Joyeux Halloween, La Toussaint et Le Jour des morts vivants

I mentioned Marie Laveau once before when I suggested, a few posts ago, that everyone spend this holiday in New Orleans ~ SO, I thought today I would honor her spirit in the hopes she will roam and bring all good luck! I had printed out for myself some background material on her and what freaked me out, and also let me know I was indeed doing the right thing by paying homage to her, was that the only remaining portrait of Marie (by George Catlin) did not print on the pages. The wording is underneath, as well as the square it should have appeared in, but the actual image did not print. OH! You may be saying, coincidence! Maybe! But the other photos associated with the information came out just fine!!! I took that to mean she is up and around, doing what she does best! Probably haunting the halls of the Hotel Monteleone right as we speak! Maybe she is right there next to you as you are reading this!!!

At any rate, Marie Laveau's birth is dated anywhere from the 1790's to 1801. Some list her birthday as September 10, 1801.It is very well documented that she was born in the French Quarter, the daughter of a white planter and a free Creole of color. She was raised a devout Catholic. Like other octoroons in her era, she was often trained and selected for the annual Quadroon Ball at the Theatre d'Orleans. Men often fought duels for famed octoroon mistresses behind St. Louis Cathedral.

It is documented that she married Jacques Paris, a free Creole of Color, August 4, 1819. Their marriage certificate is preserved in Saint Louis Cathedral.
When Jacques Paris died of unknown causes in 1820, Marie became a hairdresser who catered to wealthy white clientele. She was soon lovers with Cristophe Glapion. They remained together until his death in 1835. Between the two relationships, Marie bore 15 children.

Marie Laveau's great passion for Voodoo was most noted by her infamous gris-gris rituals on the banks of bayou St. John or near her cottage (Maison Blanche) near Lake Pontchartrain. Using vegetable recipes, candles, knuckle bones from baby skeletons and candle-drip markings, Marie would incorporate parts of the Catholic high mass before be-heading a white cock and drinking its blood! She would then dance with her snake, Zombie, who was alleged to have great powers!

Marie was also known for her impassioned humanitarian assistance. It is said she wielded her great power to lend influence or networking for the downtrodden, sick or any one in need. To this very day, the mausoleum of her said burial in Saint Louis Cemetery #1 is the site of scratched crosses (xxx) and (+++), flowers and other memorials. Thousands visit her each year with the hope that her spirit will grant their wish as legend holds.

Go Go Green Globe ~~ While U.S. lags behind

Ap Photo by Francois Mori of
President Nicolas Sarkozy with 2004 Nobel Peace Prize winner Kenya's Wangari Maathai




Photo by Getty Images/AFP Getty Images

Was perusing other national news online and was interested in an article from a French periodical. Please check out how French President Nicolas Sarkozy is standing with Al Gore and altering European lifestyles to be more environmentally conscious.

Read it at:http://www.expatica.com/actual/article.asp?subchannel_id=58&story_id=45326

To find out where the U.S. stands on many issues surrounding carbon tax, trade, issues, start with the U.S. presidential hopefuls and work your way around the site at: http://www.carbontax.org/progress/us-presidential-contenders/

"Grenelle de l'Environnement" Have a green day!

NOLA SUNDAYS!!!!!!!

Photo from Rediff.com


Photo from Wikipedia.com

Louisiana news has been quieted by the disastrous fires out in California. I hope many of you caught the entire run of CNN's "Planet in Peril". If you did not, they are running it continuously, so simply check your television listings. I bring this up because while some of the fires were intentionally set, the fact that some of the fires have become "Super fires" and thus harder to contain are result of our mishandling the environment. Policy that was passed preventing natural fires from burning, eliminating overgrown underbrush, which is a natural cleanser sponsored by nature, has created these occurrences. In the past we have been so concerned with saving ourselves, we have disrupted nature's way of handling things, so She must become bigger and badder to squelch us. I for one, do not blame her!!

In all of this, in my opinion, it is SO important to keep Louisiana in our minds simply because her victims did not have the money, the voting power, or a sound political front to handle things ~~ not minimizing California's pain, but they have the resources and the political power to recover.

