While the world was focused on the seizure and rescue of Maersk Alabama Captain Richard Phillips from Somali pirates, little notice was given to the history-making leader of the anti-piracy crew who took charge and rescued him. That would be the one and only Rear Admiral Michelle Howard who assumed leadership of the crew only three weeks prior to the hostage situation. Who is she? Well, read her bio at this site.
See, I always knew that a sister in a few key places will resolve a lot of the problems this country is experiencing. Anyhoo, perhaps there are other Michelle Howards doing things in the world. If you know of other history makers, give us a shout here.
I was channel flipping and came across an awesome documentary, This Is the Life. It’s about hip-hop and a movement spawned at this obviously legendary place called The Good Life Café in Los Angeles. I am so in love with the talent introduced to me tonight. Giving up mad love to Freestyle Fellowship, Medusa & KoKo, Abstract Rude, Figures of Speech, 2000 Crows and a slew of other folks whose names I can’t remember right now.
If you love real hip-hop, music history or pop culture; this is one film you don’t want to miss.
I know The Last Poets are smiling as the next generation spits truth in poetry and lyrics.
Here is a photo from President Obama's London visit. While most media outlets covered First Lady Michelle Obama touching the Queen; this exchange received very little coverage. Can you imagine how this gentleman must have felt?
Surely, Jacobs' family wished they'd never called the police to help subdue their mentally ill loved one, but they did. That call led to Michael's death. Family members blame Fort Worth police who allegedly used excessive force to subdue Jacobs. Not only was he electrocuted; the family reports police did not provide medical assistance for at least 20 to thirty minutes. Wow.
There is a story for each of the other 404 people listed. Many of the deaths have been "justified" due to excited delirium. Research shows that excited delirium is a brain disorder and that requires immediate medical attention. At no point should an individual, properly diagnosed with ED or not, be electrocuted to death because of a brain disorder or even drug use. Death by taser must stop.
Too many people have died, in police custody, after electrocution by taser. What is the magic number of deaths required before these deaths are stopped? It goes without saying that law enforcement has a difficult job to do but 405 people dead? What's really going on?
This post is not an indictment of all law enforcement but does question the electrocution death of the 405 people listed on Taser Not Truth. It's time the issue was given the proper impartial scrutiny to prevent unlawful and unneccessary electrocution death by taser.
Many you have likely heard of the new Robert Downey, Jr. – Jamie Foxx film, The Soloist, scheduled to open this Friday. Based on the true story of Nathaniel Anthony Ayers and his friendship with LA Times reporter, Steve Lopez, the movie shares stories of life lessons and life experiences of both men.
If the movie is as good as this segment from 60 Minutes, it will be another winning performance for Foxx and Downey.
I saw this documentary on cable TV late one night. It was entertaining and educational. Opportunities abound. Check it out.
From YouTube:
From filmmaker Stafford U. Bailey, who directed such critically acclaimed documentaries as A Laugh, A Tear; The Other Side of Victory; and The Black Road to Hollywood, comes BLACKS WITHOUT BORDERS an emotional story about hardship, sacrifice and great rewards.
This film plunges into the lives of a group of African Americans who have come to South Africa to find the American dream. These ex-pats have discovered that America is not the only land of opportunity. The boundaries that many of them faced in the United States dont exist in South Africa.
Everyone knows about the deplorable conditions in parts of Africa, but this film captures the wonderful lifestyle South Africa has to offer. We follow these modern day globetrotters all over the country and tour their amazing homes. From an 11,000 sq ft. house that overlooks the Indian Ocean to a 35,000 sq ft. mansion that sits on 700 acres. This film is funny, heartwarming and passionate. It will take you by surprise and leave you deeply moved.
Did you see this photo of female bodybuilding champion Iris Kyle and California Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger in JET magazine? It's common knowledge that Gov. Schwarzenegger's claim to fame was via the bodybuilding circuit. He is probably the most famous Mr. Olympia ever and he hasn't competed professionally in decades. Schwarzenegger's bodybuilding led him to movies and ultimately politics.
I followed female bodybuilding in the late seventies and added light weights to my workouts because I seemed to develop muscle definition in my arms very easily and that wasn't what I was looking for at the time. Anyhoo, that was a long time ago and I'd not kept up with the sport since the mid-eighties when the champions started looking a little too muscular for my taste.
When I saw the photo of Ms. Kyle I was shocked by her extreme muscle development. To each his or her own so my preference has absolutely no effect on Ms. Kyle or anyone else. I know that some men find muscular women very sexy. I won't go into the discussion of body types or the frequent use of anabolic steroids and their effect or even the disparity in prize awards and endorsements for women compared to men. Here's what I'd like to know from you: Is an extremely muscular woman attractive to you?
