-WORKER, NEIGHBOR, FRIEND, ETC, THE PERSON WAS IN THE MANY YEARS THAT CAME BEFORE AND AFTER THE GAME.
THOSE SMILES AND KIND WORDS YOU EXPERIENCED AT THE SERVICE, TELLS MORE ABOUT WILEY, THAN THE GAME EVER DID -- THOSE FOLKS WERE LOOKING BACK OVER HIS 60+ YEARS AND GIVING THEIR APPROVAL TO A WHOLE LIFETIME.
YOUR BEING THERE WAS PART OF THAT POSITIVE ATMOSPHERE.
YOUR WARM RECEPTION WAS AN UNSPOKEN APPRECIATION FOR YOU MAKING THE STATEMENT, BY YOUR ATTENDANCE, THAT WILEY WAS MORE THAN JUST A GUY WHO PLAYED WELL IN A 32 MINUTE CLOCK TIME GAME, 47 YEARS AGO.
IT WAS A NICE TOUCH TO HAVE YOU, MISTER LOW KEYED, REFER TO IT AS, THE GAME.
TAKE CARE - CHIEF

WORDS OF WISDOM - SOMETIMES

2007-11-23T02:00:00.001-05:00

God is wonderful.
I guess being so grateful for being alive and
already having visited hell has a lot to do
with my optimism and faith.
-- from E. GRANT
****************************
Choose character over reputation --
your character is what you really are,
your reputation is merely what others
THINK you are.

*******************************
Whenever I get ready to do something,
I ask myself,
‘Would an idiot do this?’.
If the answer is yes,
then I don’t do it.
********************
#1
"It appears we have appointed our worst generals to command
forces, and our most gifted and brilliant to edit newspapers.
In fact, I discovered by reading newspapers that these editor/geniuses plainly saw all my strategic defects from the start, yet failed to inform me until it was too late.
Accordingly, I am readily willing to yield my command to these
obviously superior intellects, and I will, in turn, do my best for
The Cause by writing editorials - after the fact."
Robert E. Lee, 1863
# 2
ISN'T IT AMAZING THAT ALL THE FOLKS WHO KNOW HOW TO RUN
ORGANIZATIONS ARE BUSY DRIVING CABS OR CUTTING HAIR?
*********************
HEY CURLY, DID YOU KILL ANYONE TODAY?
NO, BUT THE DAY IS NOT OVER.
*********************************
WAS GOD MISTAKEN ? ********************************
FROM PAUL HENNING - SFC '67

I do not feel obliged to believe that the same
God who has endowed us with
sense,
reason,
and intellect
has intended us to forgo their use. -- Galileo Galilei

*************************
"Nothing in all the world is more dangerous than sincere ignorance and conscientious stupidity."
-- Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr
********************************
PLANTING AND READING, PLANTING AND READING -- I NEVER COULD FIGURE IT OUT -- FIRST YOU FILL A MAN FULL OF LEAD - THEN YOU DIG A HOLE AND READ OVER HIM FROM THE GOOD BOOK -- LIKE THE LORD WAS IN ON IT WITH YOU.
***************************
"GOLDFINGER, DO YOU EXPECT ME TO TALK."
"NO, MISTER BOND, I EXPECT YOU TO DIE."
**************************
DR. MIGUELITO LOVELESS ----> "I AM GOING TO KILL YOU MISTER WEST.
I AM GOING TO KILL YOU JUST AS DEAD AS I CAN. "
**************************
THE KING HUNTED LATE IN THE WOODS AND HAD TO TAKE DINNER WITH A FARMER AND HIS FAMILY. THE WIFE PREPARED A GRAND TABLE FOR THE KING AND HIS STAFF. HALF WAY INTO SERVING THE MEAL, THE WIFE STOPPED, TURNED TO THE KING AND SAID, "YOUR MAJESTY, I AM SO SORRY."
THE KING REPLIED, " FOR WHAT OFFENSE, MY GOOD WOMAN?"
THE WIFE TOLD THE KING THAT OUT OF FORCE OF HABIT, SHE HAD SEATED HER HUSBAND AT THE HEAD OF THE TABLE.
ALL THE KNIGHTS LAUGHED AND THE WIFE WAS STUNNED. THEN A KNIGHT SAID TO THE WOMAN,
"YOU HAVE DONE NO WRONG, MADAM, YOU JUST FAILED TO REALIZE ---- WHEREVER THE KING SITS, IS THE HEAD OF THE TABLE."
************************
THE YOUNG BOY HAD MANAGED TO PICK A FIGHT WITH AN OLD, RELUCTANT GUNFIGHTER. THE BOY WAS SEEKING A REPUTATION AND THE OLD MAN WAS HOPING TO AVOID ANYMORE BLOODSHED IN HIS LATER YEARS.
JUST A MINUTE BEFORE THE FIGHT, THE TWO MINISTERS IN THE TOWN CAME OVER TO THE BOY AND BEGAN TO PRAY FOR HIM. THE BOY LAUGHED AND TOLD THEM TO PRAY FOR THE OLD GUNFIGHTER.
THE MINISTERS SPOKE TO THE BOY AND HE SOON MOUNTED HIS HORSE AND RODE AWAY, WITH HIS GUN IN HIS SADDLE BAG.
THE MAYOR ASKED THE MEN OF GOD, WHAT THEY TOLD THE BOY.
THEY SAID THEY NEVER MENTIONED CALLING OFF THE CONTEST.
THEY ONLY TOLD THE YOUNG MAN THAT, NO ONE HAD COME CLOSE ENOUGH TO EVEN GETTING A SHOT OFF AGAINST THE OLD GUNFIGHTER; SO THEY FIGURED TO PRAY FOR THE LIKELY LOSER'S SOUL AND THEY ADDED THAT ANY FOOL CAN BE A YOUNG GUNFIGHTER, ONLY A MAN WITH A STEADY HAND, COULD BE AN
OLD GUNFIGHTER.
THE YOUNG BOY LOOKED AT HIS HAND QUIVERING AND RODE OFF.
***************************
XX - ACE HANNAH TOLD ME TO NEVER TRUST ANYONE
RR- DO YOU THINK HE TAUGHT YOU RIGHT?
XX- SURE, ACE DIED KNOWING HE WAS RIGHT. HE DIED 30 SECONDS AFTER,
I SHOT HIM IN THE BACK.
********************************
XX - HOW DID YOU GET THE PROMOTION.
RR- I WAS SMART ENOUGH TO PLAY DUMB.
****************************************
IN THE LAND OF THE BLIND, THE ONE EYED MAN IS KING.
**************************************
'TIS BETTER TO HAVE LOVED AND LOST, THAN NEVER TO HAVE LOVED AT ALL.
************************************************
NOT DRUNK IS HE, WHO FROM THE FLOOR, CAN RISE ALONE AND STILL DRINK MORE.
**********************************
THERE IS A SUCKER BORN EVERY MINUTE.
SUCKERS DIE AND STILL THEY COME.
NEVER GIVE A SUCKER AN EVEN BREAK AND
NEVER WISEN UP A CHUMP.
**********************
GOD MAKES THE BACK TO THE BURDEN.
******************************
SELF PRAISE IS NO RECOMMENDATION
************
SELF PRESERVATION IS THE FIRST LAW OF NATURE.
**************************************
THE CYNICS PRAYER --->> OH GOD, IF THERE IS A GOD;
SAVE MY SOUL, IF I HAVE ONE.

GUILTY OR INNOCENT - REASONABLE DOUBT

2007-11-23T01:49:00.000-05:00

How important does a person have to be before they are considered
assassinated instead of just murdered?
Since bread is square, then why is sandwich meat round?
Once you're in heaven, do you get stuck wearing the clothes you were buried in
for eternity?
Why does a round pizza come in a square box?
What was wrong with cured ham?
Why is it that people say they "slept like a baby" when babies wake up
like every two hours?
Why are you IN a movie, but you are ON TV?
How come we choose from just two people for President and fifty for Miss America?
Why do doctors leave the room while you change? They're going to see you naked anyway.
I signed up for an exercise class and was told to wear loose-fitting clothing.
If I had any loose-fitting clothing, I wouldn't have signed up in the first place.
**********************************
A defendant was on trial for murder. There was strong evidence indicating guilt, but there was no corpse. In the defense's closing statement the lawyer, knowing that his client would probably be convicted, resorted to a trick.
"Ladies and gentlemen of the jury, I have a surprise for you all," the lawyer said as he looked at his watch."Within one minute, the person presumed dead in this case will walk into this courtroom."
He looked toward the courtroom door.
The jurors, somewhat stunned, all looked on eagerly. A minute passed. Nothing happened. Finally the lawyer said, "Actually, I made up the previous statement. But you all looked on with anticipation. I therefore put it to you that you have a reasonable doubt in this case as to whether anyone was killed and insist that you return a verdict of not guilty."

The jury, clearly confused, retired to deliberate. A few minutes later, the jury returned and pronounced a verdict of guilty.
"But how?" inquired the lawyer. "You must have had some doubt; I saw all of you stare at the door."
The jury foreman replied: "Oh, we all did look, but your client didn't."

EARL'S BUS STOP DILEMMA IN BROOKLYN

2007-11-23T01:39:00.000-05:00

WE DON'T NEED GOD ON OUR SIDE --
WE NEED TO HUMBLY SEEK TO BE ON GOD'S SIDE.
************************************
JULY 23, 2004
You are driving down the road in your car on a wild, stormy night, when you pass a bus stop and you see three people waiting for the bus:
1. An old lady who looks as if she is about to die.
2. An old friend who once saved your life.
3. The perfect partner you have been dreaming about.
Which one would you choose to offer a ride to, knowing that there could only be one passenger in your car?
Think, before you continue reading. This is a moral/ethical dilemma that was once actually used as part of a job application.
You could pick up the old lady, because she is going to die, and thus you should save her first.
Or you could take the old friend because he once saved your life, and this would be the perfect chance to pay him back.
However, you may never be able to find your perfect mate again.
The candidate who was hired (out of 200 applicants) had no trouble coming up with their answer. She simply answered:
I would give the car keys to my old friend and let him take the lady to the hospital.
I would stay behind and wait for the bus with the partner of my dreams.

Sometimes, we gain more if we are able to give up our stubborn thought limitations.
Never forget to Think Outside of the Box

However, EARL's personal answer is to run the old lady over and put her out of her misery, have sex with the perfect partner behind the bus stop shelter, then drive off with the old friend for some beers at HOOTERS.

