I saw this while watching Rachel Maddow this evening and went immediately to YouTube to watch it in full…it is classic!

This is one of those moments when I look at Senator Barack Obama and know that he is “That One”…and even though I’m only posting a part of Obama’s speaking here, I encourage you to watch McCain speaking as well…it is the most relaxed and at ease I’ve seen him since this whole thing started! This is probably the man that people wish they saw on the campaign trail…

video credit: originally uploaded to YouTube on October 16, 2008 by hidnusr

I was out trolling and came across this blog…it is supposedly written by an 82 year old woman (I’ll go with that) but the post is…well just read it here.

The 2nd debate is on tomorrow…are you ready? The shit is going to be flying…I wonder if The Old Dude will grab his balls and say all the shit he’s been saying to Obama’s face tomorrow? This shit is like a soap opera…

I was visiting Shae’s spot today and spotted this article…it is worth a read.

A Woman’s Worth
We’ve come a long way baby
Tuesday, September 09, 2008
By Goldie Taylor

But in this country I love, she has been afforded the ability to run.  The very constitution she says doesn’t apply to the men at Guantanamo says she can.  But this is about more than that.

I have been a mother all of my adult life.  A single working mother. I put off dating, took menial jobs far beneath my qualifications and baked my share of ginger bread cookies for PTA Night, all so that three incredible children could have better. I chose their lives over mine.  I don’t have to tell you that it wasn’t easy. Unfortunately, my story, our story, is not
unique.

We slept in cars, bought groceries with food stamps and prayed for a better day.  When that wasn’t enough, I put myself through school at Emory University and took a part-time job as a staff writer at the Atlanta Journal Constitution.  That was over a decade ago.

Along the way, things got better. I’ve been an executive at two Fortune 500 companies and a practice director at two multinational public relations firms. Today, I own an advertising agency and I’ve authored two novels.  A third and fourth are on the way, God willing. All of this was possible because somebody laid a brick or two on the road for me.

A few weeks ago, I woke in tears.  It was my 40th birthday and certainly not a time for sadness.  Rather, I cried in joy because for the first time I realized and could embrace the value of the struggle.  The bright little girl, who once cried in my arms because we didn’t know where we were going to live, was headed off to Brown University.  The small boy who had been the “man of the house” far too soon was now truly a man.  And the tiny, angelic baby who had come to this world precious and innocent just 15 months after him was now a 16 year old girl headed out to her first job interview.

For all of this, maybe I should be proud of a woman like Sarah Palin. Maybe, just maybe, I should be rejoicing in John McCain’s selected running mate.

But I’m not.

I’m not “bed wetting liberal” nor am I a “right-wing zealot.” What I am is a working mother.  And I cry foul.

I won’t, for a moment, denigrate her experience or lob spit balls at her family.  I will, though, take issue with what she knows.  Or more succinctly, what she does not know.  Living in Alaska, I’m not sure how much she knows about the people living in inner city Baltimore.  I don’t know how much she cares about the 125 murders this summer in Chicago.  I have no idea what she believes about HIV/ AIDS and the havoc it wrecks on Black women or the cancer rates in East St. Louis.  She hasn’t said nary a word about Hurricane Katrina or the infant mortality rates in Appalachia. 

I do know that she’s a life-time member of the NRA, a proponent of individuals who wielded the very weapons that killed my father and brother. I do know that she “lives really close to Russia,” but I’m not so certain she is ready for Putin. I know she wanted to ban books for public libraries and sex education in schools, but that her 17 year old is pregnant and preparing for a shotgun wedding.  I know that she loves her husband enough to allow him (and probably did herself) use her office to settle a personal score–one that the McCain campaign would now like to cover in under a blanket of Juneau snow.  I know that the Alaska Independent Party, and its secessionist platform, was enticing enough for her to attend its conference (and for her husband to become a card carrying member).  Does she love her country? I’m sure.  Enough to support those who want to leave it.

But I have no earthly idea what she knows (or could possibly know) about national domestic policy or foreign diplomacy.  For all of her working class values, she never once mentioned the Middle Class in her diatribe that mocked her opponent’s experience. Having been the mayor of Wasilla (pop. 6,000 at the time) and governor of Alaska (a state a smaller than the county I live in) for a little over a year, she felt she was qualified to do that. And obviously, so did John McCain. 

