I am writing you all, because I am frustrated. Frustrated because there is a situation that there is nothing that I can do about.
Today, at 5:00 A.M. this morning, my Dad’s oldest sister died of an apparent Heart Attack. Her name was Margaret Mahan. (Her Maiden Name is Margaret Adkins). She had a rough life. Honestly, outside of my Dad, her family quite honestly did not give two flips about her. She married, to a scum of a man, his name was Tom, who beat her and mistreated her only son, to the point of trying to drown the boy, when he was five years old. Finally, after a couple years of marriage, Tom left one day supposedly to go to the store. Tom never returned. The family found out much later in life that Tom had been in and out of several psycho wards. Tom showed up, in a wheelchair. He did not stick around long, after his wheelchair fraud was foiled by a family member who caught him walking.
Therefore, now, Margaret is now dead, a pauper. Oh, she will get a 15-minute memorial service, with no casket, and just a simple picture on a stand. There will be no formal funeral, and she will be buried in a pauper’s tomb, with five other people.
Where do I fit into all this? It is my family; I am the son of my Father. I was the kid, who was supposed to be the person who was supposed to go to college, really make it big in life and get rich and help my family. That never happened. Because of this, she will die, treated like anyone else in her position.
I did not write this to hit you all up for money. Even I am not that much of a shameless fool. I wrote this to vent, vent because my desire to help my family and my utter inability to do so.
Enjoy this video, it captures a master at his trade, at his best. This is “Stormy Monday”…
His List of accomplishments include:
Hayes was a longtime songwriter and arranger for Stax Records in Memphis, playing in the studio’s backup band and crafting tunes for artists such as Otis Redding and Sam and Dave in the 1960s.
He released his first solo album in 1967, and his 1969 follow-up, “Hot Buttered Soul,” became a platinum hit.
In 1971, the theme from “Shaft” topped the Billboard Hot 100 for two weeks and won an Academy Award for best original theme song. The song and the movie score also won Grammy awards for best original score and movie theme.
Hayes won a third Grammy for pop instrumental performance with the title track to his 1972 “Black Moses” album.
He was inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in 2002.
Isaac Hayes music embodied the black experience, Issac asked in his hit tune “Shaft”, “can you dig it?” and to that I simply say, yes, we all dug it, on some sort of a level or another.
I am sure that some asshole White, High-brow, Conservative and some other Conservative Minority will snivel at this man and dismiss him as a Liberal who promoted Identity Politics, But he was about so much more than that.
I, for one, am quite sorry to learn of his passing, an era in music has just ended. 🙁
Comic actor Bernie Mac died early Saturday of complications from pneumonia, according to a family member and his publicist. He was 50. Bernie Mac
He had been hospitalized in Chicago, Illinois, for more than a week with the lung infection.
Danica Smith, the comedian’s publicist, had said Thursday that Mac’s condition was “stable,” The Associated Press reported.
“When I got the call this morning, it was just devastating news,” said Chicago Sun-Times columnist Stella Foster. “Let’s face it: Bernie Mac was one of a kind. He was the best of the best in terms of giving you a good laugh
Politics is one thing, but real life is another. 50 years old is such a young age to die. A talent taken, way too soon. My Prayers and thoughts go out to the family.
Russian novelist and historian Alexander Solzhenitsyn, whose works detailed the horrors of Stalin’s Soviet labor camps, has died at 89, Russian news agencies reported Monday.
Alexander Solzhenitsyn addresses parliament in 1994, the year he returned to Russia after two decades in exile.
His son, Stepan Solzhenitsyn, told The Associated Press his father died of heart failure late Sunday at his home near Moscow, Russia.
Awarded the Nobel Prize for literature in 1970 for “The First Circle,” Alexander Solzhenitsyn was considered a moral voice for Russia. His works centered on issues of good and evil, materialism and salvation.
His three-volume “Gulag Archipelago” unveiled the horrors of the Soviet labor camps, where he himself was imprisoned for eight years.
Even as a child, without any prompting from others, I wanted to be a writer and, indeed, I turned out a good deal of the usual juvenilia,” Solzhenitsyn
Even so, Solzhenitsyn, who served in the Russian Army during World War II, spent much of his life as a mathematician said in a short autobiography written for the Nobel Foundation.
It is truly always sad to hear, when a writer dies. This profession is dying by the way. This man also had the courage to stand up against something that he knew was wrong.
I turned to look over my shoulder to see who had uttered that ridiculous statement.
“Pardon Me?” I squinted at the dark-skinned man who had just interjected himself into my over-coffee conversation with my buddy, Kevin.
“Obama ain’t black.” He said again more matter-of-factly as he walked around the porcelain dividing wall and stood at our table where he could be more active in our conversation.
“My name’s Andree,” he said as he extended his hand. “I couldn’t help but hear what you boys had been discussin’ and I don’t mean to stick my nose in where it don’t belong, but I couldn’t leave without settin’ you straight. Obama ain’t black.”
I looked at Kevin as he shifted nervously in his seat, not sure how to take this visitor to our table.
“Well, have a seat Andree,” somewhat trying to judge the book by its cover. “I’m Dave, but most folks call me Coach, and this is Kevin.” Kevin extended his hand politely.——- Click the link to read the rest of Conveniently Black by Dave Daubenmire (via NewsWithViews.com
I will simply say the following, that it is pretty telling when Obama is doing better in White America, out in places where blacks are in rare supply, than he is in the more urban communities.
I don’t have much to add to this article… Because Dave says it all in this article. Enjoy.