THIS MAY NOT BE THE EXACT, RIGHT, PROPER, MORAL, ETHICAL, CORRECT ANSWER - BUT, EARL IS FROM BROOKLYN; IN BROOKLYN THIS IS CONSIDERED A FINE SOLUTION.

TRUE GRIT SCENES

2007-11-23T01:29:00.000-05:00

TRUE GRIT
***************
IN THE MOVIE, TRUE GRIT, JOHN WAYNE, IS U.S. MARSHAL, ROOSTER COGBURN, QUESTIONING ONE OF TWO BROTHERS, CONCERNING THE WHEREABOUTS OF THE OUTLAW, NED PEPPER, PLAYED BY ROBERT DUVALL.
AFTER GIVING HIS BROTHER SEVERAL WARNINGS NOT TO TALK ABOUT NED, THE OLDER BROTHER STABS THE YOUNGER ONE IN THE TORSO.
IN A REFLEX ACTION, WAYNE PLUGS THE KNIFE USER, JEREMY SLATE. HE THEN INFORMS THE VICTIM, DENNIS HOPPER, THAT --->>
YOUR BROTHER KILLED YOU AND I DONE HIM LIKEWISE.
ONLY THE DUKE COULD PULL OFF THAT LINE AND MAKE IT SEEM LIKE A NATURAL THING TO SAY -- TELLING THE FELLOW THAT HE WAS KILLED; THEN CONTINUING TO ASK MORE QUESTIONS.
****************************************
LATER IN THE FILM, AFTER SHOOTING DOWN THREE OUTLAWS AND WOUNDING DUVALL; WAYNE IS PENNED UNDER HIS NOBLE STEED, BEAU, WHO WAS KILLED IN THE BATTLE. WAYNE CAN'T REACH HIS GUN WITH THE WEIGHT OF BEAU PRESSING DOWN ON HIM AND HE AGAIN MAKES A VERY PROFOUND AND POIGNANT STATEMENT ---
HE SPEAKS TO BEAU AND SAYS ----- YOU NEVER LET ME DOWN, UNTIL YOU DIED.
ONLY DEATH ITSELF COULD END BEAU'S FAITHFUL SERVICE AND WAYNE RECOGNIZES THAT FACT, WHILE ONLY SECONDS AWAY FROM MEETING HIS OWN DEATH.
JUST IN CASE YOU MISSED THIS GEM OF A PICTURE, GLENN CAMPBELL SHOOTS DUVALL FROM AFAR AND SAVES WAYNE, OF COURSE!
AT 3 A.M. THESE TWO IDEAS CAME INTO WHAT IS LEFT OF MY MIND, I DOUBT IF THEY WILL TRANSLATE TO EVERYONE, BUT I NEEDED TO RECORD THEM -NOW I HAVE AND I CAN GO TO BED.

MODERN ROMANCE

2007-11-23T01:17:00.000-05:00

2004 -
LOVE: When your eyes meet across a crowded room
LUST: When your vibes meet across a crowded room
MARRIAGE: When your glares meet across a crowded room
LOVE: When your partner sez "Let's make love"
LUST: When your partner sez "Let's screw"
MARRIAGE: When your partner sez "You want me to do what ?"
LOVE: When Spring fills your heart anew
LUST: When Spring means you can do it outside
MARRIAGE: When Spring means yard work
LOVE: When you argue over how many children to have
LUST: When you argue who gets on top
MARRIAGE: When you argue about everything
LOVE: When you share everything
LUST: When you want everything
MARRIAGE: When the bank owns everything
LOVE: Mutual Climaxes
LUST: Multiple Climaxes
MARRIAGE: Climaxes ???
LOVE: When you phone just to say, "Hi"
LUST: When you phone to pick a hotel room
MARRIAGE: When you phone to finish an argument
LOVE: When you write poems
LUST: When you write profane notes
MARRIAGE: When you write checks
LOVE: Consider abstinence
LUST: Consider aphrodisiacs
MARRIAGE: Consider assassination
LOVE: When you're concerned for your partner's feelings
LUST: When you're concerned how long they can last
MARRIAGE: When you're concerned what's on TV
LOVE: When your farewell is "I love you too"
LUST: When your farewell is "So, same time next week ?"
MARRIAGE: When your farewell is a muttered obscenity
LOVE: "Oh, that was wonderful"
LUST: "Oh, not already ?"
MARRIAGE: "Oh no, not again ?"
LOVE: When you're proud to be seen with your partner
LUST: When you only see each other naked
MARRIAGE: When you never see each other awake
LOVE: When your heart flutters every time you see them
LUST: When your groin twitches every time you see them
MARRIAGE: When your stomach turns every time you see them
LOVE: "When will I see you again ?"
LUST: "When can we do this again ?
MARRIAGE: "When's dinner ?"
LOVE: When nobody else matters
LUST: When nobody else knows
MARRIAGE: When bills & taxes matter
LOVE: When the songs on the radio describe how you feel
LUST: When the songs on the radio determine how you do it
MARRIAGE: When you listen to talk radio
LOVE: When you never want to leave
LUST: When you never want to stop
MARRIAGE: When never want to go home
LOVE: When you need to do things with your partner
LUST: When you need to do things to your partner
MARRIAGE: When you need your partner to sign the bank loan .

WORDS OF WISDOM - SOMETIMES

2007-11-23T00:58:00.003-05:00

"If you do not know where you are going, any road will take you there."
^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^
YOU DON'T HAVE TO GO HOME, BUT YOU'VE GOT TO GET THE HELL UP OUT OF HERE.
**************************************************************************
THE FLOOD CARRIED OFF MY WIFE AND MY SILVER POCKET WATCH - THAT WAS A GOOD WATCH.
.***************************************************************************
I WOULD RATHER BE A LAMPPOST IN NEW YORK, THEN THE PRESIDENT OF FRANCE.
*****************************************************************************
MOTHER TO A FIREMAN - THANK YOU FOR SAVING OUR CHILD.
FIREMAN - GOD SAVED HIM, I JUST CARRIED HIM OUT.
****************************************************************
ABUSED CHILD -- I WANT TO LIVE WITH MIKE TYSON
SOCIAL WORKER - WHY?
CHILD - HE CAN'T BEAT ANYONE.
******************************************************************
HE LIVED A LIFE OF GOING TO DO ---- AND HE DIED WITH NOTHING DONE.
*************************************
YOUNG WOMAN - I AM KIND OF SPECIAL - AT PARTIES, I PEEL THE LABELS OFF BOTTLES.
OLDER MAN - MY DEAR, WE ALL PEEL LABELS OFF BOTTLES.
*************************************************************
A MAN SAYS WHAT HE MEANS.
A WOMAN LAYS TRAPS TO SEE, IF A MAN CAN GUESS WHAT SHE MEANS.
********************************
A WOMAN CAN MAKE A FOOL OUT OF A MAN OR A MAN OUT OF A FOOL.
*************************************
THEY ARE NOT LONG, THE DAYS OF WINE AND ROSES.
********************
THE QUESTION IN 2008, IS NOT IF YOU ARE PARANOID;
THE QUESTION IS, ARE YOU PARANOID ENOUGH.
***********************
YOU JUST SHOT AN UNARMED MAN.
IF HE WANTED TO GO AROUND UNARMED, THAT WAS HIS BUSINESS.
***************************
BILL -- I NEVER WANTED TO BE MUCH.
JOHN - THEN YOU SHOULD TAKE PRIDE IN HAVING REACHED YOUR GOAL
.*************************
SHE GAVE HIM A LOOK, YOU COULD HAVE POURED ON A WAFFLE.
**************************
A MOTHER'S DESCRIPTION OF HER SON --->> HE ALMOST CAME IN SECOND, IN A THREE MAN RACE.
******************************
COP --- SO, HE HIT THE BOTTLE ?
WIFE- NOT AS HARD AS THE BOTTLE HIT HIM
*****************************
SOON AFTER ARRIVING, A MAN LEAVING A PARTY HOSTED BY IDLE RICH FRIENDS OF HIS FIANCÉE SAID, "I AM GOING HOME.”
PARTY HOST – “DO YOU LIVE FAR FROM HERE?”
FIANCEE - “YES, I DO.”
HOST – “WHERE DO YOU LIVE?"
FIANCEE – “IN REALITY.”
*********************
THERE WAS AN EPISODE OF DEATH VALLEY DAYS, WHERE RONALD REAGAN WAS BOTH THE SHOW'S HOST AND STAR CHARACTER.
RR PLAYED A NEW YORK CITY COP, WITH 20 YEARS EXPERIENCE, APPLYING FOR A JOB AS A TOWN MARSHAL OUT WEST, CIRCA 1880.THE PEOPLE IN THE TOWN HAD A MEETING AND MOST OF THEM LAUGHED AT RR WHEN THEY SAW HIS EASTERN SUIT, DERBY HAT AND HIS SMALL CALIBER PISTOL, IN A SHOULDER HOLSTER.
THEY TOLD HIM THAT NEW YORK WAS BACK EAST IN A CIVILIZED AREA OF THE COUNTRY AND THEY WERE OUT WEST, IN A RAW AND UNTAMED TERRITORY -- WAS HE EQUIPPED TO HANDLE THAT LEVEL OF LAWLESSNESS?
RR PAUSED, LOOKED AT ALL THE PEOPLE AND THEN TOLD THEM THAT, HE DID NOT KNOW HOW BAD THINGS WERE IN THIS TOWN, HOW GREAT THE CRIMINAL ACTIVITIES WERE IN THEIR TOWN -- BUT THAT HE HAD DONE VERY WELL IN NYC. ONE LONE VOICE CALLED OUT A QUESTION -- RR ANSWERED THE QUESTION AND HE WAS GIVEN THE JOB WITHOUT NEED FOR A VOTE -THEY JUST PINNED THE BADGE ON HIM AND THE MEETING WAS OVER WITHOUT ANY FURTHER CONVERSATION WHATSOEVER.

THE QUESTION -- "HOW BAD COULD CRIME BE IN NEW YORK CITY?"