If she’s qualified, then so am I.

Read the rest of the article here.

I usually don’t watch the news…in fact, I am rarely up this time of night. But I saw this on my local news (didn’t happen where I live; they were doing an “around the nation” report) and my mouth fell open! I don’t know what happened, I don’t think anyone knows what provoked the attack, but this is straight crazy!

video credit: originally uploaded to YouTube on September 9, 2008 by BlackTubeChannel

How y’all doing? I thought I would do a little blog trolling tonight and let you know some of the spots that I visit on the regular and why I like them…

SoulBounce

Have you been keeping up with the SoulBounce Top 100 Soul/R&B countdown? They are up to #14 and every day I pay them a visit to see what the next song is…today, it is Minnie Ripperton’s “Inside My Love.” Now, if you don’t remember what this song sounds like, picture biting into a soft peach and letting the juices run down your chin…pure sweetness. Along the way of this countdown, there has been some discord with the choices made…I find nothing wrong with it, because the choices were not mine and who am I to rue someone else’s picks? And anyway, the folks over at SoulBounce have very good ears…the music is very worthy…I encourage you to visit and take a peek at the list and let them know what you think.

Pop Culture Dish

Every Tuesday, Malcolm posts a trivia quiz that I have been avoiding…it has some awesome questions on it. Usually I take one look at it and shake my head, thinking, “There is no way in hell I’m going to get any of these!” But this week, I took the plunge…and it was fun! Malcolm is also an OSF participant, so go by and give him some luv while you are partaking in the weekly quiz…

Sojourner’s Place

SjP takes an in-depth look at an article written by some chick that basically says a whole lot of nothing. Is she complimenting Michelle Obama, or trying to break her down? Glide over to SjP’sto get the full story…also SjP is the originator of the Sunday Inspirations meme that this blog participates in every Sunday. This meme has helped me to put into words how much I have been blessed and gives me an outlet to spread the word…thanks, SjP!

You Know You Dead Azz Wrong

Occasionally, I need to look at something that makes me giggle…and I need to be reminded that I am okay to be me. YKYDAW is the site that feeds me, right or wrong, the laughs that I need. Some of you may just out and out object to the pics that are shown on this site…that’s alright, don’t look. But for me, it is just the simple fact that sometimes we need to laugh at ourselves. And if some of these folks would take a long look in the mirror before they stepped in front of the camera, maybe they wouldn’t have taken the damn picture in the first place.

Alright, I think that is enough for today…more next week…have fun!

Hello all! Sorry I’ve been MIA…my job has jumped into overdrive! I started training my first class this week and I have been so mentally drained when I arrived at home, the last thing I wanted to do was get on the ‘puter and try to form a sentence. But today, I’m good. I feel like I’ve got my legs under me and it’s good. There is still a lot to get used to and a lot of mind shifting that I have to do…when you have been used to things being one way and they are not, you must shift your paradigms…I’m going through that now. Flexibility has become my new friend, and I am embracing it with a passion.

So, let’s talk, shall we?

The New Anti-Obama Ad

Dude is pulling out all the stops…now he has released an ad that compares Obama with Paris Hilton and Britney Spears—he’s a big celebrity, but is he ready to lead? You know, I’m done with the attacks. I’m at the point where I want to compare notes so I can build a credible case against the dude, but all he keeps feeding me is this bullshit. I already don’t like the dude, but I like to have something solid that says why. I don’t like to just lump him into the “Republican” category or because I think he’s too old (both of which are cons, to me) but I like to be able to compare what he’s about and talk about it intelligently. He’s not giving me anything. Or rather, he’s making me dig for it. And I don’t really like digging.

Black Panther

Will Smith has been pegged to play Black Panther co-founder Bobby Seale in an Steven Spielberg directed film about the Chicago 7…I’m excited already! Say what you will about Will, but dude can draw an audience, so the film will get viewed, and the boy can do the damn thing. And with Spielberg at the helm, the story should be nice…

Old School Friday

Our Old School Friday theme this week is:

Motown!!

Awww, yeah! Here’s a taste…

Expand yo’ minds…I’m coming strong! tee hee hee…

That’s all I got today…short and sweet…see ya on the flip side!

