Archive for the ‘family’ Category
14
One of the consequences of Global Warming has been the inconsistent weather in different parts of the country. Some places are getting enough rain to cause major floods and other parts of the country aren’t getting little if any rain at all. This has caused local and state to begin asking residents to conserve water. With the economy and the threat of huge fines, people are cutting back on their water use. And if you can believe this, not only are water company officials complaining about their “diminishing profits” but they also want to raise the rates AGAIN!
The county of San Diego initiated MANDATORY water rationing back in June. This water rationing included only being able to water your lawn on certain days of the week, for no more than 10 minutes, and being asked to keep showers at 5 minutes. They also raised the water rates by 40%. That means that some families water bills went from $150.00 a month to to over $210.00 a month. And remember, you are using LESS water and PAYING MORE for it! Those factors, along with the shrinking budgets of many families, led to people cut their water usage. In some water districts, the water usage went down more than 20%. Which is exactly what is supposed to happen right? Apparently not!
As a recent water meeting, water officials lamented the lost revenue that has come with the water rationing. They are saying that their costs are still the same but their profits have dropped. That they may need to “dip into their reserves“, or shrink operating expenses to carry out mandatory state and federal laws. And they are also talking about “relaxing” water restriction rules.”Or, and this is what is pissing me off, they want to raise water rates again. They are supposed to include a letter in this month’s bill “asking residents” if they want their water rates raised. And we are supposed to send the “vote” back to disagree with it. Oh, and to show you just how ass backwards this whole thing is, they will spend $140,000.00 to send out the notices. And that is not a small amount of money is it?
I hope the residents of San Diego County don’t just sit back and allow their water rates to be raised with saying or doing anything about it. This whole think is making me believe that there really isn’t a water shortage. This is just another excuse the pockets of the citizens of San Diego, California!
10
Staycation. One of the newest terms to come out of the recession. Staycation. For those of you who don’t know what a staycation is, that is when you have the TIME to go on a vacation, but don’t have the MONEY to pay for it. Like that shit is something. Like anything, when it happens to anyone else, it doesn’t mean anything. But when it happens to white people, it gets legitimized and gets a name. STAYCATION. Ain’t that a BITCH!
I read everyday’s paper. Meaning some days I get busy and don’t read Monday’s paper on Monday. I might read it on Tuesday. But I read everyday’s paper. And I was aware of what that meant. But when my mother heard about it, she laughed so hard that tears came from her eyes!
My mother and I went out to purchase a couch and when we got to the store we found them to be unacceptable. My dog wouldn’t have climbed their furry butts on those raggedy ass couches. So moms said she wanted to go the “water.” We stopped off at the store and bought a couple of drinks and headed to the beach. On the way to Harbor Drive, I saw a sign that said “Staycation.” I said, out loud, “Staycation, Ain’t that a Bitch!” Mom asked me what did it mean. So I explained it to her. I then said that “Black folks have been “staycationing” our entire lives. Now that it happening to white people it got a name!” With those words, mom let out a laugh that I hadn’t heard in a while. And every time I looked at her, she would laugh even louder and harder. It got to the point that I was laughing at her, laughing at me, laughing at her. By the time we parked, moms had tears coming from her eyes.
Continue reading “Staycation. Ain’t this a BITCH!” »
22
As I wrote in my post on July 1, 2009, “How old are you, anyways“, I spoke about the NBA requirement that players be at least 19 years old and a year out of high school before entering the league. Since most players entering the league are African American, I positioned that the rule was racist and prevents MEN who are old enough to die for their country, from being able to support their families. Recent events have given further proof that racism is alive and well in the NBA!
