Abortion Issue Revisited... Again?

by Sayntj

Here we go again, one man with psychological issues that has the pro-life up in arms!

Under Pennsylvania law, abortions are illegal after 24 weeks of pregnancy, or just under six months, and most doctors won't perform them after 20 weeks because of the risks, prosecutors said.

In a typical late-term abortion, the fetus is dismembered in the uterus and then removed in pieces. That is more common than the procedure opponents call "partial-birth abortion," in which the fetus is partially extracted before being destroyed. Prosecutors said Gosnell instead delivered many of the babies alive.

He "induced labor, forced the live birth of viable babies in the sixth, seventh, eighth month of pregnancy and then killed those babies by cutting into the back of the neck with scissors and severing their spinal cord," District Attorney Seth Williams said.

Gosnell referred to it as "snipping," prosecutors said. (source)

Now we need to have the same damn debate. How late is too late? Should we go have the Supreme Court revisit this? Kermit Gosnell is proving that legalized abortion will not stop unhealthy procedures!

Wait a minute! One man with obvious mental deficiencies doesn’t disqualify the legalized abortion point. Why are you being so short-sighted in your approach? If Sarah Palin didn’t have any responsibility with Loughner killing anyone, how does a man with the sociopathic tendencies of Hannibal Lecter prove the pro-life stance? By that line of thinking, Scott Roeder should make pro-choice the land of the law forever.

First, the issue isn’t about abortion, it’s about the right to privacy! Its not about your religious beliefs being the law of the land!  If you are able to find a lawyer to help you with understanding that, please do so. Roe v. Wade is not about the possibility of pro-life or pro-choice, it’s pro-constitution.

Next, let’s be honest, if abortions were made illegal tomorrow, the rich would still have access to it! Paris Hilton (sorry Paris) would still be able to go and have an abortion if she so saw fit. So let’s not get into an issue that banning the law would stop abortions.

For those that are pro-choice…stop fighting a fight that isn’t your own. Domestic violence, sexual abuse, and the possibility of dying should not be the argument of pro-choice proponents. It’s the law, it’s in the constitution, and doctor/patient privilege is all you need.

But there is more, isn’t it?

Crazy Bitch: "Diddy Owes Me $100 Zillions"

Not to be outdone by Hubert or Dennis in the loony lawsuit contest, some deranged woman in Los Angeles has filed a domestic violence petition against American superstar musician, Sean Puff Daddy Puffy P Diddy Combs, claiming he owes her some $900,000,000,000 in child support, $10,000,000,000 in "lost of income," and a Mississippi casino chip valued at "over $100 zillions of dollars" ... give or take a straitjacket.

In her petition, the delusional damsel detailed the abuse allegedly dealt by Diddy:

He went through Kim Porter and Rodney King and knocked down the WTC and then they all came and knocked me and my children down. 

Wait, he who wha..? He went "through" people? And Rodney King, no less? Yo, it took almost the entire LAPD to take that mofo down. But Diddy went right "through" him? And Kim Porter. And then Diddy knocked down the WTC. WTF? Is Diddy some kind of comic book villain now??

Chicago Artist, Chris Drew Faces 15 Years in Prison for Recording His Own Arrest

by JuJuBe (Joanna)

Chris Drew was arrested in 2009 for selling items on the Chicago streets without a peddler's license, which is a misdemeanor. While he was being arrested, he surreptitiously recorded the conversation between him and the arresting officers, and continued the recording after he was in custody. And for that, he could be facing a 15 year prison term.

"Illinois has the worst eavesdropping law in the country," Drew said during a phone interview. "[The potential sentence] is one step below murder." Illinois is currently one of 12 states in the country that currently has eavesdropping laws which, according to the Courthouse News Service, "prevents the recording of any part of a conversation without the consent of each participating party." While most of these states provide an exception for civilians recording police conversations, Illinois is one of the three states that do not provide such exceptions with the other two states being Maryland and Massachusetts. The Chicago News Cooperative reports:

Audio-recording a civilian without consent is a Class 4 felony, punishable by up to three years in prison for a first-time offense. A second offense is a Class 3 felony with a possible prison term of five years. Although law-enforcement officials can legally record civilians in private or public, audio-recording a law-enforcement officer, state's attorney, assistant state's attorney, attorney general, assistant attorney general or judge in the performance of his or her duties is a Class 1 felony, punishable by up to 15 years in prison.

Drew is one of nine individuals who are currently being prosecuted for violations against the Eavesdropping Act.

Source

In this day and age when police misconduct is rampant and almost everyone carries a cell phone capable of capturing audio and video, it is unconscionable that an individual can be charged with a crime for protecting himself in case he becomes a victim of police brutality. It is OK for law enforcement to secretly record civilians, yet an ordinary citizen in Illinois faces prosecution if they record a cop? What kind of sense does that make?

Black Indiana Teen Sings National Anthem "Too Black", Asked to Sing the "Less Black-More Traditional" Version After Complaints

Shai Warfield-Cross in School Play

You know, I used to live in Indiana before heading south several years ago. As a matter of fact, I went to college in Indiana - shout out to my fellow IU Hoosiers. Yeah, I been there; went to IU. Of course this was a long time ago; like back in the late 80s. Yep, back when Bobby Knight was jacking up Negroes and throwing chairs across basketball courts during games.

So yeah, when I hear (or get) stories of racism out of Indiana like the following via email and phone-calls from my peeps still there, I'm not really surprised. I mean, I've been long gone as a resident of Indiana, so I assume things may have changed. Hell, Barack Obama won Indiana in 2008, for crying out loud! Surely they're post-racial in Indiana now just like the rest of America, right?

An Indiana school district that told a black teenager to perform "The Star-Spangled Banner" in a "traditional way" after receiving complaints about her performance is drawing questions now about whether the complaints and directive were racially motivated.

Shai Warfield-Cross, 16, has performed the national anthem at sports events at Bloomington High School North over the last year without incident. But school officials said they received complaints about her performance during a game in Martinsville.

Principal Jeff Henderson told The Herald-Times in a statement that people had complained that while the words to the anthem were the same, the tune was unrecognizable. He declined to comment to The Associated Press.

Some who complained after the game in Martinsville - a predominantly white community about 30 miles southwest of Indianapolis - also said they felt the rendition was disrespectful to current and former members of the military, Henderson said.