Louisiana's hopes now rest with this man. Bobby Jindal. A native from Baton Rouge, Louisiana. His parents, from India, attended a university in Louisiana. I think it was Louisiana State. They chose to settle and raise a family in Louisiana.
He has a passion for Louisiana that shines through. I saw him recently on CNN and was very impressed with his passion for his state. I am very sure he will do what he believes is best for Louisiana, but after researching his position, his possibility for success is up for debate.

He is very, very conservative. He is very Republican. You may check out his green record as he voted in Congress, 2005-2006 here: http://www.rep.org/2006_scorecard.pdf

He is not very good on environmental issues. He is against abortion. Period. Regardless of circumstance. Even in circumstances that include rape, incest, deformity or health of the mother.

Anyway, I was so excited to hear about his run. I was so excited about his story. I am saying all of this to you because it really proves that we must research everything! He seems, at face value, the best bet! Growing up a minority in America and making the most of the American Dream is something he accomplished magnificently! He is a Rhodes scholar and at one point was the head of the Louisiana's Department of Health and Hospital. Thank you Wikipedia!

It concerns me, but I am sure Louisianians made the best decision. My only hope is that he doesn't make things worse with his environmental stand. What do you guys think???

Tough questions for tough times!

Be sure to watch K-Ville tomorrow night! Check your local listings!

More on NOLA Sundays next week! Jusqu'à notre prochaine rencontre!!

Dream Big ~ Dream Green ~ I LOVE LOVE LOVE the entire Ameriprise Series of Ads!!

I wanted to include the Ameriprise ad where Dennis Hopper is in a neighborhood of white houses surrounded by white picket fences, so I started a search. Of course I went to YouTube but it has not been posted yet...SO I surfed around. I have not investigated whether Ameriprise truly helps one to become financially sound, but what I was really intrigued by was their perceptiveness that we as consumers, hard-workers and people of substance need to dream big. Especially as we revisit what happened to our world during the Regan years. I feel like these are the Regan years except now I am all grown up. It is no longer a memory of a nightmare, but something that is very bad and very real.

This has been a tough year to stay focused and upbeat. The world literally seems to be suffering an implosion. It seems to crumble from underneath our feet. But for some reason, I see a light at the end of the tunnel. Maybe because I was actually paying attention in physical science and I know that what comes up must come down. It is just the law of nature. This planet will go on with or without us, and in the meantime we need to make it count. So Ameriprise has figured a way to capture us, and we need to let them.

My favorite Dennis Hopper scene, and I really believe it is Hopper at his best, is in "True Romance". Hopper plays Clarence's dad, Clifford Worley who ultimately must be interrogated by head mobster Vincenzo Coccotti played by none other than Christopher Walken. Coccotti tortures Worley to the point where he knows he is going die. So, he asks for a smoke and proceeds to detail for Coccotti just how deeply the Moors invaded Sicily. In actuality, I think St. Benedict the Moor born of African slaves near Sicily, may have been the source of this tirade! BUT IT WAS THE BEST CINEMA of my life to date! Needless to say Christopher Walken (Vincenzo Coccotti) played his best mob man as he terminated Dennis Hopper (Clifford Worley)in outlandish pre-soprano style! "True Romance" is a MUST SEE! ANYWAY!

Back to dreaming! Dennis Hopper has been the consumate dreamer. From "Easy Rider" through "Entourage" he has proven that you just have to take charge of your destiny.
Ameriprise knew he could capture that for us in times such as these. In my search, I was actually led to National Geographic where I picked up this story of the Maucerie's LifeDream, I assume sponsored by Ameriprise. Fulfilled right here in the good ole Chi! Check it out. Enjoy! Visit National Geographic for the entire series. Blow out your candles and make a wish! Today is the first day of the rest of your life. Make a dream, and then follow it through.

Put it in Your Pot Today!

KOHLRABI. Has anyone heard of a kohl rabi? Kohl meaning "cabbage" in German. Rabi is German for "turnip". It is a cabbage/turnip? It really looks like a beet that is not ripe. Or an overgrown raddish!

It came in my farm delivery and I boiled it thinking it was a beet. As it boiled, it didn't smell like a beet. As it boiled, it did not bleed like a beet, so about 20 minutes in, I screamed "THIS IS NOT A BEET!" I grabbed my famer's receipt, read "kohlrabi" and ran to my computer to look it up.