The next “great white hope” to enter the NBA in a few years is a kid named Ricky Rubio. He is from Spain and is supposed to be Magic, Nash, and Pete Maravich, all rolled into one. At 17, he played for the Spanish National Team and is said to have held his own against the United States team. At 18, just a few months ago, Rubio was drafted by the Minnesota Timberwolves. And needless to say, he isn’t very happy about it. The wolves have been AWFUL since the “Big Ticket“, Kevin Garnett left a few years ago. And the Wolves are pulling out all of the stops to get Ricky to come to Minnesota. But isn’t he only 18 years old? Wouldn’t that be against the NBA rules?
Continue reading “How old are you again?” »
01
For a few years now, the NBA has had a rule that says you have to be at least 19 years old to play in the league. That you can go to Iraq or Afghanistan and lose body parts and your LIFE, but not be allowed to run around in some shorts with some other guys in shorts has escaped a lot of people. That the rule is playing games with people’s lives also seems to be forgotten. As yet, there hasn’t been a case of someone losing their life waiting to become old enough to play in the league. But would possibly losing a parent suffice?
Anyone who knows me knows that I am a basketball junkie. I will watch, play, and talk about basketball all day long. While some people watch basketball for the dunks, I’m at home calling out the defensive and offensive sets. And this goes back to the seventies. I can name every championship team, beginning in 1977 to the present. I can tell the difference between a 1-2-1 trap and a 2-3 zone. So the age limit rule kinda pissed me off. Because as a fan, I want to see the best players available. If they are over 18, they should be able to play. And to hear CLUCKS like Charles Barkley, who I like, and Shane BITCHIER who is overrated, agree with it was even more appalling. Because while Bitchier’s family might have been able to pay for his college education, people like Charles wouldn’t have been able to go to college if it weren’t for basketball. I guess Charles forgot about the money he has ADMITTED to receiving while playing at Auburn. And Shane is probably worried about some “young gun” taking his job for half the salary!
Continue reading “How old are you anyways?” »
30
If you have been reading my posts on a regular basis, you know that I spent five years working for a Non-Profit Teen Drug and Alcohol treatment center. Some of the teens were teen mothers and fathers. One of my “hats” was as the Intake Coordinator. I explained the treatment program to the teen and his or her parents or guardians. I also explained the rules or our center. And lastly, I explained how all of this fit in with their probation. Early on I learned not to ask certain questions to the teens in front of their parents because I would either get the “gee, I only used drugs one time, and that was the time I got arrested” answer. Or they would lie and say they used every drug under the sun to watch their parents eyes role around in their heads. Or they would say that they were sexually active when they weren’t or say they they had never had sex when they were either pregnant or had gotten their girlfriend pregnant. So on the first day of treatment, I would complete the intake process. And I would always add another question to the “intake form.” I would ask the teens, “where do you see yourself in six months, one year, and five years.” Yup, the same questions we are asked on job interviews. And to my horror, the last answer was usually “dead.”
The Drug and Alcohol Treatment center where I worked was in the “inner city“, but we had teens of all ages, races, sexes, sexual preferences, and income levels, at our center. And while 90% of the teens involved in the treatment center were there because they were on probation, some were brought in by their parents who were concerned about their erratic behavior. But in completing the intake process, I found a common tread running through 85% of the teens in the program. A fatalistic view of of their future. While some kinds might have been in the “wrong place at the wrong time”, some of the kids were just “living their lives to the fullest.” Or living “La Vida Loca.” (The Crazy Life) And the things they admitted to having participated in shouldn’t have been a surprise to anyone who was paying attention.
Continue reading “Dead” »
25
Governor Mark Sanford – REPUBLICAN – from South Carolina, tearfully admitted to having traveled half way across the world to have an affair. He was missing for the last 7 days and NO ONE, not even his FAMILY, knew where he was. Sanford was “surprised” with all of the hoopla that surrounded his absence and couldn’t understand what the fuss was about. Never mind the FACT that he is a public official and that he is answerable to the people of South Carolina 24/7/365, but he failed to tell anyone where he was or what he was doing. When the story first broke, the governor went on a “hike”, I guess that is the new REPUBLICAN word for affair. As more people began to talk and whisper, he finally came clean about the affair. That he had an affair is not news. Affairs happen all of the time. What is galling is that this REPUBLICAN has consistently voted NO to allowing Lesbians and Gays both Civil Unions or Same Couple Marriages. Is this the “sanctity of marriage” that he has vowed to protect?