Warfield-Cross' family says athletics director Jen Hollars told the teen last Friday that she would not be allowed to sing the anthem unless she modified her version and sang in a more traditional way. Hollars declined to comment and referred questions to Henderson, who said school officials told Warfield-Cross the performances should be more "traditional" to ensure the song's tune is recognizable.

"She was not told that she would no longer be allowed to perform," he said. "She was given guidelines that we hoped she would follow. She performed the next night using those guidelines and she sang beautifully."

Aurora Marin, the teen's stepmother, told The Herald-Times that the directive denies Warfield-Cross her "rights of expression and individuality." The family has written a letter to school officials seeking an apology.

"The national anthem is a historical symbol for our country for independence. The irony is that Shai is being denied her right of artistic expression as a result of her natural voice and cultural heritage," they wrote.

"The situation really makes us question the staff and leadership there, and what their representation of diversity is," Marin said. (source)

And this went down in Martinsville, huh? Shoot, I remember back in the day when the old heads used to tell us stories about the signs at the Martinsville city limits. It was a sign that read, "no niggers after dark." As a matter of fact, us black folks were always warned about driving through that city on trips to Indianapolis. I even attended an event there once and was nervous like a whore in church on Sunday morning. Shit, the Klu Klux Klan was once headquartered in Martinsville at one point; that's enough to make a brotha nervous.

Kermit the Killer?: Abortion “Doctor” and Staff Charged With Murders

by Alissa Griffith

Would you put your lunch next to THIS in the refrigerator at your job?The picture above is a fridge in Kermit Gosnell’s abortion clinic. Workers put their lunch in there…squeezed next to bags of dozens of frozen dead babies!

In Pennsylvania alone there are  30-40-thousand (reported) abortions performed per year and authorities say the above gruesome picture is just a snapshot into the horror that has been going on uninspected for 17 years in one Philadelphia clinic. Gosnell allegedly slit the necks, severed the spinal cords, and suctioned the brains of hundreds of born, living, viable babies, sometimes joking along the way.

The Friday Sex Blog [The Divine Fire & Anal Play for Men]

[Editor's Note: The Friday Sex Blog is an attempt at mature (and sometimes humorous) talk about sex mostly from my perspective as a hetero Latino male. However, as I have pointed out numerous times, no sooner I mention my cock or anything having to do with anal sex it’s like a dog whistle for the idiots. So, in the interest of getting the bullshit out the way first, here it goes: My Cock. Watch the classical conditioning go to work… Now for the adults… two things this week: semen retention and because some accused me of being a male chauvinist pig, there’s anal play for men.]

Semen Retention

Okay! Before I go into the meat (pun unintended) of today’s post, I would like to mention an interesting observation. In ancient China, emperors often called on sages, mostly Taoist sages, for sexual advice. However, before accepting any advice, the sage had to go through a test. The emperor required any prospective master to prove his sexual control. He did this by offering the would-be advisor a full glass of wine and demanding the sage insert his penis into it. If he was truly a master, the story goes, he could absorb the wine into his penis and then release it back into the wine glass. This was taken as absolute proof that the sage could absorb a woman’s yin essence and therefore know the secret to immortality.

Don’t laugh: the practice of absorbing fluid into the penis is quite real, and can still be witnessed on the streets of India today. One yogi in Bombay actually sucks up oil into his penis in private and then publicly lights it on fire as he urinates it out! He claims it as divine fire. Imagine that ladies! LMAOOO! Over the past two years, I’ve been engaged in the process of learning this technique, so I might just light your ass on fire if you request it…

Kidding!

This yogic suction technique is one that many people confuse with the true practice of semen retention. I will write more about from the perspective of my experiences. Eventually, imma need a partner. ::wink::

Ronald Flanagan: Cancer Patient Loses Health Insurance Over Two Cents

Ronald & Frances Flanagan

by JuJuBe (Joanna)


For those of you who still believe that a system in which medical insurance comes from private, profit hungry corporations is one which we should stick with, read the story of Ronald Flanagan, a cancer patient who was denied life saving treatment over a two cent shortage in his monthly insurance payment.

It was an innocent enough mistake, according to Ronald's wife, Frances Flanagan.

"If I only had just hit the nine instead of the seven," Frances said.

When she was paying their monthly health insurance premium online in November, Frances swapped a 7 for a 9, leaving their $328.69 payment 2 cents short.

"And now we're just pulling teeth and trying to figure out what's the next step," Frances said.

Their insurance benefits administrator, Ceridian Cobra Services, based in St. Petersburg, Fla., promptly dropped the Flanagans for the 2-cent shortage.

The couple found out about losing their coverage at a doctor's appointment on Jan. 13 while they were at the Exempla Rock Creek Medical Center in Broomfield.

As Ron was getting prepped to have a bone biopsy, Frances was on the phone with Ceridian.

Jailed Akron Mom, Kelley Williams-Bolar Released By Judge Patricia Cosgrove

Great news, folks!

Kelley Williams-Bolar was released from the Summit County Jail Wednesday morning after serving all but one day of a 10-day jail sentence for improperly enrolling her children in Copley-Fairlawn schools.

A jail official confirmed Williams-Bolar was released at about 10 a.m.

Common Pleas Judge Patricia Cosgrove gave Williams-Bolar credit for one day of time served when she was arrested and jailed on multiple felony charges in November 2009, court records show.

On Jan. 18, Williams-Bolar was sentenced to 10 days in jail after a jury convicted her of two felony counts of tampering with records.

The offenses involved several instances of signed or sworn school registration forms, applications for reduced or free school lunches and other official documents authorized by Williams-Bolar when she enrolled her two girls in Copley-Fairlawn schools in August 2006.

In other developments in the case, Akron City Council President Marco Sommerville said he planned to meet with Summit County Prosecutor Sherri Bevan Walsh at 2 p.m. Wednesday to discuss the issue of why the case could not have been resolved without the filing of felony charges.

Williams-Bolar, a single mother who was going to college and working as a teaching assistant at Buchtel High School, had no previous record.

Within hours of the sentencing hearing, Cosgrove spoke out after becoming the target of public outcry over the case, which threatens the mother's job and her hopes to become a school teacher.

