14 Year Old Delivers Fetus in Airplane Restroom

*sighs*

I've reluctantly been watching this story develop all day. At first the airplane cleaning crew reported finding a fetus in the wastebasket about 15 minutes after the plane landed in Houston. Of course it wouldn't be difficult to find out who the mother was, considering they have a passenger log and in all likelihood the lady would still be at the airport (I know I've never been able to depart a plane and leave the airport within 15 minutes). Anyway, surely they could quickly locate the woman and find out what happened, right?

Well, sort of.

Finally we find out that the woman they were looking for turned out to be a 14 year old middle school student who was returning from a school trip in New York and reportedly didn't even know she was pregnant. Preliminary reports say that the baby was stillborn.

Everybody's concerned about having the race conversation and I agree that it's needed, but is anyone except me noticing that somebody needs to start having the teenager conversation? I've done a few posts in the last 2 weeks dealing with some heavy stuff concerning tweens and teens. It's reported in a recent study that 25% of teens have an STD, a 17 year old recently left her kids at home to eat cocaine while she went out to sell drugs on the corner, a 12 year old was just found working in a strip club...and more horrible reports concerning teens are popping up every day.

We're letting them grow up too fast. They have too many privileges, too much freedom, too much technology and no innocence. Will parents please start being parents again? Your children may hate you for it now, but they will thank you for it later.

UPDATE: Sean Levert Died of Natural Causes

The coroner's report has just been released on the cause of R&B singer Sean Levert's death.

County Coroner Frank Miller said Levert died from complications of sarcoidosis, an inflammatory lung disease that produces tiny lumps of cells in body's organs. The coroner said Levert also suffered from other conditions, including cardiovascular disease and withdrawal from alprazolam -- a drug used to treat anxiety disorders and panic attacks.

After Levert died, jail warden Kevin McDonough said he had been sick and guards were watching him because he had been acting strangely. When he started pounding on his cell door, guards strapped him in a restraint chair, McDonough said. Levert's breathing became shallow and he was taken to the hospital. (source)

The 39 year old son of legendary O'Jay member Eddie Levert and brother of the late Gerald Levert was serving a 22-month sentence for failure to pay child support. No comments have been made by the family concerning the coroner's report.

____________________________________________________________________________

The family of Sean Levert issued a statement on Monday afternoon:

"There are no words that can express what we are feeling today. There is no song that can capture the loss that we have in our hearts. But we are humbly overwhelmed by the generous outpouring of love, condolences and support from the many friends, fans and admirers of our son Sean. At this very difficult time, we thank you for your prayers and hope you will understand our need for privacy."

Levert died Sunday night at Lutheran Hospital in Cleveland after collapsing in his jail cell. Warden Kevin McDonough said Levert had been sick and guards were watching him at the jail's regular cellblock because he had been acting strangely. He declined to be more specific about Levert's medical condition. Levert suffered from high blood pressure and had been hallucinating in jail, Caesar said. Toxicology reports could take four to six weeks, he said.

An autopsy was done Monday but no immediate cause of death was determined, according to Powell Caesar, a spokesman for the Cuyahoga County's coroner's office, but he said there was no evidence of foul play or trauma.

Here's a nice article about Sean in his hometown's paper.

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Another tragedy in the Levert family. R&B singer Sean Levert (his group's big hit in the 80's was the song "Casanova") died in jail last night at the age of 39. Sean is the son of Eddie Levert of the legendary O'Jays and brother of the late Gerald Levert who passed away in 2006 at the age of 40.

Sean was just a few days into serving a 22 month prison sentence for an $85,000 child support default. Early reports say that he died of natural causes. A jail official says a guard checked on Sean LeVert last night and noticed he was having difficulty breathing. Medical help was called, but could not save the singer. Jail officials say they were not aware of any pre-existing medical condition.

He leaves behind 3 children ages 17, 15, & 11. Condolences to Eddie Levert and the family.

Here's a video of a classic performance of Eddie, Sean, & Gerald together.

Open Letter To Mortimer B. Zuckerman of U.S. News & World Report

After reading an article written in the opinion column of today's U.S. News & World Report, I decided to write the author a letter giving a more balanced perspective on the ongoing Rev. Wright controversy. The article didn't give the option of commenting, so I had to send a letter thru the 'Contact Us' link. Hopefully he'll get it and read it. In the meantime, I thought I'd share. Sorry it's long, but I think it's worth the read.

------------------

Hi - this letter is to Mortimer Zuckerman. I just finished reading the article published today "Obama's Double Standard on Reverend Wright" and although it is a very well written piece, I have concerns about some of the pointed and inflammatory descriptions included.

You mentioned that Rev. Wright's sermons were "hate-filled, paranoid, and anti-American." May I offer you a different perspective to ponder? The bible tells us in Hebrews 12:6 that "...whom the Lord loveth, he chasteneth." What good is a father who never corrects his son or never points out the things that the child is doing wrong so that they can be corrected? We have to be frank and admit that America has done some despicable things in the name of democracy. Many nations and people have suffered at our hands, yet we take a stand of arrogance as if America has been the shining example of honesty and integrity in the world. We all know that is just not so. Because Rev. Wright or anyone else is honest about our country's sins, does that make them anti-American? Open rebuke is actually a greater form of love that one who sits by and says nothing.

Jesus was not a popular man in his country. He used incendiary and inflammatory speech. He was divisive and was probably accused of being hate-filled, paranoid, and anti-Jerusalem. Yet, last week our nation celebrated his death, burial, and resurrection as Holy Week. He is the one most of us follow as our example of living a perfect life. He was hated and subsequently executed because they accused him of being a heretic and a blasphemer. Consequently, he was the greatest lover of his country. He loved Jerusalem, but spoke out against it because they were doing wrong things and wanted to correct the error of their ways.

I'm not in any way suggesting that Rev. Wright is Jesus. I'm not intimately familiar with the doctrine of his church. That's not the point. The point is, is it possible that Rev. Wright loves America?