RR -- "IN NEW YORK, WE CONSIDERED MANSLAUGHTER, A MISDEMEANOR."
*******************************
2004 --
IN THE MOVIE, "SOMETHING ABOUT MARY," CHRIS ELLIOT'S CHARACTER IS ASKED HOW HIS MARRIAGE IS GOING.
I CONTEND THAT LESS THAN 20 % OF THE PEOPLE WHO SAW THIS VERY POPULAR MOVIE, ACTUALLY UNDERSTOOD HIS ANSWER AND EVEN NOW, I DON'T THINK MORE THAN HALF WHO READ THIS WILL GET IT.

CHRIS SAID, "EVERYDAY IS BETTER THAN THE NEXT."
*********************************************
2004
DEMOCRATIC CONGRESSMAN JOHN SPRATT OF SOUTH CAROLINA AND SENATOR KENT CONRAD OF NORTH DAKOTA WERE REPORTING ON THE CURRENT BUDGET DEFICIT AND THIS ANALOGY WAS GIVEN -- >
PRESIDENT BUSH IS APPROACHING THE DIFICIT, AS IF HE WAS THE CAPTAIN OF THE TITANIC AND HE HAS GOOD NEWS FOR US ---
THE SHIPPING IS NOT SINKING AS FAST AS HE FIRST ESTIMATED.

MORE ANDYS

2007-11-22T21:36:00.000-05:00

OCTOBER 3, 2004
ONE OF THE ODD THINGS IN LIFE IS THAT, IF YOU STAY HOME, NO ONE ACTUALLY CARES THAT MUCH ABOUT YOU, BUT IF YOU TRAVEL, PEOPLE WILL FALL ALL OVER THEMSELVES TO SHOWER YOU WITH GREETINGS AND GIFTS.
I WROTE ABOUT THIS A FEW YEARS AGO - AFTER THE PENN RELAYS TRACK MEET IN PHILLY, I HOOKED UP WTTH SOME OF MY FORMER N.Y.C. / BROOKLYN BUDDIES. I CHRONICLED HOW THESE GOODFELLAS DROVE ME AROUND TOWN, BOUGHT ME FOOD ( NO SMALL EXPENSE, IF YOU KNOW ME ), GAVE ME LODGING AND THE USE OF AN ELECTRONIC MESSAGING UNIT, WHAT YOU CALL A PHONE, IF YOU ARE LESS PRETENTIOUS THAN I.
I WAS IN NYC - THE CAPITAL OF THE WORLD - A PLACE I LIVED FOR 41 YEARS AND COULDN'T GET MOST FOLKS TO GIVE ME THE TIME OF DAY - AND I RARELY REACHED INTO MY POCKET TO PAY FOR ANYTHING FOR THREE WHOLE DAYS. I KNEW I WAS ON TO SOMETHING - I FELT LIKE BILL GATES OR DONALD TRUMP OR BILL COSBY, MUST HAVE FELT WHEN THEY REALIZED THEY HAD DEVELOPED A WORKABLE PLAN FOR DEALING WITH THE HARSH ECONOMIC REALITIES OF LIFE. - EUREKA, I HAVE FOUND IT.
IN THE AMOS AND ANDY SERIES, THE KINGFISH WAS ABLE TO DUPE ANDY AT WILL AND MAKE A LIVING OFF OF TAKING ADVANTAGE OF HIS "FRIEND." I WAS ABLE TO DO THIS FOR THREE DAYS IN NYC, SO WHY NOT FOR FIVE DAYS OUT WEST IN LAS VEGAS AND LOS ANGELES. ALL THAT IS REQUIRED IS TO FIND A FRIEND AND HAVE A WILLINGNESS TO PROFIT FROM THAT FRIENDSHIP.
WHLE THIS MAY AT FIRST SOUND CRUEL AND VILE, YOU MUST LEARN OR REMEMBER THE RULES FOR DEALING WITH ANDYS:

*NEVER GIVE A SUCKER AN EVEN BREAK

*NEVER WISEN UP A CHUMP

*SUCKERS DIE AND STILL THEY COME

* THERE IS A SUCKER BORN EVERY MINUTE

*IF YOU DON'T HOOK A FISH, THE NEXT GUY WILL

*FISH ARE MADE TO BE CAUGHT, YOU ARE HELPING THEM REACH THEIR ULTIMATE FATE

WHILE IN LAS VEGAS I WAS ABLE TO WINE AND DINE FOR FREE AT THE 75th BIRTHDAY PARTY OF EARL DOZIER. I WAS ABLE TO SIT AT A TABLE AND BORE WILLIE BROWN OF BROOKLYN, WITH STORIES THAT ANYONE ELSE IN THE CAROLINAS WOULD WALK AWAY FROM THE MINUTE I OPENED MY MOUTH.
I WAS ABLE TO ABUSE THE KINDNESS OF MS. JAMILLAH ALI AND GET A FREE RIDE HOME FROM THE PARTY SITE, HER BEAUTIFUL HERITAGE HOUSE MANSION, TO MY HOTEL. DUE TO SOME FLAW IN MY PLAN, I ACTUALLY HAD TO PAY FOR MY HOTEL STAY.
I WAS ABLE TO FIND ROOM SERVICE TRAYS IN THE HALLWAYS ON VARIOUS FLOORS, WITH ALMOST COMPLETE MEALS THROWN OUT - PRACTICALLY UNTOUCHED. UNREAD NEWSPAPERS WERE LEFT AT POOLSIDE. SO, I DIDN'T MAKE OUT TOO BADLY AND WITH THE FREE SOAP THEY SUPPLIED EVERYDAY, I WAS ABLE TO SAVE THEM FOR RESALE, SINCE I TOOK A SHOWER BEFORE I LEFT HOME AND THIS WAS ONLY A FIVE DAY TRIP.
ON THE AIRPLANE, I WAS ABLE TO HIT KENNY ANDERSON OF THE N.B.A., UP FOR A FEW DOLLARS BY USING THE OLD LINE ABOUT BROOKLYN BOYS STICKING TOGETHER - I CAN'T BELIEVE HE FELL FOR THAT ONE.
AT THE AIRPORT, I TOLD THE TAXI DRIVER I WOULD GO INTO THE TERMINAL AND GET CHANGE FOR HIS FARE AND TIP -->> NEED I SAY MORE?
IN LOS ANGELES, I TRICKED TODD GILCHRIST INTO GIVING ME SOME VALUABLE MOVIE POSTERS FOR FREE AND GOT LUNCH BY PRETENDING TO BE INTERESTED IN HOW HIS LIFE WAS PROGRESSING ON THE WEST COAST, AFTER MOVING FROM NORTH CAROLINA TO BE COME A PROFESSIONAL ENTERTAINMENT CRITIC IN SUNNY CALIFORNIA.
ADDING TO MY EVER GROWING LIST OF ANDYS WERE MY COUSINS, JEAN AND LAVIN LANIER --- DINNER AT ONE OF THE BEST RESTAURANTS OUTSIDE OF SIMPSONVILLE, "THE PROUD LADY." I WAS ABOUT TO SPRING FOR THE TIP, BUT I REMEMBERED THE RULES AND UNSPRUNG MYSELF.
FINALLY, PRINCIPAL JIM McCLUNE ( ACTUALLY, A MAN OF LITTLE PRINCIPLE ) AND GENNARO DIMASSA, AN UNEMPLOYED FISHERMAN FROM SAN PEDRO, WHO DOES PART TIME WORK AS A TEACHER / SANITATION ENGINEER, AT JORDAN HIGH SCHOOL IN THE LONG BEACH SCHOOL DISTRICT, UNTIL SOME ONE COMPETENT COMES ALONG - TOOK ME TO DODGER STADIUM. THE SEATS COST ABOUT WHAT I GET AS MY MONTHLY PENSION - THESE TWO GUYS WERE REAL ANDYS - HALL OF FAME LEVEL ANDYS.
THE ONLY ONE I RESPECT IS COACH RON MASSEY, WHO SKIPPED MY VISIT - HE WAS NOT GOING TO ALLOW HIMSELF TO BE AN ANDY - MAYBE HE KNEW THE RULES.
NOW, I AM HOME AGAIN AND NO ONE COULD CARE LESS ABOUT ME - I BUY MY OWN FOOD, ( NO SMALL EXPENSE, IF YOU KNOW ME ) - DRIVE MYSELF - USE MY OWN SOAP ON SATURDAY NIGHT - I HAVE JUST BECOME A REGULAR NOBODY AGAIN. HEY, MAYBE I SHOULD VISIT YOU -- I'LL GIVE YOU A CALL TONIGHT, WILL YOU BE IN? SEND ME AN E-MAIL TO CONFIRM YOUR PHONE NUMBER AND HOME ADDRESS.
******************************
What is the difference between girls / woman aged: 8, 18, 28, 38, 48,
58. 68, and 78 ?
At 8 -- You take her to bed and tell her a story.
At 18 -- You tell her a story and take her to bed.
At 28 -- You don't need to tell her a story to take her to bed.
At 38 -- She tells you a story and takes you to bed.
At 48 -- She tells you a story to avoid going to bed.
At 58 -- You stay in bed to avoid her story.
At 68 -- If you take her to bed, that'll be a story!
At 78 -- What story??? What bed??? Who are you??