Happy Monday…I hope y’all had a good weekend…back to the grind!

Some Missy For Ya…

Missy Elliott - I’m Really Hot
video credit: originally uploaded to YouTube on August 22, 2006 by rap2r4u

The Espys

I love sports so I tuned into the Espys last night…I must say, JT (Justin Timberlake) did a good job hosting the show; he’s a little bit of a fool. And my boy (KG) and the rest of the Celtics won Best Team (YAY!)…the New York Football Giants (why do they call them that?) cleaned house though. I was almost tired of seeing them on stage. But the most emotional part came when Kevin Everett walked out on stage to accept the Jimmy V Award for Perseverance. Now that story is a true miracle. That man is here by the grace of God…there is no other answer for that. I still get choked up seeing him, thinking of how far he has come. I was watching that game when he was injured and seeing him now is just a testament of strength and…perseverance.

Balls Of Fire

I read this crazy ass story on MSNBC.com…two friends were drunk and set their passed out friend’s nuts on fire…yeah you read that right. What the hell?!?

Nipple-gate

The fine leveled against CBS for Justin Timberlake exposing Janet Jackson’s nipple during the 2004 Super Bowl Halftime show was thrown out by a federal appeals court, with them stating that the FCC acted “arbitrarily and capriciously” in assessing the fine. I know it is old news, but seriously, do you think this was on purpose…the whole nipple thing?

I Hate The Media

The MSM is so one sided…all weekend long I heard stories of this missing 2-year-old girl who’s mother is in custody and who’s grandmother believes knows where the child is but won’t say…where is the coverage on Lavena Johnson? Or how about the coverage on the child in Chicago that was killed in the alley outside her home? Who decides which child is more important to put on the news? it makes me sick…don’t get me wrong, I think that the story of the missing child is important and that everything should be done to find her, but I also think equal attention should be given to find out who killed the child in Chicago. What makes her life any less newsworthy than the other?

Hello all…what’s going on?

OSF Announcement

The theme this week is Break Up Songs…oh, boy…lots of memories on this one. I’ll try not to cry when I visit and view your picks.

Girl Power

I like how Alicia Keys goes about this girl power thing. Her latest vid, “Superwoman,” contributes further to her Girl Power evolution…and it includes one of the TMV Icons. I literally got chills watching it because I feel like this sometimes…check it out. You can watch it here. 

NFL Gang Members

Today, the NFL said that they are going to be cracking down on players who they think are flashing gang signs during celebrations or whatnot…excuse me, maybe I’m naive or just plain blind to the fact, but are their gang members in the NFL? So when somebody flashes his Omega Psi Phi fraternity greeting, or Alpha Phi Alpha, or Kappa Alpha Psi, or whatever…will that be considered a gang sign and the offending person be eliminated from the league? I don’t think the NFL has a clue what they are doing, and furthermore, I don’t think they have a clue on how to distinguish between a gang sign and a simple affiliation sign. Most of this will be directed toward the Black players (tell me the last time you saw Peyton Manning flash a hand sign? I’ll wait…) and it will be a long and uneasy day in hell when they fine the first person.

Next Up

The next movie on my radar…The Dark Knight. I am totally caught up in all the hype with Heath Ledger’s death and the possible Oscar worthy acting…the trailer looks fantastic and of course, I’ve been inundated with it. What intrigues me most, is the storyline. This Batman actually looks interesting, and you know I love a superhero. I’ll let you know what I think; I’m going to see it Friday.

Cougar-itis

I know I mentioned this last night, but I’ve been thinking more about it today and I really think that I’ve ventured into Cougar-dom. What is the age of a Cougar? What is the true definition? I feel as though I’m younger than I am and why should I be relegated to older men who I don’t really like? They do seem to be the ones who holler, and I always roll my eyes. What I look like with a 50-year-old man? No thanks…give me half that please…tee hee hee…I won’t even get into why.

 

So I’ve given some thought on the direction of this here spot…and have decided to try something for a while. Today I start with posting a regular daily synopsis…my views on news of the day that has sparked my interest and make me want to talk. We’ll see how it goes.