There are pages upon pages of kohlrabi information. It's history. It's flavour. it's texture, it's planting time. You can stuff it, boil it, broil it, bake it, sautee it, you can even soup it with pepper and thyme.

In Italian it is known as the cavoli rape. Italian can make anything sound good! Such a romantic language!

The best recipe and information was found on http://www.vegbox-recipes.co.uk/ingredients/kohl-rabi.php.

I had unfortunately cooked the poor kohlrabi by the time I discovered this site, but was it ever a treat. I poured into my skillet a tablespoon of hazelnut Tourangelle oil, chopped fresh garlic clove, chopped the entire kohlrabi(stem and all), added season salt and pepper and cooked! It had been boiled about 20 minutes before I realized it was not a beet, so the final product was tender and sweet! Flavorful and healthy! Full of vitamin C and just plain good.

Our "Planet in Peril" Tonite on CNN!

Please be sure to catch "Planet In Peril" tonite and tomorrow on CNN. Anderson Cooper, Jeff Corwin and Dr. Sanjay Gupta. 9pm ET 8pm CT

A two-part AC 360 special report on environmental issues that are becoming too important to ignore!

NOLA SUNDAYS!!!!!!!

http://www.themortuary.net/


Halloween is A COMING!!!! WOooooWOoohooo!!! To add to this, would you believe, last night my dutiful, beautiful, courageous pooch, pit-bull SandyGirl uncovered a ROACH!!!! It was massively huge! Black, not brown like the ones in my dream. SO FAT it could barely walk, so GROSS she would not eat it, but moaned and cried until we came, retrieved it, and we were going to donate it to our family (read last post on "Roaches") BUT me not being fully cured as I aforementioned (in previous post)decided to donate the lovely creature to our Leopard Gecko "Clash". Poor Mr. Cockroach was devoured immediately. I will not even speculate on where he came from, but can only surmise that, being a creole, it was a summons from the outer world!

Was my dream a premonition? Was Mr. Cockroach a messenger?

We will have to stay tuned!

In the meantime, where better to celebrate Halloween than in NOLA????
Voodoo, and death and Marie Leveau!

There is also a German presence (hmmm German, cockroaches, maybe this was all a precursor to today's entry on "Healthier, Happier, You!!!!) in NOLA who are celebrating this October:

Deutsches Haus
The German Presence in New Orleans
est 1928
200 South Galvez
P.O. Box 56816
New Orleans, LA 70156-6816
Tel. (504) 522-8014

So, if you are in the mood for fun and food, head on down to New Orleans! It's the kind of place that haunts your dreams!!! Literally! For REAL!

NOLA! Cest ci bon! Au revoir!!

Do Cockroaches Sleep????

Okay, you are all pretty aware by now that I am basically happy. Like, I vent and I gripe but afterward, I walk away with a smile. I am not really sure how I do this yet, and blogging really helps me with uncovering me ~~ SO WHY DID I DREAM ABOUT COCKROACHES LAST NIGHT!

Cockroaches are absolutely the only thing I call my mother to cry about. We have all inadvertently brought one home in the brown paper grocery bags (I do not request them anymore) or from being on the bus, or from some other location that has them(hopefully not that last place you had a meal!). It has not happened to me in 3 years or so, so I really have not seen one in a long, long time! (except my cousins keep them in their house, contained, but they are avid entomologists and I have only opened my eyes once to actually SEE them). Their brown bodies, crinky, scrunchy shells and those damn flickering needle-like antennas! EEWWWWWW!!!! They horrify me!

SO, this dream...It was reminiscent of a vampire movie flick. I must have fallen asleep watching the upcoming "Scarefest" being advertised on AMC Channel for Halloween next week. Nonetheless, on a bright sunny day in my dream world -- did I mention I rarely dream?? I usually just sleep peacefully, feeling wonderful, thinking of Miami, on a friend's boat! Anyway, these vampires were battling, flying around biting each other and that just did not faze me at all. It was the cockroach invasion that happened after the last vampire-flying-guy died. The small brown German kind were all over the floor, not in a mass, but rather sporadically placed. One would pop out and then another. So stepping on one at a time was manageable. And I was stepping on them. It was very realistic. Especially as one innocent woman died for no apparent reason. She lay nearby and I just kept stepping, squashing one by one, sometimes even smearing them and their white insides until I woke up!