Yes, he is a flawed man just like the rest of us, but just because he speaks publicly about the injustices that America has committed, does that really make him anti-American? In any of his sermons, did he ever tell his congregation not to love their fellow American or to commit violence towards someone who wronged them, or to hold grudges and refuse to forgive? Did he ever tell them to hate the government, white people, Asians, Latinos, etc.? Is it fair to call him paranoid? Didn't American settlers nearly wipe out the Native American population for the sole purpose of taking their land? Didn't the American government allow black men to be unknowingly injected with syphilis as an experiment? Didn't America take black slaves, strip them of their names, dignity, and heritage all in the name of free enterprise? Based on history, is it really so far fetched to suggest that the government invented AIDS? I'm not saying that it's true, but even Pat Buchanan suggested that HIV/AIDS was punishment for homosexuality. Both positions sound very plausible or very ignorant depending on your life experience and which side of the ditch you stand.

When people say things that hurt us, we often interpret that as them hating us. I can remember being scorned or chastised as a child and feeling like my parents hated me. As I matured, I understood that they didn't hate me at all. Actually, they loved me so much more than the people who said nothing while I did the wrong thing. The fact of the matter is, the truth hurts. If we all had to justify our lives and relationships based on a few :30 second sound bites taken out of context, we all would be cut off from society and banished into solitude. You and I both have said stupid things over the course of our lives, but that doesn't make us hate mongers, or paranoid, or anti-American. It makes us human beings who at any given point in time may say something that we believe is true, but others strongly take issue with.

If Sen. Obama's judgement is to be questioned based on his 20 year relationship with Rev. Wright (whom we know of solely from those clips which only represent snapshots in time as opposed to the totality of his 40 year career in ministry), then can't we also question Sen. Clinton's judgement for remaining married to her husband for over 30 years? And we all saw the clips on the news of his lapse in judgement. She could have chosen to divorce him and the whole world would have backed her up, just like Sen. Obama could have made the choice to leave his church, but neither of them chose that option. I submit to you that Sen. Clinton made a choice of her own free will to remain committed to her husband based on her historical knowledge and understanding of who he really is and not based on his moments of reprehensible, sinful, bad judgement. Why is it incomprehensible and unacceptable that Sen. Obama made the same choice?

I hope that someone in the media will be have enough backbone to look past emotions and knee-jerk reactions and really examine what Rev. Wright has said in context. This whole business of mass marketing fear and profiting off of half-truths is getting old. America is better than that.

"Open rebuke is better than secret love. Faithful are the wounds of a friend; but the kisses of an enemy are deceitful." - Proverbs 27:5-6

Marlon Jackson works at Vons Supermarket?!

Now, I ain't one to gossip, but word on the street is that the Jackson boys (Michael, Papa Joe, Randy, Tito, Marlon, Jackie, Jermaine) are doin' bad. Broke. Tryin' to make ends meet. Tryin' to make a dollar out of 15 cents. Can You Feel It?

According to this article in the NY Post, Tito has a band that makes $500-$1500 per gig. Jermaine is living at home with Joe & Katherine. Randy fixes cars and does other odd jobs. We all know about Michael. But, the biggest shocker of all is that Marlon reportedly works at Von's Supermarket stocking shelves. Really?! Dang. That would've never happened to Donnie Osmond. The bad part about it is they're blaming Michael. I guess one bad apple can spoil the whole bunch.

Can't they get back on their feet by starting a reality show or something? It worked for Bobby Brown. I would be a faithful viewer. Here are some title suggestions:

• Little Brother
• Joe Knows Best
• Survivor Neverland
• Making the Band 5
• Just Being the Jacksons

Joe must be getting soft in his old age. As long as he had 'em stacking bricks and wearing sequins, they were doing good. Then Janet took "Control", Michael turned "Bad" and the whole clan started to go downhill. Oh well, here's to 1980 when the Jacksons were on top and spreading glitter all over the world and gas was $1.25 a gallon.

Can You Feel It?

12 Year Old Stripper Working at a Dallas Strip Club

Yep. It's sad but true. A twelve year old girl danced nude for 2 weeks at Diamonds Cabaret in Dallas (read full story here). I hear you asking, "didn't they know she was underage?" Well, it sounds like they had a clue, but they really didn't care. She made $100 her first night. What was her stage name...Peach Fuzz?

Her mother said she has the body of a 20 year old. Doesn't that make you scream?!!! A 12 year old with the body of a 20 year old?! When I was 12, I was mad because I couldn't take my shirt off to play with the boys anymore and my chest hurt when I tried to do the centipede. I couldn't have imagined being naked in front of people. I was furious when my mom was looking at me and suggested it was time for me to wear a bra. NOOOOOO!!!

I have a 12 year old niece and THANK GOD she looks like she's 12 (and she better always look like she's 12 until we give her permission to look otherwise). On the other hand, I do know a 13 year old who could easily pass for 18 or 19, and that's with no makeup or grown up clothes. It's got to be the food. The world is so violent and hyper-sexualized that childhood has literally been stolen. Gone are the days of innocence. If you haven't had the talk with your kids before they make it to kindergarten, you can forget about it. By the second grade they'll be able to teach you more than you ever wanted to know.

I blame Britney Spears....and Church's Chicken.

Hillary's D.C. Pastor Agrees with Rev. Jeremiah Wright

Apparently Hillary slept in one too many Sundays.

This is priceless. The pastor of the church that the Clintons attended while in the White House has issued a statement in support of the much maligned Rev. Jeremiah Wright. “Those of us who are white Americans would do well to listen carefully to Dr. Wright rather than to use a few of his quotes to polarize,” the Rev. Dean Snyder said in a statement posted on the Foundry United Methodist Church website. Now, let the church say Amen.