Let’s begin:

Bush Is Sane…We Are Crazy

I’m convinced that Bush thinks we are all stupid. The things he says just don’t make any fucking sense. Today, he says that “economy is growing” and that the banks going under is not a big deal (not his real words, but you get the idea)…yeah okay, tell that to my bank account which paid out over $50 for a tank of gas this weekend, and for the price of a loaf of bread (even the cheap shit is almost $2!), or let’s just talk about the example of IndyMac…did you see the people on GMA standing outside the bank this morning, trying to get their money? Even though FDIC ensures them up to $100,000, what about the people who had over that amount? $.50 on every dollar is bullshit when you have been saving your whole life, working your ass off and putting that money in a bank where you thought it was safe, only to find out that you are only going to get half of it back…yeah, everything is just hunky-dory. Bullshit.

Damn!

I’ve always liked Toccara and have always thought that she was a beautiful girl. Ever since she showed up on America’s Next Top Model, with all her sass and attitude, I’ve admired her. She has shed some weight and is looking mighty fierce these days. You know the other day when I said that I didn’t envy anyone? I want her body, and I’m going to have one just like it, come hell or high water. Then I’m going to turn into a major Cougar and run through the streets like a wild woman. OK, just kidding…about the running through the streets part; I mean it about the Cougar, though…watch your 25 year-olds and older…

Responsibility

Did you see Obama’s speech at the NAACP convention last night? It was brief, but good. Yes, he spoke about the government’s role in helping folks with jobs, education, health care, and other things…but the issue of community and familial responsibility came up again. Obama said that he wasn’t going to stop bringing it up and I say he shouldn’t. Hearing the truth is hard for those who need to hear it.

Tired

I’m tired of being mad…I’m tired of all this media bullshit: the magazine covers, the news articles, the breaking news on the cable news networks…just plain old tired. I think I’m too tired to get mad. I saw The New Yorker cover and I just didn’t even have the platitude to react. I think I’ve become numb. I don’t know if that is a good or bad thing; I just know that I want this to be over, right now. And with McCain talking out of both sides of his neck, and repeating himself, and talking about Czechoslovakia (which no longer exists; it divided in 1993 into the Czech Republic and Slovakia), if Obama doesn’t win this election simply because he’s Black (because let’s be real, that will be the real reason), I am packing my shit and moving to Canada. And I absolutely mean that shit.

Isn’t She Lovely

Um, where is Halle Berry’s baby? Why haven’t we seen pictures? The one baby that I care about seeing and she’s almost a year old and there are NO pics of her…I can’t be mad at Halle though; I wouldn’t put my child out there either. But the Jolie-Pitt twins are here and their pics will be shown to the world for a cool $11 million…Brad and Angie are going to donate the money to charity (you know, that’s how they do shit), but seriously…$11 million??

What’s up, y’all?! I’ve missed y’all…I’ve been so tired this week that I’ve stayed as far away from my PC as I possibly could. Well, that isn’t quite true…I would log on and see if I had any messages, and visit a couple of blogs, but only for as long as I could hold my eyes open. I’m proud to say that I’ve made it through my first week, and it feels good. I’m learning a lot, meeting folks, talking and WORKING IT!!

Let’s hit this 10Spot, shall we?

10 - The Rebb’n

Now, I’ve had some time to digest this one and I’ve come to the conclusion that jealousy is an ugly thing. I’ve listened to Barack’s Father’s Day speech time and time again…my male friends have heard it and from what I can surmise, they think that if it don’t fit, then you must acquit. But for the Rebb’n to say that he wanted to cut Sen. Obama’s nuts off?! Hate, pure and simple. Even if he felt as if Sen. Obama was talking down to Black folks, that is a conversation that he needed to pull him aside to have, not something that he would let slip on Fox News (now come on!) while a fucking mic was on…I’m mad as hell at him for this one. But you know what? I’m not surprised at all. Everyone is resistant to change, and when you have to give up something that you have held onto for a long time, even when it is just you who think that you own it, it is hard to pass it along to someone else who’s time is now…

9 - Fantasy Football

The time is near! I just paid my fee for my fantasy football league and our draft party will be held on August 31st. I cannot wait! This will be the 3rd year in a row that I participate…last year I came in second place and won $85! I’m in it to win it this year…so I’ve started to do my research and pick out my players…your suggestions are welcome; leave them in the comments.

