Sometimes the Grammys are kind of boring (not really) but last night's Grammys were exceptional.
Congrats to Jennifer Hudson and all the winners!
Performances by Coldplay! Katy Perry! Adele (with Sugarland!)! Radiohead!
Katy Perry
Sugarland and Adele:
Cold Play: Lost! and Viva la Vida.
I guess what they said in 40 YO virgin was true. Liking Coldplay is a sign!
Radiohead (with members of the USC Marching Band - how cool)
The Year of Moving Forward
At our 4 person wedding reception in DC
Monday, February 9, 2009
Friday, February 6, 2009
Faith-Based and Neighborhood Partnerships
Congratulations to Hank Tyler, fellow columnist for The Western Tribune for picking up the Charles A. Long Outstanding Civic Award at the Bessemer Chamber of Commerce Banquet last night.
Picture Credit: The Western Tribune
President Barack Obama established (yesterday at the National Prayer Breakfast ) his office of Faith-Based and Neighborhood Partnerships. Read what Obama said including his testimony at the link.
Read the press release and learn who some of the members of the council are here.
This will be a little more in line with the U. S. Constitution than W's effort, which seemed to put a condition on helping that you believe certain beliefs and share those beliefs with those you are helping or don't help them at all. Something like that.
Anyway, this office will reach out to charities and organizations "no matter their religious or political beliefs" and will be "making community groups an integral part of our economic recovery and poverty a burden fewer have to bear when recovery is complete."
Joshua DuBois, a 26 year old Pentecostal minister, will head the effort. "We're also going to make sure we have a keener eye toward the separation of church and state," he said.
Good.
Thursday, February 5, 2009
Don't Ask Don't Tell...Hmmm
Supporters of repealing "Don't Ask, Don't Tell" and allowing gays to serve openly in the military are wondering "What's the holdup?".
Gays are in the military now, alongside heteros. Gays have been fighting for our country since the Revolutionary War. Gays are willing to put their lives on the line for our country. The first soldier wounded in Iraq, Eric Alva, was gay. Here he is testifying before a house committee last year.
Now these army guys claim to be straight. But at least they can have a little fun while deployed. Plus, the music is Journey and who doesn't like them. From my friends at OMGblog. Be sure to see the credits at the end.
Don't ask, don't tell for sure!
I'm pretty sure they aren't gay. At least, not good gays, judging by the mess in that room! But with a little training...
Gays are in the military now, alongside heteros. Gays have been fighting for our country since the Revolutionary War. Gays are willing to put their lives on the line for our country. The first soldier wounded in Iraq, Eric Alva, was gay. Here he is testifying before a house committee last year.
Now these army guys claim to be straight. But at least they can have a little fun while deployed. Plus, the music is Journey and who doesn't like them. From my friends at OMGblog. Be sure to see the credits at the end.
Don't ask, don't tell for sure!
I'm pretty sure they aren't gay. At least, not good gays, judging by the mess in that room! But with a little training...
Wednesday, February 4, 2009
Bessemer in 1965
Be sure to read my column from this week's Western Tribune, following this post, for my take on the current Alabama legislative session.
Doing research for a historic novel uncovers all kinds of interesting stuff. Since my novel takes place in 1965, I have some memories of my own. But old newspapers tell a lot also. Sometimes they reveal more by what they don't report than by what they do.
In 1965 Bessemer had two newspapers, much like today. The Bessemer Advertiser and the Bessemer News. You know, in today's Bessemer, there are some who do not like to see the truth printed in Newspapers. Any criticism of local officials is considered to be in bad taste.
I think I know where this attitude comes from.
In 1965 Viola Liuzzo was murdered on a highway between Selma and Montgomery while transporting marchers (a scene which is recounted in my book). It was quickly learned that the 4 men who did this were members of the Bessemer Klavern of the KKK. This was announced on nationwide TV by President Johnson. I have spoken with a man who as a child in 1965 was sitting with the son of one of those KKK members when the announcement came on TV. That is a whole different story, but it does tell me that there is no doubt of a Bessemer connection.