Now that Sen. Clinton has gone on record saying that he [Rev. Wright] would not have been her pastor, I wonder what her thoughts are on her own pastor agreeing with Rev. Wright. Will she denounce and reject him? Will she express regret over her tenure at Foundry UMC? Will she disassociate from Rev. Snyder?

You make the call. What do you think Hillary's response will be?

Whites Gone Wild

In case you've been MIA like I have for the past few days, you may not have noticed that after hearing clips (taken out of context) of Rev. Jeremiah Wright's sermons rebuking the less than honorable actions of America and of Barack Obama's speech on race last Tuesday, White folks are MAD! We all have seen those Girls Gone Wild commercials with the girls showing all their business, well white folks are lifting their shirts up all over the TV and they don't care who's watching. I've been reading articles and blog comments and I'm almost amazed at how brazen people are with their negative opinions of Black America. ...I said ALMOST amazed.

It's funny to see how people who have an ingrained sense of entitlement react to being criticized or having their dirty deeds aired. Check out this blog entry by Pat Buchanan "A Brief for Whitey". He is so p.o.'ed about a negro having the audacity to suggest that white America is not the savior of blacks. Black folk better be thankful for being brought to this country as slaves, for being given food stamps and welfare, Section 8, Medicaid, and soup kitchens (I'm not making this up...read his blog). Rev. Wright needs to kiss the ground in thanksgiving of the wonderful privileges and advantages of being an American (bow and kiss the ground...isn't that worship Mr. Buchanan?). Wow.

The irony of all this is that at first they were implying that Barack is a Muslim. Now, they have quickly abandoned that theory and allowed him to be a Christian, but not just a good Christian like them...oh noooo. He's a bad black Christian. They have beef with Barack Obama for staying in his church for 20 years. They want to believe that Barack secretly agrees with everything his pastor said and that he has a burning hatred for this country. They don't care that they have to insult every black church in the nation in order to substantiate their point. Nope. They are white, they are right, and how dare anybody suggest otherwise?! God bless America!

Can I let you in on a little secret Pat? The Christ whom you claim to follow was not considered a friend of his nation. He didn't flow with the status quo. He stood out on controversial issues. He made incendiary and inflammatory statements about the government and it's leaders....yet, you have called yourself a follower of Christ for how long now? Forgive me, maybe your church doesn't read that part of the bible. I guess you're one of those Christians who only adhere to the parts of the bible that validates your agenda.

Not all white people agree with the ignorance of Pat Buchanan. There are many who repudiate that foolishness, just as not all black people embrace the brutal truth of Rev. Wright's messages. But I tell you one thing. Pandora's box has been opened and the conversation about race is now happening all around us.

The race conversation will not be televised. It will take place in homes, churches and on jobs. It will take place in boardrooms and courtrooms, in classrooms and on playgrounds. On the golf course and on the basketball court. Unfortunately, what we have to realize is that this dialogue won't be pleasant to the ears. A lot of feelings will be hurt (black & white) and a lot of toes will get stepped on. In order for a wound to properly heal, you must first get to the root of the problem. There may be bacteria and the stench of infection. There may initially be pus. It may be ugly, uncomfortable, or itch a lot. It's not a pretty process, but eventually after the worst part is over, the wound starts to heal and only memory will serve as a reminder of the pain.

The ugliness that we hear right now, however unpleasant, is absolutely necessary. In order for this conversation to progress and prosper, we have to allow people room to be imperfect, to misunderstand, and to misinterpret. We have to be big enough to forgive and humble enough to admit our own shortcomings. We have to take into account a person's life experiences and not dismiss them as less important than our own. We have to expose, and then we have to cover. But, most of all we have to listen and after we have heard and understood...we have to Change.

Yes We Can.

Detriot Mayor Indicted on 12 Charges

Detroit Mayor Kwame Kilpatrick and his undercover text lover, former Chief of Staff Christine Beatty, were both indicted on 12 charges including perjury. (story)

You know, I've always felt a connection to Kwame Kilpatrick. My brother's name is also Kwamee, but with two e's. His mama's name is Carolyn, and my mama's name is Carolyn too....but, I guess that's where the similarities stop. My brother Kwamee doesn't text. As a matter of fact, you're doing good if he talks to you on the phone for 5 minutes. Maybe it's the extra 'e' in his name that keeps my brother Kwamee so grounded. My brother Kwamee is famous for his inspiring speeches that set people on the right track. Maybe Kwamee should have talked to Kwame about the dangers of text messaging before he got caught up with Christine. Now it's too late...they're busted.

Don't get me wrong, I'm a fan of text messaging. Even my mama is a text messager. Actually, she's way ahead of me in text language (shorthand/abbreviations). I'm stealing her abbreviations everyday. She cracks me up. One day I was sharing with her about the global hits that I've been getting on the blog. Her excited response via text was that she was famous. Then referring to a post I did about my grandmother, she text'd "o snap im not wear n fishnets" ...lol! (ok, so maybe it's only funny to me that my mom said "o snap")...i digress

I love the cell phone carrier commercials where the young girl and the grandma talk in text, and the mom is frustrated trying to communicate with them (in one commercial the mom takes the phone away from grandma and grandma responds "O N U D!" [...oh, no you didn't!]). Text messaging is meant for convenient, quick communication, not for getting people indicted and losing their jobs. *sighs* Kwame, Kwame, Kwame...we had such high hopes for you.

This is my last and final warning. Ya'll better start picking up the phone and talking before you get KK'd (KK=Kwame Kilpatrick'd: busted sending text messages that you wouldn't ever want anybody to read). And PLEASE don't do it on the company phone. WTH? ONUD!

Meet the Browns Opens TODAY!

I'm too excited about seeing Tyler Perry's latest film, "Meet the Browns". Brown is my absolute favorite TP character and it'll be interesting to see if he can carry a whole movie. Check out this interview with Tyler over at BlackVoices. Go out and support this film this weekend, then come back to the comment box on Monday and let us know how you liked it! Enjoy your Good Friday and Easter Weekend. Be safe, and stay away from the boiled eggs...please!