8 - MovieWatcher: Hancock

That damn Will Smith…I’ve never had a crush this big, never been in love this much with a man I’ve never met (and probably never will). I will watch anything he does (yeah, I even saw The Legend of Bagger Vance…so?!) and I will find one nugget of goodness in it. Sometimes I have to search far and wide (see Bagger Vance), and sometimes there is just goodness throughout. Hancock is somewhere in the middle. I liked it; I didn’t feel like I wasted the $15 it cost me to see it (I still have to write that post about the high ass cost of movies), but I wasn’t blown away either. There were some laugh out loud moments, and some moments when I just sat with my hand on the side of my face like, “huh?” But overall, a good movie. I’m not even going to rate it, because it’s Will, and I wouldn’t be impartial. But if you have nothing to do on a Saturday afternoon, go see it.

7 - Come And Talk To Me

I’ve been on a Jodeci kick lately…have I posted this before? If so…here it is again…damn, I am feeling this song!

video credit: originally uploaded to YouTube on September 27, 2007 by bobcad82

6 - Daughters of Legacy

I’m in the middle of watching the Daughters of Legacy on CNN…it includes the daughters of Sidney Poitier, Martin Luther King, Jr., Malcolm X, Muhammed Ali, and Johnnie Cochran. It is a beautiful look into the lives of these women, and how having these brilliant and talented men as their fathers shaped their lives. There is another airing tomorrow at 8pm…catch it if you can.

5 - Isaiah 41:10

I have this posted in my new office space at work…I received it from Manchild, who is one of my blog brothers and biggest supporters. He and his wife, KWiz have been huge blessings to me and I cannot say thank you enough. One way to say thank you is to pass on what they have given to me…so I give this to you. If you need it, take it:

 Don’t be afraid, for I am with you.
      Don’t be discouraged, for I am your God.
   I will strengthen you and help you.
      I will hold you up with my victorious right hand. ~ Isaiah 41:10

4 - Gas

I wish I could ride a bicycle to work…it cost me $52.50 to fill up my little 13 gallon gas tank today…$52.50!!! I couldn’t even watch as the price grew higher and higher…when it finally clicked off and I turned and looked at the price, I felt lightheaded. And then I just wanted to put my car in the garage and not go anywhere. But errands called…ugh!

3 - A Day With The Awesome Boy

I spent today with my son…he is spending the month with his faa-thaa and I miss him. I never realize how empty my home, my life, my world is until he’s away. It’s like when he goes away to camp every year…that week is so quiet. I usually make it through the week, but by Thursday or Friday, I start going into his room, and playing the XBox (don’t ever tell him that) finding other little ways that I can to be close to him. But being away from him for a month? Hard. So I went and picked him up today, under the guise that we needed to buy him some new shorts and t-shirts for the summer (yeah, okay…the boy has more clothes than I do) and then we ended up at a movie and of course, dinner. Absence really does make the heart grow fonder, I guess…

2 - Stay

More Jodeci…I told you, I’m on a thing…

video credit: originally uploaded to YouTube on June 17, 2007 by XCharts

1 - Seven Deadly Sins

I found this on Krush’s blog…I thought it was pretty interesting, so I am stealing it (I told him I was stealing it, so it’s all good)…

LUST: Besides your current Significant Other who do you lust for or have you lusted for? I would have to say that there is currently no lust; but in the past…plenty. That is all that I’m admitting.

GLUTTONY: What food brings out your inner glutton? Chocolate…anything.

GREED: What are you greedy for? Right now? Sleep…

SLOTH: What is your plan for an ideal day of sloth? My bed, surrounded by magazines and books and the remote…

WRATH: Describe a time that you let out a can of whoop ass on someone. I have never done this…but I have told off some people in my day…

ENVY: Who or what do you envy? Why? Envy is bad for the soul…I don’t envy anyone.

PRIDE: Have you ever had to swallow your pride? What are you proud of? I have to swallow my pride daily. Being humble is something that is hard to do. But humility is key in resigning yourself to living the kind of life that is meant for you. I am proud that I know what love is.

Happy Saturday everyone!