Cosgrove said the prosecutor's office refused to consider reducing the charges to misdemeanors during numerous closed-door talks to resolve the case outside of court. (source)

Now we need to hear from the over-zealous prosecutors office as to why this matter wasn't dealt with appropriately and at least counted as a misdemeanor and not a felony. Big congrats to all the people who took to the internet by signing the petition at change.org. And a hearty thank you to Judge Patricia Cosgrove for doing what was right and just. See folks, with a little bit of work, we can make things happen. Hopefully she'll be able to fulfill her dream of being a school teacher; she shouldn't have had it come to this.

Jailed Akron Mom, Kelly Williams-Bolar Exclusive Interview From Jail [VIDEO]

(H/T @AllAboutRace)

Spoke about this travesty of justice yesterday; there's also a featured circulating petition  also in that post. She still sits in jail serving her sentence for sending her kids to a "different" school district. But the good news is that she had a visit by her state representatives. They've vowed to ensure that she gets her sought after job as a school teacher upon completion of her degree. Today I have an exclusive jailhouse interview via newsnet5.com. Take a minute and a half out of your life (that's the entire length of the following video) to check it out, and should you feel compelled, do sign the petition supporting her appeal:

Single Black Mother Jailed for Sending Her Kids to "Better" School District [UPDATE]

(Updated: 01/25/11 @ 4:30PM)

We often hear these crazy stories involving parents and children, and as is often the case, we walk away from such stories with the notion that some parents just don't care and they should never have kids. This came up last week when we discussed truancy and parents being held accountable for the actions of their children after missing so many days of school. However, rarely do we hear stories or celebrate the individuals who do care. Individuals vested in the future of their children, enough so as to go the extra mile to get them there.

Well folks, pictured in that mugshot above is Kelly Williams-Bolar. Of course her picture above being a mugshot could only mean one thing. That's right, she committed a criminal act and was arrested as are many people who just so happen to be parents. Her story is a bit different though; and, it's a story you won't hear told by president Obama at the State of the Union address tonight, or in the future. At any rate, it's a story like most on this site, that should leave you angry:

An Ohio mother of two was sentenced to 10 days in jail and placed on three years probation after sending her kids to a school district in which they did not live.  Kelly Williams-Bolar was sentenced by Judge Patricia Cosgrove on Tuesday and will begin serving her sentence immediately.

The jury deliberated for seven hours and the courtroom was packed as the sentence was handed down.  She was convicted on two counts of tampering with court records after registering her two girls as living with their father when they actually lived with her. The family lived in the housing projects in Akron, Ohio, and the father’s address was in nearby Copley Township.

Additionally, Williams-Bolar’s father, Edward L. Williams, was charged with a fourth-degree felony of grand theft, in which he and his daughter are charged with defrauding the school system for two years of educational services for their girls.  The court determined that sending their children to the wrong school was worth $30,500 in tuition. (source)

Lemme tell you something; something that I'm sure many of you can identify with. As parents, we want what's best for our children. Be that as it may, especially when it comes to education, we do whatever we have to. What this woman did is very common in "urban" settings. I mean after all, we can't all live in the suburbs, right? Lord forbid us actually doing what we have to do to prevent our kids from falling into the trap of the  prison pipeline via urban public schools. How dare a single black mother in the projects be so defiant.

Separate But Comparable?: A Response to VH1's New Show Being Questioned as the Black "Sex and the City"

In 1896, Homer Plessey--a "Negro" who could pass as white--refused to leave the "whites only" designated cart, resulting in the infamous Plessey v. Ferguson decision. Plessey v. Ferguson mandated what would eventually become an American celebrated tradition--"separate but equal". It would not be until the 1954 Supreme Court case, Brown v. Board of Education, that Americans would come to find out that "separate" will never be equal in a society that favors whiteness and all the privileges associated with it. Some hundred years after Plessey and fifty years after little Linda Brown fought with others to overturn Plessey, we are still engaged in a fight for integration. Or are we?

Last week, Jezebel posted an article response to a new VH1 series set to air this May--"Single Ladies." A series with a seemingly strong presence for Black women, the show seems to have been inspired by last year's Beyonce -induced phenomenon. America fell in love when a married woman told other women to embrace single-hood. Confused? Yeah, me too. Don't ask questions.

Jezebel's article asserts "Single Ladies" might have led people to see themes from another popular cultural phenomena, "Sex and the City." Claiming the show is not the Black SATC, I began to wonder why it was every time a "Black show" comes out it is instantly compared to whatever popular [read: white] show or icon out there? Is it because Blackness and whiteness have been constructed through a dialectical of opposition? Is it because we live in a white supremacist nation that believes, reinforces, and promotes this myth of white superiority?

Whatever it is, it seems to rely on a historical amnesia to the realities that face marginalized communities and media in general. "Single Ladies", a show strongly and clearly marketed to Black women, follows a legacy of affluent "Black" shows. Why is "Single Ladies" already being compared to shows like "Sex and the City" instead of in the likes of "Living Single", "Girlfriends", hell "227"? Why must a show about Black women constantly battle a lack of visibility, but then when visibility is gained, battle being held against a white standard?

Columbus, Georgia Man Arrested for Masturbating at Chuck E. Cheese

The irony of the following story is that in a recent discussion, my wife and I concluded that Chuck E. Cheese was possibly the safest place for kids. This was after she took our three year-old daughter to a birthday party there, without me I was always of the opinion that it was a prime target for pedophiles much in the same way hookers hang out at truck stops.

When my soon-to-be eighteen year-old was a lot younger, I would case the joint looking for freakish looking dudes before going in whenever I took her. Yeah, there was no dropping her off at parties there either. I trust people, but I'm not that trusting of anyone with my kids.

But she assured me that with an emphasis on security, management never allows anyone into the establishment without being in the company of a child, nor without an invitation to a birthday party. At least that's how they do it here in Memphis. Now down in Georgia? Things just might be a tad bit different:

COLUMBUS, GA (WTVM) -  A 21-year-old man is facing child molestation charges in Columbus, accused of exposing himself inside a children's restaurant.

Kenneth McGhee was arrested Monday afternoon at the Chuck E. Cheese's on Macon Road.

A mother tells police McGhee came and sat down at the end of her table. She noticed he had his hands between his legs but tells police she thought he was texting on his cell phone.

When she went to move her purse closer to her, she says she noticed that McGhee was masturbating with his penis fully exposed.

According to police reports, Chuck E. Cheese's was packed with children and families at the time and witnesses say McGhee was looking around at the kids as he was pleasuring himself.

The mother grabbed her kids and called for help and McGhee took off running.