I had a cup of coffee before I remembered the dream. Then my skin crawled. I vowed that it just could not happen again, so I began searching dream sites. All morning I searched. I have come up with some really good things as a result which is why I am sharing all of this madness with you!! YES POOR READERS, I AM GETTING TO THE POINT!

Roaches, as we all know are usually an infestation. Recall that infamous exterminator advertisement when they repeat,if you have seen one there are usually thousands more behind the wall? Symbolically speaking, I must be having an infestation of something psychologically! Thankfully this entire journey has brought me to -- YES I AM.

So, what can we as movers and shakers do when we become psychologically infested? We remove the infestation at its source! I found that great line from www.beliefnet.com.
I googled, yahooed, msnd "roaches" and "roach dreams" and only when my son came in and said use "ASK" server, did I come across a comment on beliefnet.com that totally made sense to me. We all hate the squishy, yukkiness that life can bring. It detains us. It offsets us and rocks us to the core. Sometimes even making us a wreck, but we mustn't let it! Hunker down into your core. This silly dream could have really side-lined me for weeks, maybe even months, but typically I am free of all that. Luckily I am able to pluck this right out and be done with it immediately. I have been sparring off and on with my manager at work. I know that he is pitiful, needs to grand stand and have attention. He needs to be constantly stroked with accolades and usually I simply oblige at no cost to me. However, most recently I have become fed up. These roaches said enough! I have not indulged this 50 year plus man at all this week. I simply do my job. Period. No niceties, small talk, and no stroking his ego. But it is affecting -- not him, but me! I must quote dear mother and share "Don't let someone change you." I was not really indulging him, I was just being me. Situations arise, and people just can not always get along. This person has their own gunk and I can not take any of it personally. I just need to make sure that I show up everyday as me. I can not let him be the bug that infests my emotional health as Ophelia000 11/18/03 responded on beliefnet.com on the "Roach Board". Yes, there were four postings on the "Roach Board"...I guess it is pretty common to dream about roaches!

So why include the pic of the common name: German cockroach
scientific name: Blattella germanica (Linnaeus) (Insecta: Blattodea: Blattellidae)??
Well, in addition to coming to terms that I need to be me, be happy, be indulgent for me and no one else, has also made me realize that being SO chronically afraid of roaches is REALLY silly. So when I go to my cousins house tomorrow, I am going to open my eyes, look at the critters and thank them for freeing my mind.

BLOG ACTION DAY 2007 A SUCCESS!!!!!!!!!!

Sharing the email detailing the success of Blog Action Day 2007!
Visit the site to check out all of the REALLY cool statistics, meet other bloggers, and hear some really cool music! Thanks Blog Action Day Team, IT WAS A REALLY FUN DAY!!!! I can not wait until next year...

***********
The Wrap Up

The very first Blog Action Day was an unprecedented success and
we've got the final wrap up where the site used to be at
http://blogactionday.org complete with statistics, sample posts,
details of the huge amount of press coverage we had all over
the world, quotes and more.

It's a must see. Please feel free to spread the word around as
it's great for people to really see what we achieved together.


******
Thanks

And if I could just say a huge thank you to every single one of
you, all 20,603 registered bloggers who took the plunge even if
it meant going off their regularly scheduled programming and
stood up to be counted.

Also thank you to everyone who helped out with the effort, in
particular Leo Babauta whose contacts, writing and enthusiasm
pushed the enterprise forward, my wife - Cyan Ta'eed who braved
the media and fronted up to interviews around the globe, John
Brougher who put together the superb video, Ryan Allen who
performed the elite coding to keep the site up despite barrages
of traffic and most importantly my Dad - Fuad Ta'eed who valiantly
looked through thousands of blogs to give the tick of approval,
every single day for two months.



So until next year when we get back together for
Blog Action Day 2008,

This is Collis signing off,
on behalf of the Blog Action Day team
http://blogactionday.org

"CLARICE???"