Teen Mom Arrested After Kids Eat Cocaine

Tyrone Biggums is a fictional character created for a sketch comedy show by comedian Dave Chappelle. Tyrone is a crackhead who sells real estate, wears a FedEx hoodie, drinks Red Balls (cocaine in a can) like water, and loves peanut butter and crack sandwiches. Chappelle made Tyrone a lovable character and pop culture's favorite crackhead with his cocaine white lips, semi-articulate speech, and propensity to sprinkle crack rocks on his meals like seasoned salt.

We were in stitches watching as Tyrone was the guest speaker at a drug awareness day at an elementary school and as he sold a friend's house while the friend was out of town and had a crack party with the proceeds. We laughed while Tyrone went through an intervention, busted a car window to save a baby locked in the car (actually his goal was to steal the radio), and once picked up a city bus just to get to a dime under one of the wheels. He is the closest many of us have ever had to having a live crackhead in our living room. We could laugh at Tyrone, because he's not real. His whole life is a literally joke. A script in the mind of a brilliant comedian. ...I just wish that this news story was a joke too.

This is one of the worst examples of art imitating life. When I spotted this story over at C&D, I was in utter disbelief. This is a mess on so many levels. First of all, this child is 17 with her own two-year old. Secondly, she is babysitting somebody else's 2 toddlers. Thirdly, she leaves them in the house (apparently alone) where cocaine is out in the open, to go out and sell crack. Fourth(ly?) after it became apparent that the kids ate the cocaine, she didn't take them to the hospital until one had a seizure.

Stuff like this just shouldn't happen in real life.

*exhale*

Obama's Speech on Race: "A More Perfect Union"

Here is the video of Barack Obama's speech, on race in America, that many are referring to as "historic". It's about 38 minutes long. Review and discuss. Click here to read the full transcript.



Here are some of my other blog postings related to Obama:
Controversy: Barack Obama and his Pastor
Barack's Grandmother Speaks
What is the Prize?

Controversy with Barak Obama and His Pastor

I was just thinking about this whole situation with Barak Obama and his pastor, Rev. Jeremiah Wright, (read here) and it suddenly occurred to me that this scenario is slightly familiar. As this is Holy Week, there is no doubt that you will see countless reenactments of the cruxifiction, the passion, the journey, or whatever you want to call it. I watched a couple of stories last night on the Travel Channel and the History Channel. It's that time of year when we reflect on Jesus' journey leading up to Easter Sunday.

Allow me to draw a similarity here. Jesus was a revolutionary. He was highly controversial and his statements brought an incredible measure of offence to the establishment and the powers that be; hence, their plot to kill him. He was not a friend of the political system nor the governmental structure. He was not embraced by mainstream Jerusalem as a patriot or regarded as a gifted teacher or theologian. As a matter of fact, they hated and despised him. Called him a heretic and a blasphemer. He was so outrageous that the whole nation wanted him crucified.

One of the most notable points in the recantation of Jesus' journey to cruxifiction is the moment where Peter, one of his closest and most long standing followers, chooses to deny him. Three times. We all know the story. Jesus told Peter that he would deny him, Peter said no way Lord, never. Jesus told him that he would do it three times before the cock crowed. Well, not only did Peter deny him, but he cursed (denounced and rejected) knowing him. After Peter realized what he had done, he was broken. He had to go and get himself together, but he eventually became one of the great leaders of the church and author of at least two books of the bible.

What's my point? Glad you asked. Ecclesiastes 1:9 states that there is no new thing under the sun. Character assassination for political gain is not a new thing. The Church being attacked is not a new thing. Spiritual leaders being controversial and making unpopular statements is not a new thing. Preachers offending politicians and heads of state is not a new thing. Followers denying and distancing themselves from their leaders out of fear or for personal gain is not a new thing. Fast forward 2,008 years.

Am I comparing Rev. Wright to Jesus? Not in the sense of his doctrine or teachings. I haven't heard one message that he's taught. He could be right on or way off. Doesn't matter...that's not my point.

My point is, there will ALWAYS be a separation between church and state. The church is supposed to carry out the mission of telling the truth, even when it's unpopular or politically incorrect. For those followers who claim allegiance to the kingdom of God and operate in the political or governmental system, it causes them to walk on thin ice. Many get away for years with having private beliefs and a public agenda. I believe that's what may have prompted Peter's adamant public denial of Christ. Maybe he had political aspirations too. Maybe he was concerned about the financial implications on his fishing business if he were publicly connected to a revolutionary. He knew that his leader was a controversial figure. He walked with him, heard him teach, fellowshipped with him, all the while harboring a secret fear that this relationship could come back to haunt him. Jesus already knew this. That's why he had the foresight to tell Peter exactly what he would do when put in that situation, even though Peter didn't want to believe him.

I wonder if Rev. Wright had that same conversation with Barak Obama. "Barak, before this campaign is over, you will have to deny me."

Did Barak do the right thing? I don't know. Did Peter do the right thing? He did what he felt like he had to do. His leader already knew that he would have to do it and then prepared him for it. Was Jesus betrayed, wounded or offended by Peter's actions? No. He was already prepared for it. He understood who he was called to be and who Peter was called to be. Jesus knew his mission and he knew Peter's mission.

He understood that in order for one to live, the other had to die.

Can You Hear Micheal Jackson Screaming TGIF!

For the King of Pop, when it rains it pours. Michael had a rough week this week, and you know he's somewhere counting down to 5:00 so he can bust somebody's happy hour wide open. "Jesus Juice" anyone?! LOL!

Anyway, on Wednesday some chick tried to break into the Neverland Ranch. Billie Jean Jackson (yes, that's her name), 60, told a security guard at the front gate of the ranch that she was Jackson’s wife and this was her ranch, too, reported the Santa Barbara County Sheriff’s Department. (source)

Then, yesterday at the 11th hour he was able to save Neverland Ranch from being auctioned off next week. (source). You think Michael had a adjustable rate mortgage? This foreclosure thing is messing everybody up. I feel your pain Mike.