MARLON BRANDO - THE GREATEST EVER

2007-11-22T21:02:00.000-05:00

JULY 3, 2004

BACK IN THE WINTER OF FEBRUARY, 1968, THERE WAS AN ICE STORM IN BROOKLYN. I WAS A ROOKIE TEACHER AND LIVED CLOSE ENOUGH TO DECATUR JUNIOR HIGH SCHOOL #35, THAT I COULD WALK TO SCHOOL WHEN DRIVING WAS A PROBLEM.
THE PRINCIPAL WAS ADOLPH DEMBO AND HE CALLED ME INTO HIS OFFICE AND TOLD ME TO CHECK THE TIME CLOCK CARDS AND SEE HOW MANY OF THE 86 FACULTY MEMBERS HAD MADE IT IN TO WORK. THE STUDENTS WERE NEAR FULL STRENGTH AND WERE BEING HELD IN THE CAFE UNTIL ENOUGH TEACHERS WERE PRESENT TO SEND THEM TO THEIR ROOMS.
I COUNTED ABOUT 27 TO 35 CARDS, 20 MINUTES INTO THE NORMAL STARTING TIME.
BEING A ROOKIE AND THUS KNOWING ALL THERE WAS TO KNOW ABOUT RUNNING A SCHOOL, I OPINED THAT WE MIGHT HAVE TO SEND THE KIDS HOME. THEN THE PRINCIPAL TOLD ME THAT WE HAD MORE THAN ENOUGH TEACHERS TO RUN THE SCHOOL -- IF THEY WERE THE RIGHT ONES.
I HAD GIVEN HIM NUMBERS, NOW HE WANTED NAMES - HE TOLD ME, IF HE HAD TEN OF THE RIGHT PEOPLE ON THE CAMPUS, HE COULD RUN THE SCHOOL IN A SAFE AND PRODUCTIVE MANNER.
I READ THE NAMES - HE HEARD WHAT HE NEEDED TO HEAR AND HIT THE INTERCOM BUTTON WITH A FEW ADJUSTMENTS TO ANNOUNCE AND SOUNDED THE HOMEROOM BELL.
ABOUT 15 MINUTES LATER MOST OF THE STAFF WAS PRESENT AND THE DAY WAS NORMAL AFTER THE EXTRA LONG FIRST PERIOD.
LATER, THE PRINCIPAL EXPLAINED THAT A SCHOOL RUNS ON THE BEDROCK PEOPLE - THE PEOPLE YOU DON'T HAVE TO TELL TWICE - THE PEOPLE WHO TAKE PRIDE IN THEIR WORK - THE PEOPLE WHO ARE CONFIDENT AND COMPETENT. MOST OF THE STAFF IS GOOD HEARTED AND WELL INTENTIONED, BUT A FEW ARE 'A#1' MOVERS AND SHAKERS AND THEY MAKE IT POSSIBLE FOR ALL THE OTHER STAFF MEMBERS TO HAVE AN ENVIRONMENT IN WHICH THEY TOO CAN FUNCTION SUCCESSFULLY. ***************************************************************
I THOUGHT OF THIS INCIDENT WHEN I WAS TOLD THAT MARLON BRANDO HAD PASSED AWAY. HE WAS A BEDROCK ACTOR --HE HELD DOWN THE FORT --HE ALLOWED OTHERS TO LOOK GOOD JUST BY BEING IN HIS PRESENCE ON THE SCREEN.
I AM NOT GOING TO WAX LONG AND POETIC ABOUT THE GREATEST FILM ACTOR EVER --- AND I HAVE MANY ACTORS I THINK HIGHLY OF -- BUT NONE CAN TOP MARLON ACROSS THE BOARD - IN AS MANY GENRES -- SOME GREAT ACTORS ARE MENTIONED FOR THEIR ROLES AS CERTAIN TYPES -- MARLON COULD NOT BE TYPECAST -- HE COULD PLAY ANY PART - IN ANY ERA - AND DO IT IN A WAY THAT HELD THE ATTENTION OF THE AUDIENCE.
I THINK A LOT OF HUMPHREY BOGART -- BUT I HAVE TO TAKE MARLON #1, SINCE BOGIE PLAYED MOSTLY CONTEMPORARY CHARACTERS - MARLON COULD DO MARK ANTHONY AND NAPOLEON, AS WELL AS TERRY MALLOY AND DON VITO. WITH ALL DUE RESPECT TO MANY TREMENDOUS ACTORS - I RATE MARLON BRANDO THE BEST EVER AND I CAN ONLY PASS IT OFF TO YOUTH THAT A FRIEND WROTE THIS" MEASURED / GUARDED" NOTE, THAT SEEMS TO REGRET PRAISING THIS GREAT THESPIAN, BUT IS AFRAID OF BEING TO PRAISEWORTHY --->>

I saw where some are calling him the greatest actor ever.

Never heard that before today, though I think his

greatness is universally acclaimed by most.

WHEN SPEAKING OF MARLON BRANDO - IT IS OKAY TO GO HOG WILD IN YOUR PRAISE -- HE WAS THE BEDROCK ACTOR OF HIS TIME. I AM SO HAPPY THAT OUR TIMES COINCIDED.

NO ONE IS THIS HAPPY TO SEE ME

2007-11-21T14:41:00.000-05:00

JUNE 19, 2005
YOU GO TO A STORE - YOU PUT YOUR HAND ON THE DOOR - BEFORE YOU CAN OPEN THE DOOR MORE THAN 8 INCHES - YOU ARE BEING GREETED - YOU ARE GETTING A BIGGER WELCOME THAN SANTA CLAUS AT AN ORPHANAGE IN LATE DECEMBER. IF YOU ARE DELUSIONAL OR VERY VERY LONELY, YOU MIGHT ACTUALLY THINK A CLERK; MAKING THE MINIMUM WAGE AND HAVING BEEN ON THEIR FEET FOR HOURS, IS REALLY THAT HAPPY TO SEE YOU.
NOW, I WOULD BE HAPPY TO COME HOME FROM A HARD DAY OF AVOIDING PRODUCTIVE ACTIVITY AND FIND SERENA WILLIAMS HERE IN HER NIGHTGOWN, PREPARING DINNER -- A PEANUTBUTTER SANDWICH WOULD BE FINE, I DON'T KNOW HER KITCHEN SKILLS AND THEY ARE NOT CRITICAL TO THE RELATIONSHIP --- AND STILL, I WOULD NOT BE ABLE TO MUSTER UP A "HELLO, HOW ARE YOU ?" SUCH AS I GET AT MANY STORES / BUSINESSES.
I DON'T GO TO STORES TO SEEK OUT TEMPORARY OR LASTING FRIENDSHIPS -- I WANT THE PRODUCT AT THE LOWEST POSSIBLE COST TO MY LIMITED FUNDS -- A BIG HELLO WILL NOT MAKE UP FOR:
** A HIGH PRICE TAG
** AN UNAVAILABLE ITEM
** ALMOST DROWNING IN A RAINSTORM COMING INTO THE STORE
** A DEFECTIVE PRODUCT
** RUNNING INTO SOMEONE I OWE MONEY TO, IN AISLE FOUR
** GETTING A PAST DUE BILL NOTICE FROM MY DOCTOR OR ACCOUNTANT --
FOLKS YOU WANT TO BE HAPPY WHEN THEY SEE YOU

NOW, THE CLERKS ARE DOING WHAT THE BOSS TOLD THEM TO DO -- I HAVE NO ARGUMENT WITH THE CLERKS - THE BOSS IS TRYING TO MAKE THE CUSTOMERS FEEL WELCOMED -- I FIGURED THAT OUT.
NOW I WOULD NOT SPEAK TO THE CUSTOMERS, UNTIL THEY ASKED ME SOMETHING, BUT MOST LIKELY, MY BUSINESS WOULD BE CLOSING IN A FEW DAYS IF I RAN IT THIS WAY.
THE GREETING IDEA IS BASICALLY THE WAY TO GO -- THEY COULD TONE IT DOWN IN SOME PLACES, BUT IT IS A SOUND BUSINESS AND SOCIAL PRINCIPLE.
THIS IS MY PROBLEM -->>> I DON'T FEEL I AM OBLIGATED TO EQUAL OR EVEN APPROACH THE BUBBLINESS OF THE STAFF -- IF THEY ARE OVERJOYED TO SEE ME, FINE, MAYBE I AM "ALL THAT."
BUT I CAME TO BUY SOMETHING -- I AM THE CUSTOMER, THE PERSON WHO IS "ALMOST" ALWAYS RIGHT.
ONCE YOU DON'T JOIN IN THE LOVEFEST, YOU ARE LOOKED AT AS THE ENEMY OF TRUTH, JUSTICE AND THE AMERICAN WAY.
WHY ARE MY NEW FOUND FRIENDS ANGRY WITH ME - IS IT BECAUSE I AM NOT DOING THAT WHICH THE BOSS TOLD US TO DO ?--- MAYBE MY FRIENDS SHOULD READ THE CHRIS ROCK MANTRA -
WHOA - SLOW DOWN - BACK UP

I AM ON THE CUSTOMER TEAM, NOT THE BUSINESS TEAM - I DON'T HAVE TO PLAY BY THEIR RULES - I DON'T HAVE TO BE PERKY ON DEMAND. I HAVE THE OPTIONS OF JUST PICKING UP A PRODUCT, PAYNG FOR IT ( IF THEY ARE WATCHING ME OR HAVE CAMERAS ) AND LEAVING --- OR I COULD PULL OUT PICTURES OF THE GRANDKIDS AND WAX POETIC ABOUT MY HEROIC DEEDS IN THE GREAT WAR ( I AM FROM BROOKLYN, AND I AM ALIVE, I EARNED MY STRIPES ).
AS THE CUSTOMER , I SHOULD BE ALLOWED TO CALL THE SHOTS ON HOW I WANT TO PLAY IT.
HEY, MAYBE IT IS JUST ME - MAYBE I AM JUST A GRUMPY YOUNG MAN, BUT IT IS NOT HELPING ME TO HAVE TO COMBAT "1984" LIKE ENFORCED JOY, JUST TO PURCHASE DONUTS, COOKIES, CANDY, ICE CREAM , POTATO CHIPS AND DIET SODA, ON MY DAILY SHOPPING TRIPS TO PURCHASE FRESH FOOD, WHICH IS IMPORTANT TO A GOOD HEALTHY DIET.