Police say he ran across Macon Road and hid in a Fashion Trends store. The manager of the Chuck E. Cheese's chased after McGhee and waited outside of the store until officers got there.

McGhee was found in the back and was arrested without incident.

He is being held in the Muscogee County Jail and is charged with child molestation and false information because officers say he lied about when he was born, saying he was 16. Reports indicate he has outstanding warrants for violation of probation. (source)

Clearly this guy needs help, and hopefully he gets it. In addition, he should be held accountable for his actions by jailtime. I mean, you just can't go around jerking off around kids in public. Not that I'm condoning jerking off to kids in the privacy of your own home. But damn man; not in public places, and damn sure not in the favorite restaurant of my children! Unless you're a Superbowl winning Quarterback, you can't do that; not outside of a nightclub at least.

Markham Elementary Second Graders Having Oral Sex, & Naked in Classroom

Okay, so a disturbing story has been circulating for the past few days, concerning Markham Elementary School in Oakland. It involves a class full of second graders, partial nudity and oral sex. And I have to wonder, what the hell was the teacher doing??

"According to the allegation, the first incident involved several students who undressed, at least partially, while acting disruptively in the classroom," the letter read, according to KRON. "The second incident concerned two students who engaged in sexually explicit behavior, also in the classroom."

Local media reported that in the second incident, a boy and a girl -- both second-graders -- performed oral sex on each other. Both incidents occurred in the same classroom, and the teacher is believed to have been present at the time, Flint said. He said the teacher is not accused of taking part in or orchestrating the incidents.

"He's saying he has no knowledge of the reports and we have to square these different stories and see how we can reconcile them," Flint told KGO, the ABC station in San Francisco.

"Our early findings don't indicate that anyone was coerced or forced into these acts. We do think it involved curiosity," Flint said. (Source)

Okay, I really have to wonder what kind of classroom atmosphere this teacher was promoting that these children thought it was acceptable behavior to undress in class?? And then, in a SEPARATE incident, perform oral sex on each other in front of the entire classroom?? This teacher is an adult and he did not have the ability to control the behavior of a few children who thought they were grown?

Hey MSNBC: How Come Ain't No Black People on the Walls?

Like many of you on the "professional" and "unprofessional" left, I'm still somewhat shocked by the sudden departure of Keith Olbermann, from MSNBC. I woke up this morning feeling like I had been dumped via a text message without as much as an explanation. And, I'm pretty sure I'm not the only one who feels this way today; I'm sure many of my lefty friends are bustin' windows out of cars à la Jazzmine Sullivan over this Olbermann breakup.

There's been much speculation as to why he left; and to be quite frank, listening in last night on twitter, theorists started sounding like those thruthers. I heard it all last night; from the acquisition of NBC by Comcast, to him getting Rachel Maddow pregnant as as to why he left. But at this point, who knows, right?

The one thing I did think last night, was that Keith's departure opens up an opportunity for someone else. And in my ever present, race-card-carrying self, I see this as an opportunity for a person of color. I mean think about it: on MSNBC's prime-time lineup, there aren't any black, brown, or beige people hosting shows, are there? I don't know about you, but it's hard for me to miss the little stuff like the lack of diversity; the small things make a big difference.

The Friday Sex Blog [Anal Sex, pt. II]

Do it in the Butt

* * *

As I mentioned last week the amount of tension surrounding anal sex is probably directly proportionate to the amount of tension stored up in America’s collective butt hole muscles. Our culture has conditioned us since infancy not to play with our assholes and to clench them tight when we feel sensation in our nether regions. And we clench tighter and deeper when we are stressed. In fact, there’s a direct correlation between political conservatism and anal retentive personalities (e.g., tight asses). Ever run into conservatives who are adamant that the Bible or the Constitution can only be interpreted literally? Also children raised by strict conservative parents who favor physical beatings as a parenting tool, often develop anal-stage complexes.

Anyway, No wonder anal sex is difficult and no wonder it’s hard for some to think of the butt hole as sexy. However, more and more people are discovering that anal pleasure can be amazing, and are embracing it as part of their sexual ritual.

There are many advantages to anal sex. For one, there are a ton of nerve endings surrounding the anus -- far more than there are around the vagina. As one former mentor put it, “If the vaginal opening had as many nerve endings as the anus, no woman in her right mind would give birth.” What all those nerves signify is that there exists opportunities for sensational pure pleasure. In addition, if you learn how to work your anal muscles, there are some medical advantages:

False Arrest: Black Meter Lady Wins Case to Sue Cops for Arrest While Working in a White Neighborhood by 7th Circuit Court

So I'm sure you people are aware that here in America you can be arrested by the police for doing just about anything while being black. In some rare cases however, you don't have to be doing anything at all, and in those cases, you can just be arrested for, well, doing nothing while black. Yep, you can be arrested for just being black. I know it sounds crazy; but you probably feel that way because you're either not black, or, forget that you actually are. With that said, check out the following and see how this worked out for Christina Jones:

CHICAGO (CN) - A black woman who was arrested while reading utility meters in a 97 percent white neighborhood can sue the two police officers who put her in handcuffs, the 7th Circuit ruled, noting that the officers failed to prove that the arrest was anything more than "a blatant and embarrassing abuse of police power."

A federal judge had ruled that the arresting officers were not entitled to dismiss the civil rights charges under qualified immunity, and the federal appeals panel upheld that decision on Friday.

On August 16, 2005, a concerned citizen in Braidwood, Ill. - which 2000 census figures indicate is over 97 percent white - called the police at 8 a.m. to report that a "person of color" was taking pictures of houses.

Christina Jones, a Commonwealth Edison worker, was reading electrical meters in the neighborhood and carrying binoculars to take readings from outside a locked gate or dog-guarded property. Officers Craig Clark and Donn Kaminski conceded to Jones' account of the events that transpired but still argued that they were justified to be suspicious of and ultimately arrest Jones.

Jones' shirt, pants, hat and reflective vest were all emblazoned with ComEd's logo. When asked, she presented Clark with two ComEd identification cards that displayed her picture. Jones explained that her binoculars, used to take meter readings from a distance, may have been mistaken for a camera.

Clark had radioed in that Jones was reading meters, but, "surprisingly, that did not end the investigation," Judge Diane Wood wrote for the 7th Circuit's three-judge panel.

When Jones turned to leave and return to work, Clark stopped her, asking for her birthday.