My Top Five Women Bodybuilders (In no particular order.):
Rachel McLish
Carla Dunlap
Lisa Lyon
Gladys Portugues
Kike Elomaa
Here are some of my early female body building favorites. Click on the photo to learn more.
Is this too much muscle development or do you find this attractive?
Regardless of your opinion, these athletes are to be commended for their discipline and accomplishments. It's also great to see how many have transitioned to entrepreneurs also. Getting paid for what you love to do is always a smart move.
Check out the official site on HBO. It's chock full of information on the books author, Alexander McCall Smith, as well as details on each episode and the cast.
Both Scott and Rose are wonderful in their roles and the other actors are also very good. It is refreshing to see black people in natural hairstyles and hear English spoken correctly and in whole sentences.
Here's the background of the show from their site:
As a young girl growing up in the African nation of Botswana, Precious Ramotswe was encouraged by her father to follow her dreams, no matter what. Now in her mid-30s, Precious is doing just that — by opening her country's first and only female-owned detective agency for the benefit of those who need help the most.
The first major film/TV project to be shot entirely on location in Botswana, 'The No. 1 Ladies' Detective Agency' is based on the best-selling novels by Alexander McCall Smith and co-written and executive produced by Richard Curtis and the late Anthony Minghella.
Like McCall's novels, the series chronicles the adventures of Precious Ramotswe (Jill Scott), the cheerful, eminently sensible proprietor of The No. 1 Ladies' Detective Agency, located in the Kgale Hill Shopping Center on the outskirts of Gaborone. Aided by her efficient yet high-strung secretary Grace Makutsi (Anika Noni Rose), Precious investigates a variety of cases, helping townspeople solve mysteries in their lives, from missing children to philandering husbands to con-artist scams.
Precious Ramotswe exemplifies the courageous efforts by real-life Africans to improve the quality of their lives while preserving their culture. Though Precious brings a playful, even innocent, exuberance to her job, the "mysteries" she investigates are quite serious, and include child kidnapping, poverty, organized crime, health crises, spousal abandonment and infidelity — ongoing problems that confront many Africans (and Americans) today.
In the lead role of Precious Ramotswe is Jill Scott, the R&B singer/songwriter who has won three Grammy® Awards since 2005, branching out into acting with 2007's 'Hounddog' (her debut, as Big Mama Thornton) and 'Why Did I Get Married?' Other regulars include Anika Noni Rose ('Dreamgirls') as Precious' quirky secretary Grace, Lucian Msamati as her devoted suitor JLB, and Desmond Dube ('Hotel Rwanda') as her neighbor BK, a flamboyant hairdresser. Guest stars include David Oyelowo (HBO's 'Five Days' and 'As You Like It'), Idris Elba (HBO's 'The Wire' and 'Sometimes in April'), Colin Salmon ('Die Another Day'), and Tony® winner John Kani ('Final Solution').
The pilot (which debuted on the BBC in 2008) is the last film directed by Anthony Minghella ('Cold Mountain,' Best Director Oscar® for 'The English Patient'), who co-wrote its script with Richard Curtis (Oscar® nominee for 'Four Weddings and a Funeral,' Emmy® winner for HBO's 'The Girl in the Café'). The pilot was produced by the late Sydney Pollack (Oscar®-winning director of 'Out of Africa' and 'Tootsie'), Timothy Bricknell ('Cold Mountain') and Amy J. Moore.
Follow The No. 1 Ladies Detective Agency on Twitter and FaceBook.
You know I'm really sick and tired of these blog posts about police brutality and wrongful conviction cases. It's just wrong that people are taken advantage of by the justice system. It's also horrible when guilty folks get off for crimes that they have obviously convicted but I won't go there on this post.
This post in no way condemns the law-abiding enforcement officers or condones folks who act like idiots and need to be jailed. But there is something so insidious about police officers, lawyers, judges and other folks who taint the judicial process. In the end, Jesus, God, Allah, Jehovah or just divine order will take care of the culprits but that doesn't relinquish us of the duty to help those in need.
Enter sisters Gladys and Jamie Scott. These two women have been incarcerated for more than 14 years. They received a double life sentence for armed robbery committed on December 24, 1993. As has become typical, one of the men who actually committed the robbery later said he was coerced. All of the evidence wasn't presented. You know the rest because these cases appear to have similar recurring civil rights violations. Let me not forget to inform you that the robbery netted all of about $11.00. That's not a typographical error.
Please check out the links below to learn more about the case and spread the word about the wrongful conviction of the Scott Sisters. I know that we all must become somewhat tired with one case after another but if we put ourselves in the shoes of the Scott Sisters and their family, we'd want all the help we could get too.
In this 1919 photo provided by Chicago History Museum, a crowd of men and armed National Guard stand in front of the Ogden Cafe during race riots in Chicago.