RANDOM JOKES # 1

2007-11-21T14:33:00.000-05:00

DECEMBER 9,2004

A SENSE OF HUMOR -- FROM THE STARKS IN GARNER

I was in the express lane at the store quietly fuming. Completely ignoring the sign, the woman ahead of me had slipped into the check-out line pushing a cart piled high with groceries. Imagine my delight when the cashier beckoned the woman to come forward looked into the cart and asked sweetly, "So which six items would you like to buy?" Wouldn't it be great if that happened more often?!!!
===========
Because they had no reservations at a busy restaurant, my elderly neighbor and his wife were told there would be a 45-minute wait for a table. "Young man, we're both 90 years old," the husband said. "We may not have 45 minutes." They were seated immediately. ================
The reason congressmen try so hard to get re-elected is that they would hate to have to make a living under the laws they've passed.
====================
All eyes were on the radiant bride as her father escorted her down the aisle. They reached the altar and the waiting groom; the bride kissed her father and placed something in his hand. The guests in the front pews responded with ripples of laughter. Even the priest smiled broadly. As her father gave her away in marriage, the bride gave him back his credit card. =======================
Women and cats will do as they please, and men and dogs should relax and get used to the idea. =======================
Smith climbs to the top of Mt. Sinai to get close enough to talk to God. Looking up, he asks the Lord. . . "God, what does a million years mean to you?" The Lord replies, "A minute." Smith asks, "And what does a million dollars mean to you?" The Lord replies, "A penny." Smith asks," Can I have a penny?" The Lord replies, "In a minute".
------------------------------------------------------------------------
A man goes to a shrink and says, "Doctor, my wife is unfaithful to me. Every evening, she goes to Larry's bar and picks up men. In fact, She sleeps with anybody who asks her! I'm going crazy. What do you think I should do?" "Relax," says the Doctor, "take a deep breath and calm down. Now, tell me, exactly where is Larry's bar?"
------------------------------------------------------------------------
An old man goes to the Wizard to ask him if he can remove a "Curse" he has been living with for the last 40 years. The Wizard says "Maybe, but you will have to tell me the exact words that were used to put the curse on you." The old man says without hesitation, "I now pronounce you man and wife."
------------------------------------------------------------------------
A man picks up a young woman in a bar and convinces her to come back to his hotel. When they are relaxing afterwards, he asks, "Am I the first man you ever made love to?" She looks at him thoughtfully for a second before replying. "You might be," she says. "Your face looks familiar." ------------------------------------------------------------------------
A man goes to see his uncle. "Uncle, something terrible is happening and I have to talk to you about it." "What's wrong?" The man replied, "My wife is poisoning me." The uncle, very surprised by this, asks, "How can that be?" The man then pleads, "I'm telling you, I'm certain she's poisoning me, what should I do?" The uncle then offers, "Tell you what. Let me talk to her, I'll see what I can find out and I'll let you know." A week later the uncle calls the man and says, "Well, I spoke to your wife. I spoke to her on the phone for three hours. You want my advice?" The man said yes and the uncle replied,

"Take the poison."

NELLY GONE WILD - RAPPER PORN

2007-11-21T09:06:00.000-05:00

AUGUST 11, 2004
I WAS PASSING BY THE RADIO OR TELEVISION AND I HEARD THAT BLACK FEMALES AT SPELMAN COLLEGE, IN ATLANTA, WERE CALLING FOR A BOYCOTT OF THE RAPPER, NELLY.
I PAID NO ATTENTION TO THIS ONCE I HEARD THAT HIS SIN WAS TO DEMEAN AND DEBASE FEMALES IN HIS LATEST VIDEO. TO SINGLE OUT ONE RAPPER FOR ABUSING WOMEN IS LIKE POINTING OUT THAT:
AL CAPONE WAS A GANGSTER
CHARLES MANSON A MURDERER
SUSAN SMITH A LESS THAN PERFECT MOM
OSCAR ROBERTSON A PRETTY DECENT BALL PLAYER
ANGELA BASSETT IS AN INTERESTING LADY

WHILE MY EXAMPLES ARE UNEVEN, THE IDEA OF STATING THE OBVIOUS SHOULD BE MANIFEST ?
QUITE A FEW MALE RAPPERS PRESENT WOMEN AS HOES, WHORES AND ASSORTED BODY PARTS, SANS A BRAIN OR HUMANITY.
THIS IS THE WAY IT IS, WITH FEW EXCEPTIONS, SO I THOUGHT, WHY SINGLE OUT NELLY ?
I EVEN FIGURED IT WAS A SALES TECHNIQUE, OF HIS OWN CREATION, TO DRAW ATTENTION TO HIS NEW VIDEO; THEN I SAW THE VIDEO AT 3:30 A.M. ON THE BET NETWORK.
THIS VIDEO IS WAY OVER THE LINE ? THIS VIDEO ERASES THE LINE ? IT GOES BEYOND THE PALE ? IT GIVES PORNOGRAPHY A BAD NAME.
I LIKE A LOT OF RAP MUSIC? ? I FIND IT CREATIVE AND IMAGINATIVE AND A LOT OF IT IS REALLY SATIRE, IF YOU LISTEN CAREFULLY.
I DON'T THINK ANYTHING SHOULD BE CENSORED FOR GROWN FOLKS ? GROWN FOLKS CAN ELECT NOT TO LOOK AT THAT WHICH OFFENDS THEM, BUT THIS VIDEO IS FAR BEYOND WHAT I WOULD THINK ANYONE WITH TEENAGE SENSIBILITIES NEEDS TO SEE.
IF IT WAS A PORN VIDEO, THAT WOULD BE OKAY, BUT TO MIX IT IN WITH OTHER MAINSTREAM VIDEOS AND THUS GIVE IT A DEFACTO STAMP OF APPROVAL FOR TEENS IS VERY DANGEROUS AND CONFUSING.
PUTTING THIS WOLF IN THE SAME PEN WITH THE LAMBS, IS WHAT IS MOST UPSETTING, CALL IT PORN AND TREAT IT AS PORN AND I WOULD NOT BE WRITING ABOUT IT; BUT THROWING IT IN AS THE SECOND FEATURE ON THE PLAY BILL WITH SPRONGBOB SQUAREPANT, IS A PROBLEM FOR ME.
OTHER VIDEOS MAY HAVE ELEMENTS OF POOR TASTE, THEY MAY BE A LITTLE RAW AND OVER THE TOP, BUT THIS NELLY THING IS A WHOLE NEW BALL GAME AND I FAILED TO FIND ANY REDEEMING QUALITY TO IT ?
NONE AT ALL AND I CAN'T BELIEVE ANY FEMALES IN THIS VIDEO WITH AN I.Q. OVER 45, COULD FEEL GOOD ABOUT THEIR ROLE IN THIS PROJECT, BUT IF THE GOAL WAS TO MAKE A PORNO FLICK, THEN THEY COULD BE COMMENDED FOR A JOB WELL DONE.
I AM NOT BLAMING THE PERFORMERS, THEY DID WHAT THEY WERE TOLD AND PAID TO DO. AS THEY LOOK BACK ON THIS ENTERPRISE, THEY MAY SEE THEMSELVES AS VICTIMS, MORE THAN PERFORMERS.
I DO QUESTION THE SANITY AND ETHICS OF THE BUSINESS MEN WHO CONTROL THESE PROJECTS AND NELLY FOR NOT FOLLOWING THE CHRIS ROCK MANTRA WHEN OFFERED THIS PROJECT - CHRIS ADVISES US TO SAY:

WHOA -- SLOW DOWN -- BACK UP

THINK ABOUT WHAT YOU ARE DOING.

BESIDES MAKING A QUICK BUCK --- WHAT WERE THEY THINKING?

YOU CAN WRITE YOUR OWN MOVIE SCRIPT

2007-11-21T08:12:00.000-05:00

STAY HOME AND WRITE YOUR OWN MOVIE FROM STANFORD TY PARKER

1. *All men aged 50 and older can easily find women 30 years their junior
who are passionately and romantically interested in them.
2. * At least one of a pair of identical twins is born evil.
3. * Large, loft-style apartments in New York City are well within the price
range of most people, whether they are employed or not.
4. * Should you decide to defuse a bomb, don't worry which wire to cut. You
will always choose the right one.
5. * Most laptop computers are powerful enough to override the
communications system of any invading alien society.
6. * It does not matter if you are heavily outnumbered in a fight involving
martial arts; your enemies will wait patiently to attack you one by one by
dancing around in a threatening manner until you have knocked out their predecessors.
7. * When you turn out the light to go to bed, everything in your bedroom
will still be clearly visible, just slightly bluish.
8. * If you are blonde and pretty, it is possible to become a world expert
on nuclear fission at the age of 22.
9. * Honest and hard working policemen are traditionally gunned down three
days before their retirement.
10. * Rather than wasting bullets, megalomaniacs prefer to kill their
archenemies using complicated machinery involving fuses, pulley systems,
deadly gasses, lasers, and man-eating sharks, which will allow
their captives at least 20 minutes to escape.
11. * During all police investigations, it will be necessary to visit a
strip club at least once. 12. * All beds have special L-shaped cover sheets that reach up to the
armpit level on a woman but only to waist level on the man lying beside her.
13. * All grocery shopping bags contain at least one stick of French bread.
14. * It's easy for anyone to land a plane providing there is someone in the
control tower to talk you down.
15. * Once applied, lipstick will never rub off, even while scuba diving.
16. * You're very likely to survive any battle in any war unless you make
the mistake of showing someone a picture of your sweetheart back home.
17. * Should you wish to pass yourself off as a German or Russian officer,
it will not be necessary to speak the language. A German or Russian accent
will do. (It used to be an English accent for the German).
18. * The Eiffel Tower can be seen from any window in Paris.
19. * The White House, U.S. Capitol building and the Washington Monument can
also be seen from any window in Washington.
20. * A man will show no pain while taking the most ferocious beating but
will wince when a woman tries to clean his wounds.
21. * If a large pane of glass is visible, someone will be thrown through it
before long. 22. * If staying in a haunted house, women should investigate any
strange noises in their most revealing underwear.
23. * Word processors never display a cursor on screen, but will always
say: Enter Password Now.
24. * Even when driving down a perfectly straight road, it is necessary to
turn the steering wheel vigorously from left to right every few moments.
25. * All bombs are fitted with electronic timing devices with large red
readouts so you know exactly when they're going to go off.
26. * A detective can only solve a case once he has been suspended from duty.
27. * If you decide to start dancing in the street, everyone you meet will
know all the steps.
28. * Police departments give their officers personality tests to make sure
they are deliberately assigned a partner who is their total opposite.
29. * When they are alone, all foreign military officers prefer to speak to
each other in English.
30. * The gun itself is more powerful than the bullets they shoot.
Superhero's will stand there and deflect flying bullets with their hands,
wrists or clothing, but when the villain empties all the bullets and throws the
gun at our superhero, he ducks to avoid being hit!