Sir Phillip Anthony Hopkins was born December 31, 1937. He is crossing this page because I happened to catch an interview featuring him last night. While I have loved him since I first saw him back in 1977 in the horror flick "Audrey Rose", I have never really captured a glimpse of the man. I have seen other interviews but in this Bravo excerpt I was able to recall why I love him so much and why his performance as Elliot Hoover still haunts me. I must then include every other performance I have watched as well because he is just that phenomenal. He is a haunting presence, and also one filled with subtlety and goodness. I can not speak on all of his life's journeys, but I can account for what I was able to dig up in conjunction with what I felt from his spirit. His spirit last night came across as a man of peace and sublime consciousness.

Born in Margam, Port Talbot, Wales, dyslexic, and encouraged by Richard Burton at 15 and thereafter Sir Laurence Olivier, Sir Anthony Hopkins has lived quite the varied life. He said something last night that I would like to share with you. It was his final comment as he was expounding on why you need to give life all you've got and "let the pieces fall where they may" ( a quote he uttered in "Meet Joe Black"...
He said "We are totally powerless, and that's the great comfort." Once you've set your life in motion, and prepared, and kept your nose to the grind, what is meant for you will surely come. You must be open to the gift.

You do all you can and move on. This was such a comfort to me personally. We would all love to map, and take stock, and keep things as close to script as possible. But in the end, we are really powerless to the Great All Encompassing. We don't have the final say. We can only be our best. Do our best. Give our best...and as Sir Anthony Hopkins said in the final scene of "Meet Joe Black", "It's hard to let go isn't it? Well, that's life - what can I tell you?"

DO YOU TODAY! ( A line I stole from Russell Simmons)and you will Love your life ~ Ups and Downs and ALL!!

BLOG ACTION DAY

Photo courtesy of Brian Amos

I woke up today wondering what I could talk about here on "Healthier, Happier You!!!" that would qualify as environmental. Well, as I am sure you know by now, I am passionate about the recovery efforts in New Orleans. But when I woke up today, there was more news about Blackwater and Iraq on CNN. I LOVE CNN, but I am becoming increasingly disenchanted with the media coverage of IRAQ! Why is this such BIG news???? Minnesota had the devastating bridge collapse. California had the crushing car accident. AND OF COURSE, the recovery efforts in NOLA. MY GOSH, just this past weekend, a NOLA police detective and his wife were terrorized and shot when invaders broke into their home!
Where is the coverage of the war here in our land?

Please don't get me wrong. We Americans are very guilty of being self absorbed and morbidly self-contained, but it is my personal belief that during this particular era,we have enough going on at home to put other mass atrocities down to a blurb.

What good will a safe secure Iraq be if our own citizens are not secure? How can we be savior to the world if our own foundation is shaky? In the two terms this administration has destroyed our world, it can be remade. We can turn the environment around, we can turn the economy around, we can adjust our trade policies and secure our food and other consumer products. We used to be safe at home so that we were able to concentrate on our neighbors. Let us focus on US again. In five years, we will be the strong, healthy, faithful union we used to be. Supporters of peace and alliances.

Now, what do I project to get us there???? More days like today! I can't wait to read what my fellow bloggers are talking about, but I can almost assure you, it is about sustainability, improvement and movement. Call to action the media! Tell them ENOUGH of IRAQ!!! The programming seems as if they are trying to turn us away from the fact that each and every one of us needs to implement a project. We have heard it all before on the brief soundbites...change to energy efficient light bulbs, drive less, make sure your home is free of toxic cleaning residue...NOW, if we heard all of the positives everyday as opposed to war! Projects can be just taking the bus one day to work. Or maintaining a bee hive, planting a tree!

I personally switched over to using Shaklee products. I wash most loads in cold water. And,I have also, as you know, supported my local farms. These things I am suggesting are simple and matter SO much. You can support children in other regions, or give money to your church/synagogue/mosque. Most institutions support interfaith communications, transworld aid and a host of other outreaches!

Subscribe to NOLA.com for news on what is going on in New Orleans. There is a war right here in our own borders. It is a war on what is right! People being displaced by ravaging racism/classism and blatant disregard for the environment. You can email your legislators and tell them enough is enough. We want our country back in order.
We want our children smiling again. We want to be healthy and happy and encouraged. Feeding our souls will give us the strength to spread it to the world. If we are shining bright, imagine how contagious our light will be! We will be like a waterfall. Brilliant and full, sending out rainbows and sprinkles of delight!
Go forth my friends, feel good about what is on the horizon, and have a productive, wondrous day!

NOLA SUNDAYS!!!!!!!

