Just A Few Thoughts About 2009

Sometimes life gets in the way of blogging. Believe me there have been many things that have been happening that I have wanted to put my two cents into but I decided that I best save my energy for the issues and concerns that really count. That doesn't mean that I don't care any less, but I just don't have the time or energy to respond.

Here are a few things that bothered me this year,  I would say it's a top ten but then I would be limiting myself. So far the biggest disappointments of 2009 for me have been:

• Continuation of the war in Afghanistan
  We still haven't learned lessons from the British nor the Russians who came before us; those destined to ignore history are likely to keep repeating it over and over again. It is a no win situation with no real goal other than to prop up a puppet government and harvest poppy plants. Supporting Hamid Karzai and his merry band of thieves and CIA operatives is like throwing expensive perfume on a $2 whore.
  
  
• Expecting more from President Obama than he is capable of delivering
  Being the first anything is bound to heap all kinds of expectations on you and Barack Obama is no exception. From those questioning his legitimacy to those expecting him to do more to help blacks and the poor to the Nobel Peace Prize selection committee, we need to ease up some. Obama has barely been in office a year yet and people are already criticizing and praising him for all the wrong reasons. He has much to deal with in the way of domestic and international issues. Sure, its change I can believe in, but change does not come overnight and it would be foolish of us to think so.
  
  The great thing about living in a 'democracy' is that we get to criticize our President and our elected officials without fear of reprisal, getting thrown into jail or being beaten which doesn't play so well in other parts of the world like Guinea, China or Iran.
  
  
• Tiger Woods is now a black man
  Tiger has gone and done it now. Not only is he the first billionaire athlete but he also has the distinction of being human like the rest of us. His poor judgment and decision to cheat on his blonde Swedish wife Elin has earned him the wrath of his adoring fans and admirers. If rumors are to be believed, he's somewhere in somebody's sex addiction clinic. Well, work it out then Tiger.
  
  I have contended all along that if Tiger's wife was black, none of these people would be all that concerned about his adultery. Skank after skeezy skank has come out of the woodwork to share their stories about Tiger and his sexual prowess. Did you hear the one about how well endowed he is? (a persistent and nagging stereotype about black man = big penis, even in 2009!?)
  
  I'm glad Tiger has decided to step out of the spotlight because no one would be concentrating on his golf game anyway. It's no surprise his sponsors are jumping ship, this is some messy, messy stuff.
  
  (Psssst Tiger: I ain't mad at you because I never claimed you in the first place, but now that you have gone and cheated on your wife, people are all of the sudden seeing you as a black man. I know you aren't liking that much. Black men don't get much love here in the USA but you are almost richer than god and folks are bound to overlook that for awhile anyway.)
   
• Even religious people will support evil no matter what affiliation
  Whether it's those nihilist suicide bombers who are claiming to avenge some perceived threat to Islam and the Muslim world or those praying for the death of President Obama for whatever reason or those who believe that Palestinians have no right to their homes, land or livelihoods, it doesn't matter. Wrong is wrong.
  
  None of these acts have anything to do with faith or religion, they are both about hate. Most reasonable people know religion is used to justify a whole truckload of sins and wrongdoing but some of us fall for this every time. Enough of the hypocrisy.
  
  
• Murdering homosexuals because they are homosexuals
  What someone does in the privacy of their bedroom and with whom they do it is of little concern to me, (excludes pedophiles, unconsenting adults, farm animals) why are we so fixated on homosexuals and what they do in the bedroom?
  
  Uganda could possibly enact a very harsh law which would call for people labeled as homosexuals to be executed. Don't be surprised to find that some American religious leaders behind this law since they could never get away with having a law like this enacted in this country, why not influence some government in an unstable African country to adopt this policy? After all homosexuals are people that everyone can hate, right? Even if you lack basic necessities like food, water and shelter, homosexuality is a greater threat to your livelihood than your corrupt, self-serving leaders.
  
  
• Shout-out to the 'soon-to-be-ex'
  You have by far been last year's biggest disappointment. I expected more from you and you let me down, down, down. Your lies, deceit and other chicanery are not amusing whether you are acting on your own or with the encouragement of others. Regardless, you still have no excuse for your unconscionable behavior so tell as many stories about me as you like.
  
  Nothing good ever comes out of this type of cowardly, deceitful behavior. 2010 will be a much better year for me because I won't be with you.

Link of the Day: Girl, Get Me Started!

I love Jill Nelson. I've been a fan ever since I read her book "Volunteer Slavery". She's funny, she's smart and is an excellent observer of human nature. Her take on the Tiger Woods' drama is priceless. You can read it here.

For the backhand that Tiger gave to black women everywhere, his taste in sleazy, big mouth women has cost him his spotless reputation and has lightened his wallet considerably. I guess high standards on the golf course don't necessarily transfer to other areas of his life. Take it from me Elin, once a cheater always a cheater.

The Appeal of Sarah Palin Demystified

This video sums up the popularity of Sarah Palin among a certain segment of our population. She's evil, mean-spirited and not-so-bright but she is selling books. I'm hoping this woman fades into the Alaskan tundra never to be heard again.