AGE = OPPORTUNITY

2007-11-21T07:56:00.000-05:00

JUNE 1945

IF I AM ASKED THE QUESTION OF HOW OLD I AM, I MENTION THAT THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA WAS STILL FIGHTING THE JAPANESE WHEN I WAS BORN.
TO ME, THAT BRINGS UP THE IMAGE OF THE GRAINY, BLACK AND WHITE NEWSREEL FILM OF PEARL HARBOR, PRESIDENT TRUMAN, THE ATOM BOMB, LEGAL SEGREGATION, BIG METAL AUTOMOBILES, HOMES WITHOUT TELEVISIONS, FAMILIES SITTING DOWN TO EAT DINNER TOGETHER, KIDS BEING ABLE TO STAY OUTSIDE PLAYING UNTIL DUSK, NEIGHBORS WHO WOULD TURN YOU IN TO YOUR PARENTS IF YOU WERE OUT OF LINE IN ANYWAY, EVERY PHONE CALL BEING A BIG DEAL, TAKING PHONE MESSAGES FOR NEIGHBORS WHO DID NOT HAVE A PHONE, SHOPPING DID NOT INVOLVE ANY KIND OF FROZEN FOOD, HAVING A QUARTER IN YOUR POCKET WAS A BIG DEAL, ADMIRING THE KIDS WHO WERE ADVENTUROUS ENOUGH TO HITCH THE BACK OF THE CITY BUS, BEING SO PROUD OF THE BROOKLYN DODGERS AND JACKIE ROBINSON, CAMPY AND NEWK, KNOWING NO MAN COULD BEAT MY FATHER AND NO WOMAN COULD COOK BETTER THAN MY MOTHER, NO SISTERS WERE MORE BEAUTIFUL AND NO BROTHERS COULD GET AWAY WITH MORE MISCHIEF THAN MINE.
THE GRAND EXPERIENCE OF LISTENING TO A STORY ON THE RADIO AND SEEING THE CHARACTERS SO CLEARLY IN YOUR MIND AND YELLING AT THE RADIO FOR THE HERO TO DUCK, THERE IS A BAD GUY HIDING BEHIND THE DOOR..
OF COURSE, EVERYONE COULD ADD TO MY SHORT LIST OF MEMORIES, BUT MY MEMORIES ARE MORE IMPORTANT THAN ANYONE ELSE'S, BECAUSE, THEY ARE MINE, BUT I CAN IMAGINE YOU MIGHT DISAGREE.
*********************************

WITH THE COMPUTER AGE, I WAS ABLE TO HIT A BUTTON AND LEARN THAT I AM --- >>>>>
61 years old
732 months old
3,183 weeks old
22,280 days old.
534,739 hours old
32,084,375 minutes old
1,925,062,553 seconds old

LOOK AT THE NUMBER OF DAYS -- HOW CAN PEOPLE LIVE THAT MANY DAYS AND CRY THE BLUES ABOUT DYING ?
WHAT ELSE GIVES YOU 22,280 CHANCES TO DO SOMETHING? IF YOU DIDN'T DO IT, HOW CAN YOU COMPLAIN? IF YOU DON'T GET MORE CHANCES, HOW CAN YOU COMPLAIN.?
I HAVE FRIENDS 30 YEARS OLDER THAN I AM, THAT IS AN EXTRA 10,000+ DAYS
I AM NEVER SURPRISED WHEN SOMEONE OVER 50 YEARS OLD DIES, HOW MANY DAYS CAN YOU EXPECT TO BE GIVEN ?
50 x 365 = 18,250 DAYS -- THAT IS A FAIR AMOUNT OF CHANCES, EVEN IF YOU WOULD APPRECIATE MORE AND MOST OF US WOULD APPRECIATE MORE.
I AM ALWAYS DISAPPOINTED AND DOWNHEARTED, WHEN A YOUNG PERSON DIES, I FEEL THEY WERE CHEATED OUT OF THEIR DAYS / CHANCES.
I WON'T BE ANGRY WITH GOD IF I ONLY GET ANOTHER 12,000 OR SO HEALTHY DAYS OF LIFE - NOW, I NEED TO HEAR FROM GOD ON HIS THINKING ABOUT THIS MATTER.
OUR WAKING UP TOMORROW IS HOW HE EXPRESSES HIS OPINION AND THAT IS THE ONLY OPINION THAT COUNTS - HE OWNS ALL THE DAYS, WE JUST BORROW THEM.
IF I DON'T GET TOMORROW, I WILL BE MORE THAN GRATEFUL FOR THE MANY DAYS I HAVE HAD, WHILE REGRETTING THE POOR USE I HAVE MADE OF THE VAST MAJORITYOF THOSE DAYS.

I NEVER LIKED ROSA PARKS

2007-11-19T01:52:00.001-05:00

ROSA PARKS DIED RECENTLY AT THE AGE OF 92 -- SHE WAS 32 YEARS OLDER THAN I AND WE NEVER MET, BUT I HAVE HAD A DISLIKE FOR THIS WOMAN FOR OVER 51 YEARS.
I WAS ALWAYS THE BIGGEST KID IN MY CLASS UNTIL I REACHED NINTH GRADE AND EVEN THEN, I WAS AMONG THE BIGGEST THREE BOYS IN THE SCHOOL. ROSA PARKS WAS A SMALL WOMAN, I COULD PUT HER IN MY HIP POCKET AND HARDLY FEEL THE WEIGHT OF CARRYING HER AROUND.
WHEN FRANKIE CREWS AND I, GOT INTO AN ARGUMENT AND ALMOST CAME TO BLOWS, I RAN HOME AND TRIED TO ENLIST MY FATHER TO MY CAUSE -- DAD'S SILLY ADVICE - FIGHT FRANKIE -- MY REPLY, FRANKIE IS BIGGER AND STRONGER THAN ME - FRANKIE CAN BEAT ME -- DAD'S FOOLISH REPLY, SO YOU GET BEAT, FIGHT ANYWAY.
THAT DAY, I ADDED MY FATHER TO THE LIST ALONG WITH ROSA PARKS, I DID NOT LIKE HIM EITHER.
A YEAR LATER, ON MY WAY TO THE APOLLO MOVIE THEATRE ON FULTON STREET, AN OLDER GUY TOLD ME THAT I WAS THE PERSON WHO BEAT UP HIS LITTLE BROTHER AND HE WOULD DO LIKEWISE TO ME, UNLESS I GAVE HIM MY 25 CENTS, WHICH WAS FOR ADMISSION TO THE MOVIE. HE WAS BIGGER AND STRONGER, SO, IT WAS NOT A VERY DIFFICULT DECISION FOR ME, HE GOT THE QUARTER.
WHEN MY SISTER, CATHY A.K.A. "SISTA," NOTICED THAT I WAS BACK HOME 15 MINUTES AFTER I LEFT FOR THE MOVIE, SHE FOUND OUT WHY AND MARCHED ME DOUBLE TIME BACK UP THROOP AVENUE TO LOOK FOR THIS 25 CENT FELON. WE DID NOT FIND HIM, MOST LIKELY, HE WAS IN THE MOVIE, WHILE WE WERE WALKING THE STREETS.
SISTA HAD FIRE IN HER EYES AND THIS GUY WOULD HAVE TAKEN A HORRIBLE BEATING FOR THAT QUARTER - I WAS GLAD FOR HIM THAT WE DID NOT CROSS PATHS THAT DAY.
UNFORTUNATELY, I HAD TO ADD SISTA TO MY LIST OF UNPOPULAR PEOPLE.
IN JUNIOR HIGH SCHOOL, ROGER MILLER PUNCHED ME IN THE BACK DURING CLASS AND CHALLENGED ME TO A FIGHT AFTER SCHOOL. I WAS BIGGER THAN ROGER MILLER, BUT THAT WAS THE PROBLEM -- MY DECATUR JUNIOR HIGH SCHOOL UNDERSTANDING OF THE LAWS OF PHYSICS, AS TAUGHT BY GIL WORTSMANN AND ROBERT SYLVESTER WILSON, TOLD ME THAT SIZE HAD A DIRECT CORRELATION WITH STRENGTH AND POWER -- SO WHY WAS SMALLER ROGER MILLER HOT TO FIGHT A BIGGER GUY - WHAT DID HE KNOW?
BEING FAIRLY INTELLIGENT AND LESS THAN COURAGEOUS, I STAGED THE CONFRONTATION FOR FRIDAY, IN FRONT TO THE MAIN ENTRANCE / EXIT TO THE SCHOOL.THIS PROVIDED A STEADY FLOW OF FACULTY TO TELL US TO BREAK IT UP - TO GO HOME.
SO, THE FIGHT DID NOT EVER TAKE PLACE AND I MANAGED TO SAVE FACE AND IN BEDFORD-STUYVESANT, BROOKLYN, THAT WAS MOST IMPORTANT. AFTER THE WEEKEND, THE INCIDENT WAS OLD NEWS AND NO MENTION WAS MADE OF IT BY ANYONE. I THINK IT WAS ALL ABOUT SOME GIRL ROGER LIKED, WHO SAID SHE LIKED ME BETTER - I NEVER HAD A DISLIKE FOR ROGER, SINCE I ESCAPED THE BATTLE AND WON THE GIRL'S AFFECTION ( WHOEVER SHE WAS - I NEVER FOUND OUT ).
ANYWAY, THE LIST OF FOLKS I WAS NOT PLEASED WITH GREW FROM ROSA PARKS TO INCLUDE, MARTIN LUTHER KING, MALCOLM X, MEDGAR EVERS AND THOUSANDS OF OTHER MEN AND WOMEN OF VARIOUS ETHNIC BACKGROUNDS, WHO TOOK A STAND AGAINST RACISM -- WHO FOUGHT BACK - WHO CHANGED THINGS FOR THE BETTER - WHO WERE AFRAID, BUT DIDN'T ALLOW FEAR TO TURN THEM AROUND.
THESE PEOPLE BROKE MY SCIENTIFIC RULE ABOUT SIZE AND POWER, THEY TOOK ON GIANTS - THE CITY COMMISSIONERS - THE KLAN -THE POLICE - THE GOVERNORS - THE MAYORS - THE PRISON SYSTEM -- THE LONG HELD TRADITIONS OF AMERICA HISTORY.
THESE WARRIORS OFTEN LOST THEIR BATTLES, BUT THEY SHOWED THAT:

THE GIANTS COULD BE CHALLENGED -
THE GIANTS COULD BE INTIMIDATED -
THE GIANTS WERE NOT ABOVE THE FRAY -

THE FOLKS WHO FELL, DEMONSTRATED THE COURAGE THAT WOULD BE NEEDED BY THOSE WHO FOLLOWED AND WERE ABLE TO AT LEAST HOLD THE GIANTS AT BAY --- THEIR DEFEAT IS STILL A LONG WAY OFF.
ROSA PARKS SET AN ERA OF THESE WARRIORS IN MOTION, WITH HER ACT OF DEFIANCE AND SHE SENT THE MESSAGE TO ME, THAT I WAS NEVER THE BIGGEST PERSON, I WAS NEVER HALF HER SIZE -- I HAVE LIVED A LIFE OF COMFORT, BENEFITING FROM THE SACRIFICE OF OTHERS -- KNOWN AND UNKNOWN -- I HAVE BROUGHT NOTHING TO THE TABLE, BUT I HAVE PARTAKEN OF THE BOUNTY THEY LABORED TO SUPPLY.
I CHERISH AND RESPECT ALL THAT THESE NOBLE WARRIORS HAVE DONE - BUT I DISLIKE THE TORCH THEY HOLD SO HIGH - I SEE MYSELF ALL TOO CLEARLY IN THEIR GLORIOUS LIGHT. I STAND FAR TOO SHORT AND TRANSPARENT IN THEIR
BRIGHT LIGHT.

