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Saturday, March 8, 2014

Camel Crossing

Camels.  Camels.  Everywhere.

The landscape is flat.  You can see for miles, and miles.

And yet, the camels just seem to appear out of nowhere.  All of a sudden, there're just there.

Beautiful.

Graceful.

Majestic.










Friday, March 7, 2014

A Letter From Death Row

This is a fascinating letter from a man on death row in Texas.  He's scheduled to be put to death by the authorities of that state on March 19th.

Please don't be put off by the length, it's seven pages long, but filled with so much wisdom and insight, it is a must read.  This should be required reading for students young and old.

http://gawker.com/a-letter-from-ray-jasper-who-is-about-to-be-executed-1536073598


Tuesday, March 4, 2014

Light in the Midst of Darkness

The article below details a meeting between the author, his thirteen year old son, and the mother of Jordan Davis.  This is the young man who was killed because of playing his music too loud.  The outcome of the trial was outrageously wrong on so many levels.

http://www.theatlantic.com/politics/archive/2014/02/i-am-still-called-by-the-god-i-serve-to-walk-this-out/284064/

My heart aches for his parents, especially his mother.

She speaks with a grace that could only come from God.

As black parents, the burden we bear is a vital one, that is taken very seriously.  That is, to educate and train our boys in survival skills so that they have a fighting chance to see adulthood.

The alternative is a burden no parent should have to endure.  

Friday, February 28, 2014

My Ad Man

My oldest chocolate chip, Ben, is featured in this ad.

Check him out below.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CMPfRR4gHTs


Thursday, February 27, 2014

My New Hero

The woman conducting the interview is annoying (are they taught to talk like that?), but the responses from this young man are spot on.

http://www.upworthy.com/a-tv-star-had-to-explain-why-a-white-man-killing-a-black-kid-is-an-american-problem-not-a-black-one?c=upw1



Up Close & Personal

As I was sitting at my computer in my office at home yesterday, I saw this herd of camels in the parking lot.  I rushed out and watched them for about a half hour. They're amazing animals.  I stayed as long as I did because my phone was updating, so I couldn't use it, so I hung out until it was ready because I just had to get pictures.

Enjoy!

This is the parking lot of my apartment complex,
and this is my school.  I am literally next door to it.



There were four adults and four babies.
I haven't seen any this young before.

I saw this herd today.
They were interesting because of the black ones.
They are rare indeed.


Strong Voice

Is anyone listening?

Spike Lee lets loose on gentrification in New York City.  Read the transcript and/or listen to the audio at the end of the article.

What do you think?

Is it progress, and if so, at what cost?

Or it is, as Spike implies, another example of the "Christopher Columbus Syndrome," with folks "discovering," and claiming as theirs, what's always been there.

http://nymag.com/daily/intelligencer/2014/02/spike-lee-amazing-rant-against-gentrification.html


Monday, February 24, 2014

Hitting Close to Home

This protest happened in New York, but it's all about what's happening here in Abu Dhabi.


http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2014/02/24/guggenheim-protest-new-york-abu-dhabi-labor_n_4843947.html

A Different Perspective

This young woman has a revealing viewpoint on volunteering abroad.

http://www.huffingtonpost.com/pippa-biddle/little-white-girls-voluntourism_b_4834574.html?utm_hp_ref=black-voices&ir=Black+Voices

Sunday, February 23, 2014

Qualities This Employer is Looking For

This is a very interesting article on the qualities that Google looks for in their job applicants.

http://www.nytimes.com/2014/02/23/opinion/sunday/friedman-how-to-get-a-job-at-google.html?src=me&ref=general&_r=0

Thursday, February 20, 2014

Ben's Work

This is another proud momma moment:

Ben is quoted in the article linked below, about half way down.

http://www.scientificamerican.com/article/to-help-trucks-burn-less-fuel-streamline-trailers/?utm_source=feedburner&utm_medium=feed&utm_campaign=Feed:+energy-and-sustainability+(Topic:+Energy+%26+Sustainability)

Milu's Turn

This is Ben's baby girl walking to school.