The people who show up at Palin's book signings are passionate, patriotic and well, you can figure it out yourself after watching this video.

FOX News' Juan Williams: Still in the House

Juan and Rush sittin' in the tree, k-i-s-s-i-n-g....  Oh damn. Juan Williams is kissing Rush Limbaugh's ass big time. In case you haven't been following along, talk show host Limbaugh was one of the investors attempting to buy a piece of the St. Louis Rams. Limbaugh was predictably dropped from the bid after his participation drew criticism from a diverse group of the populace including team members and NFL owner, Jim Ursay. Most Americans are not ready for Limbaugh behind the scenes in the NFL either. 

Poor Limbaugh probably never played sports in school. He reminds me of the not-so-smart kid who was picked last for every thing and teased mercilessly. Now that he's rich, angry and famous, he wants to reclaim sports moments he never had. First he failed as a  sports commentator on ESPN. Last week he was dumped by his partners in a bid to own the St. Louis Rams. Am I the only one who thought it was a bad idea to take on Limbaugh as an investor in a sport that is dominated by black men in the first place?

There is no room in the NFL for a bigot like Limbaugh. Too bad Juan Williams doesn't understand this. In typical house negro fashion, Williams has stepped forward to defend Limbaugh's honor again. Williams hopes to even the playing field by calling for Keith Olbermann to be fired as commentator on ESPN. That's conservative tit-for-tat. Too bad one has nothing to do with the other. Fringe commentators like Limbaugh only see things in black and white and are intolerant of opinions that do not match their own.

Juan Williams might as well be the FOX News lawn jockey too. Comparing Limbaugh's racist diatribes to Olbermann's progress views is ridiculous. It was Limbaugh who called President Obama racist. It was Limbaugh who said he wants President Obama to fail which is an affront to all Americans. Olbermann's only crime has been to point out the absurdity of opinions like Limbaugh's and those of his ilk.

It's too bad Juan Williams is drinking out of the same water cooler as Limbaugh. I don't have a problem with conservatives but I do have a problem with intolerance and hate. Just because someone doesn't agree with you doesn't make them wrong.  I don't expect Williams to know any better, he's earning his money over at FOX News. They need Williams just like the Republicans need Michael Steele. Where is he when they are organizing their tea parties, misrepresenting facts and supporting other divisive foolishness? It's no surprise Juan Williams has a perch at FOX News.

Dumbassness of the Day: Michael Steele and a 'Rodney King Moment'

The HNIC of the GOP Michael Steele was on Fox News recently decrying the passage of the health care reform. He was perky, confident and full of optimism. I get it, the Republicans aren't for any kind of health care reform but what did Steele mean when he said they needed to have a "Rodney King Moment"? Was he talking about a slow speed police chase, a police squad beat down of a black suspect or an angry mob riot?

Michael Steele is and always will be the hippest guy in the room. His nuanced communication style and simpleminded analogies leave me scratching my head. He's the cow (or is it ass) on the tracks blocking healthcare.Oh, to be the black face of the Republican party, it doesn't get any better than this.

Star Jones Calls It

Photo:  Roman Polanski

 

I agree with Star Jones about the Roman Polanski situation. Just in case you haven't heard or read about it, here's the brief version: Star, an attorney and guest panelist on 'The Insider' television show said what many of us believe and has ignited some controversy. She's been accused of playing the race card for pointing out what most of us already know: if Roman Polanski were Spike Lee, he would have been arrested years ago.

Polanski, an acclaimed film director, was convicted of raping a 13 year old girl in 1977. While out on bail, he fled the US and has lived in France and Switzerland ever since. Although he has not returned to the US, he has traveled freely between his homes in France and Switzerland without much concern until he was arrested a couple of weeks ago. His arrest has not been without controversy, he has his share of both supporters and detractors.

I applaud Star's candor. Roman Polanski is white and rich which affords him a privileged position in our society. The moral yardstick with which he is measured is quite different from the one that would be used if he were Spike Lee, an African American director or Willie Lee from inner-city USA.

In the case of Spike and Willie, neither would be allowed to roam the world as freely as Polanski has. Poor Willie Lee would still be serving time for rape and Spike, with his money and expensive lawyers, may have gotten off with a lighter sentence but the rape charge would have ruined his movie career. Polanski hasn't had to serve his time and his career has not suffered in spite of his conviction for raping and drugging a 13 year old girl.

Race has always been front and center in this country. We don't like to discuss it but it influences nearly every aspect of our lives. So for Star Jones to point out the obvious in Roman Polanski's case, doesn't mean she's playing the race card, she's just telling it like it is.

Akon and Wyclef at the MAMAs

Photo:  The Gossip Jacker

 

I see foolishness isn't exclusive to the MTV Awards here in the states. Akon and Wyclef Jean treated the audience of the MTV Africa Awards (aka the MAMAs) to more than their prescence the other night. I see vulgarity still trumps talent.

Link of the Day: Ad from Craig's List

This scathing ad from Craigslist accurately reflects the frustration that many of us feel with the current job market and potential employers. As of September 2009, the unemployment rate was 9.5%. The economy and unemployment are bound to get worse before they get better. It's rough times for just about everyone.