Billie Jean Jackson, if you're indeed his lover, you need to be giving Mike something on that mortgage. Upkeep at Neverland ain't cheap. And I don't know how you got to the ranch, but gas is too high to be wasting it on a blank trip. Get off the wall Billie Jean. The way to the man's heart is to put a little something in his escrow account.

Michael - here's to the good old days. Happy Friday...have a great weekend!

UPDATE! Sheriff to Press Charges in Woman on Toilet Case!

I told you I needed answers. The sheriff is thinking about pressing charges in the case of the woman who was in the bathroom for 2 years. Sounds like they think she was on the toilet for at least a month continuously. That's 30 days and 23.5 hours TOO LONG!

Check out the story and video here.

On a sidenote...I find it absolutely hilarious and strangely ironic that the sheriff's name is Whipple...as in the famous "Mr. Whipple" from the old Charmin toilet paper commercials...LOL! Maybe she stayed in the bathroom for so long because the Charmin was so soft...and it smelled so good! I'm probably the only one who thinks that's funny.

If you've never seen the old Charmin commercials, here's a sample:

Woman Stuck on Toilet for 2 Years

I grew up in a trailer in the backwoods of north Louisiana. It was a single-wide (eventually we got a house and the trailer and the house were then hooked together...check out my archived posts for more background on me :-)) and we only had 1 bathroom. There were six of us in the house: my parents, myself and my 3 siblings, and with only one bathroom, there were certain rules that had to be enforced for everyone's protection:


1. When using the toilet, lock the door. We all had our experiences walking in on someone who forgot to lock the door. Not cute.

2. When taking a bath or shower, pull the shower curtain but do not lock the door. That way, if someone needs to come in the bathroom for any reason, they can get in and don't have to wait for you to come out of the shower. We got in trouble many times for locking the door when taking a bath. Sometimes we just wanted some privacy even if it meant risking getting a whuppin' later.

3. If doing anything other than using the toilet do not lock the door. Again, with one bathroom and six bodies, we did not have the luxury of hiding from the world in the bathroom for a while. Actually, we didn't have the luxury of hiding anywhere in the house. I didn't have my own room until I was 21...but, I digress.


So anyway, there's this story about a woman in Kansas who stayed in the bathroom for 2 years. How do you stay in the bathroom for 2 years?! According to the boyfriend, he was bringing her food and clothes and she was in there walking around and taking baths and stuff. But, according to police, her skin had grown around the toilet seat and they had to pry the seat off the base of the toilet. That means she had to have sat there for a while.


I prefaced this story with my own trailer bathroom experiences because as I reflect on my own childhood home and most other trailers that I've ever been in, I know that there was probably only one bathroom in the house. With that being said, where did HE use the bathroom for 2 years? When we were very little, one time my brother and I figured out how to both use the toilet at the same time (we had to go BAD!). Of course, as little kids you can do stuff like that and not grow up mentally scarred.


Did he shower everyday while she was sitting on the throne? Did he take long bubblebaths and catch up with her on the day's news while she sat there clipping her toenails, watching them fly into his bathwater?

What did the boyfriend tell his friends when they came over and asked to use the bathroom? ...that his toilet was messed up?

I NEED ANSWERS and this explanation that the boyfriend offered is just not gonna do:

"It just kind of happened one day; she went in and had been in there a little while, the next time it was a little longer. Then she got it in her head she was going to stay -- like it was a safe place for her," McFarren said.


All hail the queen who sits on a porcelain throne.

Sudan Man Marries a Goat

If you check out my archives, I have a post dedicated to some of my wild animal encounters, but I can safely say this one takes the [wedding] cake. You just can't make this stuff up!


Sudan man marries a goat
by Iva Skoch Mar 12th 2008 @ 10:40AM

This is an important security announcement for all of you, who plan on a) visiting Sudan b) engaging in sexual relations with farm animals, or c) both. Stay away from goats in Sudan!

Let this story serve as a lesson to you. A man from Sudan has been forced to take a goat as his wife after he was caught having sex with the animal, BBC reports. The goat's owner, Mr Alifi, said he surprised the man with his goat and took him to a council of elders and they ordered the man, Mr Tombe, to pay a dowry of 15,000 Sudanese dinars ($50) to Mr Alifi.

The intercourse happened the night before Valentine's day (awww) and as far as anyone knows, they are still together. The newlyweds are registered at Pottery Barn (they should be, at least.)


Story lifted in its entirety from Gadling.com.

1 in 4 Teen Girls in the U.S. has an STD

I SMELL A RAT!!!


Let me tell you something. I may not have inherited my father's fashion sense, but I did get enough of his conspiracy theory gene to know that something is not right here. According to this article in AOL Health News:

• CHICAGO (March 11) - At least one in four teenage girls nationwide has a sexually transmitted disease, or more than 3 million teens, according to the first study of its kind in this age group. A virus that causes cervical cancer is by far the most common sexually transmitted infection in teen girls aged 14 to 19, while the highest overall prevalence is among black girls — nearly half the blacks studied had at least one STD. That rate compared with 20 percent among both whites and Mexican-American teens, the study from the federal Centers for Disease Control and Prevention found.

Uh um. I ain't buying it. I was alarmed by the headline and couldn't believe what I was reading until I got to the line that said "a virus that causes cervical cancer". That's when all the red lights started flashing in my head.