Was there any reporting of the murder or the arrest of Bessemer KKK members in those papers? No. Now, you may say they were just local papers, but the story became local when the perps were named. Also, the papers, especially the Bessemer Advertiser, did report every week for a while on what Senators John Sparkman and Lister Hill were saying about the Voting Rights Act of 1965 (they, and the paper, repeatedly called it "the so-called voting rights bill). And the Advertiser printed articles against the actions in Selma and the "outsiders" in our state.
So maybe those papers or their publishers tried to hide what was really happening in our community and state from their readers, or maybe they were afraid of the Bessemer Klan so they avoided the subject. At any rate, the truth was not printed.
The Bessemer News did report in February 1965 that Negroes in Bessemer were suing the federal government, petitioning it to cut off funds to the city since we had not desegregated in the 9 years since the 1954 decision ordering it. "The city of Bessemer is said to be the most segregated city in the world, including Johannesburg, South Africa," the paper reported.
They danced around that issue, and later that year, Bessemer Schools were (barely) integrated (against the opinion of the paper).
They did find the space to report on issue of great importance, the Beatles Atlanta concert that year. The Bessemer News reported that Mary Charles Essman, Carolyn Virciglio, Patsy Schilleci, Alecia Hull, Sue Williamson, Norma Jean Williamson and Judy Lint all attended the Beatles concert. I would have gone, that's for sure.
I didn't do quite as good last week when I saw the BeatLads in Birmingham. I took this video with my cell phone, so the quality is not great (and its loud) but here are the BeatLads.
One last tidbit, surely to interest those of you who are crying "socialist" in regards to the president. According to the 1965 Bessemer News, in 1903 the "Southern Socialist" was printed right here in Bessemer. Now before you get all excited, the group was not about joining the commies (the Russian Revolution had not even happened by then), but was a labor movement hoping to gain better wages for workers.
The things we learn by studying history.
Doing research for a historic novel uncovers all kinds of interesting stuff. Since my novel takes place in 1965, I have some memories of my own. But old newspapers tell a lot also. Sometimes they reveal more by what they don't report than by what they do.
In 1965 Bessemer had two newspapers, much like today. The Bessemer Advertiser and the Bessemer News. You know, in today's Bessemer, there are some who do not like to see the truth printed in Newspapers. Any criticism of local officials is considered to be in bad taste.
I think I know where this attitude comes from.
In 1965 Viola Liuzzo was murdered on a highway between Selma and Montgomery while transporting marchers (a scene which is recounted in my book). It was quickly learned that the 4 men who did this were members of the Bessemer Klavern of the KKK. This was announced on nationwide TV by President Johnson. I have spoken with a man who as a child in 1965 was sitting with the son of one of those KKK members when the announcement came on TV. That is a whole different story, but it does tell me that there is no doubt of a Bessemer connection.
Was there any reporting of the murder or the arrest of Bessemer KKK members in those papers? No. Now, you may say they were just local papers, but the story became local when the perps were named. Also, the papers, especially the Bessemer Advertiser, did report every week for a while on what Senators John Sparkman and Lister Hill were saying about the Voting Rights Act of 1965 (they, and the paper, repeatedly called it "the so-called voting rights bill). And the Advertiser printed articles against the actions in Selma and the "outsiders" in our state.
So maybe those papers or their publishers tried to hide what was really happening in our community and state from their readers, or maybe they were afraid of the Bessemer Klan so they avoided the subject. At any rate, the truth was not printed.
The Bessemer News did report in February 1965 that Negroes in Bessemer were suing the federal government, petitioning it to cut off funds to the city since we had not desegregated in the 9 years since the 1954 decision ordering it. "The city of Bessemer is said to be the most segregated city in the world, including Johannesburg, South Africa," the paper reported.