Mark initially told his staff that he was going “hiking in the Appalachian Mountains” and never told them that he was headed for Argentina. The year long affair with a woman he termed as a “dear dear friend” is allegedly over. Over about 72 hours ago. Thank goodness he rushed into ending the affair. Once he was caught in the lie, it was over before the light switch could be turned off! But I wonder. If no one had questioned where he was for the past seven days, would he have ended the affair? Or would he have even made the affair public knowledge?
Listening to him speak, I was waiting for the words “I have sinned against you” to come forth from his mouth. He talked for more than 8 minutes, many times in tears, puzzles, riddles, and tongue-twisters, before saying the word “affair.” This is a man who has claimed to be a “family man” and a “god fearing christian” was willing to travel almost 5000 miles to break his marriage vows.
Continue reading “Is this the “sanctity of marriage” you are protecting?” »
17
President Obama has decided to allow the partners of Lesblan and Gay federal employees the same benefits as their straight co-workers. WOW! That’s awful damn WHITE of him!
And not nearly good enough!
He has refused to step in and end “Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell.” He has refused to end, what he promised to do before the elections, DOMA – Defense of Marriage Act – which he as the ability to do. Yet he thinks this is supposed to placate us! No, not even close!
Lesbians and Gays supported Obama in large numbers and if he thinks he would have gotten elected without our MONEY, organizing skills, and support, I can guarantee you, he is sadly mistaken. While he certainly brought together a large and diverse coalition of people, we were at the forefront of this group. And we are growing tired of waiting on him to do what he promised to do.
I pay taxes, FEDERAL TAXES, and don’t appreciate my tax dollars being used to discriminate against me. If the Federal Government has laws on the books that make discrimination legal, why should we be surprised that states are doing the same thing?
Major props to Iowa, New Hampshire, Vermont, Massachusetts, Connecticut, and Maine who are either already performing Same Couple Marriages, or are scheduled to begin in 2009 or 2010.
Hey california. How is the budget melt down working out for ya!!!! According to the prestigious Williams Institute, they estimate that the passage of Proposition 8 will cost the state more than $800 million in the next three years, due to a loss of revenue for weddings and various auxiliary services. Not to mention the “trickle down theory” that applies to more money in people’s hands.
I guess that old saying is right. Bigotry, Hate, and Racism affects EVERYONE! Not just the people it is aimed at!!!!
23
In last Tuesday’s california election, every proposition that the Governor Schwarzenegger backed was RESOUNDINGLY DEFEATED. Even with his threats to cut health care, education, and fire and police protection, the california citizens didn’t bite. So we will see if the threats made by the governor come to pass. But that is not the real question. Because with one vote, california already signed its fate. californians voted for Prop 8, which made marriage between Same Gendered Couples illegal.
Before the election and discussion might now be accelerated, there was talk of maybe legalizing Marijuana. This drug is called a “Schedule 1″ drug as far as the Federal Government is concerned, meaning it is one of the worse drugs in the world. Other Schedule 1 drugs include: Heroin, GHB, and Meth Amphetamine. And to show just how silly this really is, COCAINE is NOT a Schedule 1 drug but Marijuana is! Yet there is serious talk about legalizing a drug that is supposed to be one of the worse drugs in the world. californians would rather have a bunch of potheads instead of law abiding Same Couple Marriages.