See, first of all, notice who the virus is supposed to be prevalent in - black girls. I don't know how many of you are aware of the marketing strategy that was launched a few years ago for a type of drug called Gardasil. It was a sly scheme that the pharmaceutical company Merck rolled out slowly over the course of a couple of years. The first stage was a series of commercials that featured women on the street and in other situations being asked if they knew that there was a virus that caused cervical cancer. Never mentioning a cure or vaccine, the commercial just "raised awareness" and instructed women to start asking their doctor about the HPV virus. (successful at spreading fear of a new disease)

The next series of commercials was about the "cure" for the HPV virus that scientists had discovered. It was called Gardasil and the women in the commercials were excited about knowing that there is a cure for this virus that causes cervical cancer. (successful at directing you to the product)

Next, the state of Texas and other states began to try to make it mandatory for all girls ages 9-11 (i think) of a certain poverty level (translation: black and hispanic) to be vaccinated against the HPV virus. Keep in mind that this so-called vaccine was largely untested and unproven and there had certainly been no studies showing the long-term effects that it would have on the reproductive system of these children who haven't even reached puberty yet. Their bodies are not fully developed!

So now, you have a study that shows that 25% of teenage girls in the U.S. have an STD and what do you know? The majority have the dreaded HPV! ...and it's largely African-American girls at that! Somebody call Merck and start pumping these ladies with Gardasil stat!

Listen folks. There are two rats here. The first one is Merck. Here's some important information about Gardasil (according to their own website):

• GARDASIL may not fully protect everyone and does not prevent all types of cervical cancer, so it is important to continue regular cervical cancer screenings.
  Anyone who is allergic to the ingredients of GARDASIL should not receive the vaccine. GARDASIL is not for women who are pregnant.
  GARDASIL will not treat cervical cancer and genital warts and will not protect against diseases caused by other HPV types.
  GARDASIL is given as 3 injections over 6 months and can cause pain, swelling, itching, and redness at the injection site, fever, nausea, and dizziness.
  Only a doctor or healthcare professional can decide if GARDASIL is right for you or your daughter. Ask about GARDASIL today.

Pharmaceutical companies are in business to make a profit, not to make you well - just like banks are in the business to make money, not to make you rich. Are we connecting the dots yet? Gardasil is the ONLY cervical cancer vaccine for girls age 9 to 26. If there is mass hysteria over this cancer causing STD known as Human Papillomavirus, then a vaccine is found, then states mandate it for a huge slice of the population, and then there is a study that "proves" that your teenaged daughter may be exposed to an STD which can threaten her with cancer...WHO STANDS TO MAKE A PROFIT ON PUSHING AND PUBLICIZING THIS STUDY?!

The second rat is the collective establishment that is knowingly helping to wipe out new generations of MINORITIES by injecting them with this vaccine without knowing what the long term effects will truly be on the girls and on their reproductive system. How many of them will become sterile? The sad part is, we won't know for another 10 or 11 years - when we start to notice that the birthrate among blacks has dropped dramatically. Just watch and see. In about 5 years, the FDA will suddenly find out through "new studies" (like they've done with Vioxx and all the other drugs that were supposed to be the cure all) that Gardasil really is harmful, but by then it'll be way too late.

This company is literally pimping our girls. Taking their reproductive system and using it for profit. One in every four teenage girls - prevalently black girls - will be working for a pimp named Merck. He whispers sweet nothings and tells them daddy's gonna take real good care of them. All the while, he bankrolls their body and they are left empty, sick, and broke down.

I really hope I'm wrong, but I'm telling you something about this study and this vaccine stinks like genocide.

Jill Scott is My BFF

Okay, not really, but she and my real BFF Holly look A LOT alike. They are both gorgeous and oh so curve-a-licious. Bubbly personalities with mega-watt smiles. The kind of girls who know that they're beautiful, but not in a pretentious kinda way. My real BF and my pretend BF are both awesome!





I'm such a HUGE fan of Jill Scott. Everytime she performs she makes tears come to my eyes because she has such a passion for her music. I am absolutely captivated by her voice. She also has a new bra line called "The Butterfly Collection" coming out for voluptuous girls who need a more comfortable fit (I hear all your giggles [especially you MOM!]... no, I don't quite have what it takes to be chosen as a spokesmodel, but that doesn't mean I can't support her. Haters). Check out the Butterfly Bra video at AshleyStewart.com.

Big shout out to my fabulous girlfriend Chanel over at HipCandy for throwing this post idea my way. She's livin' the crazy life at L.A. Fashion Week this week. Check out her blog for Fashion Week pics and updates.

Go See My Cousin Raven in "College Road Trip"

YES!!! Raven-Symone is my cousin. Although we have never met in person, we found out who she was shortly after she started making her mark as "Olivia" on the Cosby Show. My great-grandmother and her grandfather (or great-grandfather...my grandmother is calling me back to confirm) were brother and sister!




Genes don't lie. Pictured are my grandmother, me, and my cousins Dextria, Constance & Amanda (photo taking during an impromptu Christmas hat party).


It's been fun to watch her grow up and we are proud that she has remained grounded and true to herself in the face of all the foolishness that is the norm for young Hollywood.

Go support this movie. Not just because of my family ties, but as we have seen with the success of the Tyler Perry movies, when we support black films we help to open the door for more opportunities for the next generation of black screenwriters, producers, directors, and actors. (more at Black Voices College Road Trip)



Check out the movie trailer:

George W. Bush...the Great Dictator

My life has truly been changed for the better now that I know for sure that it is possible for me to live in peace and harmony....

...with fish.

"Rarely is the question asked, 'how IS our children learning?'" (George W. Bush)

Hopefully, they are not learning by watching you Mr. Bush.

Check this out.


For the original story, check out spinner.com.

Now check out the original Will.i.am video "Yes We Can" which puts excerpts of a Barak Obama speech to music.

The Catwalk

Over the summer I had an interesting conversation with my 9-year-old niece, Janae. She's my older brother's youngest child. They live in the midwest, but she and her older sister, LeeAnn, have spent most of their summers with my parents in north Louisiana. These two are a hilarious pair and this summer, their comedic entertainment was on another level. We were all just amazed at how much they had grown up over the past year.