They danced around that issue, and later that year, Bessemer Schools were (barely) integrated (against the opinion of the paper).
They did find the space to report on issue of great importance, the Beatles Atlanta concert that year. The Bessemer News reported that Mary Charles Essman, Carolyn Virciglio, Patsy Schilleci, Alecia Hull, Sue Williamson, Norma Jean Williamson and Judy Lint all attended the Beatles concert. I would have gone, that's for sure.
I didn't do quite as good last week when I saw the BeatLads in Birmingham. I took this video with my cell phone, so the quality is not great (and its loud) but here are the BeatLads.
One last tidbit, surely to interest those of you who are crying "socialist" in regards to the president. According to the 1965 Bessemer News, in 1903 the "Southern Socialist" was printed right here in Bessemer. Now before you get all excited, the group was not about joining the commies (the Russian Revolution had not even happened by then), but was a labor movement hoping to gain better wages for workers.
The things we learn by studying history.
Western Tribune Column February 4 2009
This is my column from today's Western Tribune.
Update: The Michael Phillips Compassionate Care bill (medical marijuana bill), which I mention in this column, will be before the Judiciary committee Thursday. Go to the link to see how you can support this effort. Priscilla Dunn of Bessemer is one of the members of the committee. Urge her to support the bill.
The political arena will be more active than usual over the next few months, as potential state senators scramble for the seat recently vacated by E. B. McClain. And when the special election is over, there may be a vacant state representative or Bessemer Council seat to fill. And if a certain state representative wins, a certain Bessemer council person will most likely run for that seat.
Fruit basket turnover.
Then, this month, Artur Davis is expected to announce his run for Governor. Various office holders, including one who is planning to run for McClain’s seat, have expressed interest in that office as well.
In the meantime, the Alabama legislative session begins this week. Last year, the senate shut down, who even remembers why? What we remember is a group of elected officials putting their differences above the interests of the people they represent.
As of this writing, 216 bills have been pre-filed in the house, and 59 in the senate. This includes a bill that would prohibit the cloning of humans as well as one that would require the owner of dangerous dogs to post warning signs on their property.
Wouldn’t it good to add this: prohibit the cloning of dangerous dogs, and require dangerous humans to post warning signs on their property?
A bill will once again be introduced to outlaw salvia, a little known plant that has even littler effects. As Loretta Nall says, if they want to go around outlawing problem plants, let’s start with kudzu.
Seriously (if the Alabama legislature can be taken seriously) there are some important issues that will be addressed during the session. Budgets and taxes and things like that. Let’s hope the legislators will be big boys and girls and play nice.
A bill that would legalize medical marijuana will likely be introduced. The American Medical Association recommends relaxing restrictions on the medical use of the plant, and science backs this position.
Marijuana is already the biggest cash crop in the state, with almost three times the production value as the runner up, cotton, according to the most recent numbers I found. We might as well regulate it. And put it to good use.
Other bills that should be passed include a hate crimes bill that includes sexual orientation and an anti-bullying bill that would protect kids in school. Our streets and schools need to be safer.
The upcoming weeks promise to be interesting.
Update: The Michael Phillips Compassionate Care bill (medical marijuana bill), which I mention in this column, will be before the Judiciary committee Thursday. Go to the link to see how you can support this effort. Priscilla Dunn of Bessemer is one of the members of the committee. Urge her to support the bill.
The political arena will be more active than usual over the next few months, as potential state senators scramble for the seat recently vacated by E. B. McClain. And when the special election is over, there may be a vacant state representative or Bessemer Council seat to fill. And if a certain state representative wins, a certain Bessemer council person will most likely run for that seat.
Fruit basket turnover.
Then, this month, Artur Davis is expected to announce his run for Governor. Various office holders, including one who is planning to run for McClain’s seat, have expressed interest in that office as well.
In the meantime, the Alabama legislative session begins this week. Last year, the senate shut down, who even remembers why? What we remember is a group of elected officials putting their differences above the interests of the people they represent.