Sad News to wake up to this morning. I admit it, I did the jaw drop thing myself this morning. When I read former press secretary Tony Snow had passed.
You can say many things about the Bush Administration, you can bad mouth many of the players. But you cannot bad mouth Tony. He was just a nice guy. Who was tossed into one of worst jobs in the White House, and the really funny thing is, he loved doing it.
Tony was 53 and had three children. My thoughts and Prayers are with Jill, Robbie, Kendall, Kristi
There are many nice things being said about Tony. If you follow the link above, you’ll see the good things. Unfortunately, some of the left are using this as a time to insult a dead man. God be their judges. I won’t directly link to any of that screed.
Laura and I are deeply saddened by the death of our dear friend, Tony Snow. Our thoughts and prayers are with his wife, Jill, and their children, Kendall, Robbie, and Kristi. The Snow family has lost a beloved husband and father. And America has lost a devoted public servant and a man of character.
Tony was one of our Nation’s finest writers and commentators. He earned a loyal following with incisive radio and television broadcasts. He was a gifted speechwriter who served in my father’s Administration. And I was thrilled when he agreed to return to the White House to serve as my Press Secretary. It was a joy to watch Tony at the podium each day. He brought wit, grace, and a great love of country to his work. His colleagues will cherish memories of his energetic personality and relentless good humor.
All of us here at the White House will miss Tony, as will the millions of Americans he inspired with his brave struggle against cancer. One of the things that sustained Tony Snow was his faith – and Laura and I join people across our country in praying that this good man has now found comfort in the arms of his Creator.
Rest in Peace, Tony. You’ve earned it. Save me a place at the table and around that throne of Grace. See you there!
The unanimous Declaration of the thirteen United States of America
When in the Course of human events it becomes necessary for one people to dissolve the political bands which have connected them with another and to assume among the powers of the earth, the separate and equal station to which the Laws of Nature and of Nature’s God entitle them, a decent respect to the opinions of mankind requires that they should declare the causes which impel them to the separation.
We hold these truths to be self-evident, that all men are created equal, that they are endowed by their Creator with certain unalienable Rights, that among these are Life, Liberty and the pursuit of Happiness. — That to secure these rights, Governments are instituted among Men, deriving their just powers from the consent of the governed, — That whenever any Form of Government becomes destructive of these ends, it is the Right of the People to alter or to abolish it, and to institute new Government, laying its foundation on such principles and organizing its powers in such form, as to them shall seem most likely to effect their Safety and Happiness.”
[….}
We, therefore, the Representatives of the united States of America, in General Congress, Assembled, appealing to the Supreme Judge of the world for the rectitude of our intentions, do, in the Name, and by Authority of the good People of these Colonies, solemnly publish and declare, That these united Colonies are, and of Right ought to be Free and Independent States, that they are Absolved from all Allegiance to the British Crown, and that all political connection between them and the State of Great Britain, is and ought to be totally dissolved; and that as Free and Independent States, they have full Power to levy War, conclude Peace, contract Alliances, establish Commerce, and to do all other Acts and Things which Independent States may of right do. — And for the support of this Declaration, with a firm reliance on the protection of Divine Providence, we mutually pledge to each other our Lives, our Fortunes, and our sacred Honor.
It was on this day, 232 years ago. That men decided that freedom was the only way. This post is for them.
A few videos:
A video that tells the story of our National Anthem and how it came to be:
A singing of our National Anthem, that I think is the closest thing to Heavenly Angels singing that we’ll ever get here on Earth:
Another American Classic:
Another one, done, only the way, this man could do it:
Even John Wayne knows:
I posted this, not for some stupid political ploy, not to be clever, but to remind everyone, no matter what your political stripe or conviction or feeling, You are, We are, all Americans. This is our land, and we should, at least once a year, stop and reflect on our freedoms. The freedom to write, the freedom to Pray to whatever God we wish or the freedom to not pray, at all. The freedom to agree, the freedom of dissent or to disagree, the freedom to assemble or simply the freedom to do nothing at all.
As Always, We remember our soldiers, especially those who have fallen:
One of my favorite songs:
Update: I could not remember the name of this song last night, I remembered the name this morning:
I cannot listen to this without tearing up… it’s tough, even for a guy:
God Bless the United States of America and God Bless and Keep our Soldiers.
While I have been a very vocal critic of the Bush Administration’s Handling of the war in Iraq. I will always stand in honor for our United States Military.
Here is a video that I think everyone, Liberal, Conservative and everything in between, needs to watch: (H/T to Army Wife Toddler Mom and Tammi)
Hamilton Jordan, the former top strategist and aide to Jimmy Carter, died Tuesday night after a long battle with cancer.
Friends said death came at around 7:30 p.m. and that he was comfortable and surrounded by friends. His son, Hamilton, Jr., return from Europe in time to be with his father.
The family plans a service which will likely be on Friday afternoon at The Carter Center. Details to follow in a day or two.
He was 63 years old.
Jordan was a key advisor and strategist for Carter during the 1976 presidential campaign and during Carter’s administration. He was White House Chief of Staff in 1979-1980.
In 1986, he ran for the Democratic nomination for the U.S. Senate, losing to Wyche Fowler who went on to win the general election and held the seat for one term.
In 1992, he worked on the campaign of independent candidate H. Ross Perot and has been an advocate for Unity08, a political movement focused on reforming the American two party system.
He had battled two types of cancer. He and his wife founded a camp for children with cancer.
MSNBC announced this just now, and this is the first article I found about it, at Google news.