Photo courtesy of Mario Page

Today in the Times Picayune is a headline which reads there are several environmental groups proposing a feasible plan to restore and protect the beautiful Louisiana coastline. The article continues with The Lake Pontchartrain Basin Foundation and the Coalition to Restore Coastal Louisiana opposing what the State of Louisiana would like to suggest. I sure hope they keep their discrepancies to a minimum and just do what is best for the environment and the inhabitants. I feel in agreement with the scientists of the foundation, and not the state, because they have put together what is being reported as "multiple lines of defense" strategy.

What can we here at "Healthier Happier You!!!!" do to help? I would read more at http://www.saveourlake.org/bulletin.htm

or more about the issues at: http://blog.nola.com/times-picayune/2007/10/environmental_groups_offer_new.html

In support of the foundation views, it seems they are taking on the approach that we must undo what was done by re-routing nature (The Mississippi River) and destroying nature's natural defenses of wetlands, small islands, and sediment deposits that sheltered the coast line when it was in its original state. At any rate, read for yourself, make an informed decision, and support NOLA and the Gulf Coast efforts today!!! Before we know it, hurricane season will be here again, and there are so many people eager to go home!

DON'T FORGET K-VILLE TOMORROW NIGHT!!! CHECK YOUR LOCAL LISTINGS!

Shop Locally!!!!!

Where do you get your fruits and vegetables? Consuming products from national chains and corner markets can lead to your local farmers receiving little to no proceeds from their own community. This can, and usually does, effect their federal funding. It is also necessry to mention that these products, shipped from far and wide, are not as tasty. In addition, their travel is also terrible for the environment.

A big problem here in the mid-west is strawberries! You buy them one day and the next day they are a heap of stinky, mashed-up-mooshy-mold bombs! It never occurred to me that these strawberries had just come off of a five day trip from California over 1000 miles away. Imagine the gas that took! According to www.sciencenews.org back in 2003, strawberries travel 10 times farther than they would had they been grown locally. The chart, based on travel to Iowa from anywhere in the world, also suggested a type of "eco-labeling" so consumers would really be able to put a handle on just how far and fresh what they bought really was! What a great idea. That concept was introduced over four years ago and obviously never caught on, BUT here on "Healthier, Happier, You!!!!" I am urging each and every one of you to consume fresher food. We as professional shoppers can always simply look at the label to get an idea of how far your food has come. There are plenty of crops available, no matter where you are in this great vast land, that can come to you fresh all year round. We just have to acclimate ourselves to eating what is in season in our corner of the world.

I just started ordering from a group who have partnered with farmers and support other farming neighbors. For $25 I get a huge crate delivered to my door, packaged in a cooler, stocked full of the freshest fruits,vegetables and dairy products! Thank you, Irv and Shelly!!!

www.freshpicks.com/cms/

I feel better knowing that I am helping my neighbor, conserving energy, and bettering my body! You will too! Find your local farmer's market and shop there today!!! Mmmmm!

On This Columbus Day 2007

AP Photo

On this day, let's not forget that while Christopher Columbus was a varied, and some may argue, great explorer, he was also many other things too. You can read about him here: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Christopher_Columbus

Today let's celebrate PEACE! President Jimmy Carter's new book is out!
Be sure to grab a copy. In searching "Beyond the White House: Waging Peace, Fighting Disease, Building Hope," I also became interested in his book, "Palestine: Peace Not Apartheid" released in 2006.
Stay tuned...

Think Globally ~ Think Hard ~ Think Together ~ MONTAGE!

Image courtesy of K.R. Copeland


Radio personality Tom Joyner may be the "Hardest Working Man" on the radio, but his callers should put their thinking caps on! Or maybe he should encourage his listeners to not only listen to the great subjects he brings to our ears, but investigate and stay informed.

Typically, I let ignorance slide, but Tom Joyner's Morning Show is a nationally syndicated program. It airs here in Chicago mornings on 102.7 fm. Friday, I was awakened to the ongoing Clinton OR Obama debate. I am sure I do not need to preface that these campaigns, the upcoming election and its political climate is more important than any in my life time. Therefore, I am vigilant when listening to any comments and all responses. We must keep in mind, not only is our way of life at stake but our very existence.

