Category Archives: News & Politics

Just my rants, raves & reflections on things that happen around the world.

News, History & Politics

I  almost forgot about this entry that I wanted to post about the inauguration and history, but it still fits because it is still Black History Month.

At Defining Moment, Stories of Injustice

***I really love stories that gives insight to how far we have come through people’s experiences.  I love speaking to older generations just to get perspective.  So many of our generation and younger take things for granted and that is sad.  This is the church that is gathering the stories of it’s members :  Second Baptist Church

Inauguration view an ode to U.S.’s promise

***This is a fascinating history of our nation’s capital.

White senator discovers family’s African-American roots

***I really got a kick out of this one.  How would you like to find a bunch of relatives that you never knew existed by watching TV?  It really shows how interlocked we really are.

Gov. Bobby Jindal’s volcano remark has some fuming

***This has nothing to do with history.  This is a political post….WTF is wrong with him?!?!  Hello!  I can see Mt. St. Helens from were we live…I want to know if it is going to blow.  It is still active.  We have Mt Hood, it last erupted just before Lewis & Clark’s arrival.  According to wikipedia :

Mount Hood is considered the Oregon volcano most likely to erupt,[7] though based on its history, an explosive eruption is unlikely. Still, the odds of an eruption in the next 30 years are estimated at between 3 and 7 percent,[8] so the USGS characterizes it as “potentially active”, but the mountain is informally considered dormant.[8]

It is extremely, extremely unlikely that it will go in my life time and longer….but still, things like that need to be studies

How about this…..we give up our volcano monitoring and they give up their hurricane warnings…..and I’ve been through more hurricanes then I want to remember.

What a fraking moron!!!  ggggrrrr

Discussing Race Relationships

Eric Holder is correct.  America is full of cowards when it comes honestly dealing with the issues of race.  We put our heads in the sand.  You know all these people who say that we don’t need to discuss it and need to move past it….most of them are (ding-ding) white.

Of course, they don’t see it.  They don’t get pulled over just because they are white, they don’t have to worry about whether they are going to get shot at because they are black, that some people will cross the street to avoid a black male, they don’t have most of their history ignored …..and don’t get me started on what we as a country have done to the Native Americans….some won’t even use the $20 bill due to Andrew Jackson being on it and what he did to them.

We may work together, but our social circles in America normally don’t mix when it comes to race.  I don’t think it is thought out that way, it just happens.  And we as a country are cowards on asking why and trying to actually understand where the other person is coming from.
You know my biggest surprise when I moved to Indiana….that I ended up in a school without a person of color until about year after I been there.  I was like where the hell is everyone? It had everything to do with just how areas self-segregate.  I ended up there because we needed to help out family, but I wasn’t happy about the lack of cultural mix.

That isn’t what I grew up with, I grew up with faces of color and accents.  I loved it when we visited South Beach in Florida and Curaco because you heard a bunch of different accents and languages when you are there.  I missed having that on a regular basis.
With all the issues that military faces (and yes there are racist there) you still have a more cultural mix and better chance of socialization and learning from each other.  In fact a few years ago, they came out with a study that the best integrated communities were the ones of military retirees around military posts.  That is what I really missed when my dad retired and we moved to be closer to family.

I’ve never felt comfortable in all white sittings.  I think that is why I took so many African American classes in college.  Hell, if I had paid attention I could’ve gotten a minor in it….doh  I love learning about other cultures, I think it is also because I want to understand our race relationships.  If you learn about our racial history you get a better understanding when you meet people, you know where they are coming from even if you fully can’t understand it unless you’ve been there.

Catching Up

I have my nightly glass of wine and just had some cheese and crackers, watching Madea’s Family Reunion…I love that character.  Two of our cats are circling me and vulturous….lol Our kitties really make my day, they are my babies.

Unfortunately, one of our babies isn’t doing too well.  Our 13yr old (Reggie Miller….my husband named him…..grin) has a nasal tumor that there is nothing that they can do about it.  He was diagnosed about a year ago.  He has lost weight over the last few months, his breathing is noisey, sneezes a lot and sometimes it is bloody, you can see the tumor swell under his eye and moving it, but he still has his fiesty grouchy attitude.  =)  The vet says we will know when it is time.  =(  We just spoil him, got him canned foods that he can smell (cats won’t eat unless they can smell it), and let him pretty much eat what ever he wants.  I just hope he makes it to 14, which will be in April.  Not bad for a barn cat runt…….grin…he once got up to 14#.  He is our baby and has had a good life.

Reggie and one of the kittens (Drew Brees…..I named him…….I love my Purdue football) usually jock for the position of sleeping next to me.  It is cute.  Of course, my husband says Drew is a momma’s boy, I say he is just well loved.  Both Drew and Alexis meow for me when I’m not home.  Sakura is so quiet that when she does meow it is soft and surprises you…that is our baby girl.