Jones accused Clark of harassing her, took a few steps away and phoned her supervisor. Clark radioed the other officer, Kaminski, reporting that Jones was refusing to cooperate.

Kaminski, apparently irate, then arrived on the scene. He screamed at Jones, knocked the phone from her hands and placed her under arrest.

Friday's ruling notes that as Jones was being patted down, she said, "This is harassment. ... This is happening because I am black in Braidwood."

At the station, Kaminski reportedly mocked Jones, mimicking her voice and adding, "You wanted to make it racial out there. ... Now it's racial."

Jones was charged with obstructing a peace officer, but Wood said the facts of the case point another way.

"The only disorderly conduct evident in this case came from Officers Clark and Kaminski," Wood wrote.

It's really good that the district court ruled in her favor in this. She did fight these charges for over two years until they were finally dropped in her favor. This should give hope to some of you who are of the belief that by virtue of being black, you never receive any justice. So hooray for Christina Jones who is now able to sue the shit out of officers Clarke and Kaminski. It's a small consolation knowing that you can actually sue police officers for, well, doing their jobs, which includes arresting black people for being black.

Now check this out:

An Apology to Sarah Palin from "Real America" [VIDEO]

So I was thinking the other night: what if Sarah Palin chose John McCain as her running mate in 2012? I'm pretty sure McCain would accept such an offer to be "one heartbeat away" from the presidency; the closest he'll ever get to it. And then I wondered, what if this happened and they friggin won in 2012?? Boy would we look pretty stupid especially after all the mean spirited things we've said about her, right? Forget eating crow; we'd look like idiots.

Yep, and I'm sure neither Sarah or Sean Hannity would let us forget either:

HANNITY: Let me -- let me go through some of the things that -- that I've picked up -- and these were -- some were controversies at the time -- and maybe get you to respond to them. Madonna was once at a concert in 2008: "And Sarah Palin just got off my street. She will not go to DC. She'll get off my street. I'll kick her ass if she doesn't get off my street."

Sandra Bernhard talked about if Palin shows up in New York City, she's going to be "gang-raped by my big black brothers."

There's a series of left-wing images about you, Governor, for example, a cartoon with the acronym MILP that depicts you being punched in the face with your glasses coming -- you know, obviously coming off. "a mother, I'd like to punch;" a bumper sticker for sale that reads, "abort Sarah Palin."

You know, and I could really go on for the better part of the show. And -- because a lot of this -- and the president talked about civil discourse. And, you know, I don't think a lot of people on the left have been very civil toward you over the years. And I don't -- I really don't hear you complaining a lot about it.

Why do you think they're trying to complain so much as you and this one map and -- and some of the -- you know, reload, etc. And some other comments you've made?

PALIN: I think they're -- the hypocrisy there is so glaring and the double standards. I mean it reminds me that those on the left if it weren't for their double standards, they'd have no standards.

So it -- it's almost, really, a waste of time to even address their hypocrisy. I mean we had a paid CNN host recently who announced to the world that her New Year's resolution was to bring down my 16- year-old daughter Willow. I mean, adult on child bullying that -- that's -- you know, I thought that that wasn't the real hip thing to do.

But, Sean, here's where I am personally on this. Knowing that, you know, the anchor holds. And I believe Second Timothy 1:7, in the Bible, it says god has given us a spirit of power and love and sound mind. He hasn't given us a spirit of fear.

So I call upon that and hold onto that and know that I don't have to be afraid no -- no matter what happens. I -- I don't have to be afraid.

But when we talk about the need for civil discourse and for the condemnation of violence that I believe we should all be believers in, then, yes, when -- when I hear those things coming from, I assume it is the left...

Well Sarah, as a member of the population of "Real America" all be it the left? I offer my sincerest apologies. Yes, and I hope you can find it in your heart to forgive us residents of "Real America". Not only would be the Christian thing to being that this is a Christian nation. But think about Trig, Sarah; do it for him.



Originally posted by Anthony Kelly

Saying No to Pregnant Women in Bars & Yes to Pregnant Teens in Frayser High School

OK, so I know what you're thinking. Yep, you're probably staring at the pic above and wondering; is this woman really in a bar or nightclub pregnant, and chugging down a few beers? Yeah I know, I did the same thing too; and, a part of me wants to think she's drinking that new Kool Aid that comes in a brown bottle. But then gravity hit and pulled me back to reality; I realized that there are women, who though pregnant frequent these spots without a care.

Case in point, check out what happened to Michelle Lee:

A bar in suburban Roselle could end up in a legal battle after forcing a woman to leave because she was eight months pregnant.

Michelle Lee, a 29-year-old Chicago native now living in Denver, came into town for a baby shower last week and her friends talked her into a night out afterward, ABC News reports.

Lee and her friends went to the Coach House in Roselle--about 30 miles northwest of Chicago--where she planned on drinking some water and having a slice of pizza, until a bouncer approached.

"He said to me, 'I have a personal question to ask you, are you pregnant?' I said yes. Then he said, 'I'm going to have to ask you to leave,'" Lee told ABC.

Tea Party Turning Back the Clock to the "Good Ole Days" of Segregated Schools

by JuJuBe (Joanna)

Well the Tea Party has been crying out about "Taking our country back!" recently. They seem to want a return to the (not so) "Good Ole Days" when "those people" knew their place. And, they have been successful in their attempt to turn back the clock in the Wake County School District in North Carolina. Yes, they have won their battle to re-segregate a school district that had one of the most successful economic integration programs in the country.

RALEIGH, N.C. - The sprawling Wake County School District has long been a rarity. Some of its best, most diverse schools are in the poorest sections of this capital city. And its suburban schools, rather than being exclusive enclaves, include children whose parents cannot afford a house in the neighborhood.

But over the past year, a new majority-Republican school board backed by national tea party conservatives has set the district on a strikingly different course. Pledging to "say no to the social engineers!" it has abolished the policy behind one of the nation's most celebrated integration efforts.

And as the board moves toward a system in which students attend neighborhood schools, some members are embracing the provocative idea that concentrating poor children, who are usually minorities, in a few schools could have merits - logic that critics are blasting as a 21st-century case for segregation.

Source

John Tedesco, one of the new school board members and a staunch opponent of the integration policy has made the outrageous claim that segregated schools BENEFIT the children who attend. "If we had a school that was, like, 80 percent high-poverty, the public would see the challenges, the need to make it successful," he said. "Right now, we have diluted the problem, so we can ignore it."