We had just returned from our family reunion in Orlando and I was preparing to leave the next morning a come back to Baton Rouge. My mom and I were sitting at the kitchen table, as well as Janae. I don't know about anybody else's family, but at my parents' house, whenever anything important is being discussed, it all happens at the kitchen table. Breakfast, lunch, dinner, and between meals...the kitchen is information central. With that being said, I can't remember exactly how the conversation began, but I soon realized that I was getting schooled and Miss Janae was the teacher.

Her concern with me was that I was without a husband or even a boyfriend. It just didn't make sense to her. Then she began to offer her services as a relationship counselor. Now, my mother and I are sitting directly across from each other and by now we are both frozen in our chairs hanging on to every word that's coming out of this child's mouth...barely breathing, trying not to miss a word...working so hard to keep our laughter muffled that tears just began to stream down our faces. All the while, Janae is sitting at the head of the table, comfortably facilitating this discussion with the skill of a seasoned therapist.


Janae: So, Ain'Nita, where do you go? What do you do for fun?

Me: Nothing really. Work, church, home. That's about it. I go to the grocery store a lot.

J: Hmm. The grocery store is a good place to meet men.

Me: Really? okay

J: Yeah, but when you meet a man you have to ask some questions to find out what he's all about.

Me: Oh, okay. What do I need to ask?

J: First, you need to find out if he has a job. It doesn't have to be a fancy job, we just need to know that he works. Second, find out if he's ever been to jail or in trouble with the police. Third, find out if he's ever cheated on his wife (if he was married before) or on his girlfriend.

Me: So I'm just supposed to come out and ask these questions? What if he doesn't tell the truth?

J: See, when he gets ready to answer, make him look you in the eye. You can tell if he's telling the truth by the way his eyes look.


Then she decided to prove her theory on my dad. She went into the living room where he was and asked him a series of questions, demanding that he look her in the eyes when he answered. When she came back to the table shaking her head she said, "Grandma, Grandpa is lying. You better watch him." As you can imagine, by then we need a box of kleenex, cause the tears are flowing.

Now, as she continued to teach me how to attract a man's attention, she realized that there was one key element that I seemed to not possess. The Catwalk. As my eyes got big, I asked, "what's the catwalk?" She said that it's sort of just like how the models walk on the runway, with one foot in front of the other. Keep your back straight and your head up. Real smooth like you're walking on a treadmill. She was convinced that this method works because she had advised other friends to do it and they now have boyfriends.

Hmm. Okay. The Catwalk.

The conversation continued on for well over an hour and as ashamed as I am to say it, I was actually listening. It was alarming to hear this level of insight coming from a nine year old, but I have to admit she was right. Men are looking for a certain confidence. They are attracted to a woman who is sure of herself and knows who she is. That is the epitome of the catwalk. Walking tall, back straight, head held high, confident. Going somewhere.

I left that Saturday evening headed back to Baton Rouge. On my way home I stopped at the Whole Foods Market to get something to eat since I had been away and didn't have any food to cook. As I sat at the counter waiting for my order, my phone rang. It was Janae. She forgot to tell me something.


J: Ain'Nita where are you?

Me: At the grocery store.

J: Really?! *in a sly voice* Did you try the catwalk?

Me: *Laughing* Not really. I don't think I'm doing it right.

J: Well, I forgot to tell you something about the catwalk. Try not to do too much. Not too much twisting or side-to-side. Just remember to keep it straight and real smooth like on a treadmill, okay? And be careful when you do it at the grocery store because a man might follow you home.

Me: *Laughing* Okay, I gotta go.


So Sunday right after church, I went back to Whole Foods to get groceries. I didn't even go home to change clothes. I was still wearing my black suit and my red patent leather pumps. As I exited the store and headed to my car, I noticed an SUV circle the parking lot and pull up behind me.


Man: Hey, I like your shoes.

Me: Thank you.

He was somebody's grandaddy, so I wasn't interested in having a prolonged conversation. I hurried up and jumped in my car. Laughing to myself, I realized that he noticed me from across the parking lot. He complimented the shoes, but I don't think that's what caught his attention. It was something more. An aura. A vibe. An energy...


I think I mastered the Catwalk.

Barak Obama's Grandmother: What Did You Say About My Grandbaby?!

Don't ever mess with a black woman's son or grandson. Whether native African or African-American, a black woman will tie her hair up, take her jewelry off, slip out of her high heels (or dust her feet off) and make you regret the day you ever opened your mouth to say something crazy about her boy.

(on a side note, look at the scene behind her...that Kenyan sky is calling me home!)


Barak's grandmother is none too pleased with the way the media has been misrepresenting him (Click here for full story). And who could blame her? American mamas go to bat for their sons all the time. When Junebug goes to jail, who is the one who gets on TV to declare his innocence? -Mama. Who is the one who will let a grown man move in with his family until he gets back on his feet? -Grandma. They are the ones who will cover for their boys no matter what they do. Murder, drugs, theft, babies galore...a black woman's son can do no wrong. She will always stand up for baby boy because she knows who he is, even though he may not act like it.


So how much more should Sarah Hussein Obama stand up for her grandbaby all the way in Kenya! He's a brilliant man who through his personal and spiritual life, career choices and community activism has demonstrated compassion, character and integrity. The scripture says that a good name is to be desired more than great wealth. Despite the sinister portrait that his opponents have tried to paint, Sarah knows that her grandboy has a good name...because it's her name too and she knows who she is.


"They" brought us to this country and stripped us of our identities. They gave us new names belonging to the slave master. Most of us don't really know who we are, who our ancestors are and the rich legacy they left us. We don't feel connected to the rest of the world. We have no idea that we have other family members around the world who will stand up for us if we could only get our names back.