An article came out on May 17, 2009, a few days before the california elections, which stated that the state of Massachusetts has gotten a 111 million dollar windfall since it legalized Same Couple Marriage. NOW, 111 million dollars is a drop in the bucket compared to the money that is needed to shore up the california budget, but the fact remains that Same Couple Marriage brings money and JOBS into the state of Massachusetts. Massachusetts’ unemployment rate is at 8% and california’s is around 11%. The “trickle down theory” of the money being spent in Massachusetts and not in california should be lost here. Iowa, another state that has legalized Same Couple Marriage, has an unemployment rate of 5.1%. And their tourism industry is on the rise with Lesbian and Gay couples from surrounding states taking buses to Iowa to get married. Since there is a 3 day waiting period to get a marriage license, I wonder how much money is being spent in Iowa for hotels, Limos, food, lounging, and catering services, just to name a few. AGAIN, money that could be flowing into the coffers of california. Because the bottom line, and no offense to Massachusetts or Iowa, california is a better place to be and get married! Not only can you go from the beach, to the snow, and then to the desert in hours, but you are right near an international border in Mexico where you can have a whole other experience! People came from not just other states, but OTHER COUNTRIES to get married in california when it was legal! Don’t you get it!!!
Continue reading “I’d rather pay more in taxes than allow Gay Marriage!” »
21
Black folks, what the hell is your problem? For a race of people who have faced the worse bigotry, discrimination, and racism, in HISTORY, to turn around and do that to another group of people UNFATHOMABLE. And to hear Black people says that they resent the implication that the fight for Same Couple Marriage is a civil rights issue, makes it even worse. And to top it off, the Black church seems to be at the forefront of this “Campaign of Nonsense.” Oppression is Oppression! How hard is that to understand!
In a recent article, some Black clergymen stated their opposition to this struggle being “co-opted” by Gays and Lesbians. Yet here are some of the reasons that they used to justify their arguments. We know what we have gone through as an ethnic group, said Rev. William Gillison, pastor of Mount Olive Baptist Church. Bishop Michael A. Badger, pastor of Bethesda World Harvest International Church, said that he doesn’t doubt there is discrimination against gay people but that it is hardly on the order of what African-Americans have encountered and still face. If you know what discrimination feels like, how can you in good conscious turn around and do the exact same thing? Do they think their are no Lesbian and Gay parishioners in their church? Ignoring the situation is not going to go away. And just like the Civil Rights Struggle that Black folks went through, Lesbians and Gays are not going to quit. We aren’t going back in the closet, and we are not going to let you marginalize us. Hell, that sounds like a Civil Rights struggle to me. Do you really think the struggle is different? Let us count the ways.
Continue reading “Is Gay the new Black?” »
12
I recently read that Mark Cuban, owner of the Dallas Mavericks, made a comment to on opposing players mother. Cuban either called Denver Nugget Kenyon Martin a “thug” or a “punk” to Kenyon’s mother’s face or he agreed with comments made my other Maverick fans. And as fans were calling Martin a “thug”, Mark said “that includes your son!” OH HELL NO!!!!
Let’s start from the beginning. First off, Cuban has been a pompous ass since he came into the league.No owner has been fined as much or as often than he has. And he has literally ran out on the court to “protect” his players. WFT???? That’s like having your mama come up to the school after you have just gotten beaten up! But I digress. He has spent oodles of money making the Mavs locker room a place you never want to leave. And spent just as much money on players to try and “buy a championship.” It hasn’t happened.
The last two seasons, his teams have gotten EMBARRASSED in the playoffs with most fingers pointing AT him for his “hands on” mentality. He has placed his hopes and dreams on a guy, Dirk Notwizki, who is like another Dallas athlete, Cowboys Tony Romo, a STAT STUFFER! Great for fantasy football but you aren’t going to hoist a trophy with either guy being your “number one.” His team has been labeled “soft” with no “heart.” The players staged a MUTINY, and threatened to walk, unless then Coach Avery Johnson, was fired. He has made silly trades, Jason Kidd for Devin Harris?, and wonders why he is no closer to winning a title. Every loss reflects badly on HIM personally. So frustration is setting in.
Continue reading “Ya Mama!” »