Poo-pooing the state of the climate change and our effect on the world with our foreign policy views should be bipartisan.

At any rate, this female caller phoned in to say that it was her opinion that we should not support Hillary Clinton in the primary because-- the "Bush's and the Clinton's are in cahoots." The caller went on to say "See how Clinton (Bill) and Bush Sr. are running around together? They all in cahoots!" The caller went on for a few minutes reiterating that she was voting for Obama because she just could not stand how Clinton and Bush could be friends. It just didn't sit right with her etc.

Well, I say all of this to you today because I know this woman is a victim of a media blitz. In her minds eye, she has informed herself by watching local news, and all she has gotten from that is images of George H. W Bush and William Jefferson Clinton walking around, taking photo ops and patting each other on the back. She obviously had never listened to anything they were walking around for, and to make matters worse, she probably has not listened intently to anything that has been said by anyone of substance these past twenty-four months.

People, please read everything you can get your hands on. This important concept was brought up on one of my favorite participatory sites (Shelfari.com). It is imperative that we as contributors to society peruse a full spectrum of global opinions and not fall victim to biased news.

Getting back to that caller from TJMS(Tom Joyner Morning Show); the fact is the Bush/Clinton effort can not be applauded enough. It is the only sane comprehensive occurrence I have seen from this president. Two families putting aside their differences for the common good of the globe is an awesome show of force.

It is no secret that I LOVE Bill Clinton, but in all fairness, I am examining all aspects of issues concerning where my introspection should be.

Had the caller done any due diligence she would know that the Bush Clinton alliance formed the BushClintonKatrinaFund.org after Hurricane Katrina and the South Asian Tsunami. Their combined efforts as of July 31,2007 raised "more than $130 million dollars. According to the BushClintonKatrinaFund.org website, the contributions are as follows:

* $30 million dollars to higher education throughout the globe
* $40 million dollars to assist the states of Alabama, Mississippi and Louisiana in rebuilding and recovery efforts.
* $25 million dollars to interfaith houses of worship
* $35 million dollars to other health, housing, education and community needs

Clearly this caller has not been to any of these areas or she'd know that even with all of this given there is still great need.

Had the caller investigated, even just beyond her television screen, just a little, she would know that these efforts have helped hundreds of thousands of people of all races and classes and faiths, with hundreds of thousands more still to go.

Formulating alliances despite diversity, in my opinion, is an extraordinary accomplishment.

So, choose whom you may in this upcoming election. Many people have died so that we may do just that! The abundant list of candidates is such a good thing. We have a lot of time to research each and every one! They all have something to offer. They each have stories worth reading about, listening to and even going to see them when they are in your town. Look into their voting records. Look into their voting attendance. Find out their allegiances, their prospectives, their abilities. Can they bridge the gaps made by this current administration? What are their charitable connotations? Do their footprints leave a path well trodden? Which groups did they speak or not speak to? Why? Who will be their enemies?

Do not make villain of one candidate based on illusions presented by one media chain. We have the opportunity to make an informed decision, so take the time. Take part, envisage and make it a dream. A dream of global commitment and concern that can lengthen far beyond a political schematic...it can be birthed alive, it can thrive.

*****

Visit www.BushClintonKatrinaFund.org for more information.
Check out Npr.org
Check out Worldnetdaily.com
Check out democracynow.org

Peace Unto You

It has been 52 years since the vicious, brutal murder of 14 year old Emmett Till. It has been four years since his vigilant mother Mamie Till Mobley was laid to rest. This story shaped my views as a child from the hood. I am native to the Southside of Chicago. So, I witnessed Mrs. Till-Mobley being the kind of parent who never rested. She remained vocal.

Photo FBI Files

She maintained regal but firm when educating society about losing her baby to maliciousness.

She never ceased until she was called home.

So, there is a bit of value in yesterday's news which cited an apology to the Till Family from Tallahatchie County in Mississippi.

Is this an apology too late? I am not so sure. Many of American citizens today are riling in response to this news. Many are in an uproar and I must admit, it still hurts. An apology 52 years later is still an apology. Many of those who were involved, and or victimized, including the offenders, have since perished. Thankfully, society remembers. The images of his open casket, his bloated bashed head, and his body mangled were printed for us all to see in JET magazine. These sordid images can be summoned from my thoughts within the blink of an eye. The video of Mrs. Mamie Till clutched by arms all around her as she wailed for her pride and joy. Pre-Rosa Parks, Pre-Dr. Martin Luther King, Pre-Jessie Jackson. Pre-Jena 6.
Emmett Till was sacrificed. His young, short life played like a horrific nightmare.