Well, what I’ve been up to.  As my last few entries, I lost my great-aunt and I flew out for the funeral.  It was hard, but made easier knowing that she was surrounded by family at her home when she went, that she hated living that way and was ready…..but also the stories that that family shared and the laughter, she would’ve loved that.  =)  That is the only good thing about funerals, which is sad, is seeing family you normally don’t and sharing stories.

I finally got to meet my other dad’s other cousin.  =)  They wanted to meet me since I’ve had their address and been sending xmas cards.  If you are family, I have your address and even I’ve never meet you, you’re getting a card.  Just my small part of staying connected with family.  Most of my side of the family had been at the wake the night before, that I missed, but 4 of 8 of my aunt’s nieces and nephews where there and they all sent flowers.  =)  So our love for her was shown.

The trip was totally exhausting though.  The jet lag…..even though I was tired when I got in Sunday, I could not fall asleep until 1am-2am Est time, 10-11pm my time.  Then I was back up by 6am and so I can make the 2 drive north, luckily they were an hour behind my folks so I got a little more sleep.  =)  I was almost out of it when I finally head back.  I put in my headset and spent the drive on the phone with my best friend.  That was a huge help.

I enjoyed visiting with my family, even if it was only one day.  It was a tough day for me, everyone was as at work, which was cool but NO INTERNET…icks…  Mom & dad got rid of their landline but have dsl, so ATT decided to change out their lines.  Of course, they are out in farm country where my sprint card didn’t get a very good signal.  By Tues, I was 2 days behind on work…..not good.  Of course, I was traveling all day Wed so I didn’t get to work until Thrusday.  Then I had payroll to work on Sat/Sun….so I’ve been working since I got home.  Took me forever to get time to do this.

I just wish I had more time with my family, of course, I really wanted to be home also.  Need to get them out in Oregon…hint…hint.

We are now watching this : http://www.hbo.com/docs/programs/rightamerica/index.html

I love their tears when McCain lost…now they know the despair and depression we felt each time Bush won.

Wow, these people scare me & you wonder why I wanted the hell out of the Midwest…..they are concentrated there.  Hell, I wanted out of the Midwest before I even got there.  So happy to be in Oregon….I finally feel at home.

So now that I’m home, I’m back at the gym 5 days a week….although if we get good weather we’ll good for a hike instead, love those.

I really need to work on taxes this week, I am stressing it…..icks.  =(  Our vacation plans depend on it.  Once I get these done, I’m making an appointment with a tax accountant.

Well, need to get this posted and on to bed….maybe I’ll take some time to myself and read one of my history books, it is a thought.

Mean old lady dies at 101

 

 

Jonny Says FUCK YOU!

This is a local story from my old hometown in Indiana that I just came across that made my day, not because it’s the story tell me she was dead, but because it appears she treated everyone the same regardless who they was and it wasn’t “just me” she hated. I had to deal with this mean old lady a few times and she was just mean to kids, she was mean to me in the 1980’s and she was mean to my dad in the 1950’s and she took no guff from anyone as proved by this story.

_____________________________________
A Lafayette legend, Elinor May Everett Stingley, 101, died late Tuesday night in the local home of her great-granddaughter, Lisa Yates. Stingley had been ill for a few weeks.

For nearly 50 years, Stingley was called the “Cone Lady” at the Original Frozen Custard next to Columbian Park.

Stingley, who was born and raised in Lafayette, was known for telling customers, “We do not mix flavors.”

She also would tell people it was “a cone line only.” She made no exceptions to customers.

Her granddaughter, Aleeah Livengood of Mulberry, said “granny” would not change the rules even for the rich and famous.

Singer Axl Rose, who grew up as William Bailey in Lafayette, gained fame with the rock band Guns N’ Roses. He once visited Arni’s and the Frozen Custard in the early-’90s at the height of his fame.

“We never called him Axl. He was always Bill Bailey to us,” said Livengood. “He went to the cone line because the other line was long.

“Finally, it was his turn, and he asked granny for a strawberry sundae. She told him to go to the other line. He said, ‘Do you know who I am?’ Granny said, ‘Yes, William. I know who you are. Now get to the other line.”

Axl Rose just laughed after getting a rise out of Stingley. He had lived with his grandmother behind the Frozen Custard and became good friends with the Cone Lady.

http://www.jconline.com/article/20090128/NEWS09/90128013&referrer=FRONTPAGECAROUSEL

________________________________

May you spend all of eternity dishing melted ice cream to screaming kids you old witch.

 

Today

Change We can Believe In

There is Hope.