As of this writing, 216 bills have been pre-filed in the house, and 59 in the senate. This includes a bill that would prohibit the cloning of humans as well as one that would require the owner of dangerous dogs to post warning signs on their property.
Wouldn’t it good to add this: prohibit the cloning of dangerous dogs, and require dangerous humans to post warning signs on their property?
A bill will once again be introduced to outlaw salvia, a little known plant that has even littler effects. As Loretta Nall says, if they want to go around outlawing problem plants, let’s start with kudzu.
Seriously (if the Alabama legislature can be taken seriously) there are some important issues that will be addressed during the session. Budgets and taxes and things like that. Let’s hope the legislators will be big boys and girls and play nice.
A bill that would legalize medical marijuana will likely be introduced. The American Medical Association recommends relaxing restrictions on the medical use of the plant, and science backs this position.
Marijuana is already the biggest cash crop in the state, with almost three times the production value as the runner up, cotton, according to the most recent numbers I found. We might as well regulate it. And put it to good use.
Other bills that should be passed include a hate crimes bill that includes sexual orientation and an anti-bullying bill that would protect kids in school. Our streets and schools need to be safer.
The upcoming weeks promise to be interesting.
Tuesday, February 3, 2009
Racism Still Hanging On in Birmingham
Racism is still a presence in the Birmingham area (see the picture below).
We spent Saturday at the Birmingham Civil Rights Institute and the 16th Street Baptist Church at "Celebrate Unity," the New Baptist Covenant event, where we heard Wayne Flynt speak and lead a discussion on the origins of poverty in Alabama and in the world. Later we heard President Jimmy Carter speak and remind us that if we, as individuals, would just love God, and love the person standing in front (or beside) us, then the world would be a much better place.
The New Baptist Covenant is all about bringing black Baptists and white Baptists together to address the problems that face our country today. Poverty, for instance. As an example of working together, 16th Street Baptist has paired up with Vestavia Hills Baptist and share in worship and ministries.
You cannot go into the 16th Street Baptist Church without being reminded of the history of the place. Even if the four girls were not killed there the building would still be a historic site, being the oldest black church in the city and a place where numerous meetings occurred during the civil rights struggle.
Here is a picture of the stained glass window, which, had the face of Jesus blown out during the bombing.
We spent Saturday at the Birmingham Civil Rights Institute and the 16th Street Baptist Church at "Celebrate Unity," the New Baptist Covenant event, where we heard Wayne Flynt speak and lead a discussion on the origins of poverty in Alabama and in the world. Later we heard President Jimmy Carter speak and remind us that if we, as individuals, would just love God, and love the person standing in front (or beside) us, then the world would be a much better place.
The New Baptist Covenant is all about bringing black Baptists and white Baptists together to address the problems that face our country today. Poverty, for instance. As an example of working together, 16th Street Baptist has paired up with Vestavia Hills Baptist and share in worship and ministries.
You cannot go into the 16th Street Baptist Church without being reminded of the history of the place. Even if the four girls were not killed there the building would still be a historic site, being the oldest black church in the city and a place where numerous meetings occurred during the civil rights struggle.
Here is a picture of the stained glass window, which, had the face of Jesus blown out during the bombing.
So in Birmingham the Baptists are promoting unity, but a day of celebration cannot hide the fact that racists are still among us. This was photographed recently where it could be seen from I-65 near Green Springs Avenue.
One person's comment in the email that I received this in was "Some of these idiots still show their cowardice ignorance by hiding behind sheets and cloaks of darkness....."
There is still so much work to be done. One thing we can rely on, though, is that the old racists are slowly dying off. The young people, for the most part, reject the hatred of the previous generations. The world is becoming a better place.
Monday, February 2, 2009
Michael Phelps and Jeff Sessions
What do Michael Phelps and Jeff Sessions have in common?