"They" are angry because this African-American won't let them change his identity. He has the audacity to use that name to run for this nation's highest office. Didn't he get the memo? They took names like that and locked them up over 400 years ago. So now, they mock him and try to make him feel ashamed of having such a completely non-American name. They demonize it and plant seeds of fear of terrorism to cover their real concern. I've even seen comments suggesting that he may be the antichrist. (Newsflash: If he is the antichrist, is not voting for him in an election going to halt his agenda? The antichrist has a predestined assignment that can't be changed by human intervention. It's already been written. If you believe your salvation is sure, then what are you worried about?)


You see, it's not the Black man in the White House with the name Hussein who's itinerary they imply is outlined in the book of Revelation that they're really afraid of. They are afraid of the Black man in the White House with the name Hussein who's true agenda is outlined by the prophet Isaiah. He will build the old waste places and repair the breach. He may incite us to rise up. Yes, they fear our ancestral names. They fear that through the eyes of Obama, we will find our true culture, embrace our ancestry and reclaim our names. On that day, we will collectively wake up and realize who we really are.



"What's your name boy?!"
"Barak Hussein Obama! "


Isaiah 58:12 "And they that shall be of thee shall build the old waste places: thou shalt raise up the foundations of many generations; and thou shalt be called, The repairer of the breach, The restorer of paths to dwell in."

Uncle Freddy

There is no way possible to explain to you how hilarious I think my family is. I have always thought that we should have our own TV show. My dad is funnier than Heathcliff Huxtable. My mom can run a household better than Claire and my siblings...well, we were a cross between the Cosby kids and the Evans from GoodTimes. Toss that together with the backwoods of north Louisiana and you have yourself an Emmy nominated #1 sitcom!

Anyway, we went to Jamaica last spring and my parents and my grandmother (Momee...I'll tell more about her in another post) flew out of Monroe, LA and I flew out of Baton Rouge. We would all meet up in Atlanta and fly together to Jamaica. Well, my BFF Holly and I were having a conversation on the way to the airport and somehow we got onto the subject of Uncle Freddy's (my dad) footwear of choice. Anyone who knows my dad, knows that he LOVES to wear sandals. His logic behind this choice of haute couture footwear is due strictly to comfort and not just "to show ya'll how to dress your feet". He only wears one pair until he wears them out and then goes on a nationwide quest to find another pair. My uncle once sent some from California and is currently looking for a pair in D.C. I think he has bought them before in the midwest and on the east coast, but never have I heard of a report of my dad buying new sandals at home. His sandal purchases are as carefully planned out as a new vehicle purchase. Shop...compare...custom order...wear until the buckles fall off.

Well, as Holly and I continued talking, I told her that I could GUARANTEE that my dad would have on socks and sandals at the airport. She couldn't believe it. She could not comprehend that my father would wear his trademark sandals AND socks to travel in. Oh, how naive my beautiful BFF is. See, what I know that she doesn't know is that Uncle Freddy is a slave to fashion and he is committed to style and coordination no matter the cost. Not only would he wear the socks to the airport, but they would surely match the pants he would have on. Of course, being the prophet that I am, I told her I would confirm my foreknowledge with a photo as soon as I met up with my folks at the ATL airport. She laughed. I laughed. I got on the plane.

Fast forward an hour or so to the Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta International Airport. I caught up with my folks somewhere in the D concourse I think. As we all exchanged greetings and sat down to enjoy the layover, I remembered that I had an important matter to attend to. After fumbling through my purse for a moment, I whipped out my camera phone and in a stealth move, snapped a couple of quick picts.

Gray pants, blueish-gray socks, and sandals. Just as I predicted.

Holly - 0, Anita - 1

We Can Change the World

My goal is to keep you informed, inspired, and accountable, so I want to kick off the "resurrection" of CRL 2.0 by giving a big shout out to Presidential candidate Barak Obama for reviving hope and giving this generation something to get excited about! There are many songs and videos that have been produced saluting Sen. Obama's message of hope, but I was caught off guard at the way I was moved by the first video that Will.I.Am did ("Yes We Can"). A new one titled "We Are the Ones" was also recently added to the website http://www.dipdive.com/.

What is the Prize?

Sometimes we are so naive and lazy. We believe everything we see on the news and everything we read on the internet. Remember the "KKK Endorses Obama" email that was floating around? I heard a nationally syndicated radio show talking about it as if it were the absolute truth. The sad part about it is all one had to do was a little research to find out that it orginated from a satirical publication in the UK. *sighs* Sometimes we seem so gullable and we wonder why "they" don't respect us.

All of the 80's babies should remember R.I.F. - Reading is Fundamental. I guess it was in the 80's but not anymore. People will pass on anything sent via email without thought for whether or not it is true. Beware of mass deception that has occurred and will continue to occur because we won't do the necessary research to stay informed.

Has anybody actually gone to the candidates websites to get the facts for yourselves? I hadn't either. Seemed like too much work, until now. It's not enough that the candidate is black, white, male, female, great orator, great debator, etc. I had a moment of enlightenment when watching "The State of the Black Union" on CSPAN an last weekend (that's a post within itself...why was I home on a Friday night watching CSPAN?! my 9-year old niece suggests that I check out match.com ...LOL!). Panel member Dr. Eddie Glaude, who is a BRILLIANT, young brother and protege of Dr. Cornell West, made a profound statement when evaluating the possibility of our nation's first black president. His thought-provoking question was, "What is the prize?"

Research, think, discuss, decide.

We can change the world. Check out Derrick over at Take Back the Mic.

Look Who's Back!

Well, well, well. I guess most of you had written me off. After all, it's only been a year and a half since my last post. I guess we have a lot to catch up on. Of course I've had some adventures over the last 18 months: movies and commercials, surgery, rental property remodel, another family vacation!

I was thinking all day today, 'what is this blog really about?' I almost changed the name because I wanted to blog on a specific subject or stream of thought, but that's just not who I am. I'm diverse and I like to talk about whatever's on my mind...politics, humor, entertaiment, religion, sports, stupid commercials...so you never know what you might get from day to day. Some may call it scatter-brained, but I prefer 'genius' instead.

It's getting late. We'll catch up later.