**************************************************************************************** TWO LINES I HEARD TODAY --->>>

ROSA PARKS SAT DOWN AND STOOD UP FOR US ALL ********************
ROSA PARKS WAS AN ORDINARY WOMAN,
WHO DID AN EXTRAORDINARY THING.
**************

GOD BLESS ROSA PARKS AND ALL THOSE WHO FOUGHT AND NOW FIGHT, FOR THE VALUES SHE PERSONIFIED.

BILL COSBY IS RIGHT TO SPEAK OUT

2007-11-18T06:41:00.000-05:00

JULY 2004
Entertainer Bill Cosby has tough talk for violent black men yesterday at annual Operation Push conference in Chicago.
Bill Cosby blasted black men who beat their wives yesterday before a room full of applauding African-American activists."You've got to stop beating up your women because you can't find a job, because you didn't want to get an education and now you're [earning] minimum wage," Cosby said during an appearance at Operation Push headquarters in Chicago.
"You should have thought more of yourself when you were in high school, when you had an opportunity."Cosby, who made headlines in May when he accused poor blacks of wasting the opportunities that the civil rights struggle gave them, also ripped his African-American critics for trying to hide the community's "dirty laundry."
"Let me tell you something, your dirty laundry gets out of school at 2:30 every day, it's cursing and calling each other n----- as they're walking up and down the street," Cosby said.
"They think they're hip," he said. "They can't read; they can't write. They're laughing and giggling, and they're going nowhere."
The Rev. Jesse Jackson defended the entertainer's statements."Bill is saying let's fight the right fight, let's level the playing field," Jackson said. "Drunk people can't do that. Illiterate people can't do that."
Cosby took a lot of heat in May after he denounced poor blacks who blow money on expensive sneakers instead of books. He said black jailbirds "are not political prisoners."
Yesterday, Cosby said blacks can't blame whites for problems such as teen pregnancy and high school dropout rates."We have to turn the mirror around," he said. "Because for me it is almost analgesic to talk about what the white man is doing against us.
And it keeps a person frozen in their seat, it keeps you frozen in your hole you're sitting in."
Cosby said black parents also deserve a spanking for allowing the N-word to become the favorite expression of their children.
"When you put on a record and that record is yelling n----- and you've got your little 6-year-old, 7-year-old sitting in the backseat of the car, those children hear that," he said.
Cosby also said he didn't care whether racist whites used his words "against our people.""Let them talk," he said.
********************************
I CAN SUPPORT BILL ON ALL THIS, EXCEPT, THE PART ABOUT NOT BEATING YOUR WIFE .
LET'S NOT THROW THE BABY OUT WITH THE BATHWATER.
A GOOD BEATING EVERY ONCE IN A WHILE IS THERAPUTIC - IT KEEPS THE RELATIONSHIP IN BALANCE AND GIVES DIRECTION TO THE WEAKER SEX.
A MESSAGE IS SENT ABOUT WHO IS THE KING AND WHO RULES THE ROOST - WHO IS THE HUNTER AND WHO IS THE GATHERER.
SPARE THE ROD AND SPOIL THE CHILD.
I AM ASSUMING THAT ONLY MEN WILL READ THIS, SINCE MOST WOMEN WILL HAVE TURNED FROM THIS PAGE ONCE THEY SEE IT IS NOT ABOUT RECIPES OR GETTING STAINS OUT OF TABLECLOTHES OR REPOTTING FLOWERS.
I AM NOT A BRUTE OR CAVEMAN - I PERSONALLY WOULD NEVER PUNCH A WOMAN -- IT IS BOTH WRONG AND DANGEROUS -- SO MANY OF MY FRIENDS HAVE INJURED THEIR HANDS THAT WAY.
ALWAYS USE A STICK AND WEAR GLOVES, IF THEY ARE AVAILABLE.
I FEEL I MUST GIVE YOU GUYS THIS ADVICE , SINCE THESE WOMEN DON'T CARE; THEY WILL LET YOU HURT YOUR HANDS AND NEVER WARN YOU ABOUT THIS DANGER.
WELL, I AM OFF TO MEXICO OR CHINA OR SOUTHERN AFRICA -- I HAVE DONE MY PART TO TAKE THE HEAT OFF BILL -- NOW I NEED TO ESCAPE AND TRY TO SAVE MYSELF --
YOU KNOW, THESE WOMEN ARE EVERY WHERE AND THEY DON'T FORGIVE OR FORGET - I AM DOOMED, BUT I HAD TO GET THE MESSAGE OUT TO MY FELLOWS.
BE BRAVE AND HANG TOUGH -- WE WILL RULE SOMEDAY IN THE FUTURE, MAYBE, I HOPE.

LIES / MONEY / ANGER

2007-11-18T02:37:00.000-05:00

THE TRUTH
* SOME PEOPLE CAN'T TELL A LIE.
* SOME PEOPLE CAN'T TELL THE TRUTH.
* SOME PEOPLE CAN'T TELL THE DIFFERENCE.
^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^
*IF YOU THINK MONEY CAN'T BUY HAPPINESS - EITHER:
YOU DON'T KNOW WHERE TO SHOP
OR
YOU DON'T HAVE ENOUGH MONEY.
************************************************
THE UNIVERSITY TRUSTEES SEND THE DEAN OF PHILOSOPHY TO Hawaii for a week, all expenses paid.
When he walks into his hotel room, there's a beautiful girl laying nude on the bed.
She says, "Hi, DEAN, I'm a little something extra that the president of the board arranged for you!"
The DEAN is incensed. He picks up the phone, calls the President of the Board and says, "what were you thinking, where is your respect?
I am the moral leader of our university!
I am very, very angry with you. You have not heard the end of this!".
The girl gets up and starts to get dressed.
The DEAN turns to her and says,

"Where are you going?
I'm not angry with you."

THE UNCERTAINTY PRINCIPLE

2007-11-18T02:17:00.000-05:00

SENT IN BY UDEY WEBSTER - WINGATE HIGH '62

Two sailors ran into each other in a pub. Over a few beers, one of the men told the other about his last voyage: "After a month at sea," he said, "we discovered our masts had been eaten through by termites! Almost nothing left of them."
"That's terrible," said the second sailor.
"That's what I thought at first too," the first sailor said, "but it turned out to be good luck. As soon as we took the sails down to fix the masts, we were hit by a squall so suddenly and so hard, it would surely have blown us over if our sails were up at the time."
"How lucky!"
"That's exactly what I thought at the time, too.
But because our sails were down, we couldn't steer ourselves, and because of the wind, we were blown onto a reef. The hole in the hull was too big to fix. We were stranded."
"That is bad luck indeed."
"That's what I thought, too, when it first happened.
But we all made it to the beach alive and had plenty to eat. But now here's the real kicker: While we were on the island whining about our terrible fate, we discovered a buried treasure!"
As this story illustrates, you don't know if an event is "good" or "bad" except maybe in retrospect, and even then you don't really know because life keeps going.
The story's not over yet. Just because something hasn't turned out to be an advantage yet doesn't mean it is not ever going to.
Therefore, you can simply assume whatever happens is "good."
I know that sounds awfully airy-fairy, but it's very practical.
If you think an event is good, it's easy to maintain a positive attitude. And your attitude affects your health, it affects the way people treat you and how you treat others, and it affects your energy level.
And those can help pave the way for things to turn out well.
A good attitude always is a good thing.
And a bad attitude does you no good at all.
So get in the habit of saying "That's good!" Since you don't know for sure whether something will eventually work to your advantage or not, you might as well assume it will.
It is counterproductive to assume otherwise.
Think about it. If someone ahead of you in line at a store is slowing everything down, say to yourself, "That's good!"
They may have saved you from getting into an accident when you get back in your car.
Or maybe, because you slowed down, you might meet a friend you would have missed.
You never know.
The truth is, life is uncertain. And even that can work to your advantage. ^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^"A A person cannot directly choose his circumstances, but he can choose his thoughts, and so indirectly, yet surely, shape his circumstances."
******************************
QUOTE
SENT IN BY JIM MCCLUNE - LOS ANGELES
"More than any other time in History, mankind faces a crossroads.
One path leads to despair and utter hopelessness.
The other to total extinction.
Let us pray we have the wisdom to choose correctly."

EVEN THIS SHALL PASS AWAY

2007-11-18T02:03:00.000-05:00

Theodore Tilton
*****************
Once in Persia reigned a king,
Who upon his signet ring
Graved a maxim true and wise,
Which, if held before his eyes,
Gave him counsel at a glance
Fit for every change and chance.
Solemn words, and these are they,
“ Even this shall pass away.”

Trains of camels through the sand
Brought him gems from Samarcand;
Fleets of galleys through the seas
Brought him pearls to match with these;
But he counted not his gain
Treasures of the mine or main;
“ What is wealth?” the king would say;
“Even this shall pass away.”

'Mid the revels of his court,
At the zenith of his sport,
When the palms of all his guests
Burned with clapping at his jests,
He, amid his figs and wine, Cried,
“O loving friends of mine;
Pleasures come, but not to stay,
"Even this shall pass away.”

Lady, fairest ever seen,
Was the bride he crowned his queen.
Pillowed on his marriage bed,
Softly to his soul he said:
“Though no bridegroom ever pressed
Fairer bosom to his breast,
Mortal flesh must come to clay
"Even this shall pass away.”