I often thank him for his sacrifice in my prayers. It is because of him my own young son, when down south, does not have to step off the sidewalk when a white person passes. The fact that Tallahatchie County even considered an apology, when it is probably certain they still have legislation referring to people of color as chattel, is a step in the right direction. A gesture of peace should always be accepted as positive, even if it has villainous intentions, and I am not saying that theirs does, because it sets in motion within the universe a pathway to peace. And it is peace~~ peace of spirit, peace of mind, peace of heart that moves in and changes the world. No matter how minute it seems. Love and forgiveness is contagious. I feel good about that. I feel good that the family appeared and accepted the apology.

I liken apologies, whether they are meant or not, to when my son plays vigorously in the house with the dog. I always nicely ask that they take it outside before something gets broken and am ALWAYS ignored. When the milk spills, or the plate breaks, or the plant falls to the floor, I inevitably get an apology. He sort of means it. He IS sorry that it happened. He is aware however, that had he used better judgement, or listened, the circumstances may have turned out differently. Point is, I always accept the apology. I open my arms and there is an embrace. It feels good. It is an exchange of warmth and love and that is real. I clean up the mess, because his efforts were shoddy, and I move on. Will it happen again? YES. Will I be upset? YES. But an apology takes effort and courage. It does require thought. It serves a purpose of enlightenment and is ALWAYS a good thing.

These incidences of racism are still happening, maybe even as we speak. But every time there is an apology, and to be quite frank, I can not recall this ever happening before ~~ Please feel free to educate me ~~ it should be accepted. It should be talked about. And hopefully the circle of life will bring about change to a society that is in desperate need of love and compassion for all of its inhabitants.

I PROMISE!!!!!!!!!!!!

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Next week, REALLY, I PROMISE

SUPPORT K-Ville Fox television show. Granted the first weeks have been saccharine BUT the writing is getting better AND what better way to support NOLA than from the comfort of your own, very own couch!!!

http://www.fox.com/kville/

Finding ALL kinds of other NOLA bloggers too! Show Love!

http://nola-blog.blogspot.com/2007/08/new-tv-show-kville-begins-soon-on-fox.html

NEW VOICE: Color Online

Found a new phenomenal outreach that is accepting donations of books and gift cards. This spectacular person has taken her time to help empower young women between the ages of 14 and 21.


You may read more about Color Online through:

http://www.shelfari.com/groups/12777/about

or visit http://coloronline.blogspot.com/

I was given the opportunity to ask the founder a few questions and would like to share the exchange with you. Enjoy:

Houseonahill: Why do you feel supporting these young women is important?

LaTonya: I know what kind impact positive role models had on me. I think most of us could use support as we try to navigate our way through adolescence to adulthood. It was teachers, mentors and coaches who kept me buoyant during some tumultuous times. If we don’t invest in our youth, who will? Our young people need us and frankly we need them to become productive, free-thinking, strong leaders of tomorrow.

Houseonahill: In formulating this alliance, what impact do you hope to make and is there a spoken or unspoken committment that once you have left or graduated the program that you return and somehow give back?

LaTonya: My hope is to communicate that someone cares and someone believes in them and is willing to commitment the time to supporting them in their development. Our relationship is reciprocal from the onset. Everyone has something to give. We teach and support each other. Color Online members are required to give back to the community. There are no shortages of opportunity.

Houseonahill: When choosing your literature, what ideals are you hoping to bring into discussion?

LaTonya: I consciously choose literature with strong, flawed, authentic female characters. No one is all good or all bad. I look for works that deal with personal growth, responsibility, accountability, struggle and triumph. Sometimes works are political. Sometimes they are intimate examinations of self. Others are about our relationship with our community or society. I try to select works where the reader is evoked, compelled or challenged to consider her own views and to form her own opinions.

Thank you so much for taking the time to share this inspirational program.
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Mentoring today can be as easy as this. Check out the links to find out how you can become involved! Shape a journey, embrace a mind!!