Dr. Jared Ball on the Repackaging of Martin Luther King Jr. [VIDEO]

"Martin Luther King Jr. stood for revolutionary transformation; he is used today to support policies that he fought against." - Dr. Jared Ball

I was doing some shopping online last night, and I noticed that the the big name corporate entity (who shall remain nameless) that owns and operates the site had a Martin Luther King Jr. sale. It was something that shocked me: actually, I've been saying for years that "certain folk" would never fully recognize Martin Luther King Jr. Day as a national holiday. More specifically, they'd never accept "King Day" and the significance of Civil Rights Movement as it is interwoven into American history, enough so to be celebrated.

I always felt  there was no way we'd ever see a 33% off King Day sale, much like you do any other American national holiday. But in so many ways, I guess with the repackaging and watering-down of the ever popular "Dream Speech" it was a matter of time. Quite naturally,  he isn't the revolutionary as he should be celebrated and revered. Checkout the following interview with Dr. Jared Ball via Paul Jay and The Real News Network as he breaks it down to the gristle:

When Did The Civil Rights Movement Stop Moving?

As we reflect on what would have been the 82nd birthday of Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. we arrive at a moment where "Black" seems to be on everyone's mind...again.

Every January and February, the majority of Americans re-gain a consciousness of what we think we know about the Civil Rights Movement of the 1950's and 1960's. After all, it only makes sense given America's national celebration of Reverend Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.'s birthday (which often hits on a day other than his actual birthday) as well as February's designation of "Black History Month." January and February are when it is okay to celebrate Blackness in America, but for some, to say that is far-reaching and inconclusive for the still existent racism and ignorance surrounding the history of Blackness in this country and the world.

Pastor Fred Phelps Sr: God Sent Jared Laughner to Kill Rep. Danielle Giffords, & Prays for More Shooters (God is Good)

Well it's Sunday, so I see it befitting to spread not only the Gospel, but also bear witness to the greatness of our lord and savior for yet another one of his many creations on this earth. Yes, God is good and everything good comes from God. Can I get an Amen? Amen. Today I present one of God's chosen to spread the good word; the word of life. So without further ado, I present Pastor Fred Phelps Sr. of the Westboro  Baptist Church as he gives God the praise and thanks for the assassination attempt on the life of Danielle Giffords:


Now I know what you're thinking: Why would God do such a thing as to create a madman for the sole reason of  inflicting pain and suffering to fourteen innocent shooting victims (and their families), of which six of them were killed? I dunno, but all I'll say is that the lord works in mysterious ways, and everything from and of God is good; much like the good Pastor Fred Phelps Sr. above. You say he might be a bit deranged and un-Godly, but that cannot be.

God is love.

Shots Fired: Howard Stern on Sarah Palin's Arizona Shooting Response (Calls Her a C*nt)

I think it's safe to say that Sarah Palin isn't having the best week ever. Not only are folks in America mad at her as a result of the tragic assassination attempt in Tuscon, Arizona, of Gabrielle Giffords whom she "targeted" on her website a year ago. Now she has famed shock jock Howard Stern gettin' all medieval on her ass as on his radio show - yep, he went as far as to call her a "cunt."

Yep, so much for toning down the caustic political rhetoric. What he said is probably sexist and so not cool with some of you I'm sure. But I suppose since it's Sarah Palin... it's no big deal, right? Though Stern's entire rant is spot on, I'm not sure if he should get pass for using that word. But then again maybe I feel this way because I'm black, and I'm used to more acceptable words like bitches, and hoes.

For the record, I wanted the above picture of Sarah Palin to be one with her caught in some crosshairs. But I was afraid that one of you readers may have seen it as a call to action killing her and then it would be my fault. Nope, not gonna be the blame for the actions of one of you nutjobs.

Should Parents Be Punished for Kids Missing School?

Denver mother Katrina Johnson at Truancy Court with 16yr old Quishona

By JuJuBe (Joanna)

 I understand that education is an important thing. I truly do. And, yes, I agree that parents need to take responsibility for the education of their children. I am not going to sit here and argue about how the public school system is not, in my opinion, the best option for the education of children. I am not going to talk about the fact that children in our public schools are learning what basically amounts to a bunch of lies. that they are being brainwashed into believing that only rich white folks have historically done anything worth discussing.

Those are topics that have been beaten to death. No, today I want to discuss how far the law should be able to go when it comes to enforcing the idea of mandatory education for children. I want to discuss the idea of holding a parent responsible for the actions of their child. This little gem is from West Virginia:

State Sen. Erik Wells, D-7th District, plans to introduce a bill during the upcoming legislative session, which begins Wednesday, that would revoke the driver's licenses of parents whose children miss too many days of school.

Although Wells said he won't bet it will be one of the approximately 200 bills of 2,000 that will become law this session, he does hope it will increase awareness about the importance of education and hold parents accountable for the actions of their children.

Memorial in Tucson: Oh, So "Civility" Seems to Be the "Bootleg T-Shirt of the Month"

President Barack Obama & First Lady Michelle Obama at Memorial 

 I didn't get to see President Obama's speech in Tuscon last night. I had a lot of "stuff" going on and I completely forgot about the memorial. From what I heard he gave a great one that was deeply moving and inspirational; maybe youse people will now behave yourselves, tone down the "rhetoric", and stop killing each other. Oh yeah, the jury is still out on you black people and the whole killing each other thing, but I digress.... or is it digest or digestive tract.

So anyway, did you catch his speech? What did you think about it? I'd really love to hear your thoughts on it. More specifically, I'd love to hear whether you think what Obama said will have a positive impact on our political discourse in America or not. You know, gotta keep that "hopey-changey" thing alive as Jesse Jackson would say. What, you think I'm just some Ole hater-ass-hater?

OK, but seriously, I've read and heard much from everyone everywhere with an opinion on the Tuscon slaughter. Hell, even Sarah Palin came out of a hole like Punxutawney Phil with her innocent "blood libel" talk, and has pissed quite a few of you off. Hell my man AverageBro never curses in blogs, but he called her a bitch after seeing her speech. I say y'all should give Sister Sarah some credit for her professionally done Facebook video, because it only took her four days to learn how to read a teleprompter instead of her palm.