I love her sense of wonder.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hRM7z8psIqo&feature=youtu.be

Yes, this is another proud grandma moment.

Monday, February 17, 2014

Run Squirrel Run!

Squirrels look way too  much like rats with fluffy tails, but I couldn't help but cheer for this little dude.  Any little ones in your world would probably like this one, too.

Check him out.

Hat tip to Forrest.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XBEyCr5AoIs#t=66

Sunday, February 16, 2014

Dirty Old Men

Is it ever OK for a man to marry his daughter? Step-daughter? Adopted daughter? Any man thinking about doing this should be thrown under the jail, and yet when a man does, in fact do just this, everyone turns a blind eye because he's a celebrity?

Bullshit!

Total and complete bullshit!

This describes Woody Allen's relationship with his daughter/wife.

Totally disgusting!

And now we hear from another daughter who said she was abused by Allen.  I don't understand why this is such a stretch from some folks to comprehend.  He was screwing this girl's sister!  Is it so outrageous to think that he might be doing something very wrong to this girl, too?

God bless this young woman for speaking out.  She is definitely going against the grain and will need all of the support that can be muster to go against this shameless, sadistic prick!

I have had an absolute ban on all Allen's movies for years.  I avoid them at all cost.  I don't want to see anything his perverted mind has conjured up, or is in any way involved in.

If this guy was any "Joe Blow" on the street, he would have been hung out to dry a long time ago.  Because he is a celebrity, we look the other way?

Shame on us.

The dude is a creep.

A CREEP I say!

And, according to more than a few women, so is Bill Cosby.

What is it about people men with power, real or imagined, that makes them think they are invincible?

As my beloved Mom would say, "Where there's smoke, there's fire."  How many women have not spoken up?  I'm guessing there's probably more than few of them, too.

I pride myself on being able to cuss with the best of 'em, one of the benefits(?) of being around men all my life, but I've made a conscious effort for that side of me not to spill over in these posts, until now.

For those of you who are offended by my language, my apologies.

There are times, though, when nothing else will do, and today is one of those days.




Tuesday, February 11, 2014

WOW!

My love for Samuel L. Jackson is well documented.

Here's why I love him even more.

Enjoy!

Hat tip to Tiff and Shana for keeping a sista in the loop.


Sunday, February 9, 2014

Zadie Singing to Grandma Faye

Too precious!

Notice the imaginary conversation she is having with me before the song.

I know.  I know.

I'm "that" grandma, always bragging about my girls, but this "grandma thing" is just too good not to share.

Enjoy!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Q9W51tmS0UQ&feature=em-share_video_user

Saturday, February 8, 2014

Behaving Badly

The following is an insightful article on the media and how stories are framed.

It's definitely worth the read.

http://www.theroot.com/articles/culture/2014/02/white_men_mess_up_and_all_is_forgiven.html?wpisrc=obinsite

Did You Know, Part 2

Click on the following link for even more fascinating facts about African-Americans, during this Black History Month.
 
Hat tip to Forrest.

http://www.pinterest.com/angela4forever/vintage-black-beauty-history/

Thursday, February 6, 2014

Did You Know?

The slideshow below is of African-American women who were the first in their field.

Very informative.

Many of these ladies were new to me.

http://www.makers.com/blog/african-american-womens-firsts-part-one-photo-gallery


Beware!

If you're a cheating husband, hide all sharp objects from your wife.  That's the message from police.  Notice, there's no condemnation of the cheating.

http://www.thenational.ae/uae/abu-dhabi-wife-stabs-cheating-husband-with-kitchen-knife-over-alleged-affair?utm_source=Communicator&utm_medium=Email&utm_content=&utm_campaign=%5b%5bADMC_THENATIONAL_LT.ADMC_THENATIONAL_LT.LATEST_NEWS_SUBJECT%3a%3a%7b1%7d%3f%3fThe+National+Newsletter%5d%5d