Michael Phelps took a hit and now he's taking a hit. Maybe we should just charge this off as youthful indiscretion. I mean, the guys 23 years old. Who, by that age, has not taken a hit off a bong? You don't have to answer.
Now we really will remember Michael for his stellar performance at the 2008 Olympics and, well, his human beauty. I mean, just watch. The music, coincidentally, is Contagious (key phrase, "You make me feel so high") by Avril Lavigne.
Jeff Sessions, on the other hand is much older. He doesn't have the excuse of being youthful as a reason for making a stupid statement. And I am pretty sure he has been doing it since his 20's.
Anyway, he said, in referring to the New Deal, "It didn't work. Unemployment was as high after they started all these make-work programs as it was before. Now people liked it, and they felt Roosevelt had done something, but the long-term bitter fruit of it was not so good."
Check your facts, Jeff. Unemployment dropped from 24% to about 14% between 1933 and 1940. I don't think the families of those who went from having an unemployed provider to an employed provider would consider that "bitter fruit."
So, which long-term bitter fruit is he referring to?
TVA? this still exists, making it "long-term." My power comes from TVA, as does a lot of people's in North Alabama. Nothing bitter there.
WPA, PWA and CWA? Well the agencies are not still around, but the infrastructure projects that were completed while providing jobs to millions are still around. Many of those projects need repair, like bridges and such, but the bitter fruit is that Sessions and other Republicans won't vote for it.
FDIC? Still around. As banks are folding people who have deposits in them might appreciate the FDIC.
Social Security Act? First payments were in 1942, but the Agency was created in 1933. I know a lot of people who depend on their social security check to survive. I doubt they are bitter about that.
Fair Labor Standards Act. Still around. gives us the 40 hour work week.
So, what do Michael Phelps and Jeff Sessions have in common? Nothing, but give me any excuse to feature Michael Phelps on this blog and you will see him here. Maybe the same could be said for any opportunity to point out the stupidity of Jeff Sessions.
Michael Phelps took a hit and now he's taking a hit. Maybe we should just charge this off as youthful indiscretion. I mean, the guys 23 years old. Who, by that age, has not taken a hit off a bong? You don't have to answer.
Now we really will remember Michael for his stellar performance at the 2008 Olympics and, well, his human beauty. I mean, just watch. The music, coincidentally, is Contagious (key phrase, "You make me feel so high") by Avril Lavigne.
Jeff Sessions, on the other hand is much older. He doesn't have the excuse of being youthful as a reason for making a stupid statement. And I am pretty sure he has been doing it since his 20's.
Anyway, he said, in referring to the New Deal, "It didn't work. Unemployment was as high after they started all these make-work programs as it was before. Now people liked it, and they felt Roosevelt had done something, but the long-term bitter fruit of it was not so good."
Check your facts, Jeff. Unemployment dropped from 24% to about 14% between 1933 and 1940. I don't think the families of those who went from having an unemployed provider to an employed provider would consider that "bitter fruit."
So, which long-term bitter fruit is he referring to?
TVA? this still exists, making it "long-term." My power comes from TVA, as does a lot of people's in North Alabama. Nothing bitter there.
WPA, PWA and CWA? Well the agencies are not still around, but the infrastructure projects that were completed while providing jobs to millions are still around. Many of those projects need repair, like bridges and such, but the bitter fruit is that Sessions and other Republicans won't vote for it.
FDIC? Still around. As banks are folding people who have deposits in them might appreciate the FDIC.
Social Security Act? First payments were in 1942, but the Agency was created in 1933. I know a lot of people who depend on their social security check to survive. I doubt they are bitter about that.
Fair Labor Standards Act. Still around. gives us the 40 hour work week.
So, what do Michael Phelps and Jeff Sessions have in common? Nothing, but give me any excuse to feature Michael Phelps on this blog and you will see him here. Maybe the same could be said for any opportunity to point out the stupidity of Jeff Sessions.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)