One Year Later, Life no Better in Haiti [VIDEO]

"Stability of markets depends on countries like Haiti remaining poor, Europe, US's commitment is to their own subsidies only" - Nicole Lee (President of TransAfrica Forum)


BIO: Nicole Lee is the President of TransAfrica Forum. She has worked as a human rights attorney in Africa, Latin America and the Caribbean.Nicole Lee lived in Haiti where she worked for a human rights organization that investigated and prosecuted the human rights violations by the military during the 1994 coup.

Why I'm Confused By "The Princess Boy"

by Jonne Austin (aka Seattle Slim)

Most of you know I have kids. I've got two boys, and one girl so my household will no doubt be quite busy as they get older. Being somewhat of a tomboy myself--at the very least in touch with my masculine self--I'm able to shift from rough and tumble mom who absolutely appreciates robots, football games in the house and my sons' collective affinity for destruction. My little girl is most likely going to be a tomboy with those two for brothers, but she is a girl, and she may appreciate the girlier things (I appreciated pink, dolls and boys). I'm still figuring it out.

My sons have played house where they are dads and they are taking care of their wife and kids, something they see my husband and ex-husband do on a regular basis. I'm okay with that. Real men take care of their home and family. I dig that. It was new to me to realize boys play house, or could anyway, but it didn't bother me. I'm still figuring things out, as all parents must do. I definitely teach my kids acceptance of others, and themselves, but I'm not sure what to think about My Princess Boy and author Cheryl Kilodavis.

Darkness, Deception, & Discretion

[Editor's Note: The following comes from a long time reader and friend. My man, Sayntj has served to be the voice of reason (at least for me) when it comes to any issue. Give a warm welcome and do visit his site.]

As a fiscal conservative with a social doctrine of never allow harm to my fellow man, there is a message that isn’t being spoken about. Many people share the opinion I have right now…I am afraid. Fear and hate is winning and we need to come together to defeat it.

Killers are our neighbors, our friends, and our family. The victims are the exact same people. Our anger has allowed our culture to devolve into where we are now the knife and the wound. We must stop the madness. Or there will be nothing left of our society but madness itself.

This climate of politics, religion, and society as a whole is so damn emotionally hate filled.  Every “pro” movement that I see is in fact, anti-something. Not just anti in a way that they are against the beliefs of others, but in fact against many peoples way of life, their very right to exist. All the while many platforms have become so opposed of the “others” that there should be no surprise that we now have a Congresswoman in a coma and a child born on 9/11 has been killed?

Christians aren’t pro-Christian, but pro-anti-gay, choice, government, gun control, and love. The entire agenda is ten percent love and ninety percent fear, hate, and loathing. How can one claim to love God but hate and fear his fellow man? But isn’t that how many of us are now? Exclusionary, divisive, hypocritical, and unable to communicate with anyone that disagrees with us. It’s no longer rhetoric that the media is trying to use for ratings. It’s now how your public servants communicate with you. It’s an “us vs. them” while we have no idea who is them or who we are. We just know what we don’t like…each other. How can deductive unreasoning keep a country together when…the libs are evil…the cons are crazy (well they are).

Glen Ford on Barack Obama, Bill Daley, & the Neutralizing of the Progressive Movement [VIDEO]

"Black America is so psychologically invested in this president that the discussion is not about whether his policies are impacting negatively upon us, but how the president can be protected, who is trying to bring him down, rather than how his policies are crushing us as well." - Glen Ford 

Not that I expected Obama to hire cashier number five from Big Lots to run the White House. But damn, why did he have to hire a Wall Street insider, one time pusher of NAFTA, and yet another neoliberal Clintonite. Appearing on The Real News Network with Paul Jay is my man, Glen Ford, the co-founder of one of my favorite sites: BlackAgendaReport.com. Check it out and tell me what you think about his views, will you? Personally, this is especially interesting to me, because he says what many of our folk aren't trying to hear.

Is Obama a man of the people, or Wall Streets man?


BIO: Glen Ford is a distinguished radio-show host and commentator. In 1977, Ford co-launched, produced and hosted America's Black Forum, the first nationally syndicated Black news interview program on commercial television. In 1987, Ford launched Rap It Up, the first nationally syndicated Hip Hop music show, broadcast on 65 radio stations. Ford co-founded the Black Agenda Report. Ford is also the author of The Big Lie: An Analysis of U.S. Media Coverage of the Grenada Invasion.

Jared Loughner, Mental Illness, & Arizona Mental Health Budget Cuts

Believe me I have other stuff to talk about besides Jared Loughner. But my recent post has taken a life of its own and has even expanded the conversation onto my Twitter Time Line. As I mentioned recently, the focus on right-wing political rhetoric (as if my fellow lefties never express irrational thought) minimizes the issue of mental health services and the people who need them. Some of whom are poor black folks.

Having said that, I came across a very interesting interview thanks to the good folks at Democracy Now! with H. Clark Romans, of the National Alliance on Mental Health of Southern Arizona. The discussion focuses on just how recent budget cuts by Arizona Gov. Jan Brewer, has affected the many lives of of mentally diagnosed patients within the state, in this dire economy.

It’s unclear if Loughner either needed or sought mental-health care in the Tucson area, where he lived. But for those suffering from mental illness, Arizona has become a challenging state to live in. The state has seen a $65 million drop since 2008 in behavioral health services for Arizonans who don’t qualify for the state’s version of Medicaid, representing a 51 percent reduction over the last three fiscal years, according the Arizona Department of Health Services and a detailed December report on health care in the Arizona Daily Star. Some $36 million was slashed early last year, and Gov. Jan Brewer called the cuts, which affected some 12,000 adults and 2,000 children, “tough” and “painful,” according to The Arizona Republic, which also has reported that she has dealt personally with mental illness in her family.

Arizona’s budget woes are not unique—other states are confronting cuts to mental-health services and corresponding problems for local police. Former U.S. Surgeon General Dr. Richard Carmona, a friend of Rep. Giffords and her family, told The Daily Beast that calls to fix America’s mental-health-care system are missing the point. Integration of care is vital, he said: “We don’t have a mental-health system in the U.S. We have good professionals, but we don’t have an integrated common policy, and with cuts like this, there will be more problems in a system already strained.”