Dear employers with job openings,

I just want to take a moment or two to thank all the companies that now only use online applications for the jobs for which I am best qualified. I'm so happy to know that in the past eight years, you have dropped the very impersonal practice of requesting well written resumes (which took the place of having me come into your place of business in person and fill out an application by hand) and now for convenience, give me the opportunity to waste my fucking time trying to guess what it is you want me to write in your online application fields in eight words or less, what work I've done that will make you call me for an interview. Because of this new-found simple-mindedness of yours, I can guarantee that you will have the weakest, most uninteresting, unmotivated new-hires EVER!

Because I have had to have more than three jobs in the past eight years, at which I have excelled, some of which I was laid-off from due to down-sizing, and most of which are your competitors in the marketplace, you will never know what I have done because you only allow three previous employers in your simple, automated application program or only want experience from the past five years.

Because I have always been capable of doing more than one thing at a time, you will never know that as a free-lance writer/costume designer/photographer, what I have done Monday through Friday to support myself quite well, thank you, is to be the most efficient, bright, hard-working, easy-going, intelligent and dependable administrative assistant an employer could wish for. But you will never know that because your measly-ass job application program is only looking for words your witless HR staff has programmed it to look for and then spitting out applications by people like myself with a form email thanking me for my interest and wishing me luck.

Thank you also for the Myers-Briggs psychometric type test to see if I actually would be able to sit next to another person and not drive them crazy.

Thank you for sparing me the waste of my time outshining most of your other staff in their presence by having me come in to your office in person, dressed to the nines, flashing my intensely alert eyes at you, and shaking your hand with confidence, yet sensitively. You wouldn't hire me anyway because I'm probably more interesting than you and therefore a threat.

You have saved me from the humiliation of taking a position with a company that probably has the dullest, most unadventurous, most boring staff that has been hired through this elimination process of an online application to which you have given ultimate authority to decide, only by the selection of some dozen or so "key" words, to interview.

And we wonder why there are banks going under, businesses making toxic loans, stock market losses, medical errors, corruption, Bernie Madoffs in the world, and police who can't allow a family to be with their dying mother so he can write a ticket.

Yours very truly,

The one that got away

To Blog or Not to Blog

With recent events going on in this country, in the world and my personal life, I've been less enthusiastic about blogging lately. Sure I still get riled up over the fact that our elected officials in Congress still don't understand the importance of creating a public health care option for the rest of us. Health care is right, not a privilege.

I still get riled up about the neverending attacks and protests against President Obama because they really are about race and little else. Former President Jimmy Carter called it correctly and said what President Obama could not say. It's all about race. So much for a post-racial America, electing a black president doesn't mean the end of racism. No matter how educated or well-qualified, some people will never accept a black man as POTUS.


It is no surprise that the Obama haters sat quietly through eight years of George W. Bush and Dick Cheney who plotted and schemed us into not one but two wars and a trillion dollar deficit can barely stand eight months of Obama. Between the tea parties and baseless law suits, these folks are already talking impeachment and succession. Too bad they are serious. It's about time for my favorite conservative looney and negro token, Alan Keyes to jump on this one. He's like the black lawn jockey in front of the big house, just rub his head and he'll bring you good luck or at least 2 minutes of publicity and a ridiculous sound byte. He practically foams at the mouth when talking about Obama.

Michael Steele is still his usual simple self, some things never change. I'm thinking Obama's Nobel Peace Prize must have really sent his silly ass over the edge; he practically tripped over his own feet to condemn the Nobel Peace Prize committee and tell everyone Obama didn't deserve the award. Thanks for the tip Michael. Do you really think the Norweigans really care what you, the birthers, tenthers and the rest of the Obama-haters think?

I'm somewhat excited that Kanye West has decided to give us all a break too. There's only so much of him that any of us should be allowed to take. Now if he could only take Miss Amber, Glenn Beck, the Kardashians and Jon and Kate with him, I'd be eternally grateful. Sometimes we all just need a break.

The U.S.S. Constitution and Other Health Care Reform Lies

I wish President Obama would stop trying to befriend his enemies. He's losing momentum and credibility on health care reform. He hasn't done a very good job at making his case for reform. The lies and rumors have much more credibility than they should. From the rumored death panel lies to the abortion on demand rumors, the more preposterous the lie, the more likely it is to be believed. When is the President going to learn that you can't always make nice with your enemies?

The lies spread by opponents of health care like Glenn Beck, Rush Limbaugh and the rest of the GOP are simply astounding, no matter how ridiculous or absurd the lies are, you are going to find some people who believe them. If you don't believe me, just listen to some of the comments made by people attending a health care reform meeting last week. The ignorance from the people is just astounding. They don't read, don't listen and don't know what the hell they are talking about.

I'm assuming they are all employed, have health insurance and are happy with it. I know people like Beck, Limbaugh and Republican members of Congress don't ever have to worry about whether their health insurance is going to pay for their gall bladder surgery or cover that new prescription. On the other hand, the nearly 44 million of uninsured people in this country don't have this option.

The people interviewed for this video are too angry for this to only be about health care.