Fighting on a furious field,
Once a javelin pierced his shield;
Soldiers, with a loud lament,
Bore him bleeding to his tent.
Groaning from his tortured side,
“ Pain is hard to bear,” he cried; “
But with patience, day by day,
"Even this shall pass away.”

Towering in the public square,
Twenty cubits in the air,
Rose his statue, carved in stone.
Then the king, disguised, unknown,
Stood before his sculptured name,
Musing meekly: “What is fame?
Fame is but a slow decay,
"Even this shall pass away.”

Struck with palsy, sore and old,
Waiting at the Gates of Gold,
Said he with his dying breath,
“ Life is done, but what is Death?”

Then, in answer to the king,
Fell a sunbeam on his ring,
Showing by a heavenly ray,

“ Even this shall pass away.”

FATE & INVICTUS

2007-11-18T01:47:00.002-05:00

FATE -- BY - Susan Marr Spalding [1841-1908]

Two shall be born, the whole wide world apart,
And speak in different tongues and have no thought
Each of the other's being, and no heed.
And these, o'er unknown seas,
to unknown lands Shall cross,
escaping wreck, defying death;
And all unconsciously shape every act
And bend each wandering step to this one end -
That, one day, out of darkness they shall meet
And read life's meaning in each other's eyes.

And two shall walk some narrow way of life
So nearly side by side that, should one turn
Ever so little space to left or right,
They needs must stand acknowledged,
face to face.
And, yet, with wistful eyes that never meet
And groping hands that never clasp and lips
Calling in vain to ears that never hear,
They seek each other all their weary days
And die unsatisfied -

and this is Fate!

^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^
INVICTUS -BY WILLIAM ERNEST HENLEY
(August 23, 1849 – July 11, 1903 )

Out of the night that covers me,
Black as the Pit from pole to pole,
I thank whatever gods may be
For my unconquerable soul.

In the fell clutch of Circumstance
I have not winced nor cried aloud.
Under the bludgeonings of Chance
My head is bloody, but unbowed.

Beyond this place of wrath and tears
Looms but the Horror of the shade,
And yet the menace of the years
Finds, and shall find me, unafraid.

It matters not how strait the gate,
How charged with punishments the scroll,
I am the master of my fate:
I am the captain of my soul.

ALPHA OMEGA DANCE COMPANY TRIUMPHS IN CHARLOTTE

2007-11-07T11:11:00.000-05:00

DOLORES IS A FORMER COLLEAGUE FROM FRANCIS LEWIS
HIGH SCHOOL IN QUEENS, NEW YORK.
HER DANCE COMPANY RECENTLY PERFORMED IN CHARLOTTE AND BEING THE
WISE AND INSIGHTFUL PERSON THAT I AM, I TRAVELED THE 100 MILES TO THE QUEEN CITY WITH MY GRANDDAUGHTER, ANGELA THOMAS, TO SEE
THE TROUPE IN ACTION, WITH THE HELP OF RANDY JAMES IN
SECURING TICKETS FOR THE BOOTH THEATRE APPEARANCE.
WE WERE WELL REWARDED FOR OUR JOURNEY ACROSS THE
STATELINE.
I WOULD ADVISE YOU TO NOTE THE INTERNET ADDRESS OF THE
ALPHA OMEGA DANCERS AND MAKE AN EFFORT TO CATCH THEM
IN ACTION.
I NOW HAVE A GREATER APPRECIATION OF THE PRIDE THAT DOLORES HAS ALWAYS TAKEN IN THIS ARTISTIC ORGANIZATION.
http://www.alphaomegadance.org/
^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^
Dolores Vanison-Blakely, a Juilliard graduate with a B.A. in dance, has had a prodigious career as a professional modern dancer, teacher, choreographer and administrator. The connecting thread of Ms. Vanison-Blakely’s accomplishments is a total devotion to her passion – to fulfill herself through her art while simultaneously creating a sacred space where at-risk youth and young professional artists can flower and develop to their full potential as human beings and as artists. Her work as an artist became a vehicle to give to an ever-expanding circle of young people. The Alpha Omega Theatrical Dance School was the sacred space that Ms. Vanison-Blakely co-founded with Ronn Pratt and Miriam Greaves in 1973, a year after she became a founding member of the Alpha Omega Theatrical Dance Company.
While shaping Alpha Omega’s dance school at 83 East 4th Street, Ms. Vanison-Blakely also continued her education, obtaining a B.S. in dance from Brooklyn College, an M.S. in Guidance and Counseling from Long Island University and an M.S. in Educational Administration from New York University. The advanced degrees enabled Ms. Vanison-Blakely to replicate the Alpha Omega dance school concept inside the NYC Board of Education when she was invited to create one dance department, then another, in the days preceding the huge arts budget cuts of today.
These dance departments together with the Alpha Omega after-school dance programs were the fertile soil that, to date, has produced three generations of Alpha Omega dancers and choreographers, artists and highly successful adults in all fields of business. Among these graduates are Alpha Omega’s Artistic Director, its Associate Director and members of Alpha Omega’s Board of Directors and Advisory Board. Another testament of Ms. Vanison-Blakely’s commitment and love of her students is the fact that over her thirty year career in the Board of Education she remains in touch with twenty-six of her students.
Prior to Ms. Vanison-Blakely’s career with Alpha Omega Theatrical Dance Company, she performed as a principal dancer with the Eleo Pomare Dance Company, the Louis Johnson Dance Company, and others. She performed in the Pearl Bailey production of "Hello Dolly" on Broadway, and as a dancer in many off-Broadway productions and on TV. She has been an Adjunct Professor at New York University, and aTeaching Fellow at Long Island University. She created choreography for the Lincoln Center Teenage Workshop "African Tales" and has taught at the NYC Performing Arts Workshop and the East Harlem Teenage Workshop where she produced versions of Bye Bye Birdie, West Side Story, Guys and Dolls, Porgy and Bess and South Pacific.
In 1992, Ms. Vanison-Blakely took on the role of part-time Executive Director of Alpha Omega. After retiring from the NYC Board of Education as an Assistant Principal in 1999, she became the full-time Executive Director. In this position she runs its education programs, hire and supervise volunteer and paid staff, work with the Board of Directors, serve on arts panels, supervise fund-raising activities and proposal-writing, manage the organization’s financial and accounting responsibilities as a 501.c.3, and serve as liaison with outside organizations.
Ms. Vanison-Blakely has been thrust into an expanded role since the beginning of the capital campaign for Alpha Omega’s Youth Arts Center at 70 East 4th Street. It is a challenge she embraced as she has risen to all of the others before it – with full commitment and determination to master the new skills that the challenge requires of her and of the organization.
Ms. Vanison-Blakely is leading the organization she helped to found into a future that gives a sacred, safe space to countless generations of young people to come. The new Youth Arts Center will integrate all the arts, serve as a sanctuary for self-discovery and of a life-long love of learning for today and tomorrow’s at-risk youth. It will help to stabilize and increase capacity for Alpha Omega……. ironically right across the street from the Alpha Omega dance school began in 1973!

WE NEED TO REMEMBER US

2007-11-07T02:31:00.002-05:00

MY FRIENDS OFTEN END UP TELLING ME SOME FANTASTIC AND FABULOUS STORIES AND THEN CLOSE THE CONVERSATION BY SAYING, I SHOULD WRITE A BOOK. THERE IS A BOOK IN ALL OF US, BUT WE ARE NEVER GOING TO WRITE THAT BOOK, BUT WE COULD ALL WRITE THAT ONE STORY AND PUT IT ON LINE. I AM ENCOURAGING YOU TO WRITE SOMETHING YOU THINK WORTHY OF BEING READ BY OTHERS, A PIECE OF YOUR LIFE, THAT SHOULD BE SHARED AND SHOULD LIVE ON AND NOT PERISH WHEN YOU MAY GO TO A VERY WARM PLACE , WHERE YOU WILL WORK VERY HARD TO KEEP THE TEMPERATURE HIGH. IF YOU NEED TO CHANGE NAMES AND DATES, DO SO - IF YOU DON'T WANT YOUR NAME USED, THAT IS OKAY - BUT DON'T LET THE STORY DIE -- A HIGH SCHOOL FRIEND WROTE ABOUT HAVING LUNCH WITH THE TWO GREATEST HIGH SCHOOL BASKETBALL PLAYERS IN NEW YORK CITY HISTORY - A SIMPLE MOMENT IN TIME, BUT WORTHY OF BEING NOTED AND SHARED. A TEACHING COLLEAGUE, WHO TAUGHT AND COACHED ME IN MY YOUTH, CAN REGALE ANYONE FOR HOURS WITH HIS STORIES ABOUT SCHOOL AND THE ARMY; THOSE STORIES SHOULD BE WRITTEN FOR HIS SONS AND GRANDSON IN CALIFORNIA. A FRIEND, NOW IN FLORIDA, WAS ATTENDING COLUMBIA UNIVERSITY AT THE EXPENSE OF THE STATE OF GEORGIA, SINCE SHE WAS NOT WELCOME AT THE UNIVERSITY OF GEORGIA IN THOSE DAYS -- THAT STORY SHOULD BE RECORDED FOR THE GRAND-KIDS AND GREAT GRAND-KIDS. THE STORY OF A FUNERAL AND THE TRIBUTES PAID THE DECEASED BY MUSIC INDUSTRY GIANTS AND COMMON FOLKS ALIKE, SHOULD CONTINUE TO CIRCULATE AND RETELL OF THIS MAN'S ACHIEVEMENTS.
A BUNCH OF GUYS GET TOGETHER AND LOAD TWO CARS FOR A WEEKEND TRIP FROM BROOKLYN TO TRENTON, NEW JERSEY -- WITH NOT MUCH MONEY OR COMMON SENSE AND NOT A CHANGE OF CLOTHES, THEY TURN AN 80 MILE TRIP INTO A MINI INDIANA JONES ADVENTURE - IT SHOULD BE ON PAPER OR ON LINE, SINCE ALL THOSE YOUNG MEN ARE NO LONGER YOUNG MEN.
"IF YOU BUILD IT THEY WILL COME" -- I AM SAYING, IF YOU WRITE IT, I WILL TRY TO POST IT AND IN POSTING A MESSAGE / STORY ON LINE, YOU GIVE IT A LIFE OF ITS OWN -- SIX BILLION PEOPLE CAN READ THE STORY AND KEEP IT ALIVE, BEYOND YOUR OWN LIFETIME.
THINK ABOUT IT !