Carmona said the “opportunity cost” of decisions to cut care must be examined, both in Arizona and nationwide, and he asked, “What will it cost us in terms of the cost of putting more people in prisons and jails?” (Source: The Daily Beast)

It's not clear if Loughner was himself diagnosed as mental patient; however, from all accounts of friends and classmates, he was definitely disturbed and possibly should have been receiving the necessary medical care. For me, having had relatives diagnosed with mental illnesses, this is a very huge issue; some won't admit to this with their family members, but that's a problem in and of itself. I also have a very good friend and roommate from college who I've observed spiraling out of control over a number of years. He finally decided to get help after several stints which involved jail; and he now proudly admits to being schizophrenic, and is on medication living a "normal" life:

Isolated Incidents? Yeah Right (Right Wing Authoritarianism and Violence)

[Editor's Note: One of the things I like about my man Rippa is that he invites open debate. He's a better man than I am when it comes to tolerating conservatives. Of course, he's a NFL quarterback whore , but no one's perfect. ::grin:: In any case, he and I may not see eye-to-eye on this...]

I usually don’t merely cut-and-paste, but the following is much too on-point, too valuable to simply link. For the full article, (click here) If you want an exhaustive documentation of not just the derailing of the right-wing, but how right-wing populism (in actuality early-stage fascism) has now become mainstream, read, Over the Cliff: How Obama's Election Drove the American Right Insane. It’s prescient that my friend Karen loaned me this book last week, right before the shooting in Arizona.

Terror in Arizona: Just Another “Isolated Incident”

Funny how that list keeps mounting

Predictably, there’s the usual wringing of the hands from the faux liberal contigent concerned that we shouldn’t jump to conclusions. For examples of this see Jon Chait at even the “liberal” New Republic, and Jack Shafer at Slate.

I call bullshit on that. For them this is just another “isolated incident” because Jared Loughner is just “a lone nut.” Sure, there are lots of complicating factors, not the least of which the shooter is clearly deranged. But there are also some factors that are simply undeniable. For example,over at Daily Kos, one blogger has started to document how many of the individuals targeted by Palin's crosshairs have actually been subjected to violence and/ or threats and intimidation tactics. What follows is merely the tip of the iceberg. But I challenge you to read this and tell me that the twisted motherfuckers on the right don’t have blood on their hands.

Political Rhetoric Didn't Pull the Trigger in Tuscon, Arizona; Jared Loughner Did

Jared Loughner

The last time I wrote about a "crazy-ass white dude" moment it involved an incident in Pittsburgh, where four cops were killed by, well, another crazy-ass white dude much like Jared Loughner. But you know, I've been quietly observing the discussions of this weekend's incident in Arizona without much to say until now. And having said that, for the record, let it be known that I think much of the "blame game" has been misguided; but to be expected since we as people often take the path of least resistance; and, critical thinking is a lost art.

Much of the blame for the actions of Jared Loughner points to the current political climate and the divisive, vitriolic rhetoric from talking heads, as well as politicians on the right side of the aisle. I believe this to be egregious and just down right intellectually lazy. You see, political rhetoric or Sarah Palin, has as much to do with the shooting in Tuscon, as did Saddam Hussein with the events of 9/11. But then I suppose every violent incident in urban communities and not "Lilly White Arizona" is directly motivated by Hip-Hop youth culture.

Free Xone: How Tyler Perry Made Janet A Homophobe

by Johnny Golightly

Today, Janet Jackson released her U.S tour dates for the "Janet Jackson Number Ones, Up Close and Personal" Tour. This release brought back memories of some of her other recent releases--movies like "Why Did I Get Married Too?" and "For Colored Girls".

We all remember that there's one rule: no rules. One love: free xone. Janet's Velvet Rope classic holds new meaning after the latest rounds of Janet Jackson/Tyler Perry collaborations.

"Free Xone" was a liberating song that addressed the freedom to love whoever you wanted to love--heterosexually, homosexually, bisexually, pansexually. Now I'm far too young to comment on when exactly Janet Jackson became a gay icon, but there is no denying she is one.

Janet has followed suit to those before and after her, grouped with legends like Diana, Cher, Babs (Barbra Streisand), Madonna, Beyonce, Gaga and all the other one-name wonders. It seems only tradition that when a female icon gains a large gay male following, we shorten her to a one-name moniker. My experiences tell me it is out of honor that her name is shortened because she doesn't need her full name--you know her by her presence. Not to mention the fact that Janet spoke to queer people of color in a contemporary moment where the face of gay men is a white face. She allowed all queer people of color to have at least one Black icon in a mainstream industry consumed by white music artists. Janet was the generation's chosen one, with Diana before her and Beyonce after her.

Now, let's not even front. We all know Janet can't act. From "Good Times" right on through "Poetic Justice" all the way to "For Colored Girls", Janet has been giving us the same persona highlighting her acting capabilities. But we all still go out and support Janet, cause we want to see her. I mean, we didn't all line up to go see "The Hand that Rocks the.." err, "Obsessed" because we thought it was gonna win an Oscar. We wanted to see Bey. That's what a lot of gay fans do--we go to support our artists, because we admire their aesthetic--physical and artistic. This same logic informs a lot of gay men's decision to see the latest Janet movie.

Illinois Getting Closer to Abolishing the Death Penalty

by JuJuBe (Joanna)

SPRINGFIELD, Ill. (AP) — The Illinois House has approved a plan to abolish capital punishment in a whirlwind reversal on a historic vote.

The legislation to halt state-sponsored execution gained the necessary 60 votes Thursday after an earlier vote fell short.

The landmark action comes nearly 11 years after then-Gov. George Ryan cleared death row and declared a moratorium on capital punishment in Illinois.

The legislation now moves to the Senate, where President John Cullerton says he supports the proposal and hopes it passes. But the Chicago Democrat says he won't push his members to back it, calling the vote a personal decision.

Democratic Gov. Pat Quinn. Quinn has said he supports the death penalty but won't reinstate it until he's sure it works. His office isn't saying whether he supports the repeal legislation.

Source

Why do people even continue to support the death penalty? Think about it, with so many people being proven innocent by DNA testing after decades spent in prison, is the death penalty really something that we need in this country? Isn't it safe to say that one innocent person put to death is too many?

Now, when I was a child, I was taught that "two wrongs don't make a right". So, what exactly does the death penalty do to bring about justice? Is the victim of a person who is executed get their life back upon the death of the perpetrator of their murder? Um, nope. Does the death penalty dissuade other people from committing crimes? As far as I can tell, it does not. So, why would we want execution to be an option?